Topic of the month - The Fifth House
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Each month, shortly before the sun moves into a new sign (which usually happens around the 20th or 21st of the month), I'll suggest a way for your sign to take advantage of the opportunities provided by one of the solar month's major astrological features. In addition, you can read a short article on one aspect of putting together a horoscope forecast that will give you more insight into how to interpret your own chart.
Finally, I'll provide a list of keywords for some of the planets, signs, and houses that make up a horoscope so that you can further customize your horoscope.
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Happy Birthday, Gemini!
Well, Gemini, I think things are looking up for you this birthday month. Some of you will still have bobbles due to changes on the career and/or domestic fronts, thanks to this year's eclipse cycle. And those of you with personal planets (Sun, Mercury, Venus) in the late degrees of Gemini may still endure some, to put it bluntly, butt-kicking from Pluto in Sagittarius. But for most of you, there is good reason for optimism.
Why? Well, Pluto is finally on the move, for one thing. During this solar month, it will finally get itself off of 28 degrees Sagittarius, where it's been parked for months. This will bring a certain amount of relief to many of you. Furthermore, during your birthday month this year, the planets are busting out into a wealth of fire and air signs just tailor-made for your energy.
Admittedly, your ruler Mercury isn't one of them, since it will be in Cancer in your solar second house of worrying about money, but the move of Venus into Leo after the first week of June will more than compensate for that. Why? Because Venus moves into Leo to lighten up the energy of Saturn, which has been in that sign for a long time.
Saturn in Leo in the solar 3rd house associated with your sign has been trying for a couple of years to get Geminis to learn how to be more circumspect in how they speak and communicate. This is a good thing in that this is a very valuable skill for Geminis to have, and it ultimately opens you up to greater intimacy, compassion and general good vibes from others. But...it's also kind of a drag, learning how to essentially keep your mouth shut even when it goes against your natural instincts.
So now Venus comes riding into the rescue, along with all those planets in fire and air signs, and says "okay, party time in the communication sector!" Virtually all of the planets this month are saying "don't be shy! Speak up! Say your piece, speak your mind, open up, your thoughts are valued!" It's a nice thing. And it's also the beginning of a trend. Saturn is finally zooming toward the finish line of its transit through Leo, and by October, there's a much more festive, fun trend in your horoscope--at least as far communicating with others goes. It's like, if you learn your lessosn from Saturn while he's in Leo, it will serve you well for literally decades to come. So...Gemini, practice your buffed-up communication skills this month, and don't be bashful!
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Special Articles:
The Signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, & Cancer
The Signs: Leo, Virgo, Libra, & Scorpio
The Signs: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, & Pisces
Eclipses, New Moons & Full Moons
The Planets: Sun, Mercury, Venus
All right, Aries, this is one of your best solar months of the year. The time is ripe now for reaching out, socializing, having a good time, and generally making the most of things. Mars is in your own sign, which is a woo-hoo kind of a placement, but there's more than that. The vast majority of the planets are in fire and air signs this month, and that bodes really well for you. Mercury in Cancer may have you re-thinking some decisions about home or family, but all the other planets are urging you to charge full speed ahead.
Perhaps the best news is that Venus will move into Leo after the first week of June. Venus in this position offers you one of your best chances of the year to just have fun. Plunk your butt down in a movie theater with a big bucket of popcorn and revel in a summer blockbuster. Take the kids to the beach. Have a party. Go out on a few dates. Do whatever it is that you enjoy doing.
On another level, you can take advantage of the angle between your ruler Mars and Saturn and Venus in Leo by exploring how you best express yourself. What is it that you really like to do, the thing that makes you feel like you, like a person making a unique contribution? Saturn in Leo has been trying to help you figure out how you can best do that, be creatively fulfilled. If you've already found the means to express yourself over the past couple of years, you can take advantage of June to pour yourself into a rewarding project, because you'll have the energy for it. If you haven't quite nailed things down--then June is the month to go for it, and to push your dreams a little bit closer to realization.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
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So Taurus, let's talk about your love life for a moment. Saturn, thank goodness, is finally sprinting toward the finish line of its rather wearing transit of your solar 4th house of home and hearth and roots and family and other stuff. That means it is barreling toward your solar 5th house of love, and it will enter that house in September. Saturn in Virgo in the 5th house is the kind of placement that can make a susceptible person suddenly feel rather shy when it comes to matters of romance and perhaps even a bit self-critical.
That's not such a terrible thing, because learning how to pull back in matters of love and romance and how to critically examine one's own functioning in that area can be extremely helpful for Taureans. But...you won't get the benefit of Saturn's ability to facilitate self-examination if you don't have some key relationships to examine! So this month is the month to be un-shy and un-self-critical. This is the month to put yourself forward, let the world see you. Engage in your one-on-one relationships and even push the envelope a bit.
In fact, you have a wealth of areas in which you can potentially put yourself forward. This is not the month to hide your light under a bushel. For example, you can take advantage of the sun in Gemini and Neptune in Aquarius to put yourself forward in your career, job or income-producing activities. You can take advantage of Venus in Leo during the latter 3 weeks of June to put yourself forward with your family and loved ones and maybe even get some problems cleared up in a reassuring way. Same deal with your intimate partners and lovers. Just go for it. Establish and strengthen the bonds now so that you'll be able to take full advantage of Saturn's ability to examine and improve them later.
For some additional keywords you can use to customize your own horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
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If ever there was a month this year for Cancers to behave as though they naturally brim with personal self-confidence in all areas work-related, this would be the month. Mars is in Aries, at the top of the Cancerian solar chart, and this is a pretty energetic placement that fairly screams "Be confident, Cancer!"
The 10th house, where Mars resides this month, has to do with career, status, reputation, public image and activity, and all those out-in-the-world things that people need to do. Mars here suggests that all these areas of your life can be enhanced by your own personal initiative, especially since it's in good angle to Saturn and Venus in your house of income and Pluto and Jupiter in your house of job-related activities. It's a grand trine of taking-chargeness, Cancer.
In fact, with Mars, you can either go ahead and act confident from the get-go, or you can wait until something annoying and challenging happens that forces you to act confident and assertive. My thinking is that you'll actually be safer if you take the reins early on. If you want more money, take the initiative to explain to your boss why you desperately deserve it. If you want better challenges, working conditions, co-workers, bosses, a promotion--whatever you want, initiate the stuff that will make it happen yourself.
You know, Cancer, you deserve a break on the income and job front--so why not take advantage of your best month this year to make one happen?
For additional keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
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So, Leo, as I've mentioned so many times before, Saturn's been dogging your sign for quite awhile. Saturn is one of those pragmatic planets that mostly cares about things like work, the material world, patience, and sucking things up. I suppose those are all good qualities, if not exactly thrilling ones usually. But this month Saturn is in over his head and has virtually no support for his sometimes dreary view of the world. The rest of the planets are stubbornly refusing to reside in pragmatic earth signs this month, while Venus in your own sign after the first week of June is saying things like "screw work! Let's have some fun!"
So Leo, let's have some fun! After all, there's a grand trine of fire signs at work this month, and plenty of support from compatible air signs. So whatever your idea of fun might be, schedule in some time to pursue it.
Another level, this is one of your best months of the year for creativity and creative self-expression, however you may define that. Jupiter (and Pluto) in the solar house your sign is associated with (the 5th house) indicate that your personal ability to creatively express yourself, whether professionally or personally, is growing and deepening and generally just getting better and better. So...if you've lost track a bit of that creative flame or spark, take some quality time this June to re-ignite it. If it's already burning quite nicely thank you, then indulge yourself by throwing yourself into your favorite outlet with all the famed Leo passion you can muster. After all, you can go back to being patient and all that next month.
For keywords you can use to customize an alternate interpretation- click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
This solar month is rather work-related, Virgo. The sun's in Gemini in your solar 10th house of career. This little rite of passage happens annually in May and June, and it gives you your chance to communicate your way to success. (Gemini's the communication sign, and Mercury, your ruler, the communication planet will be in this sector until the end of May, too). Meanwhile, Neptune in Aquarius continues to glow in your solar 6th house of work and job. Neptune here gives you an odd and perhaps incredibly useful ability to be objective and empathetic at the same time. I'd say it's a good month to deploy that ability and make everyone you work with love you.
Meanwhile, Mercury will be in Cancer throughout June and that can add up to an entire month of sociability if you'd like it to. If you insist on being very practical, you can use this energy for work-related networking, but if you don't feel like being very practical, you can use it for hanging out with your friends and enjoying those delicious late-spring, early-summer evenings. Your choice!
For keywords you can use to customize an alternate interpretation- click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
This is a rather sensitive month, for you Libra, because Mercury in Cancer will be retrograding in your solar 10th house of career during June. Venus will also be in Cancer in the same house during the first part of June. Cancer's a sensitive sign, anyway, and the 10th house of your public persona is a sensitive spot to be getting a lot of energy. In fact, the planets have been putting an awful lot of energy into your job and career sectors throughout this year, so in one way, this is par for the course.
What's indicated, as has been the case for most of the year, is that you need to have your intuitive antennae up, regarding all things work-related, particularly as they relate to the Libran specialty--relationships. Compassion may be something of a necessity, as Uranus in Pisces roils your 6th house of job, and Mars in Aries roils your 7th house of partners and interpersonal relations. Your conflict resolution skills may be put to the test, which is why it is fortunate that you are naturally endowed with some. At any rate, it would probably be wise to prepare yourself to be alert during the month.Not that I want to make it sound like things are going to be bad--in fact, they could turn out quite well. And they may be even better on the romantic front, because Venus will spend most of June in Leo. Here she'll oppose Neptune in your 5th house of love, which is really quite a romantic opposition. It would be a great month to indulge in pursuing your romantic dreams, whether with your current partner or by doing a little dating of new people. I don't know whether all the romantic activity (should you choose to pursue it) will be truly real and solid and all that sort of stuff, but in a way, who cares? A beautiful starlight June night isn't the moment to be thinking about how you'll pay the bills or how deep and enduring a commitment is likely to be. It's the moment for enjoying that beautiful period between spring and summer, when the days are endless, the weather is fine (I hope), and blooming flowers scent the air with beauty and romance. Who could ask for anything more?
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Well, I suppose you have your choice this month, Scorpio. Most of the planets will be in rather incompatible air and fire signs this month, but Mercury will hang out in compatible Cancer throughout June. Cancer happens to the sign associated with your solar house of Thinking Big Thoughts, and if you'd like, you can spend the month leaving the gabbing and gadding about to other signs while you retreat to a cool cave and...Think Big Thoughts. This can actually be a rather refreshing activity, and you may want to take advantage of your excuse to do it.
On the other hand, you might think "Hell, it's spring! The days are long, summer is on the way, and I need to get my romance groove on." I wouldn't blame you if you thought that way, after all this time of year is intended to be light and pleasurable (at least in the Northern Hemisphere).
If you'd rather be a bit more outgoing, then you can take advantage of the nice angle between Mercury and Uranus in your solar 5th house of love. Set your sights on stirring up all kinds of excitement in your love life, and you just might succeed. I can't think of anything wrong with having an exciting love life, so feel free to turn your excellent mind in this direction and see if you can't get yourself a chance to be dancing under the stars.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
My goodness, Sagittarius, your solar chart certainly is antsy and bouncy this month. Almost all of the placements in your solar chart are eager and anxious to express themselves, as if they'd been bottling energy they're bursting at the seams with desire to deploy. We've got the sun in Gemini in your solar 7th house of relationships feeling all outgoing, chatty, and communicative. We've got Mars in Aries in your solar 5th house of self-expression, demanding to be heard. We've got Neptune in Aquarius in good angles to both, all ready to express the more subtle sides of your nature. And then we've got Jupiter in your own sign, feeling all expansive and generous with the you-ness of you.
What it really adds up to is a sort of extraordinary confluence of energy in the sky that is just completely fed up with pretense and intent on getting you to express yourself as you really are and not as you might think you need to be to fit in, succeed, get along or be conventional. Your sign's never been all that keen on pretense anyway, and, right at this moment, it simply cannot stand it. It needs to know you; it needs to feel that you can and are willing to just be yourself and let the chips fall where they may.
For it's not just the planets I mentioned above that are in on this conspiracy towards busting you free from your inhibitions. Pluto's making his last rounds of your sign, signaling that it's getting close to last call for total honesty with yourself. Uranus in Pisces is excitable and bored with how your family sees you, and wants you to innovate your way towards more freedom in the very roots of your life. Venus and Saturn in Leo are taking the you-ness of you very seriously (and enjoying the process) in your solar 9th house. Even Mercury in Cancer is brooding thoughtfully in your 8th house over any wounds that have blocked you from being who you're meant to be. The energy is so strong this month, in fact, that I think there's almost nothing for it, but to go ahead and express yourself as forcefully as you need to in order to feel like you are being authentically and totally yourself. Your chart has no patience with caution or placating this month, and I think it would be unreasonable for you to expect yourself to have any either.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
So, Capricorn, Mars spend this entire solar month in Aries, and that's probably the placement most likely to affect you. Mars in Aries is pretty darn energetic, and it's in square by sign to your natal sign. It's also located in your solar 4th house of various home-related matters, so it might be a good idea to burn off some energy doing stuff around the house.
In fact, it's probably a good idea to just plan on burning off some energy anyhow. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, the weather's supposed to be pretty nice this time of year, so it would be ideal if you could indulge yourself (or force yourself!) in some vigorous physical outdoor activity. I don't mean you have to run a marathon, but at least you could mow the lawn! The more physically active you are, the less stressed you're likely to feel as the sun transits your solar house of job and work.
In addition to being physically active, this is also a good month to brush up your assertiveness skills. Mars in Aries is very assertive, and if you don't express yourself, it could end up getting pretty annoyed with you and attempting to take out its energy on your family members. So don't let anyone push you around and avoid displaced anger. Finally, it's a good month to remind yourself to be confident. There are some Capricorn suns that avoid confidence like the plague, on the theory that experiencing confidence instead of self-criticism makes for hideously bad luck. I've got nothing against this theory in general if you choose to live by it, but right now, Jupiter in Sagittarius and Mars in Aries are conspiring to tell you to drop the caution, over-conscientiousness, self-criticism, and general paranoia that your ruler Saturn favors as a life strategy. Loosen up, they're saying, take a chance on being confident, not worrying, and assuming that everything will turn out just fine in the long run. You don't have to believe this if you prefer not to, but it would be a really good idea to act like you do.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
This month, Mercury in your solar 6th house of work may encourage you to ruminate on and worry about your job situation. This can be quite tempting for the average Aquarian, but it's pretty much useless this month. There's almost no point in attempting to be a tough and hardworking Aquarian in June. Mercury will be dithering about ineffectually in Cancer, retrograding at least half the time. It won't be able to get much done, and there are zero planets in earth signs to back it up. The entire heavens are essentially on vacation as far as you're concerned.
So join them. This month, the sun's in Gemini, traditionally your happiest time of the year. This is the time of year when your sun feels freest to express itself, unencumbered by things like winter weather (if you live in the northern half of the year), a sense of reserve, or the need to engaging in nagging or conscientious worries. There'll be plenty of time to work next month, Aquarius, so it may be just as well to understand what the sun's lighthearted transit through Gemini means.
It means that a life of meaning cannot be built without due attention to pleasure, fun, sociability, carefree carelessness, good weather, and taking the nose off the grindstone. Fun and enjoyment are essential elements of the purposeful life. If you can dedicate this month to being happy for no good reason or a million good reasons, then you just might come up with a brilliant idea or two that will turn around whatever that work situation is that Mercury in Cancer is worrying about.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
Par-ty! That's the clarion call of the planets this month. Mercury will be in your solar 5th house of partying of all sorts, including the modest but undeniable pleasures of just hanging out and gabbing, and it will be abetted by the sun in gab-happy Gemini. Venus will begin the month in the same solar house, where it has its mind relentlessly on fun.
Once Venus leaves for Leo and your solar 6th house of work, it will still be in a mood to conspire with Jupiter in your career house and Mars in your 2nd house of income to make your working life entertaining. Almost your entire chart is thinking that it doesn't want you working in a little cubicle-like box of the soul. It wants you to have a good time at work; it wants your career to be something to celebrate. With Saturn in your solar 6th house of the job, I don't exactly how much celebrating you've been able to do for the last couple of years. So, if you desperately need a few weeks to goof off, take them in June. There are so many things you could do--sneak out to an amusement park with your favorite children or children at heart. Take a painting class or schedule some vacation time to indulge your favorite hobby. Take a vacation period. Fall in love, start dating, or go dancing. I could go on and on about the wonderful things you could do this month to have fun--but I'll let you decide what deliciousness you will pursue.
For keywords you can use to customize your horoscope - click here. For instructions on how to use the keywords - click here.
The Fifth House: The House of Happiness
The fifth house, associated with Leo and the sun, is often simply called the house of creative self-expression. That's a bit misleading, though, as the house covers a lot of different territory. For example, it is also associated with children, love affairs, speculation, hobbies, amusements and show business.
What ties all these things together (in my mind, at least) is that they are all good things and they are all fun, enjoyable, and pleasurable. Now that's a bit of an overstatement. Love affairs can go bad and turn out heartbreaking. Children can be difficult and even disappointing. The creative act of painting or writing a book can be a monumental struggle. Gambling and speculation can lead to life-changing financial losses, but....
But, at root, all of these things represent the coveted state of flow, or immersion in something so absorbing that nothing else matters for awhile. This state of flow has been found by recent scientific studies to correlate most nicely with the internal state of happiness. Think of how, for example, when you first became a parent, you learned that there really isn't anything more entertaining, enjoyable, joyful, interesting or absorbing than just watching your baby. Think of the way in which your attention is so riveted during the first stages of romance that both time and the world seem to stop or fade away.
Think of the joy and refreshment you experience when you are deeply engaged in your favorite hobby or a creative act like singing or painting or acting in your local community theatre. Think of the way a good movie or show rivets your imagination and takes you away from the here and now to some place thrilling yet safe. Even gambling and speculation, somewhat of an odd fit here, enwrap the player in cocooned world of total absorption in the roll of the dice or the turn of the cards.
In your birth chart, the sign on the fifth house can provide some indication of what you think is fun. The planets there can indicate how much fun you do have, under what circumstances, and what challenges you might face. They can also indicate (and quite often do), what kind of romances you'll have, what your attitude toward love is, and the nature of your relationship with your children. Sometimes it also indicates whether or not you have a real creative talent and whether you should pursue it. Many entertainment industry figures have prominent fifth house placements, for example.
Fifth house transits are generally to be welcomed, because they are either generally easy and happy transits in and of themselves or because they can remove blocks to the experience of flow and happiness in daily life. They can also shake up your love life and bring children into your life! As I mentioned above, it would be wrong to imagine that everything that happens in the 5th house is always good, but it is the house that's the gateway way to the experience of pleasure. And without pleasure, life is rough going indeed.
Some keywords for Gemini: Mental and verbal activities of all kinds, communication methods, an emphasis on thought, eye-hand coordination and dexterity, speed, expressiveness, alertness, the need for variety, gossip, restlessness, superficiality, and everyday activities.
Some keywords for the sun: Soul purpose, individuality, the father, one's vitality, consciousness, the self, the will, one's sense of drive, creative potential, the ego, and authority.
Some keywords for Mercury: Writing, the mind, speaking, learning, communication, commerce, messages, intellectual interests, mental abilities, speed, transportation, and language skills.
Some keywords for the Moon: Emotions, the body, instincts, fluctuating moods, rhythm, gut reactions, needs, dependence, responsiveness, memories, the subconscious, and perceptions.
Some keywords for Venus: Love, unity, harmony, pleasure, laziness, relationships, beautiful things, money, the arts, femininity, and aesthetic taste.
Some keywords for Mars: Energy, aggression, conflict, driving determination, strong emotions, male energy, keen competitiveness, sexual drive, and assertiveness.
Some keywords for Jupiter: Abundance, expansiveness, a cheery outlook, foreign travel, big money, philosophical concerns, gambling, sports, risks, advertising, publishing, and luck.
Some keywords for Saturn: Contraction, restriction, life tests, aging, a mature outlook, building structure, limitations, rules, authority, obstacles, discipline, thrift, and hard work.
Some keywords for Uranus: Technology, universal ideas, humanitarian impulses, hopes for the future, sudden changes, shaking up the status quo, reversals, revolution, and science.
Some keywords for Neptune: Artistic impulses, drugs, chemicals, and alcohol, inspiration, imagination, deception, glamor, delusions, hospitals, subconscious yearnings, liquids, oil, psychic experiences, and romanticism.
Some keywords for Pluto: Global events, transformation, regeneration, and elimination.
Some Keywords for the 1st house: The self , personality, the body, appearance, ego, attitudes, how others see you, physical health and vitality, self-regard, and what inspires you.
Some keywords for the 2nd house: All personal resources, values, money, possessions, ownership, attachments, investments in real estate, self-worth, tangible items, gifts, possessiveness, and materialism.
Some keywords for the 3rd house: The daily environment, communication, cell phones, casual conversation, letters, email, commerce, acquaintances, neighbors, relatives, the ability to deal with daily life, and the part of the conscious mind that deals with daily tasks.
Some keywords for the 4th house: Roots, home, family, the parents, traditions, the past, patriotism, nurturing, the need for emotional support, where you belong, ancestors, and the subconscious.
Some keywords for the 5th house: Play, amusements, creative self-expression, romance, children, fun, pleasures, love affairs, and gambling and speculation.
Some keywords for the 6th house: Employment, health, routines, nutrition, chores, service, volunteering, nursing, service professions, illness, employees, and hygiene.
Some keywords for the 7th house: Intimate relationships, partnerships, enemies, marriage, counselors, the general public, the ability to attract and love others, what we feel we lack, what we like and dislike in others, and the ability to resolve conflicts.
Some keywords for the 8th house: The past, transformation, death, inheritance, other people's money, rebirth, trauma, abuse, crisis, the partner's finances, loans, and investments.
Some keywords for the 9th house: Philosophy, religion, the legal profession, travel, academics, synthesis, higher education, the higher mind, the search for meaning, ethical beliefs and standards, foreigners and interest in things foreign, and the ability to gain perspective on events.
Some keywords for the 10th house: Status, career, reputation, authority figures, tangible achievements, the father, the ability to garner admiration, honors, contributions to the communty, fame, vocation or calling, and professional accomplishments.
Some keywords for the 11th house: Friendships, groups, life direction, aspirations, visionaries, scientific thinking, humanitarian impulses, the brotherhood of man, and hopes & wishes.
Some keywords for the 12th house: Secrets, mental illness, incarceration, self-sabotage, dreams, fantasies, subconscious fears, spirituality, intution, oneness with the universe, the inner life, and guilt.
HOW TO USE KEYWORDS: The essence of learning astrology is understanding how to mix, match, and blend the concepts associated with signs, planets, and houses to figure out what is or will be affecting you at a given point in time. This takes practice and practice is exactly what you're going to have a chance to get if you use the keywords each month.
Keywords can be used to plan and take action using the month's energies, to explain events or to make predictions. Scan for keywords that seem relevant to situations in your own life. You'll have 3 sets of keywords you can blend, one for the planet discussed, one for the sign it's in and one for the solar house it's transiting. Pick the keywords that interest you most and create your customized horoscope!
For example, if the Sun is in Aries in your solar first house, if you want to plan or take action you might pick the Sun keyword 'power', the Aries keyword 'initiating', and the 1st house keyword 'self-expression' to create an intention for yourself that you have the power to initiate actions to express yourself more fully in ways that you desire. You'll know what 'self-expression' means to you. It works best if you pick keywords that 'speak' to you or that coincide with elements of your life that already concern you. To receive astrological benefits, it's not necessary that you obligate yourself to do something huge - it's only necessary that you take one step in the right direction at the right time. Astrology concerns itself with when things are born, and if you start something at the right time, you're riding on the energy that's already available to you in the universe.
You can also use the keywords to try to figure out if something that is affecting you is 'in the stars'. For example, let's say you find yourself wondering why you're getting drawn into conflicts with people at your church. You scan the keywords and realize 'Aha! The fiery energy of Aries is currently being activated in my 12th house of faith-related matters!' If the energy is uncomfortable, you'll have a gauge as to how long it will be prominent (oh good, it should ease up next month!) or if it's a good energy you'll know which planet to thank!
You can also try your hand at predicting. If you check in at the beginning of the month and notice that your house of friendships is highlighted along with some active planetary or sign energies, you might predict for yourself that you will be engaging in a lot more fun and restorative activities with your friends in the coming month. This is basically what professional astrologers do and now you have a chance to try your own hand at it and compare your results with the pros. Have fun!
NOTE: There are a wide variety of potential keywords associated with each sign, planet, and house. I pick different ones each month to give you an idea of the range from the most common concepts to much more subtle ones. Over time, you'll gain an intuitive sense of what kinds of concepts are associated with each element and you'll even be able to generate your own keywords as you get a feel for each of the signs, planets, and houses. Each keyword also inherently contains its opposite as well. For example, if the keyword 'divorce' is displayed, it doesn't mean you'll get a divorce. But it does mean that if that is a concern for you and something you want to avoid you have an opportunity, while that energy is activated, to take proactive steps to deal with potential problems or head off an undesirable outcome. So you can turn 'divorce' into 'keeping a marriage together' or 'illness' into 'taking steps to get and stay healthy'.
Use your rising sign for better forecasts! Most published horoscopes are based at least in part on transits to solar houses. Solar houses are based on your sun sign and are easy to calculate. Your sun sign is your solar 1st house, the next sign in the zodiac is your solar 2nd house and so on. You can always determine what solar house a planet is in if you know the sign. Simply start with your own sign and count around the zodiac until you reach the sign you're interested in. For example, if you're a Gemini, the sign of your solar 3rd house is Leo. Pisces is the sign of your solar 10th house. Astrologers who publish horoscopes use sun signs and solar houses for several reasons: a) almost everyone knows their birthday; b) they're easy to calculate; and c) they actually do have some effect. However, if you get a personal reading from a professional astrologer, he or she will almost always use transits to your natal houses to give you a reading instead. Natal houses are based on your rising sign, which is determined by the exact time, place, and day you were born. Transits to your natal planets and houses have at least as much effect on your life as transits to your solar houses, sometimes quite a bit more. If you really want to know your chart, and get better horoscopes, you should find out your rising sign (also called Ascendant). If you know the exact time and place of your birth, you can do this for free at a wonderful website - www.astro.com. Click on the link near the top that says 'Free Horoscopes'. On that page, scroll down to the link that says 'Chart Drawing, Ascendant'. Follow the prompts to enter the information concerning your birth time, date, and place. You'll get a chart that shows your Ascendant (the sign next to the designation 'AC'). To the left will be a box listing your planetary placements. Next to the listing for 'AC' your rising sign will be listed along with the degree of your Ascendant within that sign. Make a note of that sign and be sure to check the horoscope and keywords for your Ascendant as well as your sun sign!
TRACK YOUR RESULTS! Next month when you come back here for your next horoscope, take 30 seconds to assess the results of the action you took last month as a result of your horoscope. Did it make you feel better? Did it make your life any better? Did it give you renewed energy or did you find your effort blocked, delayed, or ineffective? Judging your results allows you to assess how responsive you are to a particular planetary, sign, or house energy. For example, some people are very responsive to the astrological Sun just the way some people are very responsive to a sunny day. Other people work better with the energy of other planets. Only by taking a moment to gauge your results can you learn which planets work best for you in your life. You may have an 'afflicted' natal Sun that never does much for you, but a raring-to-go Mars that will help you in a pinch every time. Checking your results each month will give you an increasingly accurate guide as to how to use astrology to enhance your life.
The PRACTICAL ASTROLOGY website provides a free, sequential course in astrology with at least one article each month on a particular element of horoscope interpretation. If you want to see any articles you've missed, or to receive each month's update by email, sign up using the link below. The Practical Astrology website does not share your email address with anyone else and only uses it to provide you with information concerning astrology from this website. Sign up!