Most people think of the astrology they see in the papers, based on sun-signs. Even those who do not believe in “all that rubbish” will usually know their sign. But there is a lot more to astrology than this.

Astrologers divide the sky( or zodiac) up into 12 sections, each representing one of the signs. These are named after constellations that are in that area (e.g. Libra, Virgo etc.) The zodiac is pictured as a geocentric model, basically a big imaginary circle around the earth.
Your sun-sign is which of these segments the sun was in when you were born. As the earth revolves around the sun in a year, we can work this out pretty accurately by the date.

The moon, which for the purposes of astrology is a planet, and another nine planets, will also be in one of these twelve signs. Each of these has a different meaning, depending on which sign it is in. As well as this, the exact time of birth will give the ascendant, or rising sign. This is the part of the sky which appeared on the horizon at the moment of birth. The position of all these is calculated accurately, to within one hundredth of a degree.

So each chart is unique.

A personal chart is a combination of twelve things ( sun, 10 planets, and the ascendant) each of which could be in say 36000 positions ( 360 degrees of a circle times 100 divisions in each degree) This in itself gives a phenomenal number of permutations. Add to this further interpretations based on the angles and proximity between each of the planets.

Basically each planet will represent a different part of your life. Venus for example, is concerned with love and money. So the sign this planet is in will show your attitude to money and love. The “aspects” or relationships between Venus and other planets, show other things. Jupiter is lucky, so if it forms a positive aspect to Venus, that’s a good thing. Even this is a vastly over-simplified outline, but it gives an idea of the scope astrology has.

So astrology does not just divide people into twelve types, it can produce thousands of subtly different profiles. It does not assume all Taurus people are stubborn, or all Scorpios are good in bed; it does state that this will be a part of these people’s character. How this is shown, depends on what else is in the chart.

Predictions are made on the basis that all these planets are constantly moving. The astrologer will compare the positions of everything when you were born to where it all is now, or at some point in the future. All the factors mentioned above can also be worked out for the sky as the moment to see general influences.

A note here; astrology is about influence, not pre-destination. Just because it is a bad day for your love life, you do not have to go and get a divorce. We have free will. Astrology just highlights the areas of our personality, and the times in our lifes when we may have certain tendencies, opportunities or problems.

Dismiss astrology as rubbish if you wish, but before you do consider what it really is rather than judging it by the newspaper columns. That is about as fair as expecting all women to be page three girls, or all artist to draw cartoons