Astrology works because our universe and everything within it, from the strangeness of recently discovered dark matter and energy, up to the smallest parts of atoms and finally to the inconceivable vastness of great galaxy's, is just one inconceivably vast unit. This tidy bit of information is courtesy of those at the forefront of physics. It seems that every atom is simply a small part of a greater whole. Our galaxy is just one of billions of other galaxy's in the universe with each containing many billions of stars. One of the stars in our galaxy is our sun and it is surrounded by planets, planetoids, asteroids, comets, and other assorted space stuff.  As the planets go about their business of orbiting the sun, they are generating gravitational fields, electromagnetic waves, and other cosmic disturbances that resonate throughout our solar system. It would appear that we are sensitive to these disruptions in our celestial environment and react to them just as we would to any other stimulus such as light, heat, rain, and love. While it may seem difficult to acknowledge the indisputable fact that we are responsible for our own actions and that many if not all of those actions were initiated by us as we responded to the stimulus caused by the disruptions in our celestial environment. I would submit that if we weren't all so busy synchronizing our daily activities with the ever changing cycles of the heavenly bodies above, astrologers wouldn’t be able to make the kinds of profoundly precise predictions that we are noted for. But we can, and we do, every single day. 

What exactly is a horoscope? It is simply a map of the sky that is made for the time and place of birth. It is divided into twelve sections called houses. Each house deals with a specific area of life such as your money, your children, your career or your spouse. The meaning of the 12 houses can be found at the link tittled The Houses. In the houses can be found the Sun, Moon and Planets. The Sun, Moon and Planets represent specific types of energy which can be found at the link called The Planets. Astrologers assign the unique energies of the planets to the areas of life associated with the house in which they were located at birth. For example, if Venus, the planet that is most closely associated with socializing, forming relationships, falling in love, beauty, the arts and money, was located in your sixth house of the job, work conditions, and co-workers, it would be natural for you to  love (Venus) doing a good job. (the sixth house) You would want to work (sixth house) in a pleasant, friendly and attractive (Venus) environment, be well compensated (Venus) for your work and would be well   liked (Venus) by your fellow employees. An important romantic relationship (Venus) could easily develop with a co-worker.  A good job for you is either in the arts or in some form of cooperative interchange such as counseling. However, if Venus was located in the fourth house of your horoscope which concerns itself with your home and family, you would naturally apply the attributes of Venus to the affairs of that house. You could easily have a gift for making your home beautiful. You would probably have some skills in interior decorating and the older you get the more beautiful your home should become. You were probably born with a knack for creating a warm, friendly

A former great astrologer ang philosopher named Marc Edmund Jones taught his students that time is the integrating dynamic in experience. Another great astrologe and psychologist, Dr. Carl Jung instructed us that each moment of time carry's with it all the quality's of that moment of time. This means that everything has the quality's of the moment of time that existed at the moment of its birth. This includes both thoughts and things. In fact, it includes everything. You, me, and everyone and everything else, is a reflection of the quality's that were in effect at the moment of our birth. An astrologer can observe these quality's by making and then analyzing a horoscope.

atmosphere in your home and can make others feel like they are a part of your family. Some family members could even have some money. They may also have more than a bit of artistic talent. A third and last very simple example would be if Mars the planet of bold and courageous action, was located in your second house of money and possessions at the time of your birth. This would tell the astrologer that you are not afraid to take assertive and aggressive action (Mars) concerning your finances. (Second House) You will easily and eagerly apply your energy to work hard to get, and will fight to protect, your possessions. You could also easily make money by dealing with things associated with the planet Mars. You will also have a tendency to spend your money aggressively. Saving for a rainy day is probably not a part of your essential nature. An astrologer could humorously, but accurately state that you were a person who was born with the courage to shop. While this is extremely simplistic and more than a bit silly, the point is that a planet must apply its energy to the affairs associated with the house in which it was located when you were born.
 
A horoscope will also show the twelve signs of the zodiac.  The twelve signs are individual sections of the sky that form a circle around the horoscope. In fact, zodiac means, The circle of animals . As the planets orbit the sun they will travel or transit through each of the twelve signs. The sun, moon and planets must express themselves according to the nature of the sign they are occupying and will then apply those energy's to the areas of life associated with the house that it occupies. Once you understand that simple premiss learning to read a horoscope becomes easy and fun as you experiment with all the different meanings of the planets,, signs, and houses. That is the basic rule of reading a horoscope. Let me repeat it.

Each planet is associated a specific energy. That energy will be applied in the manner of the sign where the planet was located at the moment of your birth. That planet must then apply its unique energy directly to the affairs associated with the house that it occupied at the time of your birth. It is neither mystical, magical nor particularly profound. It is just simple, basic astrology. To learn the individual meanings of the planets, signs and houses of a horoscope, simply click on the appropriate link at the top of the page.