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BONUS! LEARN WHAT A SOLAR RETURN CHART IS!
Each month, shortly before the sun moves into a new sign (which usually happens around the 20th or 21st of the month), I'll suggest a way for your sign to take advantage of the opportunities provided by one of the solar month's major astrological features. In addition, you can read a short article on one aspect of putting together a horoscope forecast that will give you more insight into how to interpret your own chart.
Finally, I'll provide a list of keywords for some of the planets, signs, and houses that make up a horoscope so that you can further customize your horoscope.
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MONTHLY HOROSCOPE FOR ALL SIGNS
Happy Birthday, Aquarius!
As you've probably already figured out, the sun is in your sign during your birthday month, but in 2008 there's more going on for you at this time of year than just that. This year, a new moon (solar) eclipse occurs in your sign on February 6, the first of several that will occur in the signs of Aquarius and Leo over the next couple of years. An eclipse series in your own and opposite sign most normally brings changes in your personal life.
What kinds of changes? Examples could include sudden and surprising news, including news that could change the course of your life, such as news of a long-desired pregnancy. You could come to a profound realization about yourself or your life or experience a revelation that will send your life in a new direction. You could gain a friend or a lover, get married, engaged, or divorced. You could enter counseling or therapy or even start a business. In other words, the events that occur over the next two years could change the course of your life for the next decade--or maybe even forever.
The one thing that these sorts of personal eclipse changes have in common is that they involve partnership or another person. So your number one job this month, and indeed throughout 2008, is to stay open to intimate connections with other people (intimate as in profound not necessarily as in sexual). The universe went to a lot of trouble to prep you for this, sending Saturn to Leo during 2005 to 2007 in hopes of impressing upon you the importance of others in your life. And it is apparently counting on you to make the most of these eclipses, for it is sending Jupiter to your sign next year. Last year was important for a number of reasons, but this year is likely to be pivotal.
What you can probably expect both during this solar month and during the entire year are periods of stability and equilibrium, punctuated by periods of intense personal change and reflection as both Jupiter and Pluto transit through your solar 12th house of psychological and spiritual growth. Pluto will move into this sector of your chart at the very end of January, and although the effect is likely to be subtle at first, it will eventually be quite thorough.
In spite of the potentially momentous changes on hand for everyone this month, though, the skies are remarkably un-tense. Both the sun and Mercury make contacts with relaxing Neptune, and the sun is even in a good mood with energetic Mars, which goes direct in the friendly and cheerful sign of Gemini. Mercury's retrograde in your sign, which emphasizes the thoughtful tone of the month, and indicates that you are being given plenty of time to absorb everything. Overall, the month looks quite good for Aquarians and offers a welcome change from some of the angst in the skies last month.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
The skies are throwing a tremendous amount of energy at your solar 11th house, Aries, the one that rules group activities. Indeed, there's a new moon eclipse taking place in that sector on February 6 (or 7 depending on where in the world you live), and you may find yourself rather suddenly and surprisingly involved in a matter that is important both to the community as a whole and to your own heart. Aries folks who are less inclined toward social and community involvement may simply begin an important personal friendship this month.
The overall tone of the month seems to be, in fact, one that tries to align your personal and emotional interests with your interests in the world at large, whether that world at large consist of just a few folks or your efforts to save the planet. With so much activity in air signs (Mars goes direct in Gemini this month), the month has the potential to be quite stimulating on a number of fronts. The only way to blow it, I suppose, would be to hide yourself in a darkened room and refuse to participate in the festivities or interact with others.
What's
nice about all this is that your solar chart appears to be at peace with
itself and perhaps with everyone else, too. Pluto will move into Capricorn
and your solar 10th house of career, paving the way for the most significant
achievements of your life, but it doesn't appear to be in any hurry to
knock over old ladies in its efforts to help you climb to the top. Instead,
the mighty planet is content to chat amiably with Jupiter in the same
sign while beaming approvingly at Saturn in Virgo's efforts to get you
to work diligently on a day to day basis. All in all, Aries, this is an
important month but a potentially wonderful one.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Special Articles:
The Signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, & Cancer
The Signs: Leo, Virgo, Libra, & Scorpio
The Signs: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, & Pisces
Link: New and Full Moons 2008
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More articles:
Eclipses, New Moons & Full Moons
The Planets: Sun, Mercury, Venus
More articles:
This month the sun's in square to your natal sun as it transits your solar 10th house of career. In many ways, this is the most excellent news I could give you, as it potentially heralds the beginning of an important and wonderful (although perhaps challenging) era of your life. Neptune has been trying to edge you, maybe successfully, toward your ideal career field for years now. But now the skies are upping their game when it comes to this ideal career path thing and taking things to a level they haven't been willing to approach since way back in 2000 or so.
The power comes courtesy of a new moon eclipse in this same public and professional sector of your solar chart, an eclipse that will make an effort to bring you another step closer to emotional fulfillment in how you interact with the outside world. Just so you know, taking that next step may involve a change of residence over the next couple of years, but that's unlikely to happen right off the bat. This eclipse series will last into 2009, so you'll have a bit of time to wrap your mind around the possibilities.
In the meantime, I suppose the universe could just drop a professional opportunity into your lap this month; eclipses do work that way at times. If occupational improvement seems at all enticing though, it probably wouldn't hurt to put in a little effort in the form of networking, scanning for opportunities, submitting applications, buffing up your resume, making inquiries through your friends, and just generally being both tactful and open to the possibility that maybe an excellent opportunity is out there waiting for you to stumble upon it. Bottom line: when it comes to a new job--go for it!
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
There's a new moon eclipse in your solar 9th house this month, Gemini, on February 6. What this usually means is that your solar chart is just itching to broaden your outlook in some way, although what that way entails is a bit hard to predict. You may experience a sudden and overwhelming urge to get out of the country and do some serious traveling or you may just find yourself compelled to travel to your local bookstore and stock up on some serious winter reading material. Observation and learning in some form sound like excellent fun to your chart this month, and it just might be that the fun is all the more enjoyable in the company of others. Book groups, yoga classes, online communities--there's no telling what your chart will think is exciting this month, but it is clear that with Mars going direct in your own sign, the skies would prefer that you not hesitate to act on your own behalf.
The only area of tension in your chart comes courtesy of Saturn in the sector that relates to your home. Saturn is very slowly planning to get all annoyed with Uranus about all the changes he's been trying to make in your public and professional life, and he's going to be calling on Pluto to help him enact a regime of stability and even psychological equilibrium. Gemini sometimes finds stability and equilibrium suffocatingly boring, but Pluto is going to try to help you with that problem if you have it. Pluto will do this by moving out of your opposite sign of Sagittarius (yay!) and into the sober sign of Capricorn and the reflective 8th house of your solar chart. Here Pluto will be very thoroughly examining concepts like serenity, inner peace, and and deep understanding in the hopes of helping you get your hands on some of these things while Jupiter transits the same sign. And that, you know, is a good thing.
For additional keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
There's a lot of energy this month packed into an odd position in your solar chart--the 8th house. The rough translation of this observation is that I have no idea really what kind of a month this will be for you as the 8th house can relate to so many different levels of your life from the mundane and practical (taxes) to the deeply psychological (therapy) to the acutely physical (surgery). No need to worry, though, the energy largely seems to be beneficial, and you may even get a bit of good news around the time of the new moon eclipse on February 6.
Since a lot of the action is taking place in the sign of Aquarius, the month may simply see a lot of emphasis on your relationships with your friends. It is even possible that you will develop an unexpected sexual relationship with one of them.
If you were born at the very very beginning of your sign, the big news of the month is not likely to revolve around the Aquarian 8th house action, though; it will have to do with the move of Pluto into your opposite sign of Capricorn. Here Pluto will oppose the suns of early-born Cancerians, and that's usually considered to be anything from a bit of a challenge to a full-on confrontation with stuff you don't really want to confront. The good news, I hope, is that neighbors and relatives are likely to be stabilizing influences and ease the challenges thanks to supportive Saturn in Virgo. Furthermore, good mood Jupiter will be in Capricorn as well, so that even if you feel a lot of pressure in your intimate relationships (and you might), you will have some planetary backup in your corner.
Indeed, Cancer, you have so much planetary backup in the sectors of your chart that relate to intimate connections that you just might find yourself ready to spread your wings a bit in this area. I'll leave it to you to decide what spreading your wings might look like; the only thing I'll ask of you is that you exercise good judgment while you do it.
For keywords you can use to customize an alternate interpretation- click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
This month, almost all of the energy in the skies is to be found in areas of your chart that relate to others more than you, namely the sign of Aquarius and the 7th house of your solar chart. Normally, your chart would want to get all hot and bothered to find its ruler the sun so far away from its home base in your sign, but this year it's feeling all mellow about everything thanks to the influence of relaxing Neptune. This year, in fact, your chart is in a mood to either explore your intimate relationships or get a new one started so that it can start exploring them. For romantically minded Leos, this can be one of the most romantic times of your life, conveniently occurring right around Valentine's Day. Susceptible Leos may even pop the question or have the question popped at them, and I'm certainly not going to complain if that's the direction your life takes this month.
Indeed, Leo, a whole bunch of things in your chart are trying to reach a culmination this year, and a commitment to marry is just one potential manifestation of a life-changing epoch in your history. Between now and the end of 2009, you will accidentally or purposefully embark upon a new chapter in your life. I say this because 2008 marks the beginning of an eclipse series that affects your own sign, and eclipse series in one's own sign can do that sort of thing. Now I don't know how radical a departure this new chapter will be; it may sneak in on tiny cat paws making barely a sound. What I do know is that the skies are making very nice as they inaugurate your new era, and they are doing almost everything possible to make the transition to your improved position as painless as possible.
For keywords you can use to customize an alternate interpretation- click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Virgo, February 2008 marks the beginning of a cycle in which the universe just wants to change everything about your job. How it plans to do this is at present unknown, but the universe can be very ingenious about such things, and has been known to go to such drastic lengths as restructuring the entire industry you work in. Normally, this would be a potentially rather upsetting turn of events, but this year your solar chart is actually rather remarkably relaxed about the whole idea. It seems to be fully aware that changing your job structure will only make your life better and more livable in the long run. Besides, it can't help but realize that a series of eclipses in the sector that governs your job is not nearly as disruptive as a series of eclipses in your own sign (of which there is one more to come by the way, February 20). So your chart looks at the solar eclipse in Aquarius on February 6 with a certain welcoming attitude. Hopefully, you will do the same, regardless of whatever happens or doesn't happen around that time. Because here's the deal: Aquarius is the sign of friendship, and solar eclipses represent beginnings. What you are going to be offered during this eclipse series (which stretches into 2009) is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. We don't know who or what that beautiful friendship will be with yet, but we do know that it all works out in the end. If any of that doesn't make sense, feel free to pop a DVD of the movie Casablanca into your player this month, because in many ways it nicely captures the elements of romance, crisis, loyalty, sacrifice, heroism, nostalgia, drinking, sad songs, and things all working out great in the end that epitomize your solar chart right now.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Oh boy, is your chart in a good month this month, Libra! It's especially in a good mood if you're a Libra that would like very much to embark upon a new relationship of the dating and let's celebrate Valentine's Day kind. If you're a single Libra, I cannot guarantee you that you will fall in love between now and the end of 2009, but I can guarantee you that the universe is willing to give it a shot if you are. Oh yes, a series of eclipses in your love house is getting underway this February (February 6 to be exact if you live in the US), and a series of love eclipses is usually a pretty exciting thing if you're willing to board the romance train.
Furthermore, super-romantic Neptune is hanging around in this same love house, kicking back, and doing its best to make you all attractive and glowy. In fact, the combination of--get this--the sun, an eclipse, Mercury, Neptune, Chiron and the nodes, with Venus soon to follow, all in Aquarius can make falling in love seem both easy and fast. Sometimes, of course, things that happen quickly and easily do not last all that long--but then again, sometimes they do. Only time will tell which category a relationship will belong in.
If you're tapping your fingers impatiently as you read this because you have no need to fall in love this month, take heart. The universe is in a good mood with you, too, and it may express its cheerfulness by allowing you to come to a practical and energetic understanding courtesy of Mars in Gemini of exactly what you need to do this month and how you need to do it. If the lightbulb doesn't seem to be coming on by February 1st, here's a hint: get organized and make a plan for how you are going to deal with all the work and professional opportunities and challenges scheduled for you in March.
Finally, just a note for Libras born at the very very beginning of the sign: Pluto is moving into Capricorn this month, where he will be putting all kinds of pressure on your sun. It may seem as though he is dishing out more than you can handle but know that this intensity will ease up later in the year and you'll get a breather.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
The Aquarian solar month is just flat out not a very physically energetic month for the Scorpio solar chart. All the sun really wants to do right now (in the dead of winter if you live in the Northern Hemisphere) is hang out around the house, burrow and nest, and sip warming alcoholic drinks by the fire. Mars going direct in your solar 8th house probably wouldn't mind getting intimate by that same fire with an attractive person of your very favorite sex. Even Saturn in your solar 11th house doesn't really want to step outside your front door, so you may just have to drag yourself out of your PJs and bathrobe to fulfill the outside obligations you do have.
It's possible, though, that you will be spending a lot of time at home this month because some sort of crisis has occurred or something there is presenting challenges that you need to deal with. There's a new moon eclipse in the sector of your chart that governs the home front this month (on February 6), and while usually these things are not too problematic, sometimes they mean things like you need a new roof because the one you have is leaking. Occasionally, they also indicate that a family member needs your help or has somehow gotten herself in hot water or himself jailed for drunk driving. Hopefully, that will not be the case for you.
The other possibility for the month (besides lounging around the house as much as possible or mopping up after relatives or leaky windows) is that your day to day life will become more intense and animated. Your ruler Pluto is entering your solar 3rd house this month, joining Jupiter there. The 3rd house deals with both communication and daily life and this combination of planets can make things both stimulating and interesting. I suppose the absolutely ideal thing would be if you could arrange to have all kinds of fascinating discussions with a sexy and flirtatious partner--all without the leaving the comfort of your homey abode. Swing that and I have a feeling you'll be a happy Scorpio this month.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Pluto leaves your sign this month, Sagittarius, and while I certainly can't guarantee it, it's possible that you will notice this change in the form of an uptick in vitality and vigor. Pluto is an intense and powerful planet and while his transit of your sign has undoubtedly had both benefits and drawbacks, he's a bit heavy to be dealing with so close to your sign. You may actually feel a bit physically lighter for awhile.
Meanwhile, there is all kinds of hubbub and partying going on this month in your solar 3rd house of hubbub, which is symbolized by the sign of Aquarius. Aquarius is a friendship sign or maybe just a friendly one and it would be pretty darn close to ideal if you could arrange to have all your friends close by this month so you could just spend your days popping by to see them. Pop by often enough and there's a nice likelihood that you'll make some new friends or at least some interesting and potentially important acquaintances.
The newness comes courtesy of a new moon eclipse in Aquarius on February 6. The idealness comes courtesy of Neptune in the same sign, a position in which it feels all friendly and harmonious with your own sign. Indeed, virtually all of February is just a great time for Sagittarius to roam about the immediate neighborhood getting along easily with everyone. Even Mars in your opposite sign of Gemini is feeling chipper and sociable, and he's signed a happy little agreement with the sun to be on his best behavior and not pick fights with any of the bigger planets. Bottom line--thumbs up for the month.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Psychologically, this is a pretty important month for Capricorn, because Pluto moves into your sign for the first time since way before you were born. What this means exactly will take a very long time to play out but essentially a slow and thorough psychological transformation is just now beginning for you. Meanwhile, a not so slow and thorough transformation of your values, property or income is kicking off this month, too, thanks to an eclipse in the sign of Aquarius.
The sign of Aquarius represents the 2nd house in your solar chart, and the 2nd house is usually equated with money, although it's a bit more diffuse in meaning than that. Actually, ever since Neptune entered Aquarius in 1998, it's been a lot more diffuse than that and could mean anything and everything from your spiritual self-esteem to your real estate investments to your salary to cold, hard cash. I kinda doubt the universe is going to try to force you to figure out all the various meanings and associations that go along with concepts of money and economics in society between now and February 20, but I would want to make you aware that you the universe may ask you to ponder these things more than normal.
The thing is, an eclipse can cause you to ponder just because it's often unexpected. But an eclipse occurring in an sign already packed with spiritual energy--well that can make you ponder big picture questions, like where does money fit into your life as a total human being, not just as a person who probably needs a job to survive. On the other hand, these influences could simply indicate that you are involved in some rather complex negotiations, discussions, or transactions. Either way, the indications are that your financial reality is due for a change, as long as you are willing to pay attention to it.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
My goodness, it seems as though this month the skies are trying to cram everything possible into the sector of your chart that rules the psyche, Pisces. Plan on devoting some time to plumbing the depths of your subconscious this month because your subconscious is practically begging you to pay it some attention these days. I suppose what's happening here is that the universe is trying to get you prepped for the showdown between Uranus in your own sign and Saturn in your opposite sign that takes place in November of this year. That's a long way off and it may seem like no big deal, but it's the kind of opposition that can kinda feel like it tears a person's psyche in half if he or she hasn't taken the time to figure out and set intentions beforehand.
So that's probably your main task for the month, Pisces--setting intentions. The trick is setting honest ones. Neptune in your solar 12th house is not so inclined toward honesty as it is toward self-delusion. An eclipse in Aquarius on February 6 may suddenly and liberatingly make it clear just exactly how much you have been deluding yourself over the past--oh 10 years or so--in some area that's important to you. You are most likely to get the big 'aha' moment if you are in the company of someone else, because your chart is all about figuring out things in the company of other people these days. Indeed, Pluto's move into your solar 11th house, along with Saturn's continuing transit of your opposite sign of Virgo indicates the profound influence that other people are intended to have on your life direction in 2008.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
The Solar Return Chart
Every year, the sun returns to the same position in the zodiac it has in your birth chart. We traditionally celebrate this return as your birthday, although sometimes the sun actually returns a day or two before or after your calendar birthday. Many astrologers, myself included, take a look at a client's solar return chart, as it is believed to give important information about the themes that will be present over the next year for that individual. It forms the basis for a personal "year ahead" horoscope for a particular person.
The solar return chart can be read just like a regular birth chart, except that it is interpreted as only applying to one year, rather than a person's entire lifetime. In this method, a "snapshot" of the positions of the planets in the zodiac is taken at the moment the sun returns to its natal position. An Ascendant or rising sign is calculated based on the location of the individual at the time of his or her solar return. Houses and a midheaven are calculated as well.
This kind of solar return chart usually looks nothing like a person's birth chart, except that the sun sign is the same. Planets will be in different signs and houses than in the birth chart, and they will have different aspects between one another. Interpretations may be based on such as things as the house location of the sun in the solar return chart, house locations of the planets or aspects between planets.
I don't usually use this kind of solar return chart with clients, although I do look at it, because I do not find the house positions of the planets to be accurate enough to warrant a full reading based on them. What do I find, however, is that close aspects between transiting planets are often significant throughout the person's year ahead. I also find that close aspects between transiting planets and natal panets that occur at the time of the solar return are very important as well.
That may sound like a bunch of gobbleydook, so let me give a few examples to illustrate. One year, at the time of my solar return, transiting Jupiter in Sagittarius was conjunct the transiting moon in the same sign. Jupiter conjunct moon is often a symbol of weight gain, and sure enough, I gained weight during that year. The value of this knowledge, for me, was that I understood that the weight issue was a temporary thing, and that there were other aspects in the solar return chart that could help me understand why it might be happening. I knew that this temporary fluctuation didn't have to be a life sentence, but was a response to conditions affecting the sectors of my chart relating to health and appearance (ascendant and 6th house). I knew that I could safely lose weight again once those conditions were over, but that it would probably not be a good idea to even attempt to lose weight until they had. Since weight gain is often a distressing occurrence, having any type of explanation is often very comforting--and it also reduces the natural tendency to believe that temporary conditions are going to be permanent.
That's an example of an aspect between two transiting planets. As an example of an aspect between a transiting planet and a natal one, I offer the following. One year my solar return chart showed transiting Mars on the 10th house/11th house cusp (in my natal chart) in square to my natal moon. Mars can be a rather angry planet and the 10th house/11th house cusp is an area of the chart that often relates to one's relationship with the broader community. Sure enough, that year an issue arose in the community that inflamed my protective moon instincts (the moon is a symbol of maternal instincts) and made me quite angry and anxious to get the issue resolved. The issue was relevant off and on throughout much of the year that began with the solar return.
Both of those are examples of transits that wouldn't have much significance unless they showed up in a solar return chart. But sometimes a solar return chart indicates major transits that are going to be of greater significance than usual during a coming year. For example, one woman was undergoing a transit of Uranus in Pisces opposing her natal Mars in Virgo. This is often a noticeable transit anyway, but one that comes and goes over the course of a year or two. Often it has to do with self-assertion issues and with learning to not bottle up your feelings.
As the transit first occurred, the woman responded as she normally would with Mars in Virgo, by bottling up her feelings even though things at work were very tense. She just worked harder and tried to ignore the emotions swirling around her. Although she was angry inside about not standing up for herself, she didn't say anything about her issues. The transit was nearly finished after a year and a half, when the exact opposition between Uranus and Mars showed up in her solar return chart. The aspect in the solar return chart was the trigger for breaking down the dam of emotion at last. Throughout the following year, even though the transit was technically over and done with, this woman practiced expressing her anger very forthrightly and spontaneously. Those around her were surprised to say the least. In this way, a solar return chart can operate as a sort of "second chance" for a person to complete the tasks and deal with the issues that an important transit brings up.
However it is used, a solar return chart can be an important tool in understanding what is going on in one's life and it can also be quite helpful in terms of goal-setting and planning. For these reasons, the time around one's birthday is often an excellent time to request a personal chart reading if you've ever wanted to get one done. If you want more information on getting your solar return chart interpreted, you can email me here.
Some keywords for Aquarius: The collective, altruism, objectivity, friendship, unconventionality, humanitarian groups and causes, the desire to belong, cliques and clubs, detachment, reserve, knowledge-seeking, and idealism.
Some keywords for the sun: Soul purpose, individuality, the father, one's vitality, consciousness, the self, the will, one's sense of drive, creative potential, the ego, and authority.
Some keywords for Mercury: Writing, the mind, speaking, learning, communication, commerce, messages, intellectual interests, mental abilities, speed, transportation, and language skills.
Some keywords for the Moon: Emotions, the body, instincts, fluctuating moods, rhythm, gut reactions, needs, dependence, responsiveness, memories, the subconscious, and perceptions.
Some keywords for Venus: Love, unity, harmony, pleasure, laziness, relationships, beautiful things, money, the arts, femininity, and aesthetic taste.
Some keywords for Mars: Energy, aggression, conflict, driving determination, strong emotions, male energy, keen competitiveness, sexual drive, and assertiveness.
Some keywords for Jupiter: Abundance, expansiveness, a cheery outlook, foreign travel, big money, philosophical concerns, gambling, sports, risks, advertising, publishing, and luck.
Some keywords for Saturn: Contraction, restriction, life tests, aging, a mature outlook, building structure, limitations, rules, authority, obstacles, discipline, thrift, and hard work.
Some keywords for Uranus: Technology, universal ideas, humanitarian impulses, hopes for the future, sudden changes, shaking up the status quo, reversals, revolution, and science.
Some keywords for Neptune: Artistic impulses, drugs, chemicals, and alcohol, inspiration, imagination, deception, glamor, delusions, hospitals, subconscious yearnings, liquids, oil, psychic experiences, and romanticism.
Some keywords for Pluto: Global events, transformation, regeneration, and elimination.
Some Keywords for the 1st house: The self , personality, the body, appearance, ego, attitudes, how others see you, physical health and vitality, self-regard, and what inspires you.
Some keywords for the 2nd house: All personal resources, values, money, possessions, ownership, attachments, investments in real estate, self-worth, tangible items, gifts, possessiveness, and materialism.
Some keywords for the 3rd house: The daily environment, communication, cell phones, casual conversation, letters, email, commerce, acquaintances, neighbors, relatives, the ability to deal with daily life, and the part of the conscious mind that deals with daily tasks.
Some keywords for the 4th house: Roots, home, family, the parents, traditions, the past, patriotism, nurturing, the need for emotional support, where you belong, ancestors, and the subconscious.
Some keywords for the 5th house: Play, amusements, creative self-expression, romance, children, fun, pleasures, love affairs, and gambling and speculation.
Some keywords for the 6th house: Employment, health, routines, nutrition, chores, service, volunteering, nursing, service professions, illness, employees, and hygiene.
Some keywords for the 7th house: Intimate relationships, partnerships, enemies, marriage, counselors, the general public, the ability to attract and love others, what we feel we lack, what we like and dislike in others, and the ability to resolve conflicts.
Some keywords for the 8th house: The past, transformation, death, inheritance, other people's money, rebirth, trauma, abuse, crisis, the partner's finances, loans, and investments.
Some keywords for the 9th house: Philosophy, religion, the legal profession, travel, academics, synthesis, higher education, the higher mind, the search for meaning, ethical beliefs and standards, foreigners and interest in things foreign, and the ability to gain perspective on events.
Some keywords for the 10th house: Status, career, reputation, authority figures, tangible achievements, the father, the ability to garner admiration, honors, contributions to the communty, fame, vocation or calling, and professional accomplishments.
Some keywords for the 11th house: Friendships, groups, life direction, aspirations, visionaries, scientific thinking, humanitarian impulses, the brotherhood of man, and hopes & wishes.
Some keywords for the 12th house: Secrets, mental illness, incarceration, self-sabotage, dreams, fantasies, subconscious fears, spirituality, intution, oneness with the universe, the inner life, and guilt.
HOW TO USE KEYWORDS: The essence of learning astrology is understanding how to mix, match, and blend the concepts associated with signs, planets, and houses to figure out what is or will be affecting you at a given point in time. This takes practice and practice is exactly what you're going to have a chance to get if you use the keywords each month.
Keywords can be used to plan and take action using the month's energies, to explain events or to make predictions. Scan for keywords that seem relevant to situations in your own life. You'll have 3 sets of keywords you can blend, one for the planet discussed, one for the sign it's in and one for the solar house it's transiting. Pick the keywords that interest you most and create your customized horoscope!
For example, if the Sun is in Aries in your solar first house, if you want to plan or take action you might pick the Sun keyword 'power', the Aries keyword 'initiating', and the 1st house keyword 'self-expression' to create an intention for yourself that you have the power to initiate actions to express yourself more fully in ways that you desire. You'll know what 'self-expression' means to you. It works best if you pick keywords that 'speak' to you or that coincide with elements of your life that already concern you. To receive astrological benefits, it's not necessary that you obligate yourself to do something huge - it's only necessary that you take one step in the right direction at the right time. Astrology concerns itself with when things are born, and if you start something at the right time, you're riding on the energy that's already available to you in the universe.
You can also use the keywords to try to figure out if something that is affecting you is 'in the stars'. For example, let's say you find yourself wondering why you're getting drawn into conflicts with people at your church. You scan the keywords and realize 'Aha! The fiery energy of Aries is currently being activated in my 12th house of faith-related matters!' If the energy is uncomfortable, you'll have a gauge as to how long it will be prominent (oh good, it should ease up next month!) or if it's a good energy you'll know which planet to thank!
You can also try your hand at predicting. If you check in at the beginning of the month and notice that your house of friendships is highlighted along with some active planetary or sign energies, you might predict for yourself that you will be engaging in a lot more fun and restorative activities with your friends in the coming month. This is basically what professional astrologers do and now you have a chance to try your own hand at it and compare your results with the pros. Have fun!
NOTE: There are a wide variety of potential keywords associated with each sign, planet, and house. I pick different ones each month to give you an idea of the range from the most common concepts to much more subtle ones. Over time, you'll gain an intuitive sense of what kinds of concepts are associated with each element and you'll even be able to generate your own keywords as you get a feel for each of the signs, planets, and houses. Each keyword also inherently contains its opposite as well. For example, if the keyword 'divorce' is displayed, it doesn't mean you'll get a divorce. But it does mean that if that is a concern for you and something you want to avoid you have an opportunity, while that energy is activated, to take proactive steps to deal with potential problems or head off an undesirable outcome. So you can turn 'divorce' into 'keeping a marriage together' or 'illness' into 'taking steps to get and stay healthy'.
Use your rising sign for better forecasts! Most published horoscopes are based at least in part on transits to solar houses. Solar houses are based on your sun sign and are easy to calculate. Your sun sign is your solar 1st house, the next sign in the zodiac is your solar 2nd house and so on. You can always determine what solar house a planet is in if you know the sign. Simply start with your own sign and count around the zodiac until you reach the sign you're interested in. For example, if you're a Gemini, the sign of your solar 3rd house is Leo. Pisces is the sign of your solar 10th house. Astrologers who publish horoscopes use sun signs and solar houses for several reasons: a) almost everyone knows their birthday; b) they're easy to calculate; and c) they actually do have some effect. However, if you get a personal reading from a professional astrologer, he or she will almost always use transits to your natal houses to give you a reading instead. Natal houses are based on your rising sign, which is determined by the exact time, place, and day you were born. Transits to your natal planets and houses have at least as much effect on your life as transits to your solar houses, sometimes quite a bit more. If you really want to know your chart, and get better horoscopes, you should find out your rising sign (also called Ascendant). If you know the exact time and place of your birth, you can do this for free at a wonderful website - www.astro.com. Click on the link near the top that says 'Free Horoscopes'. On that page, scroll down to the link that says 'Chart Drawing, Ascendant'. Follow the prompts to enter the information concerning your birth time, date, and place. You'll get a chart that shows your Ascendant (the sign next to the designation 'AC'). To the left will be a box listing your planetary placements. Next to the listing for 'AC' your rising sign will be listed along with the degree of your Ascendant within that sign. Make a note of that sign and be sure to check the horoscope and keywords for your Ascendant as well as your sun sign!
TRACK YOUR RESULTS! Next month when you come back here for your next horoscope, take 30 seconds to assess the results of the action you took last month as a result of your horoscope. Did it make you feel better? Did it make your life any better? Did it give you renewed energy or did you find your effort blocked, delayed, or ineffective? Judging your results allows you to assess how responsive you are to a particular planetary, sign, or house energy. For example, some people are very responsive to the astrological Sun just the way some people are very responsive to a sunny day. Other people work better with the energy of other planets. Only by taking a moment to gauge your results can you learn which planets work best for you in your life. You may have an 'afflicted' natal Sun that never does much for you, but a raring-to-go Mars that will help you in a pinch every time. Checking your results each month will give you an increasingly accurate guide as to how to use astrology to enhance your life.
The PRACTICAL ASTROLOGY website provides a free, sequential course in astrology with at least one article each month on a particular element of horoscope interpretation. If you want to see any articles you've missed, or to receive each month's update by email, sign up using the link below. The Practical Astrology website does not share your email address with anyone else and only uses it to provide you with information concerning astrology from this website. Sign up!