Astrology For Dummies

What can the starry skies tell you about yourself and others? More than you might imagine.

For over four thousand years, people have watched the skies, correlating the movements of the Sun, the Moon, and the planets with human affairs. Astrology for Dummies shows the reader how to use that accumulated wisdom to identify strengths and weaknesses, discover creative abilities, understand relationships, and make the most of the times in which we live. Using an abundance of real-life examples, author Rae Orion offers an incisive account of each sign and planet, taking the reader far beyond the daily horoscope and illuminating the birth chart in all its individuality and complexity.

Astrology for Dummies examines the time-honored ways astrology helps us understand ourselves and others. From how to map and interpret individual horoscopes to building and reading birth charts, Astrology For Dummies provides you with the tools to apply the art of astrology to your everyday life.

• Explore the long, multi-cultural, occasionally bloody history of astrology
• Discover useful advice about romance, career, and wellness
• Find the creative potential to be found in every sign and every birth chart
• Unravel the mysteries behind Mercury retrograde and other celestial phenomena
• Delve into the horoscopes of dozens of famous (and infamous) people, both past and present
• Investigate different ways to align yourself with the cosmos.

Astrology hasn’t been around for millennia for nothing. It’s a practical tool, a symbolic language, a way to expand awareness, a means to increase empathy, and an exploration that touches the soul. Whether you want to learn about yourself, understand others, or glimpse the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, the answers are here — and in the stars!

Introduction 1

Part 1: Mapping Your Place in the Cosmos 7

Chapter 1: An Astrological Overview: The Horoscope in Brief 9

Chapter 2: Getting Your Precise Horoscope: The Old Way, the Internet Way, and the Software 29

Chapter 3: The History of Astrology: 5,000 Years of Cosmic Ups and Downs 41

Part 2: Here Comes the Sun 59

Chapter 4: The Signs of Spring: Aries, Taurus, and Gemini 61

Chapter 5: The Signs of Summer: Cancer, Leo, and Virgo 81

Chapter 6: The Signs of Autumn: Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius 101

Chapter 7: The Signs of Winter: Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces 121

Part 3: Leafing through the Cosmic Cookbook 143

Chapter 8: Moon Signs: The Lunacy Factor 145

Chapter 9: The Personal Planets 155

Chapter 10: The Outer Planets (And More) 175

Chapter 11: What You See versus What You Get: The Rising Sign (And More) 195

Chapter 12: The Sun, the Moon, and the Planets in the Houses 211

Chapter 13: Amazing Aspects: The Secrets of Cosmic Geometry 237

Chapter 14: Interpreting Your Birth Chart: A Guide 267

Part 4: Using Astrology Right Now 285

Chapter 15: The Sun Sign Combinations 287

Chapter 16: The Times of Our Lives: Transits 307

Chapter 17: The Lunar Advantage: Using Astrology in Daily Life 333

Chapter 18: Retrograde Hell? The Truth Revealed 343

Chapter 19: Creativity and the Stars 355

Part 5: The Part of Tens 373

Chapter 20: Ten Talents You Can Spot in a Chart 375

Chapter 21: Ten (Plus One) Ways to Use Astrology in Your Life: The Art of Timing 389

Index 399

Rae Orion has written books on photography, astronomy, and mythology as well as the mysteries of astrology. She is the author of both previous editions of Astrology For Dummies.

• Explore the personality traits of each sign
• See how astrology influences your personal relationships
• Use astrology to discover your creative potential

Find out what the stars have to tell you!

People have looked to the stars for enlightenment for thousands of years. This book shows you how astrology can provide insight into yourself and others, help clarify the past, and even offer possible hints into the future—but only when you know how to use it. Learn how to get a copy of your birth chart, analyze its essential features, and compare your chart with others. You'll discover how to use astrology as a tool to increase understanding, aid in decision-making, and enhance your life each day.

Inside...

• Explore the story of astrology
• Find your creative potential
• Get to know each sign's strengths and weaknesses
• Interpret a horoscope
• Discover relationship matches
• Understand celestial cycles
• Uncover the uses of retrograde