You might wonder why I have put this topic under “Science” since the scientific community rejects astrology as a pseudy science. But astrology, properly understood, is a science. In the words of Carl Payne Tobey, a known astrologer, astrology is a mathematical study of biological and psychological dynamics. According to the Theosophist Helena Blavatsky and others, it is the oldest known science, and all other sciences appear to have been its children. It comes to us out of prehistoric times, and suggests the existence of a prehistoric civilization enlightened far beyond our own in some respects.
Astrology is scientific in its mathematical calculations, in its consistency of interpretation, and in its direct correlation with the heavenly bodies. At the same time it is a spiritual art because it can explain the paradoxes of existence and reveals the life-plan of individuals.
The earliest astrological records still in existence, tablets dating back to around 17 BC, show simple planetary movements such as solar eclipses with accompanying predictions of famine, feast or war and other big events. In regions as diverse as the Middle East, the Far East and Central and Southern America the planets visible to the naked eye—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn—were observed, and even looked upon as divine gods.
Astronomer-astrologers made rough predictions based on the planets, as they moved forwards, sometimes halting and sometimes going backwards in the sky. The libraries of the Assyrian kings around 7 BC overflowed with collections of thousands of astrological predictions recorded on tablets. You can find more examples on this Carl Payne Tobey.
Modern textbooks carefully conceal the fact that the greatest minds they glorify are those of the astrologers of history. Some of these astrologers have been Aristarchus, Aristotle, Plato, Pythagoras, Hippocrates, Copernicus, Kepler, Sir Isaac Newton, Paracelsus, Tycho Brahe, Benjamin Franklin, and many others. And famous followers of astrology were Shakespeare, Goethe, Catherine de Medici, Elizabeth I., Louis Pasteur, Carl Jung, Winston Churchill, John P. Morgan, the Reagans, Donald Reagan, the Blairs, and John P. Morgan. Modern astronomers like to teach us that Copernicus discovered that the earth was not the center of the solar system, but Copernicus was merely going back to a defense of Aristarchus, who proposed as early as the 3rd century BC that the Earth revolves around the Sun and who might have learned it from the work of Pythagoras who lived 500 B.C.
Astrology sees mankind as being not only influenced by hereditary factors and the environment, but also by the state of our solar system at the moment of birth. The planets are regarded as basic life-forces, the tools we live by as well as the basis of our very substance. These planetary forces take on different forms, depending on their zodiacal position and on the way they relate to one another.
Most of us know our Sun signs. But the Sun Signs are just the beginning of astrology. Astrology is as expansive as the heavens and as unique as you. All 12 signs appear somewhere in your own birth charts and all the signs and planets influence all of us, no matter what our Sun sign is. Their energies “dance” together in many different ways making our life easier or create challenges. Based on the date, place, and time of our birth, the planets and signs in the houses of your birth chart create a metaphor for you. Learning how to read an astrology chart can give you insight into and discovering more about yourself. It shows you how your planets in their signs and houses can help you understand more about yourself and your life. It explains not only what all those symbols for signs and planets mean, but also how they connect with your everyday life, why you do what you do, feel like you do and work where you work.
Fate is the lessons we need to learn in our life and they are unavoidable. Astrology connects your outer world to your inner world to reveal your potential but how you manifest your potential is where free will comes in. Sometimes manifestations are easy, sometimes there are energies that make manifesting our potential more challenging. We have to understand that nothing is going to stop us from learning our lessons – if we ignore them, life’s circumstances will continue to present us opportunities for learning until we get it.
We have to understand that the planets work to help us help ourselves. By applying pressure, planets help us to overcome inertia. At other times, they help us to see unproductive or even self-destructive behavior that we may have never noticed before but that we can fix. Astrologers believe that we must be accountable for our actions and recognize that we do have choices.
There are many websites where you can find detailed information about all the signs, planets, houses, and aspects. On some of them you can find articles and/or free lessons. Excellent sources are the Correspondence Course in Astrology by Carl Payne Tobey and the site from Hank Friedman.
I am just giving you a quick overview of the basics hoping you get interested in astrology, hoping that you find a good and experienced astrologer who can be a great help on your path to Self-Knowledge.
Signs (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces) are the “how” of astrology and all zodiac signs appear in every person’s chart. Planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) are the “what” of astrology. They represent various energies of a person, including one’s mental and emotional nature, desires, vitality, soul, will, consciousness, and subconscious, as well as the people in one’s life.
The houses are the “where” of astrology. Each of the 12 houses encompasses a specific arena of life and is the stage where the dramas of the planets unfold.
Each zodiac sign has one of two energies, coupled with one of three qualities and one of four elements and creates unique picture.
The two energies are yin or yang:
| Yang – masculine/direct/assertive/extroverted (Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius) Fire/Air | Yin – feminine/indirect/passive/ introverted (Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces) – Earth/Water |
| Specific | Holistic |
| Positive | Negative |
The three qualities are cardinal, fixed, or mutable.
| Cardinal (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) | Fixed (Taurus, Leo , Scorpio, Aquarius) | Mutable (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) |
| Independent | Persistent | Adaptable |
| Impatient | Consistent | Flexible |
| Go-Getting | Reliable | Mercurial |
| Efficacious | Focused | |
| Self-starters | Determined |
The four elements are fire, earth, air and water.
| Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) | Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) | Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) | Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) |
| Energetic | Practical | Intellectual | Emotional |
| Courageous | Skillful | Social | Intuitive |
| Passionate | Down to Earth | Thoughtful | Romantic |
The aspects are angles the planets make to each other and to other points of astrological interest (such as the ascendant) and are measured by the angular distance in degrees and minutes. Only certain angular relationships are regarded as aspects, and these are said to have intrinsic qualities – they are said to be “harmonic”, “dynamic” or “neutral”. These relationships influence how the planets work together.There are disharmonious aspects such as Opposition and Square and harmonious aspects such as Trine and Sextil.
By interpreting the roles of these players (the planets) and their qualities (the elements, signs and houses) and creating a synthesis, astrology is able to present a complete and comprehensive picture of the person and his potential, based on the natal horoscope.
Your Sun sign represents your self, your willpower, and your creativity; the ascendant, or Rising sign, is the sign that was rising over the horizon at the moment of you birth chart and represents the “you” that the outside world perceives, as well as your personality traits, needs, and physical characteristics. Your descendant, located on the cusp of your seventh house, represents how you channel your energy through partnerships and relationships. Your midheaven, or M.C., represents your ambition, career, or social role and public image. It’s the highest point that the Sun reached on the day of your birth and is located on the cusp of the tenth house. Your lower heaven, or I.C. is the point on your birth chart that represents your life’s foundation and psychological roots and is located on the cusp of the fourth house.
Remember, not all lawyers, doctors and accounts are the same and there are many astrologers who don’t really know what they are doing. But if you find a good one he can give you insights and you can choose to make something of them!
Here is another link you might find helpful: Astrology
If you are interested in learning more, the Online School of the Theosophical Society offers a free course (but they ask for donations if you find a course helpful) called “Intuitive Astrology”. You have to create a free account, find the course and enroll.
If you would be interested in taking a beginner’s astrology course using your own charts beginning in mid January 2024, please send an email to uastrologyforall@gmail.com