Theses are two very different things.
To find meaning in our life.
Meaning can be found in many places and it is the out-working of our Natal Chart. It is found in the people we love and who love us. It can be found in where we find joy and contentment. It can be found in what makes us sad or angry. It is there in the things that we look forward to doing and in those moments we feel a sense of flow as though I am completely in the zone totally in my element.
We can gain a general sense of meaning to our lives by looking at the Labours of Hercules and applying them to our Sun Sign. It may take some though and searching but you should eventually come to the feeling that that is what my life has been about, the ups and the downs.
To find our purpose in life.
Purpose is very different, the clue is in the word – I did it on purpose- This is where you take up the call to arm and begin your quest. This can be seen in the Arabic Part Chart and clues can be found in the Labours of Hercules but this time using the Ascendant Sign. The use of the Ascendant Sign will become clear in a moment when we describe the Arabic Part Chart where your Sun Sign becomes your Ascendant Sign.
In order to work with the Arabic Part Chart as opposed to individual Parts we need to understand the various functions of the planets. What we will be doing is assigning the Sun as the absolute ruler, think of it as the Big Boss and all planets, including the Moon will be as employees and each will for fill a specific role and do a specific task according to its function.
Method One.
Draw your chart in the usual way start with the Ascendant and place the houses and the signs all the way round. Then instead of entering the planets, calculate the Arabic Parts and enter them, for reference place the Sun on the Ascendant.
Method Two.
Take an image of your Natal Chart and load it into Gimp or Photoshop.
The erase or rub out the planets and aspects. Save this as base.jpg
Now load up your Natal Chart again and erase or rub out the signs and houses. Save this as top.jpg
Next we open base.jpg the one with the signs and houses.
Then open as layer the file top.jpg.
Add an alpha channel.
Color to alpha.
We should now have an image just like the Natal Chart image but with an extra layer. Select this layer and rotate it until the Sun lines up with the Ascendant.
Now the planets have been magically replaced by Arabic Parts without any calculations. Alright the gliphs are upside down.
The Moon = Part of Fortune
Mercury = Part of Commerce
Venus = Part of Beauty
Mars = Part of Passion
Jupiter = Part of Increase
Saturn = Part of Fatility
Chiron = Part of Sacrifice
Uranus = Part of Catastrophe
Neptune = Part of Treachery
Pluto = Part of Organization
You can interpret this chart similar to an Natal Chart if you wish. Next we will look in more detail at using the Arabic Chart to fulfil our purpose.