A Beginner’s Guide to Astrology

Astrology is the study of the influence of celestial bodies on earthly events and human affairs. It is based on the idea that the planets, the sun, the moon, and other celestial objects have distinct personalities and energies that affect our lives in various ways. Astrology can help us understand ourselves better, as well as the world around us.

In this chapter, we will explore the basics of astrology, including its history, its main components, and how it can be used to gain insight into our personality, relationships, career, and destiny.

The Planets

The planets are the main actors in astrology. They represent the different parts of our psyche, our personality, our needs, our drives, and our expression. Each planet has its own characteristics, qualities, and functions, depending on its nature, its position, and its relationship with other planets. There are 10 planets in astrology: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Each planet rules a sign of the zodiac, and has a specific role and meaning in our birth chart.

• The Sun represents our core self, our identity, our ego, our purpose, and our vitality. It shows how we shine, how we express ourselves, and what makes us unique. The Sun rules the sign of Leo, and is associated with the element of fire, the color of gold, and the metal of gold.
• The Moon represents our emotions, our feelings, our instincts, our intuition, and our subconscious. It shows how we react, how we nurture, and how we connect with others. The Moon rules the sign of Cancer, and is associated with the element of water, the color of silver, and the metal of silver.
• Mercury represents our mind, our communication, our logic, our learning, and our curiosity. It shows how we think, how we speak, how we write, and how we acquire information. Mercury rules the signs of Gemini and Virgo, and is associated with the element of air, the color of yellow, and the metal of mercury.
• Venus represents our love, our beauty, our harmony, our values, and our pleasure. It shows how we relate, how we attract, how we enjoy, and what we appreciate. Venus rules the signs of Taurus and Libra, and is associated with the element of earth, the color of green, and the metal of copper.
• Mars represents our energy, our action, our desire, our passion, and our courage. It shows how we assert, how we pursue, how we fight, and what we want. Mars rules the sign of Aries, and is associated with the element of fire, the color of red, and the metal of iron.
• Jupiter represents our growth, our expansion, our optimism, our wisdom, and our luck. It shows how we explore, how we learn, how we believe, and what we aspire. Jupiter rules the sign of Sagittarius, and is associated with the element of fire, the color of purple, and the metal of tin.
• Saturn represents our structure, our discipline, our responsibility, our maturity, and our karma. It shows how we organize, how we work, how we limit, and what we achieve. Saturn rules the sign of Capricorn, and is associated with the element of earth, the color of black, and the metal of lead.
• Uranus represents our change, our innovation, our freedom, our rebellion, and our genius. It shows how we break, how we invent, how we liberate, and what we surprise. Uranus rules the sign of Aquarius, and is associated with the element of air, the color of blue, and the metal of uranium.
• Neptune represents our dreams, our imagination, our spirituality, our compassion, and our illusion. It shows how we create, how we inspire, how we transcend, and what we deceive. Neptune rules the sign of Pisces, and is associated with the element of water, the color of turquoise, and the metal of platinum.
• Pluto represents our transformation, our power, our intensity, our regeneration, and our evolution. It shows how we destroy, how we control, how we penetrate, and what we renew. Pluto rules the sign of Scorpio, and is associated with the element of water, the color of maroon, and the metal of plutonium.

The Signs

The signs are the 12 segments of the zodiac, each corresponding to a constellation and a season. They represent the different modes of expression, the different qualities, and the different elements of life. Each sign has its own characteristics, qualities, and functions, depending on its nature, its position, and its relationship with the planets. There are 12 signs in astrology: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Each sign is ruled by a planet, and has a specific role and meaning in our birth chart.

• Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, corresponding to the spring equinox and the beginning of the astrological year. It represents the cardinal mode of expression, the positive polarity, and the fire element. It symbolizes the spark of life, the impulse of creation, and the force of action. Aries is ruled by Mars, and is associated with the ram, the head, and the color of red. Aries shows our initiative, our courage, our enthusiasm, and our leadership.
• Taurus is the second sign of the zodiac, corresponding to the mid-spring and the peak of the season. It represents the fixed mode of expression, the negative polarity, and the earth element. It symbolizes the stability of life, the persistence of creation, and the value of action. Taurus is ruled by Venus, and is associated with the bull, the neck, and the color of green. Taurus shows our security, our patience, our sensuality, and our loyalty.
• Gemini is the third sign of the zodiac, corresponding to the late spring and the end of the season. It represents the mutable mode of expression, the positive polarity, and the air element. It symbolizes the diversity of life, the curiosity of creation, and the communication of action. Gemini is ruled by Mercury, and is associated with the twins, the arms, and the color of yellow. Gemini shows our versatility, our intelligence, our adaptability, and our sociability.
• Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac, corresponding to the summer solstice and the beginning of the astrological summer. It represents the cardinal mode of expression, the negative polarity, and the water element. It symbolizes the emotion of life, the nurturing of creation, and the protection of action. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, and is associated with the crab, the chest, and the color of silver. Cancer shows our sensitivity, our empathy, our care, and our loyalty.
• Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, corresponding to the mid-summer and the peak of the season. It represents the fixed mode of expression, the positive polarity, and the fire element. It symbolizes the radiance of life, the joy of creation, and the confidence of action. Leo is ruled by the Sun, and is associated with the lion, the heart, and the color of gold. Leo shows our creativity, our generosity, our charisma, and our pride.
• Virgo is the sixth sign of the zodiac, corresponding to the late summer and the end of the season. It represents the mutable mode of expression, the negative polarity, and the earth element. It symbolizes the analysis of life, the service of creation, and the improvement of action. Virgo is ruled by Mercury, and is associated with the virgin, the stomach, and the color of beige. Virgo shows our logic, our efficiency, our diligence, and our perfectionism.
• Libra is the seventh sign of the zodiac, corresponding to the autumn equinox and the beginning of the astrological autumn. It represents the cardinal mode of expression, the positive polarity, and the air element. It symbolizes the balance of life, the harmony of creation, and the justice of action. Libra is ruled by Venus, and is associated with the scales, the kidneys, and the color of pink. Libra shows our diplomacy, our beauty, our cooperation, and our fairness.
• Scorpio is the eighth sign of the zodiac, corresponding to the mid-autumn and the peak of the season. It represents the fixed mode of expression, the negative polarity, and the water element. It symbolizes the depth of life, the power of creation, and the intensity of action. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto, and is associated with the scorpion, the genitals, and the color of maroon. Scorpio shows our passion, our transformation, our secrecy, and our resilience.
• Sagittarius is the ninth sign of the zodiac, corresponding to the late autumn and the end of the season. It represents the mutable mode of expression, the positive polarity, and the fire element. It symbolizes the adventure of life, the wisdom of creation, and the optimism of action. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, and is associated with the archer, the thighs, and the color of purple. Sagittarius shows our exploration, our learning, our humor, and our honesty.
• Capricorn is the tenth sign of the zodiac, corresponding to the winter solstice and the beginning of the astrological winter. It represents the cardinal mode of expression, the negative polarity, and the earth element. It symbolizes the structure of life, the ambition of creation, and the achievement of action. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, and is associated with the goat, the knees, and the color of black. Capricorn shows our organization, our discipline, our responsibility, and our success.
• Aquarius is the eleventh sign of the zodiac, corresponding to the mid-winter and the peak of the season. It represents the fixed mode of expression, the positive polarity, and the air element. It symbolizes the innovation of life, the freedom of creation, and the rebellion of action. Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, and is associated with the water-bearer, the ankles, and the color of blue. Aquarius shows our originality, our eccentricity, our humanitarianism, and our independence.
• Pisces is the twelfth sign of the zodiac, corresponding to the late winter and the end of the season. It represents the mutable mode of expression, the negative polarity, and the water element. It symbolizes the transcendence of life, the compassion of creation, and the illusion of action. Pisces is ruled by Neptune, and is associated with the fish, the feet, and the color of turquoise. Pisces shows our imagination, our spirituality, our sensitivity, and our escapism.

The Houses

The houses are the 12 sectors of the birth chart, each corresponding to a different area of life and a different angle of the horizon. They represent the different domains of experience, the different stages of development, and the different facets of reality. Each house has its own characteristics, qualities, and functions, depending on its nature, its position, and its relationship with the planets and the signs. There are 12 houses in astrology: the first house, the second house, the third house, the fourth house, the fifth house, the sixth house, the seventh house, the eighth house, the ninth house, the tenth house, the eleventh house, and the twelfth house. Each house is ruled by a sign, and has a specific role and meaning in our birth chart.

• The first house is the house of self, corresponding to the ascendant or the rising sign, the point where the sun rises on the eastern horizon. It represents the beginning of life, the birth of the individual, and the expression of the personality. It shows our appearance, our identity, our attitude, and our outlook. The first house is ruled by Aries, and is associated with the element of fire, the color of red, and the metal of iron.
• The second house is the house of values, corresponding to the point where the sun reaches its highest point in the morning. It represents the consolidation of life, the acquisition of resources, and the manifestation of the personality. It shows our possessions, our income, our talents, and our self-worth. The second house is ruled by Taurus, and is associated with the element of earth, the color of green, and the metal of copper.
• The third house is the house of communication, corresponding to the point where the sun begins to descend in the afternoon. It represents the diversification of life, the exchange of information, and the exploration of the personality. It shows our speech, our writing, our learning, and our siblings. The third house is ruled by Gemini, and is associated with the element of air, the color of yellow, and the metal of mercury.
• The fourth house is the house of home, corresponding to the descendant or the setting sign, the point where the sun sets on the western horizon. It represents the end of life, the origin of the individual, and the foundation of the personality. It shows our family, our roots, our security, and our emotions. The fourth house is ruled by Cancer, and is associated with the element of water, the color of silver, and the metal of silver.
• The fifth house is the house of creativity, corresponding to the point where the sun reaches its lowest point in the evening. It represents the expression of life, the creation of something new, and the enjoyment of the personality. It shows our hobbies, our passions, our children, and our love. The fifth house is ruled by Leo, and is associated with the element of fire, the color of gold, and the metal of gold.
• The sixth house is the house of service, corresponding to the point where the sun begins to rise in the night. It represents the improvement of life, the work of something useful, and the refinement of the personality. It shows our health, our habits, our skills, and our pets. The sixth house is ruled by Virgo, and is associated with the element of earth, the color of beige, and the metal of mercury.
• The seventh house is the house of relationships, corresponding to the ascendant or the rising sign of the opposite sign, the point where the sun rises on the eastern horizon of the other. It represents the balance of life, the partnership of someone else, and the complement of the personality. It shows our marriage, our contracts, our enemies, and our friends. The seventh house is ruled by Libra, and is associated with the element of air, the color of pink, and the metal of copper.
• The eighth house is the house of transformation, corresponding to the point where the sun reaches its highest point in the night. It represents the depth of life, the change of something old, and the intensity of the personality. It shows our sex, our death, our taxes, and our secrets. The eighth house is ruled by Scorpio, and is associated with the element of water, the color of maroon, and the metal of plutonium.
• The ninth house is the house of wisdom, corresponding to the point where the sun begins to descend in the morning. It represents the expansion of life, the learning of something new, and the optimism of the personality. It shows our travel, our education, our philosophy, and our religion. The ninth house is ruled by Sagittarius, and is associated with the element of fire, the color of purple, and the metal of tin.
• The tenth house is the house of career, corresponding to the descendant or the setting sign of the opposite sign, the point where the sun sets on the western horizon of the other. It represents the structure of life, the achievement of something important, and the maturity of the personality. It shows our profession, our reputation, our authority, and our goals. The tenth house is ruled by Capricorn, and is associated with the element of earth, the color of black, and the metal of lead.
• The eleventh house is the house of community, corresponding to the point where the sun reaches its lowest point in the morning. It represents the innovation of life, the connection of something different, and the rebellion of the personality. It shows our friends, our groups, our causes, and our hopes. The eleventh house is ruled by Aquarius, and is associated with the element of air, the color of blue, and the metal of uranium.
• The twelfth house is the house of spirituality, corresponding to the point where the sun begins to rise in the evening. It represents the transcendence of life, the dissolution of something old, and the illusion of the personality. It shows our dreams, our intuition, our karma, and our enemies. The twelfth house is ruled by Pisces, and is associated with the element of water, the color of turquoise, and the metal of platinum.

The Aspects

The aspects are the angles or the relationships between the planets in the birth chart. They represent the different interactions, the different dynamics, and the different influences of the planets on each other. Each aspect has its own characteristics, qualities, and functions, depending on its nature, its degree, and its relationship with the planets and the signs. There are many aspects in astrology, but the most common ones are the conjunction, the sextile, the square, the trine, and the opposition. Each aspect is ruled by a sign, and has a specific role and meaning in our birth chart.

• The conjunction is the aspect of union, when two planets are in the same sign and degree, or within a few degrees of each other. It represents the fusion of energies, the intensification of effects, and the potential of expression. It shows our focus, our power, our drive, and our challenge. The conjunction is ruled by Aries, and is associated with the element of fire, the color of red, and the metal of iron.
• The sextile is the aspect of harmony, when two planets are in signs of the same element and 60 degrees apart, or within a few degrees of that angle. It represents the cooperation of energies, the facilitation of effects, and the opportunity of expression. It shows our talent, our ease, our support, and our benefit. The sextile is ruled by Gemini, and is associated with the element of air, the color of yellow, and the metal of mercury.
• The square is the aspect of tension, when two planets are in signs of the same mode and 90 degrees apart, or within a few degrees of that angle. It represents the conflict of energies, the obstruction of effects, and the difficulty of expression. It shows our problem, our stress, our struggle, and our growth. The square is ruled by Cancer, and is associated with the element of water, the color of silver, and the metal of silver.
• The trine is the aspect of flow, when two planets are in signs of the same element and 120 degrees apart, or within a few degrees of that angle. It represents the compatibility of energies, the enhancement of effects, and the ease of expression. It shows our gift, our joy, our harmony, and our abundance. The trine is ruled by Leo, and is associated with the element of fire, the color of gold, and the metal of gold.
• The opposition is the aspect of balance, when two planets are in opposite signs and 180 degrees apart, or within a few degrees of that angle. It represents the polarity of energies, the contrast of effects, and the awareness of expression. It shows our relationship, our perspective, our compromise, and our integration. The opposition is ruled by Libra, and is associated with the element of air, the color of pink, and the metal of copper.

The Uses of Astrology

Astrology is a tool of self-knowledge, self-improvement, and self-empowerment. It can help us understand ourselves better, as well as the world around us. Astrology can be used for various purposes, such as:

• Personality analysis: Astrology can reveal our strengths, weaknesses, preferences, motivations, and potentials, based on our birth chart and the positions of the planets, the signs, the houses, and the aspects. Astrology can help us discover our true self, our purpose, and our destiny.
• Relationship compatibility: Astrology can compare and contrast the birth charts of two or more people, and assess their compatibility, attraction, harmony, and challenges, based on the synastry and the composite charts. Astrology can help us find our soulmate, our partner, and our friend.
• Career guidance: Astrology can suggest and evaluate the best career options, opportunities, and paths, based on our birth chart and the positions of the planets, the signs, the houses, and the aspects. Astrology can help us find our passion, our talent, and our success.
• Forecasting and timing: Astrology can predict and explain the trends, events, and changes that may occur in our life, based on the transits, the progressions, and the solar return charts. Astrology can help us prepare, plan, and act accordingly.
• Spiritual growth: Astrology can inspire and support our spiritual journey, based on our birth chart and the positions of the planets, the signs, the houses, and the aspects. Astrology can help us connect, transcend, and evolve.

Final Musings

Astrology is a fascinating and rewarding subject, with a rich history, a complex system, and a practical application. Astrology can help us learn more about ourselves, our relationships, our career, and our destiny. Astrology can also help us grow, heal, and transform. Astrology is not a fatalistic or deterministic science, but a symbolic and holistic art, that respects our free will and our co-creation. Astrology is not a substitute for common sense or personal responsibility, but a supplement and a guide, that empowers us and enlightens us. Astrology is not a religion or a dogma, but a wisdom and a philosophy, that enriches us and inspires us. Astrology is a gift and a challenge, that invites us to explore, to discover, and to express the wonders of life. Astrology is a friend and a teacher, that accompanies us, supports us, and challenges us, on our journey of self-knowledge, self-improvement, and self-empowerment. Astrology is a mirror and a map, that reflects and reveals the mysteries of the cosmos, the secrets of the soul, and the magic of the spirit. Astrology is a language and a tool, that speaks and works with the energies, the qualities, and the influences of the planets, the signs, the houses, and the aspects. Astrology is a study and a practice, that requires and rewards curiosity, intuition, logic, and creativity. Astrology is a passion and a joy, that offers and shares beauty, harmony, and love. Astrology is a beginner’s guide, and a master’s art, that welcomes and challenges everyone, to embark on the adventure of astrology.