STARSIGNS - SOME NOTES...

Starsigns - The word ‘starsigns’ is really a bit of a misnomer. That’s because when we talk of starsigns we are referring to the sign of the zodiac in which the Sun was when a person was born. So, really they should be known as ‘Sunsigns’.

Astrology – Astrology is the study of the meaning of the planets and the Cosmos in relation to what happens here on Earth.  Because we are directly connected to the Cosmos, and because we know where planets will be in time, we can use astrology for accurate prediction.

Cusps – People born close to the end or the beginning of a sign of the Zodiac (for instance around the 20^th of a month) are born around what is known as the ‘cusp’ of the sign. There is often a mistaken tendency for people born ‘on the cusp’ to think they have qualities of both signs on either side of the cusp. So, if you were born on the ‘cusp’ of Aries and Taurus you might say that you were ‘a bit of both’. However, this is completely wrong. You are either one sign or the other. If you have any doubt about this then check your chart with the correct time, date and place of birth and see what sign the Sun is in.

Other planets – When we deal with ‘Starsign Astrology’ we are dealing with only one ‘planet’, which is the Sun. However, when we deal with the whole chart we are dealing with all other planets – from the Moon to Pluto. We will also often refer to asteroids such as Chiron. We will also deal with the angles, the houses and so on. Thus, whilst ‘Starsign Astrology’ is without doubt accurate up to a point, it cannot be taken as a substitute for a throrough astrological look at your life.

The Sun – In traditional astrology the Sun was treated just like any other ‘planet’ in a chart. Indeed, in Horary Astrology the Sun can be dangerously malefic, or bad, because planets close to it are ‘combust’, or burned up, and thus weak. Also, traditional astrology generally treats the ruler of the chart as being very important. The chart ruler is the ruler of the ascendant, and can only be found if you know the time of birth. However, Starsign Astrology is effective and is certainly a gentle way into astrology. It is often very easy to deduce someone’s Starsign, or at least to deduce what element their Sun is in, be it water, air, earth or fire. Of course, this cannot be 100% accurate, because we must always consider the other planets in the chart, which might outweigh the Sun. The fact that Starsign or Sunsign Astrology is so disproportionately accurate (i.e. we only use the Sun and from that can know quite a bit) is because it relies on the Sun. The Sun is the life giver of the Solar System, without it there would be no known form. It also represents spirit and Heaven. Heaven is where we are fulfilled, so the Sun also relates to our fulfilment, so, we can know with reference to the Sun in a chart some important things about a person fulfilment or their potential. The Sun also relates to father, and its positioning often has a lot to say about the person’s father, just as with the Moon we can tell a lot about the person’s mother.

Twelve Types of People? – One of the criticisms thrown at Starsign Astrology is that people say there can’t be twelve different types of people. Well, we have one overall type that is people, and they are broken into twelve types, and they can be told through the Sunsigns. Of course, the types increase when we include Moon sign, the ascendant, the positions of the planets and so on, until we get the individual.

Pluto, Neptune and Uranus – These three planets are often associated as ‘co-rulers’ of Scorpio, Pisces and Aquarius respectively. This is however no compelling reason for this. Also, they are very slow moving, and so are not very helpful in recounting day-to-day or indeed month-to-month events in your life - when we are dealing with Starsign Astrology, that is.

The Sun’s ruler – If the Sun is in Pisces then, because Pisces is ruled by Jupiter, you can get some extra information about your Sun if you know where Jupiter is. For example, if Jupiter is in Aries, then this would add an Aries detail to your Sun. It would add a layer of Aries to your character.

Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable - All signs of the Zodiac are either cardinal, fixed or mutable.  The cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.  The fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.  The mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.  Cardinal means go-getting, moveable, energetic, with a tendncy to do and get done.  Fixed signs are exactly that, they don't like change, can dig their heels in, can be stubborn, but also steady and reliable.  Mutable signs are changeable.  They are all double-bodied, showing a tendency to have a 'split' in personality, or, more positively, can be objective.  They are also very fluid and adaptable.

Choler, Melancholy, Sanguine, Phlegmatic - These are three of the chief Humours in a body.  In astrology they also relate to temperment.  The fire signs are choleric; the earth are melancholy, the air signs sanguine and the water signs phlegmatic.  Choler is anger and irrascibility, lively, fiery.  Melancholy, which is generally sad, quiet, reflective.  Sanguine is courageous, hopeful and amorous.  Phlegmatic is coolness, calmness, apathy.  The Choleric signs are the fire signs, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.  It is also worth noting that Leo and the second half of Sagittarius are ferral.  The Melancholic signs are the Earth signs, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.  The Sanguine signs are the air signs, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.  The Phlegmatic signs are the water signs, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.