Astrology Basics

This article will cover a little on planetary astrology basics. How fate and free will intersect in astrology and our lives and how the nature of our character plays an important role in what comes forth as a result of astrological factors and readings.

Having investigated astrology for more than 28 years, I find it is a system the works remarkably well. It works in specific and astoundingly accurate ways. There is a lot of superstition and skepticism surrounding it by those who have usually never studied it. “Western Astrology” is a dynamic living system of symbolic mathematics showing us the natural cycles of life and events. Astrology’s foundation involves 4 essential factors.

The essential elements of Western Astrology are the interrelationships between planets, signs, houses, and aspects. These four building blocks are the symbols of everything It embodies. The planets are the inner “lights” or actors you are playing in this play called life. The signs are the role, filters or flavor through which the personality expresses itself. The houses are the setting or situations in which the cast portrays its roles. All Planets occupy a sign as well as a house. The 4th building block is the aspects to each planet show How we play our roles, whether challenging or easy, specialized or crisis producing.

An example of how this works, sun in Taurus in the 10th house. The planet (actor) - the sun shows where your heart is, it is about power and integrity. it is what you are working towards learning in this life. It must shine in order for you to feel good about you. So this actor is about where your heart is at and how you let your light shine. The Sun example sign is in Taurus – this is the Role or filter you let your sun shine through. So for Taurus it’s filters will be about practical matters, acquiring possessions, stability, sensuality and simplicity, plus much more. The house it falls in determines the arena of life these factors work in. So if your sun in Taurus is in the 10th house the arena of your career, public recognition and reputation will be all important in where and how you shine! Then you must look at what other planets aspect the Sun and what it means to this inner light! This works for all planets, signs and houses according to their placements in your chart.

“Astrology shows us how we are fractured and how we are whole.” Robert Bly. How much power do we have to change things, if our life cycles are supposedly set at birth?

Astrological timing and tendencies do not take away our “Free Will”. If anything astrology forces us to develop our “Free Will,” since our fate or destiny is determined by how our character is shaped by choices at critical moments in our lives. Astrology can help you figure out when you will be challenged, whether to act or to understand, and decide how you will respond to certain areas of your inner and outer life. It forewarns and forearms you to these crucial times and decisions where our choices determine our future.

Astrology does not make anything happen as only we can make anything happen. We must assume that we make and demonstrate our character though our choices. And some choices are more important than others, but all choices make up our personality. It is the understanding of these cycles of life and how we respond to them as to whether or not we understand the larger purpose of our life and what will lead us to fulfillment.

Astrology is not a substitute for living, making choices or accepting consequences. It is useless to avoid life experience by seeking refuge in a belief system. Having said this, you must understand to what extent are you living life fully or would you rather be a spectator of your life or victim. by not accepting the points of challenge and decisions that come along, You can block any growth experience possible.

By knowing our personal cycles of change and transition, we can learn to embrace times of challenge rather than be blindsided. We can keep our cool when everyone else is losing theirs, if we understand what is happening to us and know it is for our highest good! Sometimes we just need to be quiet and show up, other times quantum leaps in understanding are required which take huge effort on our part to affect a change within us. Do you really think any of this could be random?

Knowing astrology may not make some choices easier, but it can help us understand what’s ending and beginning as well as what is working for our highest good or not and make some sense of the how’s, where’s and why’s of our life and it’s cycles. It’s your life and your choices!

**Excerpts of this article are taken from Robert Wilkinson, www.aquariuspapers.com, Fundamentals of Astrology