Astrology is one of those subjects that are easy to learn but can take a lifetime to master. Most people are familiar with the most basic aspect of Astrology, their Star Sign (or Sun Sign), and can usually name at least one common trait of that Sign. This is largely due to the popularising of Star Signs in daily newspaper columns, magazines and other media. Unfortunately, many people think that their Star Sign is all there is to Astrology. While this is a good place to start, there is a lot more to Astrology than the Sun's position alone.

Astrology is not a modern invention dating back just a few years, decades or even centuries. Infact, Astrology has been studied for millennia - it's as old as recorded history. The original Astrologers were priests and scholars, who were looked up to as doctors and learned men. According to modern speculation, the Three Wise Men of Christian belief were Astrologers. At the time, Astrology was the same science as Astronomy and Psychology, whose modern forms and branches can indeed be traced back to Astrology.

In ancient times, the Greeks and Romans based their systems of Gods on what they believed was in the sky. The Gods and Godesses were based on the Planets visible to the human eye. For instance, Zeus was equated with Jupiter. Astrology was equally popular in Babylon and Egypt, and it also took root in the Middle East, India and China.

Modern Astrology has changed somewhat, with the discovery of new Planets - first Uranus in 1781, then Neptune and Pluto (and finally the Asteroids). Though those three Planets have a stronger effect on generations as a whole, rather than individuals, they still have an important place in modern 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.

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.

The Age of Aquarius is now upon us. This means technology is moving forward, society's attitudes and values are changing and will perhaps slant more toward the radical. Astrology will become more accepted, even mainstream. By creating this site and providing information about Astrology, which is both informative and entertaining, I hope to move the perception of Astrology past light entertainment, to a more valuable tool for people to use on a personal basis, both for themselves and others. Enjoy it.