Traits of Virgo

Shy, reserved, and sensitive, Virgo is complex, intellectual, and perfectionist. Virgos tend to be punctual, organized, and disciplined, and these, on top of the shyness, all lead people to believe that Virgo is also cool and uncaring. Nothing could be further from the truth, as Virgo is almost as sensitive as Cancer or Pisces.

Shyness tends to hurt the Virgo in relationships. Some people will confuse shyness with coldness, and assume Virgo wants to be left alone, and keep their distance. This isn’t necessarily true. The Virgo wants company, but she’s picky about just who that company will be. And even then, she will be more comfortable chatting about work or current events than anything personal.

Virgo is ruled by Mercury, which means Virgos are ruled by their head as opposed to their hearts. They tend towards skills in logic and analysis, making them quite capable scientists, writers, and editors. When they set out to do something, they set out to be the best.

Unfortunately, the perfectionist strength of Virgo is also her greatest weakness. Virgos tend to be their own worst critics, beating themselves silly until either they achieve their goal of being the best…or they quit in frustration. That same critical streak can interfere with relationships, as well, since many partners don’t appreciate the perfectionist criticisms that can come from their Virgo partner. This means that the few people who manage to break through the Virgo’s shyness and cool exterior are often presented with someone who expects perfection from them, just like they expect from themselves.

Virgos tend to keep a neat and clean house, and are the sign most likely to have an alphabetized CD collection.

Virgos tend to dress in ways that compliment both their shy attitude and their perfectionist outlook. They don’t wear colors that will draw attention to them, and their clothes will match. They tend to blend into the crowd

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Traits of Taurus

Taurus, the second sign of the Zodiac, is the Bull. Focused on security and stability, the Taurus is the most faithful of all the signs.

Strong, silent, the most introverted of all the signs, Taurus is likely to be cautious and controlled. Thos born under Taurus are very practical and determined, well grounded and in touch with nature. They take things as they come, without worrying or stressing. They have strong values, and tend to think long and hard about their decisions. Once they've made those decisions, it's easier to move mountains than to change the mind of a Taurus.

Nothing personifies Taurus more than the Greek myth of the Minotaur, or bull-headed man, when it comes to stubbornness. Once those hooves are dug in, Taurus is just not going to move. But the Taurus will probably deny that they're being stubborn; they prefer to call it "sensible." Or "patient."
Normally calm and reliable, Taurus is content to be left alone, with a very long fuse....but if that fuse ever burns, watch out. Taurus has a temper. Push him to his limits, and the phrase "bull in a china shop" takes on a whole new meaning. Taurus very seldom gets mad, but when they do, they don't just get a little annoyed, they get furious. It may take weeks for the dust to clear after a Taurus tantrum.

Taurus likes to build his fortune, slowly and steadily; he loves money and material possessions, though he isn't stingy. He can be very generous, especially to friends and family.

Strong, dependable, and peaceful, Taurus is like a rock in the Zodiac, with his patience and calm. He can be the most stable and trustworthy of all the signs...just don't try to rush him into anything. Or ask him to change his mind.

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Traits of Scorpio

Scorpio is one of the most complex of all the signs.
Scorpio has been known as the Mystic and the Investigator, and the Eagle and the Phoenix have both been associated with this sign. Scorpios are driven to learn about people, and have an innate ability to see what others can't. They are intuitive, passionate, and exciting. They hate shallow relationships or being taken advantage of, and they are persistent, determined, and focused.

Scorpio has ego. He knows himself, insults do not phase him. Outwardly, he's calm, focused, serene, but inside, he's boiling. It's very difficult to read a Scorpio's mood by the look on his face, because he has a natural ability to keep the reactions small. He has ambition, but it's impossible to tell his goals because they won't be obvious. With the ambition, he has the focus and drive to accomplish anything he wants, and when he succeeds, it will seem like it was natural, meant to be, rather than by his will.

More US Presidents have been Scorpio than any other sign.
Don't ask a Scorpion for advice unless you really want it. You won't get false compliments or empty reassurances, you'll get the cold hard truth.
Scorpio is intensely loyal, and never forgets a favor. On the other hand, he never forgets being wronged, either. Hurting a Scorpio is like planting the seeds for your own destruction, because they won't be satisfied with simply evening the score--he'll have to outdo the offender. This is the weakness of the Scorpio--jealousy, resentment, vindictiveness, and obsessiveness are very easy for him to fall victim to.

Scorpio has always been associated with dark things, which is only natural considering their rule by dark, distant Pluto. But there is a need for someone to show us what is hidden in dark corners of the world and the soul, and Scorpio is the one to do that.

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Traits of Sagittarius

If there was a “most likely to succeed” Zodiac sign, it would likely be Leo.

On the other hand, if there was a “most likely to put his foot in his mouth,” that would be Sagittarius.

He doesn’t mean to, of course. He does mean well. Sagittarius is the Archer, and every now and then, one of those arrows is totally off target. They are creatures of the extreme—either that arrow will hit perfectly, dead center, or it will rebound off the target directly back into the archer’s face.

Sagittarius thinks big. He doesn’t have time or patience for details, and that’s where his weakness lies—because such things as social graces and tact can fall into those “little details” sections. Likewise, a job that demands attention to detail, like assembly line work, would leave an Archer breaking his bow in impatience and frustration. Deep down, Sagittarius is the most insecure of all the signs.

The Archers are messy and scruffy, the “Oscar Madison” of the Zodiac. Ironing shirts and combing hair can easily become one of those little details, too. Don’t expect a neat and orderly house when there’s a Sagittarius living there.

Like the Centaur that the constellation Sagittarius represents, Archers love to travel. Even better is traveling in something as rough and ragged as they are, four wheel drive and covered in mud.

Archers do well in entertainment. They want to be liked, due to that deep insecurity, and they want an audience, because of their high level of pride.

Sagittarius generally leans one of two ways. One, they are intellectual, thinking big, well read, opinionated, and willing to debate for hours on end—though often having a problem admitting when they’re wrong. Or two, they thrive on athletic competition. If you want to spot the Sagittarius in the backyard football game, look for the muddiest member of the winning team.

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Traits of Pisces

The last sign, Pisces, the two dancing fish, is the most deep and sensitive sign of them all. Ruled by both Jupiter and Neptune, Pisceans are creative and adaptable, but not very organized. Traditionally, Pisces is considered to be at the highest spiritual plane.

Pisces is the ultimate artist of the Zodiac. There are more Piscean poets than any other sign, and their empathy for others is legendary. No other sign is better able to understand another’s pain like Pisces. At the same time, Pisces is the most free-spirited of all the Signs, too.

The empathy of a Pisces makes them not only artists, but also perfectly suits them for nursing and medical careers.

All of the Water signs—Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces—are sensitive. But the other two have one thing that Pisceans lack, and that’s the hard outer shell. Pisces do not have the natural defenses around their sensitivity, and when insulted or hurt, will often “swim away” and hide. Pisces is very good at withdrawing from the world or turning invisible.

There is a bright side to that invisibility talent, though. It manifests as an almost chameleon-like ability to fit in. Pisces will happily join into their mate’s hobby—not because they’re interested in the hobby itself, but because learning it allows them to understand their mate better.

Many Pisceans are fascinated with movies and photography. There’s a natural affinity there, because film—like Pisces—is very sensitive and picks up everything it sees.

The Piscean’s sense of style is practically none at all. Pisces is far more concerned with spiritual enlightenment than on the annoying little detail of whether or not their socks match. Personal style is trivial and meaningless in a monastery. Far more important than style is the emotion attached to things; the furniture may not match, but the battered rocking chair that Aunt Edna told her stories from, that’s important, it stays put.

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Astrology - Libra

Libras are represented in the Zodiac by the Scales, the symbol of perfect balance. Because of this, one would think that Libras are balanced, even-tempered, and calm.
One would be wrong.

Yes, Libra can balance, and when she does, those moments are absolute heaven. But there is a space before the trays of the scales balance--that time when the weights are not even, when a little bit more needs to be added to one side or the other--and Libra represents that, also. This tends to make Libras a bundle of contradictions, though definitely not as much as Gemini.
Libras, as ruled by Venus, are one of the most attractive signs in the Zodiac. It's natural for Libra to be warm and friendly.

Libras will drift from one side to the other. At times, they can take over a conversation, and then just as suddenly turn into the perfect listener.Their inborn fairness make them a perfect mediator, but after a wonderful track record at settling arguments they'll choose sides and start a fresh argument just for the fun of it. When they're balanced, they're easygoing, diplomatic, and charming. When they're not balanced, they are just as easily gullable and resentful.
One of a Libra's favorite statements will be something similar to "...but on the other hand..."

Libra constantly searches for the real truth. They enjoy a good debate, and won't hesitate to take the other side of an argument soley for the sake of the argument. They cannot stand the idea of unfairness or prejudice, and will not hesitate to challenge someone on broad generalizations--and that's the Libra's weakness.
A Libra can be prone to indecision. Libras hate to make decisions without analyzing all of the possible results, and all of that forethought can be maddening to others, especially those born under more impulsive signs. That indecision can also lead to the Libra being influenced by others.
Most of all, Libra is a dreamer, who follows her soul wherever it might lead.

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Astrology – Leo

Just as the lion is the king of the jungle, Leo is the king of the Zodiac. Leo is a fire sign, falling right in the hottest part of the summer at the center of the year—which is perfect, since Leo loves to be the center of attention.

Leo is a born leader, cheerful and optimistic. They conquer obstacles the same way a lion conquers their foes—like a hunter, who spots his prey, stalks, and pounces. Leos tend to be very focused on their goals and ambitions.

Leo is a model of generosity, with one of the biggest hearts of the entire Zodiac. They love to share. They are also the life of the party, always prepared to order a round of drinks or offer up a hilarious joke.

Leos like to do things on a grand scale, with special attention to clothing and cars. Leos attract attention, and the things they own tend to reflect this.

One weakness that Leos need to beware of is arrogance. Being natural leaders, Leos can sometimes fall into the trap of expecting other people to “take care of” those annoying details that should be beneath them. Not only are they natural leaders, they expect to be the leader, and will fight for that position when challenged. They don’t like changes to the routine once their leadership role has been established.

These are the same things that haunt a Leo through a career. Their ambition makes it difficult for them to “climb the corporate ladder,” and the worst sort of job they can find themselves in is the one where they are “just one gear in the machine.” Their impatience to take the reins will sometimes drive them out of the workforce and into their own business or entertainment.

Leo loves to get in front of a crowd. They are natural class clowns and show-offs, and professionally or not, enjoy performing or presenting.

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Traits of a Gemini

Webster's Dictionary defines "Mercurial" as "characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood." With Mercury ruling, there's no better definition of Gemini, either. Gemini encompasses both sides of human nature, the light and the dark, the cheerful and the somber, and this duality appears in every aspect of the life of a Gemini.
Gemini can change their moods and attitudes as easily as others change their socks. One moment, they are sociable and cheerful; the next, moody and restless. They tend to be frustrated with people who straddle the fence, because they know where they stand at that precise moment.

Of course, they may be on the other side of that fence the next day, but that's a different subject.
A Gemini can--and likely does--handle multiple tasks with ease. They are at least as comfortable multi-tasking than most people are with a single project. In fact, they would likely get bored handling a single task, and would be miserable at rote memorization or dull monotonous chores.

With their gifts for communication and imagination, Gemini are natural storytellers. They have a keen sense of humor, plenty of tact, and a flair for diplomacy. What they don't have are persistence and patience. If they're not careful, their tendencies towards moodiness and restlessness can be their undoing.
The easiest way to frustrate a Gemini is to force them to hold to a routine. Like a caged wild animal, they will not handle the situation well at all. Gemini don't like to be chained to the everyday world; they need to fly and wander and embrace new things wherever possible.

Be wary of a Gemini used car salesman. The smoothest talker of the Zodiac, Gemini could sell ice to Eskimos and leave them thinking they got the better end of the deal.

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Traits of Capricorn

Capricorn is the workhorse of the Zodiac, working his way up the ladder of success, slowly and steadily.

Goats have a strong sense of tradition and structure, and make excellent teachers. They respect history and believe in passing on an inheritance. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn, which means that they take the long view on things. Like the tortoise racing against the hare, they know too well that “slow and steady wins the race.”

Capricorns are probably the most far-thinking of all the signs. Where Sagittarius and Leo are partying for the moment, Capricorn is planning his schedule four years in the future. But this focus on the future comes with a price.

Capricorn can get so preoccupied with the future that he starts to focus on death, and then becomes easily and deeply depressed. It’s very easy for a Capricorn to fall into a “woe is me” attitude, worrying about the never ending series of bad things that always seem to hit them at their most vulnerable. Thankfully, because of their long-term views, most Goats can overcome this handicap by just putting their head down and working even harder.

Capricorns understand the meaning of sacrifice, because each of those hurdles that force them into the long and slow path to success means sacrificing something to overcome them.

Capricorns tend towards black, which is perfectly suited to their depression. They also lean to the traditional in home and style and especially food. Goats tend to eat plain and straightforward meals rather than something exotic.

Capricorns tend to do well in large corporations, where their work ethic allows them to work their way up a long ladder. Capricorns are also uniquely suited to handling numbers and data.

Finally, because of their traditional outlook and innate teaching skills, Capricorns make excellent parents. Children give them an heir, someone to pass along the family legacy to, which is one of the core pieces of the Goat’s makeup.

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Traits of Cancer

Cancer is symbolized by the Crab, because the Crab was believed to carry his house on his back. And, like their namesake, the home is very important to Cancer.

Those born under this sign are heavily focused on home life. Cancers are the domestic experts of the Zodiac, and would be the first to know how to fix an appliance or which drapes match the sofa. Unfortunately, they also have a reputation as packrats, because they attach emotions to their belongings. Every old photo becomes a cherished heirloom because of the memories that go with it.

Cancers are sensitive and caring. Only Pisces comes close to the sensitivity of Cancer. Crabs are the truest and closest companions, always coming to the aid of their friends, ready to bail them out at a moment’s notice.

The crab’s defense is to curl up behind his shell. Cancers have a reputation for being tough and unfeeling because they keep their emotions hidden—for their own protection, of course. They can be frustrated that people can’t see through that shell to the deeply caring person hidden behind it. They tend to dress down, not attracting attention to themselves.

Cancers have a tendency to be worried, moody, or even depressed, but this can be lightened with water-based activities like fishing or sailing. Because of their affinity for the home, many cancers enjoy fixer-upper hobbies, like adding an extension to the house.

Because they care about people, Cancers are most at home in a career where they can help people in some way. Pushing papers or operating machinery will make for a very crabby Crab. Cancers, with their innate skills at knowing what people need and feel, tend to make very good managers. However, they tend to build on existing ideas, rather than creating their own, so they don’t make good entrepreneurs.

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Traits of Aries

Aries is the first symbol of the Zodiac, the Ram. This sign covers the Equinox, March 21st, and the beginning of Spring. And Spring--with it's energy of rebirth, as winter ends and flowers bloom--is the perfect example of energetic and freedom-loving Aries.

Aries people are just like Aries the Ram, and on fire like their planet, Mars. They go after what they want. With their confidence and spirit, they make natural pioneers, and unstoppable enemies in a fight against tyranny.

People born under Aries are confident, intelligent, and enthusiastic. They are driven to excel and achieve, and like nothing better than to gather and inspire a team to follow them on their quest. They look forward, and don't dwell on the past. They are also one of the most extroverted of all the signs.

On the negative side, Aries must be careful of their weaknesses--selfishness, impatience, impulsiveness. Aries will fight for what he believes in, but he will also fight to be "the alpha male," the leader of the pack. They also tend to get caught up in starting projects without finishing them. Never expect patience, tact, or diplomacy from an Aries, and be careful of their quick temper. They can get so caught up in the quest that they don't realize the foolhardy mistakes they're about to make.

Aries make excellent entrepreneurs; it's a natural talent for someone with such a strong focus on initiative and leadership. They thrive on challenges and love to excel and win. They don't react well when forced to wait, and can have trouble accepting advice.

Aries is the first sign, the one that leads the Zodiac, and like their sign, those born Aries like to lead as well. They would never be content leaving their adventurous quest for a quiet and dull desk job.

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Traits of Aquarius

Aquarius, the water-bearer, is ruled by both Saturn and Uranus, and the two planets give Aquarians a unique disposition. Thanks to Saturn, those born under this sign have a knack for being cool and level-headed. Uranus, on the other hand, directs them to be unconventional and unique.

Aquarius is a humanitarian, there’s no doubt about that. The Aquarian likes to make a difference, or even just spend lots of time discussing it, since they are also idealists and dreamers. They also have a flair for logical thinking, which greatly helps to support their arguments.

Aquarius hates hierarchies, and refuses to be placed on a pedestal. Their logical, analytical minds are perfect for logic and computer work. The areas they won’t do well in are “fuzzy” areas, like brokering deals or making sales. They much prefer the hard and solid world of the computer, or the much more satisfying world of social work. Nothing annoys them more than the idea of choosing a career solely for the money it offers.

Sagittarius and Aquarius have one thing in common: a disregard for social manners. While Sagittarius feels manners are pesky little details he has little patience for, Aquarians think manners are elitist, or perhaps even hypocritical, and deserve to be ignored. They speak what’s on their mind.

Aquarius has a reputation for being emotionally unstable. They tend towards sensitivity, with a thin skin and touchy attitude, especially when criticized. Also, they have a deep-seated fear of rejection. Many Aquarians find it easier to write their feelings rather than talk about them, and on paper, the sensitive and passionate nature of Aquarius can shine past the cool and calm façade.

Aquarians are the most attractive sign of the Zodiac. They also like bizarre colors, weird accents, or provocative style. This is Uranus’ influence, driving them to be unique.

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Mythology of Taurus, Aries, and Gemini

The constellation Taurus is one of the oldest symbols. It's been associated with a bull even as far back as Babylonian times. In ancient Egypt, Taurus was associated with Apis, a bull-like incarnation of the god Osiris. In the Old Testament, Moses destroyed the Golden Calf.

And in ancient Greece, Taurus commemorated the romance of Zeus and Europa--because Zeus transformed himself into a beautiful white bull to distract her, and carried her off to the island of Crete. Their son, Minos, became the king of Crete, and built a maze to hold another bull figure--the Minotaur, who was eventually killed by Theseus.
Aries is another constellation that has always been associated with a single image. Babylon, Egypt, Persia, Greece, and Rome, all of them considered Aries to be a ram. In Greece, Aries was most associated with Jason and the Argonauts, in the story of the quest for the Golden Fleece.

Jason was a victim of prophecy. Jason's father was killed by his brother Pelias. Jason was spirited away to protect him, but an oracle warned Pelias that the boy would return. Jason was raised by the centaur Chiron (who is represented by the constellation Sagittarius). When Jason challenged Pelias, the pretender told Jason he would give him the throne in return for the Golden Fleece.
Jason built a ship called the Argo, and crewed it with the Argonauts, some of the greatest heroes of Greece. Even Hercules sailed on the Argo. And with their help, he was finally successful.

Two of the Argonauts were named Castor and Pollux. They were twin sons of Zeus and Leda; one was immortal, the other was not. They were inseparable. At one point along the quest for the Fleece, Castor was killed, and immortal Pollux begged Zeus to let him die as well. Instead, Zeus placed them in the stars, side by side, never apart.

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Mythology of Scorpio, Leo, and Cancer

There are many variants of the mythology of Scorpio, but nearly all of them also include the constellation of Orion, the Hunter. In some versions, Scorpio was an assassin sent by Artemis to kill Orion. The reasons vary. Sometimes, it's out of rage at her defeat at his hands. In another, it's to protect the bull of Taurus, and in another, it's for his bragging of his skills and glory in hunting (Artemis believed in hunting only for food). And in yet another version, the scorpion was a punishment for Orion's pursuit of the goddesses of the Pleiades.

Regardless of the version you like to believe, the assassination of Orion plays out again and again every night in the stars. Orion is opposite Scorpius in the sky, so as the scorpion arrives on the scene, Orion "dies" by dropping below the horizon.
Leo and Cancer both owe their existence--and their deaths, unfortunately--to the great Olympian hero, Hercules.
Hercules was charged with killing the vicious and giant Nemean Lion. None of his weapons could cut through the lion's skin, so he was finally forced to wrestle it to the ground and strangle it with his bare hands.
Hercules kept the lion's skin, and it came in very handy. His next task was the Lernean Hydra, a dragon with seven heads. And, as if multiple heads weren't enough of a problem, when any head was cut off, two more would grow in it's place! The Lion's skin helped protect Hercules from the heads while he set about to find a way to kill it.
Hera, Zeus's wife, wanted Hercules dead. She sent a crab to distract Hercules from his fight with the Hydra. Unfortunately, Hercules was only distracted long enough to crush the crab under his foot. Hera placed the crab in the sky to remember it's sacrifice.

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Mythology of Libra, Virgo, Pisces, Aquarius

Libra is a relatively young sign.
Originally, in the Zodiac developed by ancient Babylon, there were only eleven signs. Scorpio took up a double-sized slice of the sky, and was immediately followed by Virgo.
The mythology relating to Virgo is very difficult to pin down, because there are so many maidens spread across mythology. The most common, though, have been Ishtar, Demeter, or Astraea.

At some point, Scorpio's claws were cut from his constellation and attached to Virgo as her scales. This made Virgo the blindfolded goddess of Justice we know today. But that still didn't work, because now Virgo took up an oversized slice of the sky.
The ancient Romans solved the problem by cutting the scales from both Scorpio and Virgo and making them a constellation--and a Sign of the Zodiac--in their own right. Libra remains the only sign that is not a person or an animal.
The sign of Pisces, a faint constellation, has always been known as two fish. The Greek myth most likely to be associated with Pisces is the story of how Aphrodite and her son Heros escaped from the monster Typhon. The pair turned into fish, and tied their tails together to make sure they weren't separated. Even today, many depictions of Pisces show a line or bar connecting the two fish.
One of the oldest signs of the Zodiac, Aquarius is widely associated with the Greek myth of Ganymede, the cup-bearer of the gods, and the first mortal ever to be turned into an immortal. Zeus had a fondness for him, turned into a bird, and swooped down to carry him off to Mount Olympus as their servant, a sort of mythological cabana boy. Ganymede is surrounded by water constellations. Near him are Pisces the fish, Eridanus the river, Delphinus the dolphin, and Cetus the sea monster.

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Mythology of Capricorn

In ancient Sumeria, the sign of Capricorn was often associated with the planet Saturn and the Sumerian deity Enki. But the full picture of Capricorn as we know it today comes from the ancient Greeks. In Greek mythology, Cronus was a Titan, and the father of the gods.

Just as he overthrew his own father, Uranos, Cronus knew he would be overthrown by one of his children. So, as each of his and Rhea's children was born, he swallowed them whole. Hestia, Demeter, Hades, Poseidon, Hera, all of them were swallowed before they could grow up and threaten his rule.
Rhea wanted children to play with, so when Zeus was born, she wrapped a rock in swaddling clothes and gave that to Cronus instead. Zeus was hidden away in a cave and raised by foster parents. There are different versions of the myth. In one version, Zeus was raised by a goat-tending nymph named Amalthea or Adamanthea, and in another, by the goat herself (also named Amalthea), but the one constant through all of them is that Zeus was raised on goat's milk.
When Zeus was old enough, he released the imprisoned brothers of Cronus--the Giants and the Cyclopes--who gave him power over thunder and lightning. With their help, Zeus was able to overthrow Cronus, and force him to spit out Zeus' brothers and sisters.
The goat's horn later became the Horn of Plenty, or Cornucopia. In some versions, the goat's skin became the Golden Fleece that Jason and the Argonauts searched for.
In thanks for tending him as a baby, Zeus placed Amalthea in the sky, as the constellation Capricornus, the Goat.

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A History of Western Astrology

The history of Astrology begins around 2000 BCE, in ancient Babylon. There, they began to develop a complex system of celestial omens. The priests used the positions of the planets and the stars to state the desires of the gods. They would document the movements in the sky and the earthly activities that followed them, and build a list of good and bad omens.

For example, if a full moon and a cloudy sky were followed by a great victory over an enemy the next day, then "full moon with clouds" would be recorded as a good omen. Over time, this system spread across the ancient world.
The Egyptians were very focused on astronomy, with good reason. The Sun and Sirius were used to predict when the Nile would flood. Traditionally, Rameses II is known for defining several of the signs of the Zodiac.
Horoscopic Astrology made its first appearance in Alexandrian Egypt. This new version of Babylonian and Egyptian astrology focused on the positions of the planets and constellations at the time of a person's birth. Ptolemy codified the system in his work Tetrabiblos, and very little has changed to this day.
Through the middle ages, astrology and astronomy were almost interchangeable. The majority of the early astronomical observations of sun, moon, and planets were all done by astrologers. Where much of astrology was forgotten in Europe during the dark ages, the Persians kept the knowledge alive, and returned it to Europe with the Renaissance.
With the Scientific Revolution starting in the 17th century, however, the two began to split apart, with astronomy becoming a science and astrology viewed more as occult superstition.
In the twentieth century, astrology became popular in the United States around 1900 to 1950. Astrology writers also tried to simplify some of the more confusing parts, which made astrology more available to the general public. As a result, today there is a market for astrology books and "sun-sign" predictions.

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History Of Chinese Astrology

The development of Chinese astrology dates back to at least the Zhou Dynasty ( 1122 BC – 256 BC). Some sources claim it began as far back as 2150 BC. The ancient Chinese astrologers began by using the position of planets, moon and stars to accurately predict the change of seasons, and flow of the tides. These predictions were vital to the success of farming at the time, as they were used to predict the best times to plant and harvest crops.

To help them keep track of passing time, the Ten Heavenly Stems and Twelve Earthly Branches were created. These important signs we used to mark the passing of what we know as hours, days, months, and years. During this time in history, only the elite could read and write, so animals were used to symbolize each of the Twelve Earthly Branches.

Legend has it that during the celebration of New Year Buddha was to decide upon the order of animals to be used for the Twelve Earthly branches. He asked all the animals in the kingdom to join him for a meeting. Only twelve animals answered the call of Buddha and attended the meeting.

Buddha granted each of those twelve animals sovereignty over an Earthly Branch. Each animal was to lead the Branch and have influence over those born during its Branch.

We know the Twelve Earthly Branches as “Years”. In the traditional Chinese calendar, these twelve animal signs repeat themselves in a never-ending circle, to remind us that time is a constant and has flow.

The Twelve Earthly Branches are, in order, the mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

Some ancient Chinese valued the Earth over the stars. These scientists looked for the reasons behind the natural order of things. They agreed that all things had a basis in one of Five elements. To their understanding, all things were made from Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, or Wood.

They examined how these basic elements worked together and against each other. Wood creates Fire, Fire turns to Earth, Earth creates Metal, Metal creates water, and water creates Wood.

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