Introduction to Astrology

When we first became interested in astrology in the 1970s, the question everyone asked everyone else - on airplanes in bars, on beaches, wherever strangers meet - was "What's your sign?" By the early 1990s, almost everyone knew that the Sun signs - Aries, Taurus, Gemini, and the rest - are only the froth on the surface of a subject that is as deep as human nature itself. For, of course, while some people have a sign emphasized in their horoscope, very few take on the characteristics of their sign in a straightforward way.

If you're like most people, you have at best a fundamental concept of what astrology is about and how it works. Astrology is one of the world's oldest sciences, yet it remains a mystery for the general public today.

How Old Is Astrology?

Well before King Tut consulted his first astrologer, man has been turning to the stars for guidance. Archeological evidence shows that our earliest prehistoric ancestors were probably exploring the sky for meaning before they even learned how to make fire. Animal bones from 30,000 B.C. were found containing notches used to keep track of lunar phases. Diagram-like cave drawings of stars were found dating to 14,000 B.C.

It was the ancient Babylonians, however, who turned stargazing into a science. As early as 2000 B.C., they began to use the stars and planets to track and prepare for what the future would bring.

Babylonian astrology was gradually infused with Greek, Egyptian, Celtic and other traditions, and by two thousand years ago the technical and philosophical basis of Western astrology as we know it today was established.

Surprising though it may seem, the 12 Sun signs only began to seem important in the 1930s, when astrological journalists took them up because they were an easy way of involving all their readers: whatever the date of your birthday, it will be marked by the Sun's presence in one of the 12 signs. Before the undue emphasis was given to the Sun signs, the Rising sign - the sign rising over the eastern horizon at the moment of your birth - was considered more important. And, of course, this book tells you how to find out what that sign is, as well as which signs the other planets occupied when you were born. All of this provides you with fascinating information, but still only skims the surface of the subject!

How Does It Work?

Most people accept the fact that the earth's movement around the sun and the moon's waxing and waning have direct, scientifically provable relationships to the cycles of life on earth such as seasons, weather and tides.

Man, as a part of the natural world, is similarly affected by the movements of the cosmos. The positioning of the planets and other celestial bodies at our time of birth form a kind of energetic blueprint we carry with us all our lives (Soul Star). That blueprint is further acted upon by the ever-changing current landscape of planetary positions (Daily Star and Future Star).

Modern astrology is the beneficiary of more than 2,000 years of research and observation by ancient astrologer/ astronomers on the relationship between the planets and man's development. Galileo, Isaac Newton, Einstein and Carl Jung were all scientists who found astrology to be worthy of their time and serious interest and loyalty.

What Kind Of Charts And Reports Are There?

Once you clear away the confusing mumbo-jumbo you find about astrology at most sites, you'll see that the three most common categories of astrological charts and reports are: the natal (birth) chart and report, the transit/progression chart and report, and the synastry chart and report.

The Natal Chart or Birth Chart is the diagram of the Sun, Moon, and planets at the exact time of birth as seen from the place where you were born.

Do I Really Need My Time Of Birth?

The key to getting a useful chart or report is to use your exact birth date, including time and place of birth. This allows us to analyze a multitude of different dimensions of your chart otherwise unavailable.

If need be, you may order a chart and report using an approximate time of birth. Do not let lack of accurate birth time stop you from receiving information that will still be extremely valuable.

If you've only ever read horoscopes and thought they were too general, order a Star2Star report using your full or approximate birthdate information and you'll be in for a big treat.

You can get your birth time off of a copy of your birth certificate. The records department of the city, state or hospital in which you were born are also usually good sources for this information.

Are The Stars Controlling My Life?

One thing to always remember with astrology and other forms of divination is that you are in charge. The stars only show us probabilities of certain outcomes.

Astrology shows us how the stage is set, but you are the writer, actor and director of the production.

An astrological report can help validate for you why you find certain things easy and others hard, or why you tend to react a certain way when various situations arise. This is information that you can use to be more effective in meeting life's challenges. As with all things, always use your own judgment when making any important life decisions and listen to your own inner compass.