Horoscope

What Exactly Is a Horoscope?

A horoscope is an astrological chart representing the positions of celestial bodies at a specific time, such as birth. It’s like a stylized map of the heavens over a particular location and moment in time. Imagine it as a snapshot of the sky above you when you were born – a cosmic blueprint that some believe can predict your future or personality traits.

The Origins and Meaning

The word ‘horoscope’ comes from Greek words meaning ‘time’ and ‘observer.’ It’s fascinating to think about how this term has evolved over centuries, carrying with it the weight of ancient wisdom and modern skepticism. But what exactly does a horoscope tell us? Is there any truth behind these astrological predictions?

Types of Horoscopes

Horoscopes come in various forms, each with its own unique system. For instance, interpretive astrology often features systems like solar Sun sign astrology and Chinese astrology. In Hindu astrology, birth charts are called kundali and used for auspicious events.

The Four Primary Angles

There are four primary angles in the horoscope: the 1st House (Ascendant), 10th House (Midheaven), 7th House (Descendant), and 4th House (Imum Coeli). These angles form a cross shape, with the ascendant traditionally placed at the ‘nine o’clock’ position on the left-hand side of the chart wheel. The midheaven is placed at the ‘twelve o’clock position,’ effectively where the Sun would be if the birth time was midday.

The Tropical and Sidereal Zodiacs

When it comes to zodiac signs, there are two types: tropical and sidereal. The tropical zodiac has its beginning at the exact moment that the Sun crosses the celestial equator and enters the zodiacal sign of Aries. On the other hand, the sidereal zodiac is based more closely on actual positions of constellations in the heavens.

The Precession of the Equinoxes

It’s worth noting that precession of the equinoxes occurs at a rate of roughly 5 arc minutes of a degree every 6 years. This means that over time, the zodiac signs shift slightly relative to the constellations. Some astrologers don’t use zodiac signs, focusing on aspects and other features instead.

The Sun Sign

The sun sign is where the Sun was located at birth. It’s one of the most commonly known parts of a horoscope, often seen in daily newspaper columns. But how accurate are these predictions? Let’s dive deeper into this question.

Cusps and Composite Charts

A cusp is the boundary between two signs or houses. A composite chart can be constructed for two people in a relationship, giving clues about their connection. These charts help astrologers understand the dynamics of relationships based on celestial influences.

House Divisions and Aspects

The horoscope features 12 sectors called houses, with signs of the zodiac superimposed on them. There are various systems for calculating house divisions, including tables and computer programs. Planets are positioned at their celestial longitudes, and other points and angles can be considered as well.

Major Aspects

The major astrological aspects recognized by the community include Conjunction (0°), Opposition (180°), Square (90°), Trine (120°), Sextile (60°), Semi-Square (45°), Sesquisquare (135°), and Quincunx (150°). These aspects are more significant when they are exact, but they function within an orb of influence. Most modern astrologers use an orb of 8° or less for aspects involving the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter.

Minor Aspects

Some astrologers use minor aspects (15°, 22.5°, etc.) with much narrower orbs. This adds another layer of complexity to horoscopes, making them more detailed but also harder to interpret accurately.

Vedic Hindu Astrology and Chinese Horoscopes

The major astrological system regarded universally is Vedic Hindu Astrology, which regards all planets seeing just opposite each other. However, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have special aspects. Meanwhile, Chinese horoscopes are based on the symbolism of the Chinese zodiac, a system of elements and animals associated with each year according to a Sexagenary cycle.

The Scientific Perspective

Despite their popularity, horoscopes have been recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century. There is no scientific evidence to support their accuracy. The Forer effect explains how generic personality descriptions can satisfy a large audience simultaneously. In a sphere with an infinitely large radius, a plane can be treated as nearly equivalent to a parallel plane with its center at the Earth’s center.

The Ascendant and Midheaven

The ascendant (ASC) is a point on the ecliptic that rises on the eastern horizon at sunrise and changes as the earth rotates on its axis. The ascendant exerts more power than the Sun, Moon, and planets because it infiltrates everything in the natal chart.

Creating a Horoscope

To create a horoscope, an astrologer needs to know exact time and place of birth or event. They convert this information into Greenwich Mean Time and local sidereal time. An ephemeris is used to calculate the location of celestial bodies at the time of birth. The astrologer adds longitude differences to determine true local mean time.

Planets in Horoscopes

Planets hidden from view are also shown in the horoscope. A composite chart can be constructed for two people in a relationship, giving clues about their connection. The horoscope features 12 sectors called houses, with signs of the zodiac superimposed on them.

The Importance of Aspects

Aspects between planets are analyzed to complete the horoscope. Those generally recognized by the astrological community include Conjunction (0°), Opposition (180°), Square (90°), Trine (120°), Sextile (60°), Semi-Square (45°), Sesquisquare (135°), and Quincunx (150°). These aspects are more significant when they are exact, but they function within an orb of influence.

Conclusion

While horoscopes have captivated the imagination for centuries, their scientific validity remains questionable. Despite their popularity in daily life and media, there is no concrete evidence to support their accuracy. The effectiveness and scientific evidence of astrology are still unknown, leaving us with more questions than answers.