Leo 2014: Your Personal Horoscope. Joseph Polansky

zodiac. And Hindu astrologers have been accounting for this shift all the time. They keep close tabs on it. In two thousand years there is a shift of 23 degrees, and they subtract this from the Western calculations. So in their system many a Gemini would be a Taurus and this is true for all the signs. This is nothing new – it is all known and accounted for, so there is no bombshell here.

      The so-called thirteenth constellation, Ophiuchus, is also not a problem for the Western astrologer. As we mentioned, our zodiac has nothing to do with the constellations. It could be more of a problem for the Hindus, but my feeling is that it’s not a problem for them either. What these astronomers are calling a new constellation was probably considered a part of one of the existing constellations. I don’t know this as a fact, but I presume it is so intuitively. I’m sure we will soon be getting articles by Hindu astrologers explaining this.

Glossary of Astrological Terms

      Ascendant

      We experience day and night because the Earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours. It is because of this rotation that the Sun, Moon and planets seem to rise and set. The zodiac is a fixed belt (imaginary, but very real in spiritual terms) around the Earth. As the Earth rotates, the different signs of the zodiac seem to the observer to rise on the horizon. During a 24-hour period every sign of the zodiac will pass this horizon point at some time or another. The sign that is at the horizon point at any given time is called the Ascendant, or rising sign. The Ascendant is the sign denoting a person’s self-image, body and self-concept – the personal ego, as opposed to the spiritual ego indicated by a person’s Sun sign.

      Aspects

      Aspects are the angular relationships between planets, the way in which one planet stimulates or influences another. If a planet makes a harmonious aspect (connection) to another, it tends to stimulate that planet in a positive and helpful way. If, however, it makes a stressful aspect to another planet, this disrupts that planet’s normal influence.

      Astrological Qualities

      There are three astrological qualities: cardinal, fixed and mutable. Each of the 12 signs of the zodiac falls into one of these three categories.

      Cardinal Signs

       Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn

      The cardinal quality is the active, initiating principle. Those born under these four signs are good at starting new projects.

      Fixed Signs

       Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius

      Fixed qualities include stability, persistence, endurance and perfectionism. People born under these four signs are good at seeing things through.

      Mutable Signs

       Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces

      Mutable qualities are adaptability, changeability and balance. Those born under these four signs are creative, if not always practical.

      Direct Motion

      When the planets move forward through the zodiac – as they normally do – they are said to be going ‘direct’.

      Grand Square

      A Grand Square differs from a normal Square (usually two planets separated by 90 degrees) in that four or more planets are involved. When you look at the pattern in a chart you will see a whole and complete square. This, though stressful, usually denotes a new manifestation in the life. There is much work and balancing involved in the manifestation.

      Grand Trine

      A Grand Trine differs from a normal Trine (where two planets are 120 degrees apart) in that three or more planets are involved. When you look at this pattern in a chart, it takes the form of a complete triangle – a Grand Trine. Usually (but not always) it occurs in one of the four elements: Fire, Earth, Air or Water. Thus the particular element in which it occurs will be highlighted. A Grand Trine in Water is not the same as a Grand Trine in Air or Fire, etc. This is a very fortunate and happy aspect, and quite rare.

      Houses

      There are 12 signs of the zodiac and 12 houses of experience. The 12 signs are personality types and ways in which a given planet expresses itself; the 12 houses show ‘where’ in your life this expression takes place. Each house has a different area of interest. A house can become potent and important – a House of Power – in different ways: if it contains the Sun, the Moon or the ‘ruler’ of your chart; if it contains more than one planet; or if the ruler of that house is receiving unusual stimulation from other planets.

      1st House

      Personal Image and Sensual Delights

      2nd House

      Money/Finance

      3rd House

      Communication and Intellectual Interests

      4th House

      Home and Family

      5th House

      Children, Fun, Games, Creativity, Speculations and Love Affairs

      6th House

      Health and Work

      7th House

      Love, Marriage and Social Activities

      8th House

      Transformation and Regeneration

      9th House

      Religion, Foreign Travel, Higher Education and Philosophy

      10th House

      Career

      11th House

      Friends, Group Activities and Fondest Wishes

      12th House

      Spirituality

      Karma

      Karma is the law of cause and effect which governs all phenomena. We are all where we find ourselves because of karma – because of actions we have performed in the past. The universe is such a balanced instrument that any act immediately sets corrective forces into motion – karma.

      Long-term Planets

      The planets that take a long time to move through a sign show the long-term trends in a given area of life. They are important for forecasting the prolonged view of things. Because these planets stay in one sign for so long, there are periods in the year when the faster-moving (short-term) planets will join them, further activating and enhancing the importance of a given house.

      Jupiter

      stays in a sign for about 1 year

      Saturn

      2½ years

      Uranus

      7 years

      Neptune

      14 years

      Pluto

      15 to 30 years

      Lunar

      Relating to the Moon. See also ‘Phases of the Moon’, below.

      Natal

      Literally