Western Astrology
Western astrology is a very popular tradition or system of astrology particularly in the Western countries. According to some historians, it started in Mesopotamia in the 2nd millennium BC and have just extended later on to Egypt and to some other cultures like Greek or Hellenistic culture.
Unlike some other traditions or systems of astrology, Western astrology is more horoscopic. Meaning, it largely base things from a horoscope in a particular given time in which in a lot of different cosmic bodies have influences, just like for an instance a person’s birth.
The Zodiac
Basically, the zodiac is the belt or band of constellations through which luminaries and planets advance on their journey and at the same time complete their purpose to human astrology.
Talking about the zodiac, there are actually three stuff that typically come up: the twelve signs, Sun-sign astrology, and Western sidereal astrology.
The Twelve Signs
Like in Vedic astrology, the twelve signs in Western astrology also include:
- Aries – the fire, cardinal, as well as negative sign which is symbolized by a ram.
- Taurus – the earth, fixed, and negative sign which is symbolized by a bull.
- Gemini – the air, mutable, and negative sign which is symbolized by the wins.
- Cancer – the water, cardinal, and negative sign which is symbolized by a crab.
- Leo – the fire, fixed, and positive sign which is symbolized by a lion.
- Virgo – the earth, mutable, and positive sign which is symbolized by a virgin.
- Libra – the air, cardinal, and positive sign which is symbolized by the scales.
- Scorpio – the water, fixed, and positive sign which is symbolized by the scorpion.
- Sagittarius – the fire, mutable, and universal sign which is symbolized by the archer.
- Capricorn – the earth, cardinal, and universal sign which is symbolized by the sea-goat.
- Aquarius – the air, fixed, and universal sign which is symbolized by the Water Carrier.
- Pisces – the water, mutable, and universal sign which is symbolized by the fishes.
Sun-sign Astrology
Sun- sign astrology is a system that depicts events or happenings that might occur in a particular day in relation to the sign of the zodiac that involved the sun when the person was actually born.
However, unlike predictions of some other systems of astrology, predictions based on Sun-sign astrology are usually general and obscure. Therefore, oftentimes, they are not seen and considered as predictions of paramount importance or significance.
Western Sidereal Astrology
Western Sidereal astrology is a significant system that focuses on the idea that the starting point is at a particular fixed position in the background of stars and not when the position of the Sun against the background of stars coincides with the Northern hemisphere vernal equinox each year like the one believed to be by the tropical astrology.
The Planets
In Western astrology, there are actually two types of planets involved: the classical planets and the modern planets.
The classical planets include the seven heavenly bodies known to ancient men and women – Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Basically, these planets do have meanings and are believed to represent the basic drives in mankind.
Typically, the sun and moon are “the lights”, Mercury, Venus and Mars are the “personal planets”, and Jupiter and Saturn are in a way the “universal planets”.
The modern planets, on the other hand, include planets that was discovered during the modern times. Generally, they include the planets Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and for some astrologers as well as Ceres. These planets are actually considered “impersonal” planets for they only represent broad trends and impulses in society.
The Moon’s Nodes
On the other side, many people didn’t know that aside from the planets, there are also what most astrologers refer to as “the moon’s nodes” that are of paramount importance. Well,
the moon’s nodes are where the moon’s path cross. Generally, they play a major role in astrology as being sensitive areas worth any consideration and attention.
The Horoscope
As aforementioned, Western astrology is more horoscopic for it largely rely on horoscope. Basically a horoscope is a map or chart of the heavens at a certain point in time. Typically, it deals with a lot of interpretation, primary angles, houses and even aspects.
To do the interpretation and all, you badly need to understand the position of the planets in the astrological signs of the zodiac and in the houses of the horoscope, the angles formed by the planets in relation to each other and the primary angles, etc.
In terms of the primary angle, there are four stuff you need to know: the Ascendant, the Midheaven, the Descendant and the Imum Coeli. All of which play a significant role, so through understanding of them is a must.
In the case of the houses, there are a lot of things you need to know. Basically, the horoscope is divided into twelve portions or houses. Thus, for sure, you’d go along way knowing and understanding the significance of each house.
Finally, with regards to the aspects, there are also a lot of stuff you need to know. Like for example, that the aspects are the angles the planets make to each other in the horoscope, and also to the ascendant, descendant, midheaven, and even nadir. Likewise, even the various angles important to horoscope assumptions, take for example Conjunction 0°, Opposition 180°, Trine 120°, Square 90° and many more.