By Catherine Carlson
Astrology is the study of the energy of the stars
Astrology is an ancient art of divination which interprets the symbolic meaning of the constellations and planets, their cycles and aspects, and the way they interact with people, places, and events. It is the study of the interplay between the orbit of the stars over time and how they reflect our lives. Any person, location, or event, such as a marriage, or start of a business, can be viewed astrologically.
Your astrological birth chart is a map of you
At the exact moment you were born, a picture was taken of the heavens and that is your personal birth or natal chart. This chart shows where all the planets were at the moment of birth and how they interact with each other. Astrologers view the natal chart as a map of a person’s life. It contains information about their personality, gifts, challenges, and can reflect events in one’s life. You can view your astrology chart for free on astro.com and several other sites.
What is the rising sign?
Approximately every two hours, the zodiac sign that is rising on the eastern horizon changes. Knowing the exact time of birth indicates what the rising sign or ascendant is and marks the beginning of a natal chart. It indicates what houses the planets belong in. Houses are symbolic areas in a chart representing different aspects of ourselves. The ascendant sign is considered to be one of the strongest influences and may represent first impressions others have of you.
Astrology represents four elements
Each of the twelve zodiac signs represent one of four different elements: fire, earth, air, and water. Knowing what element your sun, or other planets are, is another way to understand yourself and others. Fire signs Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are bright, energetic and fiery. Earth signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn tend to be task oriented, responsible and tenacious. Air signs Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are of the mental realm. They can be talkative, deep thinkers or day dreamers. Lastly, the water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces can be warm and nurturing or highly sensitive. (I‘ll be expanding on this in the fall issue!)
You were affected by the planets even before you arrived
Astrology had an effect on you even before you were born. The lunar eclipse and the solar eclipses that occured while you were growing inside your mother can indicate some interesting aspects of your life. In her book Spiritual Astrology, the late Jan Spiller explains the meaning of these. The energy of the solar eclipse is something that you came to teach and the lunar eclipse shows what you came to learn. They will always be in different signs. For example, if the solar eclipse was in Gemini, you came to teach “the value of communication.” Someone else with the lunar eclipse in Gemini has come to learn about communication and language.
Your Mercury Sign
Because the planet Mercury is so close to the sun, it will always be in the same sign that your sun is in, or the sign on either side of your sun sign. For example, if your sun sign is Taurus, Mercury might fall in Taurus as well, but it could be Aries, which is the sign that comes before it, or Gemini, the sign that comes after. Mercury represents how we think and communicate, a large part of who we are. If you have always felt like your sun sign might not fit completely with your personality—it could be because Mercury is in a different sign and it’s actually your communication style and thought process which is in contrast to your sun sign.
Children of the moon
If you were born at night, when the sun was below the horizon, you have a nocturnal chart which aligns with the moon. The moon has a changeable nature since it waxes and wanes and is often hidden. Children of the moon typically have a life or career path that changes or fluctuates, like the moon.
Children of the sun
If you were born during the daytime, when the sun was above the horizon, you have a diurnal chart which aligns with the sun. The sun is steady and reliable, it appears the same each day. People born during the day will likely have a life or career path that is more consistent, just like the sun.
Your birthday has an astrological effect on you each year
Each year on your birthday the sun returns to the exact same place it was when you were born. This is called your Solar Return. This time is like a battery charge and you may notice a surge of vitality in the weeks that follow. The position of planets is unique each year and can indicate what themes might be highlighted in the coming year until your next birthday. This could be anything from career, finances, learning, teaching, or friendships to name a few.
Astrology can show relationship compatibility
One of the most popular uses of astrology is for relationships! The technical name for this is synastry, where you compare the charts of any two people. Synastry can show what areas of a person’s life are influenced by another and in what way. It can show who might enhance your creativity or be a good life partner, as well as who would be a great travel companion or a career advocate.
The seven days of the week are named after the planets
Dating all the way back to ancient Sumeria, the etymology of the days of the week are from the first seven known planets in our solar system. It is a bit easier to see the correlation for some of the days if we look at the days of the week in a language with terms more closely related to Latin, such as Spanish.
Can astrology predict the future?
Astrology is like a cosmic weather forecasting tool. Meteorology can tell us when a storm is coming, but not how much accumulation will take place or what location will be most strongly affected. Similarly, astrology can tell us with great accuracy when a certain energy is going to surface—such as a Mercury retrograde period, or when certain planetary transits indicate potential opportunities or difficulties, but we do not know exactly how things will play out. Many astrologers read the challenging energy of 2020, but none that I know predicted a global pandemic.
Is there a thirteenth sign of the zodiac?
The short answer is yes, although it is not officially acknowledged. There is a large constellation called Ophiuchus (derived from the Greek “serpent-bearer”) which sits between Scorpio and Sagittarius. Those born under this sign may have traits associated with both signs. It is unique in that the sun takes only eighteen days to move through it, from November 29—December 17, instead of the normal thirty days. It is considered to be a fire sign, and, like Sagittarius and Pisces, it is also ruled by the planet Jupiter. The symbol of Ophiuchus—a man holding a serpent, resembles the caduceus symbol of medicine and his name is associated with transformation and healing. It is thought that those born within the dates of this sign possess great wisdom and healing capabilities. This sign was rejected from the zodiac early on, since adding it would drastically alter the current structure of astrology.
Catherine Carlson is an Astrologer who offers consultations for adults and children. She is an Ann Arbor native who enjoys living locally with her family. She can be reached at catherine-carlson.com or catenka@mac.com.
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What’s your zodiac sign? If someone’s asked you this, you’ve probably answered with your sun sign–the zodiac sign the sun was in at the time of your birth. According to a recent Harris poll, 95% of Americans know their sun sign and almost two-thirds believe that their sun sign is an “accurate description of themselves.”