A Useful Look at What is Astrology?

Astrology is a captivating celestial language that interprets the influence of cosmic bodies on human lives and the natural world. When exploring ‘what is astrology’, you’re embarking on a journey that harnesses the power of the Sun, Moon, and planets, offering profound insights into our personalities, behaviours, and key events that shape our lives.

While I don’t hold any formal degrees in astrology, years of personal study and exploration have given me a deep understanding of this intricate and fascinating field. Today, I want to guide you through an in-depth exploration of astrology.

From uncovering the meaning of the planets, understanding the twelve zodiac signs, and making sense of your birth chart, we will navigate the heavens together. So, shall we embark on this stellar journey?

Astrology: The Story from Stars to Us

Astrology is an ancient language, spoken with stars and planets. It started a very, very long time ago.

In the land of Babylon (now known as Iraq), around 2,000 BC, people first started looking at the sky to understand the world better. They saw that the stars moved in a pattern and thought that maybe this pattern could tell them about the future.

Then, this star knowledge moved to Egypt. The Egyptians also loved the stars. They built huge pyramids that lined up with certain stars.

After Egypt, the Greeks started to study the stars around 600 BC. They gave us the word “astrology.” It comes from “astron,” meaning star, and “logia,” meaning study. So, astrology is the study of stars!

The Romans learned from the Greeks and spread the star knowledge to many places. Astrology even survived when the Roman Empire fell apart.

In the Middle Ages, Arabic scholars kept astrology alive. They translated many star books into Arabic. When Europe started to love learning again (the Renaissance), these books were translated back into Latin and Greek.

Today, astrology is a mix of all these ideas from all over the world. It’s a way for us to understand ourselves better by looking at the sky.

Planetary Powers: The Sun, Moon, and Rising Sign

In astrology, the Sun, Moon, and Rising signs form the core of your personal astrological identity. Your Sun sign reflects your core essence, your Moon sign represents your inner emotional world, and your Rising sign (or Ascendant) depicts how you present yourself to the world.

Decoding the Planetary Symbols

Beyond the Sun, Moon, and Rising signs, each planet in our solar system represents a different aspect of life, a type of energy that influences our personality.

• Sun: Self-expression, vitality, and individuality.
• Moon: Emotion, intuition, and inner mood.
• Mercury: Communication, intellect, and reasoning.
• Venus: Love, beauty, and harmony.
• Mars: Action, desire, and courage.
• Jupiter: Growth, abundance, and luck.
• Saturn: Discipline, responsibility, and structure.
• Uranus: Change, rebellion, and originality.
• Neptune: Dreams, illusions, and spirituality.
• Pluto: Transformation, power, and rebirth.
• North Node (or the ascending node): Destiny, growth, and life lessons.
• South Node (or the descending node): Past life, experience, and inherent skills.

The 12 Zodiac Signs

Let’s take a look at the twelve signs of the zodiac. Each one is unique with its own set of characteristics, strengths, and challenges.

• Aries (March 21 – April 19): Known for their courage, enthusiasm, and leadership skills.
• Taurus (April 20 – May 20): Prized for their practicality, reliability, and sensuality.
• Gemini (May 21 – June 20): Celebrated for their versatility, intellect, and wit.
• Cancer (June 21 – July 22): Cherished for their nurturing, intuition, and emotional depth.
• Leo (July 23 – August 22): Admired for their creativity, generosity, and theatrical flair.
• Virgo (August 23 – September 22): Valued for their meticulousness, analytical skills, and service-oriented approach.
• Libra (September 23 – October 22): Loved for their diplomacy, charm, and taste for beauty.
• Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): Esteemed for their intensity, passion, and magnetic presence.
• Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): Respected for their optimism, philosophy, and sense of adventure.
• Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): Praised for their ambition, discipline, and resilience.
• Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): Valued for their originality, humanitarian spirit, and forward-thinking.
• Pisces (February 19 – March 20): Cherished for their empathy, imagination, and spiritual depth.

The Elemental Energies: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water

Each zodiac sign is also associated with one of four elements, each contributing different qualities:

The Curious Case of Ophiuchus, the 13th Sign

Ophiuchus (November 29 – December 17), often referred to as the “13th zodiac sign,” is based on a constellation that the Sun passes through. While Ophiuchus has created some stir, it’s important to note that Western astrology is based on the tropical zodiac, which follows the seasons rather than constellations. Thus, Ophiuchus isn’t included in astrological interpretations.

Diving Deeper into Birth Charts

A birth chart is a picture of the sky when you were born. It’s like your star map!

In this map, there are 12 houses. Each house talks about a different part of your life. Here’s a quick tour:

• House 1: This house is all about you: your looks, your personality, and how you start new things.
• House 2: This house talks about what you own and how you feel about the things you have.
• House 3: This is the house of communication. It’s about how you think, talk, and learn.
• House 4: This house is about your home and family.
• House 5: This is the fun house! It’s about love, kids, and all the things that make you happy.
• House 6: This house is about your daily life. It talks about your work, health, and the things you do to help others.
• House 7: This house is about your relationships. It talks about marriage, business partners, and people you might not get along with.
• House 8: This is the house of deep stuff. It talks about life changes, the things we share with others, and things that are a bit mysterious.
• House 9: This house is about your beliefs and learning. It also talks about travel and meeting people who are different from you.
• House 10: This house is about your career and your reputation.
• House 11: This house is about your friends and your hopes and dreams for the future.
• House 12: This is the house of the hidden. It talks about things you might not understand or secrets you might keep.

Degrees in your birth chart tell us exactly where a planet is in a house. This can give us more details about that part of your life.

Aspects are connections between two planets. They tell us how these planets work together in your life. For example, if your Sun is in the same house as your Moon (this is called a “conjunction”), you might find it easy to express your feelings.

Moving Stars: Transits and Orbs

Transits are when planets move to different places in your birth chart. This can make some changes in your life. Like if Saturn goes into your 2nd house, you might want to think more about money and what you own.

Orbs tell us how close two planets are when they make a connection. The closer they are, the stronger the connection.

What’s Next?

And there you have it – a brief overview of what astrology is and how it impacts our lives. Astrology is a complex and beautiful system that provides us with a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Now that you know more about astrology, maybe you want to explore more. You can check out today’s horoscope to see what the stars say about your day.

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Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and should not replace professional advice. It’s always best to consult with an experienced astrologer for personalized readings and guidance.