Astrology For Dummies. Rae Orion
will notice various symbols strewn across each birth chart like a handful of precious stones. Those magical-looking symbols represent the signs, planets, and other components of an astrological chart. I consider them a fundamental part of astrology’s charm, and I recommend that you learn them by heart. But you don’t have to because I have provided a handy Cheat Sheet that identifies every symbol and gives you a thumbnail description of each. See the “Beyond the Book” section in this Introduction to find out more about the Cheat Sheet, including how to access it.Using the Cheat Sheet, you can translate those symbols into a language you actually speak. So if you’re mulling over a birth chart and you see something that looks like this:2805you’ll be able to figure out in a flash that Mercury () is in Aquarius () at 28 degrees 05 minutes. And, yes, it’s retrograde (). (For more on that loaded topic, see Chapter 18.)
In the text, whenever I refer to a planetary position, such as the one in the preceding example, I describe it as 28°05' Aquarius, spelling out the sign and using the international symbols for degree (°) and minute ('). In the actual charts — those round, mandala-like images scattered throughout this book — I omit those tiny indicators. Instead, the charts in this book announce their planetary positions with type: the degree number appears in a font that has been boldfaced, while the minutes are shown in a lighter, standard font. The symbol for the relevant sign of the zodiac is plunked down right in the middle, between the degree and the minutes, as follows: 2805.
Another feature of Astrology For Dummies, 3rd Edition, is that you can dive in anywhere. As an author, I like to think that you’ll begin in the beginning and read doggedly to the end. But I’m a realist. I know that when most people pick up astrology books, they head straight for their own Sun signs (or star signs, as many people like to call them). I have written this book with that in mind. You can start anywhere, secure in the knowledge that if there’s a fact from an earlier chapter that you absolutely must know, I will tell you. This book is filled with cross-references and reminders for just that purpose. You can jump in anywhere.
Foolish Assumptions
Despite the title of this book, I assume that you’re no fool. Whether you’re an absolute beginner or a long-time devotee of the cosmic art, I assume that you have enough common sense to know that astrology offers understanding — not winning lottery numbers. It can help you become your most fulfilled self. It can even make predictions, and in the hands of highly skilled practitioners, those predictions can be spot-on. But despite its association with alchemy, divination, and the occult, astrology isn’t magic.
I assume that you’re intrigued by the perspective astrology offers and curious about how it might apply to you, and I take it for granted that you are especially interested in your own horoscope. Most of us are, and for good reason: investigating your own chart is edifying and revealing, making it perhaps the single most instructive step you can take while learning astrology. But scrutinizing your own chart is more than an exercise for novices. Even seasoned astrologers brood over their own charts. And when they hear of a newly discovered celestial body or an ancient technique that has been resuscitated after centuries of disuse, I guarantee that they try it out first with their own charts. Exploring your personal chart is the work of a lifetime.
I assume that you have easy access to the internet. Whether you get there by way of a laptop, a smart phone, a computer in a public library, or a device that has yet to be invented, internet access will enable you to create birth charts on the spot and to track the daily positions of the Sun, the Moon, and the planets.
Finally, I assume you know that astrology isn’t about fate or predestination. It’s about possibility and propensity, about making the most of your strengths, recognizing your shortcomings, understanding other people, and aligning yourself with the cosmos. When I was learning astrology, I was taught that “the stars impel; they do no compel.” Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626), father of the scientific method, put it this way: “There is no fatal necessity in the stars; but that they rather incline than compel.” Four centuries have passed since then, and it’s still true.
Icons Used in This Book
Four icons sprinkled throughout this book serve as road signs. Here’s what the icons mean:
Beyond the Book
This book introduces you to the basics of astrology — and more. The Cheat Sheet, available online at www.dummies.com, provides a handy summary of the symbols and meanings of the signs, planets, houses, and aspects, along with a few nonessential components of your chart that might interest you. Take a look.
To get it, go to www.dummies.com and search for “Astrology For Dummies Cheat Sheet.”
Where to Go from Here
There is grandeur in astrology. Using a symbolic language that brims with mythology and metaphor, it speaks to the psyche and resonates with the soul. Yet it can also be down-to-earth and specific. It covers a lot of ground and benefits from an astonishing array of techniques and approaches. That’s why, if you take it up, you could be studying astrology for the rest of your life. It’s that interesting. It’s that fun.
So where should you begin? Chapter 1 covers the basics. Chapter 2 tells you how to get a copy of your birth chart. Once you are in possession of that essential document, you’re ready to immerse yourself in the most fascinating study of human beings ever invented. I suggest that you begin by turning to Chapters 4 through