ASTROLOGY 101 ASTROLOGY 101 Class 1: What is Astrology? Planets Astrological Signs Using Keywords to delineate planets in signs WHAT IS ASTROLOGY? Study of the relationship of the motion of heavenly bodies and concurrent events on earth Presumes that our cosmos is divinely ordered, and that there are complex correlations that are patterned WHAT IS ASTROLOGY? As above, so below Planets have symbolic meaning that we can interpret to help understand ourselves, others, and how we interact with the world. WHAT IS ASTROLOGY? An ancient study that preceded astronomy Related to principles of harmonics every pattern functions to symbolize harmony or discord, ease and challenge 1
ASTROLOGY FROM THE RENAISSANCE TO TODAY Theosophy: A movement to resurrect esoteric traditions Believes that hidden knowledge from the ancient past offers a path to enlightenment Theosophical Society founded in New York in 1875 Drew from Jewish and Christian mysticism, hermeticism, and other esoteric traditions 2
A NEW ASTROLOGY Modern interpretation of ancient texts More emphasis on the soul s evolution and spiritual growth Combined ideas from other esoteric texts Looked at archetypes and symbols more than prediction HOW DOES ASTROLOGY WORK? EVERYTHING IS FREQUENCY AND VIBRATION Planets have specific electromagnetic frequencies We are influenced by frequencies in our environment We are made of the same substances as the stars, and therefore connected on levels beyond our conception and understanding EVERYTHING IS IN OUR COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS We are connected to the whole These archetypes and planetary correspondences have been in our collective consciousness for thousands and thousands of years Over time, we have understood them to be true, have tested them, and have developed case studies We continue our research and discovery today WHAT WE STUDY Celestial poles and equator: The projection of the Earth s equator onto the celestial sphere Ecliptic: The apparent path of the Sun in the sky Solstice Points: Times when the Sun reaches its maximum declination north or south of the celestial equator- the zero degree point of Cancer and Capricorn HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR A PLANET TO MOVE AROUND THE ZODIAC? Moon: 27.5 Days Sun: 1 year Mercury: 1 year Venus: 1 year Mars: 22 months Jupiter: 12 years Saturn: 29 years Uranus: 84 years Neptune: 165 years Pluto: 248 years 3
ASTROLOGY BASICS PLANETS AND OTHER IMPORTANT CHART POINTS Personal Planets: Sun Moon Mercury Venus Mars PLANETS- PERSONAL Each planet relates to a certain archetypal image in the psyche Each represents an aspect of the self Each planet is associated with certain physical body parts We consider these planets to have rulership over these body parts, meaning they have a symbolic relationship ASTROLOGY BASICS Social Planets: Jupiter Saturn PLANETS- SOCIAL Informed by community, family, and culture Represent expansion and limitation, ideas we need to integrate and balance to interact with the world Beliefs, limiting ideas, life structures are formed through relationships with others and the culture ASTROLOGY BASICS Outer Planets: Uranus Neptune Pluto 4
PLANETS- OUTER/TRANSPERSONAL Represent evolutionary processes in our charts Signify spiritual expansion and non-physical drives and aspects of ourselves To understand more, learn about the mythology of the god/goddess associated with the planet, as well as the properties of the planet SUN J GLYPHS SUN a Primary expression of the self relating to purpose and the healthy ego. It is the essence of the chart and one of the biggest influences in the personality. It is the I am. Rules these parts of the body: The heart, mid-back, solar plexus, thymus gland, spinal column Offers insight into physical vitality, self-expression, father, and more MOON MOON S Our emotions, subconscious thoughts, pre-verbal memories, family and home Rules these body parts: Stomach, breasts, esophagus, fluids of the body Offers insight into relationship with mother and family, along with early childhood experiences 5
MERCURY MERCURY O Planet of communication, thoughts, ideas, transportation Rules these body parts: Lungs, arms, vocal cords, small intestines, brain functions, throat chakra, ears, hands Offers insights into relationships with children, learning and communication styles, attention to detail, organization, ability and desire to travel regionally VENUS VENUS L The planet of relationships, personal values, material possessions, and finances Rules these parts of the body: Kidneys, thyroid, lumbar region of the back, chin, cheeks, and lips, neck, heart chakra Offers insight into personal relationships, especially partnerships, personal work ethic, ability to maintain and keep friendships, priorities, and popularity MARS MARS M The planet of passion, physical vitality, defense of self and others, individuation Rules these parts of the body: Head, muscular system, and face Offers insight into relationships, especially our physical needs and how we manage conflict, how we handle authority, competition, drive to succeed, willingness to act on impulse, and relationships with men. 6
JUPITER JUPITER I The planet of expansion, beliefs, faith, religious and spiritual ideals Rules these body parts: Liver and fat Offers insight into a person s good fortune in life or luck, religious background, desire for knowledge and higher education, desire to travel long distances, optimism and faith The Outer Planets Transpersonal planets Generational Relate to personal planets but don t necessarily reflect archetypes that manifest in our personal lives Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto SATURN N SATURN Planet of limitations, commitments, responsibilities, recognition, career ambition Rules these body parts: Skin and skeletal structure, teeth, and spleen Offers insight into relationship with father and other authority figures, our limiting beliefs and what holds us back, what we are here to master in this lifetime, karma, things we are here to overcome, and what we are here to achieve URANUS V 7
URANUS NEPTUNE The planet of freedom, independence, rebellion, higher mind Rules these body parts: Central nervous system and circulatory system When it is in aspect to personal planets, it offers insight into what specific areas of our life we need variety, change, and freedom. It also shows generational shifts in consciousness. X PLUTO PLUTO w The planet of death and rebirth, regenerative processes, psychology, occult matters Rules these body parts: Gonads and cells involved with reproductive system When it is in aspect to personal planets, it offers insight into our obsessive, possessive, or controlling tendencies, intensity, passion, ideas about death and the paranormal, and desire for power. SOUTH NODE NORTH NODE OTHER CHART POINTS NODES, CHIRON, AND MORE y Z 8
NODES Represent karmic path South Node: Past lives, karma, familiar, what s comfortable, family of origin North Node: Destiny, unfamiliar, purpose PART OF FORTUNE S PART OF FORTUNE Represents luck and success Positive physical health Innate talents and abilities ASCENDANT a ASCENDANT How others see you Image you project to the world How you interact with the external world Your Physical body and features Health MIDHEAVEN Q 9
MIDHEAVEN CHIRON Cusp of 10 th house Career Reputation Public presence Father Vocation/Inspiration z2u CHIRON ASTEROIDS AND DWARF PLANETS Represents our deepest wounds that inspire us to make a difference to help others and heal the world Ceres V Goddess of fertility and motherhood Juno X Partnership and marriage Pallas Athene W Courage, wisdom, creative intelligence ASTEROIDS AND DWARF PLANETS ASTROLOGICAL SIGNS Vesta Y Keeper of the hearth, mental clarity and discernment Eris Goddess of discord and fight for justice Black Moon Lilith T Power of magic, healing, shamanism 10
QUALITIES Cardinal: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn Fixed: Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius Mutable: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces TRIPLICITIES / ELEMENTS Fire Aries, Leo, Sagittarius Earth Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn Air Gemini, Libra, Aquarius Water Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces DUALITIES: MASCULINE AND FEMININE WE ALL HAVE MASCULINE AND FEMININE ASPECTS TO OUR SELVES, REGARDLESS OF GENDER. THESE TERMS ARE NOT ABOUT GENDER, MORE ABOUT QUALITIES Masculine Fire and Air signs Yang energy Outer directed, extroverted External processing of stimuli Feminine Water and Earth signs Yin energy Internally motivated, more introverted Internal processing of stimuli ZODIAC SIGNS ONE BY ONE March 20-April 19 Ruled by Mars Symbol: The Ram Cardinal Fire First sign of the Zodiac, initiative, assertive, enterprising April 19-May 20 Ruled by Venus Symbol: The Bull Fixed Earth Second sign of the Zodiac, stable, material, grounded 11
May 21-June 22 Ruled by Mercury Symbol: Twins Mutable Air Third sign of the Zodiac, communicative, intellectually curious June 22 July 23 Ruled by the Moon Symbol: Crab Cardinal Water Fourth sign of the Zodiac, home and family, protective, changeable moods July 23 August 22 Ruled by the Sun Symbol: Lion Fixed Fire Fifth sign of the Zodiac, expressive, slow to change, creative August 23 September 21 Ruled by Mercury Symbol: Virgin Mutable Earth Sixth sign of the Zodiac, serviceoriented, discerning, organized September 21-October 22 Ruled by Venus Symbol: Scales Cardinal Air Seventh sign of the Zodiac, striving for balance, relational, peacemakers October 23-November 22 Traditionally Ruled by Mars, Modern Association with Pluto Symbol: Scorpion Fixed Water Eighth sign of the Zodiac, intense, calculating, transformative 12
November 23-December 22 Ruled by Jupiter Symbol: Archer Mutable Fire Ninth sign of the Zodiac, adventurous, seeking with higher mind, questioning reality December 22 January 19 Ruled by Saturn Symbol: Mountain Goat Cardinal Earth Tenth sign of the Zodiac, goal-oriented, ambitious, focused January 20 -February 18 Traditionally Ruled by Saturn, Modern Association with Uranus Symbol: Water Bearer Fixed Air Eleventh sign of the Zodiac, innovative, connected with others, humanitarian February 19 March 19 Traditionally Ruled by Jupiter, Modern Association with Neptune Symbol: Fish Mutable Water Twelfth sign of the Zodiac, creative, intuitive, deeply feeling PLANETS, SIGNS, AND KEYWORDS Use keywords Each planet is like a note, each sign is like an octave Planets have a particular resonance in each sign 13
Sun: I am, essence, vitality Moon: Feeling, emotions, subconscious needs Mercury: Thoughts, mental processes, everyday tasks Venus: Finances, values, relationships, attraction Mars: Action, sexual attraction, libido, manage conflict Jupiter: Beliefs, luck, expansion Saturn: Limitations, karma, mastery Uranus: Freedom, rebellion, innovation Neptune: Spirituality, illusion, intuition, creativity Pluto: Death and rebirth, psychological underpinnings, regenerative processes Aries: Initiating, assertive, self-directed Taurus: Stable, possessions, financially motivated Gemini: Communicating, adaptable, versatile Cancer: Protective, sensitive, nurturing Leo: Creative, expressive, impressive Virgo: Critical, analytical, discerning Libra: Relational, harmonious, striving for balance Scorpio: Intense, passionate, transformative Sagittarius: Free, adventurous, expansive views Capricorn: Ambitious, careful, disciplined Aquarius: Humanitarian, independent, progressive Pisces: Emotional, intuitive, impressionable Combine keywords into one statement: Sun in Libra: My essence is relational, harmonious, striving for balance. Mercury in Leo: I think creatively; I communicate in ways that impress others Venus in Aquarius: My relationships are progressive and allow me to maintain my independence Mars in Capricorn: My actions are careful and disciplined. Moon in Scorpio: I feel things intensely. Jupiter in Pisces: My beliefs are impressionable, and my intuition leads my sense of luck Sun: Rules Leo Exalted in Aries Detriment in Aquarius Fall in Libra J 14
Moon: Rules Cancer Exalted in Taurus Detriment in Capricorn Fall in Scorpio s Mercury: Rules Gemini and Virgo Exalted in Virgo Detriment in Sagittarius Fall in Pisces o Venus: Rules Taurus and Libra Exalted in Pisces Detriment in Aries Fall in Virgo l Mars: Rules Aries and Scorpio Exalted in Capricorn Detriment in Libra Fall in Cancer m Jupiter: Rules Sagittarius and Pisces Exalted in Cancer Detriment in Gemini Fall in Capricorn i Saturn: Rules Capricorn and Aquarius Exalted in Libra Detriment in Cancer Fall in Aries n 15
Uranus: Associated with Aquarius Exalted in Scorpio Detriment in Leo Fall in Taurus v Neptune: Associated with Pisces Exalted in Leo Detriment in Virgo Fall in Aquarius x SPECIAL POINTS Pluto: Associated with Scorpio Exalted in Aries Detriment in Taurus Fall in Libra w Ascendant Midheaven Chiron North Node South Node Part of Fortune SPECIAL POINTS Ascendant: The way others see me, my physical body Midheaven: My career, my reputation Chiron: The part of me that is most wounded North Node: My purpose, destiny South Node: My karma and past Part of Fortune: My luck ASTROLOGY: YOUR TOOL FOR ASSESSING PERSONAL STRENGTHS AND CHARTING YOUR COURSE TO SUCCESS 16