Astrology is an ancient practice that explores the relationship between the positions and movements of celestial bodies—such as stars and planets—and events on Earth, particularly in human life. It’s a symbolic language that uses the cosmos to interpret human experiences, behaviors, and potential future outcomes. Meaning of Astrology is that it is the study of the affect of all known planets and some stars on lives of human being. There’s a belief that the position of the Sun, Moon, Planets, and alternative stars throughout a person’s birth is incredibly crucial. Some individuals believe these cosmic objects outline someone’s temperament, their romantic relations, and predict their economic success.
Astrology is a several thousand year old practice which has evolved and branched out in a variety of forms including Vedic, Western, Ancient, and Hellenistic. At its foundation is a consistent observation that there is a correlation between the unique energies present within a person and the location of the “planets” relative to the background constellations as well as to their positions relative to the earth. An often used phrase in astrology is “as above, so below.”
Each person is born with a unique set of energies. Throughout a person’s life, they have free will on how to use their energies – sometimes in ways that are not helpful and at other times in ways that are helpful. Each person, throughout their life evolves in the use of their energies leading to maturity and greater effectiveness. When a person understands their unique energies and how to use them more effectively, growth accelerates.
Historical Perspective
Astrology dates back thousands of years, with roots in ancient civilizations like the Babylonians, Egyptians, and Greeks. It has been used as a tool for understanding the universe and one’s place within it, serving both as a form of divination and a philosophical framework.
Core Components
- Birth Chart (Natal Chart): At the heart of astrology is the birth chart, a map of the sky at the exact moment and location of one’s birth. It includes the position of the sun, moon, and planets, divided into twelve sections known as houses.
- Zodiac Signs: The sky is divided into twelve zodiac signs, each associated with specific traits and energies. They serve as the lens through which planetary influences are interpreted.
- Planets and Houses: Each planet in astrology represents different aspects of life and personal attributes. The houses represent various areas of life, such as career or relationships. Their interaction and placement in a birth chart influence an individual’s life path and personality.
Like many other practices such as acupuncture and fengshui, science has so far been unable to definitively measure the mechanism behind astrology. Coming from a deep scientific background (rocket science), I have come to recognize and respect that practices don’t suddenly start working the moment science can explain it. They have been working all along. Science has a long history of explaining why things, previously not understood, work the way they do. I believe that astrology, because it has been successfully practiced for thousands of years, fits into the category that is valid and also unable to be understood by our current scientific capabilities. Given my personal experience with astrology, I have no doubt that it works, and works really well.
The discussion below is specifically focused on Western astrology which has its roots in Hellenistic and Ancient astrology. There are numerous uses for astrology including natal (birth), transit, progressions, horary, financial, compatibility, composite, and electoral. In this tutorial, I will only cover two uses which are the most widely applied today. One is the natal (birth) chart and the other is the transit chart.
What is a birth chart in Astrology?
The natal chart, often referred to as the birth chart, is a depiction of the location of the planets at the exact time and location of a person’s birth. The natal chart shows where the planets are from the perspective of the earth (represented by the houses) and also includes the effect of the background constellations (represented by the signs of the zodiac). There are many types of Birth chart prepared by Astrologers mainly Janam Kundli in vedic astrology and Horoscope in western astrology. Vedic Astrology is based on moon sign and western astrology chart in based on Sun sign,
