Understanding astrology

Astrology is about the interaction between the Planets (including the Sun and Moon) and the Signs. These relationships and interactions are mathematically calculated, and Astrology studies these mathematical cycles. Each Sign represents a different aspect of the whole human. Aries starts the cycle, representing the Self, and Pisces completes it, representing the mass unconscious of all mankind. In between, each other Sign carries the energy of a different phase of our evolution within the universe.

In some ways, the forces between the Planets involved in Astrology can be simplified into one word: gravity. The Sun has the greatest gravity and, therefore, the strongest effect in Astrology, followed by the Moon, the Earth's satellite. Though the other Planets are not truly satellites of the Earth, they have gravity, nevertheless, and so affect the Earth. The Sun controls the Earth's motion, and the Moon controls its tides, but the other Planets have their own effects on the Earth - and on its inhabitants. Sometimes their influences can be so strong that they outweigh the Sun's energy.

Astrology can be understood as a philosophy that helps to explain life, rather than as a predictive tool. Instead of discussing what the Planets do to us, we can explain our 'selves', based on Planetary indications. The Signs work the same way - each of the twelve Signs is a unique combination of one of the four Elements and one of the three Qualities. The importance of Elements and Qualities in our lives is their demonstration that we are all part of the environment. There is a connection between all living things and all matter on this Planet. Astrology ties humans together - we are all faced with the same Planetary interactions, and are all part of the same cycles.