Horoscope
11th Nov 2007
Horoscope
A horoscope can be defined as the predictions made about a persons life, loves or future based on the position, angles and influences of planets, stars, our sun and related astronomical objects on a person’s life.
By studying the position of the planets, stars and other astronomical objects at the time of a person’s birth, astrologers can evaluate and predict the factors that influence a person’s life and so predict their future.
Horoscopes and Zodiac Signs
Horoscopes that most people in the west usually think of are published in newspapers and magazines and on web sites every day. Yet this type of horoscope, called the sun-sign or natal horoscope, is considered the most basic of horoscopes by most expert astrologers. This is because the sun-sign horoscope is based only on where the sun was in relation to the 12 zodiac signs when a person was born.
For a more detailed horoscope reading, astrologers will carefully determine where each of the planets and other astronomical objects (such as the sun and moon) were when a person was born. The positions and angles of each planet in relation to each other and the sun, moon and other objects are also significant for a true reading of a horoscope, and must be carefully plotted. Only after this precise and careful evaluation can astrologers determine the influences that can impact a person’s life, and give that person a reading based on their horoscope. In order to determine this the astrologer will usually need to know the date and time of a person’s birth, along with their birthplace. This helps the astrologer fix an exact time and thus determine exactly where the various planets, sun, moon and other important stars were at that time.
Horoscopes and Astrology
Some people like to define types of astrology by the type of reading it produces. For example, reading the general events of the world and how they may impact a person’s life is called “Mundane” Astrology. Mundane astrology is anything but mundane because it has to do with overall global impacting issues like economics, wars and other large-scale events that can impact a person’s life.
Natal astrology, also known as sun-sign astrology, is what most people in western countries generally think of when they think of horoscopes. Natal astrology is based on the the position of the sun in the zodiac when a person is born. Natal astrology is rather general in nature but this does not stop it’s popularity.
Electional astrology is generally used when trying to determine the best time to start something. Perhaps a business owner wants to know the best time to start a new business, or perhaps a family wants to know exactly when to move to a new city to start a new job. These types of questions can be answered with Electional astrology.
Horary astrology is associated with finding answers to specific questions. Many people who use Horary astrology are looking for specific answers to questions about their love life, their work, family relationships or other specific questions they have.
Horoscopes and the Zodiac
Astrologers have divided the sky up into 12 zodiac regions that each correspond to a constellation. Or at least the 12 zodiac signs used to line up to the constellations. That’s because in the last 2,000 years since the western world has been using the zodiac and constellations the movement of the earth around the sun has caused the position to change. When using the original position of the zodiac signs with the constellation as they were 2,000 years ago an astrologer is using the Sidereal Zodiac.
Some astrologers will use the Tropical Zodiac. The Tropical Zodiac is the alignment of the zodiac signs based on the seasons. As with the Sidereal Zodiac, the Tropical Zodiac also does not exactly line up with today’s constellation positions.
Horoscopes and Houses
Another important aspect of a detailed horoscope reading is determining what houses the various planets are in. Just like the Zodiac, there are 12 houses, but unlike the Zodiac the houses map to various life stages. Just like the Zodiac there are many systems that define the Houses, and so astrologers may or may not be using the same analysis when evaluating the influence of the house on the planets, and thus on a person’s horoscope reading.
How Horoscopes are Read
To read a horoscope, in this case a Natal Horoscope, the exact day and time of birth of the person receiving the reading must be recorded. The date and time of birth are important because they are used to determine the position of each of the planets, moon, sun and other celestial objects at the date and time of birth. Often, astrologers will refer to the sun and moon as “planets,” even though they are more significant than the other planets, and even though the astrologers are perfectly aware that they are not actual planets. The position of the planets at the date and time of birth are important because each planet is mapped to the zodiac sign they are in at that date and time.
Astrologers associate each planet with unique characteristics, such as love, chaos, patience, and the like. Zodiacal signs have their own characteristics too. Because the zodiac signs have their own unique characteristics, the interaction between the planet and the sign it is in is what astrologers must analyze and read. But it doesn’t stop there. Other planets that may also be present can have additional influences, and even the position and angle of the various planets relative to each other have further characteristic-changing influences. Finally, the houses that the planets are in can be evaluated and analyzed by the astrologer. Whew! No wonder it’s a rather extensive job to have a detailed horoscope reading. And no wonder no two astrologers will provide the exact same reading.