Reply #4: I have been reading the material on astro

[rumpel]

under the title: Mapping The Psyche

Cardinal, fixed and mutable natures
(excerpt)

In astrology, the three forces or modes are known as cardinal, fixed and mutable; or initiating, resisting and mediating or accommodating. In exactly the same way, when the birth chart is divided into three, the 120º aspect known as the trine describes relationship, resolution and harmony. If we consider the first three signs of the zodiac, the primal force is Aries, cardinal fire, followed by the equally powerful resistance of the second sign of Taurus, fixed earth, creating a polarity which is only resolved by the third sign of Gemini, mutable air, with its ability to relate, communicate and to mediate between the two opposing forces without taking sides. This same theme is repeated around the zodiac, with cardinal energy followed by fixed energy and resolved by mutable energy, whether this is Cancer, Leo and Virgo; Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius; or Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.

Each sign of the zodiac is either cardinal, fixed or mutable. You can see from this diagram that we can now add the modes to the polarities, which gives us another level of information with which to understand the meaning of the zodiac signs.

We have already identified the signs according to their polarity, and the modes describe an additional level of orientation and motivation. The motivation of the cardinal signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn is to initiate and to achieve. The motivation of the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius is to resist and stabilise, and the motivation of the mutable signs of Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces is to adapt, mediate and reconcile.

http://www.astro.com/mtp/mtp81_e.htm

Now that you mention that, I realized that the AC changes the degrees on all Houses to straddle 2 houses - Mine is so smack center - I erroneously must have assumed that is just where it belongs for everyone. Duh. My progressed AC also must have moved from natal Virgo further into Libra due to a physical geographical move, as I understand it...

In that context it sounds like forces within a house - which dominates or is it an indicator of constant transformation and learning of a particular element?

Here is an explanation I looked up the other day:

Like the Sun-sign, progressing the chart will change the sign on the cusp of the first house, your Ascendant. It will also bring influences of the new sign into play upon the personality in changing, modifying, and "blending" experiences. Each time a new sign "rises" on the first house, you may feel a little disoriented, especially during the first year or two. This is because different methods, or "styles" of operating in interpersonal and business transactions can vary considerably under the influence of different Rising signs. Since the Ascendant represents the face (the "Mask") we show the world, others may begin to see us in a different light before we become aware of any changes in ourselves.

Unlike the Sun's thirty-year cycle, the change cycles of the Ascendant may not be as predictable as the Sun, since the houses may have more, or less, than thirty degrees. Casting the chart for the place of residence instead of the birthplace can also affect the degree of the Ascendant. The exact time of changes from the birth chart Ascendant and from the progressed Rising-signs can be difficult to trace when changes of residence are extreme.

The Rising sign in the Progressed chart determines the signs on the houses, just as it does in the Natal chart. Each time the Ascendant changes, the sign on the cusps of the other eleven houses may change, also. The interpretations of the signs on the houses will give some clues regarding the affairs of each house during the year for which the Progressed chart is cast. These signs on the cusps may not change very much from year to year unless you move your place of residence a significant distance from one geographic location to another.

http://www.artcharts.com/catalog/samples/secondary_progressed_uma.html

Looking forward to answers to your question from the pros