Since the last post on the speed of the planets was so well received I’ll try to post something similar. People seemed to grasp the idea of the Sun (ego) being in one sign, Mercury (mind) in another so I thought I’d try to stay on this track and build.

Some of the planets form natural pairs that balance each other. The Sun and the Moon, Venus and Mars and Jupiter and Saturn (expansion and restriction). I thought we’d look at Venus and Mars which basically shows what you like (Venus) and how you go about getting it (Mars).
Continue reading Demystifying Astrology: Venus and Mars - What You Want and How You Get It

“My mom is a Taurus but all of the rest of her planets appear in Aquarius. Does this make her “more Aquarius then Taurus?”

Not really. I mean you could say that and many astrologers would but before you do, you should understand exactly what you’re saying. I realize I am weird but this would be like taking a telephone poll and tying ribbons all over and then concluding it was a ribbon not a telephone pole!
Continue reading Demystifying Astrology: My Sun Is In One Sign, But I Have A Lot Of Planets In Another Sign - What’s That Mean?

How granular should you get with quality of a sign in combo with a planet/angle and the house? How do you weigh all that stuff in your interpretation?

Really good question, difficult to answer but I’ll try.

First you should never lose sight of the sign a planet is placed in, even if you’ve got some problem with the sign. This is very common. “Hey! I don’t want to be a Virgo. I’ve got Pluto there and blah, blah, blah, so really I am not a Virgo, I am a….”
Continue reading Demystifying Astrology: How To Make Heads Or Tails Of A Planet In A Sign, In A House, With Aspects

“Synastry” refers to the astrological study of relationships. There are 3 main techniques and each of them have their own merits.

A synastry chart or what I would call a “chart comparison” is when you check how one person’s planets relate to another person’s and interpret what you find.

If you want to understand this in real terms just consider that you are a person and you respond to other people. For example there are some people you just automatically like and feel easy around, others who activate you in ways that are not so comfortable.
Continue reading Demystifying Astrology: What Is The Difference Between Synastry Chart And A Composite Chart?

Every Gift Is A Curse In Exact Proportion

That is a strong statement, I say it all the time and I believe it’s true. I wrote about having a Venus Mars sextile in chart that provided me with a good deal of satisfaction (Little Things Mean A Lot). Whatever love or money I get, I tend to feel satisfied with it and while this brings me much pleasure, what do you think this does to my drive?

If I am satisfied… a fed dog as I say, I am not apt to go out and hunt as a hungry dog surely will. Consequently I may not achieve as much as a person with those planets in hard aspect.
Continue reading Demystifying Astrology: Every Gift Is A Curse In Exact Proportion

“My boyfriend has Saturn conjunct my Sun. Will he hold me back?”

He may but he may also be the best thing that ever happened to you. It’s true if someone has their Saturn in aspect to one of your planets (particularly the personal planets: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars), they will have some authority over you.
Continue reading Demystifying Astrology: Saturn In Synastry - Mentor Or Oppressor?

“You say your chart is hard-wired. Where does free will come in?”

Your chart is hard wired. You have certain things to work with but what you do with your energy is entirely up to you.

In the simplest terms, let’s say you’re born with blond hair. Now how do you want to comb it? Or maybe you want to cover it up / dye and deny it? People get to choose, see?

Barbra Streisand kept her big nose. She played it up. The other gal had a nose job. Free will.

Barbra Streisand has her Sun in Taurus… in tact self esteem. This may have had something to do with it.

Do you consciously direct your energy?

People tend to look for horror in their chart. Fine with me but don’t forget to note the little things less you’ll drop the plot.

For example, I have Venus (love and money) sextile Mars in my chart. No biggie, right? Wrong. What that shows or what it provides is satisfaction in relationships. In other words, I am not a hungry dog, I am a fed dog.

I am satisfied with money (Venus) too, even when I don’t have any! If I have a lot of money? Satisfied. If I have a little money? Satisfied. If I have no money at all, guess what? I am still satisfied.
Continue reading Demystifying Astrology: Little Things Mean A Lot

“Is there any significance to having one side of your chart have all the activity? I was looking as my mother’s chart tonight, and all her planets are aligned on the left side of the chart, with literally nothing going on in the right.”

Yes. You should always note an emphasis of anything in a chart and when you have one that is lopsided it does give information.
Continue reading Demystifying Astrology: What If All My Planets Are Bunched Up?

Astrodienst has lots of great resources for the beginner. You can use the raw data from their site as you’re learning your way.

First of all, sign up for a free account and enter your birthdata. Be sure to get your birth time in there, and you’ll need to enter the location you were born for the most detailed results. Then hop on over to the free horoscope section!
Continue reading Demystifying Astrology: How To Use Astro.com By Dixie Vogel