"Astrology is neither a religion nor a belief. It is an astronomical, psychological and predictive system at the same time. Unlike many other divination techniques that have passed through the centuries, astrology retains its popularity for the simple reason that it works," Explain astrologer Sasha Fenton. In his latest book “Astrology”Edited in the new collection“the keys to esotericism " at Albin Michel, she offers a simple and complete initiation into astrology.
"If we know today that the Earth revolves around the Sun, this was not the case in Antiquity. Ancient astrologers then believed that the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars all revolved around the Earth. Nowadays, astrologers and astronomers still rely on the path the Sun seems to travel when viewed from our planet. This trajectory is called the ecliptic plane, but it is also called the ecliptic or more frequently the zodiac. "
Three words to understand
- Astrology means "the study of the stars".
- Horoscope means "weather chart".
- Zodiac means "a circle of animals. "
"The term zodiac comes from ancient Greek. It has the same root as zoo or zoological garden, the prefix "zo" meaning "set of animals". From the Earth we can distinguish twelve constellations of stars located along the ecliptic. Those are the signs of the zodiac. Ancient astrologers related these constellations to animals or figures considered at the time to be gods. The gods have long been forgotten, but their names endure."
The solar astrological signs
"There are twelve signs in the zodiac, generally called solar signs. This designation is due to the fact that, from our position on Earth, we see the Sun enter these signs at regular intervals, every year. For example, the Sun is still in Capricorn at the start of the year, and moves to the next sign, Aquarius, around January 20. The Sun does not move from one sign to another on the same date every year. So, if you were born between two signs, you will need to call an astrologer or an app to find out your sun sign. This operation is quick and easy, an astrologer will rarely charge you for it."
Here are the average dates of the sun signs:
- Aries March 21 – April 19
- Taurus April 20 – May 20
- Gemini May 21 – June 21
- Cancer June 22 – July 22
- Leo July 23 – August 22
- Virgo 23 August – 22 September
- Libra September 23 – October 23
- Scorpio October 24 – November 22
- Sagittarius November 23 – December 22
- Capricorn December 23 – January 20
- Aquarius January 21 – February 19
- Pisces February 20 – March 20
The zodiac, a wheel of the seasons
Starting with Aries, the zodiac wheel launches in spring, at the time of the equinox (day equals night). The 12 signs of the zodiac will thus symbolize the different stages that Nature will go through during a year, namely the seasons. If the Aries is the spark which pushes the sap to the hatching of the living, the Taurus embodies the fertile Earth, then the Gemini represents the Air which will spread pollens and allow the fertilization etc … We understand well that a person born in winter when there is little sunshine and low temperatures like Capricorn will not have the same tastes and character traits as a person born in the height of summer like Leo, when the days are long and hot temperatures. Professional choices, social relationships and their food tastes are directly influenced by the state of the world in which they arrive.
Gender, element and quality of astrological signs
The 12 signs share 2 genera. From the male sign Aries, the gender alternates from one sign to another. These astrological signs also share the 4 elements in the following order: Fire, Earth, Air and Water. Then come the 3 cardinal qualities, fixed and mutable, which indicate when a sign initiates a season, settles in or leaves it. These elements will also influence the character of the sign. Here is a very telling table to find in Sasha Fenton's book:
These signs thus correspond to the position of the sun at the time of birth. In a sky chart, which allows you to draw up a chart, other planets also count. In addition to the solar sign, the astrologer will analyze the lunar sign (the position of the Moon), the Venusian sign (the position of Venus), the Martian sign (the position of Mars) and other planets … of course the ascendant, which indicates the sign in which the East was at birth, but also the Houses and aspects formed by the planets.
To know about the author: British astrologer Sasha Fenton has served as President of the British Astrological and Psychic Society, of the Advisory Panel on Astrological Education, and on the Executive Council of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain. She has just signed a book soberly titled “Astrology”In the new collection“the keys to esotericism"from Albin Michel. This particularly didactic book allows a real initiation into astrology.
Read also :
⋙ Zodiac sign: who are the nicest and the baddest?
⋙ Astrological sign: your love compatibility according to the horoscope
⋙ Horoscope: the sexual profile of each astrological sign, by Marc Angel