Frequently
Asked Questions
Prepared by Rose Glavas
First Published at Suite101.com
What is 'the zodiac'?
The zodiac is actually the backdrop to the
Sun's apparent pathway through the sky. This pathway is
divided into sections that we know as the various zodiac
signs. Because the Sun's (apparent) pathway through the
heavens is basically constant and can be found at roughly
the same spot for the same date in each year, this is how
we came to use Sun Signs: the position of the Sun in relation
to the backdrop of the zodiac constellations.
This system is convenient because the average
person doesn't have to have complicated planetary positions
worked out to know which constellation affects them personally,
the date of birth is all that is needed in most cases. All
the other planets follow roughly the same path as the Sun,
within the zodiac backdrop.
What is a Rising Sign or Ascendant?
The Rising Sign is literally the zodiac sign
that is rising on the eastern horizon at the time of birth.
This is why the time of birth is important, because without
it the Rising Sign cannot be calculated.
What does it mean when a planet is in a
sign, ie, Moon in Aries?
As the planets continue their orbit around
the Sun, here on earth their pathway seems to follow the
Sun. As they do so, like the Sun they have the zodiac signs
as a backdrop behind them.
So when an astrologer says that the Moon is
in Aries or Mercury is in Virgo this simply means that at
a particular time that planet had that particular zodiac
sign as it's backdrop.
I am born on a cusp, what does this mean?
When a planet is about to move from one zodiac
sign to another along the backdrop it is moving on, this
is know as being on the cusp, which causes confusion for
most people about which Sun Sign they are (most people are
not aware of the positions of the other planets so they
are not usually a concern).
If you have your time of birth, you can find
out exactly which Sun Sign you are using the services of
an astrologer or one of the free chart drawing services
via the internet.
What is a 'house'?
A birth chart looks a bit like a pie cut into
12 slices. Each of these 'slices' is called a 'house' and
can represent various aspects of your life and psychological
makeup (depending on the type of interpretation being applied
to it).
For example, some of the interpretations that
can be applied to your second house include: earning capacity,
self esteem, values, possessions, 'what I own is what I
am', and/or your ability to handle finances.
Why are interpretations by various astrologers
so different for the same forecast period?
Just like anybody that you seek advice from,
astrologers have different opinions and ways of interpreting
the symbolism represented by the planets.
The astrologer's training, life experience,
and specialisation (ie medical, psychological, spiritual
astrology, etc) will all have an effect on the way interpretations
are given.
I think that it is important to find an astrologer
that you feel rapport with because the more open you are,
the more you will gain from a personalised forecast.
My friend and I are the same Sun Sign,
why are we so different?
When preparing a personalised chart the position
of the all the planets are used in determining the psychological
makeup of an individual, along with the Sun.
The individual planets move at different speeds
and will be at various parts of the zodiac backdrop as time
moves on. So even if two people are born on the same date
with the Sun in the same position, the other planets won't
be in the same position.
This is important because the position of
these other planets will change the interpretation of the
birth chart as well as the personalised forecasts.
If you have any more questions... please
contact me!
