Astrology Workshop

By: Tom LaSalle

Table Of Contents

Intro to Astrology

The Planets

The Four Elements

The Qualities

The Signs

The House System

The Twelve Houses

The Aspects

The Horoscope

Patterns in a Chart

Celebrity Horoscopes & Predictions

Astrology Links

Evaluation

Introduction to Astrology

Astrology can be viewed many ways; as a personality type theory, a method for predicting the future, or a systematic study of the correlation between astronomical and terrestrial phenomena.

It is NOT; however, a religion or a “hard science”, although it may be considered by some to be a “soft science”.

What are the Different Types of Astrology?

Chinese Astrology

Hindu/Vedic Astrology

Mayan Astrology

Western Geocentric Astrology

History Of Astrology

Sumeria → Egypt → Greece → Rome

↓

Western World

Astrology Timeline

History Of Astrology (continued)

Our particular perspective of the universe -- our western cosmology -- can be traced back at least to Pythagoras of Samos (c.569 – c.475 BC).

In about 535 BC Pythagoras went to Egypt to study and was admitted to the Egyptian priesthood. Ten years later Persia invaded Egypt and Pythagoras was taken to Babylon as a prisoner. From there he mysteriously gained his freedom and returned to Samos around 520 BC. His own city didn’t care for the symbolic method of teaching Pythagoras had learned in Egypt, and after a few years he left to found a popular philosophical and religious school in southern Italy.

Scene from an Astrologer’s Workshop…

Uranus, discovered in 1781, ushered in revolution and technology

Neptune discovered in 1846, brought us the Romantic era and snake-oil salesmen

Pluto, discovered in 1930, brought us depth psychology and the horrors of nuclear war--our dark side

Origin of meanings for Uranus, Neptune, & Pluto

What’s a Horoscope ?

A horoscope – from the Greek words meaning hour watcher/watching – is a snapshot of the heavens at the time of birth of a person, place or thing.

That’s right, astrologer’s cast charts of more than just people.

Astrology on the Web

Planets are the kind of energy in a chart

Houses are

the areas of life where energies are ex – pressed

Signs are the way energy is expressed

Aspects are the way planets interact

Astrology Overview 3

Astrology Overview 2

Astrology Overview 1

What is Your Sign?

ARIES   March 21 - April 20 TAURUS   April 21 - May 20 GEMINI   May 21 - June 21 CANCER   June 22 - July 22 LEO   July 23 - August 23 VIRGO   August 24 - September 22 LIBRA   September 23 - October 22 SCORPIO   October 23 - November 21 SAGITTARIUS   November 22 - December 21 CAPRICORN   December 22 - January 19 AQUARIUS   January 20 - February 18 PISCES February 19 - March 20

This all depends; however, upon when the Sun entered each sign at the time of birth. This changes year to year.

Planets and Their Meanings

Sun - the core of a person, the inner self, that which is the central concern, ego, the father, the ability to assert oneself and describes the general tone of being.

Moon - our feelings and emotions, the receptivity, imagination and basic feeling tone of a person, our adaptability to change, our mobility and versatility, the mother, nurturing issues.

Mercury - communication, intelligence, thought, ideas

Venus - relating abilities, pleasure, enjoyment, values

Mars - assertiveness, getting what you want, survival

Planets and Their Meanings (Continued)

Jupiter - expansion, beneficent, jovial, opportunity, religious

Saturn - restriction, limitations, structure, learning hard lessons

Uranus - independent, electricity, shock, inventive, detachment

Neptune - dependent, foggy, romantic, misty, mystical, magnetic, imagination

Pluto - intensity, hidden, invisible, transformation, eros, erotic

The Four Elements and Signs

The Greek philosopher Empedocles is credited with the notion that the entire universe consists of the elements fire, air, water and earth. Astrology views these elements in terms of sign characteristics.

When we apply this system to personalities, the elements represent certain basic traits and give a certain “temperament”. (This varies according to the emphasis of the elements in the horoscope).

FIRE

Fire People with a strong emphasis of the fire element are spontaneous and impulsive, they apply their energies wholeheartedly. Their emotional response is quick and they have a lively imagination. 

Fire signs: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius

EARTH

Earth 

Earthy people react quietly and slowly.

They apply themselves with endurance. Emotionally they are deeply rooted and slow to change. 

 

Earth signs: Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo

AIR

Air  Airy people are quick and animating. They

apply their energies in very diverse ways.

They tend to intellectualize their feelings

and expectations. 

Air signs: Libra, Aquarius, Gemini

WATER

Water 

People with a strongly emphasized water element are feeling types and are very sensitive. Their imaginative and emotional lives are deep and rich. 

Water signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces

Patterns In a Horoscope

Each of the twelve signs is categorized not only by element, but also by quality, respectively named the cardinal, fixed and mutable (or common) qualities.

In the individual horoscope, the placement of planets in cardinal, fixed or mutable signs also reveals basic traits of the personality. 

This gives us twelve quite different basic types. These varying qualities provide the “backdrop” to the planetary positions.

As each horoscope has different planets in different signs, there can never be a “pure” Aries or a “pure” Gemini. Each horoscope is a highly individual, very complex and usually also very varied combination of parts.

QualitiesCardinal Signs

Cardinal 

People with an emphasis on cardinal signs have an urge to take the lead and to shape things. They are initiators and act according to their aims and goals. 

Cardinal signs: Aries, Libra, Cancer, Capricorn

Qualities Fixed Signs

Fixed 

People with an emphasis on the fixed signs have a desire to build on what is already there and to organize it more efficiently. They tend to preserve a "status quo" and act in response to given circumstances. 

Fixed signs: Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio, Taurus

Qualities Mutable Signs

Mutable 

People with an emphasis on the mutable or common signs tend to seek change and renewal. They can easily replace one thing with another and align their actions with unfolding processes. 

 

Mutable signs: Sagittarius, Gemini, Pisces, Virgo

Comparative Chart Analysis

Planet/

Celestial Body

Person A Person B

Sun Aries Leo

Moon Scorpio Sagittarius

Ascendant/Rising Sign

Scorpio Leo

Mercury Pisces Leo

Comparative Chart Analysis

Synastry is a way of comparing two individuals’ charts to see how they might interact -

Another Explanation of Synastry

Synastry Overview

Aspects : What’s the Angle ?

When two of the planets share one of these connections - the two planets actively exchange energy with one another.

Perhaps their energies will blend - and they'll be happy compatible companions.... Or, maybe, their individual energies will conflict - and they'll wind up in opposite corners and feuding.

Aspects tell you how planets are connected to each other.

Aspects & Their Impact

The major aspects are the conjunction, opposition, trine, square, and sextile.

Conjunctions (0°) may be “hard” or “soft” depending on the planets involved.

“Hard” Aspects

“Soft”

Aspects

Opposition

180°

Trine

120°

Square

90°

Sextile

60°

Houses

In addition to Sun, Moon, and other celestial bodies, astrology involves twelve houses that help influence your life and personality. In essence, at the moment you are born, there are constellations all around the earth.

The sky around the earth is divided into 12 slices, and each slice holds constellations in it. Depending on when you were born, a slice might have one constellation in it, or two, or none. Depending on which signs end up in which slice, this has an impact on the horoscope.

Houses

Meanings of the Houses

First House - Me, Myself, and IThe first house is the slice closest to the horizon (but below it) on the eastern side. So if for example when you born you looked at the horizon and saw the constellation of Gemini currently rising just over the horizon, you would say that Gemini was in the first house.Your first house is the key house. It is about your self, what you value and cherish in life.

Second House - Possessions "Show me the money!" The second house is the second to rise over the horizon after your birth. This reveals what you value in the material and spiritual realms - your possessions, your income, your investments, how you earn money and what value you place on tangible and intangible things.

Meanings of the Houses

Third House - Communication, Transportation and SiblingsThe third house indicates how you learn, communicate with others, how you physically get around and how you relate to siblings, aunts and uncles.

Fourth House - Home Sweet HomeThe fourth house controls your home, family or origin and the kind of home and family you would like to establish as an adult. This is your life at home, how you are when everyone else has gone to sleep.

Meanings of the Houses

Fifth House - Creativity, Sex, and Love AffairsThe fifth house controls your inventiveness, your creativity, your passions and desires and hw you begin a relationship that you may formalize in the Seventh House of Partnership, Marriage and Business Relationships.

Sixth House – Service and HealthThe sixth house governs how you approach work, how work affects your health, you health in general. It also indicates how you handle your relationships with those who provide work and service to you

Meanings of the Houses

Seventh House - Partnership and Marriage

The seventh house controls all arrangements - these include business and personal connections such as marriage. It is also classically the house of open enemies.

Eighth House - Death and Transformation

The eighth house controls the main changes in life - birth, death, life after death, having children, being sexually intimate with a partner, sharing joint finances, and money gained through means other than work (such as inheritances and lawsuit settlements).

Meanings of the Houses

Ninth House - The Mind, The Spirit and The World

The ninth house controls higher levels of communication - higher education, philosophical insights, long trips to explore other worlds. It is about studying knowledge and making advances.

The Tenth House - indicates career or profession, authority, ego, and image or status. It can also show an authoritative parent (traditionally the father).

Meanings of the Houses

Eleventh House – Groups, Friends and HopesThe eleventh house controls long term supports to your life - long term friendships, long term hobbies, groups and associations that you enjoy.

Twelfth House – Your Psyche, Secrets andThe twelfth house reveals the things you hide from others and yourself. Here is the house that also covers places where we can be put against our will as a result of being spiritually unevolved: prisons and jails, hospitals, mental institutions, and religious cults. It also indicates how we connect with the Divine.

Celebrities

Brad Pitt & Jennifer Aniston

An Astrological Analysis of the Scandal

Martha Stewart

Predictions

Astrology isn’t perfect, but it does give a general feeling for a given period of time –

it’s a good or bad time to do certain things.

Predictive Astrology

More about Predictions

Eclipses are not generally good times to undertake new ventures.

Eclipses & the Stock MarketThe same is true of the moon when it is

void of course, or doesn’t make aspects with any other celestial body.

FAQs

Here’s a good site for FAQs:

www.astrology.lifetips.com – FAQs