What is Astrology?
Signs of the Zodiac
Planets
Houses
Aspects
The word astrology is derived from two Greek words: " Astra", a star and "Logos" which means logic or reason. Astrology is the science that defines the actions of celestial bodies upon animate and inanimate objects and their reaction to such influences. Astrology is the parent of Astronomy. The planets, signs , aspects and houses form the foundation of astrology. The main task of the astrologer is to understand how their combination in the horoscope at birth has shaped the individual. This is called delineating the natal horoscope.
The zodiacal circle is divided into twelve parts, each part containing 30 degrees of space for a total of 360 degrees. These twelve divisions are known as the signs of the zodiac. Each possesses a specific influence and quality all it's own. The revolution of the earth around the sun makes the sun appear to travel through the zodiac at a rate of one sign per month or a degree a day. The twelve signs of the zodiac are:

Back to top.

In Astrology, ten heavenly bodies are used because of their influence on the earth and it's animate and inanimate objects. In the order of their speed through the zodiac these bodies are:

It's more convenient to speak of the Sun as transiting the zodiac, instead of the earth. Simply imagine the earth as the center and all of the heavenly bodies circling around it.There is a harmonious interchange between certain zodiacal signs and certain planets. To each sign a planet is assigned and termed it's "ruler". The planetary rulers are:
Mars rules Aries; Venus rules Taurus and Libra; Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo; Moon rules Cancer; Sun rules Leo; Jupiter rules Sagittarius; Saturn rules Capricorn; Uranus rules Aquarius and Neptune rules Pisces.

Back to top.

Just as we divide the zodiacal circle into 12 signs, we divide the horoscope into 12 houses. Houses are grouped into three catagories: angular, succedent and cadent. An angular house is situated on an angle. They are the four main points on the birth chart, which are: Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven and Nadir. The angular houses are the First, Fourth, Seventh and Tenth houses. The succedent houses follow the angular houses and are the Second, Fifth, Eighth and Eleventh houses. Cadent houses follow succedent houses and are the Third, Sixth, Ninth and Twelfth houses.
The First House - this house rules the subject's personality, worldly outlook and dispostion. The parts of the body represented by this house are the head and the face.
The Second House - this house rules financial affairs- gains and losses according to the planets "posited" in this house. The parts of the body represented by this house are the throat and the ears.
The Third House - Mental inclination and ability as well as writings, studies and short journeys are ruled by this house. Parts of the body indicated are shoulders, arms, the collar bone, hands,lungs and the nervous system.
The Fourth House - Home, domestic affairs, father and the general condition at the close of life are ruled by this house. Traditional astrologers assign the father to this house and the mother to the Tenth house, but it would appear that the more nurturing parent who plays the domestic role regardless of sex should be assigned to the Fourth House and the parent who plays the authoritarian,financially supportive role be assigned to the Tenth house. The Fourth house rules the digestive organs, stomach and breasts.
The Fifth House - Love affairs, children, speculation and pleasurable emotions are ruled by this house. The body parts ruled are the heart and the back.
The Sixth House- this house rules employees, servants, work, food clothing, sickness and small animals. It also rules the bowels and the solar plexus.
The Seventh House- marriages, partnerships, unions, contracts, lawsuits dealings with others and the public in general. Body parts ruled are the ovaries, kidneys and lower half of the back.
The Eighth House - this house rules money or goods of others, death and all things connected with the dead. Body parts ruled are the sex organs, bladder and the musular system.
The Ninth House- Dreams, visions, psychic experiences, long journeys, intuition, and spiritual tendancies are ruled by this house. This house also rules the liver and the thighs.
The Tenth House- Rules the profession, occupation, fame, honor, mother, employer and affairs of the country or government. Traditonal astrologers assign the mother to this house and the father to the Fourth House, but it would appear that the more nurturing parent who plays the domestic role regardless of sex should be assigned to the Fourth House and the parent who plays the authoritarian,financially supportive role be assigned to the Tenth House. This house rules the knees.
The Eleventh House - Friends, associations, hopes, wishes and the financial condition of the employer are ruled by this house. This house rules the ankles.
The Twelfth House - Large animals, secret enemies, self-undoing,exile, limitations, unexpected troubles and the occult are ruled by this house. This house rules the feet.
Back to top.

An aspect is a certain angular distance between the points of the zodiac. From one planet to another or from a planet to a point in the chart- such as the Ascendant. The aspect angles in astrology result from dividing the 360 degree circle by whole numbers. The fewer the divisions, the stronger the effect of the angle. For example the "conjunction" of 0 degrees results from the division of the circle by 1. The "opposition" of 180 degrees results from the division of the 360 degree circle by 2, etc.
Much depends on the way an aspect is felt or handled by the average person. If it weren't for the "unfortunate" aspects would we ever have the urge to improve ourselves? Some think that the "unfortunate" aspects are the most worthwhile to study on a chart.
Back to top.