The ancient system of seven planets, those visible to the naked human eye, included what we call today the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Our modern word “planet” comes from the Greek word meaning “wanderer.” The Egyptians called the planets kabiri, also “wanderer” in hieroglyphics. The planets received their names because they acted in seemingly random fashion, compared to the slow motion movement of the fixed stars. This is why planets were often associated with gods who had free will and moved about on their own, directing events through their influence depending upon which House they were visiting amongst their brother and sister deities. The planets carried the same attributes culture to culture, yet were known under different names.

The Sun and Moon were attributed respectively with the qualities of governing over the awake consciousness in day, and the sensual, emotional nature of the subconscious by night. In most ancient cultures, the Sun and Moon were regarded as emblems of the primordial divine father-mother couple that birthed humanity. The lunar and solar eclipse has always been considered an emblem of incredible power in astrology, representative of the supreme union between male and female. Venus influences love, luxury, and matters of the heart. Mercury is a messenger spirit, and greatly affects the other planets in geometric relation to the other planets. Alone, Mercury most represents matters of communication and wisdom. Mars affects strength, creativity, heroic or extreme forms of healing, and outer battles on all levels. Jupiter oversees authority, structure, and the dignity of the other planets. Saturn oversees the structure of time, order and inner discipline. These planets made up the ancient universe of astrology.

The Signs of the Zodiac emerged from the apparent motion of the Sun and Moon through the repeating cyclic round of fixed stars seemingly traveling around Earth. The Sabians had a geocentric view of the universe, and medieval astrology continued in this tradition. Modern astrology like-wise has kept this view for the meaning tones of the celestial bodies, yet incorporates modern astronomical knowledge overall. The heliocentric view that modern science proposes was revived from the Egyptian view that the Sun was the center of the universe. Aristotle reported that Pythagoras (600 B.C.) taught a heliocentric model of the universe, which was expounded on all over the ancient world by scholars such as Aristarchos of Samos (320-250 B.C.) and many others. Pythagoras was said to have been taught by Egyptian priests in the shadow of the Great Pyramid. Although the Egyptians purported a heliocentric mystical and mythological view, they kept the sense of geocentric views in their astrological divinations, a condition that has remained in astrology even today.

The Houses: The Houses are another important component to comprehending any form of astrology. The Houses are calculated based on the Earth's daily, or diurnal, rotation. Each zodiac sign is empowered for about two hours every day as measured from the equator. There are many ways to determine the Houses, but all systems cross-culturally agree on charting the sign rising on the horizon at the time of birth as the rising sign or Ascendant. The Houses correspond to the constellations; in modern astrology the first house corresponds to Aries, the second to Taurus, and so on.... The signs and Houses are aspects of one another, symbolic of the same energy in different areas, giving interrelated meaning tones according to their celestial interplay. The 12 Houses affect the fundamental areas of life and have been separated into the following meanings, overseeing these areas of life.

The first House, the Ascendant, rules over the manner and appearance one presents to the world. The second House rules finances, career and resources. The third House rules communication, immediate surroundings and short journeys. The fourth House rules the mother, children, family, and home. The fifth House oversees pleasure, creativity, self-expression, childbearing, and entertainments. The sixth House rules health, service, duty, and works. The seventh House rules alliances, partnerships, and important relationships. The eighth House rules legacies, death and rebirth. The ninth House oversees education, self-enrichment, philosophy, and the higher works of the mind. The tenth House rules career, long range goals, and the father. The eleventh House oversees friendships, humanitarian pursuits, group activities, and organizations. The twelfth House rules the subconscious, the occult and hidden influences one keeps from all others. When discussing natal charts and life horoscopes, these details will be fleshed out much more, showing how one gets a personal meaning from the vast cosmological principles just set forth.

Aspects: The Aspects (seen on the bottom left of the Natal Chart diagram) are another crucial element of an astrological chart. Aspects are the relationships between the planets according to what angle they are to one another during a given period of time. The horoscope is a circular map, so contains 360 degrees. When two or more planets are in signs that have an angular mathematical relationship, they are said to influence each other's sphere of activity and Earth's life manifestations according to that angularity. Most of the major aspects are Conjunctions (0 degree angles), which cause planetary energies to combine in a blended effect. A Sextile (60 degree angle) cooperate with, help, or ease more powerful qualities. Squares (90 degree angles) challenge, aggravate, or test. Triunes (120 degree angles) harmonize and energize. Oppositions (180 degree angles) balance, oppose, and confront.

Elements: Other important astrological divisions have to do with Elemental Nature, Quality, and Dignity. The 12 Signs are divided into four Elemental Natures: fire, water, air, and earth. These elementary energies are akin to their physical literal counterparts only in the most general way. Fire is active and energetic. Water is sensual, reflective, and changing. Air is nimble, moving, and agitated. Earth is stable and practical. The three fire signs are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. The three water signs are Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. The three air signs are Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. The three earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn.

The Three Qualities: Within this, the signs are further classified into three Qualities. These Qualities are called Cardinal, Fixed, and Mutable. The Cardinal Signs represent original creative energy within the elemental group. The Fixed Signs represent a sustaining or passive energy. The Mutable Signs act as a changeable, connecting or catalytic force. One sign from each element group is assigned to one of the triplicities. The Cardinal Signs are Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn. The Fixed Signs are Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio, and Taurus. The Mutable Signs are Sagittarius, Pisces, Gemini, and Virgo.

When planets travel the cosmic skyway through the Zodiac and its 12 Signs, their influence can be either strengthened or weakened according to their relationship to the energies of the Sign. This relation is called Dignity. Dignity has four categories: Rulership, Exaltation, Fall, and Detriment. Rulership refers to planets and signs that most nearly correspond to one another. Exaltation is enhancement of planetary qualities by the Sign. A Planet in the sign opposite its Rulership cannot express itself and is in its Fall. A planet in the sign opposite its Exaltation is frustrated in its activities and is in its Detriment.

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