Introduction to astrology

Astrology is one of humanity’s oldest forms of knowledge. It is based on the premise that the positions of the celestial bodies at the moment of our birth can reveal something about our nature, our strengths, and our potential for growth. Contrary to popular belief, astrology is not limited to the twelve zodiac signs found in daily newspapers. A complete birth chart is a fascinating interplay of planets, zodiac signs, houses, and aspects—a kind of cosmic map of the personality.

The Horoscope – A Snapshot of the Sky

The word “horoscope” comes from Greek and literally means “observer of the hours.” In astrology, it refers to a graphical representation of the positions of the planets at a specific point in time, as viewed from a specific location on Earth. When a child is born, the exact time and place of birth are used to create what is known as a natal chart—also called a radix or birth chart.

This radix shows the positions of the Sun, Moon, and planets in the zodiac signs and the twelve houses. It is, in a sense, a fingerprint of the universe at the moment of your birth. No two horoscopes are alike, because even a few minutes’ difference in time can significantly alter the distribution of the houses and thus the interpretation.

The Building Blocks of Astrology

A horoscope is composed of various building blocks that only come together to form a complete picture. In our series, we explain each building block in detail:

• The Planets – The Key Players in the Horoscope, from the Sun to Pluto
• The Zodiac Signs – Twelve Qualities That Describe How Energy Works
• The Four Elements – Fire, Earth, Air, and Water as Basic Temperaments
• The Three Modalities – Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable
• The Twelve Houses – The Areas of Life in the Horoscope
• The Axes – Ascendant, Descendant, MC, and IC
• The aspects – angular relationships between the planets
• The sign rulers – Which planet rules which sign

The big picture Only the interplay of all factors - the planets in their signs and houses, linked by aspects - creates a multi-layered picture of a personality. Astrology does not offer rigid predictions, but rather a tool for self-knowledge: it reveals potential, challenges and possible development paths. The stars do not force - they suggest.