The crucial degrees and critical 29th degree marker

 Critical Degrees in Astrology:

Classic critical degrees are 0, 13, and 26 degrees of the cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn); 8-9 and 21-22 degrees of fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius); and 4 and 17 degrees of mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces). These are considered sensitive, and sometimes strengthening, points. If a natal planet is found in a critical degree, that planet is emphasized and assumes more power in the life of the native due to its placement.

0/13/26 Cardinal

8/9/21/22 Fixed

4/17/ Mutable 
Many astrologers consider 0 and 29 degrees of any sign critical degrees as well. The 0 and 29 degrees are more crisis-oriented points, especially in predictive work. 

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The 29th degree of a sign is one to be recognized as a crucial point to consider.  In my own teacher's view, the 29th degree was a critical marker of intense action, activity, and energy:  "on the razor's edge" was how it was described.  It was the indication of an extreme nature and release, for better or worse--but often an over-dramatic outlet for that sign, especially when coupled with a planet. 

     There was only one time, he said, when a 29-degree point was favored:  the last day of Aries.  A person born on this day (and one of my "older sisters" is April 19) is someone who can manifest goals and objectives at the last critical minute and therefore create results under extreme deadlines.

       The following are other views of the 29th degree.  I should note in numerology that a person born on the 29th day of the month is said to be fated for heavy-duty Life Experiences that their soul has otherwise avoided learning.  Michael Jackson, U.S. President John F. Kennedy, and U.S. Senator and presidential candidate John McCain were all born on the 29th.

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29th degree

     Also known as the Anaretic Degree, defective vision is noted with this degree. It’s the weakest point in the sign it represents; tired and often showing more of the next sign than the sign it’s in. The planet and house placement is always getting ready to make a change and the 29^th degree adds a decision-making complication to the house. Able to see both sides of an issue, there is oscillation between one view and the other and a struggle to make any decision at all. Decisions are put off or there is a continuous re-evaluation due to new information. At the end of his rope, the individual may make a quick decision, simply to do something, but this takes on the characteristic of Too Much or Too Little. Metaphorically, he may dive into the pool before checking to see if it has water.
 

     A placement of a planet in the 29th degree in a house automatically makes the ability to manifest the characteristics of that house structure more fuzzy, and the interaction with the people of that house more vague and less decisive. Sun in the 29th degree often causes a major career change in mid life. This position can slow down career success because of poor decision-making skills. Women with their Sun in a 29th degree have a tendency to marry men who are ineffectual in some way: trouble keeping a job, born followers, too passive, emotional problems. Again this is related to the concept of poor decision-making (both on the part of the woman and on the part of the husband). Disgraced Wall Street financier Bernie Madoff had Venus 29 Taurus in his career house. He was blinded by the love of money and what he could do with it.

     A 29th degree in a progressed chart often stimulates the characteristics, either positive or negative of the relationship, and a last fling jump for the characteristics of the sign, in the house that it is in. Saturn in 29th Capricorn is the degree of the workaholic. The individual can’t seem to get enough hard work. But s/he runs into obstacles in getting it, and often vacillates between working to death, and no work.

        If a natal planet is found at 29 degrees of any sign, also known as the Anaretic degree, there can be some real issues with decision-making in that part of the personality represented by the energies of the planet. The native may evaluate and re-evaluate situations before making a move one day, and the next day, jump into the action without listening to himself or herself! For example, if Mars is at 29 degrees, the native may devise many plans of actions, worry excessively about the possible actions and different routes to take, and then execute a spontaneous action that is contrary to the decision! Former president Donald Trump has Mars and the ascendant at 29 Leo.

      Someone with 29 degrees of Mercury may agonize over decisions in his/her life, and vacillates between talking too much and too little.
 

     Besides decision-making problems, vacillation, and jumping into situations blindly, the 29th degree is also associated with a sense of urgency. It's the last degree of the zodiac sign, and there can be a real sense of urgency surrounding the characteristics and associations of the particular sign.

     In progressions, when, for example, the Sun enters the 29th degree, the native's year can be crisis-oriented. If the Sun progresses to 29 degrees of Libra, for example, the sense of urgency and crisis can surround relationships.   Divorce or jumping into a new partnership rather blindly may be the result of this urgency.  (I personally experienced this when my progressed ascendant was 29 Libra.)  If the Sun progresses to 29 degrees of Virgo, a big change might be made in work. Generally, decisions made at the time of the 29th degree can be hasty.