Sunday, June 9, 2013

Astrology Basics

Your natal horoscope is a snapshot of the arrangement of the planets at the moment of your birth.  The placement of the planets in their signs and houses captures the essence of you, the possibilities and challenges that await you throughout your life.

Your Sun sign represents the energy you bring to your personality.  The sign of your natal Moon indicates your driving need in life.  Add to this the sign that was rising at the time of your birth, known as your Rising Sign or Ascendant, and a picture of you, and how you are perceived by others, starts to come into focus.

It is vitally important to know your birth date, place of birth and the exact time of birth in order to capture an accurate picture of your birth (natal) horoscope.  If the exact time of birth is unknown, the horoscope will not be as accurate or as revealing of your potential.

A complete horoscope will reveal to an astrologer the placement of the planets in their signs and houses, and thus, their relationship in aspect to each other. 

There are twelve signs of the horoscope, and each sign is associated with a planet.  In the table below the houses (1-12) indicate the placement of signs and planets in the natural zodiac, beginning with Aries (ushering in the Spring) in the first house, and ending with Pisces (the end of Winter) in the 12th house.

Sign                        Planet                        House                        Time of year (approximate)
Aries                        Mars                        1st                         March 21st to April 21st
Taurus                     Venus                       2nd                        April 22nd to May 22nd
Gemini                    Mercury                   3rd                        May 22nd to June 22nd
Cancer                    Moon                        4th                        June 22nd to July 22nd
Leo                          Sun                           5th                         July 22nd to August 22nd
Virgo                       Mercury                   6th                        August 22nd to September 22nd
Libra                       Venus                        7th                        September 22nd to October 22nd
Scorpio                   Pluto                          8th                        October 22nd to November 22nd
Sagittarius             Jupiter                        9th                        November 22nd to December 22nd
Capricorn              Saturn                         10th                      December 22nd to January 22nd
Aquarius                Uranus                        11th                      January 22nd to February 22nd
Pisces                     Neptune                     12th                      February 22nd to March 21st

Your natal horoscope is comprised of 10 planets (the Sun and Moon are considered planets for the purpose of Astrology) and their placement In the 12 houses.  You most likely will not have planets placed in each of the 12 houses, but the sign ruling each house will provide information regarding the respective area of life.

Next time we will focus on the houses, modalities and elements of each sign.


The Dance of Pluto & Uranus

A very strong aspect that we are all experiencing is the current relationship between Uranus and Pluto.  The aspect is called a square, which means the planets are 90 degrees apart.  Uranus and Pluto are outer planets, and as such they are very slow moving.  You may or may not notice the effects of this transit immediately, but it will become apparent in retrospect.

The energy of Uranus is like a strike of lightning.  It is sudden and unexpected.  Uranus can be experienced as a streak of rebellion, or a need to be original, independent or nonconformist.  Uranus concerns itself with technology, humanitarian issues and the occult (astrology).  Uranus takes approximately 84 years to make a complete circle around the 360-degree horoscope.

Pluto was demoted from planetary status by astronomers in 2006 and it is now considered to be a dwarf planet.  Astrologers continue to recognize Pluto as a planet and its effects in both the natal horoscope and by transit.  Pluto takes anywhere from 12 to 35 years to complete its journey through one sign, therefore its effects are termed generational.  That is, since it can take up to 35 years to transit through one sign, all of those born in that time period share the same sign placement.  For example, Pluto’s transit through Sagittarius lasted from November of 1995 through November of 2008. 

Pluto transits are very powerful.  Pluto brings the energy of transformation.  Think of the Phoenix rising from the ashes, this is Pluto - the never-ending cycle of birth and death.    Pluto also rules such things as crime, waste, conception, the underworld, and atomic power.

Pluto started its journey through Capricorn (structure, restriction, big business) in November of 2008, and Uranus entered Aries (independence, assertion/aggression, leadership) in May of 2010.  Can you anticipate what changes may be brought about in society with these planets in relationship to each other?

Capricorn and Aries are Cardinal signs, and those who have planets in these signs in their natal horoscope, along with Libra and Cancer, are likely to feel this Pluto-Uranus square the most.  Consult an astrologer to find out how to prepare yourself to make the best of this long-lasting, change-inducing transit.

A look back in time is very telling.  Uranus and Pluto were last in a 90 degree aspect (square) to each other in April of 1932 to January of 1934.

Prohibition of alcohol In the USA was abolished in 1933; the same year the US Congress passed the first minimum wage law (33 cents an hour.)  In April of 1933, Nazi German began persecution of Jews, boycotting Jewish businesses.  In November of 1933, Spain gave women the right to vote.

From January of 1901 to November of 1902, Pluto and Uranus were in opposition (180 degrees apart.)  In 1902, Marie and Pierre Curie isolated the radioactive element, radium.  The Australian parliament agreed to female suffrage in July of 1902. 

Uranus and Pluto were conjunct (0 degrees apart) from October of 1965 until June of 1966.  During this time there were protests against the Vietnam conflict, a revival of the movement for women’s liberation, and civil rights protests in the USA.

The current Pluto-Uranus square was first exact on June 24, 2012 and there will be five more exact squares, the last of which will be on March 17, 2015. 

Around the world there have been numerous uprisings and rebellions, starting with the Arab Spring, which began in 2010 and is ongoing today.  July of 2011 saw the start of the Occupy Wall Street movement in the USA, which is again, an ongoing movement.  Students protested in London in 2012 against tuition and unemployment of the youth.  Anti-austerity protesters also took to the streets of London in the Fall of 2012.

Hang on tight, we’re in for a wild ride over the next few years!


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