This is a Quick Start Guide to understanding your Horoscope, a manual for your life. So lets begin!

Having your own natal chart to refer to is necessary. When you look at a chart for the first time it may seem quite confusing with strange symbols and colored lines. Some basics will help you to grasp how astrology works so that you may begin to look into your own planets and aspects. We will cover: Symbols, Signs & their Rulers, Houses, Planets and more.

Symbols Astrological language is made of symbols. Here are the symbols in the birth chart. This will be handy for you later when you wish to delve further into the meanings in your chart. For example, it will be easy for you to locate the symbol for Neptune that looks like a trident in the table, and then locate Neptune in this chart. You see it is on the far right side of the chart below. The set of symbols on the right includes the planets or points and each astrological signs of the Zodiac. There are aspects, elements and houses which we will cover later, for now lets become familiar with the basics. The chart shown below is my natal chart calculated at 2:55 am, in Merced, California, on April 24th 1952. It represents a picture of the sky at that moment and place, time and space of my birth. It is helpful to draw and write the names of the symbols to become more familiar with them and understanding the deeper meaning of each glyph. For example, the symbol of Venus is created from a circle ( O ) and a ( + ) cross. The circle of spirit over the cross of matter, oneness with reality, love over conflict. Its symbolic meaning shows each of us what we love, what brings harmony, comfort and beauty. In a man's chart Venus represents the feminine characteristics they love and appreciate while it represents a woman's nature in her chart. Each of these symbols have meanings beyond the glyph but first things first is to recognize where they are located in the chart. You may notice that there are some black symbols in my chart that are not mentioned on the above table. These are asteroids and we will cover these at a later time as well. Not all astrologers include the asteroids but I find them extremely helpful.

Signs & Their Rulers When a chart is erected, it is put on a 360 degree wheel with 12 signs of 30 degrees each. These signs are named for constellations of stars such as Aries, Taurus and so forth. Notice the outer ring with the zodiac symbols in between numbers. The numbers are the degree locations of each house based on the degree in the sign. For example, on my chart, at the far left side I have Pisces at 06'52 degrees. On this chart, at the far left side I have Pisces at 06'52 degrees. Notice the outer ring with the 12 zodiac symbols in between the numbers. The numbers are the degree locations of each house based on the degree in the sign. These signs are are constellations of stars such as Aries, Taurus and so forth. These signs are named for constellations of stars such as Aries, Taurus and so forth. The inner circle which is bisected by lines represents the 12 houses. The planets and points located within the signs are marked with a degree of the sign they are in. The Sun is at 4'12 and Moon is 5'59 both in Taurus in the Second House in my chart. Once you begin looking at other people's charts and recognizing the symbols you will find it easy to recognize the differences and remember the names and meanings. Each of the twelve signs represent archetypes or universal qualities. In human psychology it would be seen as personality types such as The Initiator, The Communicator, The Philosopher, and so on. Sign Ruler Archetype Aries Mars The Initiator, Pioneer, Warrior Taurus Venus The Earth Spirit, Manifester, Builder Gemini Mercury The Communicator, Networker, Student Cancer Moon The Nurturer, Mother, Water Child Leo Sun The Leader, Golden Child, Performer Virgo Mercury The Server, Healer, Worker, Humble One Libra Venus The Harmoniser, Diplomat, Relator Scorpio Pluto, Mars The Transformer, Seeker, Psychologist Sagittarius Jupiter The Philosopher, Explorer, Wise Teacher Capricorn Saturn The Purposeful One, Father, Time Lord Aquarius Uranus, Saturn The Humanitarian, Reformer, Global One Pisces Neptune, Jupiter The Compassionate One, Mystic, Dreamer The Chart shows on the left the first house and the sign Aries. This shows how the original astrological system is based. The first house and Aries share the same type of energy, or personality in that it represents or is ruled by Mars and this sign has energy, desire, drive and talent. On the right side you see Venus and the Sign Libra representing the house of partnership, love and fulfillment. The graphic below shows where the Ascendant and Midheaven are located. Notice how east is left and west is right and South is at the top. This is because Western astrologers, use as a starting point the position of the Sun within the landscape of the stars at the Northern hemisphere vernal equinox (i.e. when the Sun position against the heavens crosses over the plane of the equator from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere of the planet making day and night of equal length. It occurs about March 21st in the Northern hemisphere and Sept 23 in the Southern hemisphere) each year. The First House where Aries is natural, is the beginning point. It is the point rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of your birth, also known as the Ascendant. Your Rising Sign or Ascendant is your persona and how the world sees you and how you see through it into the world. We will cover this further in Part II, however it is important to note now that this sign starts your wheel and the rest of the signs follow in order in the various houses.

Houses The Stage, the 12 Universal Departments of Life or Fields of Experience Notice that the inner ring is also divided into 12 pie-shaped sections or houses. Planets and signs and everything changes and moves in a chart, except the houses and their locations. The 1st House is located in every chart at the middle far right and flows counter-clockwise. This is why it is referred to as the stage where influences play out. Each astrological house influences different areas of your life, as shown in this graphic. Have a look at your natal chart and note the planets within the various houses.