How to Understand Astrology

Astrology is the study of planetary position to determine the course of things ahead in life. In some cultures it is also used to determine events and details concerning past lives or karma. The earliest recording or sign of astrology was found around the 3rd millennium BC in Sumerian history. By the 4th millenium Babylonian astrology pertaining to world events and affairs was filtering into the western world.

Over the course of time, astrology influenced many sculture, early astronomy and other disciplines. Though considered by many scientific thinkers to be some sort of superstition, astrology is actually a science. Considerable study goes into making each reading based on centuries of  stellar observation.

Astrology uses two ways of looking at the future:

One is astrological transits

The other is astrological progressions.

In general however, “progressions primarily involve psychological developments from within the individual (often of course stimulated by exterior events), while transits involve developments in the life circumstances outside the individual’s control.”– WikapediaA natal chart displays the roles of the planets at the exact time of birth. Progression is the main means to forecast the future trends as it moves the chart into the future using tables compounded from years of studying planetary movements.

Transits are the movement of the planets though the 12 houses of the zodiac monthly and their interaction with our natal sun sign as we ourselves move through life. This transition creates a pattern in the chart from which certain personality traits and tendencies are interpreted and when combined with progression, is called a horoscope. Your horoscope, in short, pertains to the planetary positions at the time of your birth.

Astrological progression is most commonly used today as a part of what’s customarily called predictive astrology, the claim of astrology to forecast or outlook future trends and developments. Most astrologers today, regard the term ‘prediction’ as a outdated; as modern astrology does not claim to directly forecast future events as such.

Instead it is claimed that an astrological pattern with respect to the future can correspond with any one of a selection of chances. What’s being foretold is the trend of circumstances and the character of the person’s reaction to the situation. Astrologers interpret this information and use it to indicate phases in the person’s life when the potential shown in the natal chart will be given a chance for development, whether thru favorable or adverse circumstances.

Additionally, many modern astrologers stress the role of free will. What you do with chart information is a matter of your will and your temperament. It is always your choice to implement a positive strategy or pursue a negative course of action based your individual reading. Further an astrological pattern, with respect to the future, can correspond with any one of a selection of possible chances. Astrology doesn’t exhibit destiny or patterns which are ‘written in stone’, rather it uncovers a person’s strengths and weakness, abilities and prospects.

Astrology can be fun, informative  and perplexing all at the same time. Study your own sun sign with it’s complexities and determine if and how astrology can play a role in your own life decisions.

Patty B