The Anaretic Degree, sometimes called the Karmic Degree, is the 29th degree. To better understand its significance, let’s break it down mathematically: The full wheel of the Zodiac contains 360 degrees and is composed of 12 houses (representing the 12 Signs). Thus, each house contains 30 degrees. Each degree within a house is labeled 0-29; therefore, the 29th degree is the last degree that a planet travels through in any house or sign. If you have a planet positioned at the 29th degree in any of the houses of the Zodiac in your chart, you could say that planet is stationed at the Anaretic Degree.
Regarding the meaning of the degree in natal Astrology, I use the last degree of a decan in all interpretations, but many astrologers do not. The 9th degree is the highest physical degree, the 19th is the highest mental degree, and the 29th degree is considered the highest spiritual degree. The 29th degree being the MORE important degree, because it is also the last (Anaretic) degree before a transit into a new sign or house.
I use these in the following manner: Any house cusp or planet found at 29 degrees will add a profound sense of completion to the overall meaning of the placement. I believe this degree is a culmination degree, marking the completion of the experience of that decan/house/sign, etc.. Sort of a ‘final exam’ (for lack of a better example) of the entire process the native has been through. The planet or house cusp at this degree will have a “Karmic” lesson attached to it, a lesson that must be learned.
If you see life (and therefore Astrology) as a continuing experience, and the moment of birth as merely a ‘frozen’ moment in time along that continuing experience, then you can interpret these degrees quite easily. The 29th degree would be just the end of one experience, bringing together all the knowledge, emotions, etc that the entire experience provided, before the beginning of a new one.
In the instance of the 29th degree, it is quite an internal experience and the native usually presents an aloofness regarding whatever area of life is represented at 29 degrees or the planet’s energy itself, having ‘already been there done that’. There may be a lack of excitement regarding that area of life or planetary energy. The native may express the energy in very mature and reserved ways. Being in the highest Spiritual part of the experience, it is completely internal by nature. A planet expressing at the 29th degree will be expressing a completeness of the sign occupied and taking on a preparation for the next experience (transit into the next sign), but there will be a “push’ to achieve that completion. While the native will express maturity and knowledge there will still be a feeling of urgency to ‘finish it off in time’.
Depending upon the speed of the planet, one can easily observe this up close in the Progressions. One note, I have seen some instances where the planet was relatively slow, (Jupiter & Saturn) and the progressions throughout the life concentrated on that degree throughout the entire lifetime. In one instance the native was born at 29 degrees Saturn Retrograde. It went to the 28th degree and then when direct by Progression, bringing the planet back across the 29th degree once again for many years. This would be considered a dominate theme in the life of the native and although other factors in the chart might want to break loose and express themselves externally, the planet ‘stuck’ at the 29th degree would demand that the native be somewhat withdrawn.
I might add here that the 9th degree is the highest physical degree (1st decan) and the 19th degree is the highest mental degree (2nd decan) There is an added emphasis on the planet, house cusps, etc. I know of one native that was almost void of any planets in 2nd decan (10-19 degrees), the exception was Mars at the 19th degree in Pisces. It gave such emphasis to the placement, and the native dramatized this particular degree and planet placement, struggling with the inner needs of Pisces and the ‘ability to get what he wanted” (Mars). The 19th degree provided the necessary energy to “process’ this experience at the highest mental degree possible.
There is some thought that the degree is not a beneficial one, like a Void of Course Moon, I do not agree however. I believe the 29th degree offers the native an opportunity to take the energy present in the degree and finish the experience, making ready for the next one. Much the way one graduates from High School and goes to College. Dates and then gets married. Each experience is a process all of its own, and an ending before a beginning. Those who possess any house cusp or planet at the 29th degree have the benefit of all the knowledge acquired and can have the excitement of looking forward to the next ‘great adventure’.
