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Astrology
is an intriguing subject. It is really thrilling
to know the effect of various planets,
constellations, the sun and the moon on our
lives. Astrology is a study of all this and much
more. It also tells you about your spiritual
connection to an entity in the higher plane. If
you are interested in cultivating astrology as
your hobby then you have come to the right
place. Here you are going to learn about the
various concepts and symbols used, which will
build a strong base for your in-depth
astrological study.
Types of Astrology
Out of the
various types of astrology, the ones that were
most famous in the bygone years were Horary,
Mundane and Natal. Horary Astrology was used to
determine auspicious time of action, Mundane was
used to predict disasters and Natal, the more
famous one, was used to determine the type of
personality one possesses, with the help of
natal or birth charts. This form of astrology is
in use till date. Current traditions in
astrology are Vedic Astrology, Western Astrology
and Chinese astrology (exists in different
forms, in different places).
Both, Vedic
Astrology and Western astrology, have a common
ancestry. Both of them cast a horoscope or
astrological chart that represents celestial
bodies like the Sun, the Moon, the planets and
constellations of stars. The basic difference
between these two types is that Vedic astrology
is based on Sidereal zodiacs, where the zodiacs
are linked to their original constellations,
whereas Western astrology is based on tropical
zodiacs. The 12 zodiac signs of western
astrology do not correspond to their original
constellations. But in Vedic astrology, it is
this very position that is of prime importance.
Additionally, in Vedic astrology nakshatras or
lunar mansions and dashas or planetary periods
are also important.
In Chinese
astrology, the 12 signs of the zodiac are not
for the positions of the celestial bodies in the
sky, but on the celestial equator. In Chinese
astrology the signs correspond to one of the two
sets of 12 hours in a day and also to one of the
12 months. Each year is governed by a sign and
combines with a system that is based on 5
elements of Chinese cosmology, which gives rise
to a cycle of 60 years.
Birth Chart
Birth Chart is
the map of the Sun, the Moon and the planets at
the exact place and moment of birth. For
simplification, only these heavenly bodies are
included in the birth chart, though one can also
include other heavenly bodies like asteroids and
stars. Exclusion of the stars and asteroids does
not invalidate astrology. The principle behind
creating a birth chart is that a person is said
to possess qualities according to the time
he/she is born. It is our astrological portrait
that tells us of our highest potentials and
symbolically represents our psyche.
The Elements
The entire
universe constitutes of 4 elements, namely fire,
water, air and earth. These elements represent
certain traits and when applied to
personalities, give them a certain
“temperament”. This temperament is variable as
it depends upon the emphasis or non emphasis of
elements in our horoscope. People who have a
strong emphasis of fire element are impulsive
and spontaneous. Their emotional response is
fast and they exercise their energies
wholeheartedly and have quite a lively
imagination. Zodiac signs that fall under this
element are Aries, Sagittarius and Leo. People
who fall under the Air element are animated and
quick. Their energies are applied in diverse
ways. They have a tendency to intellectualize
their expectations and feelings. Aquarius, Libra
and Gemini zodiacs fall under this element.
People who have a strong emphasis of Water
element are very sensitive and are the ‘feeling’
type. They have rich and deep emotional and
imaginative lives. Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio
have a strong emphasis of Water element. People
who have a strong emphasis of Earth element
react slowly and quietly. They have great level
of endurance. They are deeply rooted emotionally
and hence change very slowly. Zodiac signs
Taurus, Capricorn and Virgo have strong Earth
emphasis.
The four
elements have three states or qualities each
called the fixed, the mutable and the cardinal
states. For an analogy, water in it liquid form
will be in its cardinal state, in ice form will
be in its fixed state and in its vapor form will
be in mutable state. Aries, Libra, Capricorn and
Cancer come under Cardinal signs. They are
initiators as they have an urge to shape up
things. Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius and Taurus come
under fixed signs. They build on what is already
there and make it more organized. Sagittarius,
Pieces, Virgo and Gemini are Mutable signs. They
change things and their actions change with the
unfolding process
The
Zodiacs
There are 12
sun signs and each belongs to an element in one
of its forms. Thus emerges the figure of ‘12’
signs. There can not be a pure Scorpio or a pure
Libra as each person has a horoscope with
different positions of the heavenly bodies. Each
horoscope is very unique and complex. To
understand each sign properly we also need to
take an account of its elemental qualities and
also the characteristics of the planets to which
each one of them belongs.
Aries is a
cardinal Fire sign that is ruled by Mars. Taurus
is a fixed Earth sign that is ruled by Venus.
Gemini is a mutable Air sign ruled by Mercury.
Cancer is a cardinal Water sign ruled by Moon.
Leo is a fixed Fire sign ruled by the Sun. Virgo
is a Mutable Earth sign ruled by Mercury. Libra
is a cardinal Air sign ruled by Venus. Scorpio
is a fixed Water sign ruled by Pluto.
Sagittarius is a mutable Fire sign ruled by
Jupiter. Capricorn is a cardinal Earth sign
ruled by Saturn. Aquarius is a fixed Air sign
ruled by Uranus. Pisces is a mutable Water sign
ruled by Neptune.
The Houses
The horoscope
is divided in to a number of houses, usually 12.
The position of these houses depends on location
and time of birth more, rather than the date of
birth. They represent the different spheres of
life. These spheres can be described in terms of
personal experiences in life as well as physical
surroundings. In the chart, the position of a
zodiac sign or planet in a house determines to a
large extent how a personal planet will act in
an area or phase of life, and also the
activities on which its force needs to be
exerted.
This is a short
idea of the important terms and concepts of
astrology. If you wish to know more you can
click on the following links to further continue
your astrological journey.
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