Astrology is the art and science of studying celestial bodies and their cyclical motion, and determining their influence on human character, behavior, experiance, and events. Through astrology, we can open up a pathway into our deeper self, which can answer many questions about ourselves, such as our actions, the way we think, and our strengths and weaknesses. Astrology is based on the influence of the planets in a group of twelve constellations, and we can learn a lot about ourselves and others simply by finding out where these planets were at the time of birth, and what meanings they bring.

The Zodiac

The twelve constellations used in astrology to make the signs of the zodiac are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. These signs can be pulled apart and examined in different ways by dividing them into several sets of groups, by two, three, four, or six.

The first group is the Dualities, which divides the twelve signs into two sets of Masculine and Feminine signs. Masculine signs are direct and energetic, while feminine signs are receptive and magnetic. Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius are masculine signs, while Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces are feminine signs.

The second group is known as the Triplicities, which divides the zodiac into four groups of three signs, denoted by an Element. These Elements show qualities to the sign-- Fire signs are active and enthusiastic, Earth signs are practical and stable, Air signs are intellectual and communicative, and Water signs are emotional and intuitive. Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius make up the Fire signs, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are the Earth signs, Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are the Air signs, and Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are the water signs.

The third grouping is the Quadruplicities, with divide the twelve signs into three groups of four signs, denoted by a quality. The three qualities are Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable. Cardinal signs are enterprising, outgoing, and initiators, Fixed signs are resistant to change, perfectors and finishers, rather than originators, and Mutable signs are flexible, versatle, and adaptable. Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn are the Cardinal signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius are the Fixed signs, and Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces are the Mutable signs.

The last grouping is the Polarities. This divides the signs into six groups of two signs each. Each two-sign group is a polarity, or opposites of each other. They express opposite characteristics. Below are the Polarity signs of the zodiac.

Aries and Libra - Aries is the sign of self. The opposite sign, Libra, is the sign of partnership.

Taurus and Scorpio - Taurus is the sign of personal possessions. Scorpio is the sign of legacies and shared possessions.

Gemini and Sagittarius - Gemini is the sign of self-expression. Sagittarius is the sign of philosophy and higher thinking, of expression on a wider level.

Cancer and Capricorn - Cancer is the sign of home life. Capricorn is the sign of public life.

Leo and Aquarius - Leo is the sign of personal pleasure and creativity. Aquarius is the sign of hopes and ideals on a large scale.

Virgo and Pisces - Virgo is the sign of work and self-improvement. Pisces is the sign of dreams and self-delusion.

These twelve signs each hold different inner meanings and outer associations with the world. We are all made up of a chart of these signs, and the planets that are in them activate them in our chart, and can tell us about ourselves. Below are some characteristics and information about each of the twelve signs of the zodiac.

Aries - The first sign of the zodiac, which the sun transits each year from approximently March 21 to April 19. The sign is symbolized by the ram and is ruled by the planet Mars. Its ruling part of the body is the head. Aries natives are characterized as impulsive, energetic, quick-tempered, and having leadership ability.

Taurus - The second sign of the zodiac, which the sun transits each year from approximently April 20 to May 20. The sign is symbolized by the bull and ruled by the planet Venus. Its ruling part of the body is the neck and throat. Taurus natives are characterized as practical, determined, artistic and loving, stubborn and resistant to change.

Gemini - The third sign of the zodiac, which the sun transits each year from approximently May 21 to June 20. The sign is symbolized by the twins and ruled by the planet Mercury. Its ruling part of the body is the hands, arms, and shoulders. Gemini natives are characterized as mentally facile, versatile and clever, and gifted in teh ability to communicate.

Cancer - The fourth sign of the zodiac, which the sun transits each year from approximently June 21 to July 22. The sign is symbolized by the crab and ruled by the Moon. Its ruling part of the body is the breasts and stomach. Cancer natives are characterized as imaginative, emotional, sensitive, loyal, and with a tendency to be moody.

Leo - The fifth sign of the zodiac, which the sun transits each year from approximently July 23 to August 22. The sign is symbolized by the lion and ruled by the Sun. Its ruling part of the body is the back, spine, and heart. Leo natives are characterized as exuberant, creative, egocentric, and possessing a talent for showmanship.

Virgo - The sixth sign of the zodiac, which the sun transits each year from approximently August 23 to September 22. The sign is symbolized by the virgin and ruled by the planet Mercury. Its ruling part of the body is the nervous system and intestines. Virgo natives are characterized as industrius, discriminating, logical and analytical, intellectual, and having a tendancy to be critical.

Libra - The seventh sign of the zodiac, which the sun transits each year from approximently September 23 to October 22. The sign is symbolized by the scales and ruled by the planet Venus. Its ruling part of the body is the lower back, butt, and kidneys. Libra natives are characterized as peaceable, artistic, socially adept, and able to see both sides of a question.

Scorpio - The eighth sign of the zodiac, which the sun transits each year from approximently October 23 to November 21. The sign is symbolized by the scorpion and ruled by the planet Pluto. Its ruling part of the body is the genitals. Scorpio natives are characterized as sensual and secretive, intensely emotional, imaginative, and possessing psychic ability.

Sagittarius - The ninth sign of the zodiac, which the sun transits each year from approximently November 22 to December 21. The sign is symbolized by the archer and ruled by the planet Jupiter. Its ruling part of the body is the liver, hips, and thighs. Sagittarius natives are characterized as freedom-loving, expansive, seekers of knowledge, and open to new ideas and exploration.

Capricorn - The tenth sign of the zodiac, which the sun transits each year from approximently December 22 to January 19. The sign is symbolized by the sea-goat and ruled by the planet Saturn. Its ruling part of the body is the bones, joints, and knees. Capricorn natives are characterized as disciplined, responsible and hard-working, ambitious and determined.

Aquarius - The eleventh sign of the zodiac, which the sun transits each year from approximently January 20 to February 18. The sign is symbolized by the waterbearer and ruled by the planet Uranus. Its ruling part of the body is the circulatory system, shins, and ankles. Aquarius natives are characterized as innovative, idealistic, humanitarian, and intellectual.

Pisces - The twelfth sign of the zodiac, which the sun transits each year from approximently February 19 to March 20. The sign is symbolized by the two fishes and ruled by the planet Neptune. Its ruling part of the body is the feet. Pisces natives are characterized as emotional, romantic, impressionable and adaptable, highly imaginative and intuitive.

Each of these signs can also be broken down into more specific parts, such as Decanates and Cusps. When these aspects of the zodiac signs are considered, they can give extra emphasis to different characteristics of a sign. When each sign is split into three different parts, they form the Decanates. These Decanates are usually about ten days each, and are like different "rooms" of the sign. They emphasize different qualities of the sign, and have a specific keyword, constellation, and quality under them. A Cusp is the point where a new astrological sign begins. People that are born on the Cusp of a sign (the last few days in a sign) usually possess qualities and traits of the coming sign. Looking at Decanates and Cusps can give us more in-depth detail about ourselves within our ruling signs.

The Planets

There are ten planets that make up zodiac charts-- the two luminaries and the eight planets of the ancient solar system. Each of these planets are the activators in our chart, representing different qualities of ourself, which mean different things depending on the sign it falls under. The most active influence in the chart is the Sun. Our sun sign can give us the most information about ourselves. It is our sign of self, that gives us our individuality and power of self. The second strongest influence is our Moon sign, which can tell us about our feelings, emotions, and subconscious. The third strongest influence is our Ascendant sign, or rising sign. This is the sign that is coming into the horizon at the exact time of your birth, and it characterizes your approach on life. The meanings of the planets and where they fall in your chart can tell you all about your personality and lifestyle. Below are the meanings of the different planets in the zodiac.

Sun - The Sun represents the ego, individuality, the power of self, and the conscious will. The Sun sign is the most pervasive influence in a birth chart. The Sun sign governs a person's distinctive style and drive to fulfill his or her goals. In many ways the Sun sign determines how the world regards the native.

Moon - The Moon represents emotions, instincts, sensitivity, and the unconscious. It is often called the feminine principle. It is the most pervasive influence in a birth chart, second only in importance by the Sun sign. The Moon sign signifies the emotional, spontaneous, unconscious, and often hidden part of the personality.

Mercury - Mercury is the planet of communication, intelligence, perception, and intellectual energy. When Mercury is prominent in a birth chart, the native tends to be clever, facile in speech, quick, high-strung, and likely to possess a good memory. Mercury's influence can also incline a person toward sarcasm, argumentativeness, coldness, and deceit.

Venus - Venus is the planet of love, affection, art, beauty, esthetics, and pleasure. When Venus is prominent in a birth chart, the native tends to be friendly, flirtatious, socially adept, and to possess great personal charm. Venus' influence can also incline a person toward fickleness, extravagance and overindulgence, vanity and narcissism.

Mars - Mars is the planet of energy, force, sexual desire, and aggression. When Mars is prominent in a birth chart, the native tends to be active, enterprising, courageous, and passionate. Mars' influence can also incline a person toward impatience, anger, strife, and accident-proneness.

Jupiter - Jupiter is the planet of good fortune, expansion, abundance, and wisdom. When Jupiter is prominent in a birth chart, the native tends to be well-liked, cheerful, adn successful in his or her career. Jupiter's influence can also incline a person toward extravagance and overconfidence.

Saturn - Saturn is the planet of discipline, responsibility, restriction, and limitation. When Saturn is prominent in a birth chart, the native tends to be diligent, determined, reliable, and industrious. Saturn's influence can also incline a person toward pessimism, inflexibility, and selfishness.

Uranus - Uranus is the planet of change, originality, upheaval, and revolution. When Uranus is prominent in a birth chart, the native tends to be inventive, independant, and of an unconventional turn of mind. Uranus' influence can also incline a person toward eccentricity, rebelliousness, and fanaticism.

Neptune - Neptune is the planet of mystery, illusion, imagination, and mysticism. When Neptune is prominent in a birth chart, the native tends to be artistic, visionary and clairvoyant, and interested in spiritual matters. Neptune's influence can also incline a person toward escapism, difficulty in separating fantasy from reality, and psychic problems.

Pluto - Pluto is the planet of regenerative forces, of destruction, annihilation, and transformation. Pluto spends a great many years transisting each sign of the zodiac, and its influence is more obvious on a whole generation of people, rather than a single person. However, when Pluto is prominent in a birth chart, the native's life will show marked reversal or change. Pluto's influence can also incline a person's need to dominate and control.

Ascendant Sign - The Ascendant sign is not a planet, but does have a very important influence on your chart. The Ascendant sign is the rising zodiac sign on the east horizon at the time of birth, and makes up the cusp of the First House of a natal chart. It characterizes a person's outward approach to life, and planets near the Ascendant respresent strength and power of a person's self.

The Houses

The Houses of the zodiac are the twelve divisions of a horiscope that represent different categories or areas of life. When an astrological chart of a person is made, not only are the planets in different zodiac signs considered, but also which astrological House the sign and planet fall under. When we look at what planets and signs fall into these different Houses, we can get a good view of how we behave and think in the different areas of our life. Each House has a natural ruling sign of the zodiac, and can also be catergorized by different groups, by threes or fours. Below are some descriptions of the twelve Houses, and the different groups they can be divided into.

First House of Self - This is the most personal and most powerful House in your chart, because it symbolizes your mannerism, style, disposition, and temperment. It is the House of outward behavior, your likes and dislikes. It reveals both the way you present yourself to others and the way the outside world sees you. It can show your self-interests, such as what you want to do in life and how you go about achieving it. It can also indicate your physical characters, especially the head and face. The place in your chart where the First House begins is the most important point in a horiscope, for it determines where all the other Houses will follow. The natural ruler of the First House is the sign of Aries.

Second House of Money and Possessions - This is the House that relates to what you own in life and what you will acquire, your income, and your financial prospects. This is the House of movable possessions, the things that you physcially take with you as you move through life. It also tells how you feel about money and possessions, and gives a clue to the kinds of objects with which you like to surround yourself. It can give a picture of your earning power and ability to handle money, as well as what activities and projects may be a source of income for you. The natural ruler of the Second House is the sign of Taurus.

Third House of Communication - The Third House relates to your immediate environment in three major areas: self-expression, your family ties, and day-to-day travel. This House governs the way you think, speak, and write. Logic, memory, and manual skill are in its domain. It often indicates what kind of early education you recieved, and your ability to study and learn. Your relationship with brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins and neighbors are part of this Houses's influence. Short trips and vehicles for this type of travel are controlled by the Third House, especially travel for work or education. The natural ruler for the Third House is the sign of Gemini.

Fourth House of Home - This house governs your home life, in the past, present, and future. It indicates the kind of home you had in childhood and your relationship with parents. What you have brought into this life from your ancestors in in its domain. In the present, the Fourth House relates to the kind of home you make for yourself. Your current domestic affairs are under its influence, as are real estate holdings and the ownership of land. This House also rules over the closing years of your life, the kind of security you seek for old age. It is one of the more mystical Houses in your chart, for it represents what you keep protected and secluded from the rest of the world, the place you call home in both a physical and emotional sense. The natural ruler for the Fourth House is the sign of Cancer.

Fifth House of Creativity and Sex - The Fifth House rules over everything you do for pleasure and to express yourself creatively. Your sexual nature is a large part of its domain. Children and the joy you receive from them are governed by this House. The Fifth House also relates to entertainment and holidays, amusements and the arts. It rules love affairs, new undertakings in life, speculation and gambles, game of chance. It is the House that expresses you artistic talents as well as your ability to enjoy yourself in life. In childhood, pets and playmates are part of this House, for it holds sway over all the things to which you instictively give affection. This is the House of your heart. The natural ruler of the Fifth House is the sign of Leo.

Sixth House of Service and Health - This House indicates your need to help others and to be useful in the world. This House rules your relationship with the people you work with, with those who are subordinates, and with your employers. The Sixth House also relates to your state of health, and especially applies to illness brought on by worry or emotional upsets. This House often signifies whether you have a robust or delicate constitution, and what kinds of diseases you may be subject to. The natural ruler of the Sixth House is the sign of Virgo.

Seventh House of Marriage and Partnership - This house relates to your husband or wife, the mate you choose in life. It often indicates what kind of marriage you will have, and whether you might divorce or remarry. This is your House of partnerships, not only in marriage but in work, business, legal affairs, and politics. It covers legal unions and contracts you enter into, and both sides of a question or dispute. The Seventh House concerns your ability to work harmoniously with others. Paradoxically, it also governs what astrologers call your open enemies, those who are usually your adversaries in the business or professional world. The Seventh House is the opposite of the First House of Self-- here you blend your personality with others in order to pursue shared goals. The natural ruler of the Seventh House is the sign of Libra.

Eighth House of Death and Regeneration - This House is one of the three mystical houses in your chart, and one of the most difficult to understand. Sometimes called the house of spiritual transformation, it rules the life forces that surround sex, birth, death, and the afterlife. It concerns legacies and what you inherit from the dead, both materially and spiritually. Money that belongs to your partner, and taxes and debt are also part of this House. The Eighth House may give some indication of the conditions surrounding your death, although the precise time always remains a mystery. Surgery is governed by this House, since it relates to regeneration. This is the House of psychic powers and occult studies and knowledge. The natural ruler of the Eighth House is the sign of Scorpio.

Ninth House of Mental Exploration and Travel - The Ninth House can be thought of as a widening of the Third House; study, travel, and mental pursuits are expanded in the Ninth House onto a much wider plane. This is the House of the higher mind. Under its domain are higher education, philosophy and the study in depth of profound subjects. Long journeys of both the mind and the physical body are controlled by this House. It concerns actual travel to foreign lands and business interests in other countries. It governs the meeting of foreigners who expand your way of thinking, and also the study of languages. The Ninth House rules your public expression of ideas, and is therefore the House of publishing and literary effort. The natural ruler of the Ninth House is the sign of Sagittarius.

Tenth House of Career and Public Standing - This is the House opposite the Fourth House of Home, and it rules all matters outside your home-- your profession, your status in the community, and your public reputation. It has been called the House of ambition, aspiration, and attainment. This House also reveals in what esteem you are held by others. The Tenth House reflects your image, as shown in power, position, and honors that you may achieve. It is an outward expression of your talents, the way you accept responsibility, the place you arrive at through your own efforts. This House has a great influence on your material success in life. The natural ruler of the Tenth House is the sign of Capricorn.

Eleventh House of Hopes, Wishes, and Friends - The Eleventh House has to do with long-term dreams and goals and with intellectual pleasures, unlike its opposite House, the Fifth House of Immediate Pleasures. This House governs your involvement with groups and organizations that have to do with your work, profession, or family. The clubs, societies, or political associations you belong to are under its domain. This House often indicates the kinds of friends and acquaintances who can best further your interests and objectives in life. The Eleventh House reflects your ability to enjoy other people. On its highest level this House represents the harmonious working together of all people, each one doing what best expresses his or her individual personality. It is the House of idealism and vision. The natural ruler of the Eleventh House is the sign of Aquarius.

Twelfth House of Secrets, Sorrows, and Self-Undoing - This is the most mystical of all the Houses, the final House, the end of the circle. This is not necessarily a negative and gloomy place, but it does define the limitations placed on your life. It governs disappointments, accidents, trouble, and self-defeat. It rules unseen forces, secret enemies, escapism, asylums, hospitals, and prisons. The Twelfth House has been called the House of Karma, the House of spiritual debt, for it contains the rewards and punishments for the deeds one commits in the world. It is associated with psychic powers and the ability to discover at last the meaning of life. The natural ruler of the Twelfth House is the sign of Pisces.

When these twelve Houses are divided into three groups of four, they help us to see the overall picture of how Houses relate to life. The three groups are the Angular, Succedent, and Cadent Houses. The Angular Houses are the First, Fourth, Seventh, and Tenth Houses. Planets in these Houses indicate you will achieve some kind of prominence in the world. Succedent Houses are the Second, Fifth, Eighth, and Eleventh Houses. Planets in these Houses indicate that you have stability, willpower, and fixity of purpose. The Cadent Houses are the Third, Sixth, Ninth, and Twelfth Houses. Planets in these Houses indicate that you are mentally active and communicate your ideas.

The twelve Houses can also be divided into four groups of three, which helps catorgorize the Houses into different common areas of life. The first group is the Houses of Life. These are the First House of energy and vitality, the Fifth House of creativity and offspring, and the Ninth House of learning and conviction. The next group is the Houses of Wealth. These are the Second House of personal property, the Sixth House of employment and work, and the Tenth House of career and public status. The third grouping is the Houses of Relationships. These are the Third House of relatives and neighbors, the Seventh House of partnership and marriage, and the Eleventh House of friends and organizations. The last group is the Houses of Endings. These are the Fourth House of the latter years of life, the Eighth House of death and regeneration, and the Twelfth House of spiritual reward and debt. These four groups are also associated with the signs of a specific element-- Houses of Life by Fire signs, Houses of Wealth by Earth signs, Houses of Relationships by Air signs, and Houses of Endings by Water signs. Having many planets in a certain grouping of Houses can show which areas of life you focus the most on.

Natal Charts

A Birth Chart, or Natal Chart, is a horoscope for the moment of a given person's birth. A Natal Chart is made by calculating where the signs of the zodiac and planets fall into the twelve Houses of the horoscope. These charts can tell us the most in-depth information about us and our lives in general, by putting all the influences of astrology together to tell us about ourselves.

A Natal Chart is drawn like a circle, split into twelve even parts, and each part represents one of the Houses. The straight left-line of the House divisions marks the cusp of the First House, and it is this part of the circle where the First House starts, the rest of the Houses following the chart in order. Your Ascendant sign, or the sign that was rising at your birth, is also marked on the cusp of your First House, and in most charts, it is this sign that is places in your First House (although there are some exceptions, depending on when you were born and what method is being used to construct your Natal Chart). The Ascendant sign is determined by knowing the Latitude and Longitude of the place of your birth and the time you were born. Then using astrological charts, books, or other resorces, you can look up what sign was rising at that place at that time. After the sign for the First House has been determined, all the other signs of the zodiac follow around the chart in order, one for each house. These signs in the Houses can tell you how your personality it towards all the different areas of life that the Houses rule.

The next step is to calculate where the planets where at the time of your birth. To find these out, usually only the date of your birth is needed, although sometimes the time is needed to determine some of the closer planets. Again, using astrological sources, you can look up which signs the planets where in at your time of birth. After placing these planets into the corresponding signs in your chart, you can now see which Houses the planets are in, as well. Since planets are the activators of the chart, they hold all the translations of the Natal chart. By looking up the meanings of the planet in its sign as well as the planet in its House, you can get a detailed chart about you-- your personality, actions, goals, life, and future.

Most spiritualists have sources to make Natal Charts, although they may not always be completely accurate without knowing specific details of a birth, such as latitude and longitude, and are almost impossible to even try without the time of birth. If you are interested in having a Natal Chart of yourself made, I can make them, although it may take some time to interpret them. Some other alternatives are checking out the book listed below in the sources (which is what I use to interpret and determine Natal Charts), visiting the site Horoscope Online where they can make Natal Charts, or checking out the useful program known as AstroWorld, which can also make Natal Charts.

Sources:

Woolfolk, Joanna Martine. The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need. Lanham, MD: Scarborough House, 1982.

Other Astrology Sites:

Astrology-Numerology.com

Horoscope Online