How Astrology Really Works

It´s certainly true that the average astrology column, which has been written purely for entertainment, has nothing to do with real astrology. Unfortunately, because it´s called ´´astrology´´, people are understandably very confused about what astrology really is.

As an astrologer who studied the subject of REAL astrology, in depth, over a period of 3 years with tutors from the Faculty of Astrological Studies, in London many years ago, I can confirm that it most certainly isn't possible to divide the population into twelve different signs and then tell each Sun sign all the same things about themselves or their future! I´m sure most people realise that it´s just light entertainment and has no proper astrological content. Astrology, real astrology, is far more complex.

People aren't just their 'Sun signs'. Of course, the date we were born does tell us which Sun sign we come under. However, talking about Sun signs as if that says it all, is about as accurate as saying we know all about a person´s life because they come from Europe! It is as innacurate and general as that! We are still all totally unique astrologically and otherwise.

To look at a person´s personality, an astrologer draws up an astrological chart, which is unique to that person, because an astrological chart is a diagram of the sky as it would have been seen at the time and place of birth, like a snapshot of the sky there and then..

It´s impossible to have two charts the same as two people can´t be born in the exact same place at the exact same time. Some things that are seen in the sky, or the chart, move very quickly and even a few minutes would make a difference. An astrological chart is an unique as a fingerprint.

Even twins will have some differences as they aren´t born at the exact same time, but they will definitely have a lot of similarities of course!

For example, the horizon moves very quickly. As you probably know, watching a sunset or a sunrise - before you know it, it´s over! Things can move very fast indeed. As the earth turns, a myriad different patterns are formed in the sky at any given moment.

There are many things to consider. The Sun, and the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.. all these are going to be seen against a backdrop of different constellations of stars - known as ´signs of the zodiac´. When the Sun (which is a star), or a planet, or even the horizon (known as the Ascendant in astrology) is said to be ín a sign (i.e. in Aries or whatever), it actually means that it would have been seen, at that unique moment, against a constellation of stars known as 'Aries' or whatever. These are ´the constellations of the zodiac´. When we´re born, the planets could be visible anywhere at all, or some could be below the horizon where we can´t see them. All this is carefully noted in the chart. It's a diagram within a large circle of 360 degrees which shows how everything would appear all around the earth including above and below! Each thing has an exact position which is measured in degrees and minutes, very precisely. Each ´astrological sign´ or 'constellation of stars´ contains 30

degrees, each degree divisible yet again into 60 ´minutes´ (not the same kinds of minutes as the ones on your watch though!)

Not only are the positions of all the planets and other things very important, measured to the most accurate degree and minute of a sign, but then when all those things are seen within the chart, within the circular diagram, the astrologer measures with great accuracy the geometric angles they all make to each other.

So we end up with the Sun and all the planets in any mixture of signs, but also, very importantly, in any mixture of geometric angles to each other. All those things mean very different and very important things. Some people think they are just their Sun sign because nobody´s told them differently. They may even say they really feel more like the adjoining sign! Sometimes they think that, because they are near the beginning or end of a sign, but it doesn´t work like that. In fact they may identify with quite a few different signs which would be right, since we ARE all made up of extremely different signs and planetary aspects in between!

It´s fascinating to learn about one´s chart when studying the subject seriously. It´s as if things suddenly start to fall into place and make sense, and life becomes so much easier when we know what our strengths and weaknesses are instead of battling them and trying to somehow make ourselves into something we aren´t. It´s as if suddenly we´re going the same way as the escalator we´re on, instead of going up the down escalator, when we know ourselves better. Astrology can make an awful lot of things make sense and not only that, it often provides answers to problems very quickly by shedding instant light on things.

So all in all Sun sign astrology really doesn´t work unless you get much more specific. I calculate my columns to work for the people whose birthdays are mentioned, as the Sun moves at a regular routine speed each year making this calculation possible. But there is still a lot of other very detailed information missing, not to mention the fact it´s very difficult to squeeze important life events into a short sentence! For good, detailed accurate results a proper chart needs to be drawn up.

Some people don´t know their time of birth. However it is still possible to get a lot of very accurate information without the time, although the Ascendant (the horizon) and Moon´s position won´t be exactly known as they are the fastest moving things in any day. The information that remains, and there IS a lot of it, will still be rock solid.

A chart is basically a blueprint of your life and your personality. You would be amazed at how much information there is in a chart. For example, it´s possible to see what kind of work you´d enjoy and what you´d be good at.

If your Sun and Mercury were within 8 degrees of each other for example then you´d communicate a lot one way or another and this would be a factor in your work..

The Moon for example, would show your emotional responses and the way you were brought up as a child by your main carer, usually your mother! Domestic and home affairs are also shown by the Moon, which is why it´s an important factor to look at when people are keen to find out when they are

likely to sell the house they´ve got on the market and get their much desired move.

Venus and how it´s placed and its aspects to other planets would show how you handle relationships of all kinds from friendships to close relationships. Venus also shows things about money and what we value, the things we enjoy most in life.

People who haven´t studied astrology make small talk about Sun signs being compatible (or not) in relationships, but you need to look at the two people´s charts and compare them directly together to see how compatible they are, and Venus is important there too of course. That is the only way to use astrology to judge compatability (apart from your own feelings of course!) You must do both peoples´ charts and compare them. Sun sign astrology just doesn´t work here either as of course we ARE all unique!

Mars would also show how you go about getting what you want, how ambitious you are (or not), how decisive or ambivalent, how ego-oriented or other-oriented and much more… it would even show information about sexuality!

Then of course there are all the other planets and what they offer.. it is very difficult to squeeze three years´ of astrology training and a lifetime of experience into a small article here. In fact, there are whole books devoted to just one single planet in the astrology libraries!

But briefly, Jupiter shows how we expand our lives and our consciousness, also what makes us enthusiastic and optimistic. Jupiter is all about where we find our luck or how we make our own luck, (and when!). Saturn is more serious, dealing with our fears and vulnerabilities, and where in life we need to learn things to become stronger more complete people. Saturn shows where we are restrained and cautious. Uranus shows our ability to break free of conventions and be true to ourselves, our ability to be independent and try new exciting things, where we experience the exciting 'adrenalin factor' in our lives and where we can break new ground. Neptune shows our spirituality and sensitivity, our imagination and ability to see beyond the material world, and is also an indicator of how psychic a person might be. Pluto shows very deep experiences and major life cycles including sexuality, passion, death and birth.

In a nutshell, the whole of life is represented in astrology.

Once the chart is calculated, it´s not only possible to look at the character, and to find out how someone ticks, but also to look at the person´s past and future which is the thing that fascinates most people. I always start off a consultation for someone by picking something out of the recent past that they will be able to identify with including the precise dates, so that it gives them confidence about what I´m talking about regarding the present and future.

But here I am drifting into the subject of forecasting with astrology. That´s for another article! However it is interesting to note here that just from the natal chart one can see all the different kinds of experiences a person will have in life. There is a separate, accurate technique for calculating the exact dates - and believe it or not, it works!

One doesn´t need to be psychic to be a good astrologer but one certainly does need to have mathematical ability and several years´ study with a proper

school of astrology. It is such a complex subject with so many different factors involved, that it is impossible to know all the things that are necessary to learn to make astrology work properly on a DIY basis. Unfortunately there are many people who know just a bit about it but think they know enough to talk about it to others with an air of authority and use it, and that sort of knowledge can be very misleading and perilous to others! Beware of anyone who just talks in terms of sun signs as this is not real astrology. If you really want something done accurately go and see a professional astrologer who has studied the subject properly. Ask where they studied it. The Faculty of Astrological Studies in London is probably the very best and most highly respected in Europe. (They also do correspondence courses.) If you are really serious about finding out how astrology works for yourself, that´s the best way!