Background information and "theory"

What is astrology?

There are many ways to try to describe how Astrology works. On the surface, the premise that the positions of the other planets (and the sun) as they appear from Earth determines our basic personality is simply absurd.

Yet, it is demonstrated to be uncannily accurate (if you're reading this, you've probably read the charts I've done and the feedback of how accurate they are- all without me knowing anything about the person or the circumstances of their upbringing!).

The best way I can explain it is that astrology is a model for some other mechanism. What that mechanism is, no one knows. But using mathematical precision to calculate the exact positions of the planets at your time of birth, and combining the symbolism of each planet with the symbolism of the sign it appears in, we can pretty accurately model a person's basic personality.

To explain how I do a chart, I'll have to explain the symbolism of each planet, the symbolism of each sign in the zodiac, and the concept of "aspects" (how planets interact in the chart).

Part 2 to follow...

Sun - I Am - symbolizes how you expresses your basic drive to grow and develop as an individual. The "Id" in Freudian psychology.

Moon - I feel - symbolizes how you responds emotionally to life's situations, the kinds of attitudes instilled in childhood and how early experiences color the emotional outlook.

Mercury - I Think - indicates how the characteristics of the sign influence thinking and the ability to communicate, and the kinds of concerns that occupy your mind. Sign position tells a great deal about what information/facts you notice and regard as important, and what you choose to ignore.

Venus - I love, I receive - symbolizes how you express your emotions in relationships, and influences your attitudes toward money, possessions, comforts and aesthetic values.

Mars - I Act - indicates your characteristic modes of action, your mode of ambition, and the kind of work you would be interested in.

Jupiter - I reach out - symbolizes your ethical, religious, and philosophical beliefs, shows in what way you express your interest in philosophy and education, and how you reach out to help others. Some believe it indicates "good karma" from previous lives.

Saturn - I am constrained - symbolizes the ways you must shoulder responsibility and the types of soul challenges you will face. Some believe it indicates "bad karma" from previous lives.

Generational planets
The rest of the planets move slowly and spend many years in a sign, so are considered planets of a "generation", except where they interact with the personal planets (those above).

Uranus - I break away - indicates the ways in which a generations urge for freedom and individuality are manifested. Aspected with personal planets, influences how you are motivated to break away from social norms and seek personal freedom.

Neptune - I dream - the kind of cultural expression and creative faculties of society over a 13 year period. Aspected with personal planets, symbolizes how you are imaginative and creative.

Pluto - I change the world - reveals the characteristics of fundamental upheavals and transformation of society. Aspected with personal planets, symbolizes the degree to which you participate in these changes or your personal transformation.

sooo far...quite interesting... is there part 3?

Originally posted by DeSerTDesTroYeR
sooo far...quite interesting... is there part 3?

More to come soon ... I actually had to do some work at work today ;)

ah!...on my luck...anyway..take your time.....will be awaiting..:)

Maybe MoonChild, you will be able later on to explain the horoscope signs represent what they do.

Exemple Gemini is represented by twins or II:
http://www.scopes-mart.com/images/s_gemini.gif

Sagittarus is a half horse, half human:
http://www.scopes-mart.com/images/s_sagittarius.gif

and so one....:)

The Zodiac is a circle divided into 12 segments. Since a circle is 360 degrees, each segment is 30 degrees "wide". Each segment is represented by a "sign" with a name and a symbol. These names are drawn from the greek or roman names of the constellations contained in that segment of the night sky.

There are several ways of describing the various signs, as combinations of "elements" (fire, water, earth, and air), fixed/mutable/cardinal, and masculine/feminine. But I won't go into that here, instead I'll give key words and phrases to describe the general characteristics associated with each sign.

The 12 signs are:

ARIES - The Ram - Fire - energetic, ambitious, pioneering, assertive, aggressive, impulsive. As the first sign of the zodiac, it's the impulse to start things. Like the Ram, Aries rushes headlong into things without concern of the consequences.

TAURUS - The Bull - Earth - determined, practical, loyal, conservative, stubborn. "down to earth", slow to change.

GEMINI - The Twins - Air- adaptable, versatile, intellectual, expressive, alert, nervous, flightly, superficial. A quick study, lots of interests but hard to focus on just one thing at a time.

CANCER - The Crab - Water - emotional, sensitive, receptive, domestic, maternal, protective, moody. The home-body. Usually conservative with money and a good business sense. Approaches issues like a crab, from side to side, rather than straight-on.

LEO - The Lion - Fire - determined, active, proud, vain, dramatic, creative, needs lots of attention. Loves to be center-stage. Regal.

VIRGO - The Virgin - Earth - practical, perfectionist, analytical, critical, detail-oriented. Wants to be of service to others.

LIBRA - Justice - Air- balanced, sociable, peace-loving, intellectual, fearful of discord, indecisive. The Peace-maker.

SCORPIO - The Scorpion - Water - intense, compulsive, emotional, secretive, sensous. subtle, stubborn, deep.

SAGITTARIUS - The Archer - Fire- generous, optimistic, expansive, exaggerates, impulsive, love to travel..

CAPRICORN - The Goat - Earth - motivated, determined and practical, ambitious, cautious.

AQUARIUS - The Water-bearer - Air - intellectual, independent, unconventional, rebellious, progressive, friendly but impersonal.

PISCES - The Fish - Water - intuitive, compassionate, impressionable, indecisive, dreamy, creative, easy-going.

There is one more term to introduce that is quite important to the natal (birth) chart- the Ascendant, or Rising Sign.
The Rising Sign is the sign the horizon is in at the moment of your birth. It symbolizes how others view you, or the first impression you make on others.

This is why I keep asking for as much detail as possible on time and place of birth - the ascendant goes through the entire zodiac each day, so it spends only 2 hours in each sign. However, it's a pretty powerful component of the basic horoscope, for two reasons. First, it describes how you are perceived by others. Second, it establishes where each of the 12 "houses" starts. If there's enough interest, I'll explain the Houses later :)

OK, let me get a drink of water and I'll start putting it all together for you - and just to keep it interesting, I'll use my natal chart to illustrate :)

As I said above, each planet is in a particular position in the zodiac at the time of your birth. in order to analyze the birth chart, you have to calculate these positions and determine what sign each one is in (luckily these days there is software to do that, otherwise it's pretty complicated math!).

The next step is to combine the symbolism of each planet with the characteristics of the sign that the planet falls in.

Using my chart as an example... I was born June 22, 1966, in Ohio, USA at 1:38am (daylight savings time). So my planetary positions are as follows:

Ascendant - Aries
Sun - Cancer
Moon - Leo
Mercury - Cancer
Venus - Taurus
Mars - Gemini
Jupiter - Cancer
Saturn - Pisces
Uranus - Virgo
Neptune - Scorpio
Pluto - Virgo

I was going to describe each trait tonight but it's getting late and I'm too tired!! I'll do it tomorrow :) In the meantime, interested students can post how you put some of this together - for instance, use Part 2 and 3 to determine what does Moon in Leo or Venus in Taurus mean?

aha...now its getting interesting..:) hmmm looked into part 2 and 3...ahh better wait....to see how you do it..:)