10 Things You Should Know About Astrology

Astrology Is... A Source of Health Guidance

Health problems can sometimes be seen in the birthchart.

It is not uncommon for people to suffer chronic health effects as the result of an energy imbalance in the physical body or the nervous system, and this may appear in the birthchart. If an individual possesses a great deal of fire energy, for example, and that fire energy is blocked from expression by another planet or because it is in "detriment" or afflicted in some way, that fire can, without an outlet, create health problems such as stomach distress or nervous disorders, Some charts reveal a greater tendency than others to hold emotional pain in the body, and in those cases we can track the timing of episodes so that greater care can be taken during certain times when that area of the chart is stimulated by planetary cycles.

Astrology Is... Helpful For Your Finances

JP Morgan said, "Millionaires don't use astrology; billionaires do." Because astrological cycles can offer a glimpse into the ebb and flow of the psychology of the masses, they can be useful in financial investing.

For example, when Pluto was traveling through Sagittarius--the sign of expansion and optimism--there was a seemingly endless flow of consumer confidence that drove the stock and housing markets in an unending upward direction.

But as soon as Pluto entered Capricorn in January of 2008, the reality check that Capricorn often requires caused investors to realize that they were standing on a house of cards. Short-term planetary cycles can give some clues as to the twists and turns of the markets, but it is difficult to predict specific investments with any precision because of the huge number of variables: the cycles of the individual investor, the particular company, its CEO, etc. JP Morgan consulted often with noted astrologer Evangeline Adams, who said Morgan "drove the world before him because he has astrology behind him."

Astrology Is... A Way to Understand Yourself

The astrology that most people know comes from the horoscope in the newspaper: "If you're an Aries, you'll meet an interesting person today." "Libra, it's time to make a decision."

This kind of astrology is called Sun Sign astrology, and while there are some excellent astrologers doing Sun Sign columns, they are not very useful except in getting people interested to dig a little deeper. You actually have more than ten different astrological signatures in your chart! And real astrology looks at the position of all of the planets on the day that you were born: Each planet represents an aspect of your personality, and each planet falls in one of the signs that helps describe your personality a little more completely. The relationships the planets have with each other in your chart describe the way your various impulses and characteristics work together or against each other, which is very helpful in breaking through blocks and challenges.

Astrology Is... Emotionally Clarifying

Understanding planetary cycles can help us navigate times of emotional difficulty.

As the planets in the sky travel through the solar system, they often intereact with planets in our birthchart, stimulating a variety of different cycles called "transits" that affect us in a variety of ways. Cycles of Saturn, for example, create pressure for success and achievement, and can induce delays and cause disappointment. Uranus cycles urge us to make changes in our life where we have become stale, creating a sense of restlessness and desire for something new. Under the influence of Neptune we hear the Siren's call, stimulating a longing within us to experience the divine, an urge toward the mystic. These times can bring delusion, confusion and illusion as well as strong creative and romantic impulses. Understanding the nature of the cycle helps us navigate difficult waters more easily, and also lets us know when these cycles will begin and end.

Astrology Is Not... A Crystal Ball

Astrology cannot reliably predict specific events in a person's life.

With all due respect to predictive branches of astrology, it is nearly impossible to predict with any accuracy when specific events will occur. This is primarily because our lives are not predestined; we have been blessed with free will and the power to make certain decisions. If we are not prepared to meet our soulmate during a planetary cycle that would normally encourage our love life, that meeting will be delayed until we are ready. Often there is psychological and spiritual work that needs to be done before we can manifest the success that we desire. We can predict cycles that are more conducive to fulfilling our dreams than others, but the unfolding of the details of our life are a magical mystery.

Astrology Is... Diverse

There's Chinese, Vedic, Horary, and modern, or Humanistic, astrology to name a few.

While Chinese astrology is also based on 12 signs, it's a 12-year cycle with each year being named after the twelve "original" animals, along with the placements of the planets, Sun and Moon. Vedic astrology originates in India and uses only the seven traditional planets. Horary originated in the Vedic tradition in India and was brought to the West during medieval times. Horary and Jyotish are concerned more with prediction than modern astrology, which uses the outer planets along with other recently discovered points, and looks at the psychological makeup of the individual rather than predicting a future that is thought to be fixed as fate.

The Haunting History of Horoscopes

Where did the zodiac come from? Read next feature >