CHAPTER

WHAT IS AN ASTROLOGICAL “SIGN"?

          Have you ever been asked, "What sign are you?".  If so, you may be familiar with your astrological “sign.”  For example, if you were born on Christmas Day, your sign is Capricorn.  If you were born on the first day of July, your sign is Cancer.   Many people know what sign they are, while not really understanding what a zodiac sign is.  To know what a sign is, first we must understand exactly what the zodiac is.  Luckily, there is a very simple way to explain this.  Have you ever noticed the Sun and Moon follow the same path across the sky?  They always come up over the eastern horizon, arc across the sky, and set in the west.  The Moon and all eight planets -- Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto -- follow the same path as well.  That path, which is an imaginary circle or band, is called the zodiac.  The zodiac is one of the most important circles in astrology.  Each day, at any given time, the Sun, the Moon, and the planets are somewhere on this path, somewhere on the zodiac. 

          Astrologers have noticed this path, the zodiac, has twelve distinct sections to it.  We call these sections the “signs” of the zodiac.  The signs are, in order:  Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.  Each of the twelve signs occupies thirty degrees of the zodiac, for a total of 360 degrees of the circle.  (See Illustration #1)  The signs are like the inches on a ruler, we use them to measure the location of the planets.

ILLUSTRATION #1

THE ZODIAC

          We all have heard someone say “I am a Libra,” or "My sign is Taurus," or so on.  With such statements, people are  indicating which sign of the zodiac the Sun was in on the day of their birth.  For example, between September 23rd and October 23nd, the Sun moves through the Libra section of the zodiac, and people born during that time refer to themselves as Libras. 

Each year, the Sun follows a regular pattern, moving through each sign of the zodiac in about a month.  Of course, this movement is really caused by the earth moving around the Sun once a year, but from our point of view, it appears the Sun is moving around the zodiac. 

The dates for the Sun’s yearly progression through the zodiac are: 

The date of the Sun’s ingress into each sign of the zodiac varies slightly from year to year.  This is why different references sometimes give slightly different dates for these shifts.  Those born on these “cusp” dates need to check with an astrologer to determine the actual solar position at their particular place and time of birth.  For example, if you were born in the early morning hours of March 20th, you would likely be a Pisces.  Someone else born later in the evening of March 20th would probably be an Aries, due to the fact that the Sun moved from Pisces to Aries during the day.  If you do not know it already, take a moment and identify your Sun sign from the table above.  This is just the very first step in understanding your astrological make-up.

          The Sun is the only planet which has its movement tied to the calendar year.  In fact, a year is 365 days long because it takes the Sun that amount of time to make one revolution through all twelve signs of the zodiac.  The Moon and the planets will be in one of the twelve signs also, since they are all somewhere on the zodiac.  However, the Moon and the planets move at varying rates of speed compared to the Sun.  The Moon takes just one month to make a cycle around the zodiac, Mercury and Venus about a year, Mars twenty-two months, Jupiter twelve years, Saturn twenty-nine years, Uranus eighty-four years, Neptune one hundred sixty-five years, and Pluto takes two hundred and forty-eight years to cycle through the zodiac. 

Therefore, you cannot know what sign of the zodiac the Moon or the planets were in simply by knowing your day of birth.  There is an over-emphasis on “Sun-sign” astrology because the location of the Sun is the only piece of astrological information you can know about yourself without having your birth chart calculated.  Chapter Two explores the basics of a birth chart, which is the map written in the sky at your moment of birth. 

CHAPTER

WHAT IS A BIRTH CHART?

Your birth chart shows the location of the Sun, Moon, and planets at the exact moment of your birth.  A birth chart can also be called a horoscope.  However, since most newspapers call their astrological columns “horoscopes,” we will use the term “birth chart” to distinguish a professional chart cast for a specific individual from a short general forecast written for mass publication.  The birth chart notes the precise location of each heavenly body in its zodiac sign.  For example, my birth chart shows the Moon was in the sign of Aries, and Mercury was in the sign of Libra when I was born. 

          The next question people usually ask is what it means to have the Moon in Aries or Mercury in Libra.  In order to explain, I will now introduce you to the meanings attached to each sign of the zodiac and to each planet.  These correlations come from thousands of years of observation.  The signs and planets are representative of primal archetypal ways of being.  Each deals with a basic fundamental part of the human psyche.  Here is a table giving the zodiac signs and their meanings, and one listing the planets and their meanings.

THE ZODIAC SIGNS AND THEIR MEANING

^  Aries - The Ram -  impulsive, heroic, initiating, leaps before looking, sexual, self-focused, wants to do things immediately, adventurous, courageous, naive, direct, physical, headstrong, fiery.  

_ Taurus - The Bull - sturdy, stable, stubborn, adverse to change, attuned to the senses, material possessions and security are important, slow to anger, slow reflexes, possessive, kind-hearted, does not like to be pushed.

` Gemini - The Twins - curious, intellectual, talkative, restless, writers, communicators, teachers, travelers, will have duality in life, high energy or high strung, likes constant mental stimulation, quick, does many things at the same time.  

a Cancer - The Crab - attached to mother/family, nurturing, protective, loves home and children, likes to feel safe and secure, sensitive, timid, can be moody, shy, emotional rather than intellectual.  

b Leo - The Lion - loves to be the center of attention, fun, childlike, proud, loyal, sexual, theatrical, performers, artists, leaders, strong ego, courageous, dignified, generous, charismatic and charming.  

c Virgo - The Virgin - analytical, discriminating, physically sensitive, works behind the scenes, helpmates, perfectionists, interested in health/diet, loves animals, likes to organize things, sees patterns, timid, may have low self-esteem. 

d Libra - The Scales - artistic, relationships very important, have a “we” consciousness, difficulty in making decisions, loves beauty/aesthetics, color-coordinated, diplomatic, sees both sides of an issue, interest in law and justice, peacekeepers, diplomatic, loves music and dance.  

e Scorpio - The Scorpion - intense, secretive, sexual and passionate, psychic, jealous, possessive, can wound deeply or make great healers, love of extremes, vengeful, have a desire for power, very intuitive and perceptive.  

f Sagittarius - The Archer - optimistic, generous, loves to travel, team players, athletic, loves horses/outdoors, straight forward, metaphysical, philosophical, gregarious and extroverted, likes freedom, has executive ability.  

g Capricorn - The Goat - ambitious, serious, wise, achievement and goal oriented, hard workers, mature, feel best when they are in control, cautious, likes to be in positions of authority, interest in history.  

h Aquarius - The Waterbearer - fair-minded, futuristic, understands technology, unique and individualistic, humanitarians, democratic, rational rather than emotional, detached or aloof.  

i Pisces - The Fish - spiritual, dreamy, sacrifices and suffers, sensitive, more comfortable in the astral realm than the Earth realm, empathetic, sympathetic, tendency to be a victim or martyr, taken advantage of easily.  

THE PLANETS AND THEIR MEANINGS:

      Sun - your ego, shows your career/success, gives indications about important men in your life (father, husband), governs your physical vitality and health.

     Moon - your emotions and intuition, gives indications about important women in your life (mother, wife), governs your home and domestic surroundings, shows your subconscious and instinctual side, has to do with mass consciousness.

      Mercury - your intellect, how you communicate, governs teaching and writing, gives indications about siblings and relatives, shows how you may do in school, shows how you think and how your mind works.  

      Venus - your relationships, governs your love interests, shows information about friends, shows beauty, has to do with aptitude for and appreciation of the arts, shows your ability to be diplomatic.  

      Mars - your sexual energy, shows aggressiveness/assertiveness, warrior energy, shows propensity for hostility/anger, governs your drive and determination, associated with accidents and violence, lust and primal behavior.

   Jupiter - your wealth (both spiritual and material), governs opportunities, shows luck,     generosity/optimism, has to do with travel, philosophy, religion, publishing, and law.

      Saturn - your area of restriction, hardship, tests, discipline, shows relations with older people, deals with history/traditions/ancestors/authority figures, can give indications about one's father, governs real estate.

     Uranus - change, chaos, sudden unforeseen events, breaks up old patterns, associated with science and technology, humanitarianism, the future.

     Neptune - spirituality, love consciousness, good and bad karma, confusion, deception, dissolves things, indicates where you may suffer and sacrifice, deals with illusion, non-reality, addictions and alcoholism.  

    Pluto - death, intense sexual energy, power and control issues, transformation, occultism, desires, extremes, intuitive or psychic abilities or experiences.

          To begin to understand someone's personality from their birth chart, we start by putting together the planet’s meaning with the sign it occupies.  Let's go back to our earlier example of analyzing my Aries Moon.  We begin by noting the Moon indicates emotional disposition.  Aries is basically a fiery, immature, impulsive energy.  An Aries Moon tends to make a person “emotionally immediate.”  When I was young, my father always said whatever I was feeling was right there on my face.  I have a hard time holding on to an emotion -- I can be very angry at someone one day, and completely forget about it the next.  These characteristics are common to those with the Moon in Aries.

          Let's take another example, the fact that I have Mercury in Libra.  In analyzing this, we start with the fact Mercury is the planet associated with the intellect.  Libra has to do with relating to people and with artistic expression.  Libra's symbol is the scales, and Libra is associated with law and the court system.  People with Mercury in Libra are often drawn to law, psychology and human relations.  Prior to practicing astrology, my career was as attorney.  Now, practicing astrology gives me the opportunity to investigate my interest in psychology.  These type of intellectual qualities are often seen in individuals who have Mercury in Libra.  In addition, Mercury is the planet which governs writing.  Mercury in Libra is a placement often seen in the charts of novelists and creative writers, since Libra has to do with art and artistic expression.  I have written a screenplay, a children's book, and many short stories and poems.  These are all typical characteristics of a person with Mercury in Libra.

          A good friend of mine has the Moon in Sagittarius.  As well as being an indicator of emotions, the Moon will give information about a person’s home.  Sag is a sign that has association with travel, wealth, and largess.  My friend has lived on four different continents.  And she is always mothering people, bringing them into her home, giving them food, drink, and gifts.  These traits are a reflection of the energy of Sagittarius combining with the Moon themes of home and nurturing. 

          Hopefully, you are beginning to see how the planets in the signs function.  The signs give twelve archetypal energies or ways of being.  The planets indicate parts of your psyche.  By noting what sign one of your planets is in, you can determine how that part of your psychological make-up may express itself.  When you analyze the Sun, Moon, and all eight of the planets in their various signs, you get a fairly accurate picture of your personality.  You also begin to understand the complexity of the astrological portrait.  It becomes obvious your “Sun sign” is a small part of the picture.  In Chapter Three, we talk about other important factors in the birth chart, including the Rising Sign, astrological houses, and planetary aspects. 

CHAPTER

WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE BORN UNDER THE SAME SIGN SO DIFFERENT?

          There are several reasons people born under the same Sun sign might evidence different personalities.  As you have just seen, the first reason is the Sun is only one of ten heavenly bodies which comprise the birth chart.  There are many other aspects to the birth chart which make us uniquely individual.  One important part is the Rising Sign.

          The Rising Sign is the sign of the zodiac cresting the eastern horizon at the moment of birth.  It is also referred to as the “ascendant” because this is where the planets begin their ascent.  As the Earth rotates once a day, we see the band of the zodiac (along with the Sun, Moon, and planets) revolve around us one time.  Therefore, each day, all twelve signs of the zodiac rise over the eastern horizon.  Since there are twenty-four hours in a day, and twelve signs of the zodiac, a new sign is rising every two hours. 

    The Rising Sign is just as important as the Sun sign in determining your basic personality, and sometimes more so.  It shows how you perceive the world.  This is one important reason why even people born on the same day can be vastly different, let alone those just born under the same Sun sign.  A person born at noon with Scorpio Rising will have a much different personality than a person born two hours later with Sagittarius Rising.  This is one of the main reasons it is crucial to have an accurate birth time when calculating the birth chart. 

           Of course, sometimes a person will not have their birth time available.  Without a birth time, the chart can only provide part of the total picture.  Even so, this still yields great insights.  Also for people without their exact birth time, there is a process called chart rectification.  This is a technique whereby we “work backwards” to get your birth time by correlating significant life events and personality characteristics with possible birth times.

          The Rising Sign accounts for many differences in people born under the same sign.  However there is one more major factor which contributes to each person’s unique astrological profile.  Recall that the birth chart is simply a picture of the zodiac, with the positions of the planets noted around that circle.  The circle is naturally divided by four key points:  the eastern horizon, high noon, the western horizon, and midnight.  Astrologers further divide the circle until there are twelve sections.  Each section is called a “house.”  Illustration 2 shows you the basic structure of every birth chart.

ILLUSTRATION #2

BIRTH CHART STRUCTURE

The first house in any birth chart starts right below the eastern horizon, and the houses go around the wheel until the twelfth house, which is directly above the eastern horizon.  The houses are always in the same position in every birth chart.  They form the framework of the birth chart.  What changes is where the signs of the zodiac and the planets are in relation to this framework.  

For example, in Illustration #3 below, the top chart shows the location of the planets at 9 a.m. on a spring day.  Notice how the Sun, represented by an orange circle with a dot in the center , has risen over the eastern horizon and had made its way into the 11th house.  The bottom chart shows the location of the planets ten hours later, at 7 p.m.  The Sun by that time has moved into the 7th house, and will be setting soon as it moves over the 7th house cusp (the western horizon) and down into the 6th house.  Take a moment to identify the other planets and notice their movement into different houses.  Notice also how the Rising Sign changes throughout the day.  At 9:00 a.m. the sign of Leo is rising, noted on the chart by the symbol for Leo being placed on the outer wheel at the point representing the sunrise.  By 7:00 p.m., the sign of Sagittarius is rising (and Leo is now on the cusp of the 9th house). 

ILLUSTRATION #3

Top Chart 9:00 a.m. 

Bottom Chart 7:00 p.m

          When people look at their first astrological chart, the most common reaction is confusion.  I certainly remember this being my response -- it was like looking at Egyptian hieroglyphics.  Actually, you are looking at an ancient language, one which uses symbols to represent planets and zodiac signs.  Do not be discouraged if you do not fully understand these charts.  They are complex, but I include them so you can start to see how a chart conveys information to an astrologer.

          When conceptualizing the twelve astrological houses, think of them simply as wedges of the sky.  Astrologers have found each of these sections of the sky has to do with a different area of a person’s life.   It is just as important what house a planet sits in as what sign it occupies.  A person born with a Cancer Sun in the eleventh house will act much differently than one with his Cancer Sun in the seventh house, meaning a person born at nine o’clock in the morning will have a different personality than one born at seven o’clock in the evening.  Similarly, a person with the Moon in the sixth house will act differently than a person with it in the second house.  The same is true for the other planets.  This is another major reason birth time is so important.  As the planets rotate around the Earth once a day, they move through each of the twelve houses, roughly through one house every two hours.  The following table gives you the meanings of the Houses:

THE HOUSES AND THEIR MEANINGS

1st -  physical body and health, ego drives, how you see yourself.

2nd -  material possessions, finances, security, the senses.

3rd -  early schooling, siblings, your neighborhood, writing, short journeys.

4th -  home, relationship to mother, family, real estate, subconscious influences.

5th -  creativity, fun, sex (for pleasure or procreation), theater and stage performance, children, pregnancy, gambling, entertainment, lovers, social events.

6th -  health, diet, illness, service to others, workplace, animals, employees.

7th - husband/wife, business partners, opponents, legal matters, art.

8th -  death, sex (for intensity), other people’s resources, inheritance, the occult, psychic phenomenon, the mysteries of life.

9th -  higher education, long journeys, philosophy/religion, metaphysics, publishing, and law.

10th -  career, father, public recognition, your reputation.

11th -  friendships/acquaintances, technology, goals and ideals, groups and organizations.

12th - old karma, spirituality, hidden opponents, long term sacrifices, long term suffering or illness, self-undoing, confinement.

          We start interpreting a birth chart by noting the planet’s sign.  Then, add additional depth and accuracy by analyzing the house each planet occupies.  For example, take the chart of Bruce Springsteen, a very successful rock and roll artist.  "Bruce", as he is known to his fans, was born when the Sun , Moon , Mercury , and Neptune were all in Libra .  Libra is the sign having to do with art, especially music and dance. 

ILLUSTRATION #4

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, BIRTH CHART 

Born 9/23/49, 10:50 p.m., Long Branch, New Jersey

          This alone is a strong indication that Bruce would have considerable artistic ability, since his Sun and Moon as well as two other planets were in the sign having to do with artistry.  But let’s look further -- three of his four Libra planets were located in the fifth house.  Additionally, Venus was in the fifth house as well.  The fifth house is the area of the sky associated with creativity, entertainment and stage performance.  His birth chart gives ample indication Bruce could be a creative songwriter and an electrifying performer.  A child born in the same hospital, but a few hours earlier or later, would have a very different personality due to the change of house placement. 

             Along with the Rising Sign and house placement, another important consideration in interpreting a birth chart is examining how planets are related to each other’s location in space.  Are planets sitting opposite one another?  Are they 90 degrees apart?  These geometrical relations are called aspects.  There are five main aspects which are listed below:

THE ASPECTS AND THEIR MEANINGS

Conjunction:  0 to 10 degrees apart (planets sit together).  Can be good or bad depending upon the planets and what sign and house they are in.

Sextile:  60 degrees apart.  A good aspect, planetary energies can work well together.  There is an opportunity for good things to come from this aspect.

Square:  90 degrees apart.  A difficult aspect, planetary energies are “squared off” against each other.  Denotes discord, disharmony, and conflict.  

Trine: (from the word triangle):  120 degrees apart.  Most favorable aspect.  Planets are in harmony and will give benefits to the person.  

Opposition:  180 degrees apart.  Another difficult aspect, planets are “opposing” each other.  Often plays out through opponents in your life.

          How a planet is aspected to other planets will tell a great deal about how that planet is able to express itself.  To see an example of this, let’s examine the charts of film writer and director, Woody Allen, and film goddess Marilyn Monroe.  Mars has to do with sex and Venus has to do with love.  In Woody Allen’s chart, Mars and Venus are in a square relationship to each other. 

ILLUSTRATION #5

WOODY ALLEN, BIRTH CHART

12/1/35, 10:55 p.m., Brooklyn, New York

          When planets are squared, their energies struggle with each other.  In the case of Mars squaring Venus, lust and passion are fighting with love and romanticism.  Additionally, in Woody Allen’s chart his Mars and Venus form what we call a “Grand Square” with the planets Pluto and Uranus .  A Grand Square is when four planets are positioned such that they form a large square.  You may notice the square looks slightly out of kilter.  Planets do not have to sit exactly 90 degrees apart to be considered in square.  Astrologers allow an “orb” of about seven or eight degrees either way, so planets from about 82 degrees to 98 degrees apart are in square.  (Other geometrical aspects in the charts have been deleted for clarity.)  Pluto has to do with intensity, power struggles, and extreme and sometimes dark passions.  Uranus is associated with the unique and unusual, and with upheavals in the status quo.  This square shows the potential for a great deal of conflict in sexual relationships. 

In his movies and in his life, Woody Allen confronted sexual issues.  His classic film “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex,” shows him as a nervous sperm about to be sent out into the unknown uterus.  Allen was vilified for his personal actions when he began an affair with the adopted daughter of his long-time companion, Mia Farrow.  The girl was still in her teens, and he was over fifty.  Eventually, despite great condemnation, they married.  These are the types of unusual and challenging sexual issues faced by people with Mars and Venus in a grand square.

          Marilyn Monroe, on the other hand, has Mars and Venus in good aspect to other planets.  Her Mars trines both Pluto and Saturn .   When three planets sit in a triangle formation it makes a “Grand Trine.”  A trine relationship shows a harmonious flow between the planets involved.  For Marilyn, the energy of her Mars - her sexuality - worked well with the powerful intense energy of Pluto, and with the reserved energy of Saturn.

ILLUSTRATION #6

MARILYN MONROE, BIRTH CHART

6/1/26, 9:30 a.m., Los Angeles, California

          In addition, Marilyn’s Venus , the planet of romance and beauty, was in a trine with Neptune .  Neptune rules illusion and non-reality, which includes the illusion of motion pictures.  When Venus and Neptune are in a beneficial relationship, the person is endowed with beauty, grace, and an otherworldly romantic disposition.  Marilyn’s Venus/Neptune trine helps account for her becoming the reigning goddess of sexuality of her time.  No woman in the twentieth century was more famous for her sex appeal than Marilyn Monroe.  Luckily for Marilyn, her Venus also was in sextile with Jupiter , the planet associated with wealth and benefits.  This aspect helped assure her qualities of beauty and charm would reap great material rewards. 

            These examples are quite simplistic and do not claim to explore the deep psychological significance of the planetary placements in these two birth charts.  Obviously, Marilyn had her difficulties in the area of love, and Woody Allen had his successes.  However, this gives you a basic idea of how aspects affect the manner in which people express their planetary make-up.  We have now addressed the basics of the birth chart.  As you have seen, the birth chart is a complex mix of planets in signs, in houses, and in aspect to one another.  Without having your birth chart calculated, the only thing you can know about yourself is your Sun sign.  This is only a small part of what makes up your astrological profile.  You are a unique, complex individual.  This individuality is reflected with incredible accuracy by the components of the birth chart.  

**To read the next six chapters in Monica's online E-Book, click here  -- The Language of the Sky