About Astrology

Astrology is a tool for self-knowledge. It shows us our highest potentials and warns us about our vulnerabilities and shortcomings. A horoscope is a blueprint of your character and potentialities _ a cosmic portrait. It teaches us how to understand ourselves and each other. It is both an art and a science. It was traditionally, not only used for divination but in the study of time cycles, and the compilation of calendars.

A History of Astrology

In the ancient world, astrology and astronomy were different aspects of the same science. Astronomy and astrology are said to have originated in Mesopotamia with the Chaldeans and Babylonians (the area now which is Iraq and Jordan), around the fourth millenium B.C., that is almost 6,000 years ago. Later it spread to Egypt in the third millenium B.C. It was used by the Pharohs to predict the fate of nations, and to help with political strategy and timing. The ancient Chinese were also skilled astronomers and astrologers and like many others had developed this independently. Many ancient cultures had astronomic observatories and studied the stars. In India, the Vedic astrologers, and all the way across the globe, the Mayans in Central America had elaborate calendars and maps of the heavens.

Much later, the Greeks and the Romans practiced astrology. Hippocrates, father of medicine taught astrology to his students. Ptolemy, a Greek scientist wrote volumes on astrology. Astrology was used by everyone in all walks of life.

Astrology declined during the Age of Reason because it did not fit into the neat rational boundaries of modern science. If something could not be proven, it did not exist. The teachings and writings of Carl Jung, the great Swiss Psychologist who broke away from his mentor and colleague Freud, and started exploring the vast landscapes of the collective unconscious, awakened interest in other scientists and psychologists to explore metaphysics.

Other teachers who had great influence in bringing esoteric knowledge to the west, were Madame Blavatsky and George Gurdjieff.

Many monumental structures like the Stonehenge in England, and Machu Pichu in Peru are believed to be ancient observatories to measure the movements of the Moon and the planets. And perhaps for ritual purposes as well.

There is more to Astrology than
the Sun Sign!

There is more to astrology than the little blurb you read in the paper called your "horoscope". Those are little more than bits of distorted and generalized information that might or might not fit you. It is loosely based on your Sun Sign. But there is more to a horoscope than your Sun Sign. Your horoscope is a complex entity made up of various (and sometimes conflicting) aspects and relationships. The following is a list and description of the "planets"_the Sun is not really a planet, but a star; however, the term planet is sometimes used by astrologers as a general term referring to all the bodies in the solar system including the Moon. Your true horoscope contains information from the placement of all these planets in relation to the Zodiac, plus other chart factors.

Keywords for the Planets

Sun: life-force, vitality, creativity, self-esteem, innocence, need to shine

Moon: emotions, moods, security needs, nurturing needs, vulnerabilities

Mercury: need to communicate, think, talk, and learn; adaptible and logical; dexterity, perception

Venus: need for beauty, harmony, comfort, affection, relationship, predictability

Mars: need to assert self, desire, aggression, immediate needs, anger, sexual drive, independence

Jupiter: expansion, optimism, quest for truth and justice, philosophy and religion, adventure and high expectations.

Saturn: authority, practicality, discipline, ambition, responsibility, limitations, wisdom of experience

Uranus: freedom, individuality, inventiveness, originality, sudden changes, detachment, eccentricity

Neptune: transcendence, idealism, intuition, mysticism, imagination, escapist tendencies

Pluto: intensity, sexual needs, drive for transformation; compulsion, power and control

Keywords for the Signs of the Zodiac

Aries: assertive, impulsive, energetic, a leader, rash, self-centered

Taurus: deliberate, dependable, comfortable, placid, sensual, possessive, stubborn

Gemini: agile, versatile, curious, clever, flexible, superficial

Cancer: nurturing, emotional, moody, protective, security-oriented, dependent

Leo: creative, charismatic, fun-loving, generous, proud, dominant, arrogant

Virgo: efficient, hard-working, pragmatic, discreet, exacting, nit-picking

Libra: diplomatic, peacemaker, cooperative, aesthetic, fence-sitter, conventional

Scorpio: intense, resourceful, deep, powerful, secretive, compulsive, vindictive

Saggitarius: idealistic, visionary, expansive, enthusiastic, optimistic, forthright, extravagant, blunt

Capricorn: career-oriented, ambitious, responsible, authoritative, conservative, distant

Aquarius: original, inventive, independent, humanitarian, detached, unconventional, radical, rebellious

Pisces: mystical, compassionate, sensitive, spiritual, dreamy, illusory

You might have noticed that some of the descriptions for the planets are somewhat similar to some of the signs of the Zodiac. Well, that is because those planets are said to "rule" that sign. It might be more accurate to say that the sign rules the planet, since a galaxy, which these signs were named after, is on a much bigger scale than a planet. In any case, there is a relationship between that planet. See if you can pick out which planet rules which sign. Some planets have two rulerships.

Also you might have noticed that I started out listing the so-called positive characteristics of the signs and then the negative. Let's call them gifts and challenges instead. Every sign has something to work on.

There are also other factors in the chart which are very important, these are some of them:

Ascendant: persona, appearance, physical body, identity, self-expression

Midheaven: career aspirations, power drives, status and authority

Part of Fortune: a point of luck, talent, ability, growth, gain, and tendencies brought in from past lives

The Lunar Nodes: Important indicators of karmic tragectory

Some astrologers use other bodies and their relative placements to obtain more information from the chart. Some of these are: the Asteroids, Halley's comet, the Transpluto, Chiron, and Dark Moon Lilith.

Copyright Anahid, 2002

More information will be added as time goes on.

Astrology Charts & Reports

Now order your 18 page personal astrology report for only $15.
This includes a free natal chart (wheel).
(Natal Chart (Wheel) alone : $5)

It is a good introduction to your astrological chart and your spirit's path.

Fill out this form for your birth information

Go to Tarot Page
Get a FREE natal chart (wheel) when you order a Tarot reading!