astrologyclub.

org

http://astrologyclub.org/guide/alphabet/

The Alphabet of Astrology

Learning astrology can be overwhelming and the last thing you want to do is read cookbooks.
A cookbooks. is a book that goes through every planet in every house, every sign on every cusp, so on and so
forth. Dont waste your time. It will take years for you to memorize all of this.
Cookbooks offer many combinations of a limited number of ingredients. Languages offer many more potentials
for combining a limited number of basic ingredients (symbols) to create an unlimited number of products with
varying degrees of complexity (words, sentences, paragraphs, chapters, etc.) The products provide a way to
conceive of and to describe life. When an object has been given a name, we can discuss it when it is not present
and available to let us point to it. So language lets us share information with our own species and, to a limited
extent, with other species of life.
Astrology offers us a language to conceive of and to describe life. It has an alphabet which is equivalent to the
letters of an alphabet offering a model of life composed of twelve basic desires or drives. Letters can be
capitalized or written lower case, or turned into monograms with curls, but an A is recognized as carrying the
same basic meaning as an a.
In astrology, we have planets, signs of the zodiac, houses of the horoscope, and other variations such as the
nodes of all the planets and the dwads in all the signs which symbolize the same twelve basic life desires. This
does not mean that the planets and signs and houses are themselves the same, but they symbolize the same
psychological principles.
The planets are the most important, like a verb in a sentence. Everything else is metaphorically like adverbs
which qualify verbs. We can think of astrologys model of life as a series of stages of growth from initial selfabsorption to final oneness with the Whole.
The best way to learn astrology is by thinking of it as a language. Every language has an alphabet and once you
learn the alphabet you can master the language. Oh and yes, you also have to learn the grammer.
As far as the grammer goes, think of it like this:
Planets represent psychological drives
Signs show how these drives are expressed
Houses show which areas of life are highlighted
Aspects show how the planets cooperate or interfere with each other.
When everything is blended together into an astrological sentence, you can then begin to read the story
described in an astrological chart.
Now that you understand that, lets introduce you to the letters of the alphabet!

The Letters Of The Astrological Alphabet

Letter 1 (Aries, Mars, 1st House) The Self, Personal Interests, Independence, Energy and
Confidence
Letter 2 (Taurus, Venus, 2nd House) Self-Sufficiency, Personal Values, Physical Security,
Possessions, Comfort, Relaxation, Inner Peace.

Letter 3 (Gemini, Mercury, 3rd House) Mental Stimulation, Communication, Local Travel, Siblings, and
Variety
Letter 4 (Cancer, Moon, 4th House) Emotional Security, the Past, Mom, Family, Home, Sanctuary, an
Inner sense of belonging. Caring For Others
Letter 5 (Leo, Sun, 5th House) Creativity, Projecting Personal Power, Inner Authority, Romance, Kids,
Your father. Fun, Being Special
Letter 6 (Virgo, Chiron, 6th House) Self improvement, Health, Rituals, Self-Purification, Work/Service,
Focus.
Letter 7 (Libra, Venus, 7th House) Balance & Harmonious Relationships with others, Art, Luxury,
Balanced Perspectives
Letter 8 (Scorpio, Pluto, 8th House) Self-Mastery, Rebirth, Transformation, Intimacy, the Occult,
Sharing (especially finances).
Letter 9 (Sagittarius, Jupiter, 9th House) The Search for Meaning, Joy, Higher Education, Foreign
Travel, Religion, Truth, and Abundance
Letter 10 (Capricorn, Saturn, 10th House) Ones Contribution to Society, Social Roles, Career,
Responsibility to Others, Fame and Social Values
Letter 11 (Aquarius, Uranus, 11th House) Global Awareness, Individuality, Groups of People, Social
Progress, Technology, Breaking the Rules
Letter 12 (Pisces, Neptune, 12th House) The Search for Unity and Divinity, Transcending Ego,
Emotions, Surrender, Spirit, Compassion, Spiritual Healing.
Thats it. Each letter is represented by a planet, house and sign. Put the grammer & alphabet together and you
will get it. If you want to tackle them all individually, then keep reading.
Obviously, everyone possesses all the elements and life is a complex mixture. Everything is always potentially
present but the emphasis is constantly changing. Conflicts need not be a problem, but we do have to find a way to
satisfy all of our basic drives. Any part of our nature which is totally denied will make trouble for us. Usually,
compromise works best, but we can also alternate when we want to do more of some parts of life. And, just as
conflicting desires need attention but can be handled successfully, the consequences of harmonious desires are
not always pleasant. Harmony can lead to excesses which create problems. It is not always true that if some is
good, more will be better.
The tragedy of astrology is that so much of it is presented as if it was inevitably positive or negative. Every
astrological principle, every one of our basic drives/desires, can be manifested in pleasant or painful ways, in
an infinite variety of details which depend on how we try to satisfy the desires. There are always choices but
most of the time we are not conscious of them because habits are running the show. Remember, habits live in the
subconscious side of the mind which is represented by water in astrology.
Repetition Shows Importance
Every chart includes all the twelve principles yet each chart is a unique combination. There are many forms of the
astrological alphabet, many ways to say the same thing. Important features in the nature will be shown by
repeated themes in the horoscope. Since the planets are the most intense form of the desire, the conjunction of
two planets is the most intense form of the issue, but all combinations describe the same drives and all can be
manifested in a variety of ways. Nothing in astrology is inevitably positive or negative. Every combination can be
expressed in both pleasurable and painful ways. There are always choices. Even if our current habits have been
producing painful results, the potential for change is present if we are willing to make the effort to replace the old
habits with new ones. Astrology, or any other form of self-knowledge, helps us understand our desires. Then it is
up to us if we want to change our habits.

Keywords

The Planets:
THE SUN Your essence: your Creative potential and Personal Identity.
THE MOON Your emotional nature: your past, your feelings.
MERCURY Your mind: Thinking, Analysing, Communicating.
VENUS Your values & relationships. The urge to love, appreciate and relate
MARS Your energy & aspirations. Motivation, Sexuality the urge to act and motivate
JUPITER Your growth as an individual. Expanding, Philosophising, Searching for Meaning the urge for
growth and meaning
SATURN Your personal boundaries & limitations, The urge for structure and stability
CHIRON Healing, Integrating, Wholemaking, Teaching, Mentoring the urge to be healed, to heal, teach
and mentor others
URANUS Collective Mind, Illumination, Awakening the humanitarian urge
NEPTUNE Collective Feeling, Universal Love, Imagining the spiritual urge and the need for unity
PLUTO Transformation, Purpose, Regeneration the urge for evolutionary growth
NORTH NODE The Path of Future Growth
SOUTH NODE The Past, Karma, Inherited Potential
The Houses:
1st Self Awareness, Self Discovery, Persona
2nd Personal Resources, Values, Skills
3rd Communication, Mental Activity, Learning
4th The Hearth, Feeling at home, Inner Security
5th Creative Extensions of the Self, Children
6th Self Improvement, Daily Life, Work, Health
7th Awareness of Others, Relationships
8th Depth Interactions, Sharing, Letting Go
9th Awareness of the Cosmos, Religion, Travel
10th Vocational Purpose, Taking Power, Career
11th Group Contribution, Collectives, Friends
12th Transcendence, Spiritual Path, Solitude
HOUSE POLARITIES
1st Awareness of Self; 7th Awareness of Others
2nd Personal Resources; 8th Shared Resources
3rd Immediate Environment; 9th Expanded Horizons
4th Inner World (Home); 10th Outer World (Vocation)
5th Personal Creativity; 11th Group Creativity or Contribution
6th Daily Life; 12th Spiritual Life
THE FOUR ANGLES OF THE CROSS OF MATTER

ASCENDANT ASC cusp (beginning) of 1st house The degree of the zodiac rising on the Eastern
horizon at the moment of our birth. The point of Self Awareness. I am.
THE NADIR IC cusp of 4th house The degree of the zodiac directly below us at the moment of birth.
The most private and deepest parts of ourselves. The Inner Self. My Roots.
THE DESCENDANT DESC cusp of the 7th house The degree of the zodiac rising on the western
horizon at the moment of birth. The point of Awareness of Others. I Relate to An Other.
THE MIDHEAVEN MC The cusp of the 10th house The degree of the zodiac directly above us at the
moment of birth. The most public and outer part of ourselves. I Function in the World.
ELEMENTS Patterns of Energy The Four Temperaments
Fire The path to LOVE (Focussed on Identity) Choleric
Earth The path to SERVICE (Focussed on Materiality) Melancholic
Air The path to BROTHERHOOD (Focussed on Mental and Social Interactions) Sanguine
Water The path to PEACE (Focussed on Emotional & Feeling Realm) Phlegmatic
SIGN AND ELEMENTAL POLARITIES
Yang outgoing, active, freedom oriented Fire and Air signs
Yin ingoing, reflective, security oriented Earth and Water Signs
MODALITIES Energy Movement
Cardinal Initiating Action
Fixed Manifestation of Purpose
Mutable Adapting to Change
THE Sun-Moon-Ascendant TRIAD
THE SUN Depicting the Yearly cycle of the seasons our essence, core self, conscious purpose and
sense of identity, creative potential. The Integrated Personality. The Present.
THE MOON Depicting the Monthly cycle of the Moons Phases the innermost core of our being, private
feelings, subconscious habits. Karma. The Past.
THE ASCENDANT Depicting the Daily cycle of the Earths rotation on its axis our outer self, how others
see us, our persona, the filter through which all the planets are expressed. The Souls Purpose. The
Future.
THE ASPECTS
* Aspects are the angular relationships between the planets.
* They describe pathways of energy.
* The meaning of a planet in the birth chart is determined by its position in a particular sign and house, and is
further modified by its relationships to all the other planets (the aspects).
* The interpretation of a birth chart is the art of synthesising all of these individual factors into a whole.
The Conjunction 0 degrees. A powerful concentration or marriage of the planetary energies. The
potential for Strength through Unification and Subjectivity.
The Sextile 60 degrees. An aspect of opportunity and productivity calling for the practical application of
ones understanding and experience. The potential for Realizing Ones Goals through Building New
Talents, Skills and Techniques and Making New Connections.

The Square 90 degrees. An aspect of confrontation, challenge, internal tension, construction, strength
and motivation. The potential for Action, Productivity and Achievement through the Mobilization and Focus
of Energy.
The Trine 120 degrees. An aspect of harmony, co-operation, creativity, growth, vision, flow and ease. The
potential for Creative Expression.
The Quincunx 150 degrees. An aspect of contradiction and paradox. The need for adjustment between
the real and the ideal. The potential for Transformation, Focus, Maturity and Clarification through
Adjustment.
The Opposition 180 degrees. An aspect of conflict between opposing energies, calling for awareness,
cooperation and compromise. The potential for Integration and Objectivity through Balance.