ChartPlanet.com

[Lunaria]

Humanity has been making astrological observations since before recorded time. Astrology and Astronomy were one science for most of human history. When we discovered the Solar System, and learned that the Sun is the center of the universe, rather than the Earth, Astrology and Astronomy split into two separate sciences. Astrology looks at the sky from an Earthly perspective. It does not believe that the Earth is the center of the solar system, but it is only interested in looking at the sky from specific locations on Earth. Since Astronomy no longer is interested in looking at the sky from the perspective of the Earth as the center, these fields are no longer compatible.

The loss that Astrology incurred from this split is the diminution of its importance. Today, Astrology is not well understood by the general public, and is often belittled as unimportant or superstitious. In fact, Astrology contains many important and useful observations about human nature and behavior that have been handed down for thousands of years.

Popular Astrology deals with one major astrological position - the Sun. The position of the Sun in a person's natal astrological chart is indeed an important indicator of their personality, but it by no means shows us a complete picture of the subject. Most people know what their "sign" is, and may look up their horoscopes for fun. People with strong Sun positions in their chart who don't have other contraindicative planetary positions may find that the popular descriptions of their "sign" fits them very well. Others will only be able to relate to a portion of the description. Most people will think of this as the beginning and end of Astrology.

Astrology is a rich and complex science that centers around the analysis of a person's natal chart (also called a birth chart). This chart is calculated from the exact location and time of birth, and includes hundreds of pieces of information about the person. Some of these pieces of information will be very significant and central to the personality, and others will be less important, although they also show us something. In this tutorial, we briefly highlight some of the important positions in a natal chart.

[Lunaria]

The Ascendant

In astrology, your Ascendant or Rising sign is almost as important as your Sun sign. If the Sun sign is who you are, your self, the Ascendant is how you project yourself to others, how they see you, and how you interact with people. It is the mask or face that you most easily show others.

In a birth chart, the Ascendant is the astrological sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at your place of birth, at the exact moment of your birth. The cusp of the first house falls within the Ascendant Sign in your natal chart, so this sign rules your first house: the house of Self. Your Ascendant is one of the three most influential astrological influences (along with the Sun and Moon) in your natal chart. To accurately determine one's Ascendant, one must know the time and place of his or her birth.

At our birth, the Ascendant appears as we appear, and it reflects who we are and how we approach life. It can be thought of as the glasses through which we view reality, how we focus on life, like a camera which has an aperture that opens and closes allowing in differing pieces of existence. It can reveal our vision of life, our plan, the way we choose our goals, and how we go about achieving those goals. Although it initially represents our actual birth,frozen in time, it also reveals how we approach all new experiences, transitions, or different changes in life. It is our unique style, how we go about living our life, or the door through which we walk into the world. Nowadays, the Ascendant sign is seen as your image, or the impressions you make on other people.

[Lunaria]

[Lunaria]

The Moon

Besides the sun, what more important link is there to ourselves, and to our ancestral wisdom and memory than that other mysterious orb, the moon? Juliet told Romeo not to swear by it, yet Shakespeare loved this silver river of collective memory that seems to control people's moods, and nourish their feelings. The moon implies interrelatedness--with people, plants, animals and family members. It also connects us to our past, our ancestors, and is the harbinger of our memory. It is connected with the astrological sign of Cancer, thus it rules over the mother, the nurturer, nourishment, and connects our mood with our spirit.

The moon's beams are its voice, and although scientists claim this entity is 4.5 billion years old, it continues to be a life-giving force that keeps our monthly calendars and sea tides on a regular time chart. Using a new tool to study lunar rocks, University of Michigan scientists have narrowed the time of the moon's formation to between 4.52 billion and 4.50 billion years ago. Scientists believe the planets in our solar system began forming about 4.57 billion years ago.

There are four major theories about how the moon formed: 1) the moon formed the same way the earth did, and of the same materials 2) the moon is a chunk of earth that broke away and formed an asteroid 3) the moon was a Mars-size rock that hit the earth and ricocheted into orbit about the planet 4) the moon was a huge rock that wandered into earth's gravity, and was captured by it. Whichever theory you believe, the moon is said to help regulate our central nervous system. It is also a source of creativity and madness, thus the psychic ('psyche') and psychotic ('lunacy') are tied very close together.

In everyday life, the moon calls us to pay attention to our inner emotional life. When the moon crosses the sun's path, into an eclipse, it represents one's lifework and direction of growth.

The position of the moon in a natal chart tells us about the emotional life of the subject. The house in which the moon resides will show fluctuating conditions. The moon shows the attributes we inherit from our parents and from earlier generations. Awareness of these may help us as we look towards our future, and could contribute to our overall psychological well being. The moon is the most personal of the planets, and reveals aspects of everyday life--how we get along with people, where our strong emotional attachments are, what type of mate we attract, and how the public will react to us. The sign and house in which the moon resides takes on a special meaning for the subject, and they will have a strong interest in the areas of life covered by the sign and the house. The moon's position in the birth chart also reveals what areas in life will have fluctuations and changes, and where there will be a drive to achieve stability and balance.

The moon in your chart will reveal how you appear to others, your capacity for experience, and your need to express yourself. It is the inner you, ruling the intuition and the feminine side of our personality. The moon is the psyche, what your self actually does rather than says. It also represents past habits and the subconscious.

The moon rules Cancer. It also rules nutrition, stomach, womb and impregnation, body fluids, subconscious mind, insanity, instincts, memory, and digestion. In a birth chart, the moon can reveal the relationship between an individual and his or her mother, and the relationship between mother and child. In a man's chart, it represents his wife; in a woman's chart, it can reveal pregnancies, childbirth and intuition.

The moon itself has no light of its own, and shines by reflected light of the sun. Similarly, the masculine sun rules the spirit and shines through the feminine moon, the receptive and magnetic pole of life. The tides and rhythms of the body, like the ocean, are regulated by the moon. It also rules the public, or mass consciousness, which does not reason but responds to life through emotions.

The moon moves through all twelve zodiac signs about every 28 days. It spends about 2.5 days in each zodiac sign, and it never goes retrograde. When the moon passes exactly in front of the sun, there is a solar eclipse.

[Lunaria]

Mercury

Mercury rules the conscious, reasoning mind, and reveals how the mind directs its thoughts. It also reflects the way we connect reason between the conscious and the subconscious, and between the physical and the spiritual. More than anything else, Mercury in our birth chart reveals the way we think, our thought processes.

Mercury means magic, voice, communication, what we think and how we express ourselves. It helps us become witty, quick, expressive, and clever, and rules over the lungs, arms, hands, intestines and liver. If Mercury is badly aspected in some way in a birth chart, or is in retrograde, it could influence people to become superficial, glib, hyperactive or provocative.

The planet itself is elusive, mysterious, fast-moving and very close to the sun. It is the smallest of the planets and has a year of 88 days--the time it takes to orbit the sun. It can be seen only at dusk or dawn, and is also influential for people during the crossroads--or transition times--of their lives. A clear and strong Mercury gives people the ability to discern truth to make good decisions, a force of intelligence that listens to an inner voice. These people think with a cool head, with a mystical reverence for life.

If Mercury is in close proximity with another planet, it becomes strongly attached and influenced to that planet, and works as a channel through which the other planet expresses its power. Thus, Mercury can be an extremely powerful influence in the chart. People who are more Mercurial tend to be adaptable, mental, active, able to do multi-tasking, expressive, and communicative. They also can learn quickly, are resourceful, and are even sometimes brilliant. People who are slow witted or who have some difficulty learning usually have a poorly placed Mercury in their chart.

Mercury rules both Gemini and Virgo. It rules communication and writing. It also rules the nervous system, tongue movement, hands, reflexes and coordination, mental awareness, memory, and the conscious mind. The planet moves through all 12 zodiac signs in one year, and is in retrograde four times a year for approximately three weeks. Because of this, Mercury is sometimes "ahead of the sun," and sometimes it trails behind. Many times, when it is in retrograde, communications and travel plans become confused. Computers may go down, lightening may interfere with electricity, or some other problem will surface. Pay attention to what you are doing when Mercury is in retrograde.

Mercury is considered androgynous, and provides the link between spirit and form. It is the link between our perception and our action, between cause and effect. It is responsible for such attributes as reason, agility, adaptability, the analytical mind, our senses, dexterity, and alertness. We look to Mercury's placement in the houses and signs to get insight into how we act and react in those areas.

[Lunaria]

Venus

Ruler of Taurus and Libra, Venus is the goddess of love, creative art, and beauty. She is the color emerald green, the metal copper, and rules over the kidneys and curvy parts of the body. On the shadow side, Venus can also denote vanity and laziness.

In its best form, Venus promotes love--love with another person, a community, a family, an art form, a life, or a work. It is that expression of love that promotes health, glow and happiness, and through which we are conscious of others and can achieve unity. Venus presides over the whole realm of art and aesthetics, and promotes in people a cultivated sense of beauty. It is the invisible force of attraction, love, art and relationship.

The planet Venus circles the sun for 260 days, and can be seen in the morning (it is often referred to as the "morning star"), then it disappears for 50 days. Then it circles the sun again for 260 days, this time appearing in the evening (known as the "evening star"), then it disappears for nearly seven days, or is in retrograde. As a result, Venus will revisit any chosen point in the sky in the charts in eight years.

Those born with Venus in the morning are said to be youthful, impetuous, like a war goddess; those born with Venus in the evening are more the "civilizing" influence, the love goddess. If a person is born when Venus is in retrograde, there may be a feeling of loneliness, vulnerability, or a lack of romance. There may also be infatuation or addiction present, the opposite of love, and a tendency to over accommodate to meet people's needs.

In ancient times, Venus was associated with a serpent goddess: the Isis in Egypt, the Gaia in Greece, and the Ala in Nigeria. However, the association was a happy one, because long before the Old Testament, the serpent used to be a friend to culture and to women. It was only later that it became an evil force. It is also interesting to note that every eight years the sun and Venus will duplicate their original relationship, so that the ages of 8, 16, 24, 32 and 40 and so forth are thematically strongest in our charts.

Because Venus rules Taurus--which is associated with gardening and the rich earth-- and Libra--which is associated with social relationships--the planet is said to signify an intimate relationship to the natural world. It also typically shows where money may be gained or spent. In a man's chart, Venus (and the moon) will show what kind of women he will be attracted to, and possibly marry. It is also associated with maternal love that gives freely what it has. In general, Venus is said to function most powerfully in Taurus, Libra, Pisces, and Aquarius.

Some positive characteristics associated with Venus in the birth chart are charm, refinement, consideration, creativity, inspiration, and graceful movement. When Venus is not at its best position in the sky, those attributes can change to become laziness, jealousy, self- indulgence and possessiveness. When Venus falls in another person's sun sign, it enhances initial attraction between two people and can denote romantic compatibility.

[Lunaria]

Mars

Worshipped in most cultures from 1800 B.C. to A.D. 1000, the planet Mars is more than just a place where aliens and creatures can come alive in science fiction. It is the first planet on the far side of the earth from the Sun, and has a very eccentric orbit. It can pass very close to the Sun, or be distant, and circles the Sun once every 687 days. It spend six to eight weeks in a sign; when retrograde, it sits in a sign for 2.5 months.

Mars in your birth chart will denote dynamic expression, aggression, individualism, sexual drive, and action. It shows our own energy and shape that we will take in terms of the larger world. It also rules athletes and competition, and people with a lot of Mars in their chart frequently go beyond the limits, refusing to compromise integrity by following someone else's plan. He follows his own path, and doesn't want to dominate or be dominated.

The true Mars spirit shows itself in nonviolent strength, winning competitions by transformation. Throughout history, the god Mars has been the heroic protector; however he needs to protect more than himself. He needs to protect the community, and go beyond his own ego. Otherwise, destruction can result, and he can be brought down by rage, violence and brutality. When properly channeled, Mars energy is seen as stamina and achievement.

As the god of war, Mars rules the military, Aries, and is the co-ruler of Scorpio. It also rules the first and eighth houses, the head, the muscles of the body, the sex organs (especially the male organs), the anus, red corpuscles, and hemoglobin. It denotes desire, energy and action in your birth chart, and its force can lead you to accomplish, build and progress through life. It represents our most primitive and aggressive urges, and combined with the Sun in a birth chart, will give us strong will power and a healthy physical constitution.

Some positive characteristics of Mars are determination, self-reliance, aggression, boldness and devotion. Negative ones are violence, jealousy, stubbornness, fanaticism and a love for war. In a woman's chart, Mars can show what kind of man she is physically attracted to, and with whom she will get along with.

Mars is frequently associated with the color red, the metal iron, and the sexual organs of the body. No matter what its placement, Mars is not passive and needs inspiration to show itself. It represents the hero on a quest for adventure. Qualities of a hero include fierce compassion, aggression, heat, feistiness, courage, and passion. Unfortunately, anger or rage is also associated with this god, and the challenge for people with a Mars influence is to channel that anger appropriately and constructively.

If Venus is closely involved with Mars in the birth chart, this will produce an enhanced desire. It may quell the desire to fight, and will definitely have an influence on what direction Mars' fiery determination will go. Still, look to Mars to find your search for the holy grail.

[Lunaria]

Jupiter

If you are looking for some luck in your life, watch for where Jupiter appears in your birth chart. This planet has long been associated with success, happiness, optimism and joy. Jupiter adds expansiveness to any sign it is in, and can magnify the effects of any planet well-aspected to it. In Greek times, Jupiter was the name of the God who ruled the heavens and earth, and his generosity and abundance to mankind was frequently the focal point of religious prayers. Look to Jupiter to see how you will grow, how you will improve yourself such as with higher education or a new job, and whether you will learn to trust others.

The fifth planet of our solar system, Jupiter is also the largest and is approximately 120 times the size of earth; it sits about 438.5 million miles away from the sun. It rotates the sun every 12 years, thus every 12 years it returns to the precise position it was when you were born. This is called the 'Jupiter Return.' That means the ages of 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, and 86 are extremely important times; watch for opportunities to expand your income, further your career, or in some other way achieve happiness during these mystical times. The planet also emits so much heat that it has been theorized that Jupiter itself is a small sun.

The power of Jupiter is like a beneficial wind that brings good fortune and can turn all your negative energy around. It shows your potential, where you can put your energies to make happiness happen. Though Jupiter may help you in terms of luck, abundance or health, it is still up to you to make the most of gifts. Being lazy and buying too many lotto tickets isn't the way to take advantage of Jupiter's good fortune. Instead, Jupiter may give you an openness to try something new, to gain experiences, or to learn something. This planet also reveals how outgoing you are, and in what career you will likely have luck.

It is always positive to have the force of Jupiter on your side, and wherever this planet is placed things will go easier for you. Utilize that power, but also look for the planets next to Jupiter and the sign it is in to see how you will be influenced. If you sit back and rely too much on this planet, you could become lazy, spending money lavishly and remaining blind when it comes to hard work. Look to other elements in your chart to see where you will develop strength of character or discipline to use Jupiter's blessings.

[Lunaria]

Saturn
Though this planet has gotten a bad rap by some astrologers, it really isn't a negative influence. Rather, look to Saturn to see where your purpose and direction is in life. Though its influence is rather serious, and may reveal the inhibitions or obstacles you need to overcome, it really shows the effort one needs to make in order to establish the self and to reach one's goals.
The sixth planet from the sun, Saturn is more than 87 million miles away and is the second largest planet in our solar system. It moves very slowly around the sun, taking close to 30 years to complete one orbit and move through all 12 signs of the zodiac. As a result, the ages of 30 and 60 are significant to us because they herald the time of the 'Saturn return', when this amazing planet returns to the exact spot it was when we were born. Galileo discovered in 1610 that Saturn has multi-colored rings moving at its equator at record speeds. Scientists later found that these rings were made up of ice.

[Lunaria]

Uranus
First discovered in 1781 by William Herschel in Bath, England, the planet Uranus has become known as the planet of change and originality that can surprise or shock an individual depending on its placement in a birth chart. Wherever Uranus is present there will be the onslaught of sudden events, discoveries or opportunities, and coupled with nearby planets or aspects, Uranus can denote genius or crisis, invention or collapse. Its appearance shows some kind of shocking or unorthodox action on your part, something you don't usually do but for some reason are compelled to. If it has a strong influence, you may be considered eccentric.
Uranus if the seventh planet from the sun, and is four times larger than earth. It takes 7 years to go through one sign in the zodiac, or 84 years to make a complete cycle. As a result, Uranus is usually a supportive planet, not a dominant one. It will augment or amplify other planetary influences, and likely won't play a large role by itself. When you turn 40, Uranus has traveled 180 degrees in the zodiac chart, and will be in the polar opposite sign of the one in which you were born. Use the Uranus descendant force here to give you new ideas, to help you remain young and inventive.
Fortunately, Uranus is usually a positive force that shows some kind of unusual action on your part, or some surprising event. It reveals how your self-expression can best be put to use. This planet also is related to modern day science, electricity, humanitarian movements and rebellions. Its presence in the sky connects you with some deep-seated energy that is many times not even known to you. Are you attracted to strange ideas? Are you motivated more by your unconscious 'id'? It may be that Uranus is influencing you.
If Uranus is placed well in your chart, you are likely an independent person who enjoys dressing differently with your own style. You may be eccentric and enjoy your own inventions. You may even be psychic.

[Lunaria]

Neptune
Neptune is the eighth planet in our solar system, is more than 2 billion miles from the sun, and cannot be seen without a telescope. Like Saturn, it also has rings circling the planet. Discovered in 1846, Neptune takes 168 years to travel through the entire zodiac, and spends about 14 years in each sign. Thus, the planet tends to have an influence on an entire generation rather than on one individual. Nevertheless, Neptune is the planet ruling Pisces and has mystical, intuitive qualities which can play a significant role in a person's chart.
The qualities associated with Neptune are intuition, imagination, dream ability, mysticism, and even the psychic realm. It can rule over your fantasy life, and dictate whether you tend to escape the real world through drugs or alcohol, or whether you tap into the unconscious through a wonderfully developed intuition. Neptune is connected to the spiritual and artistic world, and if it is strongly placed in your chart, you may well have gifts in these areas.
Neptune is also connected with water, and Pisces is a water sign that is deeply related to a person's intuition. The Roman god of the sea, Neptune ruled over all bodies of water from oceans to trickling streams, fountains and wells. Perhaps the ancient art of divining was also the realm of Neptune, where an individual searches not only for water but for magic as well. This planet is associated with idealism and gullibility, and unfortunately its influence can lead someone astray: to deception, fraud, addiction and sham. Still, its positive side can make someone a visionary, a poet, or gifted with ESP; it can also motivate an individual to work in a hospital, animal shelter, prison or other institution.
Neptune's influence is subtle, ethereal and inspirational; at its zenith it may confer ESP ability, mysticism and genius, at its worst it can cause the undoing of someone who seeks escape from society.