There is an Ancient law the whole astrology is unofficially based on. The law is simple and short, says only the following, “As above, so bellow”. Its name is the Law of Macrocosm and Microcosm. The Macrocosm represents the universe, symbolized by the sky and visible stars seen from Earth, while the Microcosm is inside us, the humans, and our individual existence on Earth with all its aspects.
Consequently, astrology claims that the same laws that rule the universe also rule humans and their lives, as we are not isolated from the universe – we are inseparable part of it. The basic astrological rule is that we have to look above in order to understand ourselves - the universe’s energies are our energies too. Astrology deals with understanding these energies.
So, how astrology understand these cosmic laws? How an astrologist knows what is what? What is astrology, actually? The answers are simple. To understand something, one needs to learn its language. Astrology is a symbolic language. The etymology of the word means exactly this; it is derived from the Greek astron, meaning “star”, and logos, meaning “word”. Literally – the language of stars and of the other heavenly bodies, such as planets.
Astrology is a symbolic language, and if you want to learn it, you’ll meet strange expressions like, Neptune, 10th house, Sagittarius, Leo, ascendant, etc. Learning them, their meanings, is like learning a new alphabet. You can say you know astrology only after you have learnt all its symbols, the relations between them, so when you look at someone’s birth chart you will understand all its meanings, after which you have to translate what you’ve seen into our microcosmic, human language. So, let us start learning and reading.
In order to simplify this first basic approach to the astrology, we won’t enter deeper and more complex interrelations, conjunctions, and so one. It is enough for now to know the fundamental meanings of the 12 zodiac signs, representing 12 human archetypes, as well as the planets and their profound meanings. Let it only be said that the most important moment of someone’s horoscope is the position of planets, including the Sun and Moon, at the moment of the birth, meaning that astrology deals not only with the date of birth, but also with the exact hour, and even exact minute. So, here are first the 12 signs and their universal qualities that symbolize and guide their “owners” with specific manifestations in their lives.
We can, of course, speak about many other aspects and characteristic of each sign, which are expressed depending on situation and period they are in their lives, however it’s enough for now to know above archetypal aspects, as they cover the basic profiles of individuals.
Depending on the exact time of birth, astrology calculates the movements of the planets (Sun and Moon are also considered planets in astrology), meaning that one person is dominated by the planet that was closest to the Earth at the moment of birth. Each person can have sporadically aspects/influences from other planets (sub-rulers), depending also of their position and conjunction with the dominant planet and Earth at the moment of birth. Planets are calculated starting with Sun and Moon. So, we have the following combinations:
The third basic element of astrology are the Houses. They are considered universal fields of experience or departments of life. The basic astrolology chart is divided into 12 sections, i.e. houses, each one referring to separate zodiac sign, concerning different areas of one’s life. There are three groups of houses: Angular houses (1th, 4th, 7th, 10th) show where the action begins, i.e. how one initiates things; Succedent houses (2th, 5th, 8th, 11th) show the outcomes of actions started in angular houses; Cadent houses (3rd, 6th, 9th, 12th) give insights on how actions started in angular houses are maintained. Here they are with their fields of experience and their connection with signs and planets:
1st – Self discovery, Self awareness, Persona; Natural sign is Aries, ruled by Mars;
2nd – Values, Skills, Personal resources; Natural sign is Taurus, ruled by Venus;
3rd – Learning, Mental activity, Communication; Gemini, ruled by Mercury
4th – Inner security, The Hearth, Feeling at home; Cancer, ruled by the Moon;
5th – Children, Creative Self-expression; Leo, ruled by the Sun;
6th – Daily life, Health, Work, Self improvement; natural sign is Virgo, ruled by Mercury
7th - Relationships, Awareness of others; Libra, planet Venus;
8th – Sharing, Deep interactions, Letting go; Scorpio, ruled by Pluto;
9th – Religion, Awareness of the Cosmos, Travel; Sagittarius, planet Jupiter;
10th - Taking power, Vocational purpose, Career; Capricorn, Saturn;
11th - Collectives, Friends, Group contribution; Natural sign is Aquarius, planet Uranus
12th – Spiritual path, Transcendence, Solitude; Pisces, Neptune.
There are other aspects of astrology that help reading this symbolic language such as House polarities, Elements/Temperaments (Fire, Earth, Air, Water), the Four angles of the cross of matter, signs and elemental polarities, Modalities, and the Sun and Moon ascendant triad. We only mention them here, as for a basic approach it is enough to learn the above about signs, planets, house and their interdependence.
Astrology gives some answers that usually are hidden for most of the people. A person who is aware of his/her astrology aspects is more spiritual, have deeper insights about self and others, and about life and universe. Astrology helps people to have more professional success, to know what is best solution for certain problem, and so on; it is an exciting travel deep inside the meaning of why things are happening as they are happening. Some astrololigist from the old school believe that everything is predestined with our birth, meaning that we have no many choices and freedom to rule our lives. The modern approach is, however, based on the premise that we all have creative force to shape our lives and destiny, following the messages the astrology give to us.
For skeptics, we would like to say the next. If you don’t believe astrologists, then believe astronomers; they will tell you that all planets, the Sun and Moon have exact patterns of movement that can be precisely measured. As the Sun affects the Earth (and us) when we are closer to it during the summer period, so the planets do the same, but in different way, don’t you think so? If still skeptical, know that it is documented that the greatest astronomer in the history, Johannes Kepler, has been known to practice astrology too. If this isn’t enough, then you should read about Carl Gustav Jung, considered the greatest (and deepest) psychiatrist of modern time, who was also using astrology as a support for his scientific insights on human mind, soul, consciousness, and subconsciousness, i.e. on human microcosm.
Metaphorically speaking, astrology puts Kepler (the Microcosm) and Jung (Microcosm) working together in harmony. As all astrologists claim that same laws ruling the heavenly bodies can affect our lives, the basic idea is that all separate parts of the universe, planets, stars, and people, are connected in special ways and exist together in harmony. It is all about what astrology teaches – to achieve harmony, the greatest and simplest wisdom of all times.
