A horoscope is the astrological answer to the questions that are studied by the astrologer. A horoscope is made with the aid of a horoscope drawing, which is analysed and interpreted. The horoscope drawing shows the analysis of the positions of the planets. The horoscope which is used by astrologers, is actually some kind of “photograph” of the positions of the planets at our time of birth. The horoscope drawing, or chart, is the schematic representation of that “photograph”.

Calculating your horoscope

In determining you current horoscope the said horoscope drawing is compared to the current horoscope drawing. In addition to planets and signs astrologers also look at other factors, such as the houses (this is another way of dividing the night sky; certain positions of the planets within the zodiacal signs and aspects (the angles of planets in relation to one another). All these factors together indicate within which phase of your life a certain planet will manifest itself most clearly.

What’s written in your horoscope depends on the skills and talent of the astrologer to interpret the symbols as accurately as possible. If the symbols are translated too literally, their deeper meaning may be lost. To determine your horoscope the astrologer analyses your horoscope drawing and translates the symbols into a clear answer that can be expressed in words. This answer you will find in your horoscope.

Western astrology studies the influence of heavenly bodies (the sun, moon, stars and planets) on the earth and on human beings. To study their influence, one of the things used are the star groups in the zodiac. The zodiac is the part of the sky through which the orbits of the sun, moon and planets run.

Differences between exoteric and esoteric astrology

There are different kinds of interpretations and levels to be studied in western astrology. Broadly speaking, there is the more common exoteric astrology (known to the general public as astrology) and esoteric astrology (better known as esotericism). You’ll find more information about esotericism under the heading ‘What is esotericism?‘.

The most common form of astrology is exoteric astrology. Exotericism deals with everything you experience from the outside. Time and space play an important part in our lives. The same goes for this type of astrology. The position of the planets at a specific time are compared to the position of the planets at the time of someone’s birth. On the basis of the position of the planets and someone’s constellation an impression is made of someone’s personality and it becomes clear by which energies someone is governed.

Many people think that the astrological zodiacal signs Leo and Aquarius are the same as the “constellations”. In a literal sense, a constellation is a collection of stars that seem to make up a figure if you would connect them by lines. Examples are “Ursa Major” and “The Big Dipper”.

The 12 astrological signs are the most famous examples of constellations. The signs are the parts of the heaven through which the sun moves in the course of the year. Every part takes up 1/12 of the sky.

Planets and signs

Every astrological sign is accompanied by a certain planet. This planet, that belongs to your specific sign, can be in one of the other 12 astrological signs. The sign in which your planet stands is very important for interpreting your horoscope.

The reason is that every sign of the zodiac has its own energy pattern. If a planet stands in a specific sign, it will also show the characteristics of that specific sign.

If you are an Aries, for instance, then your planet would be Mars. If Mars is in the sign of Taurus, Mars will help you in a very different way to achieve your goals, then when Mars is in Gemini.

Chinese astrology is a beautiful complement to western astrology and predates it many centuries. It could be said that they only have the word “astrology” in common; the eastern approach differs significantly from the western one in many other aspects. A very important part in Chinese astrology is played by their Chinese philosophy which is based on wisdom and knowledge that is many centuries old.

Chinese astrology uses the moon and the moon houses, to which belong 28 constellations. In addition to the moon houses, Chinese astrologers base their insights on 3 specific philosophical elements: the philosophy of the Chinese calendar, the philosophy of the five elements and Yin and Yang. Furthermore, they take account of the directions of the wind and the seasons.

The form of Chinese astrology that’s most common in the west, has its foundations in the Ba Zi Chinese Zodiac. This zodiac represents the constellations as animals. The 12 animals do not at all resemble the western signs. According to some sources these animals stem from Buddhism, but according to other sources Chinese astrology existed long before Buddha.

The Chinese calendar

The most important difference is that our western calendar is based on the sun, while the Chinese calendar is based on the moon. The Chinese year doesn’t begin on the first of January, as is the case in the west. The Chinese year begins on a well-defined date between January 21 and February 20. On top of that, a Chinese month consists of 29 to 30 days. A Chinese day is divided in 12 hours; such that 1 hour in the west corresponds to 2 hours in Chinese time.
Also, centuries are differently calculated then in the west. In the west, a century is made up of 100 years; the Chinese, however, divide it into 60 years. Furthermore, every period of 60 years is divided into 5 periods of 12 years.
These five periods correspond to the 5 elements. This means that a water rabbit is born only once every 60 years.