BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO ASTROLOGY
What Is Astrology?
At the time we are born the heavens give us an imprint of the physical positions of the Sun, Moon and planets in the universe. Astrology is a science that allows you to interpret and understand your personality and how the position and movement of celestial bodies energetically influence your personality and events.
"As is above, so is below"
Astrology will deepen your understanding of personal issues, life direction and purpose. By taking a closer look at your natal predispositions and characteristics, you will be able to tap into inner strengths that you may not be aware of and to become conscious of weaknesses that can hinder you from moving forward in your life.
Understanding your astrological chart can give you insight and clarity which will assist you in navigating your way through life. By increasing your awareness of innate energy patterns, you will be able to make informed choices about your future, rather than struggling against "what is".
THE HOUSES
When having an accurate astrology reading done, it is imperative
to obtain the precise time of birth. This is so we can ascertain the
degree of the ascending or rising sign. The first house or ascendant
begins a 9 o'clock on the natal chart. Once we have the degree of
ascendant the natal chart is divided into the twelve houses. Signs are
always 30 degrees in length and if using the equal house system, all
houses will be of equal size, however, if other house systems are used,
such as Koch or Placidus house size can vary. Opposing houses, i.e.,
house 1 and house 7, or house 2 and house 8 will hold the same house
cusp degree and as signs have opposites we also have opposing signs.
Houses in the natal chart go in an anticlockwise direction. The houses in the natal chart relate to which areas of life are
expressed or highlighted for the individual.
[To
read more on the houses, please click here]
THE SIGNS
In ancient times people had a closer relationship with the
heavens and noted different constellations looked like various animals
or symbols. These constellations in the sky were divided into twelve
zodiac signs (based on the solar calendar). Due to their affinity, each
sign is ruled by a particular planet. The zodiac signs depict the way
the planets express themselves.
[To
read more on the signs, please click here]
THE PLANETS
The astrological planets are the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars,
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. The planets in the universe
orbit the Sun. Planets closest to the Sun have a short cycle or orbit
around the Sun. The planet Mercury only takes 88 days to orbit around
the Sun, whilst the more distant planets have a longer cycle, such as
distant Pluto, which has a 248 year cycle. The planets represent a
particular drive (what), the sign the planet is in will indicate how
this drive is expressed (how) and the house indicates the area of life
where this drive is expressed (where).
[To
read more on the planets, please click here]
THE ELEMENTS
By looking at the balance of the elements in the natal chart, you can
get a broad feeling for the individual's personality, temperament and
psychological make up. Carl Jung (www.trans4mid.com/mind-development/jung.html)
looked at the functions of intuition, sensate, feelings and thinking.
Aligning the four elements to these functions, we see that intuition
equates to the fire element as it is initiating and spirited, sensate
equates to the earth element as it is stable and practical, feeling
equates to the water element as it is emotive and reflective and
thinking equates to the air element as it relates to intellectual and
rational matters. Of course each individual functions in a different way
and whilst some people have a predominance of one type of element, we
often have a mixture of elements. Each Zodiac sign has an element
assigned to it.
[To
read more on the elements, please click here]
THE QUALITIES OR MODES
As well as signs being divided into elements and the polarities of
Yin and Yang, they are also divided into qualities or modes. Whilst the
4 elements (earth, fire, air and water) describe a person's basic
temperament, the 3 modes (cardinal, fixed and mutable) describe the way
the signs operate and the personality.
[To
read more on the qualities or modes, please click here]