This article is part of my Basic Natal Astrology category and brings all the beginner components of interpreting a natal chart together. This includes signs, planets, houses, aspects and more. Alison
Signs
The 12 Signs of the Zodiac
Sign Meanings
Let’sl take a look at the meaning of each sign in more detail and discover some of the personality traits, body parts, careers and correlations associated with each sign.
Each sign has a different meaning and when a planet is in one sign it will behave differently to when in another sign. In your chart the planets will be in a variety of signs. The Sun passes through all the tropical signs.
Sign Sequence
There are twelve signs of the tropical zodiac: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. The signs start at Aries the first sign and end at Pisces the twelfth sign.
Signs can be categorized by their components of polarity (masculine or feminine), element (fire, earth, air or water) and mode (cardinal, fixed or mutable). Signs can be interpreted by these three distinct components in a broad way.
Pisces is the sign of the Fish. Its symbol is two fish tethered together but swimming in the opposite direction. The Sun is in Pisces from February 21st to March 21st.
Select from the glyphs below the signs you want to read more about.
Author Bio
Alison Price: Professional Astrologer
Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.
If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email atstarzology@gmail.com.
More Articles
If you enjoyed this post, you may like some more astrology related articles from our blog.
Discover the astrology chart of mathematician, poet and musician Mark Winters from Texas in the United States, as explored by Arwynne O’Neill from Starzology.
And on top of that you need to know about chart division and chart points.
Master the Basics
If you are learning astrology you will do yourself a favour if you can grasp these basics. Then when you do read more intermediate or advanced astrology it will make more sense.
As a kid when you learned how to read it was one step at a time. First the alphabet J-a-c-k, then words Jack, and then sentences “See Jack.”
Astrology interpretation is much like learning to read.
Series
This series of posts will give you all the basic keywords and facts you need to understand the nature of astrology.
Yes, of course there is more but these are the “See Jack, see Jack run” basic components so you can begin.
More to follow.
Basic Chart Interpretations
This series looks at what to do to get a chart that you can work with in the first place.
This article is part of my Basic Natal Astrology category and brings all the beginner components of interpreting a natal chart together. This includes signs, planets, houses, aspects and more. Alison
Planets
Planets in Your Chart
Planet Selection
There are many planets used in astrology. Each astrologer may choose to use all or only some of the planets in their work.
The seven visible planets are those that can be seen with a naked eye. They are the Sun, The Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. They are known as the traditional or Hellenistic planets.
Outer Planets
Transpersonal Planets
The three outer planets are Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. They are the modern planets.
The Sun is your identity, your heart and your character. It shows where you are honest and true to yourself. It is where you can shine in life. It represents your father.
More on the Sun
The Sun is masculine, warm, bright and life giving. The Sun represents you, your father and your heroes. The Sun rules the sign of Leo.
The Moon shows your feelings, reactions, gut instincts and your behavior. It rules food, how you care and who you nurture. It represents your mother, mother figures and caregivers.
More on the Moon
The Moon is feminine, passive, reflective, and moody. The Moon represents your mother, cooks, and caregivers. The Moon rules Cancer.
Mercury shows your thinking, talking and communication style. It has to do with all buying and selling. It represents your schoolteacher and neighborhood people.
More on Mercury
Mercury communicates, trades and is factual. Mercury represents agents, salespeople, youths and teachers. Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo.
Venus shows beauty, art, style, love and money. It has to do with your values and what you invest in both things like jewelry and people. It represents young women and sisters.
More on Venus
Venus is feminine. Venus loves, acquires and appreciates. Venus represents young women, girlfriends, sweethearts and accountants. Venus rules Taurus and Libra.
Mars is about sex, energy, drive, challenges and where you compete in life. It shows when you will get off the couch and do something. It represents young men and brothers.
Mars
Qualities
Mars is masculine. Mars competes, challenges and acts. Mars represents young men, boyfriends, bad boys, pioneers, firemen and soldiers. Mars rules Aries and Scorpio.
Jupiter is about growth, expansion, reaching and even overdoing things. It shows your vision and potential. It represents uncles, teachers and preachers.
Uranus is the planet for the future it rules trends, technology, computers and the space age. It represents adolescents, immigrants, those on the fringes of society and rebels.
Uranus
Qualities
Uranus changes, breaks and fashions. Uranus represents adolescents, trendsetters, agitators, and immigrants. Uranus rules Aquarius.
Neptune is the planet of illusion, intuition, mysticism, art, magic and the unknown. It represents the psychic, the invisible, the underdog and the homeless.
More on Neptune
Neptune understands, dissolves and eludes. The people that Neptune represents are dreamers, ghosts, angels and nomads. Neptune rules Pisces.
Pluto is the planet of power, influence and sex. It represents people who have power over you through your use of their resources or those whom you have the drop on. It represents the loan shark, surgeon, psychiatrist, undertaker, criminal and therapist.
More on Pluto
Pluto transforms, buries and rebirths. The people that Pluto represents are crisis workers, the taxman, demons, coercers and the Grim Reaper. Pluto rules the fixed water sign of Scorpio the Scorpion.
Chiron is the planet of wounds and healing. It suggests where you are weak and wanting. It represents people who help you like nurses, teachers, gurus and charity workers.
Eris
Eris is the planet of the female warrior. It represents the fight instinct in women. It suggests those who will fight for you simply because they are on your team, group or crew. It represents sisters-in-arms.
Astrology Basics for Beginner’s
This is part of the special Starzology Astrology Basics series for you all. Many of you ask where to start and here are the planet’s meanings.
You may have heard something about Mercury retrograde and wondered what it is and what is does, and what to do and what not to do, or you may have even thought, “So what?”
If you are interested in finding a job or growing your career, see what to do when Mercury is retrograde, so you can make the most of every moment.
Planetary Energy
To make the best use of planetary energy it is all about going with the flow and that means taking the meaning of the planet and noticing if it is holding up a “stop” or “go” sign.
One example of planetary energy that you can see is the Moon and the tides. The Moon pulls the waters of the Earth and creates two high tides and two low tides each day. As each day moves on the times for the tides constantly changes. But every day there will be two incoming tides and two outgoing tides.
It is at the incoming tide that you can yell “Surf’s up!” and trot down to the beach to practice your surfing. Well if you live on the coast and have a surf culture perhaps like in Hawaii, but you get the picture. You can only surf when the tide is coming in. There is no point in paddling out to hope to surf in if the tide is going out. Right?
About Mercury
Each year Mercury will be retrograde three times at around four-month intervals and for about three weeks each time. Each year the dates are different.
You can find the exact dates when Mercury will be retrograde for the next few years below. You can mark these dates in your calendar now and lock out this special time.
About Retrogrades
Apparent retrograde is the optical illusion of something going backward and in this case, it is the planet, Mercury. Imagine you are on a train and moving along at a fair pace then suddenly you come upon another train on the next track.
The other train is going slower than you are so your train overtakes it but the other train seems to be going backward. Both trains are driving forward but one seems to be going in reverse. That is the illusion of retrogradation.
That a planet is retrograde can be interpreted as a time to change the pace and adjust your approach to things. When a planet is not retrograde it is direct.
Mercury’s Upcoming Retrograde Periods
2024
During April 1st to 25th from 27° Aries to 15° Aries.
During August 5th to August 28th from 4° Virgo to 21° Leo.
During November 26th to December 15th from 22° Sagittarius to 6° Sagittarius.
Mercury Retrograde Element Focus
Mercury’s current retrograde signs are mainly the Fire signs (Sagittarius, Aries and Leo) for 2024.
Mercury Rules
Communication
Every planet rules different things in life. Mercury rules communication, writing, signing, meetings, learning, schools, trading, auctions, merchants, agents and middlemen.
Trade
In everyday life, this means all your shopping, buying and selling, texts, phone calls, emails and general chatting, as well as gossip, comes under Mercury’s influence.
Workplace
In the workplace, Mercury covers resumes, recruiters, interviews (by phone and in person). Mercury can influence your LinkedIn profile although Saturn has a lot to say about that as well.
Paperwork
Mercury also is concerned with paperwork and anything you sign, like a job offer. It is also concerned with the fine print which during a retrograde period is more of a focus and you should read it all.
Mercury Retrograde Sequence
There is a sequence in each retrograde cycle and five main parts:
Mercury enters the pre-shadow period of about ten days before the actual retrograde starts.
Mercury stations retrograde.
The retrograde period itself, usually 3 weeks.
Mercury stations direct.
The after-shadow time of about a week and a half after Mercury has been retrograde.
Phew.
Before Mercury goes Retrograde
Before Mercury goes retrograde and is direct do the following:
Write your resume crafted for each specific job.
Compose targeted cover letters.
Apply for jobs via email and snail mail.
Call companies on the phone.
Reach out to your contact list and tell them you are looking for work.
Take the initiative to let your family, friends, and others know you are searching for a new job.
Start a short course on something you need in your job to build your marketable skills.
Join professional societies and attend Meetups in your field.
All of the above should be done when Mercury is not retrograde and preferably not in its shadow period.
Pin this to read later
Mercury Retrograde
When Mercury is retrograde do the following:
Revise your resume.
Refresh any cover letters.
Get your filing up to date of jobs for which you have already applied.
Write a list of companies and people with whom to follow up and contact them again.
Research current thinking in your industry.
Set up alerts for leads.
Schedule second interviews (phone and in person).
Review job offers.
Prepare your paperwork for jobs you plan to apply for after Mercury is retrograde as you wait for it to go direct.
Revisit projects
During Mercury retrograde periods you can follow up and work on things that you have already done when Mercury was direct.
Don’t start new things when Mercury is retrograde because if you do, they will most likely be reversed when Mercury goes direct.
Sometimes you have no choice because a job advert or interview comes up when Mercury is retrograde and you need a job so you have to go. In these instances be aware that the terms will change.
As Mercury goes direct after the retrograde period, and if you did apply for a job or had an interview during the retrograde time, you can expect to return again and again for further interviews, or the job itself is shelved, or the job is morphed into something else altogether.
When Mercury is retrograde, avoid starting new things because if you do, you will have to review them later as Mercury goes direct.
Recruiters
Companies usually act in good faith when they place an advert for an opening in their business. The effect of Mercury retrograde changes the terms or the agreement and thus they may no longer need the person that they were originally looking for when Mercury was retrograde.
This cuts both ways for people looking for work and recruiters. Companies and career consultants are better off only placing vacancy adverts when Mercury is direct and communications are clear.
If a recruiter seeks a candidate during the retrograde period they will have to spend three times as long emailing back and forth and interviewing people who cancel and can’t make it to the interview for whatever reason.
All of this time-consuming effort is due to the Mercury retrograde effect which impacts communications, trade and agency.
Alison wants to help you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor.
Gain insights on the symbolism of the Solar cycles, and focus on the solstices. Let’s explore the significance behind these celestial events and delve into the meaning they hold.
Create the Life You Want With The Art of Astrology
Your Creativity
I believe that all women are creative. Each and every one of us has something to offer and it can be big or small.
I find that if you bring your talents forward and make time for interesting things it establishes a balance in your life between what has to be done and what you like doing. It is the action of creating that makes the process satisfying.
We all have responsibilities such as having to work for someone else, commuting, launching our kids into the world and maintaining a social life and meaningful personal relationship.
Daily you may face a to-do list and if you don’t do them who will? If you tap into your creativity it can mitigate many of the mundane details of life.
As Women Evolve
Many of the women I see in my astrology practice are in the forty- or fifty-something age group.
They have already brought up their children and made a home for their family. At this point in their lives they want something more. They ask me, “Is this all there is?” or words in the same vein.
After the efforts they have put out for years that are now not needed, they have a good look at their life. The kids have gone their partner now may, or may not, measure up and an uneasy feeling of dissatisfaction has crept in.
Other women relish their newfound freedom and seek ways to make the most of the next phase of life. Either way women want a new direction, purpose and meaning for their life.
Enter Astrology
This is where an astrology consultation can help. Astrology is the study of the influence that the stars and planets have on life on Earth. Thousands of years of analysis have shown that particular traits are inherent in each zodiac sign.
A professional astrologer can cast your unique birth chart and provide you with a life map for your journey.
Your natal chart is original and contains many combinations of planetary energies all flowing at the same time in different directions. It is the skill of the astrologer to sort through the themes shown in your chart and present a clear picture for you.
I look at all the planets including your Sun and Moon signs and find the message in your chart. It is different for each one of you. Some will call it your soul purpose, others your life path.
Whichever words you choose to use your birth chart shows all the potentials, urges and opportunities that you have and that need to be satisfied in this lifetime.
We cannot all be rocket scientists, and indeed it would be a very different world if we were, but every woman owes it to herself to be what they truly want and not have to bow to what society, or your mother-in-law, or anyone else, thinks you should be.
Reading for Mari
I had a client recently a woman we will call Mari. She came to me in mid-life for a reading. I think initially she was simply curious as she had never consulted an astrologer before. We exchanged pleasantries. I offered her tea and we settled down in a comfortable environment for her reading.
She started off by saying, “What can you see?” and I began discussing her chart and spoke of how I interpreted her chart and who I saw her as through reading her chart and the eyes of astrology.
I had never met her before and soon I was chatting about her motivations and how her nativity was suggesting a certain path. She stopped me then, and said, “I wanted to do that when I was a girl, but I had forgotten about it until you mentioned it.”
I asked her, “Do you still want to do it?”
She thought for a moment and said, “Well I did once but that was a long time ago, I’m a different person now, I have responsibilities.”
Hmm…
I shall break from the story here and tell you that this response is common. That what we wanted to do as children or young people has been shelved in favour of a life that is an existence but pays the rent.
Yes, I know providing a roof is important but to my mind having your dream come alive again is a most desirable state of affairs.
Astrology can help you focus on what is truly important in your life and, to be honest, it could simply be continuing down your present path. But for many women it is a way to re-ignite ideas or passions that have been left to wither on the vine.
Let Your Ideas Breathe
Going back to Mari’s situation. I urged her to consider changing what she was doing, not all at once as transformation can be daunting, but that she let the thoughts of following her long lost passion mull in her head for a while and give her ideas space to breathe.
Two months later I met with Mari again and we discussed how things were going for her. She told me she had signed up for a class to refresh her desired activity and would be starting in the New Year.
She also informed me that she has changed her attitude towards herself and her view of what she wanted her life to be.
Although this was still a work in progress the small changes she had made had improved her overall perspective and brightened her outlook.
The word ephemeris (plural ephemerides) is from the Greek word ephemeros, which means daily.
This is a quick introduction to the graphic ephemeris. Generally the ephemeris that astrologers use is a hefty reference book.
It details astronomical data like daily planetary positions by zodiac sign with the degrees and minutes for each planet as well as information such as sidereal time (used for calculating the ascendant).
An ephemeris is usually laid out month by month for each year. Planetary positions are listed in tables for either noon or at midnight depending on the ephemeris used.
Graphic Ephemeris
Luckily we have a visual representation of the daily planetary positions in the graphic ephemeris. It is a quick way to find hard aspects.
It can be quite tedious to manually calculate all the planetary positions for a birth chart. Perhaps there are some of you who began your journey into astrology with this method.
You were probably relieved when the old Blue Star and then Solar Fire programs generated perfect charts.
Charts with a higher level of mathematical accuracy (even though birth times are still unreliable) are created by computers rather than manual calculations.
The graphic ephemeris has a slightly different purpose than the ephemeris book. It is mainly used for predictive work and specifically outer planetary progressions, transits and directions shown in a graph.
It is a highly visual tool where you can select the preferred time period. The planets remain constant on every graph of the period. It is the connections to the natal chart that are shown clearly by this method.
Visualization
Imagine if you take the birth chart wheel as 360° on a piece of paper and you fold it in half at the (0°Aries/0°Libra) line you then have 180° of the circle.
Next fold it in half again to show 90°, finally if you fold the chart once more you have a 45° ‘slice’ of the circle. If the paper was transparent, it would show all the planets and angles within the small 45° slice.
Transiting planets will be at the same point on the slice and therefore will be depicted near each other on the Graphic Ephemeris. This is simply a different way to look at the transits to a natal chart.
The process of folding the chart from conjunctions 0° into oppositions 180°, into squares 90° and then semi-squares 45° or sesquiquadrates 135° only allows hard aspects to be shown.
Generally there are no harmonious aspects like sextiles or trines depicted on the graph.
How to Read a Graphic Ephemeris
The left of the graph begins with a column showing the cardinal degrees from 0° for 30°. At 30°, the fixed signs start and carry on to the 45°, and then begin again at the top from 0° to 15°. Finally the mutable signs are shown from 15° for 30°.
Across the top is time in months.
On the right side of the graph is a column with the natal planets and angles by sign. Each planet and point has a coloured dotted line associated with it running horizontally across the page.
Predictive work usually begins with revealing the transits. The outer planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune as well as Chiron and Pluto are generally selected for transits.
The direct transiting planets enter the graph at the left and move through time down and to the right. During retrograde periods, they move up the page in a wave motion. Where planets are at 0° of the cardinal signs by transit, they will re-enter the graph at the top.
Planets changing signs have a small dot in the planetary colour on their path.
Pluto has a shallower path than Jupiter. This is due to the slower movement of this minor planet in space.
Transits
Where a transiting planet’s curve crosses a natal planet’s dotted line, a transit aspect to the natal planet is formed.
The aspect glyph is at the intersection of the two. Where two transiting planets’ paths cross each other on the graph, there is an aspect being formed between those two planets on that day in space. The actual aspect symbol is not shown on the graphic ephemeris, only aspects to the natal chart.
Nodes and Moon cycle
The nodal axis moves in a straight line on the plane of the ecliptic and is always retrograde.
The full moon is shown as a white circle and new moon as black circles.
Where a solar eclipse happens there is a black circle with the conjunction symbol within it. A lunar eclipse is depicted by a white circle with the opposition symbol within it.
Author: Alison Price – Published: August 2016 – Revised: January 2024
Relocation Astrology
Home is the most important place. It is where you live with your family or alone. It is a haven from the world and where you share memories with friends and loved ones. It is where you enjoy relaxing times with your pets, and for some it is where you work.
There are three desirable attributes that people seek when choosing a place to live their lives and bring up their family.
People want to live in a town that offers talent, tolerance and technology and find somewhere to settle that suits their needs.
Why People Move
People move from one city to another for many reasons.
Moving for work
People move from one place to another usually for work. They find a better job and go.
They relocate from the country into the town.
Once in the town they may move to the city and then then move to bigger cities which can pay more.
This motivation is changing as technology improves and we seen the upsurgence of the modern day nomad working in the gig economy.
The reasons families emigrate from their home country is typically for economic or political reasons. But it can be for work.
Moving for family
Older family members will also move to be near their children or grandchildren.
One client of mine has three grown up children but she chooses to live near the daughter who has kids of her own, or the grandchildren. This is a huge draw.
Granny (and grandpa) bring their time, energy and financial support to the next generation of the family, People move to the place where their kids and the grandkids live.
Three Things to Look for in Your New City
You may not have much choice on the city you move to. If your spouse is offered a great paying job transfer or takes an offer in a new city you’ll probably have to go.
But if you have a choice then consider things carefully.
Talent
A city with talent is shown where there are new emerging companies which attract agile and innovative minds. This will percolate down into the city and suburbs in general.
These places usually have universities of colleges teaching the arts, music and computer coding.
High speed internet is a given and everyone is seemingly engaged in creative pursuits.
A city that encourages talent will have simple leisure activities like places to rent a bike in the city or trails for hiking at weekends to attract a healthy lifestyle.
Tolerance
Discovering tolerance in a city can be as easy as seeing the visible minorities being represented in the diverse faces of the crowds on the streets
There will be full access everywhere and facilities for those with physical disabilities.
Tolerance is shown by a multitude of religious buildings that cater to every faith where everyone can worship in their own way.
There will be acceptance of LGBT creative expression in art, design and entertainment.
As you walk the streets, travel on the busses and trains, and sit in the sidewalk cafes you will hear many languages other than English. Not just one other official language but a selection of languages that you don’t recognise.
Tolerance is shown through contraception being available for those who choose.
Tolerance is about protecting children and minors but allowing adults to make their own lifestyle choices.
Tolerance is about accepting others as they are without forcing your view onto them and they in turn not trying to change you. It is shown as respect for people of the human race without prejudice.
Technology
The upswing of computers, cell phones and general technology is a powerful attraction for most western people.
You do want high speed internet with 24/7 availability so you can search the web without censorship.
Places that have strong internet and information technology innovation will be home to many small to medium sized computer businesses. Look for advertised social and community meetings for coders and tech people as an indication of a thriving technology city.
Notice if there are multiple phone companies and internet service providers. Find out if there is intelligence built into new buildings (known as smart buildings) being erected in the city core.
Older residential buildings with no wifi capabilities are a sign of a lack of technology and the expectation of a lack by the people. These places will require extensive modernisation to bring the technology up-to-date.
Your “Immersion Weekend”
Not sure if a city is for you? Visit for your prospective city for a weekend.
This is not a fact-finding mission, you did that before you chose the place online back at home.
This is an “immersion weekend”.
From the moment you arrive look, listen and smell the city. Talk to everyone, the cab driver, the hotel desk clerk and real people who live and work there already. Find out why they stay.
Ask them what they do at the weekends (and not just the standard tourist spots because you know them already from your at home research), but where the locals shop, eat and relax.
If you thinking of moving and need some advice on where is the best place for you to live, or you want some insights into a new city before you make a move, why not think about a personalised relocation astrology report?
Relocation Astrology
You have a birth chart that is set for the place you were born and this is your natal chart and stays with you forever.
But, every time you move from where you were born there is a new chart to be calculated and this is your relocation chart for that place. Every place will have a new chart for you.
Knowing what your location chart says and whether it integrates well with your natal chart (and therefore if you thrive and fare well in that place or not) is the skill of relocation astrology.
In working with relocation charts many factors are taken into account.
Relocation astrology can play into your decisions if you have moved or are thinking of moving across the country or around the world.
Author Bio
Alison Price: Astrology Coach
Alison wants to help you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor.
In this interview, Arwynne and Greek astrologer Thomas Gazis turn their attention to mundane astrology, the branch of astrology that studies world events and historical cycles.
This article explores what people really mean by Celtic astrology, separating ancient Druidic traditions, tree symbolism, and modern interpretations. It gently untangles myth from history while showing how the modern tree zodiac still offers meaningful, nature-rooted insight, even if it is a thoughtful reconstruction rather than a preserved ancient system.
This article explores what people really mean by Celtic astrology, separating ancient Druidic traditions, tree symbolism, and modern interpretations. It gently untangles myth from history while showing how the modern tree zodiac still offers meaningful, nature-rooted insight, even if it is a thoughtful reconstruction rather than a preserved ancient system.
Thor’s Hammer is a Major Aspect Pattern sometimes found in astrology charts. It is triangle shaped and if you have one you can see it immediately.
If you don’t have one you will probably only learn about this pattern later in the first or second year of your astrology studies.
Thor’s hammer and other major aspect patterns used to be part of the second year syllabus but have recently been brought forward to some first year classes.
Thor: the Man
Thor was a mythical guy who wielded a small hammer that was used for throwing. When hurled the hammer would spin and hit his opponent with quite some force. It was not a hammer for banging nails in or banging on about.
The head of his hammer was shaped short and blunt as the major aspect pattern triangle is today thus the name Thor’s hammer.
Thor’s hammer is formed by three planets, two planets in square with each other and both sesquiquadrate to a third planet.
Features of a Thor’s Hammer
There are several things that make a Thor’s hammer different to any other triangle shaped aspect pattern like a grand trine, T-square or yod.
This pattern has only hard aspects
The square (90°) always drawn in red ink, and the sesquiquadrate (135°) always drawn in orange ink, are both aspects from the eighth harmonic. This means they are derived by dividing the circle by 8 (360/8=45) and 4 (360/4=90). The sesquiquadrate is one quarter (90°) plus one eighth (45°) resulting in 135°.
There are no soft aspects in this major aspect pattern such as a trine or sextile.
In our example chart Terry Fox has Sun square Mars and both sesquiquadrate Saturn and this forms his Thor’s hammer.
It is a manifesting aspect pattern
A manifesting aspect is one from the eighth harmonic set of aspects. These are always challenging and will be the aspect that the person will be working with already. Manifesting aspects do not hide in the bushes they are to be grappled with from day one.
Resistant to change
Due to the tight squares and sesquiquadrates this aspect pattern is resistant to change and the planets in the aspect pattern will be locked together and work as a ‘team’ for the person whose chart it is. This can be for good or bad depending on the planets involved.
In our example chart the three planets are the Sun, Mars and Saturn.
Difficult to live with
A Thor’s hammer is difficult to live with because it will keep on coming up as the squares and the sesquiquadrates demand their attention.
The Sun square Mars is a very masculine aspect full of life and energy.
The Sun sesquiquadrate Saturn suggests a struggle to achieve the life’s goals but shows perseverance.
The Mars sesquiquadrate Saturn indicates the drive and the ambition are linked in a powerful way but that caution may be cast to the wind in the push for life.
The focal planet is a sensitive point
One square and two sesquiquadrates.
In every triangle shaped major aspect pattern there are three planets. Two will be in cahoots and the third will be a ‘focal’ planet.
The focal planet in a Thor’s hammer is the one with the two sesquiquadrates connecting to it.
This planet will express the energy of the two other planets in square through itself into the chart. This makes the focal planet very sensitive to the energy from transits and progressions and those from the other two planets as well.
In our example chart for Terry Fox the focal planet is Saturn retrograde in Sagittarius in the fifth house of sport. This suggests the energy (Mars) and the identity (Sun) was been harnessed towards the goal (Saturn) even to the detriment of the life as this man pushed through adversity in sports.
Note the dispositor of the focal planet
The focal planet’s dispositor is the planet that rules the sign that the focal planet is in. So if the focal planet is Saturn in Sagittarius, Jupiter (as the ruler of Sagittarius) will be the dispositor of Saturn. or in other words, Jupiter will dispose Saturn in the chart.
This suggests that caution will be cast to the wind and the underlying Saturn drives may be taken recklessly because of Jupiter’s influence on the staid focal planet Saturn.
General interpretation
Thor’s hammers need careful interpretation. You have to understand the meaning of the three planets (Sun, Mars and Saturn) and the meaning of each individual aspect (the square and the sesquiquadrates) and which planet is stronger in each aspect before you can understand the inner dynamics of a Thor’s hammer.
Again in our example, in the Sun square Mars aspect, the Sun is powerful in Leo (score +5) and Mars is in detriment in Taurus (score -5) so the Sun dominates the square.
In the Sun sesquiquadrate Saturn aspect, the Sun again dominates this aspect and bosses up the sesquiquadrate with Saturn.
In the Mars sesquiquadrate Saturn aspect, Mars is in detriment in Taurus (score -5) and Saturn is peregrine in Sagittarius (score 0).
Neither Mars nor Saturn has accidental dignity by house but Mars is most elevated and Saturn is retrograde so on average Mars will be stronger than Saturn in that particular sesquiquadrate. This again shows the weakness of his Saturn.
Be on the lookout for a Thor’s hammer and see how it works in your charts.
Maybe you are toying with the idea of a career change. Perhaps you want to find a company that pays better, maybe you’re underemployed or between jobs and you could do with a little help to find a position.
When you start to look for a job you need all the help you can get.
Use the Sun to assist you to find the good, better and best times to support your efforts in your job search and find your day in the Sun.
Job Seeking Podcast Episode
Listen to our podcast episode on seeking a job with the Sun.
When to Start your Job Search
You may tell yourself you are looking for work because you are dispirited with what you are doing all day and so you could search a few job boards and in a half-hearted way look for work.
You could be forced into job search mode because you have no work for whatever reason. You need a paycheck because you have mouths to feed and need a roof over your head. You cannot stop your search until you have work. This is important and you start your job search.
There are a few instances when you can start a job search.
When you are between jobs
When you find yourself between engagements. This is a euphemism for being unemployed but we will use it here. You could be recently between jobs or discover that it can take months to find something else. Anything else.
When you are underemployed
When you are underemployed and have a two day a week job but that’s it. In this example you may go in to work on Monday and Thursday and like what you do, but you could do more. But the company you work for can’t help you with that, and you’re not sure if your want another two day a week job with someone else.
When you are employed
You may be in a job you love – but things can change at work.
Your boss may leave and you don’t like the new guy.
Your company could be taken over.
The top people may move onwards and upwards and this changes the corporate culture.
You hate your co-workers, they are crashing bores or tiresome.
Things can be fluid at home as well.
Marriage changes your priorities.
Divorce can make other demands on your finances
A new baby means you have to earn more.
Illness in the family could require more from you.
Your aging parents may move in with you, so your overheads go up.
Grown children eventually fly the coop, so maybe downsizing with less overheads is your option.
All of these things are a part of life and it is naïve to think that things will stay the same after life-changes happen.
The only thing that is constant is change.
Bored to Death
But maybe you are just bored with your job.
Ask yourself:
If someone offers you enough money will you take the job, any job?
In what circumstances will you move jobs?
What is your number?
The answers to these questions can tip the balance between making an income and enjoying your job. Ideally you need to be in the sweet spot where you earn sufficient to meet your needs and you actually like what you do.
They say that you should follow your passion and this means you need to find work that is not work. I’ll explain.
Find the job that you love and would do anyway even if they didn’t pay you. You do this by discovering your passion.
Discover your Passion
One way to discover your passion is to look at what you do in your spare time.
What will you do on your next day off?
Are you volunteering?
What are your hobbies now?
Who do you talk to if you have a choice?
What activity will you get up early for?
What would you do even if they didn’t pay you?
This is just to underline that we all will move jobs for the right reasons and motivations.
What to Do
All of this brings us to the point that you should always be ready to take advantage of a new job.
Always be closing (a job offer).
Be Prepared
You should always be prepared to seek a job at a moment’s notice.
This means:
Have your CV or resume up-to-date
Get LinkedIn leaning towards the job you want not the one you have
Butter-up your contacts
Plan your future
Assume a flexible stance
Pin this to read later
Follow the Sun
In a broad sense you can follow the Sun through the year as it passes through each sign.
The Sun highlights good times to do things and it depends on your own sign, (and in more detail your own chart), which times are highlighted.
It is easy for everyone to know which sign the Sun is in as it is about the same each year. If you are not sure you can check the handy Sun sign list below.
The Sun does not change sign at midnight, so it could be the day before or the day after these dates.
There are good, better and best times to do thinsg related your job search and they depend on where the Sun is in the daily transit chart.
This is teh chart for today, right now and you can cast this chart every morning.
Dawn to 8am
12th House
When the Sun transits the 12th house don’t waste your time on job searches at this time of the day. Avoid breakfast meetings for work as they will go nowhere. The best you can hope for is getting snippets of background information on companies and people, or in other words ,gossip.
Listen to the news and keep your own council.
Stop talking. Spend this time in meditation, walk the dog or go to the gym.
8am to 10am
11th House
When the Sun is in the 11th house connect online (LinkedIn, Facebook etc.) with “friends” and associates. Go to group Meetups or pop in at coffee and networking events.
10am to Noon
10th House
As the transiting Sun passes through the 10th house it is the golden hours forcareer and job seeking every day. These two hours are excellent forabsolutely everything career related. Make sure you use this time slot for your job search.
Noon to 2pm
9th House
As the Sun transits the 9th house keep pushing on your job search. Explore work outside your usual field. Look at opportunities further away from home both nationally and internationally.
2pm to 4pm
8th House
As the Sun transits the 8th house, seek endorsements from others – gently, don’t push it. Reciprocate with support for others through your endorsements or referrals for others. Unearth your back channels and the people in them. Offer to do little things for those who may help you later.
4pm to Sunset
7th House
Don’t do job searching at this time or sign anything as the Sun transits the 7th house. Spend time with your life partner and celebrate your union.
Sunset to Two Hours after Sunset
6th House
When the Sun is transiting the 6th house it is a good time for employment activities. Have those after work (happy hour) get-togethers and butter up your contacts, but don’t stay too long.
Two Hours after Sunset to Midnight
5th and 4th Houses
As the Sun transits the 5th house and the 4th house just let it go. Spend time with loved ones, have some leisure time and work on your hobbies or read non-career related books.
Midnight to 2am
3rd House
So you can’t sleep? When the Sun is in teh 3rd house it can be a good time for international calls, reviewing employment contracts and signing electronic offers. But don’t do knee jerk acceptances. Consider any offers you received during the day before using this time slot for anything. Think it through.
2am to 4am
2nd House
When the Sun is in the 2nd house just go back to bed. Worrying about money? Stay in bed.
4am to Sunrise
1st House
If you are awake this early concentrate on yourself. When the Sun is in the 1st house this is your time. Attend to personal grooming, stretching and positive thinking. Stand tall and wide and assume a power pose feet wide and arms outstretched and head up and hold for five minutes.
Prepare your clothes for the day.
Write your gratitude journal or do the crossword to sharpen your mind.
Pin this to read later
Best Times in the year for Job Seekers
Best Time
The best time each year to start a career search is from December 22nd to January 19th when the Sun is in Capricorn. This plays into the “New Year – new job” movement which surges at the start of every year as companies look for new people and recruiters post ads and you begin your search.
Second Best Time
Better
The second best period to begin to look for work is between August 23rd to September 22nd when the Sun is in Virgo. This is just after the back-to-school time and when people get itchy about making a change.
Note that I say around the 21st of the month but there is a variable of about two days each side of the date to account for the variation in the Sun’s movement. The Sun can change signs at any time in the day or a day or two either side of the 21st.
Good Times
Pay Increase
If you want to push for a pay increase do so when the Sun is in Taurus which is from April 20th to May 20th.
Renumeration Adjustment
The best time to get a pay adjustment like; less cash, more time off, go on flexitime, get benefits or stocks and shares etc., is between October 24th to November 22nd, because this is the time the Sun is in Scorpio.
We have seen the best times to look for work in the year and these dates are supported by the Sun’s energy which shifts as it moves into each of the signs.
Now let’s see how to look for work on a daily basis and find the best times to do the many activities associated with looking for work, each day.
Daily activities can be done at good times in the day or not so good times. These good, or not so good, times each day are determined by the placement of the Sun each hour and as it rises and sets.
When to Send a Cover Letter or Resume
You can spend hours, and even days, crafting a compelling cover letter and associated resume aimed at a particular job. How long this takes doesn’t matter. The important thing is the time when you send it and you no longer have control over it.
Email
The important time when you click “send” on your email system and not the time they open the email. Of course you may never know when they will open and read your email (or if it goes straight in the trash). If you have email tracking on you will know when they opened it but you have no control over when they will do so.
Snail Mail
If you are sending a snail mail cover letter or resume it is the time you pop the envelope into the mailbox. This is the point of no return as you can’t get the letter back.
Personal Delivery
You may decide to print your cover letter and resume and go to the company to personally deliver the documents. In fact some companies prefer this method as it proves you are in the area and available. In this scenario it is the time you hand the envelope over to the receptionist or the HR person.
The best times to send, deliver or present a job seeking resume and cover letter each day are (in order of priority):
Between 10am and noon – the golden hours (best)
Between noon and 2pm – the silver hours (better)
Between sunset and two hours after sunset – the bronze hours (good)
That there are better times in the day for job seeking it follows that there are worse times as well. Some hours each day are not as good as others to have your message heard which is what you are trying to do in the first place.
You want recruiters and prospects to open and read your cover letters and resume. You don’t want your application to be ignored, put on the slush pile or to end up in the deleted bin.
Times to Avoid
Avoid posting or droping off job applications from:
A phone interview is the next step for contact with your recruiter or prospective employer.
Recruiters use the phone interview to weed out unsuitable candidates at an early stage. You could be cut at this point because you don’t have the conversational skills needed or maybe you don’t sound confident if they ask you job related questions – and they will.
If they are interested in you they may contact you to schedule a phone interview.
You will probably be given some time choices such as, Monday between 2pm and 5pm, or Friday from 9am to 11am. This is great because you can choose the best time to have a phone interview from the time slots available to you.
The best time to have a phone interview are:
As with all job applications the three golden times as listed above and repeated here.
Between 10am and noon (best)
Between noon and 2pm (better)
Between sunset and two hours after sunset (good)
Between midnight to 2am (good) – international calls
Avoid phone interviews from:
Dawn to 9am
2pm to sunset
When to Schedule a Face-to-Face Interview
If you get through the phone interview they may call you in for a face-to-face interview. This is excellent.
You will probably be offered a few time options to have the face-to-face and you may be inclined to jump at the first one (for many reasons) but astrologically the good time slots still stand.
Face-to-Face Interviews – Golden Times
As with all job applications the three golden times as listed above and repeated here.
Between 10am and noon (best)
Between noon and 2pm (better)
Between sunset and 2 hours after sunset (good)
Avoid scheduling face-to-face interviews from:
Dawn to 9am (so no early morning or breakfast interviews)
2pm to sunset
When to Accept a Job Offer
Wait for it…
If you do receive a job offer it can come in two forms. A verbal offer that may lead to a written or online offer, or just a written or online offer.
If you want the job you could verbally say so but then you may still have to finalise the offer by signing a physical paper offer, or by electronically signing the offer.
The verbal offer may immediately go onto the electronic offer if for example you are in the interview and they offer you the job there and then and open the screen on which you can accept. Or you may accept a verbal offer (in person or on the phone) and then you have to go online to their website and accept the electronic offer.
There are two times possible for you to accept a job offer verbal and when you sign.
Some people will accept a verbal offer but then fail to accept the written offer for whatever reason. Maybe they got a better offer in the meantime of they decided they just don’t want the job.
The deal is only final at the signing (either written or electronic) and this cuts both ways for you and the employer.
The time that you sign is important.
When to Accept
Golden Times
As with all job applications the three golden times as listed above and repeated here that are best for accepting a job offer are:
Between 10am and noon (best)
Between noon and 2pm (better)
Between sunset and two hours after sunset (good)
Between midnight and 2am is good for signing either paper or typically accepting electronic offers
Avoid Accepting
Don’t sign job acceptances from:
Dawn to 9am
2pm to sunset
Overarch
Pace Yourself
We all look for work at sometime in our lives and on occasion it can take months to find anything. You can get a slight edge on the competition by working with the light, heat and energy of the Sun as it passes through the zodiac over the course of a year and as it rises and sets each day.
Give Yourself Some Grace
You can’t look for work every waking minute, so allow yourself times to push and times to release each day. Good luck.
Author Bio
Alison Price: Professional Astrologer
Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.
If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email atstarzology@gmail.com.
More Articles
If you enjoyed this post, you may like some more astrology related articles from our blog.
by Alison Price What Each Sun Sign Wants in the Workplace In astrology the Sun shows what you want. Each Sun sign has specific wants that they naturally strive towards. When we consider how each sign can benefit you as an employer it makes sense to take a look at what...
Author: Alison Price - Updated: March 2025 Artists Charts I'm not just an astrologer, but I consider myself as a hobby artist and crafter as well. Being creative and expressing yourself (and myself) through art is a great interest of mine. Art in a Chart When I...
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Forecasting in astrology can be a simple Sun sign interpretations that any astrologer can do, or the more detailed and complex forecasting techniques which a professional experienced astrologer will provide. It depends on the level of understanding you wish to extract from your birth chart which route you will choose.
In astrological forecasting there are many things to consider for each chart that you look at. One of the interesting nuggets in forecasting is the relationship between your progressed Moon and transiting Saturn.
Only Some Charts
This connection deserves a second look but only in some charts. It is not always present and therefore can be dismissed as not worth bothering about. But in the few charts that this does occur, you need to fully appreciate exactly what is going on and how this dynamic situation will affect you and for how long.
If you do have this complex attribute in your chart the energy from the contact will be in play for ten to twenty years. This can overshadow other things being brought forward in the forecast data. Pee Moon and Tee Saturn can be the full story for many people and for years of their lives.
Your Secondary Progressed Moon (P-Moon)
The progressed Moon can travel up to just over three times around your chart in your lifetime. In doing so it makes all the possible aspects to all the planets and points in your chart. This speed and constant aspect contacts creates an endless variety for consideration for an astrologer.
As the progressed Moon takes +/- twenty-nine years to make one round of the chart it will therefore progress through each sign in about two years and five months (29 / 12 = 2.42y).
All things being equal and depending on the house system, the progressed Moon will spend a similar amount of time in each house.
Saturn moves about eleven degrees each year or, to put it another way, spends around two and a half years in each sign. Saturn takes about twenty-nine years to pass through the zodiac. You can experience up to three Saturn returns in your life. Your Saturn returns are at approximately ages twenty-nine, fifty-eight and eighty-seven. A Saturn return can be a one or three pass transit. The three pass transit is very important and should be accorded the correct amount of attention. Saturn and Jupiter are very often the opposite side of a situation and, when they both bring in influence to bear, both can be negated.
Saturn through the houses shows where you exert control, can achieve things and will succeed in the long run. Saturn can bring structure to chaos and create formal organization in which to work. During a Saturn transit you will “draw the line” and maintain boundaries for yourselves. When you have a Saturn transit you may have to learn the hard way about the issues of the house. It can be challenging when Saturn passes through some houses and you may have to tighten your belt and keep going.
Transiting Saturn by aspect
The four major transits from Saturn are those to it’s natal position. Saturn transits can bring maturity, the ability to take responsibility and a certain acceptance of what the world has to offer. It can also be where we exist under some limitations or imposed boundaries. Saturn is an indicator of your father, father figures or older men in authority in your life and they may become a feature under a Saturn transit.
Transiting Saturn waxing square natal Saturn
Transiting Saturn square natal Saturn at about age seven most children are in big school and in the system and have to abide by timetables and rules.
Transiting Saturn opposition natal Saturn
Saturn opposition natal Saturn at somewhere in year fourteen is an indicator for puberty and physical maturity. Some adolescents can begin a casual job in the food industry for example, and start to earn a living in the big world.
Transiting Saturn waning square natal Saturn
Transiting Saturn square natal Saturn at the closing square happens around age 21 and is the threshold for adulthood.
Saturn return
First return at 28/30 the age of maturity where you stop blaming yoru parents for your woes and take ownership for your life.
Natal aspects between the Moon and Saturn
Moon conjunct Saturn
When the Moon is conjoined Saturn, the issues of parents Mother (Moon) and father (Saturn) are closely linked. This person goes through life with their parents showing a united front to them regardless of what is really happening.
Moon square Saturn
When the Moon is square Saturn, this person has a life where their parents may disagree on how to bring the. Hold up. There may even be a question on the paternity or the child. This person has tension about their parents that they take forward into their own lives where they become the authority and the pattern continues.
Moon opposite Saturn
When the Moon is opposite Saturn, this person experiences diverse views from each parent or opposite view which may develop into outright conflict between their parents. The parents will play them off against each other. This placement frequently brings confrontation and flip flopping in discipline for this child.
Of all the planetary progressions the Moon needs close attention as the whole mood of the life shifts during the time it takes to pass through the natal chart and ingress the signs and houses. These subtle changes which happen over a two to three year period are often easier to appreciate in retrospect. As an astrologer you need to be on the lookout for this phenomenon in your chart.
Parents
The Moon (mother) and Saturn (father) can be at the root of many issues faced by people. So much so that this phenomenon (the Moon aspect Saturn lockstep) may easily dominate the whole life. Resolution is to be found in the natal placement of the Moon and Saturn and the energies need to be accepted into the life of the individual. This is likely to be challenging.
Pee Moon Tee Saturn Forecast Lockstep
Transiting Saturn takes twenty-nine years to transit the zodiac and the progressed Moon takes twenty-nine years to transits the zodiac. If there is a natal aspect between the Moon and Saturn it will be held in place by the movement of these two planets with one transiting and one progressed.
Difficult aspects (hard) are exacerbated. Although transiting Saturn will retrograde for periods and perhaps break the aspect it will reform when Saturn goes direct, is fast and reapplies the aspect.
Natal Moon aspect natal Saturn: Orb
Depending on the tightness of the orb of the natal aspect between the Moon and Saturn this aspect may be in orb, by progression, for the lifetime of the individual. Over time it will ease away but this could take many years. It depends if the aspect is applying or separating. For example if the Moon is applying an opposition to Saturn it may hold the opposition for longer than if it is already separating in the natal chart.
In the natal chart if the Moon and Saturn are in a fourth harmonic aspect that is either a conjunction, square or opposition. This needs a further look. If the Moon and Saturn are sextile or trine it just makes it an easier relationship throughout. Only bother about the fourth harmonic aspects.
How Long it will Last
Each chart is different but many people will have an aspect between the Moon and Saturn. The first thing to look at is whether there is an aspect between these two bodies. Second is the natal aspect applying or separating? This will show how long the aspect will be in orb. If the aspect is applying from 8 degrees then it could be applying for years and then become exact and finally separating for ten years. This time of”being in orb” varies in each case but will still be long time.
So What?
Well for someone with the Pee Moon Tee Saturn in aspect, the energies of the two planets are connected for much if not most of their life. It is well known that the Moon and Saturn can be many things both separately and together but when there is a link between the Moon and Saturn by aspect in the chart, it is always the parents that come together.
Moon as Mother
In your chart your Moon shows how you see your mother and your experience of her.
If there are two sisters with different Moon sign this indicates their different experience of their mother even though she was the same woman they experienced her differently. This can be seen with eldest child, middle child and youngest child situations where each one has a different Moon sign.
It suggests how she nurtured you and tells how she mothered you. Was she super cuddly or a bit cold or somewhere in between? Did you get beautiful clothes to wear or your brother’s hand-me-downs? What about her cooking?
As an adult you will remember your mother’s treatment of you forever. It is where you learnt how to care and how to provide nurture for yourself and others.
Saturn as Father
Saturn in your chart shows your father and older men like uncles and grandfathers. It shows how you experienced him and his fathering.
It shows father figures and men in authority over you. These people were (and are) teachers, headmasters, the police and judges.
It shows whether you dad was there for you, or a bit distant or an absentee father.
Well placed Saturn shows how you respect authority the law and if you respect your elders or not. Do you give your seat to a senior when on the bus? Do you call old men “Sir” or does it choke in your throat. All of these things are shown by your natal Saturn.
Your transiting Saturn and progressed Moon return
Much has been written about a Saturn return. Even people outside the astrological community know of the Saturn return. But what of the progressed Moon return?
It happens around age 29/30 and can be a time for change and of going back to basics as promised in the natal chart.
Any return brings the energies of the planet back to its true meaning for you, as the planet in question returns to its natal position in your chart. At this point it remakes all the natal aspects it has that are part of your natal chart interpretation. So aspects other than to the Moon or Saturn from either will be realigned.
Once you realize that your Saturn return is around the same time as you progressed Moon return you can see how they can be different for each person.
There is only one progressed Moon return in each cycle.
There can be one or three Saturn returns in each cycle.
Return sequences possible
Saturn returns before the progressed Moon return
Progressed Moon returns before the transiting Saturn return.
Saturn return one hit
Saturn return three hit
Saturn return before and after progressed Moon return.
When you realise the potential implications of a simple Moon Saturn aspect in a natal chart it opens the door for further investigation of the long term effects of this phenomena. Parental issues may not be the only thing to think about but they may be laid as a full background stage for the life of the person.
As always care should be taken when interpreting charts and all situations will ideally be related back to the whole chart for a full rounded forecast.
Pin this to read later
Author Bio
Alison Price: Professional Astrologer
Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.
If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email atstarzology@gmail.com.
More Articles
If you enjoyed this post, you may like some more astrology related articles from our blog.
In this interview, Arwynne and Greek astrologer Thomas Gazis turn their attention to mundane astrology, the branch of astrology that studies world events and historical cycles.
In astrology, the quincunx aspect is 150 degrees with an orb of 2 degrees. It is the aspect of adjustment, awkwardness and mild irritation. Signs quincunx each other are five signs apart.
by Alison Price What Each Sun Sign Wants in the Workplace In astrology the Sun shows what you want. Each Sun sign has specific wants that they naturally strive towards. When we consider how each sign can benefit you as an employer it makes sense to take a look at what...
This year my main plan to improve the presentation of astrology for your understanding and pleasure is a little different. I am working on the development of astro art or creative pages to help aspiring astrologers or anyone and everyone learn more about our art.
In the astro art section so far you have posts on a binder cover page to colour and a wheel of fortune to make for yourself. Creating an astrological journal supports the multiple input method of learning and is a good way to build a resource that you can use later.
How To Use Your Astrology Journal
A Journal can be used in several ways:
To plan your day for things you have to do (pick up the kids and take the dog to the vet etc.) and this works best as a bullet journal.
It can be a “dear diary” style for capturing what did happen and how you felt about it, whatever it is.
Or it can be used to build a personal resource to learn and remember information and build a knowledge base that you can use for years to come.
It it the third one that we will talk about here.
How to make an astrological journal that becomes a personal resource to learn , understand and appreciate the little pieces in your chart.
Things like signs, planets and houses meanings that go to build a comprehensive chart reading.
The Benefits of Journaling
Your brain remembers things easily if it knows them via more than one means of input.
Teachers read aloud, or make you draw pictures, or glue a collage from dried macaroni, or do a play like astro drama to reinforce your knowledge.
The variety or ways to learn is important because the information arrives in your memory through different channels.
This is why just reading books makes it harder to learn stuff.
In the multiple activity way of gaining knowledge, what you know can be retrieved in snippets through thoughts like, “Oh gosh, now what do I know about Jupiter in Virgo?”
You will get better at remembering the many things that you need to know to read a chart by writing and drawing in your astrological journal.
Which Journal to Choose?
There are a few points to consider and choices to be made for a journal that is good to use for astrological journaling.
If you are going to invest your time and energy creating a beautiful astrological journal you might as well get a decent journal in the first place.
Size does matter
The best size is A5 or about 6″ x 8″ because this is easily carried in your bag and can be whipped out on a plane or at dinner. Who does that?
If you choose a size smaller (say 3″ x 5″) it will work as a pocket journal, but will get full quicker.
You can think of this one as your on-the-go journal, or field journal, which is best to jot down ideas while you are out and about or at a conference or lecture.
When you get home you can transfer the gems of knowledge to your main A5 journal. This process serves learning.
Paper quality
Can you see through the pages in your journal?
If you can, the paper is too thin and too cheap.
Get a better quality book.
I like the Moleskine A5 plain paper journal and the Leuchhturm1917 dotted bullet journal.
Each year I buy a few new journal books and I have one for each year but that’s another story.
How to Use Your Astrological Journal – Basic Layout
Title page
You will have a title page which is usually the very first page in the main body and not the inside flap page which is thicker than normal.
State your journal name.
Typically this will be “My Astrological Journal” or “My Journey into Astrology” or something in that vein.
Contents page
Open to the first double page.
This will be a contents overview and here you can specify the deeper level of detail that you want. The choice is yours.
This will help you gauge the number of pages you need between each section.
For instance if you have 12 signs you may need 12 (or 24) pages.
This depends on how large your journal is to start with.
How to plan your astrological journal with sections and segments
For each main section like natal signsyou will make a title page on the right hand side.
You will do a section title page for each main section in your contents page.
It is best to add a tab sticking out at the right for your main sections and perhaps your segments.
Signs Summary Journal Pages
This is a summary page to note things about the zodiac signs.
Signs Journal Page
This signs full spread shows the signs in the natural wheel and some main keywords for each sign.
The ruling planet is shown in the inner wheel for each sign.
Elements and Modes Journal Pages
See how this element and mode table can help you work out each sign.
You can perhaps draw this table and place your planets in their corresponding signs from your chart to show which planets your have in each sign.
You can do as much detail and depth as you wish. If you are just starting out with astrology I suggest the following sections, natal and forecasting and keep it simple.
Going deeper means a page for each planet in sign and house and deeper still is nice-to-haves about astrology like eclipses or the morning planet.
Tree of Life
The tree of life is a symbol of the full cycle from root to tip.
Trees are leaned heavily on for our survival.
They convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.
If you are stuck on a desert island you can build handy items like boats and shelter with the wood from trees.
Paper that we used every day often comes from trees.
Art Tip
Make sure to center your circle on the page not like mine which is a little off to the left.
Herb Garden Layout
This is a classic herb garden layout with a central circle and four quadrants adjacent and larger gardens in this pattern have more quadrants.
Here I drew the four main beds of herbs.
Medicinal herbs
Aromatic herbs
Indigenous herbs
Culinary herbs
If you cook with herbs make sure that your fertilizer and mulch is organic and not synthetic.
The aromatic bed has plants for pot potpouri and perfume basics.
Indigenous herbs are local to your area they different for everyone.
Medicinal herbs are where traditional healing herbs come from, so know what you are doing here.
The Four Elements
The four elements align with the compass points
Fire – South
Earth – North
Air – East
Water – West
Polarity
The symbols relate to the active (masculine) and passive (feminine) polarities.
The upwards pointing triangle for masculine elements is symbolic of an erect manhood.
The downwards pointing triangle for feminine elements is symbolic of a woman’s pubic area.
Spring Poem
Pippa Passes by Robert Browning.
Summer Poem
From A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare.
Author Bio
Alison Price: Professional Astrologer
Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.
If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email atstarzology@gmail.com.
More Articles
If you enjoyed this post, you may like some more astrology related articles from our blog.
Author: Alison Price - Published: July 2025 Your Money Planets Introduction There is not one method for financial freedom that works for everyone. Some people benefit from going cold turkey and cutting up their credit cards but that only works for a few. Others...
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
If you are an aspiring astrologer or even a full-blown astrologer for that matter, these five items you need to have in order to read charts effectively.
You may be attracted to a different branch of astrology than the next astrologer, but the basics to need are the same.
I am going to share with you the five essential things every aspiring astrologer requires to read a chart.
These items are distilled from many years of experience in my practice where I have cast and read charts for people.
Although you can have tons more books and goodies that can help with the process, I have trimmed the list down to the five basic necessities that you require to read a chart.
1) An Ephemeris
This is the best book you can have on your desk. An ephemeris contains the planet’s positions, retrogrades, eclipses, lunations and many other interesting facts about what the solar system is actually doing.
Back in the day (before we all had a computer to cast charts) you would need your ephemeris to calculate the chart in the first place.
Now you will reach for your ephemeris to quickly find when Pluto will enter your client’s eighth house for the second time, retrograde in a five-hit transit or to discover if it is going to be an appulse or total eclipse next autumn as you write you horoscopes for the following year.
If you never refer to your ephemeris for charts and forecasting it makes a great spot for your cat to sleep.
Still casting charts by hand I suppose. You do need some way to draw charts quickly and correctly if you read charts for a living.
I use Solar Fire and it is really powerful software and to be honest I don’t use all the features all the time, or even many of the features most of the time, but
I do use the powerful chart processing ability and its calculations for secondary progressions, solar arcs, solar returns, and transits. These are for client work and the chart for right-here right-now to plan my day.
You can get chart calculation apps for your iPhone like Astro Gold and this is wonderful for casting charts on-the-go. I use Astro Gold for pondering the charts of my clients as I always load their birth data into my phone, as well as Solar Fire, before the consultation so I can consider all the ideas I may have about their chart wherever I am in my day.
I can do this because I book clients usually one week ahead because I like to cast their chart and then mull over it for a few days so it can “speak” to me.
If you work differently (and you should follow your path) or work ahead of time as I do then, either way, you need powerful astrology software.
3) The Chart
You need the chart to do the interpretation. Usually, you will print the chart from your computer or draw it by hand.
But just having a plain chart is no good and you have to make notes on it, highlight special planets, draw attention to grand trines or yods and the like. This extra jotting on the chart is best done in color.
Emphasize the ruling planet in yellow wherever it appears on the page even in the aspectarian.
Color the grand trines and mini-grand trines in blue along with the normal blue trines for ease the T-squares in red (red is for squares in general), Thor’s hammers in tangerine (sesquiquadrates are always orange), emerald for yods (quincunxes are green).
You do this in color because after a time when you have looked at hundreds of charts they can easily blend into one in your mind. If you have each chart highlighted in color and the main features, planets, houses and major aspect patterns enhanced it is quicker to scan and immediately get up to speed on that particular chart.
It is a way to streamline your readings and stop you ploughing through all the myriad of details that each chart contains. By adding primary and secondary shades, as a component to clarity, you become more effective and just glancing at the wheel hues can become almost as a mandala when you contemplate many charts.
4) Your Astrology Journal
An astrology journal is every aspiring astrologer’s friend. You will always be learning new interpretations for charts. When you read astrology articles online, blogs or pieces in trade publications there is always something to learn.
It could be a technique or another way to remember planetary placement meanings, if you write them down you don’t have to remember everything.
You may not ever use these tidbits of information but then again you might. Points you find that may not make much sense today may be just what you are looking for in the next chart you read or maybe next year when you tackle another method that is new to you.
Astrologers are always learning and this is what the journal is for.
I use mine when I planning my horoscopes for next year or other writing projects that I may be developing.
5) Herb Tea
As you sit at your desk for a few hours each day working on charts and chatting to people it is nice to have a soothing cup of herb tea at your elbow.
Personally, I enjoy green tea, jasmine tea and now and then a refreshing Earl Grey. If you are not a tea drinker it doesn’t matter but you do need your favorite drink to hand.
Taking a beverage break lets you sit back, ease your shoulders that have become tense leaning in, drawing notes on your charts and making case notes for your charts.
Pausing for a drink gives you a time to breathe and make a moment of stillness in your day.
These are the five basics that should be on your desk. There is room for many more reference books (oh the books), but to cast a chart and read it you only need five things.
Start with these items on your desk and develop your aspiring astrology chart reading skills as you immerse yourself in the magical world of astrology.
I recently received this question about Saturn from a reader:
“I always watch where Saturn is transiting for me and I’m beginning to think that Saturn is not as bad as we understand. I have had some of the best things happen for me when Saturn is in a certain house.
Like when it was in my first house I stopped drinking, smoking and lost weight. Now it’s in the second house and I have never earned so much money in my life. I have a lot to pay but the earning is something else!
I think if we are aware we can make it [Saturn by house] work for us. Buckle down to the discipline and so on. We live in terror of Saturn and yet find incredible blessing in its transits.
What do you think Alison?”
Here’s what I think
How exciting that a relative novice at astrology has such insights. That by having even a smattering of information (Saturn in her houses) allows her to understand the complexities of the planetary astrology and how it actually works in her chart.
For a bit of background information, this woman is forty-something and lives a regular life in the suburbs. She and her husband enjoy a fulfilling life where they try to make ends meet at the same time educating their kids and enjoying their family with many dogs.
In fact they are a couple probably just like you or me.
The first house
The first house is about your physical appearance, vitality and how you look. It is the facade you present to others.
Any planet passing through (or transiting) your first house will change you in the nature of the transiting planet.
Saturn
Saturn is traditionally known as “The Greater Malefic” this means it is the biggest bad boy of the planets.
In case you are wondering Mars has the dubious reputation as “The Lesser Malefic” and on a side note Venus is the “The Lesser Benefic” and Jupiter is “The Greater Benefic” and we’ve got to love the old labels.
Saturn is the planet of control and discipline. It can be cold and hard but it does have its up side. When saturn bestows its gifts they are sometimes difficult to see.
Saturn brings things like:
Being able to master something
Finding staying power for the long haul
Building on a strong foundation
These are old fashioned virtues and don’t fit with the modern world of quick fixes, sound bytes and 7 day miracle diets etc.
Time is of the essence
Saturn takes time but if you do put the time in you will reap benefits from Saturn’s graces.
I often relate how Saturn works in your life, to the beloved character of Cousin Violet in Downton Abbey.
Here is a woman who is old and crusty, loves traditions but has staying power for the long haul.
The Dowager will prevail.
Reader insights and being self-aware
That our reader has noticed when Saturn recently went through her first house changing her physical appearance by her improved self care of cutting out drinking and smoking and losing some weight is excellent.
Yes, Saturn can change your life and yes, for the better.
Although you may not notice it at the time, you will be able to look back and see the improvements that have been made in your life.
Your vitality is as good as your first house.
Living every day with destructive habits can be stopped, or at least curtailed, and limited when Saturn passes through your first house. This is a perfect example of Saturnian energy.
Putting your back into your toil can benefit you through more work coming your way or an increase in your hourly rate. This usually means more pay.
You have to work hard but the cash is worth it and so are you.
I have often said that “good income equates to good self-esteem” and this is very much so when Saturn passes through your second house.
Forecast for Saturn in the third house
We can guess what will happen when Saturn enters her third house.
Perhaps she will find the time for her brother and sister, or she could easily take a stand on what is going on in her neighbourhood and perhasp build a fence to keep the dogs in or the passers-by out.
Our reader may decide to build on the successes she achieved when Saturn went through her second house of good work and income, and sign up for some more courses.
Maybe she will attend classes for something new that interests her or she could go back over classes she took in the past when Saturn first went through her third house, which would have been about thirty years ago when she was at school.
Perhaps she will make up a personal reading list and decide to get through one book a week for the year and a half that Saturn is in her third house. She could add some beloved classics to the list or try a modern author. Heck, she may even start her own journal, scribe poetry or teach others.
The possibilities are endless.
That we have given some ideas here will set our reader thinking on how best to use the planetary energies as they slowly transform her and she evolves in line with the potentials of her chart.
In reality an astrologer would look deeper into her chart and note the sign on the cusp of each house that Saturn is transiting and also how her natal Saturn is placed and how it contacts the rest of her chart through the dynamic aspects.
Of course there are many parts to a chart reading, and we have only looked at a small section today.
Further thoughts
Do you know which house Saturn is stimulating and transiting in your birth chart today?
Can you find the blessing when it passes by?
If you want to know more about astrology or your chart please contact me.
Transits begin to form or fade immediately in the days and weeks after birth. During this delicate time critical contacts from the outer planets can occur. This article looks at the transits of the three outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto and the conjunctions to their natal positions in the first two years.
Transits are a popular technique and most astrologers are aware of the current planetary placements. When you know a planet’s position you can apply this knowledge to every chart for which you forecast in the next weeks.
This information is transferrable which makes transits the most widely used predictive method by astrologers. Transits are powerful enough that many astrologers use only transits for predictive work and no other methods.
A Moment in Time
The planets are always moving but a birth chart captures a moment in time. Once a chart is cast, transits from the Moon and the faster moving planets like the Sun, Mercury and Venus will start to form aspects first.
Then the chart will receive transits from the slower moving Mars, Jupiter and Saturn and finally the three outer planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. It is only as the planets move from their radix position that they start to impact the birth chart and the child’s life.
Be Alert
At first glance it seems there is nothing to consider from the outer planets in the first year of life because they take so long to move through the zodiac.
Outer planet movement can be like watching a sapling grow, you know the young tree is alive but the progress is so slow you can’t see it happening. It is easy to dismiss transits from the outers in the first year of life, but let’s take a closer look.
Adult and Child Charts
Grown Ups
When you read charts for the majority of adult clients you address the usual issues of romance, work, health and family matters or other areas that have already developed during their life.
They may have a job, be married or separated, have kids, be happy or not, and their life is on a well-established track.
An adult knows some dreams will not be fulfilled and they accept they will never be a ballerina or an astronaut.
Possibilities
When you read a chart for a newborn baby all possibilities are open.
In an infant’s chart, no limitations are placed on their life from decisions taken in their past as they have not made any and no previous choices have been made which affect their future.
The Young Ones
Many astrologers feel that there is no point to cast charts for babies and young children as their life holds so much promise and potential that it is difficult to read the chart of one so young.
This attitude occurs because of the vast array of life options that the chart can offer, and there is the idea that an astrologer may somehow influence the future of the child by proclaiming a self-fulfilling prophecy. These may be valid arguments.
Planetary Returns
We refer to the time when a planet passes over its natal position as a return. This occurs when a planet goes back to its birth place in the zodiac measured in degrees and minutes.
The planet has made a complete pass through 360° and once more assumes its position at birth. This takes place at different times for each planet due to their various orbital periods.
The more well-known returns are the solar return, when the Sun reaches its natal position experienced every year near your birthday, and the Saturn return that happens around age twenty-nine as Saturn passes over its natal position in your chart.
Pluto and Neptune will not return by orbit because they take more than a lifetime to transit through the whole zodiac. Pluto takes 248 years and Neptune takes 164 years to orbit the Sun. Uranus will make a return for everyone after eighty-four years.
Postnatal Planet Returns
In the early weeks and months of life the outer planets can go back to their natal position. This may happens in two instances; when an outer planet is retrograde at birth it will at some point station direct and again pass over the natal degree, and when an outer planet is direct and stations retrograde soon after birth thus going back over the birth position when it will station, move direct, and pass once more over the birth degree, in this case the planet makes two contacts to the natal placement.
Non Full Orbit Returns
Although these early outer planets are transiting their natal position, I hesitate to call them a return in the strict sense of the word (as they have not completed a full orbit of the Sun) nevertheless they have gone back to their birth position and for the purposes of this article we will refer to them as returns. Only some people will receive a postnatal outer planetary return. It depends where the planets were in their direct/retrograde cycle when you were born.
Pluto, Neptune and Uranus
Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus are passing through the zodiac signs. The three transpersonal planets will be either moving direct or retrograde. Their retrograde station happens once each year around the time when the angle with the Sun develops towards the waxing trine.
If your birthday (in any year) was immediately after a direct station of the outer planets, is within one degree after the station point in your birth chart, you will not receive any returns from Pluto immediately after birth.
It is only during the first two years of life that you may experience a Pluto, Neptune or Uranus return (except Uranus at the age of 84).
What to Look for in Outer Planet Returns
If a planet is retrograde at birth it will station direct and cross back over the natal degree sometime in the first year.
However, if the planet is direct at birth you have to crack open the ephemeris or consult a graphic ephemeris to check if it will station retrograde soon after birth and whether it will it move as far back in the sign as the natal placement.
If so, you know it will transit back over its birth position at least twice, once retrograde and once direct. Use an orb of 30’ for transits both applying and separating.
Stationary at Birth
If you were born at, or within 30’ orb of, a station of an outer planet then the meaning of that planet will be experienced longer, initially by its position in the birth chart, and by transit as it hovers in orb of the birth position near the station.
This is a special case as the transit may not reapply to the birth position it just takes longer to separate from the birth conjunction.
Outer planets can linger in orb for various times after birth:
Pluto for up to 48 days
Neptune for as long as 44 days
Uranus for a maximum of 31 days
When Forecasting With Transits
Before any forecasting techniques are employed the birth chart needs to be fully understood. It has to be interpreted for both potential and natal promise.
If an outer planet does not return soon after birth it is not part of the transit sequence and can be dismissed. There is a cycle to a multi pass transit and in a three or five exact contact transit sequence the influence of the transit typically develops as follows:
First direct pass: Present
As the transiting planet moves towards the exact aspect the situation unfolds in line with the potentials. This is shown by the transiting planet, the natal planet or point being aspected, the area of life suggested by the house and any other aspects to the planet within the chart.
Second retrograde pass: Review
When the transiting planet moves back over the natal degree, the situation or issue that was aired at the first pass is reviewed as new information comes to light. It is during this time that changes and adjustments can still be made. In the retrograde pass the transit suggests that the situation is still being developed and is in flux.
Third and Final Direct Pass: Resolution
During the final direct pass the transit potential has culminated and the issue will fade away as the planet moves out of orb, although changes or shifts in consciousness that occurred during the transit will persist.
Five Pass Transits
Occasionally Pluto and Neptune will make a five-pass transit to a degree in the zodiac. For a five-pass transit the reprocessing of review (first retrograde pass) and resolution (second direct pass) are repeated as passes four (second retrograde pass) and five (third direct pass).
Every chart is different and some planets will have more influence on you than another. If you have Pisces rising then Neptune will be an important planet. Transits from Neptune will have a greater affect than they would have on someone without Pisces prominent in their chart. Not all transit potentials will come into tangible fruition every time a contact occurs. Often they are experienced as a subtle shift in perception.
Below is a selection of possible outcomes, with particular reference to the newborn baby, during the early years of life. Some items or situations on the list below may seem highly unlikely, but in the interest of good astrology, it is best to bear in mind all the planetary meanings so to present a well-rounded forecast. It is best to constantly expand the possible scenarios in forecasting work.
Pluto
Transiting Pluto Conjunct Natal Pluto
Pluto may cross a zodiac degree up to five times. For example, on March 2, 2015 Pluto will be at 15° Capricorn moving direct. It will station retrograde and cross back over this degree for the second time on June 2, 2015. Pluto again moves forward to transit 15° Capricorn on December 31, 2015 for the third time.
It makes its fourth pass on September 8, 2016 and the fifth and final contact to 15° Capricorn will be on October 14, 2016. These are the dates for the exact hits and in reality there will be a period around these dates when Pluto is in orb of the exact conjunction that you will note.
This five pass transit pattern provides the potential for a postnatal return from Pluto to occur up to nineteen months after birth for someone born at the first contact to 15° Capricorn on March 2, 2015. Bear in mind that this extended Pluto transit potential will not happen for everyone as it all depends on which day you were born and Pluto’s position in relationship to the Sun in your chart which determines where Pluto is in its direct or retrograde cycle.
Examples
When Pluto revisits its birth degree it may be a critical time in the life of a newborn. Pluto transits will be modified depending on its placement in the birth chart.
For an example with reference to planetary dignities, Pluto in the natal eighth house is in accidental dignity (its natural house of rulership), and therefore is well-placed by house. This position suggests at the exact conjunction that any recovery or transformation will be great like the phoenix rising from the ashes.
A natal Pluto in the second house (its natural house of detriment) may indicate that if something unforeseen does indeed occur at the transit that financial strain may surround the situation. Not all Pluto transits are bad news and there can be an upside through the transformative urges of Pluto, but in the delicate early weeks of life to pay attention to physical shifts in the new baby is key.
Themes
Pluto rules the reproductive and eliminatory systems in the body. It also has affinities with toxins and the decomposing function, in other words, the purging reflex of the body when something is not right and food going bad. During a postnatal transiting Pluto conjoining natal Pluto be aware of:
The mother’s medications becoming toxic to the child through the breast milk
Diarrhea and vomiting (purging)
Baby food and milk formula past their sell-by date
Using un-boiled or borehole water (found on farms) to make up bottles
Sexually transmitted diseases from the mother affecting the new born
Colic (the bowels cramping) abating
A transformation in the child indicating renewal of health
More on Pluto
Pluto transforms, buries and rebirths. The people that Pluto represents are crisis workers, the taxman, demons, coercers and the Grim Reaper. Pluto rules the fixed water sign of Scorpio the Scorpion.
Neptune may cross a zodiac degree five times. The time from a first contact (as in the birth chart) to the final conjunction can be several months. On May 9, 2015 Neptune is at 09°30’ Pisces moving direct. Neptune will station retrograde and pass 09°30’ for the second time on July 16, 2015 and then station retrograde and retrace its steps returning to the same zodiacal position of 09°30’ Pisces for the third time on February 29, 2016. Once more stationing retrograde and passing back over 09°30’ on October 19, 2016 to make its final forward pass of 09°30’ on December 20, 2016.
This suggests that a child born during May 2015 can be revisited by transiting Neptune with a conjunction as a postnatal Neptune return when the child is up to nineteen months old.
Examples
Any natal conjunction to Neptune will modify the effect of a Neptune transit directly after birth.
For an example using aspects, natal Neptune conjunct the Moon may indicate the child’s fluid intake needs monitoring during a transiting Neptune conjunction as the Moon rules bodily fluids.
Natal Neptune conjoined with Mars (heat and fever) suggests hot atmospheres, in other words, the child’s room may be too warm and stuffy for comfort at the postnatal Neptune conjunction. Neptune rules all medicines, drugs and anesthesia. In the body it correlates with the feet.
It has affinities with being unconscious, sleep, dreams and nightmares. Neptune may make five or three passes, it depends on the birth date. During a postnatal transiting Neptune conjunct natal Neptune be alert to:
Administering the correct doses of any medication, be scrupulous with measurement
Incubator oxygen levels to high or too low, however unless you are the nurse there is not much you can actually do although you can be present
The baby being wrapped up or swaddled too tight or their all-in-one outfit is too small and hampering easy blood flow especially to the feet
Sleep apnea
A maternal drug habit may can cause withdrawal symptoms in the child
The infant finally sleeping through the night
More on Neptune
Neptune understands, dissolves and eludes. The people that Neptune represents are dreamers, ghosts, angels and nomads. Neptune rules Pisces.
Uranus may make one or three passes through a sign degree in a chart. On very rare occasions it can make five exact contact but is often in orb of the perfection. It again depends on the birth date. On May 24, 2015 Uranus will be at 19° Aries moving direct. It will station retrograde and Uranus will again arrive at 19° Aries on September 29, 2015 to make the final pass to 19° Aries on March 14, 2016. This means that Uranus can potentially take up to ten months after birth to conjoin a specific degree in a natal chart affecting the child with a Uranus conjunct Uranus aspect.
When interpreting a Uranus postnatal return the house in the birth chart will give clues to the area that needs attention.
Examples
For an example considering house meaning, if the ruler of Aquarius is in the third house (which relates to short journeys) check the car seatbelts holding the baby chair in the vehicle.
With Uranus in the fifth house which has an affinity with play carefully look for cracks in plastic play items or torn soft toys. Uranus rules technology, gadgets and widgets. It also has an affinity with the unexpected. In the body Uranus relates to the circulation, synapses (electrical sparks in the brain) and the ankles. At a transit of Uranus to its natal position at the Uranus return pay attention to:
Sudden changes in the child’s behavior
Clothes too tight cutting off circulation – especially socks
Flat batteries in the baby monitor
Loose and broken baby car seats
Buggies and strollers with no brakes
Damaged baby equipment and gadgets
Unexpected recovery from any ailments
A thriving child
These are just some of the possible scenarios and certainly each chart and every child is different.
Uranus
Qualities
Uranus changes, breaks and fashions. Uranus represents adolescents, trendsetters, agitators, and immigrants. Uranus rules Aquarius.
A conjunction is usually viewed as a positive aspect. It makes a strong statement in any transit chart as the energies of the transiting planet are brought to the natal chart. Post-natal outer transits can contain special potential because they are effectively returns or in other words they reinforce the message the outer planet already has in the natal chart.
As the conjunction becomes exact it stimulates all the natal aspects from that planet that are in the natal chart. It is like a recalibrating of the planet’s message for the individual.
Children’s Charts
In General
If you regularly work with babies’ and children’s charts then if you like you can apply these ideas. If there is a transit it can be used for both improvement or tension and clearly these interpretations can be applied to both good and difficult situations.
Personal Research
Your Own Chart
Go back to your own chart. if possible ask your mother if you were ill after birth or needed oxygen etc. Check in the ephemeris for your early outer transits and see what your transpersonal planetary returns happened. If you have children or grandchildren check their charts for any post-natal outer transits.
This is great research because you will have specific, on-the-spot knowledge as you bore witness to situations that may have arisen in their early weeks and months.
The Visible Planets
Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn
You can take this technique a step further and consider the other planets as they will no doubt make their returns in the early days and months of the infant’s life.
For Neptune and Pluto the first two years are the only time in life that you may experience an exact conjunction from the two outer planets and there has to be a way to make the most of them.
If you are reading this article then it is too late for you to use this particular narrow focus prediction method on your own chart. You have to look to the soon-to-be-born and those very young children to discover the true potential of these powerful aspects and the changes they may bring to a infants’ chart.
Other Forecasting Techniques
Transits
If there are planetary transit returns in the first weeks, it will guide you to look for the same contact from the secondary progressions as the postnatal transit conjunction will make a progressed conjunction to their natal positions later in the child’s early years.
Secondary Progressions
A progressed outer planet conjunction to its own place will occur if there was a postnatal transit to its own place. Trends, such as those that developed at the very early postnatal transit, will again be brought forward at the secondary progressed conjunction. When you bring the two dynamic forecast techniques of transits and secondary progressions together you can develop a well-rounded prediction story.
Overarch
Rich Forecast Picture
Much of that which is discussed here needs to woven into a fuller forecast picture. It is not advisable to focus in on one specific transit to announce a fact. Use all the techniques available when you make your predictions.
Take your time and develop a rich forecast story for those critical early years. Most of all keep an open mind.
Author Bio
Alison Price: Professional Astrologer
Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.
If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email atstarzology@gmail.com.
More Articles
If you enjoyed this post, you may like some more astrology related articles from our blog.
This article gently explores the relationship between Mercury and Venus in your chart. These two planets can reflect how you process both words and images, linking thought with impressions. Together, they offer insight into how different ways of knowing come together within you, blending logic and perception into your everyday experience.
This article explains one way to assess the influence which Saturn has in a chart, and therefore how strong or weak it is, through the calculation of essential dignity.
You can learn a lot about your spending habits by looking at your star sign. Each of the twelve zodiac signs has a different approach to retail therapy. Next time you go shopping with your friends see their spending characteristics at play. Check out each sign’s buying instincts below and see if you recognize yourself.
Aries
Aries rushes in where angels fear to tread, and in their hurry Rams want to be in and out of the shop. They buy with cash and online so as to grab the new stuff and be wearing the latest colors of the season. This sign likes the challenge of hunting for a bargain and may easily tackle you to the ground at a fire sale.
Taurus
Taurus takes their time deciding on what to spend their hard earned cash. Bulls prefer to shop in stores, and not online, because they want to touch and feel the goods before buying. After a day of trawling the shops they are just as likely to bank the money and go home empty handed. Sometimes parting with the cash is the quandary.
Gemini
Gemini likes buying on eBay and sniping the auction at the end. They order books and magazines, apps, games and puzzles. Twins are the best traders in the zodiac and will happily barter for stuff as the real fun is the actual deal. You are more likely to see Gemini selling to you, than buying for themselves.
Cancer
Cancers like to feather their nest and will splurge on home furnishings and tableware. They like pretty cutlery and plates to match the occasion, whether for a barbecue outside or a Sunday lunch. Every meal is important and this means the props as well. Crabs like home shopping and will spend on friends, family and will remember to take the office a box of chocolates.
Leo
Leos buy the best they can afford and that goes for luxury items as well. Lions take pride in their purchases and will enthral anyone who will listen about what they bought to adoring oohs and aahs. They will shop in groups and make sure each person has a little something to take home. Leo’s are generous and may spring for lunch as well. They will shop in groups and make sure each person has a little something to take home. Leo’s are generous and may spring for lunch as well.
Virgo
Virgo spends in small increments and can drive the shop girl wild with their bag of small change for a fifty dollar purchase. They like to collect and will slowly attain the things they want. Virgo likes things in patchwork, marquetry and paisley patterns. Virgins are more likely to go to the stores several times a day than do one big shop all at once.
Libra
Libra spends on themselves as much as their partner because there has to be a fiscal balance in their relationship. Libra men may only buy one big item a year, like a car, but its cost will be equal to what their wife spent over the years. Shopping can be agony for Libra as they are not good at deciding and every transaction choice needs to be called.
Scorpio
Scorpio pays cash so there is no paper trail. They like acquiring things and surround themselves with items that mean something. Scorpions will to remove price tags and hoard some attractive items of value. They like to buy things that others desire and may become a collector of rare books or surgical instruments.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius likes to buy when away from home. They are the ones for whom the souvenir shops were made. Archers seek out things that are difficult to find like a seed pod from a baobab tree or exotic spices from Asia. This sign arrives home and flings the bags in a corner not even opening them, already planning their next excursion to the mall.
Capricorn
Capricorn invests. When the Sea Goat goes shopping the items they buy have to earn their place. Not for them trivial trinkets. Capricorn likes quality and will pay whatever it takes to get items perceived as status pieces. Expensive handbags for the women and watches for men. Over the years they can amass a very respectable wardrobe or collection of goodies.
Aquarius
Aquarius like to buy a variety of goods. They love snapping up music and books online and gadgets. They get bored with their stuff and will move on to the next fad as soon as it takes their fancy. Water Bearers have basements full of old things and should invite Scorpio around to rummage through it all. Water Bearers have basements full of old things and should invite Scorpio around to rummage through it all.
Pisces
Pisces enjoy art and soft and beautiful things. They are happy to tag along with the other signs on an outing to the shops. Fish like to buy only what is needed and can be frugal to the extent that they will “do without” when they should be buying things. Fish don’t like the crush of the malls and will shop late in the evening to miss the crowds.
Author Bio
Alison Price: Professional Astrologer
Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.
If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email atstarzology@gmail.com.
More Articles
If you enjoyed this post, you may like some more astrology related articles from our blog.
In this interview, Arwynne and Greek astrologer Thomas Gazis turn their attention to mundane astrology, the branch of astrology that studies world events and historical cycles.
In astrology, the quincunx aspect is 150 degrees with an orb of 2 degrees. It is the aspect of adjustment, awkwardness and mild irritation. Signs quincunx each other are five signs apart.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
Forecasting interpretations can get complex. Reading transits can quickly become confusing and it may seem like they’re out of focus.
You may start following Jupiter as it transits through your chart and Jupiter will offer growth opportunities as it passes by.
But what happens when it makes an aspect with another planet?
If Jupiter is square Saturn does it play out the same way for us all?
We all have our own charts and this is what makes the difference.
Example Transit
Take Jupiter square Saturn. These two planets bring the concepts of expansion and contraction together.
Whether you will experience expansion or contraction in your life depends on your chart. It matters whether Jupiter or Saturn is stronger in you natal chart.
Is either of them your chart ruler or do you have Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius or Pisces as your rising sign?
If one planet in a aspect rules your chart their trantits be stronger for you in general and will express themselves in your life in a clear way.
Cycles appear at all times. When you are on an up swing with one planet you may be on a down cycle with another.
The ability to see the difference between a transit from one planet which may or may not be overshadowed by another is the skill of reading transits.
Jupiter square Saturn is different for everyone. Don’t make the mistake of thinking one size fits all but understand what each planet’s energies are about.
Read each transit by itself and follow along with the cycle so you will have a better understanding of how to forecast.
Measuring Planetary Strength
Apart from the actual aspect involved to understand the strength of the two planets in a combination is the first step.
As the slower moving planets form and release aspects with each other it is good to know which one of the pair is a more important planet for you.
Pluto is important for you if:
You have Scorpio rising
The Sun is in Scorpio
More than three planets are in Scorpio
Pluto in the first or eighth house
Pluto is your final dispositor
Neptune is important for you if:
You have Pisces rising,
Neptune in the first or twelfth house
The Sun is in Pisces
More than three planets are in Pisces
Neptune is your final dispositor
Uranus is important for you if:
You have Aquarius rising
Uranus in the first or eleventh house
The Sun is in Aquarius
You have more than three planets in Aquarius
Uranus is your final dispositor
Saturn is an important planet for you if.
You have a Capricorn or Aquarius ascendant
The Sun is in Capricorn or Aquarius
You have three or more planets in Capricorn or Aquarius
Saturn is your final dispositor
Saturn is in your first, tenth or eleventh house.
Jupiter is an important planet for you if:
You have Sagittarius or Pisces rising
Your Sun is in Sagittarius or Pisces
You have three or more planets in Sagittarius or Pisces
Alison wants to help you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor.
In astrology, the quincunx aspect is 150 degrees with an orb of 2 degrees. It is the aspect of adjustment, awkwardness and mild irritation. Signs quincunx each other are five signs apart.
This is it is good for love friendship and can offer excellent enduring romantic connections. Those you make contact with in this combination will forever be the “one that got away.”
With this combination there is competition between each if you. Both want to be in charge. This combination is good for challenging situations and can be excellent for business partnerships.
if can be good for true love, soul mates and friendship. Other people cannot see what you see in each other but it just works.
This is truly a good combination as the other person will stretch you as a person, call you out on your stuff and make you a better person in the end of your journey.
Signs that are six signs apart are:
Aries/Libra, Taurus/Scorpio, Gemini/Sagittarius, Cancer/Capricorn, Leo/Aquarius and Virgo/Pisces.
There are four seasons each year; spring, summer, autumn and winter. The seasons start when the Sun enters one of the four cardinal signs which are Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn. These seasonal ingresses are the time markers for the year and the basis for calculating the tropical zodiac, which is the one used on my site, and that references time not space. The Sun spends three months, or one quarter of the year, in each season.
Autumn or Fall
As the Sun leaves Virgo and enters Libra the third season of the year Autumn begins.
During its passage of Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius the autumn season develops and the beginning is very different to the end.
Mild temperatures at the start of Libra lead through to cooling and far crisper weather at the end of Sagittarius.
The Harvest
Autumn is the time to gather in the crops and store grains to sustain animals and us over the long winter and into the early spring.
We who live in the developed world and reside in major cities may be slightly out of touch with the sequence of growth and harvest for food.
We just pop into the local deli or bakery and pick up a fresh loaf of bread, baked and sliced that morning.
Rural dweller on farms and small-holdings do notice the changing year more closely.
Libra
Venus rules Libra and she also rules sugar and the fructose in all fruits and berries.
During the Libra part of autumn the late fruit is harvested (the early fruit harvest starts at Lammas on August 1st).
Typically at this stage the food plants have their sugars fully developed even in crops like onions and potatoes.
Plants are ripe and juicy.
Scorpio
As the Sun enters Scorpio the leaves fall profusely and annual plants start to decompose to provide nutrients for the next year’s trees and crops.
This is the transformation period of plant’s decay and part of the cycle of nature.
It is reflected in astrology by the Sun being disposed by Pluto as the ruler of Scorpio.
In many plants the seeds for the next year are being created in pods and flower heads and they wait for the Sagittarian breezes to blow them hither and thither.
Seed distribution is a process of autumn and can be spread over the whole three months.
Sagittarius
The last sign of autumn is Sagittarius.
By now all the leaves have fallen and bare branches abound and this allows the wind to whisk through the branches.
Jupiter’s influence as the planet of Sagittarius now disposes the Sun and we can see much further through the trees and our horizons are broadened at this time.
The late crops are now in and the animals have grown in their thicker coats ready for the cold ahead.
The final migrations have finished and long journeys by birds and herds have come to an end.
Did you notice? Really?
Did you notice all this going on?
No?
Neither did I.
But I live in Vancouver city where I can see the changing seasons by the trees in the streets being stripped bare and the varying colours throughout the city’s parks.
We have experienced several challenging planetary placements in recent years. I am of course referring to the Uranus Pluto square which has had astrologers and laymen alike buzzing with excitement.
Enter the Jupiter Uranus fire trine.
Whilst it is typical that we have both easy and challenging aspects within the zodiac at any one time, it is the individual and combined mixture of flow and resistance between the planets making the aspects that shape our lives.
That Uranus appears in both aspects (square Pluto and trine Jupiter) is telling. He seems to want to fit in and stick out at the same time.
We can live with this.
Aspects
One way to interpret an astrology chart is by a technique called aspects
Astrological aspects are the angular distances between the planets.
Every planet has a measurement in degrees with the other planets but only certain angles are noted in astrology charts.
By dividing the circle of 360 degrees by any whole numbers we get the aspect angles.
The Trine Aspect
If you divide 360 by 3 the result is 120 degrees (360/3=120) and this is the size of the trine aspect.
Two planets that are 120 degrees apart in the zodiac will be in trine to each other.
The aspect degree does not have to be exact but can be within 8 degrees (the orb) either side of 120.
So when the two planets become between 112 to 128 degrees apart they are considered to be trine to each other.
Transiting Jupiter Trine Uranus
When the slower planets like Jupiter and Uranus trine each other it is to be noted.
It is a phenomenon that only happens around every six years then there is a gap of seven years before the next trine.
The elemental sequence is fire, earth, air then water. With two trines in each element, one waxing and one waning trine. Then it slowly shifts into the following element.
The Jupiter Uranus Synodic Cycle
Jupiter and Uranus have a fourteen year synodic cycle.
This means they are together and Jupiter (which is quicker off the mark) races off around the zodiac as Uranus moves forward slowly. Jupiter will catch up with Uranus around fourteen years later.
In 2010 Jupiter was conjunct Uranus at zero Aries. They will next be conjunct in 2024 at twenty-one Taurus.
Looking further forward in 2037 22 Cancer direct and in 2038 at 20 Cancer retrograde.
This shows the conjunction moves around either 30 degrees when at the retrograde three pass conjunction, or around fifty-one to fifty-four degrees and fourteen years during a one pass direct conjunction.
Because there is a trine in place for such a long period, when planets pass through the other fire sign of Sagittarius, they will create a fire grand trine when they trine both Jupiter and Uranus.
The most frequent planet to do this is the Moon.
It will provide huge opportunities and original approaches to how you can use that planet in Sagittarius.
The trine from Jupiter offers good things in line with your natal planet being aspected and the trine from Uranus offers unique and up-to-date solutions which allow things to move forward with ease and flow.
Get fired up!
Fire is all about inspiration. It gets the juices flowing and everyone hot under the collar. It gets people raving about things and issues. It creates fireworks and burning issues. We can get incandescent and want to burst. We are filled with bright ideas and get excited about anything with fire in it like dragon’s breath, candlelight, torches, barbecues and camp fires.
As the planets wander through the sky they change positions against the backdrop of the zodiac. This movement can be like a dance as everyone (the planets) take their place and enter the stage.
At any time, one or two of the planets will take center stage as the others fade into the background for a while. Planets in prominent positions may have a story to tell, and we listen.
Jupiter enters Leo
This time it is Jupiter as he enters the fifth sign of Leo. A fire planet (Jupiter) in a fire sign (Leo).
Up there right now the biggest planet in the solar system and the ruler of Sagittarius, and the co-ruler of Pisces, Jupiter, is entering the zodiac sign of the Lion.
Jupiter in Leo: Dates
Jupiter will be in Leo from June 30th, 2026, until July 26th, 2027.
If your birthday is between August 11th to August 21st of any year, you will receive a triple hit conjunction from Jupiter to your natal Sun.
The first contact will be direct; the second contact retrograde and the third contact direct.
Imagery
Hot Air Balloons: Much Like Jupiter
I often use the imagery of a hot air balloon to explain the astrological meaning for Jupiter. Balloons are big, brightly coloured and when they drift by you simply can’t miss them. Much like Jupiter.
The collective noun for balloons is a festival of balloons which brings a fun and exciting element to ballooning. Much like Jupiter.
They travel on their journey, but to who knows where? Much like Jupiter.
They are filled with hot air or gas, and balloons will explode if over-filled. Much like Jupiter.
They often broadcast a message from their sponsors or promote special events (such as at sports events) written in huge letters on the sides of the balloon. Much like Jupiter.
And I would imagine that the people who do take a ride in a hot air balloon say a prayer before launch. Much like Jupiter.
I have always fancied trusting the woven basket and journeying on a balloon flight and perhaps one day I shall. Much like Jupiter.
Benefits of Jupiter
Transiting Leo
Jupiter in Leo is especially good news for the fire signs and that means those with strong fire signs present in their birth charts.
I will tell you I am strongly Leo myself and I have been waiting for a while now for this shift in energy as Jupiter changes sign.
If you have anAries, Leo orSagittarianSun, Moon orAscendant, Jupiter in these three signs you will benefit during the upcoming year as Jupiter goes through Leo.
If your business chart has the fire signs emphasized, your business can experience huge growth now.
If you are stronglyGeminiorLibrayou will see some support and some good things. You need to grasp any opportunities fleeting as they may be.
If you are stronglyTaurus,ScorpioorAquariuscould face the difficult side and this may suggest the over excessive situations as mentioned later.
Those of you with strongCancer,Virgo,CapricornandPiscesmay not see much change although you will try to make adjustments this year.
Make the Most of Jupiter in Leo
Upside
Jupiter in Leo is upbeat, positive and outgoing. It encourages taking chances and aiming higher in life. Leo is the sign of the theatre and when planets enter the “stage” they will play their roles to perfection.
Using the theater analogy, Jupiter in Leo can either be the highly colorful swashbuckling much-loved hero or he can be an overly costumed and made up, blow-hard in a pantomime.
Challenges
The downside of Jupiter in Leo can be over-extension, over-doings things and excessive behavior. Or just too much of a good thing. Pace yourself and all will be fine.
As Jupiter moves through your chart it spends about one year in each house, expanding the topics of that area of life. Think of it as a spotlight that grows whatever it touches. The gift is opportunity. The caution is excess. Where Jupiter travels, you are invited to grow.
Aries
5th House
For Aries, creativity flourishes. Romance, children, hobbies and personal talents receive a boost. This is a joyful placement that supports self-expression. Watch speculative risks and dramatic gestures. Pleasure is good, excess is not.
Taurus
4th House
For Taurus, home and family life grow in importance. You may move, renovate or welcome new members into the household. Emotional foundations can strengthen. Be mindful of taking on more domestic responsibility than you can comfortably manage.
Gemini
3rd House
For Gemini, learning expands. Writing, teaching, speaking and short journeys are highlighted. Relationships with siblings or neighbors can improve. It is an excellent period for study and communication projects. I believe it’s best to avoid scattering your attention in too many directions.
Cancer
2nd House
For Cancer, growth focuses on money, assets and self-worth. Income can increase, or you may develop new skills that enhance your earning power. It can also be a year of generous spending. Build sustainable value rather than accumulating for its own sake.
Leo
1st House
For Leo, this is personal expansion. Confidence rises. You may feel more optimistic, visible and willing to take chances. It is a year to begin things, refresh your image and step forward. Guard against over confidence or promising more than you can deliver.
Virgo
12th House
For Virgo, growth happens quietly. Inner development, retreat, spiritual practice and completion of old cycles are supported. It can be a reflective year preparing you for Jupiter’s upcoming return to your 1st house. Avoid escapism. Use the time for meaningful closure and renewal.
Libra
11th House
For Libra, friends, networks and long term goals expand. You may join groups or reconnect with community. Hopes for the future feel possible again. Choose associations wisely rather than saying yes to every invitation.
Scorpio
10th House
For Scorpio, career and public reputation grow. Promotions, recognition and leadership opportunities can arise. It is a strong year for professional advancement. Take care not to overcommit or become inflated by status.
Sagittarius
9th House
For Sagittarius, this is a natural Jupiter house. Travel, higher education, publishing and spiritual exploration expand. You may teach, study or engage with different cultures. Guard against dogmatism or assuming you have all the answers.
Capricorn
8th House
For Capricorn, shared resources, taxes, inheritances and intimate bonds are emphasized. Financial support from others may increase. Psychologically this can be a year of deep inner growth. Avoid overextending credit or relying too heavily on others.
Aquarius
7th House
For Aquarius, partnerships grow. Marriage, business alliances and close one to one relationships can benefit. You may attract helpful people or mentors. Balance generosity with clear boundaries.
Pisces
6th House
For Pisces, work routines and health habits expand. You might take on more duties or find improved employment conditions. It is a supportive time to develop healthier daily practices. Do not overwork simply because you feel capable.
What’s in It for You?
Growth
Jupiter is the planet of growth and expansion.
It has to do with reaching for things just out of your grasp but it is the reaching that is important.
S-t-r-e-t-c-h
We like to s-t-r-e-t-c-h ourselves when Jupiter is active.
You can lift your eyes to gaze at your horizons.
Now is the time to aspire towards previously laughable dreams. Dust off your visions and start to believe.
When Jupiter is prominent by transit, and if it contacts your chart, you can raise your profile and aim for more in life.
Supported Activities
Jupiter will support activities in:
broadcasting
Promotion (self and business)
Publishing
Gaining knowledge (as opposed to information)
Adult education
Religious temperance
International travel
Cosmopolitan situations
Jupiter in Leo reinforces the theatre and daily dramas. See them for what they are.
Overarch
Optimism
As Jupiter moves through Leo, and especially if you are one of those late degree Leos receiving the triple touch to your Sun, you are being invited to rise, to expand and to be seen.
This is not about empty showmanship but about wholehearted self-expression. Keep your balloon filled with just enough fire to lift you, not so much that it bursts. Say yes to growth, yes to the stretch and yes to stepping onto your stage with courage.
If you pace yourself and stay true to your purpose, this year can mark a confident new chapter in your story.
Book Recommendations
Here are some books which I believe may interest you about transiting Jupiter.
Considering that Jupiter is entering Leo soon and will be there for over a year:
Find which natal house Jupiter is transiting for you now
List any conjunctions which Jupiter will make to planets in your natal chart
Discover if Jupiter’s two stations (retrograde and direct) will impact your chart by aspect
Find all the triple-hit aspects that Jupiter will form to your natal chart, focus on conjunctions, oppositions and squares
Extend Yourself Even Further
Natal Interpretations
Write a paragraph about your natal Jupiter, its impact (or not) in your chart, position and any influence it has for you (100 words).
Forecast Predictions
Write a piece that explores all the influence and energy which transiting Jupiter will trigger for you in the next year. Specifically explore Jupiter’s house, conjunctions and stations (250 words).
Author Bio
Alison Price: Professional Astrologer
Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.
If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email atstarzology@gmail.com.
More Articles
If you enjoyed this post, you may like some more astrology related articles from our blog.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
As a Western astrologer, it’s valuable to have a basic understanding of other zodiac systems, such as the Chinese Lunar New Year and its animal symbolism.
We are all about astrology here on this site and, having said that, astrology does have a broader sense through which it can be appreciated.
I realize that there is a thin connection from the plant world to astrology, but, I’m trying to express how astrology can be used in everyday life and not just as a horoscope column to be read on a Friday night to see how the weekend will go.
Some of you will appreciate that to accept astrological themes into your life can enhance your experience and understanding of the symbolic nature of the planets.
Four Beds – for Four Elements
Herbs are a diverse group of plants which have much to offer the windowsill grower or the real sized garden plants person.
Gardeners who plant formal herbs gardens typically segregate them into sections in line with their strengths.
Not all herbs are used for the same thing.
There are basically four types of herb that you can grow in a herb garden and they usually grow in their own bed.
Medicinal – Fire signs
Culinary – Earth signs
Fragrant – Air signs
Indigenous – Water signs
Medicinal Herbs
The medicinal herbs are associated to the fire signs of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.
Medicinal herbs are at the root of all medicines we know today.
Examples of medicinal herbs are: Eyebright – for weepy eyes, mullein – used for bronchitis and the storax tree gum – used for coughs and cold remedies.
Culinary Herbs
The culinary herbs are related to the earth signs of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.
Culinary means you can eat them so all the herbs that can be used in cooking and meal preparation are culinary herbs.
Examples of culinary herbs are: Bay leaves in babotie, parsley typically as garnish, rosemary best with roast chicken and mint for mint sauce to accompany lamb.
Fragrant Herbs
Fragrant herbs are under the auspices of the air signs of Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.
Fragrant herbs are use for their smell and are often used in perfume, room cleansers and soaps.
Examples of fragrant herbs are: Jasmine, honeysuckle, lavender and rose all of which are the basis for the perfume industry.
Indigenous Herbs
Indigenous herbs are related to the water signs of Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
Indigenous herbs are those that naturally grow in an area and they can be home grown and they are different for each region.
Examples of indigenous herbs are: for instance, in South Africa the aloe Vera, in central and South America the cactus and in Canada the sugar maple.
Author Bio
Alison encourages you to explore your unique creativity and live a satisfying life through your personal astrology. She offers her insights from the heart and with a sense of humor.
This article explores what people really mean by Celtic astrology, separating ancient Druidic traditions, tree symbolism, and modern interpretations. It gently untangles myth from history while showing how the modern tree zodiac still offers meaningful, nature-rooted insight, even if it is a thoughtful reconstruction rather than a preserved ancient system.
This article explores what people really mean by Celtic astrology, separating ancient Druidic traditions, tree symbolism, and modern interpretations. It gently untangles myth from history while showing how the modern tree zodiac still offers meaningful, nature-rooted insight, even if it is a thoughtful reconstruction rather than a preserved ancient system.
This article is part of my Advanced Natal Astrologyseries, where I explore deeper chart analysis for practicing and aspiring astrologers.
The Mercury Retrograde Cycle
Mercury has more retrograde cycles than the other planets. Mercury goes retrograde three times each year. This occurs roughly at four month intervals and usually coincides with the same element for three consecutive retrograde periods.
Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun. It moves the fastest of all the planets. Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo.
All the planets except the Sun and Moon have retrograde periods every year. The exception is Mars which turns retrograde every two years. you can see that it affects many planets and that there is almost always one planet retrograde at any given time.
Mercury’s Upcoming Retrograde Periods
2026
February 26th to March 20th from 22° Pisces to 8° Pisces.
June 29th to July 23rd from 26° Cancer to 16° Cancer.
October 24th to November 13th from 20° Scorpio to 5° Scorpio.
Element Focus
Let’s take a look at the element that Mercury is currently retrograding in. Mercury’s current retrograde signs are water in Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio the three water signs for 2026.
Podcast Episode
Listen to our Mercury Retrograde podcast episode.
The Mercury Retrograde War Cry!
“Go back, go back, go back to the woods.
You haven’t, you haven’t, you haven’t the goods.
You haven’t the spirit, you haven’t the jazz…
You haven’t the moves that Mercury has!”
Pop Culture and Mercury Retrograde
As the details of Mercury retrograde permeate through to the general public the words, “Mercury retrograde” become a catch phrase and is diluted down into basic, and often most inflammatory words. You will hear things like, “don’t buy computers, cars or phones when Mercury is retrograde.”
Well yes, certainly those things can be said, but astrologers know there is a more subtle effect to the apparent reversal of direction for the innermost planet.
Your Natal Mercury Condition
As with all astrology good forecasting and interpretation for yourself hinges on your own chart. If you have a well-placed and robust Mercury you will withstand the influence of Mercury retrograde (or any retrograde depending on the planet) and still be standing as other folds under their weaker Mercury placements.
A broad generality is like saying, “All cars reverse (or back-up) badly” when really it is more that, “some drivers can’t reverse very well.”
You know yourself that you are better at some things than others and certainly you will do some things way better than anyone else. So saying we all suffer the same way when Mercury is retrograde is simplistic.
If you have Mercury retrograde in your birth chart you will withstand the negative effects of any Mercury retrograde period now and in the future.
How Retrogrades Affect Your Chart
Whichever house in your natal chart this retrograde occurs will be the area of life that is affected.
For example, if this Mercury retrograde period occurs in your 4th house then you will revisit family and home issues and you will need to go back and attend to them as drains, leaks and plumbing come to mind.
If Mercury retrogrades in your 7th house, your marriage will need further discussions and conversations and yes it will be about dragging up past issues (like affairs) to be once aired again as these things just won’t stay buried.
The Illusion of Apparent Retrograde Motion
Retrograde motion is the apparent backwards movement of a planet.
The analogy I use when I’m teaching a class is that when you are on a train moving forwards then another train pulls alongside going at the same speed, if the second train slows down it appearsto be going backwards, although it is still moving forwards albeit slower than your train.
This is an optical illusion and clearly demonstrates planetary apparent retrograde motion.
More on Mercury
Mercury communicates, trades and is factual. Mercury represents agents, salespeople, youths and teachers. Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo.
Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.
If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email atstarzology@gmail.com.
More Articles
If you enjoyed this post, you may like some more astrology related articles from our blog.
Discover the astrology chart of mathematician, poet and musician Mark Winters from Texas in the United States, as explored by Arwynne O’Neill from Starzology.
In astrology, the quincunx aspect is 150 degrees with an orb of 2 degrees. It is the aspect of adjustment, awkwardness and mild irritation. Signs quincunx each other are five signs apart.
Author: Alison Price - Published: October 2025 Introduction Five-a-Side This time we're giving you are top ten tips about astrology and astrology readings. Five tips are from me, Alison, and the other five tips are from Arwynne.5 Top Tips for Aspiring Astrologers...
Author: Alison Price - Published: October 2025 On your Marks, Get set, Go! Have you ever wondered why some people seem to process life in such a distinct way through thinking, feeling and expressing themselves almost in a rhythm of their own? The rising order of...
You find astrology on your own path and for everyone the road it is different because you each have your own chart this alone tells us that you will happen upon astrology in your own way.
It is highly unlikely that your career guidance counselor at school suggested you became an astrologer. They will probably have informed you that you should have become a doctor or a lawyer or a civil engineer.
Most people get into astrology by some form of side-stepping or as often is the case you stumble upon it one bright morn.
The time will come when you consider taking a class. when you finally end up at your first astrology lesson. I want to share my early journey on the road to astrological understanding with you.
My First Lesson
My interest in astrology was first piqued in a geography class at school when I was about fifteen. We were doing the solar system and after the module was complete the teacher sat on the front of her desk and read our Sun sign characteristics from Linda Goodman’s SunSigns which she had in her drawer.
As the teacher read everyone’s Sun sign out loud she finally got to mine. I could not believe how it described me and it all made so much sense. I was blown away. I began to pay attention to my horoscope in the women’s magazines.. I discovered I liked reading about astrology.
The fact that my Sun and ascendant sign is the same would have reinforced the popular horoscope predictions as is the nature of how they are written with each sign on the first house and the forecasts for the signs generated from there. But there it is.
However, one day it was not enough. I wanted more information and I needed my questions answered. Questions like, “When do the signs change?” and “What does the Moon mean?”
These were really simple when I look at them now but back then, and I’m sure it is the same for many of you just starting out, they were huge questions. Questions that deserved an answer.
But there were no answers and I had to find out more. I sought out someone to whom I could ask these tricky questions and who could explain them and other things to me.
My First Teacher
Eventually I found an astrology teacher offering a two-year astrology course which started from scratch. The class was to start the following Tuesday evening at 7 pm. It was exactly what I was looking for.
The place was not near my home but at that time in Africa to find anyone to teach astrology was like finding a diamond in the rough. Beggars could not be choosers and I was a beggar for knowledge.
I got home from work changed my outfit into something less businesslike, scooped up my notepad, pens and the R7 cash (about US$0.70) to pay for the class. Those were the days.
I jumped into my trusty car and drove off into the night. I crossed over the top of Johannesburg along what is known as the concrete highway for obvious reasons. I left home one hour before it was to start to make sure I was on time.
Parking in the driveway I went in. I was excited and anxious at the same time. Grinding over my insecurities. Perhaps I would not like them? Perhaps they would not like me? Maybe I would be lost as the class conversation moved ahead? Maybe I would be floundering today? Imagine if the others knew it all already?
It was crowded and there was standing-room only.
I was twenty years old and the youngest one there. Because seating was limited and my mother had taught me some manners I acquiesced my position to an older lady and I stood at the back with the other “young ones.”
My first teacher’s name was David and told us he was over seventy. He was thin, wiry and wore his long white hair over his shoulders like a merlin.
He began talking and we all put our heads down and started to take notes. He handed out some shiny photostats of a map of the world and other information sheets with complicated looking numbers.
As I was at the back of the room I had the privilege of turning on the hot water urn for the tea halfway through. It was my job to signal him when the water had boiled and made his hot drink which I did with pleasure.
The others crowded around and made their brew and stepped out into the garden to enjoy the break. The sultry evenings were filled with the sounds of crickets and someone had the fly swat to kill the mosquitoes which plagued us in the summer months.
Back again for the second half and more writing. Ok, I was scribbling now. Trying to keep up, hazarding a guess on how to spell some of the new words that would not roll easily off my tongue. I began to wonder if I would be able to decipher my scrawl when I got home.
The classroom was a converted double garage with wall-to-wall bookshelves. Back then the teacher imported the astrology books from America and we could buy them from him. In those days you could not find new age books available to the general public.
There must have been thirty people in that first class. By the next week it had shrunk to about twenty-five people. At class number three I could get a seat at the back and things settled down. Thus the rhythm of my life was set and I had my astrology lesson every Tuesday evening, from seven to nine and let’s not forget the tea break.
After two years of this there were only three of us left, myself and a married couple Marie and Arthur, of whom both I happened to know before I joined the class, serendipitous I call it. I am still in touch with Marie via a mutual friend but sadly her husband left this Earth a few years ago.
In retrospect my first astrology teacher was a fountain of knowledge. My initial tutor set standards in the knowledge that I rely on today. He too had passed but left many trained students behind to spread his life’s work. I hope you find a teacher to inspire you like I did.
When you have an astrology session/reading/consultation, call it what you will, all you see is the finished product.
That is your astrologer discussing your chart and maybe some specific issues you have previously highlighted for attention.
This is usually a one hour meeting and then it is finished.
When you meet your astrologer you don’t see what went on behind the scenes and the time and effort which went into the polished reading you are experiencing.
I want to share with you what goes into make up a client reading.
If you are my client, you may book your hour consultation with me, or sign up for a class or some mentoring and you will see me in action discussing your chart and referring to your charts, diagrams and colored notes.
I thought I’d discuss with you twelve important benefits that go on out of sight to make your personal reading the best you can get. I always think it is convenient that astrology has twelve signs as they can be used to underline different things, just like those here.
When you experience a reading with me you are not just getting my attention for one hour, you are benefitting from my years of dedication and passion for astrology.
I strive to present the very best information I can for you and to offer it in a way that you can understand. I am constantly on the look out for, and creating, new initiatives to appreciate astrology and all of these projects that I have up my sleeve will benefit you.
Taurus: A love of astrology
I love astrology, its value as a tool for self-understanding and how at times it unfolds in the most unlikely way.
I believe in getting to grips with the basics of chart interpretation and this comes from the long slog of learning all the building blocks of astrology which are the signs, planets, houses and aspects.
This is foundational information but you need to know it all before you can start a full interpretation for anyone’s chart. To be a good astrologer you have to pay your dues.
Gemini: Years of classroom learning and reading
I have spent many hours in assorted astrology classrooms. In my initial diploma course way back in the 1980’s for over three years and since then at various in between classes and during the past eight years through further study at the Faculty.
To my mind learning is an ongoing process as new things come up all the time and it is important that I, as your astrologer, keep up to date and hone my information to remain relevant.
Part of being an astrologer is knowing what you can and can’t do. You need to know where you are coming from and where you can confidently go with your clients.
This is what I do for you.
I know I only do western astrology, I typically have engaged and creative people in my practice and I prefer to inspire my clients to live their life through their charts.
At the same time I also know what I don’t do such as rectification or mundane work.
Leo: My creative expression of your chart
Much of my work these days focuses on finding the creativity and genius in your chart. Many of my clients want to know what they can expect and how they can work towards finding satisfaction in their lives.
I honestly believe that this shows in your natal chart and I endeavour to tease out all the creative possibilities I see for you so you can give birth to them.
Virgo: Attention to detail
The research work that goes into exploring your natal chart is detail oriented. There is lots of maths, fine tuning with small degrees and minutes that can make a huge difference in the timing of events in your future.
Checking your chart data and facts is essential for a thorough interpretation and this does take time.
The devil is in the details.
Libra: You and me
All consultations involve two people. You and me. We come together to explore your chart and find a balance, or a middle ground, between what you need to know and what you want to know.
Because we don’t have all day to spend looking into every nook and cranny it is important that I think about our personal one-to-one relationship and concerns and that I harmonise the session to suit you.
Scorpio: Your privacy
This means that I am mindful of anything that you wish to keep quiet about and I respect your wishes by being aware that what I may think is not such a big deal but you may be in angst about.
If you so desire I will help you tune in to your deeper issues but I will not force you to face things for which you are not ready.
A reading is not about doing the dirty laundry it is about being where you are at this time in your life and as your astrologer I will acknowledge that.
Sagittarius: Your vision for your future
My philosophy about your reading is much like, “What has gone is gone. it’s all about what you will do from this day onward.” This means that how you move forward in your life is more important than what has passed.
We all have issues or baggage and the day does arrive when it is time to branch out and strike a new path for yourself.
This forward drive will always be the focus of any reading I do for you as I show you the possibilities.
Capricorn: Respect for you
I am not here to tell you what to do or to urge you to live your life as how I see fit. That is not my role. I respect your chart, its message and the planetary combinations that make up the individual you.
You are your chart and I acknowledge this.
I will not try to change you or to dismiss any fears you may have. I will accept you just as you are.
I want you to achieve your full potential as shown by your chart and this is what I will hold up to you. You are in the driver’s seat and decisions you make are your choice.
Aquarius: Becoming friends
I would like to think that with all (or most) of my students and clients we have a rapport at the end. That when the period for us to come together such as after a class has finished or a reading is done that we can be friends and that we are at ease with each other in a social setting.
Now this does not happen every time but I’ve got to tell you, it happens most of the time.
It is as though my chart attracts those that I can help through my own planetary placing and that connection sustains us through into a future friendship as well.
Pisces: Offering you a place for reflection
As your personal astrology session draws to a close it is important for you to have time for reflection on what has been said in the reading.
I always let you know that you can email me if something comes up in the following few days or if you need time to compose a question upon which some light needs to be shone.
I leave you with time to pause and reflect on your consultation with me which is a very important part of the process and rounds it all off well.
Conclusion
These are some of the ways that I prepare for your personal astrology session.
Clearly it is not just sixty minutes out of my life, although it may be one hour out of yours. The background preparation for me is both intense and reflective.
The experience and skill of your astrologer will show through in the reading they can provide and the lasting value that is perceived by the most important part of this process, you.
In astrology the planets rule many things in daily life of which some examples are the days of the week, our body parts, colours, birthstones and plants. Most plants fall under the auspices of one of the planets. Therefore each planet has many plants to which it is related.
Some planet/plant affinities are clear to see such as that the sunflower comes under the Sun, and the Moonflower under the Moon but others are not obvious connections at all.
These planet to plant connotations and affinities have come to us through the ages over time. For those early correlations we have to go back to the older herbalists who were often astrologers as well.
The most famous herbalist is probably Nicholas Culpeper (28 October 1616, 12:12pm). Born in Oakley, England he was, amongst other things, a herbalist and an astrologer.
I refer you to Culpepper’s Complete Herbal for many of the planetary correlations I refer to here.
I am also a huge fan of Margaret Roberts from Johannesburg, South Africa who is a charismatic herb grower and author of many wonderful books on herbs and herb growing.
Herb gardens
I used Margaret Roberts schematic for the laying out and planting for both of my herb gardens that we built in Cape Town and Phalaborwa.
The first one in was in a new house in Table View, and yes that means with a view of Table Mountain, this first garden was laid out behind the house in a thin strip of land but a spot onto which the dining room faced.
Here I was able to position the birdbath (which is the focal point in any herb garden) in the centre of the window scape as you looked out at dinner. Those were the days when we as a family ate at a table each night.
The second herb garden my husband built with his own fair hands at a time when I was recovering from a most difficult surgery and could not rise from my sickbed for about a month. He wanted to create something for me to get out of bed for and hopefully to aid my long and painful recovery.
I must say I was intrigued from the enthusiastic stories from the kids about what Dad was doing as I flopped about unable to stand unaided. It worked, and indeed one day I managed the long walk to freedom down the passage and outside the house into the back garden.
What a beautiful sight to behold the red paving bricks were in a ten metre circle and all the little paths where they should be. He had been listening all those days in the past when I was chattering on about the importance of the circle and the measurements of the whole thing. I was very impressed and immediately set about making a list of the plants I now needed to fill the beds.
But when it came to it I did not need that many plants as my “sickroom” visitors came with not just gifts of biscuits and cake but of little herbs plants, packets of seeds and cuttings from their garden. The word had spread to the small community in which we were living and everyone who heard about my herb garden wanted to be part of it. Even the teachers from our kids little school donated something living like a plant or seeds with the potential for life.
For this generosity I am grateful.
But sadly we moved away and now new people have the benefit of a well stocked herb garden. In fact I believe the herb garden was a selling feature for the house when we moved. It was the only formal herb garden in the town when we built it and it maybe so today.
Definition
Herbs are a group of aromatic, culinary and medicinal plants typically grown in the subtropical regions from the 23rd to the 35th parallel on the Earth in both the northern and southern hemispheres.
Herbs are usually small leafed and grow under one meter in height.
Examples of herbs are parsley, sage and thyme.
Spices are usually grown in the tropical regions on the Earth between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn from the equator to the 23rd parallel and therefore are usually naturally found closer to the hotter areas than herbs. Spices are often harvested for their roots, seeds and leaves which pack a powerful heat and taste.
Examples of spices are turmeric, ginger, and peppers.
Therefore herbs have a wider growing area parallel to the Earth’s equator and so are cultivated in many countries.
Some tree bark, leaves and fruit are also loosely considered “herbs” and in modern culture we accept cinnamon, the bay leaf and elderberry etc.
Herb growers
In my experience people who grow herbs are the nicest and most generous spirited folk as they readily share their bounty of seeds, cuttings, and flowers and homemade produce of soaps, jams and preserves.
Herb growers typically spend many hours a week in their herb garden or tending their pots of little plants on their windowsills.
Herb benefits
We have known of the benefits of herbs for centuries. Many have connotations with the planets and astrology and it is interesting to see which plants related to each planet and sign.
In future posts I plan to discuss the astrology of herbs and those that I like and find the most useful.
One of the techniques in astrology when assessing chart potential is to consider natal promise.
This is what is in the chart at birth and all the planets placements, condition and angle positions show what is possible for you in this lifetime.
It is what your chart promises and if something is promised like Sun conjunct Midheaven being well known and well respected and well thought of it may come to pass.
If it is not promised (weak MC) therefore it may pass you by.
Just because something is promised does not mean it will happen, but if something is promised you can focus your energy on bringing it to fruition.
I’ve often heard the adage, “The harder you work the luckier you get,” and this may indeed be the case. By focussing on your strengths you actually can diminish your weaknesses.
Criteria for Natal Promise
For example, you won’t win the lottery if you don’t have a strong fifth house.
Winning things like lotteries and sweepstakes are areas of life associated with the fifth house of risk and gambling.
For this type of natal promise to manifest you will need:
The 5th house ruler to be well placed and not afflicted.
The benefics (Venus and Jupiter) well placed and not afflicted.
Expend your efforts on the good things in your chart like:
Planets free from affliction – No squares, oppositions, semi-squares or sesquiquadrates and throw in the semi-sextile and quincunx as tough aspects too
Houses with many planets – One of your houses will have more planets that the others
Signs with many planets – One sign will have more planets that the other signs and it may be different than your Sun sign
Easy aspects joining two planets by trines or sextiles
Find Your Natal Promise through your Potential Energy Planet
Highest Essential Dignity Score
In your chart find the strongest planet by essential dignity, position and condition.
The planet with the hoghest essential dignity score may also be your potential energy planet.
Moving on…
Free from Affliction
Now find any planet which is free from affliction which means it has no challenging aspects like squares or oppositions from the other planets.
I refer to this planet as your potential energy planet it is the one most likely to work well for you.
Follow that planet’s message.
This is where your potential lies.
One Potential Energy Planet
In every chart, one planet will be less detracted from or diminished than the others and have more potential.
Find that planet.
Understand its message.
Work it daily.
Author Bio
Alison encourages you to explore your unique creativity and live a satisfying life through your personal astrology. She offers her insights from the heart and with a sense of humor.
This article explores what people really mean by Celtic astrology, separating ancient Druidic traditions, tree symbolism, and modern interpretations. It gently untangles myth from history while showing how the modern tree zodiac still offers meaningful, nature-rooted insight, even if it is a thoughtful reconstruction rather than a preserved ancient system.
This article explores what people really mean by Celtic astrology, separating ancient Druidic traditions, tree symbolism, and modern interpretations. It gently untangles myth from history while showing how the modern tree zodiac still offers meaningful, nature-rooted insight, even if it is a thoughtful reconstruction rather than a preserved ancient system.
In this interview, Arwynne and Greek astrologer Thomas Gazis turn their attention to mundane astrology, the branch of astrology that studies world events and historical cycles.
Looking to bring a piece of my artwork into your home? I'm thrilled to announce that select pieces are now available in my Redbubble shop! You can find this featured image as both greeting cards and stickers. Your support helps me continue creating astronomical art that celebrates the wonders of the cosmos. Visit my shop to browse the collection.
As I was at the back of the room I had the privilege of turning on the hot water urn for the tea halfway through. It was my job to signal him when the water had boiled and made his hot drink which I did with pleasure.
