Everyone seems to know their star sign. Astrology has entered popular culture well and truly, and everyone from your hairdresser to a celebrity knows what their star sign is. You’ll normally find a star sign prediction in all but the most conservative of newspapers and no lifestyle magazine is complete without one.
What is an astrology reading? There’s actually a lot more to an astrology reading to just the ones you’ll find in a magazine. The star signs that you’re probably familiar with are what are known as sun-signs, and refers to one of the twelve constellations of the zodiacs. Sun sign astrology is actually a very basic form of astrology, and there’s a lot more to it than just when you were born.
There’s quite a few different types of astrology that we aren’t as exposed to. Different cultures practice their own types of astrology, although Tibetan, Vedic and Chinese are probably the ones that are most common and well established.
The “brand” of astrology that you choose to get a reading with will influence the results you get. So it’s probably a good idea to get a brief idea of their differences.
Chinese astrology is different because it uses a different calendar to the Western one. It’s based on the positioning of the five inner planets at the time of a person’s birth. Each of the planets corresponds to a different element. For example, Venus is metal, Jupiter is wood and so on. Each element has its own strengths and weaknesses, as well as specific body parts and even a special color!
Chinese astrology also brings the concept of yin and yang quite clearly into the picture, which is of course the interconnection of all things.
Tibetan astrology is heavily influenced by Chinese astrology, although it brings a heavier Buddhist influence. Therefore there’s quite a focus on the properties of karma and how that influences your life.
Vedic astrology comes from India and therefore has a different focus. It still looks at the moons and planets, although the interpretation is a bit different. Vedic astrology is actually still taught in many leading Indian Universities today, so it still has a very active community (although all types do).
The results you get will obviously be influenced by the type of reading you choose. Many of the online readings you might get (those that are generated by a computer) will be done with sun-sign astrology. This is the simplified version of astrology that’s used in newspapers and is where the star signs that we’re all familiar come from.
These are generally fine as readings, although just be aware that the current form has only been around since the 1930s when Western newspaper readers started demanding readings. If you want a true astrological reading, with a history that goes back many more years it would be best to choose a type which has that prestige.
But what is an astrology reading? There’ll be a few things that will happen when you partake in an astrology reading. This will also depend on what you want to learn. There are two basic types of astrology which go across all the different versions (Chinese, Tibetan etc). The first is natal astrology.
This is actually what most people think of when someone mentions they’re getting an astrology reading. You’ll get your astrological chart written up, and this will depend on the location you were born, as well as the positioning of the stars, their moons, and the position of the planets. It’s based on the idea that everything that needs to be expressed will be at the beginning.
There are two parts to getting a natal chart. The first is simply the actual act of working out the positions of the various objects in the sky, making calculations and that sort of thing. The second half is the much more exciting part and deals with the interpretation of that chart.
This will involve checking where the various planets and stars fall on the chart and the influence they will have on the individual. Each of the planets has a different “weight” to it, as well as a feminine or masculine energy. All of this information will be put together by someone who (hopefully) has years of experience doing this.
At the end you can expect to have insight into your personality, potential career options and anything in your future that might occur. It’s all “written in the stars” as it were.
The interpretation of the various star signs is very complicated. You only need to start reading a book on astrology to know how complex it is. There are so many different angles and so many different things that have to be taken into account that it’s almost impossible to do this on your own. So if a book or website tries to convince you that you can do it by yourself—think again! In general, the more detail that gets put into your star chart, the more accurate information you’ll receive.
The other type of astrology that you’ll come across is interrogative astrology, and this deals with specific events that are taking place within someone’s life. For example if you’re having issues with relationships, perhaps your health isn’t so great, or you’re having some money problems, some interrogative astrology will look at your situation with reference to the stars. Quite a lot of the time this astrology will also require the lens of your star chart.
So what is an astrology reading? If you choose to go beyond the cheap popular culture of star signs and that simplistic form of astrology, you’ll learn plenty about yourself and your future. Choose a type of reading that resonates within you, or just go with something fun. Whichever type you choose, it’s best to go with those that have been around for the longest. They have the most history and prestige.
While it can be tempting to think about decoding your star chart yourself, don’t fall into the trap of thinking that a book can teach you everything. Interpreting astrological charts is a very complicated business, and most people who do so will have been in training for a very long time.
When you get an astrological reading, you’ll have learnt more about yourself, your personality and where you’re going. It could definitely be a worthwhile investment.