The most common (and harmful) misconception of astrology is, that the “planets” (neither sun nor moon are actually planets) influence us more or less directly here on earth in our everyday lives. While that may be true for sun and moon in the way they influence climate and tides, it certainly isn’t what astrology is about. The concept behind is, that there is a general force (call it any name you like), that creates this universe and with it time, and each moment in time transports a certain quality, that affects everything in the universe. That means, that the image of the “heavens”, in other words the position of the celestial bodies, was subject to the same basic energy as whatever else happened at the same moment. Experience tells us, that there is also the point in space of the event to be taken into account, as it alters the form, in which the energy manifests.

 

So here we have a short description of the elements of an astrological chart:

 

1) The Zodiak,

a circle with twelve sections (called the star signs), that represent the energies ruling the phase, as they were observed by hundreds of generations of astrologers since about 5000 before our current time.

 

2) The Planets,

that mostly are planets, but Sun, Moon and Chiron count as such as well in the way I interpret them. That is due to the fact, that astrology is based on the point in space of the observer (astrologer). That makes the sun appear to move, while it really is the earth that does that.

 

3) The houses,

another circle divided by twelve (Houses I to XII), that are associated to the star signs. The houses are calculated on the point in space as their base and represent the personal perception of and the form of manifestation of the energies in the universe described by the image (chart).

 

I think it is right to say, that in the interpretation of a chart the Zodiac describes the general structure of the recurring rhythm of time here on earth, while the “planets” describe the shifting of the components in that structure, that are nevertheless individually cyclic, too. The houses, as already mentioned, personalize a chart. So if I have gained enough experience to interpret that rather complex picture, I can as well explain events in the past as I can forecast the advent of certain energies for the person in question.

 

Now we have to look at free will. While we cannot choose what set of energies in what combinations we are born with, we still can choose our own way of how to use them and what to do with them. To use a simple example: it is like finding a piece of clay. You can decide not to use it at all, or you can make some pottery, be it useful stuff like plates and cups or such like, decoration like porcelain figurines, abstract art even, but you can never make a working radio out of it. I hope you catch my drift.

 

My interpretation is based on the accumulated experience of thousands of astrologers that came before me and my knowledge of Greek myths (even though the “names” of the “planets” are mostly Latin). The Romans simply translated the Greek myths and added some elements of Etruscan tradition and beliefs, but still today astrology is based on the Sumeric and Helenistic observations and myths. Astrology is an empiric science, based on observations made by astrologers during at least the last 7000 years.