You’ve seen memes. You’ve read horoscopes. Maybe some of it rings true, and some of it doesn’t. Maybe it makes you laugh. But did you know that astrology isn’t just for fun? If you learn how to use it practically, your birth chart can be a compass when you are feeling lost.
How Does Astrology Work?
To be honest, I have no idea.
Any anyone who says otherwise is lying.
But I don’t need to know how astrology works to know that it does work. Do you need to know how your microwave works, or are you content for it to pop your popcorn?
I am not someone who believes that the planets make us do anything. I don’t think Mercury being retrograde makes you lose your keys or the Moon in Cancer makes you cry like a baby without a pacifier. But these things do happen, pretty reliably. So why is that?
Rather than the planets having some kind of magnetic hold on us, my best guess is that they simply represent the available energy at any given moment.
Back in the day of ancient times, before Instagram and cell phones and so many city lights that you can barely see the stars, the skies were sacred. The ancients relied on the moon to light the sky and they painstakingly recorded the movements of the planets. Those movements taught them that when the planets were in particular positions, there was a certain type of energy present.
That’s what astrology represents to me: Energy.
Think about the seasons. July doesn’t mean anything anymore than January does. But the energies of these two seasons are different (at least where I live). January is cold and dark, while July is hot and sunny. Wouldn’t you agree that plants that thrive in January need different care from those that bloom in July? It’s the same for people.
What is astrology, exactly?
The textbook definition is “the study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world.” Astrology is a blend of art and science, observation and interpretation.
At the moment you were born, the Universe took a cosmic picture of the planets and their alignments, and that grouping of planets imprinted on you as your astrological DNA. You carry it with you always, and it never changes (although it does mature and expand). That cosmic picture is visualized in a birth chart, and you can get a copy of your birth chart by visiting any of several websites and astrology apps. (You will get the most accurate picture if you know your birth date, birthplace and time of birth. If you can get a copy of a birth certificate, this is the best source of that information. I personally recommend the app Time Nomad, which I use on a daily basis.)
In the Western tradition, we focus on ten planetary bodies which are called planets for the purposes of interpretation. The main planet in that group is the Sun, and almost everyone (even diehard skeptics and haters) knows their Sun Sign.
But astrology is so much more than a Sun Sign. It can be your North Star when you’re feeling lost!
The Different Parts of your Birth Chart (And Personality)
The Sun is the main character in the play of your life, but the other planets all play important supporting roles. And some points during your life, they will even take the spotlight for a time. Here is a brief description of the ten planets and the roles they play:
- The Sun: your purpose, power and basic personality
- The Moon: your emotional needs, how you love and want to receive love
- Mercury: your style of intellect and communication
- Venus: what you find attractive and what people find attractive about you
- Mars: your inner warrior, the things that rile you up, make you mad and turn you on
- Jupiter: your inner philosopher and the part of your personality that may overshadow the others
- Saturn: your sense of duty, the things that restrict and confine you
- Uranus: your inner rebel and genius, the part of you that’s different from everyone else
- Neptune: your inner dreamer, your spiritual self
- Pluto: your inner therapist, the part of you that breaks you down to build you back up
We all have each of these planets in our charts, but they are all in different signs. Think of it as the planets being actors, and the signs are the costumes they wear and the lines they speak. A Gemini Sun will dress and act differently than a Virgo Sun, but they are both Suns and they are both playing their divine roles.
All of these planets work together to make you who you are.
You can read more about how your Sun Sign is related to your purpose here.
So now you’re probably asking:
How Can Astrology Help You Navigate the Changes in Your Life when you are feeling lost?
I believe with all my heart and soul that astrology is at its best and most powerful when it’s used as a tool for self-discovery, self-improvement and self-empowerment.
Your birth chart is your personal blueprint.
It is so specific to you that it is your specific remedy, North Star, compass, and instruction manual. And learning how to read it and apply it to your life is literally your personal key to happiness and fulfillment.
You are unique. And while they say there is no manual for how to live life, your birth chart comes very close to being exactly that. Your birth chart is the blueprint for your life. It can point you in the direction of your purpose, your strengths, obstacles to expect, and places to find joy.
And your birth chart is the answer to all the big questions if your life, such as:
What is my purpose?
Which type of work would fulfill me?
Who would make a good partner for me?
Where can I find joy?
What do I do now?
Where can I find some direction when I am feeling lost?
All the planets in your birth chart have different needs. Think of them as a family. They all want what’s best for you, but they will go about securing that in different ways. This can be confusing and cause a lot of internal conflict, where you are favoring one side of yourself to the detriment of another.
For example, you might be fulfilled at work, but you can’t seem to make relationships last. Or you have most of your life together, but you feel empty inside. Something is not aligned with your soul, and your birth chart can tell you what that something is. When you learn how the planets in your birth chart behave individually and as a group, you can really start to get a complete picture of your truest self. And when you are your truest self, you are your happiest self!
So how can I help you to help yourself?
I have been studying astrology since I was a child. My family took a trip to Florida and when I was 8 or so years old, my dad pulled out our birth charts and read them to us. I was mesmerized, and I hadn’t ever felt so seen or understood. From then on, I used astrology to see and understand the people around me. I learned how to best communicate with others based on their energies. I used it to understand clients when I was a courtroom attorney, to understand coworkers and the judges I practiced in front of, and to interact with my friends, my children and myself every day!
Astrology is the love of my life, and I turn to it again and again when I am feeling lost.
And I want to share my love with you.
It’s not my intention to teach you about astrology. It’s my intention to teach you about your astrology and to be your guide, friend and coach as you step into your power and align with your purpose.
If you would like to learn more about how you can begin to work with your natural energy, you can book a free 30-minute Energy Assessment Reading with me here.
Til next time.
Jam, the Astro Pro
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