Foundations of Astrology
Zodiac Signs and Astronomy
Well known people born with the Sun in Aries include:
Aretha Franklin. March 25, 1942. Singer.
Vincent van Gogh. March 30, 1853. Painter.
Charlie Chaplin. April 16, 1889. Actor.
Well known people born with the Sun in Taurus include:
Barbra Streisand. April 24, 1942. Singer.
Karl Marx. May 5, 1818. Economic philosopher.
Jean Houston. May 10, 1939. Transpersonal psychologist.
Well known people born with the Sun in Gemini include:
Clint Eastwood. May 31, 1930. Actor.
The Dalai Lama. June 6, 1935. Tibetan spiritual head.
Salman Rushdie. June 19, 1947. Writer.
Well known people born with the Sun in Cancer include:
Debbie Harry. “Blondie” July 1, 1945. Rock singer.
Pamela Anderson. Lee July 1, 1967. Actress.
Bill Crosby. July 12, 1937. Actor.
Well known people born with the Sun in Leo include:
Arnold Schwarzenegger. July 30, 1947. Body-builder, actor and politician.
Napoleon Bonaparte. August 15, 1769. Leader.
Bill Clinton. August 19, 1946. US President.
Well known people born with the Sun in Virgo include:
Sean Connery. August 25, 1930. Actor.
Maria Montessori. August 31, 1870. Educator.
Agatha Christie. September 15, 1890. Mystery writer.
Well known people born with the Sun in Libra include:
Julie Andrews. October 1, 1935. Actress.
Mahatma Gandhi. October 2, 1869. Pacifist.
Margaret Thatcher. October 13, 1925. Former PM of the UK.
Well known people born with the Sun in Scorpio include:
Bill Gates. October 28, 1955. Software mogul.
Whoopi Goldberg. November 13, 1949. Actress.
Charles Manson. November 12,1934. Cult figure.
Well known people with the Sun in Sagittarius include:
William Blake. November 28, 1757. Poet.
Sinead O'Connor. December 8, 1966. Singer.
Steven Spielberg. December 18, 1947. Movie director.
Well known people with the Sun in Capricorn include:
Mary Tyler Moore. December 29, 1937. Actress.
J.R.Tolkein. January 3, 1892. Writer.
Elvis Presley. January 8, 1935. Singer.
Well known people born with the Sun in Aquarius include:
Oprah Winfrey. January 29, 1954. TV talk show host.
John Lydon. January 31, 1956. Singer.
Charles Darwin. February 12, 1809. Evolutionist.
Well known people born with the Sun in Pisces include:
George Washington. February 22, 1732. Former US president.
Bobby Fischer. March 9, 1943. Former world chess champion.
Edgar Cayce. March 18, 1877. Clairvoyant.
Key words or meanings for the signs:
Aries
Impulsive. Initiating. Risk-taking. Selfish. Spontaneous.
Taurus
Persevering. Dependable. Stubborn. Industrious.
Gemini
Communicative. Dexterous. Fickle. Adaptable.
Cancer
Receptive. Sympathetic. Moody. Caring.
Leo
Generous. Self-assured. Self-centered. Creative.
Virgo
Practical. Conscientious. Critical. Efficient.
Libra
Social. Co-operative. Indecisive. Diplomatic.
Scorpio
Magnetic. Transforming. Obsessive. Mysterious.
Sagittarius
Idealistic. Optimistic. Dogmatic. Adventurous.
Capricorn
Realistic. Disciplined. Conservative. Constructive.
Aquarius
Humanitarian. Independent. Fanatical. Inventive.
Pisces
Subtle. Imaginative. Vague. Compassionate.
Questions:
1) What sign comes after Scorpio?
2) What sign is very knowledge orientated?
3) Someone born on May the twelfth has the astrological Sun sign of ....?
4) Draw the glyph for Pisces.
5) What is the ecliptic?
Exercises:
Make a diary of friends and families birthdays. Work out what their Sun signs are.
Consider the characteristics of your Sun sign mentioned above. In what ways do you readily reveal your core personality to others? Consider the way that you communicate what you want and how you respond to the basic vitality of others. Noting key phrases for the relevant element and modality of your Sun sign may help to clarify this exercise.
The Astronomy of Astrology
“He constructed stations (in the heavens) for the great gods,
and stars their counterparts, he set there as constellations;
he defined the year by marking out its divisions,
setting up three stars for each of the twelve months.”
(From a translation of a Babylonian creation myth).
Astrology is based on astronomical principles. Until around 3 centuries ago there was not a very clear distinction between astronomy and astrology. For example, Ptomley, the great astrological synthesist of the ancient world, wrote books on both astrology and astronomy.
The ancient astrologer needed to be an expert astronomer, observing the heavens, to get the data s/he needed. It has been argued that modern astronomy is the child of ancient astrology and, without the astrological focus of astronomy in the past, astronomy could never have advanced as far as it has today. Fortunately for astrologers today, there is no need to regularly observe the heavens, as in ancient times. Essential astronomical data, as utilised by astrologers, is easily obtainable in the form of printed works, or from astrological computer programs.
The major philosophical difference between the perspective of astronomers and astrologers today is this: Astronomers largely view astronomical phenomena as having little bearing on the psyche of living organisms. (There are exceptions, but these are still a minority). Astrologers largely view astronomical phenomena as having an all pervasive relationship to the psyche of living organisms and terrestrial occurrences. Astronomers generally view the heavens as to be expressive of physical and mathematical principles only. Astrologers see the heavens as also reflecting spiritual principles.
Astrology is largely centered in the observation of the solar system. This system encompasses the immediate cosmic environment in which we live. The solar system is a complete unit - a whole. The Sun binds and ties together the family of planets, as all the planets revolve around the Sun. As such, from the earth perspective, the solar system represents the next highest level of energy to the unit which is the earth (as the solar system contains the earth energy). As a whole, the solar system may be regarded as being a miniature universe. The planets, Sun and Moon act as filters or receptors for universal energies.
The order of planets from the Sun outwards is: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto.
Most astrologers use a geocentric model of the solar system. This means they consider the Sun, Moon and planets as if they revolved around the earth (which is what they appear to do). In contrast, astrologers who use a heliocentric model of the solar system view the planets as they actually revolve around the Sun.
The reason for taking the geocentric position is simple. We live on the earth. As the earth is our base, this must be the center from which we view the heavens. The astronomical data is interpreted from the earth perspective - as we are viewing the influence of astronomical bodies on the earth. This is the rationale behind the geocentric model. (On the other hand, strictly speaking, heliocentric astrologers are viewing the influence of astronomical bodies on the Sun. Although they too reinterpret such data as if from an earth perspective).
There are other reasons for using the geocentric model. After all, this is the model which accurately matches our seasons. Another reason is a purely experiential one. Experience and millennia of observation has proven that the geocentric or earth based view of the heavens works. This is particularly for the understanding of the human psyche. (Interestingly, heliocentric astrology/astronomy has been shown to work well for the prediction of weather patterns on the earth. The radio astronomer John Nelson made many accurate weather forecasts based on the heliocentric model).
Copyright. Stephen Winder.