Western astrology
Astrology is the study of the interaction of celestial bodies
(i.e. the moon, sun and planets) with activities and people on Earth. Each
Zodiac Sign represents a different aspect or part of each whole human being,
with one sign dominating a person’s ego structure or the conscious tendencies of
her/his personality. Aries starts the cycle of growth within a human being and
humankind, representing the Self (centre of the personality) within each person,
and Pisces completes it, representing the mass unconsciousness of all humankind.
Please visit this website for information on astrology as a science.
Click here to read "Castle of Dreams" - the story of the Zodiac Signs
List of Zodiac signs and dates
ARIES:
March 20th - April 20th
TAURUS:
April 20th - May 21st
GEMINI:
May 21st - June 21st
CANCER:
June 21st - July 22nd
LEO:
July 23rd - August 22nd
VIRGO:
August 23rd - September 22nd
LIBRA:
September 23rd - October 23rd
SCORPIO:
October 23rd - November 22nd
SAGITTARIUS:
November 22rd - Decemmber 22nd
CAPRICORN:
December 21st - January 20th
AQUARIUS:
Janaury 20th - February 19th
PISCES:
February 19th - March 20th
This list shows approximate starting dates as they
actually vary between 19th to 23rd of a month, thus, a person born between, and
including on, these 2 dates, is said to have their Star sign on the cusp between
two Zodiac signs. The signs between Aries and Pisces each carry the energy of a
different phase of humankind’s evolution within the universe.
Some astrologers say that the age of Aquarius was officially ushered in
on 23 January 1997. Other predictions, according to differing mathematical and
other concepts, are that it will start sometime between the year 2060 and 2100
AD. It is said that a phenomenon called the precession of the
Equinoxes (a cycle of about
25,800 years where the Equinoxes move westward along the Ecliptic, i.e. pathway
of the Sun as it orbits Earth) determines the Great Ages, of which each
(lasting about 2000 years) is associated with a major evolutionary and cultural
advancement of humankind. With the coming of the Age of Aquarius, we
will see a transition from existing patriarchal institutions and religions to
traditions which are run by the 'feminine principle', and to influences which
teach that free thinking, creativity and intuition are foremost, and that the
education and nurturing of children and the enhancement of the quality of life
for all people are of utmost importance.
The techniques of Western astrology differ from other forms of astrology
practiced throughout the world. Western astrology dates from the ancient
Mesopotamians who lived about 4000 BC. Their best guide to keep track of the
seasons was the monthly lunar (moon) cycle and the annual cycles of various
stars. This helped them to plan their agriculture and the general rhythm of
their lives, and also took on a religious significance. The Mesopotamians
worshipped the planets as deities and began to use their movements for
divination purposes. The rise of mathematics, combined with the study of
astronomy, and the use of divination, eventually led to astrology.
Earth is tilted at about 23 degrees to the Sun and spins on its North-South axis
as it rotates around the Sun, in a pathway called the Ecliptic, as the Moon
orbits Earth, and the whole solar system, consisting of planets, moons and
millions of stars, orbits the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy. The Milky Way
Galaxy travels through the universe at the speed of 600 km per second. There can
be little doubt that the movements and locations of the celestial bodies have an
influence on people and events, which are simply manifestations of energy, and
as such, are subject, to the powerful forces of the moon, planets and stars, in
an observable, yet not always explainable way. (For example, consider the
moon’s effect on tides and other components of human life.)
The ancient Mesopotamians memorized the positions of the myriads of stars in
Earth’s solar system, by grouping them into a belt or arc circling Earth, which
they divided into twelve constellations of thirty degrees each. The Sun appears
to move through the 12 constellations in one solar year (the time taken for the
Earth to make one full rotation around the sun). Our Star sign, also known as
our sun sign (the Sun is a huge star) is the sign that the Sun occupied at the
time of our birth. So if you are a Gemini, the Sun was moving through Gemini
when you were born.
Astrology provides a symbolic language in which the movements of the Sun and
planets reflect the events that happen to us. A birth chart or natal
chart shows the positions of the Sun and planets at the time of your birth
and reveals more detailed information than is shown by the characteristics of
the Star sign. Star signs and natal charts are guideposts or
indicators of what a person may be like sometimes. We are the sum of our
experiences and our planetary influences. You may feel that the characteristics
of the particular Star/Sun sign which you were born under do not fit you very
well, but if you look at it in tandem with other methods or techniques which
describe human characteristics or personality traits, you will see an overall
pattern of what you are like. And perhaps an image or perception of you rather
strongly demonstrating the tendencies of your Star sign under a particular set
of circumstances will show up one day.
Web sites on characteristics of different signs
www.astrology.com/allaboutyou/sunsigns/index.html
www.spiritual.com.au/articles/astrology/signsofzodiac_clongacre.htm
stars.metawire.com/sunsigns/sunsign.htm
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