So, you don't think you could ever make sense out of all those little squiggly lines,
learn the math or the meaning of aspects? So much significance...
Finding out a couple of basics about your own horoscope makes the project a
lot more fun because you can learn things about yourself at the same time you
learn astrology. These days software makes the math a cinch. For a quick
start,
you can easily find your rising sign
before reading on if you were born in the continental U.S.
Actually, the math is more like complicated geometry and that's what puts
astrology in a class all by itself. It's a mathematical science; factual and
evidential time after time. You don't have to be psychic to be a good astrologer
and your intuition will develop as you practice "reading" charts.
You'll come to "know" the aspects just as well as you know that 1 + 1
= 2.
Now, as far as the planets having an "influence" over us; that
isn't all that far-fetched an idea really. We're learning about the synergies in
everything. Energy melding with energy produces a new energy, whether it is
person with person, or with anything else. Everything contains energy; the
planets too. And after all, they do share our solar system.
Regardless of any "influence", however, the heavenly bodies
"reflect" conditions on earth and with individuals. Like looking
into a mirror, one can "see" what is happening at any given time;
past, present or future. See Outwitting
the Stars, a story from a yogi about astrology.
A person responds to the planetary
energies that are prominent in the horoscope. In other words, a planet of strong
position in the horoscope reveals much about an individual and about evolving situations in
life.
To see into the chart of an individual accurately and
precisely, the exact time, date and place of birth is needed. And, yes, the time
is important. Check the birth certificate if possible rather than relying on
anyone's memory. A couple of minutes will greatly alter the accuracy of a reading for someone
aged 30. The location of birth is needed to establish longitude and latitude.
This is High Math, remember..?
Still, all that is in case you really want to become astrologically adept. The first and possibly the worst part of learning astrology
involves memorization. You have to memorize the symbols of the planets and signs, the
key meanings of the houses, planets and signs and finally the key meanings of the
aspects. These are called Keys because they are a one word or short phrase of
description. Go directly to the Tutorial
to get all the tools you'll need to get started.
Horo means "of the hour", so the personal horoscope is a map of the
heavens from our viewpoint on earth at the precise moment of birth, with the
heavenly bodies frozen into place.
Each of us comes into the world at the precise moment that our own life force
is in tune with universal energies. Everything that our spirit and soul are seeking in this
lifetime is provided in that moment and is reflected in the horoscope. Your
horoscope holds the potential for a lifetime of study because as the planets
continue their movement through the zodiac, they stimulate first one and then
another of your natal planets.
I
won't say it's fast and easy to learn astrology but one of the fastest and
easiest if you’re serious about learning is to watch your Lunar Returns. In
less than a month, you’ll see the planetary configurations play out. In a
natal chart, it can take a lifetime for all of them to play out. In a lunar
return, it takes four weeks. By keeping a simple journal and making notes on
your return, you’ll learn very quickly how each planet operates in your life
and who it denotes to be of influence.
If
you’d like to inquire about receiving your set of 13 Lunar Returns for the year,
with tips for reading them, please email me.
If you are able to calculate your Lunar Returns but could use some help
interpreting them, you may want the Quick Tips for Reading your Lunar Return.
The article is available for $5.95. Let me know.
There are three basic parts in a horoscope; the houses, the signs and the
planets. We'll be working with all of these throughout the Moon Valley
Astrologer Novice and Tutorial areas. Here's a brief look at the Houses.
The background of the horoscope is a circle made up of twelve segments, like
twelve pieces of pie. These are the houses and they remain stationary. Each
house corresponds to a specific area in life as well as all the people representative
of the area. You can see this structure in the Astroclock
below.
The First House governs your personality, temperament, appearance and health.
Attributes of the First House shows the color lens through which you view the world and
the experiences you attract according to the first impression you make on
others. The cusp of the first house is also called the rising
sign or Ascendant.
The Second House governs your resources and earning power, while the Third
House is a house of communications. The Fourth House governs home, family, parents, heritage and real estate.
The Fifth House governs children, romance and artistic expression. The Sixth House governs
daily routine, occupation, health
maintenance and pets.
The Seventh House governs "others" who attract your attention,
including marriage partners. The Eighth House governs death, taxes, insurance,
inheritance and shared property. The Ninth House governs higher learning and the abstract
mind. The Tenth House governs your public reputation and honor. The Eleventh House governs friends, social groups, long-term hopes, wishes
and ideals. The Twelfth House governs subconscious drives, secrets and
confinement.
All together, the houses govern every single activity, association, interest,
etc. Any question can be answered by looking into the area governed in the
horoscope to see the current influences at work. A more complete discussion
of each house is found in the Tutorial-click
here.
The sign on the First House cusp, also called the Ascendant or Rising Sign of the horoscope is of utmost importance. The
sign of the zodiac that was rising over the eastern horizon at the moment of
birth is placed on the 1st house cusp and this sign's characteristics will
color your personality and outward appearance regardless of what you are like on
the inside. If you haven't yet, Find
your rising sign now.
The rising sign and degree determines the rest of the chart, including the
house placements of all the planets. After the rising sign, the remainder of the signs are
placed in sequence around the circle in a
counterclockwise direction, with one sign on each of the cusps. The cusp is the
dividing line between houses. If you have Libra
Rising, Scorpio would be placed on the 2nd house cusp and that sign would influence the affairs of your
earnings and possessions. Ruled by Pluto, Scorpio on the 2nd house cusp shows that you're
forever stimulated to regenerate your available resources and value system. Depending on the aspects to
Pluto, you're probably quite resourceful. See more about each of the Zodiac
Signs.
Your Rising Sign colors the lens through which you view
the world. It reflects the personality and the image we create. The sign placed
here shows how we appear to others on superficial contact. This may or may not
be what we are like on the inside, or the way we see our self; that is shown in
the 4th house. This explains why certain people are labeled this way or that,
but once you get to know them, they may be quite different.
Many
things in life are based on these first impressions; there isn't always time to
get to know everyone we meet or for them to really know us. The way the world
sees you is what it expects from you initially. The 1st house cusp is also the
doorway through which all daily experience enters our lives. The sign placed
here shows the general kind of treatment we receive from others. The type of
work or job assignments that are naturally attracted is shown by the 1st house
regardless of what we are trained for or attracted to.
The 1st house also shows
the general condition of the health and body while the 6th house shows other
health peculiarities. If the 1st house contains one or more planets - especially
if within 10 degrees of the Ascendant - it will influence the appearance and
intensify the personality
according to the planetary nature. See more
about how the planets
influence the personality and appearance below.
The Astrological
Clock can
be used to easily get a familiar "eye" on a horoscope map and to find the house occupied by the Sun in your horoscope. Click
the image to see the structure of the houses.
If you were born at noon,
your Sun will be near the top of the horoscope and your Sun Sign would be found
governing the 10th house. If you were born at midnight, your Sun will be found in the
4th house and your Sun Sign on that cusp. If you were born at sunrise, your Sun will be near the Ascendant and your Sun Sign is also
your Rising Sign, giving you an emphasized or "double" sign influence.
The way you appear on the outside is a good reflection of the way you are underneath.
Sometimes,
the sign on the Ascendant is misleading and one is cast into a role that is at
odds with the character. Say someone with Leo as the rising sign and a Pisces
Sun. Here, the sensitive Pisces is treated as a powerful and undaunted Leo. He
may feel the weight of the world is upon him by the leadership role he’s cast
into. So, when you begin to look at a horoscope, check this combination right at
the start to see how a person projects himself as compared to his deeper
characteristics.
The Sun in the horoscope, by sign, reflects ego characteristics. By house, it
tells of the individual life purpose and the area we are to gain mastery over in
order to teach others. Link to Cosmic
Calling for more about your Sun.
With the planets also distributed throughout the
horoscope, bringing special emphasis to certain houses, it's easy to see how
every horoscope is unique just as we are unique individuals.
The Sun is associated with character and ego as
suggested by the sign it occupies. It also indicates vitality, inherent to the
sign it occupies. For example, in the sign Leo, the Sun is strong because
that is the sign it rules and is most efficient in. The house that's naturally
associated with the Sun is the 5th. So, if you have a Leo Sun or your Sun is
in the 5th house, you may enjoy special benefits on that account alone. The Sun is the most important
feature in a
chart; it's position and aspects will be the major determining influence in the
life. No matter how many other "good" aspects there are in the chart,
they will not make up for a severely debilitated Sun. If weak by position and
afflicted by squares and oppositions, the vitality is impaired accordingly. The
reverse is also true. A dignified Sun with many beneficial aspects will go a
long way to offset harsh aspects among the other planets.
Associate this with the Sun as the central heavenly body. We revolve around
the Sun. There would be no life on Earth without it. Strongly Solar type
people are much the same way. They are a central force and others tend to
revolve around them. They are honorable leaders with a natural sense of drama,
absolutely aware of the effects they invoke and quite appreciative of respect
and the
limelight. Someone with a strong but afflicted Sun would tend to misuse
this energy. For example, with an opposition to Pluto, there could be
manipulative practices unless another aspect offsets such a tendency.
This gives a brief introduction to the symbolism of the planets and gives you
an idea of why the Sun Sign is the prime topic of newspaper columns. But
it's only the beginning. For more about each planet and the inside scoop, go to the Tutorial.
And, the next time you read your daily horoscope in the paper, check the reading
for your rising sign.
Each
of the planets have a specific influence on the appearance and demeanor if within 10 degrees
of the rising degree. Sometimes
there's a combination of factors at work if multiple planets are positioned
there.
With the Sun rising, the first
impression is of a commanding presence. The eyes are most striking, with a
forceful, direct look. This position tends to a well-proportioned stature; clear
complexion and light hair with a tendency toward pre-mature balding. The jaw
line and chin are definite; the mouth wide and firm. These individuals exude a
presence of leadership. Nicholas Cage has the Sun rising.
A rising Moon inclines to a round
face, snub nose and cheeks that are fairly flat. Natural worriers, these people
often have frown lines and a mouth that turns down at the corners. Sympathetic,
the feelings usually show in the expression like a beacon, as they are super
sensitive to subtle messages around them. Of small stature and
"chunky" hands and feet, there’s a tendency toward plumpness in
later years. With a rapidly flowing variability of mood, these people are prone
to phases and often quite “personable”. See the chart of Madonna
who has a rising Moon. James
Van Praagh also has his Moon rising.
Mercury rising inclines to an oval
face, high cheekbones, pointed chin, a thin nose and slender features overall.
The eyebrows are arched over intelligent eyes and the mouth, though wide may
lack decisiveness. There are signs of much mental agility and sometimes,
restlessness. The hands are also slender and add an expressive dimension to the
demeanor. A forever-youthful appearance goes along with Mercury in this
position. George W. Bush and Madonna
and Nicolas Cage and Ted Turner have Mercury rising.
When Venus is rising, the
personality is pleasing and the voice gentle. The nose is slightly pointed, eyes
calm; often blue or brown and the hair soft. These individuals incline to a
short and well-proportioned stature. With elegance, grace, poise, beauty and a
vivacious manner, these are the socialites and mediators of the zodiac and
generally welcomed in any circle. Angelina Jolie, Cameron Diaz and Bill Clinton are examples of Venus rising.
Mars rising inclines to heavy
eyebrows over direct or piercing eyes and the overall demeanor is of
decisiveness and forceful energy. With high forehead and cheekbones, the nose is
long, the mouth chin firm. Mars gives a strong and stocky body and a ruddy
complexion from excess iron in the system. The hair may also be red and is
usually curly or wiry. There could be a mole or mark on the face and the temper
often shows livid. Bill Clinton and Donald
Trump have Mars rising.
So does Neil Armstrong.
Jupiter rising gives an oval,
aristocratic face; quite refined with a long straight nose and pointed chin. The
hair is wavy and the kindly, expressive eyes are wide set and almond shaped
under arched eyebrows. The manner is paternal and the stature is well formed,
with a tendency to portliness in later years. Jane Fonda and Clark Gable are
examples of Jupiter rising.
Saturn rising inclines to a serious
expression that may best be described as grim. Deep furrow lines on the forehead
and shrewd eyes accompany a reserved set to the mouth and jaw to show ambition
and perseverance. The bones are large and the body slender and there may be
signs of stooping with age. With curly hair, the skin is often darker than
ordinary from excess sulfur in the system or else it is more pale than ordinary.
Sean Connery and Clark Gable are examples of Saturn rising.
Uranus rising tends to light and
lively eyes that are brilliant and keen. With a strong nose and wide mouth
there’s an air of nobility and an aloof glamour. The jaw line tends to be
fleshy. These individuals are original if somewhat abrupt in manner and
there’s a somewhat spasmodic nature about them. These individuals show length
of limb and a tendency to the slender side. Often there’s at least one
effeminate feature no matter the gender. John
Travolta has Uranus rising and could this be the dimple in his chin?
Neptune rising tends toward finely
organized features and oval face, with a small nose and pointed chin. The
eyebrows are arched over large round, hypnotic eyes. The hair naturally retreats
from the temples. With a somewhat ethereal look, there’s a mystical quality of
charm and the mouth may be sensual. Due to a tendency toward the loss of vital
fluids, the face may wrinkle prematurely. Marilyn Monroe showed the alluring
appeal of Neptune rising.
Pluto rising tends toward a dark and
swarthy appearance with penetrating eyes under heavy eyebrows. The cheekbones
are flat and somewhat fleshy, with a firm mouth and determined chin. The build
is rugged and sturdy with physical strength that is greater than the body size
suggests. The skin is delicate and except for fine hair on the head there’s
little on the rest of the body. Michael Moore and Leonardo
DiCaprio shows traits of a rising Pluto. JFK
Jr. also had this Pluto position and with the North Node attending, his
height was increased beyond the average.
See more celebrity charts in Fame or Chart
Pattern Types.
The zodiac sign opposite your rising sign points to the type of partners
you are naturally attracted to. That sign "rules" your 7th house
of intimate and business partners and "others" in general. This
is, ideally, your personal balance. If born in the Continental US, you can find
your rising sign and then read more about the partners you attract in Zodiac
Signs. That sign will also tell much about the manner in which you handle
relationships. For some informative guidelines on relationships of any type, see Compatibility.
Following is a brief rundown of the the signs of the
zodiac as they correspond to the color spectrum. Color itself corresponds to the
sign Aquarius and an individual with Uranus prominent in the chart loves to use a lot of
color. They are especially fond of patchworks and contrasting designs.
The sign ruling the Ascendant of your chart
probably represents a color you favor. Any planet near this point would also
influence the colors you choose to wear or surround yourself with. For instance,
a lot of black may be the preference with Saturn or Capricorn on the Ascendant. Mars
rising is so powerful that it often signifies a red head, or someone who
drives a red car. Aries rising would show similar characteristics and tastes.
The color linked to the ruler of your Ascendant is probably stronger than
that of the Sun sign, unless the Sun is prominent. If the Sun is prominent, the bright
golden sunshine colors of Leo are chosen,
giving an image of a natural
born leader. Look to the planet closest to the Ascendant to see if it matches your
color choices. The Moon is reflective in white or silver. Venus is passionate
about pink or other pastels. Jupiter revels in shades of purple and Neptune is serene in
subtle sea green. Uranus is unpredictable and relates to broken
patterns and paisleys as well as electric blue. Pluto likes to take control without being obvious and
corresponds to Scorpio’s color tastes of burgundy. Mercury is quite variable
and may like all colors although yellow is a favorite. Preferences may
correspond to either Virgo or Gemini, but if there is a planet making a close
contact to it, that planet will influence the choices of Mercury.
^Aries color is red.
It is stimulating, provides energy and shows ambition and initiative. Mars
is the ruler of Aries and associated with an out rushing of energy.
_Blue,
Taurus’ color provides an image of relaxation and comfort. Wearing blue too
often could actually reduce the metabolic rate and eventually incline to
heaviness from inactivity. Venus rules Taurus.
`Gemini’s color is
cheerful yellow, & shows an active mentality.
Wear yellow to stimulate your mind and cheer yourself up. Mercury
is the ruler of Gemini.
aSilver is Cancer’s
color. It indicates reflection or illumination, much in the way that Cancer’s
absorb and reflect the subtle vibrations from those around them. The inconstant
Moon rules Cancer.
bLeo’s color is
gold and orange. The combination of ambition and intellect
equals authority. This is one of honor and
high esteem. Wear orange to make a statement. The central Sun
is the ruler of Leo.
cVirgo has long been
associated with nutrition and health and green is
its color. It is also associated with the healing
elements found in nature. The color shows resourcefulness, practical use of, and
appreciation for nature's gifts.
dLibra’s colors are pastels
and the sign is associated with Venus. The pastel colors are great for stress and help restore harmony. Wear
these to sooth those around you.
eBurgundy, Scorpio's color, combines red and black. This
translates to intense desires, passionate seduction
or subtle aggression and corresponds to Pluto.
fSagittarius color is royal purple, indicating
spirituality and distant dreams. Optimism
can be created with the color purple and the natural ruler of the sign is
Jupiter.
gCapricorn, the business sign of the
zodiac, is represented by black or dark grey. Black lends an image of structure and
seriousness and is ruled by Saturn, the planet of ambition and practicality in
your chart.
hAquarius’ color is
azure or electric blue and plaids. These show diversity, the need for freedom and
non-commitment. There is concern for others and a humanitarian nature and the
sign is ruled by Uranus.
iPisces color is
subtle sea
green. Serenity, peacefulness, & tranquility are the image perceived.
Pisces special source of power lies within and Neptune
is the natural ruler of the sign.
Check out the links below to find and read about your rising sign. Then you
can go to the Library to find books for beginners,
links for free chart readings or free astrology software in case you want to
calculate your own charts. If you really want to get down to work and learn
astrology from the beginning, go to the Tutorial with a copy of your
chart.
© 1999-2008, Celeste Teal
