For most astrologers the fundamental tool is a Horoscope or Astrological Chart.

This Chart is a symbolic map of the positions of the planets in the Zodiac at a particular time. The basic chart is made up of Signs of the Zodiac, the positions of the planets within the Zodiac, the 12 Astrological Houses and the Aspects or angular sperations between the points in the Chart.

 

The Signs of the Zodiac:

Each Zodiacal Signs is associated with certain qualities and is said to have a particular influence connected to its' symbolic identity.

The origins of the Zodiac stretch back into ancient history but the symbology reamins resonant in today's world.

The Signs measure the path of the Sun and planets through the sky.

 

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ThePlanets:

Here are the main planets used in modern western astrology.

Each planet is associated with a classical diety. Venus, the Roman name, was Aphrodite to the ancient Greeks.

In an Astrological Chart the Sun & Moon are planets. Whilst Uranus Neptune & Pluto have classical names they are a more recent disovery.

 

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The Planets in the Signs:

Astrologers are concerned with the passage of the planets as they move through the Zodiac.

Here you can see the twelve signs of the Zodiac - starting at Aries and ending with Pisces.

The motion of the planets is meseaured against the Zodiac. Each planet is said to "rule" one or more Zodiacal signs. Mars, for instance, rules Aries; Venus rules Taurus and Mercury Gemini etc.

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The Horoscope or Astrological Chart:

The Horoscope is drawn up by the astrologer for a particular time. The positions of the Planets at that time are marked against the Zodiac.

This chart is set for June 14, 1947 00:30:00 PM Grenwich Mean Time.

Each sign of the Zodiac is measured in Degrees & Minutes, 30 Degrees to a Sign and Sixty Minutes to a Degree. Here you can see that Jupiter is at 19 Degrees & 8 Minutes of Scorpio and the Moon at 23 Degrees & 35 Minutes of Aries.

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The Houses of the Horoscope:

The Horoscope is divided by 12 Houses, starting with the rising sign or Ascendant which is also known as the 1st house cusp and ending with the twelfth house.

The Houses are derived from the time and place of birth, the Ascendant being the constellation that is rising in the east for a particular place at a particular time. The Houses of the Horoscope are then very personal as they reflect one uniqe moment in terms of time and place. Each house is said to rule different sphere's of activity.

In Natal Charts (Birth Charts) the Ascendant and first house are often described as being descriptive of the way a person projects themselves into the world.

 

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The Aspects:

The Aspects which are really angular seperations are an extremely important part of the astrologer's analysis. Every planet has an angular seperation with another, but astrologers pay particular attention to specific ones.

The conjunction of two planets (ie. when two planets are next to each other) is said to fuse the qualities of each planet. The Opposition, when they are 180 degrees away is somewhat self-explanatory.

Planets do not have to be exactly 180 degrees away to be in opposition. An Orb is usually allowed of a few degrees either side of the exact aspect.

Generally the smaller the orb the more powerfull the aspect is said to be.

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The Complete Chart:

The Completed Charts show the information that we have discussed above discussed.

Planets in Signs and houses, and aspects between them. On this chart the aspects are drawn as coloured lines, but some astrologers prefer to calculate them in theirs heads. Indeed there are as many ways of presenting a chart as there are astrologers.

Different astrologers use different techniques and they present their information differently, so don’t be surprised to see astrological charts in many different forms. You will come across square horoscopes, charts that look like and are called 90 degree dials as well as progressed charts, mid point trees and heaven knows what!

The issue is that a Horoscope is a map of the Heavens drawn up for one time and place; and that astrologers aim to interpret that map in a specific context. The context of a birth chart is the birth of that person - and describes certain things about that person; the context of a chart drawn for the launch of a ship lies in the life of the ship.

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