Which planet rules the chart?

[DC80]

I keep reading different things and I'm getting confused. Is the natal chart ruler the ruler of the sun sign, the ruler of the rising sign or the ruler of the sign with the most planets?

I don't see the point in it. Seriously, it's like asking if the Sun's going to rise. It is. So what?

There are many theorems. One is you take the ruler of the next sign natal Moon would enter, unless that sign is Cancer or Leo, in which case the next sign would be Virgo making Mercury the chart ruler. The logic is since Sun and Moon are sect rulers they cannot be the chart ruler so that job goes to one of the planets.

The purpose of astrology is to look forward, not backward. Here's a chart, what kind of life will that person have? The chart ruler doesn't figure into any of that. You use predictive techniques to figure out when things will happen. Where does the chart ruler fit in? It doesn't. So why bother?

 

[Claire19]

I use the ruling planet of the sign on the ascendant and its aspects and where they are, tell quite a story. If there are planets in the 1st house they are stronger than a mere rising sign and are more obvious. Another vexed questlon is the rulership of Pisces for instance which is Neptune and not Jupiter. THe rulership of Scorpio is Pluto and not Mars. etc. The decan of the rising sign degree also can lend colour.

 

[david starling]

I use the ruling planet of the sign on the ascendant and its aspects and where they are, tell quite a story. If there are planets in the 1st house they are stronger than a mere rising sign and are more obvious. Another vexed questlon is the rulership of Pisces for instance which is Neptune and not Jupiter. THe rulership of Scorpio is Pluto and not Mars. etc. The decan of the rising sign degree also can lend colour.

Whole-sign AND/OR Placidus for me.