Astrology Basics

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Astrology Basics

One of the things that I find most fascinating about our current culture is how ancient practices have come back into public acceptance. For instance, in the field of medicine, we are seeing respectable physicians prescribing the use of herbs, acupuncture, magnets, etc., as alternatives to chemicals and surgery. In science, quantum physicists are “discovering” proof that our thoughts have the ability to affect our physical being. Psychiatrists are openly admitting that reincarnation is quite possible and that someone suffering from multiple personality disorder could actually have a number of disembodied spirits manipulating his or her behavior.

In spiritual matters, masses of people are turning to ancient beliefs and religions for answers, as well as seeking advice from psychics, tarot card readers and astrologers. It is well documented that powerful people throughout history regularly consulted their wizard or astrologer before deciding the fate of their empire. Not long ago, I had a big surprise in this area. During a visit to the Vatican, I had (as usual) taken a detour off the suggested tourist path in order to find the Borgia apartments. The suite had been stripped of furnishings but, to my delight, I found that the ceiling of the great hall was beautifully painted with zodiac symbols, under which the names of Popes were inscribed. Of course, one must keep in mind that the Borgia Pope had bought that position rather than having earned it with religious fervor, his sister was the infamous Lucretia, and the two of them practiced a number of UN-holy acts! (By the way, there was a guard sitting in that unfurnished room whose sole job seemed to be preventing us from taking photographs or videos. Although it is normal to ban flash photography to prevent damage to paintings, it felt to me that this guard was more concerned with preventing anyone from recording evidence of heresy.)

When skeptics question the veracity of astrology despite history, I point out the scientifically proven power of the moon’s cycles on tides and plant growth. Then I point out that hospital emergency room records confirm how humans (who are mostly made up of water) are affected by a full moon and that there are even some fire departments who pay full moon differential because it is so much busier – and more dangerous – than usual. If one accepts the fact that Earth life can be affected by the moon, isn’t it logical that other bodies in our solar system have some powers over our lives as well? For instance, “Mercury Retrograde” is rapidly becoming a phrase that acceptably explains computer glitches, communication foul-ups and car breakdowns (in the “Password” game, this category would be titled “things that can crash.”)

I happen to believe that we all have the ability to tap into the universal consciousness to get answers to our questions, but at this time of human evolution, most people are still unable to get past the mental sludge surrounding that ability. Astrology and numerology are based on grounded information that anyone willing to put in the time and energy can learn to use, despite the level of development of their extrasensory abilities. However, I encourage beginning students to adopt the attitude that astrology and numerology are ways of understanding what advantages and disadvantages were in place when a person was born and when the ideal time for a specific action will be, rather than as a predictive or forecasting tool.

Thus said, the following is an excerpt from one of my novels, in which a character is explaining to a novice how astrology works. The purpose of the description is only to create a simple, entertaining visual, so it is not precise by any means.

Okay. I want you to imagine the solar system, with all the planets revolving around the sun. Close your eyes if you have to.”

Figuring it would be faster to go along, Gina did as suggested.

“You know how the moon affects the tides and farming and people’s moods, well, the rest of the planets affect us, too. Each heavenly body rules at least one zodiac sign and affects specific areas of earth life, such as surprises, communication or love. Now imagine a large piece of glass shaped like a pie with 12 pieces cut in it. Each piece has about a four-week calendar period and the name of a zodiac sign on it. These pieces are arranged counterclockwise in this order: Aries, for March 21 to April 19, then Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces, which brings you back to March 20th. Set this glass pie plate above the solar system so that your sign, Cancer, is right over the sun and give it an easy spin in a clockwise direction. With me so far?”

To Gina’s amazement, E.G.’s words instantly created the image in her mind and she nodded.

“Okay. Now see another circle of glass above that and cut it into 12th’s also, but with the numbers 1 through 12 written inside each piece. These segments are called houses and represent the different aspects of our individual lives, such as personality, relationships, career, karma, and so on. Give that one an easy spin too but in the opposite direction.”

Gina wondered why the pieces were called houses, but she didn’t want to extend the lecture longer than necessary by showing interest.

Next, picture one more piece of glass on top of everything, with a big, 24-hour clock, marked by minutes, painted on it. Give that one a faster push in a clockwise direction. Good. And finally, place a vertical band around all the plates, kind of like a giant Ferris wheel, with each seat representing a past, present and future year in time, and start it turning. Now imagine a photographer looking down on the whole creation from high above. When the seat with your birth year lined up with the minute of your birth on the clock, exactly above the spot in the zodiac pie that marked the month and day you were born, all the revolving and spinning stopped just long enough to take a photo of all of it. That picture would show which planet was in which sign and which sign was in which house and, voila, you have your natal chart. Pretty simple, huh?”

Gina opened her eyes and laughed. “Are you kidding? I got dizzy and fell off one of the spinning pie plates somewhere over Pluto. But that’s okay, I get the picture...sort of.”

“Good enough. At least you understand how just knowing someone’s sun sign is only a small piece of what makes them tick. When I look at a person’s whole chart, I see what characteristics, tools and baggage they were born with, as well as when and where opportunities and challenges will pop up in their life.”

“It sounds rather fatalistic. Don’t you believe in free will?”

E.G.’s black-rimmed eyes widened. “Of course, I do. Only the opportunities and challenges show up in the chart, not what you will do when presented with them. But that discussion would take us further into the holographic universe than you need to go today. The point I want to make is that the day and month you were born can indicate certain general qualities about you, but the year and exact time determine the specific details and can even drastically counter your sun sign attributes.

The following are some Astro Q & A's Marilyn Campbell has written for various columns:

What is the difference between the Sun Sign and the Moon Sign?

The Sun Sign is based on which zodiac sign the sun was in on the date of an individual’s birthday, which is commonly known, while the Moon Sign is determined by preparing a natal chart based on the exact time and location of birth and noting the Moon's position at that moment.

The Sun Sign refers to a person’s character and ego and how she tends to behave or react to certain situations. The Moon Sign is a good indicator of the emotional self and how one best expresses her emotions, as well as giving quite a bit of insight into how one’s subconscious self works. The combination of these two signs can usually give a fair idea of what someone’s total personality is like.

Since the Sun’s position in the sky can be predicted with a certain degree of accuracy from year to year, it has therefore become the “popular” astrological sign. The Moon, however, changes signs about once every 2-½ days. That makes it a little more difficult to use in forecasting, though not impossible.

Why doesn't my Sun Sign description sound like me?

It is important to note that we don’t always see ourselves as others see us. I might suggest you ask someone who has known you well for some time to give you their honest opinion. That said, however, your birthday only identifies which zodiac sign the sun was in on that date. Although that sign usually gives a general indication of a person’s character traits, a full natal chart, based on the exact time and location of birth, needs to be drawn up to determine all the pieces that make up an individual’s full personality picture.

Not only are there twelve zodiac signs within a calendar year, there are twelve houses and at least eight planetary bodies that must be taken into account as well. Each planetary body governs a particular area of life, such as surprises, communication or love. Houses represent the different aspects of our individual lives, such as relationships, careers or karma. Certain planets in certain houses at the time of a person’s birth can have great influence on her personality.

Also, the time of one’s birth is used to determine one’s ascendant, or rising, sign, found in the first house, which holds the true self. The strength and characteristics of this sign can complement, enhance or even counter the traits of the sun sign. Situations like yours often occur when the ascendant is “stronger” than the sun sign or when several planets are clumped together in one house or sign, in which case, both the sun and ascendant can seem to be outweighed. However, it should be kept in mind that the sun sign character traits are still there, even if other aspects tend to cover them up.

Strictly reading a sun sign profile can also prove to be inadequate for someone born on the cusp of two signs or for a twin. However, for the majority of people, a sun sign profile provides very worthwhile insight.

What is meant by a planet being "retrograde"?

Although the word “retrograde” is defined as moving backward or going in reverse, in astrological terms it does not mean that the planet has literally stopped and started revolving in the opposition direction. Its direction never actually changes (any more than a new moon truly disappears). However, as the planets circle the Sun, the vantage point we have from Earth may cause a planet to appear to rotate in reverse of its usual spin. Anytime a planet is said to be in retrograde motion, the influence it has on Earth is contrary to its usual effect. It may be the complete opposite, as with Mercury (obstructive rather than supportive), stalled as with beneficial planets such as Jupiter, (The Great Benefactor or Godfather), or lessened as with challenging planets like Saturn (Karmic Lord or The Great Lesson Teacher).

Mercury retrograde is not all that rare, occurring at least three times in any given year. The aspect lasts approximately three weeks each period but the transitional three to five days before and after have been known to be influential to a certain extent as well. What does that mean to us? Since Mercury is the planet governing communication and transportation, we need to be prepared for possible glitches in those areas. This aspect has been connected with things that crash, such as cars, computers and communications (verbal and technological). So, back up the hard-drive and take your vehicles to the mechanic for a check-up in advance. If at all possible, do not schedule any important negotiations or signing of legal documents during this period, as whatever is decided may have to be reworked in a few weeks, or worse, the deal or situation may have problems that don’t show up until later. Purchasing technology or a car is often fraught with difficulties.

Likewise, as Jupiter governs careers as well as big wishes, everyone experienced a slowdown in progress to some extent in that area of their life while Jupiter was retrograde. Pluto is a much more distant planet but still has influence over global matters and finances affected by international events. Whatever sign the retrograde planet is in will be the most strongly affected.

Mind you, a retrograde period does not create a negative situation; it only brings something already problematical to the surface. The positive use of such time is to research, review, rework, rethink…whatever you’ve been doing in the area of your life affected by the planet involved. For instance, for an author, Mercury retrograde is the perfect time to do fact-checking or revisions.

What can be expected by an eclipse?

By definition, an eclipse is the obscuring, blocking, overshadowing or surpassing of one thing by another. As we know, however, astronomically speaking, it is only temporary. Soon, whatever was blocked reappears. Whether visible where you live or not, eclipses are still noteworthy.

To put the event into astrological terms, consider the phrase “It is always darkest before the dawn.” Things might get unusually tense in the days before each eclipse begins and swiftly improve afterward—sort of like the air right before and after a bad storm. Very simply, eclipses shake things up. What was hidden is suddenly revealed. Bewildering situations are clarified. Obstacles are eliminated. New doorways appear.

Eclipses tend to affect each individual in different ways but one thing remains the same. Something changes after an eclipse. The other thing you can count on is that you can’t be certain of what that something will be, only that it will be something you needed whether you realized it or not.

Eclipses bring surprises or trigger much needed change in a surprising way. Usually, individuals born under the sign in which the eclipse occurs will be the most personally affected but everyone should experience a change of some sort in the weeks following a solar or lunar eclipse, even if it is indirectly, such as with their family, community…or even the country.

What does Pluto have to do with me?

Changing its astronomical status does not alter the fact that Pluto still has an astrological effect on Earth. Because it is so very far from us and remains in one sign for so long, it sometimes has the least apparent influence on the individual, yet there is still an influence to be considered. Exactly what that influence is, however, is debatable.

Generally, Pluto rules death, destruction, rebirth and extreme changes. Pluto is said to govern global, historical and generational issues—think “big picture” stuff. It can exert great positive or negative power that may cause chaos through elements of nature, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, or social chaos, such as liberation movements, revolutions and international terrorism. Its placement in an individual’s chart shows whether or not there will be great upheaval or a sudden, sweeping life change at some point. From that perspective, Pluto can be held responsible for that person becoming a beneficent world leader or infamous serial killer.

Pluto’s elliptical orbit results in its taking anywhere from ten to thirty years to travel through a single zodiac sign. It has been in Sagittarius since 1995 (with brief wobbles into Capricorn earlier this year). At the end of November, Pluto moves into Capricorn for a fifteen-year stay. The last time this placement occurred was about 240 years ago, around the time of the American and French Revolutions.

Sagittarius is a fire sign and considered the spontaneous, freedom-loving spirit of the zodiac, a real risk-taker. Capricorn is an earth sign and known as the super-focused, ambitious workaholic, who prefers to be certain of the path to success before stepping onto it. Obviously these two are nearly complete opposites in personality. Think back over the past thirteen years of your own life as well as what has occurred globally then imagine what the opposite might be like. No astrologer can accurately predict exactly how Pluto will affect Earth’s course as it transits into new territory, only that the results should be very, very different from what has transpired in the last decade. Will the results be felt instantaneously? Because Capricorn is such a different host, perhaps yes. Because Capricorn prefers caution to spontaneity, perhaps no. It is probable that Capricorns and Scorpios (ruled by Pluto) will be the first to notice the shift.

Only time will tell with Pluto, however.

How do other planets influence us?

It is interesting to note that most people, whether they believe in astrology or not, accept the concept that the moon has the power to affect us here on Earth. One reason for this acceptance is that the lunar cycles can be visually tracked every night. Farmers and fishermen can offer physical proof that the moon has an affect on planting and fishing. Since the moon has an influence on tides and our bodies are mostly made up of water, it seems quite logical that the moon affects humans as well. Anyone familiar with law enforcement agencies, fire departments and hospital emergency rooms, knows that chaos rises with the full moon. Some fire departments even offer “full moon pay” because of the additional hazards of working at that particular time.

Thus, does it not make sense that all the other planetary bodies in our solar system have some sort of influence over us? Knowing which zodiac sign is hosting which planet at a given time can give us insight into circumstances happening around us, how people might behave and even how global events could play out. By creating a natal astrological profile for an individual, it can be determined how each planet’s position at the time of that person’s birth will affect his life.

The following are some of the generally accepted areas of influence for each planetary body and which zodiac sign(s) it rules:

Sun	Ego, individuality, ambition, strength, confidence, where one “shines” Ruler of Leo
Moon	Emotions, moods, maternal aspects, domestic life, psychic abilities, creativity, magnetism Ruler of Cancer
Mercury	Mental activities, communication, transportation, electronics Ruler of Gemini and Virgo
Venus	Love, affection, friendship, beauty, art, finances Ruler of Taurus and Libra
Mars	Energy, passion, sexuality, aggression, ambition, courage, anger, war Ruler of Aries
Jupiter	Fortune, luck, happiness, great gifts and blessings, knowledge, career strengths, higher learning, optimism Ruler of Sagittarius
Saturn	Karma, maturity, tough lessons, restraint, patience, realism, responsibility Ruler of Capricorn
Uranus	Sudden changes, surprises, science, invention, humanitarian movements Ruler of Aquarius
Neptune	Mystery, illusion, imagination, dreams, fantasies, the occult, deception, treachery, addictions, criminal activity Ruler of Pisces
Pluto	Global events, death and rebirth, destruction, revolution, explosive forces, total transformation Ruler of Scorpio

What does the term "House" mean in astrology?

The study of astrology involves much more than knowing what zodiac sign the sun is in on a particular day. As explained in last month’s column, there are ten other heavenly bodies that play a part in identifying the energy and possibilities of that day. To accurately prepare someone’s natal profile or to forecast, it is also necessary to take the twelve houses into consideration.

Before defining the influences of those houses, it might help if you had my very simplified version of the primary pieces involved in astrology. Imagine four glass plates suspended in space, one above the other. The bottom plate is divided into twelve segments and labeled with the zodiac sign names their relevant calendar dates. The plate above that has ten divisions, each labeled with a heavenly body. Above that is another plate with twelve numbered segments called houses. The top plate is a twenty-four hour clock with minute markings. Now imagine a vertical band around the entire stack, like a giant Ferris wheel, with each seat labeled with the number of a year. Visualize all four plates and the band spinning at different speeds and in various directions. At the precise moment that is to be examined, everything freezes and a photographer perched high above the entire structure takes a picture. For that minute on a certain day of a certain year, that snapshot would reveal which zodiac sign each planet was in and which house each sign was in.

As discussed in last month’s column, each planetary body governs a particular area of life, such as surprises, karma or emotions. Similarly, houses represent the different aspects of our individual lives, such as relationships, careers and health. Thus certain planets in certain houses at the time of someone’s birth can have great influence on that individual’s personality.

Following are some of the generally accepted matters influenced by each house:

First	The physical body, true personality, self-interest, early life
Second	Money earned or acquired, possessions, material resources
Third	Conscious mental activity, communication, short trips, siblings
Fourth	Home, domestic life, end of a matter
Fifth	Romance, love life, sports, children, creative talents
Sixth	Health, clothing, working conditions
Seventh	Marriage, divorce, partnerships, relationships, known enemies
Eighth	Death, taxes, sexual matters, inheritance, other people’s money
Ninth	Religion, philosophy, foreign matters, long-distance travel, education, the law
Tenth	Career, professional status, public reputation, honors
Eleventh	Friends, hopes, wishes, dreams
Twelfth	Secrets, obsessions, negative behaviors and habits, hidden enemies, institutions

Are we in the Age of Aquarius yet?

There is considerable speculation about when the Age of Aquarius officially began or will begin. I found sources that claim it started as far back as 1881 and as far ahead as 2400. But most astrologers settle on using the year 2000. The various “Ages” are identified according to which constellation the vernal equinox passes through. Each Age is further defined by human development and progress. For instance, the Age of Cancer (ruler of the home) took place from 8000-6000 B.C. when humans began building homes and farming. The Age of Pisces (sign of spiritual growth), 1-2000 A.D. saw the development and subsequent influences of Christianity. I find it more than coincidental that the symbol for both Pisces and Christ is a fish.

The Age of Aquarius is expected to be a time of friendship and humanitarianism in which the whole world begins working together rather than countries divided. Since Aquarius is also representative of the intellect, scientific knowledge, inventions, new technology, the mind will take the forefront. Telepathy could very possibly be a common form of communication before this Age is over. It is believed that the creation of the internet was one of the signposts of the Age of Aquarius. Interestingly, this is also the sign that rules the air and space, so there are expectations of space travel becoming commonplace.

It is interesting to note that in the song, Age of Aquarius, it states that the age dawns when "the moon is in the seventh house and Jupiter aligns with Mars". The seventh solar house is Libra, where the moon visits at least once every month. A good astrology computer program could probably quickly identify the various dates when Jupiter aligned with Mars in the last ten years or so, then correlate those dates to when the Moon was in Libra. This could be the answer to exactly when the Age of Aquarius dawned...or they could just be words that fit nicely into the melody.

At any rate, if the moon—which influences such things as emotions, the female side of personality and magnetism—is in the seventh house—the ruler of marriage, divorce, partnerships and known enemies...well, you can now figure out for yourself what is in the air!

Male vs Female Sun Sign Characteristics

“Are the typical characteristics of a sun sign affected by whether the person is male or female?”

As Dr. John Gray so aptly explained, “Men are from Mars; women are from Venus.” Thus, variations should be allowed within each sun sign, beyond the general aspects attributed to each. The following list offers a primary key word, the symbol of the sign, the characteristics of which should always be taken into consideration, and some descriptive personality words for each gender.

Aries	ACTION, Ram HE: aggressive, dynamic, courageous, arrogant, militant, high energy SHE: confident, assertive, enthusiastic, selfish, relentless
Taurus	POSSESSIONS, Bull HE: practical, patient, possessive, stubborn, loves beautiful things SHE: reliable, affectionate, overly loyal, rooted, plodding, jealous
Gemini	VARIETY, Twins HE: creative, intelligent, non-conformist, undisciplined, fickle SHE: talented, multitasker, low completion rate, talker, high-strung
Cancer	TENACITY, Crab HE: artistic, sensitive, shy, whiney, altruistic, patriotic SHE: nurturing, compassionate, shrewd, moody
Leo	POWER, Lion HE: noble, romantic, fearless, conceited, show-off SHE: generous, outgoing, upbeat, straightforward, egotistical
Virgo	SERVICE, Virgin HE: analytical, practical, rigid, judgmental, curious SHE: neat, efficient, narrow-minded, inflexible, hard-working
Libra	HARMONY, Scales HE: strong sense of justice, romantic, non-committal, indecisive SHE: spiritual, intuitive, non-judgmental, easily confused
Scorpio	RESOURCEFULNESS, Scorpion HE: sexual, heroic, powerful, cynical, suspicious, vindictive SHE: sexy, smart, reliable, driven, ruthless, sly
Sagittarius	FREEDOM, Centaur/Hunter HE: fun, independent, out-spoken, a player/unable to commit SHE: optimistic, free-spirited, messy, undisciplined, blunt
Capricorn	AMBITION, Goat HE: dedicated, driven, workaholic, control freak SHE: ambitious, methodical, dedicated, worrier, condescending
Aquarius	INDEPENDENCE, Water-bearer HE: great friend, strong chemistry, hardworking, tactless, impersonal, loner SHE: humanitarian, inventive, independent, honest, aloof, argumentative
Pisces	COMPASSION, 2 Fish swimming in opposite directions HE: creative dreamer, poor follow-through, requires managing, gentle SHE: easy-going, intuitive, daydreamer, flighty, pack-rat

New & Full Moon Timing

“Can you recommend a trustworthy website for astronomical information?”

Absolutely! For accurate astronomical information and timing of events such as eclipses, full moons, and so on, I go to the U. S. Naval Observatory site:

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data .

For moonspell purposes, it is necessary to know precisely what phase the moon is in at what time. This information is available on that site at

http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.php.

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