BASICS OF ASTROLOGY

Astrology is an intuitive science.  It is the study of the interplay of energies as they are transmitted by the planets, constellations and signs.  Astrology studies the relationships between these various energies and the energies that are available to us based upon our horoscopes, or chart, and how these energies can best be used. 

Most scholars agree that astrology as we know it probably began in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) with the earliest writings dating from about 2300 BC.  Originally, astrologers were most concerned with the forecasting of mundane events.  While forecasting and choosing appropriate times for activities is still done by astrologers, today astrology is tending more towards a psychological analysis of the astrological chart.

Astrology is based on the Sun's apparent orbit or path around the earth.  This orbit or path is called the ecliptic, and as the Sun journeys on its path, it travels through the twelve constellations or signs.  Each sign has a different meaning because each transmits different energies.  The planets traveling through the signs also give different meanings to the horoscope because, like the signs, each of the planets transmit different energies, which have different meanings.  It is the role of the astrologer to "intuit" the meanings of the various planets in the houses of the horoscope and the relationship between the planets in order to give the subject a "reading." 

The traditional or orthodox meanings of the planets, angles, signs and houses are given below.  The spiritual or esoteric meanings of the angles, planets, signs and houses are discussed in the next article, "Introduction to Spiritual Astrology."  Click here to read that article.

ANGLES

The angles are the four most important points in an astrological chart.  The angles are the imaginary points at the cusp, or beginning, of the first, fourth, seventh and tenth houses.  Planets aspecting the angles are given extra importance in chart analysis.  The meanings of the angles are as follows:

Ascendant:  The Ascendant is the cusp of the first house.  It represents the self, who you are, how you perceive the world around you, how others perceive you, your physical appearance. 

Nadir (IC):  The Nadir or IC is the cusp of the fourth house.  The fourth house represents the foundation of one's life, one's roots, one's emotional foundation.  It is associated with the mother and early childhood. The Nadir is the base upon which one stands as we present ourselves to the world.

Descendant:  The descendant is the cusp of the seventh house.  It represents the other self, the traits that we are lacking, the traits of our partner or mate.

Midheaven (MC):  The midheaven or MC is the sign on the cusp of the tenth house of career, profession, calling in the world.  It represents our dharma, the thing we are supposed to do in this lifetime.

PLANETS

Traditional astrology uses ten planets as the basis of chart interpretation.  Certain recently discovered asteroids are becoming more popular in chart interpretation. They are Chiron, Ceres, Juno, Pallas Athene and Vesta.  As more asteroids are discovered, astrologers are intuiting their meaning and are gradually adding them to chart interpretation.      

Sun: Vitality, energy, identity

Moon: Feelings, habitual responses

Mercury:  Communication, mental acuity, the mind, the thinking process 

Venus: Love, beauty, harmony 

Mars: Energy, aggression, strong desires, combat, strenuous effort

Jupiter: Expansion, luck, fortune, opportunity, spiritualism, optimism

Saturn: Restriction, discipline, realism

Uranus: Revolutionary ideas, innovation

Neptune: Spiritualism, intuition, imagination

Pluto: Transformation, death, elimination

ASTEROIDS

Chiron: Wounds, healing of wounds, sense of direction

Juno: Committed relationships, marriage partner

Pallas Athene: Intelligence, strategic planning

Ceres: Mothering, nurturing, harvesting, bringing to fruition

Vesta: Devotion

SIGNS

The signs, or constellations, are twelve in number.  They are the twelve sub-divisions of the circle of the zodiac, each being 30 degrees of arc. 

Aries: Beginnings, initiative, pioneering spirit, assertiveness

Taurus: Values, refinement, resources, stability

Gemini: Communication, mind, mental pursuits, versatility

Cancer: Mothering, nurturing, protectiveness, sensitivity, mass-consciousness 

Leo: Individuality, strong sense of self, self-expression, magnanimity, self-centered

Virgo: Service, discrimination, purification, analysis

Libra: Balance, harmony, equilibrium, choice, relationships, justice

Scorpio: Power, intensity, transformation, testing

Sagittarius: Vision, sense of direction, one-pointedness, moral and spiritual leadership, showing others the way

Capricorn: Authority, status, achievement

Aquarius:  Humanitarianism, brotherhood, group consciousness

Pisces:  Spirituality, idealism, sacrifice, release

HOUSES

The zodiac is divided up into twelve houses, or areas.  A house is a two hour segment of a twenty-four hour cycle.  The daily revolution of the earth on its axis is divided into 12 segments of equal lengths of time.  Each house represents the celestial arc that passed over the horizon in two hours.  The amount of celestial arc that passes over the horizon in each two hour division varies with the time of year and the latitude of the place where the birth occurs.  A description of the traditional or orthodox meaning of each house follows.

First House:  The self, your identify, physical appearance, physical body, outlook on life, self-expression.

Second House:  Your values, what you treasure, how you earn a living, your earning ability, possessions and resources, your self-worth.

Third House:  Communication, your conscious mind, short trips, brothers and sisters, your immediate environment, your early education,

Fourth House:  The home, basic foundation, emotional foundation, early childhood, parents (especially the mother), roots, security, inherited tendencies, end or latter part of life.

Fifth House:  Children, which includes children of the mind, creativity and creative expression, romance, love affairs, speculation, sports, entertainment, amusements 

Sixth House:  Work, routine, health, healing, habits, service to others, training, pets, employees and co-workers, hygiene

Seventh House:  Partnerships, both business and personal, relationships, marriage, public relations, open enemies

Eighth House:  Death and transformation, regeneration, joint finances, partner's money, other people's money including bank loans, credit cards, insurance settlements, inheritances, etc., lottery winnings, loss, endings, sex. 

Ninth House:  Philosophy, religion, morals, spiritual values, higher education, long distance travel, publishing, legal issues.

Tenth House:  Career, profession, calling, status, ambition, law, authority, father, recognition, rewards

Eleventh House:  Friends, groups, hopes and wishes, organizations.

Twelfth House:  Subconscious mind, hidden enemies, behind the scenes activities, imprisonment, bondage, hidden strengths.

ASPECTS

The term "aspects" relates to the geometrical relationship between the planets and the angles. 

The major aspects along with the degree and description are as follows:

Conjunction:        0 degrees         Power

Opposition:       180 degrees        Compromise required

Trine:                120 degrees        Smooth flow of energy

Square:              90 degrees        Obstacle

Sextile:              60 degrees        Opportunity

References:

Braha, James, How To Be A Great Astrologer, Hermetician Press, Longboat Key Florida, 1992.

Hickey, Isabel, Astrology: A Cosmic Science, CRCS Publications, Sebastopol, California, 1992.

Lofthus, Myrna, A Spiritual Approach to Astrology, CRCS Publications, Sebastopol, California, 1935.

Sakoian, Frances and Acker, Louis, The Astrologer's Handbook, Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc., New York, NY, 1973.