This page covers the most general questions
about astrology. I've created separate pages that define the
basics of astrology: the Planets,
the Signs, the Houses,
the Aspects and
the Aspect
Patterns. For more specific and less frequently asked
questions about astrology, visit the “Ask
Kevin” section.
Astrology is the study of the cycles of
movement of the Sun, Moon, and Planets. From Egypt and Babylonia
through Ancient Greece, to modern day, Astrology has been
used to gain a better understanding of how mankind in general,
and people as individuals fit into the Universal Cosmos.
What
is the difference between an Astrological Sign and a Horoscope?
An Astrological sign is determined by
the Sun's position at the time of birth. A Horoscope is
a map of the heavens, showing the exact position of the
Sun, Moon, and Planets, calculated using the exact date,
hour and location of birth. Interpreting the locations and
relationships of the planets in a Horoscope can provide
insight into an individual's personality traits. Every four-minute
interval results in a slightly different chart, and no two
individuals have the same Horoscope.
How
do the Horoscopes that I read in the Newspaper or Magazines
fit into this all?
Strictly speaking, newspaper and magazine
Astrology columns do not practice true astrology. They practice
"Sun Sign Astrology." Each individual has a completely
unique birth chart, and each individual will respond to
that chart, in his or her own way because we all have free
will and ultimately can determine and choose what we make
of our lives. Sun Sign columns look at only one factor in
the chart - the sign placement of the Sun. While there is
no question that the Sun is very important in the chart,
you can only tell the most general things about a person
based on their Sun Sign alone, and all of these only relate
to how they want to express themselves in a conscious way.
Most of us, however, do not use our Sun the majority of
the time; most people express their Moon sign far more than
they do their Sun Sign. In order to be able to get a useful
understanding of ourselves using astrology, we have to consider
all of the different contributing factors. The Sun only
represents our conscious sense of self; the Moon is our
emotional and feeling nature; Mercury rules the communication
and reasoning functions; Venus governs how we relate to
others; Mars shows how we defend ourselves, and how we take
action based on our desires; Jupiter shows how we seek to
grow and expand our understanding of the world; Saturn shows
where we need structure and limitations, and how we feel
about authority and responsibility. Sun Sign columns are
unfortunately how most people perceive astrology. Sun Sign
columns are only useful as entertainment. True astrology,
however, is a powerful tool for self-knowledge, healing,
transformation and spiritual growth.
What is
an Astrological Forecast?
The relationships or aspects between the
planets in a Horoscope influence an individual's nature
and temperament over a lifetime. In the same way, as the
planets appear to cycle or transit across the sky, the aspects
they form with the planets in an individual's Horoscope
influence day to day life.
Other types of Astrological Forecasts
look at the theoretical changes or progression of the birth
chart, taking one day to equal one year (e.g. 30 days after
you were born = your 30th year of life) and interpret these
to gain insight into the major internal changes we experience.
Solar and Lunar Returns take a chart cast
for the exact moment that the sun or moon returns to the
place that it was in the birth chart, to get a picture of
what the next year (Solar Return) or month (Lunar Return)
looks like.
What is a Rising
Sign and why is it important?
The RisingSign or Ascendant is
the sign that is on the eastern horizon at the exact time
of birth. It is also the sign that rules the first house
of a person's chart. The houses are relative divisions of
the heavens, depending on the birthplace and birth time
of the individual, and each house represents a basic field
of activity. The meanings of the houses are modified when
they are occupied by a planet. The rotation of the Earth
causes the signs and the planets to pass through all twelve
houses each day, one approximately every two hours. The
houses relate to conditions, while the signs tell us about
character traits. If we were to compare Astrology to acting,
we would say that the planets are the actors, the signs
are the roles that they play, and the houses are the settings
or situations in which the cast portrays its roles. The
first house, and in particular the Ascendant or Rising Sign,
shows an individual's personality, natural disposition and
tendencies, individuality, and the way they express themselves.
It shows how people see us, and the way we want others to
see us.
What does it mean
when Astrologers say that a planet "rules" a sign?
Rulerships or dignities are a rather thorny
subject among Astrologers. What is meant by saying a planet
"rules" a sign is that when positioned in that
sign, a planet expresses its energy more naturally, with
greater strength and expression. Another term for planetary
dignity is saying that a planet is at "home" in
a sign, and that pretty much describes it. There are actually
four categories of planetary dignity: rulership, exaltation,
detriment and fall. Traditionally, planets in their dignity
(rulership or exaltation) were considered to be strong,
and positive forces in a chart, and planets in detriment
or fall were considered to be weak and ineffective. (Then
there are the minor dignities of Triplicity, Term and Face,
but I won't get into these here!) I tend to work with a
more spiritual approach to planetary dignity based on the
teachings of Plotinus, Anthony Damiani and Astronoesis.
When a planet is in the sign that it rules, it is working
on the level of pure Being; in the sign of its exaltation,
on the what we would call the Soul level, but what the Greeks
called "Nous"; in the sign of its Detriment, on
the Mental/Emotional level (what the Greeks called the "Soul"
level; and in the sign of its Fall, on the Physical level.
Now: as to why dignities are such a thorny subject among
Astrologers. There is no real agreement as to what planets
rule what signs. The original system for planetary rulers,
developed by the Greek astrologers assigned the rulers this
way:
Sun
Leo
Moon
Cancer
Mercury
Gemini and Virgo
Venus
Taurus and Libra
Mars
Aries and Scorpio
Jupiter
Sagittarius and Pisces
Saturn
Capricorn and Aquarius
This worked out very nicely until 1781 when the planet Uranus
was discovered. (All of the other planets are visible to
the naked eye). In an typically Uranian way, this discovery
threw the Astrological community into an uproar that still
hasn't been resolved. Neptune and Pluto only added to the
confusion. The upshot is this: Uranus got "assigned"
by modern Astrologers to rule Aquarius, Neptune to Pisces,
and Pluto to Aries and Scorpio, and only recently has Scorpio
edged out Aries in this dispute. Now. Ask me what system
I use? I use the ancient rulers when I work with them. The
Trans-Saturnian planets do fit into the scheme of things,
in a rather esoteric and complicated way that I won't go
into here (unless people really want to know about it).
Personally, I think Uranus has very little to do with Aquarius;
Neptune and Pisces are a much better fit; Pluto and Scorpio
I'm still undecided on. Rulerships are one of the subjects
that, as Kim Rogers-Gallagher puts it, you don't want to
bring up at an Astrological cocktail party.
What
do all of those Astrology Symbols mean, anyway?
I'm glad you asked! What follows is a
legend that shows all of the glyphs, and their meanings.
For more information on their definitions, see the pages
on the Planets,
Houses,
Signs and Aspects.
What's
the difference between astrology and astronomy?
What do the constellations have to do with the astrological
signs?
What is the “Tropical Zodiac”? What is the “Sidereal
Zodiac”?
These questions are actually very involved,
and come in a variety of forms. Often, skeptics use astronomy
as ways of "disproving" astrology. Then, there's
the ongoing battle between The Tropical and the Sidereal
Zodiacs. I attempt to address all of these issues (and more)
in this
Ask Kevin article.
