“Each sign of the Zodiac represents so many things. There are differences but also many similarities in the signs because they all belong to the ‘whole’ picture of astrology and the horoscope.

There are families of signs that are categorized into groups of elements of Fire, Water, Air and Earth. For example, Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are all Fire Signs, but each one expresses that fiery temperament in a different way. Fire is action oriented and contagious! Imagine three children have a red crayon. The Aries might use it as a sword to poke the air in an imaginary battle. The Leo might melt the crayon on paper to make it look like a Sunburst, and the Sagittarian might use it as a writing implement.

The Water Signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. They all represent the feeling body. Water as an element has many expressions; it can be a nurturing river like the sign Cancer, go to extremes of heated passion or icy cold like Scorpio, and compassionately embracing or disillusioned by fog like Pisces.

Gemini, Libra and Aquarius are the Air Signs. These represent the mental energies within us. Some people are very quick-witted, curious, and knowledgeable – that’s Gemini! Others weigh things out and are considerate of others – that’s Libra! And some are true innovators, unique and take those pathways not taken – and that’s Aquarius!

For the Earth Signs we have Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Taurus needs to have physical stimulus to his physical senses. Virgo is the organizer and seeks precision and perfection in what he does, while Capricorn is the commander-in-chief ready to handle responsibilities for all.”

A horoscope, that circular picture, is really a map of the sky, an astrological map of the heavens keyed to the time and place of a specific birth. It is a map that appears typically as a two dimensional chart. It shows the position of the Sun, the Moon, and planet’s at the precise moment of a birth. The format of the map can differ from country to country as well as from culture to culture. But whatever forms the horoscope takes, one thing is common to all horoscopes, and that is that it is based on place, date, and time of birth.

The earth moves from west to east, so the Sun appears to move from east to west. This 360 degree circle of the zodiac is divided into 12 parts, each 30 degrees apart and called the zodiac signs. This is exactly like the twelve numerals on the face of a clock except that everything is backwards from everything you normally know about reading a map.

East is to the left, West is to the right, North is to the bottom, and South is to the top. The Rising sign the sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth is at “the 9 o’clock position.”

The 12 zodiac signs are Aquarius, Aries, Cancer, Capricorn, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Pisces, Sagittarius, Scorpio, Taurus and Virgo.Each sign has special characteristics that distinguish and mark itself from others. In setting up this astrological map for the birth of a native we divide the circle into twelve sections.

Each of these areas is called houses. Each house defines a specific area. The first house concerns the native’s personal identity. The second house deals with the natives earning power or source of supply. The third house concerns the native’s thoughts or sense of communication.

The horoscope map, in addition to house areas and spatial designators called signs, also contains a third symbol, the planets, including the Sun and Moon. While the houses of the horoscope identify areas of experience and the signs set the stage under which these areas of experience will operate, the planets act as the focus of attention or symbols of force bringing the other two elements together.

A correct interpretation of all these sky bodies exposes much about the native. They could be thought of as weather conditions in the sky at the moment of a native’s birth.