Components of Astrology

Today's astrology primarily concerns itself with the reading of a horoscope chart cast based upon the moment of an individual's birth. In some cases, complex methods of progressing the planets of the birth chart enable the astrologer to predict the future for the person for whom the chart was cast. The chart is interpreted in relation to the influence of the zodiacal signs and the various powers the planets possess in these signs. There are different house systems linked with interpretation of the directions in a person's life, and in these, planetary and other influences manifest themselves. The house system in astrology is divided into twelve arcs, symbolically presented as being equal either in a spatial system or in a time system. This division is superimposed upon the projected celestial sphere, with the symbolic horizon line usually marking the cusps of the first and seventh houses, the east point and west point, respectively. The tenth house cusp marks the symbolic zenith, called the Medium coeli, while the fourth house cusp marks the symbolic nadir, called the Imutn coeli. Planetary effects are considered not only in terms of zodiacal placing, such as on the basis that Mars in Leo is different from Mars in Cancer, but also in terms of the angles they may or may not hold to each other; this realm of astrology is the study of aspects.

The Zodiac

The zodiac is an imaginary belt in the celestial sphere, which extends about 8� on either side of the ecliptic, or apparent path of the Sun among the stars. The width of the zodiac was determined originally to include the orbits of the Sun and Moon and of the five planets, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, as these were the only planets known to the people of ancient times.

The zodiac is divided into 12 sections of 30� each and within these lies the signs of the zodiac. Starting with the vernal equinox and then proceeding eastward along the ecliptic, each of the divisions is named for the constellation situated within its limits as observed in the 2nd century BC.

The names of the zodiacal signs are Aries, the Ram; Taurus, the Bull; Gemini, the Twins; Cancer, the Crab; Leo, the Lion; Virgo, the Virgin; Libra, the Balance; Scorpio, the Scorpion; Sagittarius, the Archer; Capricorn, the Goat; Aquarius, the Water Bearer; and Pisces, the Fishes.

Because of the precession of the equinoxes about the ecliptic, a 26,000-year cycle, the first point of Aries retrogrades about 1� in 70 years, so that the sign Aries today lies in the constellation Pisces. In about 24,000 years, when the retrogression will have completed the entire circuit of 360�, the zodiacal signs and constellations will again coincide.