How Complicated is Astrology?

Looking at a horoscope with all the glyphs and symbols can be confusing, at first. I have linked these images with basic astrology lessons from astrolibrary.com - they have very informative lessons that are easily understood and will help you to understand your chart in a very user-friendly way.

Don't let the intricacies of the study of your chart put you off, it takes some time, but you will soon find that it becomes easier, and it's very rewarding to master a new language. 

The spiritual study of your astrology natal chart will give you many hours of enjoyment and self-reflection. 

Each sign has a natural ruler (planet):

Aries: Mars 

Taurus: Venus 

Gemini: Mercury 

Cancer: Moon 

Leo: Sun 

Virgo: Mercury 

Libra: Venus 

Scorpio: Pluto (Mars) 

Sagittarius: Jupiter 

Capricorn: Saturn 

Aquarius: Uranus (Saturn) 

Pisces: Neptune (Jupiter)   

Each planet represents an energetic part of our being, or a component of life

The position of each planet in the heavens indicates the style in which the planet’s component is manifested.

The Zodiac signs alternate between Yang (male) and Yin (Female) energy. Starting with Aries, which is Yang.

Yang (Fire and Air), Yin (Earth and Water) signs. 

Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and Aquarius are Yang (Male) signs.

Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio, Capricorn, and Pisces are the Yin (Female) signs.

The polarities divide the signs in two. 

Next are the 3 Modalities....

Cardinal

Fixed

&

Mutable

Cardinal Signs are the most assertive, the most interested in  initiating change. Their mode of activity is to start new things. They  easily begin things and respond well to new ideas. They are  self-starters. Crisis motivates them. 

Aries seeks leadership and control in  general, Cancer controls emotions, home, and family; Libra tries to  control partnerships; Capricorn controls, uses, and exploits the  material environment. 

Fixed Signs are the most stable and self-contained. Their mode of  activity is sort of passive, yet determined, unwavering, and even  stubborn. Their strength is their consistency and loyalty. They follow  things through to the end, managing and sustaining what has been started  by the Cardinal signs.

They tend to be late: Taurus is just slow; Scorpio uses tardiness as a  subtle power struggle; Leo enjoys making an entrance; Aquarius wants  things on their own terms. Late, but once there, they stay forever.

Mutable Signs are the most unstable and most open to influence by the  environment. Their mode of activity is to make the transition from the  old to the new, opening the way for the Cardinal Signs to begin a new  cycle. 

Whereas Cardinal signs begin new things, and Fixed  signs sustain things, Mutable energy loosens structures and adapts it to  new and changing conditions. With this territory comes mental worry.  Mutable signs have many things going on in their heads rather than in  tangible form. Many react by making lists. Some suffer from negative  mental tension, involving fear, paranoia, and panic attacks. In  anticipating negative outcomes, they really suffer during the worry  process. But their high adaptability always sees them through. 

Gemini is  changeable in its ideas; Virgo is dominated by its environment;  Sagittarius has a continually changing view of life's possibilities;  Pisces adapts itself superficially to its environment (like a chameleon)  and reflects it like a mirror. Sometimes they compromise so much that  they sacrifice their own interests. The four Mutable signs are at the  final month of each season.

 There are 4 Zodiac elements, with 3 Zodiac signs belonging to  each. The elements are also called  "triplicities;"  because there are 3 signs in each element. The 4 elements are Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. 

 Fire signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius, in the Zodiac signs, are signified by the suit of Wands in the Tarot.   Fire signs respond to energy very quickly. They favor action. They're  ready to go, take a risk, start a business, go on a trip, etc. They are  confident, idealistic, intense, and approach life with zest and  enthusiasm. 

Aries must act, Leo must lead grandly, and Sagittarius  explores unknown places and ideas. 

Earth signs; Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn, are represented by the suit of Pentacles in the Tarot.  Earth signs are more cautious in their approach. They are more  practical, realistic, and they need solid footing before going forward.  Taurus will dig the heels in and really ponder things. Virgo will  analyze. Capricorn will climb, but will do it with care, first needing a  vision, a plan, an organized structure before starting the ascent.  Earth signs are dependable, thorough and solid.  

Air signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius, compare to the suit of Swords in the Tarot.   Air signs approach energy mentally; they are thinkers. They are social,  always ready for a new relationship or friendship. They love learning,  but bore easily. 

Gemini has great intellectual curiosity, but too many  personalities. Libra is partnership driven, but not in an emotional way.  Aquarius is popular with friends and is unstoppable when it has a cause  to champion. Air signs are into ideas and people. They are  communicative; they must share information, interact with others, and  influence society. 

Lastly, the suit of Cups signifies water in the Tarot. Water signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces all represent the subconscious, emotional content of life.

 Cancer is motivated to nurture and be nurtured. Scorpio has intense  vision, never swaying, looking straight ahead with laser-like focus.  Pisces is the trickiest to describe. Pisces energy is chameleon-like,  absorbing its surroundings.  

Cardinal Modality - "initiatory" 

Fire - Aries - the ram - Ruled by the planet Mars - natural ruler of the first house

Earth - Capricorn - the sea goat - ruled by Saturn - natural ruler of the tenth house  

Air - Libra - the scales - ruled by Venus - natural ruler of the seventh house  

Water - Cancer - the crab - ruled by the Moon - natural ruler of the fourth house  

Fixed Modality - "constancy"  

Fire - Leo - the lion - ruled by the Sun - natural ruler of the fifth house  

Earth - Taurus - the bull - ruled by Venus - natural ruler of the second house  

Air - Aquarius  - the water bearer - ruled by Uranus (and Saturn) - natural ruler of the eleventh house  

Water - Scorpio - the scorpion - ruled by Pluto (and Mars) - natural ruler of the eighth house  

Mutable Modality -"change" 

Fire - Sagittarius - the archer - ruled by Jupiter - natural ruler of the ninth house  

Earth - Virgo - the virgin - ruled by Mercury - natural ruler of the sixth house  

Air - Gemini - the twins - ruled by Mercury - natural ruler of the third house

Water - Pisces - the fishes - ruled by Neptune (and Jupiter) - natural ruler of the twelfth house

 Each house extends from 5 degrees before its cusp, to 25 degrees beyond (that is, up to 5 degrees before the cusp of the next house).

Each house is associated with a sign and ruling planet. Most charts do not line up with these rulerships. 

 Medical Astrology is based on the belief that certain body parts are ruled by specific signs and planets.  The chart above illustrates the basic alignment. 

There are a lot of theories on this. Search at your own risk! The rabbit hole goes deep.

The Chakras have been also associated with Astrology and the Zodiac. There are quite a few different theories on how they line up. This is my favorite one. 

All these ideas have people disagreeing on the specifics. For the purpose of jewelry design, including chakra-balancing stones is fun, and may be helpful!

The cusps of the cardinal houses (first, fourth, seventh, and tenth) houses define the cardinal cross, which is defining in the chart.  The Ascendant, ruled by Mars, is the cusp of the first house, the IC, ruled by the Moon, is the cusp of the fourth house, the DC (Descendant), ruled by Venus, is the cusp of the seventh house, and the MC (Midheaven), ruled by Saturn, is the cusp of the tenth house.

When you run your astrology natal chart (or any chart) you will see colored lines going between points and planets. This is what those lines are called, and their meanings are something people pay a lot of attention to when studying natal charts. They are said to indicate how the planetary energies interact. Some aspects are considered harmonious while others challenging.

Is Astrology complicated? Yes, it can be as comlicated as you like... 

But just like eating an elephant, you  do it one bite at a time. Once you learn astrology basics, and the characteristics of each Zodiac sign and the planets, you know more about Astrology than most, and you can build on that. 

The study of your natal chart (wait till you get to progressions and transits..) is a lifelong pursuit, and each journey starts with a single step, after the decision to begin it.