Understanding astrology

Despite all these connections, Astrology does not tie you into being a certain way, and it doesn't predict everything about you. Astrology explains the energy in your life and its potential challenges and possibilities, but you can evolve from your chart. Astrology is about you. What you can learn from it can help you make a choice between free will and destiny.

In addition, Astrology does not need to affect or change people's religious beliefs. In fact, almost all religions share the belief that, the way you live your life determines whether you go to heaven or hell (or a similar idea), when you die. Astrology is referring to the same thing when it speaks of Karma - what you do in this lifetime determines what will happen to you in your next lifetime. The philosophies are very similar; they are just stated in different ways.

There are many different categories of Astrology. Medical, business and stock market Astrology are often practised for health or financial reasons. Weather Astrology is popular in some areas. Mundane Astrology is the study of politics and world events, while Electional Astrology helps people find favourable times or days to get married, start a business, begin a new job and so on. Horary Astrology is predictive, studying questions based upon the specific moment they arise. The most popular type of Astrology, however, is Natal, which analyses people based on their time and place of birth.

There are two major types of Astrology practised today in the Western World - Tropical and Siderial. Tropical Astrology assigns the Signs, based on their position in relation to the Spring Equinox, which marks the Astrological New Year and usually falls on March 21. The Equinox represents 0 degrees Aries. Siderial Astrology assigns positions, based on constellations, rather than their relation to the Equinox. At present, Siderial Astrology is 24 degrees behind Tropical Astrology, so a person born under 23 degrees Libra in Tropical Astrology is born at 29 degrees Virgo in Siderial Astrology.