Astrology is the world’s way of giving you a glimpse of what’s coming your way. It’s not a religion, a belief system, or a cult. It’s a way to feel one with a greater presence and make sense of the phenomena in your life. Ptolemy, a Greek mathematician, astronomer, geographer, and astrologer once said, “When I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth.” For centuries, people have turned to the stars to navigate uncertainty and seek answers in the alignment of celestial bodies. Whether for guidance, reassurance, or simple curiosity, astrology remains a bridge between the universe and the human experience, reminding us that we are part of something vast and bigger than ourselves.

Here’s how to use astrology to guide you on your journey!

First, get a hold of your birth chart. You’ll need the exact time of your birth and the location you were born. A birth chart (or natal or astrological chart) is a snapshot of all the planetary coordinates at the time and location of your birth. It resembles a wheel split into twelve sections, mapping the positions of the planets within the astrological houses and signs according to your birthplace. By using this chart, you can see your strengths, weaknesses, and gain information about things like love, career, family life, life purpose, and more.

Here are some websites you can use to calculate your birth chart:

• Astro Charts 
• Co-Star (You can also get the Co-Star app, which keeps you updated on your daily horoscope!) 
• Cafe Astrology

Once you obtain your zodiac signs under various celestial bodies, you can begin to understand how to use astrology to guide the events in your life. The sign rising on the eastern horizon at your birth is your ascendant or rising sign. It shapes the image you present to the world and offers insight into the skills, talents, and strategies you naturally use to navigate life. Each celestial body covers a certain type of Earthly event. The Sun, which is the zodiac sign most people refer to, represents your sense of self, identity, and self-esteem, reflecting your confidence and inner strength. The Moon represents your emotions, sense of safety, values, and intuition. Mercury focuses on communication and information-gathering. Venus focuses on love and beauty, relationships, passion, and money. Mars is your energy, assertiveness, sexual expression, and courage. Jupiter can reflect your luck and abundance. Saturn focuses on your limitations, boundaries, and discipline. Uranus speaks about change, rebellion, breakthroughs, and sudden events in your life. Pluto is transformation, death, rebirth, and power. Your nodes also play into this; the north node represents the karmic path you’re meant to move toward in this life and the south node is what you’re already well-versed in, perhaps as a result of early or past life experience. 

Each celestial body spends time within the 12 zodiac signs, and each transition marks a unique period, influencing different aspects of your life. For example, as the moon moves into a new sign, it illuminates a different area of your birth chart. These shifts shape emotions, behaviors, and experiences, offering insight into personal growth, challenges, and opportunities along the way. Here’s a quick description of popular character traits associated with the signs:

1. Aries: often described as energetic, impulsive, and courageous. They are also known for being adventurous, assertive, and ambitious.
2. Taurus: known for being grounded, patient, and reliable. They enjoy relaxing in serene, idyllic environments.
3. Gemini: known for being quick-witted, curious, and adaptable. They are constantly juggling a variety of passions, hobbies, careers, and friend groups.
4. Cancer: are sensitive, intuitive, and nurturing. They are also known for being homebodies who value relationships and family.
5. Leo: often described confident, creative, and energetic. Leos love to bask in the spotlight and celebrate themselves.
6. Virgo: Virgos are humble, self-effacing, industrious, and practical, but under the surface, they are frequently natural, kind, and sympathetic. 
7. Libra: often social, charming and artistic. They have a propensity for harmony and are well-mannered, often taking the peacemaker.
8. Scorpio: described as deeply passionate, intensely loyal, and secretive people, known for their strong willpower, magnetic personality, and tendency to be guarded with their emotions. They can be fiercely protective of those they care about.
9. Sagittarius: are adventurous travelers with a strong moral compass and have a misunderstood altruistic nature. They adore soaking up all the knowledge they can, especially about other cultures, distant travel destinations, politics, and social justice.
10. Capricorn: known to be extremely hardworking visionaries, leaders, and trailblazers. They tend to be ambitious in looking after their health, families, and long-term friendships.
11. Aquarius: independent, innovative, and humanitarian individuals with a strong sense of social justice, often seen as free spirits with a unique perspective and a desire to help others. They are known for their open-mindedness and intellectual curiosity.
12. Pisces (my sun sign!): are compassionate, romantic, artistic, intensely empathic, and sensitive. They’re the creatives of the zodiac; when they channel their emotions into their favorite art form, they feel more centered and enlightened.

Each zodiac sign adds its own flavor to the way a celestial body operates. That’s why a Pisces Venus expresses love differently than a Cancer Venus, or a Scorpio Mars pursues goals differently than an Aries Mars.

Lastly, pay attention to crucial planetary transits that can help you navigate life’s ups and downs. For example, Saturn returns, which occur roughly every 27 to 29.5 years, mark periods of intense personal growth and responsibility, while Jupiter transits can bring luck and expansion in certain areas of your life. Retrogrades, like the infamous Mercury retrograde, call for reflection and re-evaluation rather than fear.

Understanding these signs is just the beginning; by diving deeper into your chart and more intricate details like houses, degrees, and aspects, you can find further patterns to guide you. Keep in mind, astrology isn’t about predicting the future with certainty but rather about gaining a framework in order to understand yourself and your experiences on a deeper level.

So, are you ready to explore what the universe has in store for you?