Introduction to Astrology

1. What is Astrology?

Astrology is the study of how the positions of the planets, Sun, and Moon at the time of your birth are thought to influence your personality, tendencies, and life path.

Your birth chart (also called a natal chart) is basically a map of the sky at the moment you were born.

  • The 12 zodiac signs describe how energy is expressed.
  • The planets represent what type of energy is being expressed.
  • The houses show where in life that energy plays out.
  • The aspects (angles between planets) describe how they interact.

2. The Zodiac Signs (the "How")

There are 12 signs, grouped by element and modality:

Elements: Fire (action), Earth (practicality), Air (thought), Water (emotion).

Modalities: Cardinal (initiating), Fixed (stable), Mutable (adaptable).

Example:

  • Aries = Fire + Cardinal → bold, action-oriented.
  • Taurus = Earth + Fixed → steady, practical, grounded.

3. The Planets (the "What")

  • Sun (Surya - सूर्य) → ego, core identity
  • Moon (Chandra - चन्द्र) → emotions, inner self
  • Mercury (Budh - बुध) → mind, communication
  • Venus (Shukra - शुक्र) → love, beauty, values
  • Mars (Mangal - मंगल) → drive, action, sexuality
  • Jupiter (Guru / Brihaspati - गुरु / बृहस्पति) → growth, luck, wisdom
  • Saturn (Shani - शनि) → discipline, lessons, structure
  • Uranus (Arun - अरुण) → innovation, rebellion
  • Neptune (Varun - वरुण) → dreams, spirituality
  • Pluto (Yam / Pluton - यम) → transformation, power

4. The Houses (the "Where")

The birth chart has 12 houses, each tied to a life area:

  1. Self/appearance
  2. Values/finances
  3. Communication/siblings
  4. Home/family
  5. Creativity/romance
  6. Work/health
  7. Relationships/partnerships
  8. Transformation/sex/shared resources
  9. Travel/education/spirituality
  10. Career/reputation
  11. Friends/community
  12. Subconscious/spirituality
12 Astrological Houses — English & Hindi/Sanskrit (Bhava)
# English Life Area Hindi/Sanskrit Name (Bhava) Key Themes
1 Self / Appearance Tanu Bhava (तनु भाव) Body, self, personality, vitality
2 Values / Finances Dhana Bhava (धन भाव) Wealth, family, speech, possessions
3 Communication / Siblings Sahaja Bhava (सहज भाव) Siblings, courage, efforts, communication
4 Home / Family Bandhu Bhava (बन्धु भाव) Mother, home, property, emotions
5 Creativity / Romance Putra Bhava (पुत्र भाव) Children, creativity, romance, intelligence
6 Work / Health Ari (Shatru) Bhava (अरी / शत्रु भाव) Health, service, debts, enemies, obstacles
7 Relationships / Partnerships Yuvati Bhava (युवति भाव) Spouse, marriage, partnerships, contracts
8 Transformation / Shared Resources Randhra Bhava (रन्ध्र भाव) Transformation, secrets, inheritance, taboo
9 Travel / Education / Spirituality Dharma Bhava (धर्म भाव) Higher learning, faith, long journeys, fortune
10 Career / Reputation Karma Bhava (कर्म भाव) Profession, status, reputation, public life
11 Friends / Community Labha Bhava (लाभ भाव) Gains, income, networks, aspirations
12 Subconscious / Spirituality Vyaya Bhava (व्यय भाव) Losses, expenditure, isolation, liberation

5. Aspects (the "How They Get Along")

Planets form angles to each other:

  • Conjunction (0°): merged energy
  • Sextile (60°): opportunity, harmony
  • Square (90°): tension, growth
  • Trine (120°): flow, ease
  • Opposition (180°): polarity, balance needed
👉 If you want, we can start building your learning like a course:
  • First, you master the zodiac signs.
  • Then we layer in planets.
  • Then houses.
  • Finally, we practice reading charts together.

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