How Does Astrology Work

Flipping through the pages of a newspaper, one would easily find a small section reserved
for those readers who would explore their fates in a horoscope. Although some people
read horoscopes for fun, others believe that there is something more that these statements
about ones fortune can offer. People have often dismissed this as having a scientific basis
due to its manifest deviation from the nature-nurture approach of psychologists, but
sometimes it would hit the bulls-eye, piquing the interest of a few.

The crafting of these horoscopes is merely a part of a bigger field known as, astrology. The
study of astrology involves the interaction between the bodies in our solar system (e.g. the
sun, the moon and the planets) and the attitude/personality of every individual. The experts
of this field propose that during the precise moment a person is born, the positions of the
sun, the moon and the planets relative to where he/she is born are determining factors of
how such person would turn out to be. In order to understand how astrology works, the
researchers on the field would point out to three significant factors, namely: the planets,
the houses, and the signs. The interaction among these factors best explain why even
among the same signs, there are people who have distinct traits than the rest.

THE PLANETS

In the study of astrology, the planets are not only those eight planets (excluding the earth)
in our solar system, but would also include the sun and the moon. The planets represent the
different characteristics in an individual person. The presence or the absence of these
characteristics will again depend on the position of these planets during the day of birth.
They can either overlap or be distinct and separate. The following are the planets and their
corresponding function:

Sun focuses on the goals of the individual

Moon focuses on the affect / emotions of the individual
Mercury focuses on the thought process of the individual
Venus focuses on the relationship with others
Mars focuses on attaining the wants of the individual
Jupiter focuses on enjoyment of the individual
Saturn focuses on self-discipline of the individual
Uranus focuses on the originality of the individual
Neptune focuses on the altruistic attitude of the individual
Pluto focuses on growth of the individual
THE HOUSES

The houses are the different areas in the lifestyle of humans. The planets interact with these
houses in a sense that the aspects earlier discussed will play a part on certain, if not all,
areas. The following are the twelve houses:

1. Self
2. Resources
3. Communication
4. Family
5. Creativity
6. Work and Health
7. Relationships
8. Transformation
9. Travel and Education
10. Career
11. Friends
12. Spiritual Life

THE SIGNS

The signs are those found in the horoscopes the 12 signs namely: Aries, Taurus, Gemini,
Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. These signs
are spread out in the sky in equal intervals. The Earth traverses through all of these signs for
twelve months and with each sign for thirty days. Each sign correspond to particular days of
the year and a person falls under one sign depending on the date of his/her birth. Every
sign, speaks of a unique personality set from another sign.

The study of Astrology has in some way molded the peoples view of human life. Albeit
unclear on its basis, the fact that it has some fair share of precise points results in more
people paying closer attention to the field and convert some non-believers. However, the
human personality is not merely based on rigid facts. An individual might turn out
differently from a person he is supposed to be based on his zodiac sign. In the end, how a
single individual deals with his life, interacts with other people, and makes decision is still
through his active participation and not on the fine prints of a newspaper.