Astrology is a belief system and a symbolic language that explores the connections between celestial bodies, such as the planets and stars, and human life and events on Earth. It has been practiced for thousands of years in various cultures and civilizations.
Astrology uses the birth chart, also known as a natal chart or horoscope, as its primary tool. The birth chart is a snapshot of the sky at the moment of an individual’s birth, including the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and other celestial bodies. These positions are plotted on a circular chart divided into 12 sections called houses, which represent different areas of life.
Astrologers interpret the birth chart to gain insights into an individual’s personality traits, potentials, strengths, challenges, and life events. They believe that the positions and aspects (angles) formed between celestial bodies in the chart can provide valuable information about a person’s character, relationships, career, health, and other aspects of their life.
Astrology encompasses various branches and techniques, including natal astrology (analyzing individual birth charts), horary astrology (answering specific questions based on the chart cast for the time the question is asked), and predictive astrology (forecasting future events and trends). It also incorporates other factors such as planetary transits (the current positions of planets in relation to the birth chart) and aspects (angular relationships between planets).
Tropical Western Astrology is the most widely practiced and recognized form of astrology in Western societies. It is based on the tropical zodiac, which divides the ecliptic (the apparent path of the Sun around the Earth) into 12 equal segments known as zodiac signs.
In addition to the Sun sign, tropical astrology takes into account the positions of other celestial bodies at the time of birth, including the Moon, planets, and asteroids. These positions are plotted on the birth chart, a circular diagram divided into 12 houses that represent different areas of life.
The birth chart is a personalized map of the sky at the moment of an individual’s birth, and it serves as a tool for understanding one’s personality, relationships, career, and life events. Astrologers interpret the positions of celestial bodies in relation to the zodiac signs and houses to gain insights into an individual’s strengths, challenges, and potentials.
Tropical astrology also utilizes aspects, which are angular relationships between planets. These aspects, such as conjunctions, oppositions, trines, and squares, provide further information about the dynamics and influences at play in a person’s chart.
One of the key concepts in tropical astrology is transits. Transits refer to the current positions of the planets in relation to an individual’s birth chart. By analyzing these transits, astrologers can make predictions and provide guidance about upcoming events and trends in a person’s life.
Western Tropical Astrology uses the time, place, and date of birth to determine what influences are present at the birth time and imprint on the person for the rest of their life. Through a series of different charts, influences can be determined at different points in life (transits) and with different people and situations. This is by cross referencing the chart of the involved person(s) and/or the chart of the event.
Synastry is a specialized Western Astrology chart comparing the charts of two people based on the time, place, and date of birth. If the time is not known, a chart can still be cast.
