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What are the different parts of astrology?

Astrology
Astrology is a tool for self-understanding. Using your personal information, which is your birth date, time and location of birth, a chart is calculated. It is a picture of the solar system at your time and location of birth. Why are you here and what is your mission in life? Your personal chart answers that question and defines your purpose in life. Astrology shows your individual connection with the universe. It describes your inner self, your outer self and the emotional side of your personality, very specifically. It tells your karma as well as your destiny. The astrology chart shows a theme and when we recognize our patterns, they are easier to change. Some themes are about relationships, career, health, family dynamics, spirituality and children. What is your theme in life?

Sun Sign
What is your sign? When people ask that, they are asking what part of the sky was the Sun going through when you were born. Thousands of years ago, astrologers divided up the sky in 12 equal divisions and named them the sign of the zodiac. Astrologers therefore created a reference system around the earth. If we all point to the same place in the sky, we all call it the same name. For example, I’m a Gemini, so when I was born the Sun was moving through the part of the sky called Gemini. I’m Sun in Gemini. If you are a Leo, the Sun was moving through the part of the sky called Leo. Of course, each sign has a different personality, strengths and challenges and paths in life. Luckily, even though our Sun is in a sign, we have a combination of all the signs in our chart. Some are stronger, but they are all there in one chart. No one would want to be 100% in any one sign.

Astrology Chart
Your astrology chart is a computer printout of the positions of the planets in the sky at your time and location of birth. If you could take a picture of the planets and put them on paper, that’s your chart. The planets and the signs will be written in glyphs and placed somewhere in the twelve houses. The red and blue lines in the center show the geometric pattern between the planets at your moment of birth. Some could call is your personal mandala, which is the blueprint to your life. Your astrology chart defines your purpose in life.

Signs of the Zodiac
The zodiac is a ribbon in the sky along the ecliptic, or the apparent path of the Sun. It’s easy to find the ecliptic. In the northern hemisphere, face south and draw an imaginary line in the sky with your finger tracing….sunrise in the east, noon-day Sun and sunset in the west. That is the ecliptic. The signs of the zodiac divide the ecliptic into 12 sections of 30 degrees each, starting from Aries and ending at Pisces. The Sun takes approximately 1 month to go through one sign, starting at the first day of spring with Aries. The signs represent the personalities in the astrology chart.

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Aries Aries March 21-April 19
Aries is a fire sign and is associated with the planet Mars. Aries are the pioneers of the zodiac and like to be the first to start things. Keywords: Fast, Courageous, Eager, Self-Starting, Energetic or Pushy, Impulsive and Rude.

Taurus Taurus April 20 – May 20
Taurus is an earth sign and is associated with the planet Venus. Taureans are the bankers of the zodiac and are secure and steady. Keywords: Calm, Stable, Deliberate, Leisurely, Laid back, Realistic or Stubborn, Materialistic and Passive.

Gemini Gemini May 21 – June 20
Gemini is an air sign and is associated with the planet Mercury. Gemini are the student/teachers of the zodiac and are good talkers. Keywords: Talkative, Curious, Articulate, Flexible, Versatile, Animated or Restless, Chatty and Gossipy.

Cancer Cancer June 21 – July 22
Cancer is a water sign and is associated with the Moon. Cancers are the caregivers of the zodiac and are loving souls. Keywords: Emotional, Nurturing, Domestic, Traditional, Sentimental, Affectionate or Hypersensitive, Clingy or Moody.

Leo Leo July 23 – August 22
Leo is a fire sign and is associated with the Sun. Leos are the entertainers of the zodiac and love being the center of attention. Keywords: Confident, Charismatic, Royal, Playful, Proud, Leaders or Arrogant, Demanding or Flashy.

Virgo Virgo August 23 – September 22
Virgo is an earth sign and is associated with the planet Mercury. Virgos are the perfectionists of the zodiac and love spreadsheets. Keywords: Efficient, Detailed, Precise, Helpful, Factual, Modest or Nagging, Worrying or Petty.

Libra Libra September 23 – October 22
Libra is an air sign and is associated with the planet Venus. Libras are the romantics of the zodiac and love being in love. Keywords: Balanced, Refined, Artistic, Charming, Easy-going , Romantic or Indecisive, Lazy and Co-dependent.

Scorpio Scorpio October 23 – November 21
Scorpio is a water sign and is associated with the planet Pluto, and yes, Pluto is still a planet! Scorpios are the strategists of the zodiac and are experts at the ability to concentrate. Keywords: Focused, Secretive, Intense, Sexual, Purposeful, Calculating or Jealous, Manipulative and Dark.

Sagittarius Sagittarius November 22 -December 21
Sagittarius is a fire sign and is associated with the planet Jupiter. Sagittarians are the adventurers of the zodiac and love to travel. Keywords: Adventurous, Idealistic, Outspoken, Open-minded, Footloose, Educated or Tactless, Rambling and Exaggerating.

Capricorn Capricorn December 22 – January 19
Capricorn is an earth sign and is associated with the planet Saturn. Capricorns are the executives of the zodiac and need to succeed. Keywords: Dependable, Serious, Accomplished, Competent, Presentable, Sophisticated or Pessimistic, Cold or Calculating.

Aquarius Aquarius January 20 – February 18
Aquarius is an air sign and is associated with the planet Uranus. Aquarians are the rebels of the zodiac and need to be different. Keywords: Individualistic, Humanitarian, Unconventional, Modern, Bohemian, Friendly or Scattered, Detached or Insensitive.

Pisces Pisces February 19 – March 20
Pisces is a water sign and is associated with the planet Neptune. Pisces are the dreamers of the zodiac and live in fantasyland. Keywords: Mystical, Spiritual, Intuitive, Soft, Poetic, Visionary or Spacey, Insecure or Victims.

Sun Sun sign Inner self and the sign of Leo Leo

Moon Moon sign Emotions and the sign of Cancer Cancer

Mercury Mercury Sign Intellect and the signs of Gemini Gemini and Virgo Virgo

Venus Venus sign Love and the signs of Taurus Taurus and Libra Libra

Mars mars Action and the sign of Aries Aries

Jupiter Jupiter Expansion and the sign of Sagittarius Sagittarius

Saturn Saturn Structure and the sign of Capricorn Capricorn

Uranus Uranus Innovation and the sign of Aquarius Aquaries

Neptune Neptune Visions and the sign of Pisces Pisces

Pluto Pluto Transformation and the sign of Scorpio scorpio



Rising Sign
The rising sign, which is also known as the ascendant, is a very important part of your chart. The Sun rises above the eastern horizon at sunrise each morning. When a baby is born, the degree of the zodiac that is on the eastern horizon is called your rising sign. It explains your outside personality or the mask you put on for people to see. The rising sign is the side of you that you show to the world.

Nodes of the Moon
North Node North Node
South Node South Node
A node is an intersecting point. The nodes of the moon are the 2 points where the orbit of the Sun crosses the orbit of the Moon on the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the apparent path of the Sun through the sky. You can see the ecliptic when you watch the sunrise, noon-day Sun and sunset. There are two nodes, the north node and the south node. The north node is where the Moon crosses to the north of the ecliptic. The south node is where the Moon crosses the ecliptic going south. Ok, what does that mean? The nodes describe our past life lessons and how they connect with this lifetime. The north node explains your destiny and the south node describes your karma.

Houses
The houses are the pizza pie shapes in the astrology chart where the planets and sign live. They represent the Locations in the astrology chart. When a planet and sign are in a certain house, they act out in that department of your life.

1st House Self
2nd House Money
3rd House Mind
4th House Early Home
5th House Fun Times
6th House Body
7th House Relationships
8th House Others’ Money
9th House Higher Mind
10th House Public Life
11th House Friends
12th House Spirit

Elements
There are four elements in western astrology that represent different styles of the signs.

Fire – Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. Fire signs are energetic, dynamic and like to inititate.

Earth – Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. Earth signs are stable, committed and deliberate.

Air – Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Air signs are communicative and the networkers.

Water – Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Water signs are sensitive and emotional.

Aspects
An astrology chart is a picture of the planets in the sky at your time and location of birth. The red and blue lines in the center of your chart show the geometry between the planets at your moment of birth. I’ve color coded these lines so they are easier to read. The red lines describe your challenges or karma, which is your homework this lifetime. The blue lines describe your talents or destiny this lifetime. There is always a balance between the two. When you feel comfortable with your challenges, your talents come into power. I call it moving from your red lines to your blue lines.

Transits
Astrology is a predictive tool and the transits tell us what is happening now in our lives. The birth chart is where the planets were at your exact time and location of birth and defines your purpose in life. The transits are the planets in the sky now and explain your current situation. The cool thing about astrology is that you can look up any time in the past or in the future and check out the planetary story with amazing precision.

Comparison Chart
Astrology is a great technique to see how people get along with each other. When you compare one person’s chart with another, it’s obvious to see what areas are compatible and what areas are in conflict. Comparisons can be done between a wide variety of relationships. You can compare your chart with your parents, children, siblings, friends, business partners and lovers.

Sabian Symbols
There are 360 degrees of the zodiac and each degree connects with an archetypal image. The traditional archetypes are like the Goddess and the Warrior. I call them universal archetypes. The Sabian Symbols are individual archetypes and are much more specific. A chart has about 14 important degrees, including the planets, rising sign and the Nodes. The Sabian Symbols give you another take on your chart in a very creative way. If you think you know your chart well or want something different, this is the style for you.

Astro*Carto*Graphy
This technique shows where the planets were crossing over the world when you were born. For example, when I was being born in Tucson, the Sun was rising somewhere in the world and setting somewhere else. The Moon was rising and setting somewhere also. These lines show your power spots around the world. They are called your planetary lines, like being on your Sun line or on your Venus line. Travel to your Sun line for notoriety, to your Moon line for a home away from, to your Mars line for sports and your Venus line for love. If you are considering moving and don’t know where or want to take a holiday to a new place and don’t know where….this is the style for you.