Astrology has been immensely popular in recent decades, being used for everything from personality profiling to magazine ‘horoscopes’ to assessing relationship compatibility.
However, the answer to ‘What is astrology?’ is greatly misunderstood by the general public, with most people (and the Internet) passing on information that is inaccurate and incorrect… resulting in most people never benefitting from the treasure trove of self-discovery that astrology offers.
Today, we debunk and clarify, once and for all, some of the most common myths and untruths surrounding ‘astrology’.
#1 Is it Fengshui? Bazi? Tarot, Palmistry and Face-reading?
Well, no to all of them. The prefix ‘astro-’ comes from Greek and simply refers to outer space and heavenly bodies, so ‘astrology’ is the study and interpretation of planets, stars, orbits, asteroids etc.
This means that any metaphysical technique that doesn’t involve astrological bodies doesn’t technically count as astrology at all. So ‘Chinese astrology’ techniques like Fengshui is actually geomancy, not astrology, and the Chinese Bazi doesn’t technically link directly to astrological bodies either.
Other modalities like tarot, palmistry and face-reading have commonly been cobbled together with astrology, but as none of them technically have any interpretive basis in astrological bodies, are not considered to be ‘astrology’ at all.
Throughout history there are several cultures that have independently studied the stars and planets, resulting in many forms of astrology that exist today. Common ones include Indian astrology (also known as Vedic), and Chinese astrology (as known as Ziweidoushu), but there are also forms of Muslim astrology, Thai astrology, and Meso-American astrology, among many, many forms from various cultures.
The most common one is generally Western astrology, and the name ‘astrology’ typically refers to this specific form. Its origin doesn’t come from a specific culture but is an amalgamation of mythology and astronomical, and mathematical studies across centuries from civilisations and cultures like the Babylonians, Egyptians, Greek and Roman traditions, as well as modern discoveries in human psychology and behaviour.
Each type of astrology in the world has its own set of interpretive rules, its own set of heavenly bodies that it includes and excludes, and its practice is often heavily influenced by the values and beliefs of the culture that the specific astrology hails from.
Western astrology, in my opinion, differs from other forms of astrology in the sense that it has modernised and been updated from its traditional origins, incorporating studies in psychology and human development in modern terms, making it more relevant and applicable to people living in the current times.
#2 Is Astrology Just Fortune-Telling?
Well, no to all of them. The prefix ‘astro-’ comes from Greek and simply refers to outer space and heavenly bodies, so ‘astrology’ is the study and interpretation of planets, stars, orbits, asteroids etc.
This means that any metaphysical technique that doesn’t involve astrological bodies doesn’t technically count as astrology at all. So ‘Chinese astrology’ techniques like Fengshui is actually geomancy, not astrology, and the Chinese Bazi doesn’t technically link directly to astrological bodies either.
Other modalities like tarot, palmistry and face-reading have commonly been cobbled together with astrology, but as none of them technically have any interpretive basis in astrological bodies, are not considered to be ‘astrology’ at all.
Throughout history there are several cultures that have independently studied the stars and planets, resulting in many forms of astrology that exist today. Common ones include Indian astrology (also known as Vedic), and Chinese astrology (as known as Ziweidoushu), but there are also forms of Muslim astrology, Thai astrology, and Meso-American astrology, among many, many forms from various cultures.
The most common one is generally Western astrology, and the name ‘astrology’ typically refers to this specific form. Its origin doesn’t come from a specific culture but is an amalgamation of mythology and astronomical, and mathematical studies across centuries from civilisations and cultures like the Babylonians, Egyptians, Greek and Roman traditions, as well as modern discoveries in human psychology and behaviour.
Each type of astrology in the world has its own set of interpretive rules, its own set of heavenly bodies that it includes and excludes, and its practice is often heavily influenced by the values and beliefs of the culture that the specific astrology hails from.
Western astrology, in my opinion, differs from other forms of astrology in the sense that it has modernised and been updated from its traditional origins, incorporating studies in psychology and human development in modern terms, making it more relevant and applicable to people living in the current times.
#3 What About ‘Horoscopes’?
Most people don’t know this, but the ‘horoscope’ is one of the most misused words in astrology today. The word ‘horo’ is Greek for ‘time’ and the word ‘scope’ refers to a visual, like the way we use ‘microscope’ or ‘telescope’. Hence the real meaning of the word ‘horoscope’ simply means a ‘visual capture of time’.
Today, the word is incorrectly understood as the little predictive daily, weekly or monthly snippets you see in magazines or online sites based on your Sun signs – those are not horoscopes.
Also common, but incorrect, is when someone asks ‘What’s your horoscope?’, expecting you to answer with your Sun sign.
In reality, you would typically need an exact date, time and location (city, country) to generate a horoscope. You can do this with professional software or with free online chart generators.
A horoscope in astrology for 3 April 2024, 4.30pm in Singapore, Singapore looks like this:
The word ‘horoscope’ refers to EVERYTHING in that circle, all the numbers, degrees, planets, signs, aspect lines, everything – because ‘horoscope’ is a visual capture of time.
Because western astrology horoscopes are so precise, twins have different horoscopes, because they have different birth times. Two people born at the exact same time but in different locations on Earth have different horoscopes because their birth coordinates are different.
If a baby was born at the exact time and place as the horoscope above, then that’s the baby’s birth chart.
#4 So If I’m A Gemini, Then My Personality Will Be Gemini Traits?
Yes… but that’s not the full story.
Most people only know their ‘sign’ and there’s only one sign they know of that’s determined by their birth day/month. In astrology, we call this the ‘Sun sign’, since it is determined by the position of Earth in its yearly orbit around the Sun (which is why it’s derived by a specific day in the yearly calendar).
As you can see in the example above, a person’s birth chart is much, much more than just one sign.
While some Astro beginners may also be familiar with Moon signs or Rising/Ascendant signs, a full interpretation should also include all of the planets, signs and houses in the astrology chart, and this can deliver a much more accurate description than just one sign.
It’s possible for a Gemini person to have Leo traits if they have Venus in Leo, for example. They may also be much more serious and less flighty than many Gemini descriptions if they happen to have many planets in Capricorn.
In my astrology classes, I also teach students methods to determine a person’s Dominant Archetype™ and many students are intrigued by how even if they happen to have Sun sign Taurus, their Dominant Archetype™ may actually be Cancer, for example. This is a revelation for many people, especially if they never really resonated with their ‘sign’ descriptions to begin with.
#5 Is It Only Silly Teenagers Who Are Into Astrology?
Certainly, if you’re referring to Instagram/Pinterest memes on ‘Who does Scorpio love?’ or frivolous online descriptions for astrology signs, then the natural audience would include those regarded as more ignorant of the subject or perhaps naively accepting of trivial ideas.
However, in reality, the people who are dealing with real astrology are often among the well-educated and typically knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects.
Unfortunately, most criticisms of astrology are directed at the popular astrology dumbed down into magazine horoscopes and superficial memes… which aren’t representations of actual astrology at all.
Prior to the easy availability of free online chart generators, the only way to cast an astrology chart was to manually calculate the exact positions of all the planets – this required complex mathematical skills, converting time zones, calculating planetary orbit speeds, mathematical arcs etc., not typically skills that are possessed by teens or the lowly-educated, hence historically, astrology was only practised by those with formal educations, like clergymen, doctors and men of science.
Many famous men, like the mathematician Ptolemy, astronomer Galileo, polymath Leonardo Da Vinci, father of modern psychology Carl Jung, and astronomer Johannes Kepler are just a handful of revered individuals who had made significant studies of and contributions to astrology, including publishing texts.
Much like disciplines like architecture or psychology, astrology combines tangible calculations and logic analyses with subjective and intuitive assessments of the human condition. Disciplines like these cannot be pinned down to an exact science, because they are not exact sciences. Like architecture, the practitioner’s technical knowledge has to be solid, in order to produce a technically correct astrology chart, or a technically buildable architectural design, as the case may be.
However, also like architecture, what makes an insightful interpretation or a captivating building is less dependent on the professional’s other skills in mythology, storytelling, conveying intangible ideas like emotions, human experience and practical applicability to life.
Since astrology can be applied to relationship management, personality profiling, career profiling, and forecasting events, actual users of astrology include human resource personnel, counsellors, coaches, parents, business owners and professionals who want to assess career options and plans.
#6 What are the key components of astrology charts?
The 12 Zodiac Signs
This is the one most people are familiar with, the 12 zodiac signs. They are, namely:
Aries
Element: Fire
Energetic, assertive and action-oriented, Aries loves new stimuli and doesn’t mind being the first to try something.
Taurus
Element: Earth
Down-to-earth, practical and predictable, Taurus is naturally attuned to the physical world, and likes to maintain the status quo.
Gemini
Element: Air
Witty, logical and communicative, Gemini loves a good puzzle and has a curious mind that’s very adaptable to social and informational trends.
Cancer
Element: Water
Nurturing, security-oriented and instinctive, Cancer prefers safe, familiar options and has a natural affinity with food.
Leo
Element: Fire
Demonstrative, expressive and warm, Leo can produce original creative output and has a natural sense of childlike fun.
Virgo
Element: Earth
Sensible, detail-oriented and efficient, Virgo is a natural problem-solvers and work on constant improvement.
Libra
Element: Air
Diplomatic, graceful and charming, Libra is a great appreciator of the arts, and is highly motivated to strike a balance in everything they deal with.
Scorpio
Element: Water
Intense, charismatic and enigmatic, Scorpio’s perspectives always go far beyond the surface and maintains their composure in the face of crisis.
Sagittarius
Element: Fire
Adventurous, enthusiastic and truthful, Sagittarius is always on a quest for knowledge and discovery, and to stand up for their beliefs.
Capricorn
Element: Earth
Disciplined, ambitious and status-oriented, Capricorn has their sights set on a productive result, and will do whatever it takes to succeed.
Aquarius
Element: Air
Freedom-loving, inventive and non-conformist, Aquarius marches to their own drumbeat and can prioritise an objective cause above their self-benefit.
Pisces
Element: Water
Imaginative, intuitive and gentle, Pisces can see possibilities beyond our immediate, tangible realities and can enjoy a good fantasy.
Signs tell us about styles, preferences and behaviours. A lot of Cancer in a chart, for example, may describe someone who is rather security-oriented and risk-averse, while very motivated to protect and defend the people and things they care about.
It’s not enough just to know the Sun Sign (the one most people think is ‘my sign’) though. Since there are ten planets in an astrology chart, and every planet has a sign, most people have charts that are a mix of multiple signs, with some signs being expressed more strongly than others.
The 10 Planets
Fun fact: Astrologers read planets, not stars, most of the time.
Planets describe active expressions, such as identity expressions, social expressions, things we do to take control of a situation etc.
Unlike signs, which which may or may not appear in a given chart, every astrology chart will involve the ten planets. When interpreting, each planet must be combined with its sign and house position to flesh out its full meaning in the chart.
Here’s an overview of the planets and their meanings in astrology:
Sun
The Sun determines the sense of self, innate creativity, and identity expression and also confers the ability to illuminate situations for others.
Moon
The Moon determines the emotional needs and expression, natural instincts, the need for security, and also confers the ability to nurture and care for others.
Mercury
Mercury determines the mental expression and activities, communicative capacity and styles, and form of mental input and output.
Venus
Venus determines the social expression and activities, attitude and approach to love, relationships and femininity, attitude, and approach towards value and expenditures.
Mars
Mars determines the assertion expression and activities, attitudes and approach to action-taking and competition, attitude, and approach toward desire and masculinity.
Jupiter
Jupiter determines the need for an approach to beliefs, growth, morality and knowledge.
Saturn
Saturn determines the need for an approach to discipline, structure and tangible outcomes.
Uranus
Uranus determines the need for an approach to freedom, individualism and innovation.
Neptune
Neptune determines the need for and approaches to spirituality, compassion and intangible outcomes.
Pluto
Pluto determines the need for an approach to control, survival and power.
The 12 Houses
The chart is divided into 12 segments known as Houses- each house represents a specific area of life. The placement of planets in these houses will impact attitudes and preferences in these areas of life. They are:
1st House
The 1st House represents appearances, the physical body, the perspective on life and an immediate experience.
2nd House
The 2nd House represents material resources (including money, possessions, time and effort), and values.
3rd House
The 3rd House represents messages, data, thoughts, ideas, and communication of all forms. It can also represent the experience of siblings, extended family members and the neighbouring locales/short journeys.
4th House
The 4th House represents homes, properties, land, cultural roots, and origins. It can also represent the experience of the Father and general familial upbringing.
5th House
The 5th House represents hobbies, creative pursuits, children, romances and general youthfulness.
6th House
The 6th House represents professional skills and work environments, health regimes and diseases, and daily life.
7th House
The 7th House represents partnerships, marriages, contracts, and general interaction with others. In some cases, it can also represent rivalries.
8th House
The 8th House represents areas of fear and vulnerability, such as psychological crisis and transformation, sex, the occult and metaphysics, death and rebirth, and shared monies (investments, insurance, inheritances).
9th House
The 9th House represents beliefs, exploration in the search for meaning and morality/ethics. This covers areas like higher education, religion, the law, policies and rules, broadcasting/publishing, and long journeys that involve foreign cultures and beliefs.
10th House
The 10th House represents interactions with status, such as authority figures, career and social status, officialdom, hierarchies, and public image. It can also represent the experience of the Mother.
11th House
The 11th House represents groups and communities, including friends, associations, clubs/societies, society at large. It can also represent future plans.
12th House
The 12th House represents spirituality, surrender and the hidden, intangible world, such as fantasy, imagination, charity and compassion for the weak and broken, peace and calm, but also secrets, despair, isolation, addictions and other inner struggles.