Inner Shift

Posts Tagged ‘Astrology’

In astrology there are actually two types of cusps: sign cusps and house cusps. Sign cusps mark where each individual sun sign begins and are what people usually mean when they talk about cusps, whereas house cusps relate to the twelve birth chart divisions that cover the houses (see Houses). The word cusp comes from the Latin for “spear” or “point”.

Though astrologers don’t totally agree on what a true cusp is, you can use the five-day rule to determine if you were born on a cusp. So, if you were born either during the last five days of a sun sign or during the first five days your birthdate falls on a cusp. {You’ll have to reference an astrological ephemeris to accurately determine if you are on a cusp.}

Those born on a cusp find that they have qualities from each sun sign that they straddle. Still, the sign that you were actually born under has the greater influence. You can picture it as standing in a doorway–you have the choice to step into the room ahead or the room behind. This allows for flexibility, but could also cause confusion.

Here are the general date guidelines for the sign cusps:

Aries: March 21 – April 20

Taurus: April 21 – May 21

Gemini: May 22 – June 21

Cancer: June 22 – July 23

Leo: July 24 – August 23

Virgo: August 24 – Sept. 23

Libra: September 24 – October 23

Scorpio: October 24 – November 22

Sagittarius: November 23 – Dec. 21

Capricorn: December 22 – January 20

Aquarius: January 21 – February 19

Pisces: February 20 – March 20

The twelve sun signs are also divided into 6 masculine and 6 feminine groups. This is known as a sign’s duality. In modern astrology, masculine is outer-directed and strong through action. Feminine is strong through inner reserves and self-contained.

The masculine signs are {note that these are Fire and Air signs}:

Aries
Gemini
Leo
Libra
Sagittarius
Aquarius

The feminine signs are {note that these are Earth and Water signs}:

Taurus
Cancer
Virgo
Scorpio
Capricorn
Pisces

The energy of each of the planets influences our everyday lives. They exert their most powerful energy over the Sun Sign they rule (e.g., Uranus works with Aquarius). This is referred to as the Sign of its Dignity.

Sun ~  to integrate, to express, to project
Moon ~  to respond, to react, to regulate
Mercury ~   to communicate, to concentrate, to transmit
Venus ~  to relate, to unite, to connect
Mars ~   to initiate, to activate, to move
Jupiter ~  to expand, to mature, to experience
Saturn ~   to limit, to control, to discipline
Uranus ~   to deviate, to invent, to reform
Neptune ~   to refine, to detect, to transcend
Pluto ~   to eliminate, to transform, to regenerate

The Sun Signs

Aries the Ram

• March 21-April 19
• First House
• Mars
• Fire
• Cardinal

Taurus the Bull

• April 20-May 20
• Second
• Venus
• Earth
• Fixed

Gemini the Twins

• May 21-June 20
• Third
• Mercury
• Air
• Mutable

Cancer the Crab

• June 21-July 22
• Fourth
• Luna
• Water
• Cardinal

Leo the Lion

• July 23-August 22
• Fifth
• Sol
• Fire
• Fixed

Virgo the Virgin

• August 23-September 22
• Sixth
• Mercury
• Earth
• Mutable

Libra the Scales

• September 23-October 22
• Seventh
• Venus
• Air
• Cardinal

Scorpio the Scorpion/Eagle

• October 23-November 21
• Eighth
• Pluto
• Water
• Fixed

Sagittarius the Archer

• November 22-December 21
• Ninth
• Jupiter
• Fire
• Mutable

Capricorn the Goat

• December 22-January 19
• Tenth
• Saturn
• Earth
• Cardinal

Aquarius the Water-bearer

• January 20-February 18
• Eleventh
• Uranus
• Air
• Fixed

Pisces the Fish

• February 19-March 20
• Twelfth
• Neptune
• Water
• Mutable

Astrology (from Greek ἄστρον, astron, “constellation, star”; and -λογία, -logia, “the study of”) is a group of systems, traditions, and beliefs which hold that the relative positions of celestial bodies and related details can provide useful information about personality, human affairs, and other terrestrial matters. A practitioner of astrology is called an astrologer or an astrologist. Numerous traditions and applications employing astrological concepts have arisen since its earliest recorded beginnings in the 3rd millennium BC. Although scientists consider astrology a pseudoscience or superstition, it has played a role in the shaping of culture, early astronomy, the Vedas, The Bible and various disciplines throughout history.

Astrology and astronomy were often indistinguishable before the modern era, with the desire for predictive and divinatory knowledge one of the primary motivating factors for astronomical observation. Astronomy began to diverge from astrology after a period of gradual separation from the Renaissance up until the 18th century. Eventually, astronomy distinguished itself as the scientific study of astronomical objects and phenomena without regard to the astrological understandings of these phenomena.

Astrologers believe that the movements and positions of celestial bodies either directly influence life on Earth or correspond somehow to events experienced on a human scale. Modern astrologers define astrology as a symbolic language, an art form, or a form of divination. Despite differences in definitions, a common assumption of astrology is that celestial placements can aid in the interpretation of past and present events and in the prediction of the future.

Source: Wikipedia