What Is A Stellium In Astrology?
You’ve heard of conjunctions…when two planets are closely aligned to one another in the same part of the galaxy? A stellium is like a super-conjunction. It’s when planets gang up. They HAVE to work together. They’re in squad formation.
This is hot and productive when it is- say – Mars, Venus and Jupiter but trickier when the astral vibes are not simpatico. When you hear people referred to as being “multiple conjunct” some sign or another, they’re stellium people.
When planets gang up so there is more than three of them in one place, voila it’s a stellium. It’s an intense concentration of a specific zodiac sign and if they are all in one house – or zodiac sector – that area of life is accentuated.
FYI: There is speculation that the “star of wonder” followed by the Kings/Queens to the birth of Jesus Christ was actually a stellium of Jupiter, Saturn and some other planets all in such tight alignment that they looked like one huge star.
Amelia Earhart, the intrepid pilot who before her disappearance was the most famous woman in the world, had a spectacular stellium – she was a Leo but had the Moon, Venus, Neptune and Pluto conjunct in Gemini, all in the 2nd house.
A contemporary example of a full-on stellium: Rachael Ray, the most Virgo woman on the planet!
A Stellium Is Super-Concentrated Potent Astral Intensity
You’ll find a few different definitions of a stellium in various astro texts. Some authors say it involves four or more planets, some saying three, but basically, a stellium is a grouping of 3-4 +, (I’ve always gone with 3+) planets in either the same sign or the same house.
If we call a conjunction two planets together in the chart, then the stellium is a super-conjunction. Note that in ancient times, a conjunction was any planet in the same sign. We now say it must be within (at maximum) 10 degrees but for the stellium, which operates as a whole group, we loosen up the orb rule.
Planets are like actors, they symbolize what the energy is.
Signs are their costumes, showing how the energy is expressed.
Houses are the stages or sets, where the action takes place.
Aspects are the scripts, the dialog between the actors.
A Stellium Is An Ensemble Cast
When you have a stellium, you have an ensemble cast, all scripted to interact within their defined set, competing for center stage and possibly fighting over the same costumes.
What we can say about a stellium is:
1. They are intense.
2. They put a strong focus in the house(s) where they are found.
3. They amplify the sign(s) they are in.
4. They amplify the natural ruler* of the house they are in.
5. Every planet in the stellium wants to express fully.
The stellium requires undivided attention. This may or may not fit well with the rest of your chart/goals/nature. Finding ways to focus that don’t repress or make you lopsided is the key.
To get a handle on how a stellium works, watch what happens when it is activated by *transit. The Moon will make every possible aspect to the stellium once a month. Note anything interesting and also note aspects from the transits of Sun to Pluto as they occur.
Note when you are feeling empowered, productive, grounded, expansive and when you have contrasting emotions or stress. Also, note how well you think the planets in the stellium get along. Ask, “Is everybody happy?” Or bickering?
A Stellium Often Equates With A ‘Do or Die’ Focus In The Sign/House/Planet Involved
Let’s say someone has Moon, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus in Leo in the 7th house. Mars, Jupiter + Uranus might push for some totally yang adventure when it comes to partnerships. Great for biz; not so great for shared intimacy, at least that’s what the Moon thinks.
Or Mars + Jupiter go for gregarious deal-making and feel alive when they’re connecting or hustling but the Uranian genius only fires up when the person can score oodles of uninterrupted solitude.
Being aware of this means finding ways to live out the feelings (Moon) as well as the healthy aggression (Mars), the creative and carefree drive for adventure (Jupiter), and the will for autonomy and freedom (Uranus).
It’s up to the person to allow every planet in the stellium a voice in the house it is found.
It helps to appreciate the plus side. The concentration of energy in one house shows where things matter the most and where you want to contribute to your clan, community or world. Scale doesn’t matter. Intention matters.
A stellium in the 2nd or 8th House? You’re super into money and power at the spirit level and it’s got very little to do materialism, as such.
A stellium often equates with a “do or die” focus related to the sign/planet/house involved. For example; Seventh House stellium people Or people with a Libra stellium really value partnership and do not understand those who seriously don’t care whether they are in a relationship or not.
Understanding the stelliums in your chart or that of another person gives you valuable astrological insider info.
Image: Leo & Diane Dillon
I had a top Ayuvedic practitioner ask me how I handle my strong fire and water elements. At the time my gut instinct said she was on the money. But when I first discovered my chart it was mostly water and the others evened out with air being the least.
But on the weekend I plugged in the major feminine asteroids and discovered I have :
2nd House Par Fortuna in Aries 9.36
2nd House Saturn in Aries 10 opposite Mars in Libra 8th House, sextile Sun in Gemini, close conjunct Pallas. And trine Jupiter In Leo 5th house.
2nd House Eris in Aries 12
2nd House Eros in Aries 13
2nd House Lilith in Aries 18
Venus, Mercury and Ceres in Kataka
Gemini Sun , Pallas and Mercury in 4th House
5th House stellium with Jupiter, Venus and Ceres.
Mmmm. Now I understand what she meant.
Any suggestions to how these feminine placements would play out in my life would be appreciated.
🙂
And Circe and Peresphone in Aries 13
Also Diana 4 Aries 1st House. And not forgetting Chaos right on Lilith in Aries 18. Mmmmm.
I’ve spent the last few hours doing a deep dive into stelliums. Recently I have been journaling, (thank you Mystic for encouraging this practice!) and started a new journal entry this evening titled “Exploration of my 7th House Aquarius Stellium.”
7th House Mars 09 Aqu
7th House Saturn 12 Aqu
7th House Moon 12 Aqu
7th House Venus 15 Aqu
6th House Uranus 16 Cap
6th House Neptune 16 Cap (not sure if this matters)
Thank you for this excellent explanation on stelliums! This topic and post opened a new portal in my psyche.
I have always thought of my ability to express emotions, form relationships and partnerships, and experience a love life, to be a bit eccentric and erratic at the best of times.
When younger, I would have intense, extremely brief, untraditional (not sure if that’s the right word) relationships with people I was attracted too. I’ve also had exceptionally long and stable relationships with friends that I am certain will last for eternity.
But ever since my Saturn return, I can instantly determine (like innately, no explanation, just pure knowing) someone’s energy and know if they are a good fit for a relationship (business, casual, love, friendship, even with family members I have not seen a long time). And if they aren’t, its like they no longer exist. I feel like I’m in hermit mode right now and its very rare that I find people to be compatible with.
Would love any additional insight and help turning this area of my life (where I’ve always felt chaotic and in flux) into a super-power.
Much love and Fiat lux!
Wow – that is some stellium, I am mostly counting the Aquarius as it’s so tightly bunched together and Uranus-Neptune further away/different house and generational signature. But it sounds like Saturn did it’s job and you’re getting aligned for Pluto there soon – ie: substantial, mutually transformative alliances. But Venus presumably hanging out near your Ascendant or in the 1st house for an elongated phase could see a flare-up in the ‘brief, intense flings’ matrix!
I have a sun-moon-Venus-Mercury stellium in Taurus-Aries my 7th house! 🤯
Hi Mystic, just wondering if you will do a series on Stelliums? As in 2020 for people with a libra stellium etc?
I have a stellium in the seventh and multiple planets in Libra in mostly the 8th but I don’t feel compelled toward relationships and partnerships. Got any alternative interps?
People with a 7H stellium may be very adverse to partnerships, as there’s so much energy concentrated in this house that it can overwhelm the individual, who would feel suffocated by close relationships. Sudden breakups, indecision about the “correct” partner, fear of losing oneself in the relationship, etc… As an Aquarius rising (?) you could also be prone to choose few one-on-one interactions, prioritizing group relations, or preferring to be a loner as a way to keep your energy to yourself.
Unsure how I’ve missed this post previously, but reading this and your most recent Mars People post is very enlightening. I’ve a stellenium in Virgo in the 8th house, but my NN In Leo sits in the 8th too!