Astrology

Let’s do a little bit of Astrology 101:

We live in a solar system that revolves around a singular Sun – which is the primary light in the sky for the multiple planets and moons in this system. Earth is the third planet from the sun and has it own Moon – a solid satellite body larger than any of the dwarf planets in our solar system – made up of various minerals including silica, alumina, and lime. The sun lights our days, and as the earth revolves and the sun is hidden in each hemisphere, the moon then lights our night sky after absorbing light from the sun during the day.

The Sun is the center of our solar system – each of the planets revolve around the sun and those planets with moons, their moons revolve around their planets.

We are directly affected by the fire, the heat, and the power of the Sun. It is what sustains life on this planet and allows plants to grow in nutrient-rich soil. The Sun also determines the sequence of time – by the years, the seasons, the months, the weeks, the days, the hours and even the minutes.

But we are also directly affected by the moon. It controls cycles on this planet including the tides and even women’s reproductive health.

Until the invention of modern telescopes, humans were only aware of seven celestial bodies – the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, and our Moon. Later, the additional planets of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto were discovered – Pluto has since been downgraded to a dwarf planet because it is not only smaller than the other planets but does not share the same orbiting cycle.

The original seven celestial bodies are often known as the Classical Planets or the Chaldean Order of the Planets (referring to ancient Babylonia where the planets were first known to be discovered and studied). Astrology in fact in is one of the most ancient studies on this planet and we continue to use information that was discovered and shared thousands of years ago.

Astronomy is the study of the science of the stars, which focuses on learning how the universe came to be and how it is changing.

Astrology is the belief that the positioning of the stars and planets affect the way events occur on earth. As my astrology teacher, A.M. Penn of 22 Teachings wrote, “Tracking patterns in the sky gives us the ability to predict natural phenomenon or ‘As above, so below’.” She also wrote that “the Zodiac is a map of time.”

Here in the Western World, we observe the Astrological identification known as the Zodiac which differs from Astrological identifications in China, Tibet, India and other places. Their practices, too, have been around for thousands of years and are worth studying. We will discuss the Chinese Astrological system on February 1st when we commemorate the Chinese New Year.

Our Western Zodiac has been used since ancient Roman times, and divides the calendar year into twelve astrological influences, known as the Zodiac Signs.

There are three modalities of the Zodiac Signs: Cardinal, Mutable and Fixed

There are four elements that the Signs are each also associated with.

Cardinal signs are the first modality of each season, the fullest and strongest burst of energy which is required in order to usher in the new season. Since there are four seasons each year, there will be four Zodiac signs that are Cardinal.

Fixed are the second modalities of each season, a strong and sustaining energy needed to carry the energy through each season. Again, there will be four Zodiac signs that are Fixed.

Mutable modalities are those that end each season, the energy needed to dwindle the energy of that season and put it to bed, so to say.

Again, there are three modalities and four seasons so there will be one of each Modality in every Season. Twelve divided by three equals four. Alternately, there are four elements – Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. Twelve divided by four equals three. So there will be three fires, three earths, three airs, etc throughout the year. Not each element will be represented in every season or quarter-year.

The Year begins in Spring, the burst of new life, with the season of Aries which starts on March 20th. The Year ends at Spring, with new life again ready to burst forth, with the season of Pisces which ends on March 20th. That is the cycle of our life – it never deviates from that pattern, never skips a sign or a season or a day.

We best know the Zodiac as influences over the Sun – we each have a particular sun sign that is the most commonly known astrological influence over each of our lives. As we enter each Zodiacal Sun Sign throughout the year, we’ll talk about the specific energy of that sign and how we can use it to its best effect. But the Sun isn’t the only body that the Zodiac cycles through – all of the planets do that.

So you could be born with your Sun in Leo, your Moon in Cancer, your Mercury in Scorpio, your Mars in Scorpio, your Jupiter in Virgo, your Saturn in Sagittarius, your Venus in Gemini, etc. You’re going to have all elements and all modalities in your chart, somehow and somewhere, although not every astrological sign may be represented and likely, one element or modality will be dominant.

The Astrological Signs cycle through the Sun every 28 days. The Signs cycle through the Moon every 2.5 days, so it hits every sign in a given months time. But Mercury, because it goes Retrograde three times each year, it’s rotation of Zodiac signs can be anywhere from 15 to 60 days!

I keep a calendar that lets me know when each of my planetary influences changes, so I can look to the week ahead and know what energies are going to impact me, and how I want to adjust my perspective and goals accordingly.

We will discuss Retrogrades during an upcoming blog, and as we hit each Zodiacal sign we will have a featured blog that is focused on that energy.

Today, we’re simply going to understand the seven days of the week, the planets and astrological signs that rule them, and what we can do to harness that energy for our best purposes.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

So those are the days of the week, and when we understand the Planetary and Astrological Influences of each day, we are better suited to fulfill our goals and ambitions. We’re working WITH the energy available to us, not against it.

It doesn’t mean that you cannot accomplish things on days that are not best suited for what you are attempting, it just means you have a higher rate of success (and less resistance) when you honor the energy of each day.

We will discuss each in more detail!

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