is an ancient practice dating way back in time to Babylonian, Egyptian and Aztec cultures. For centuries in the West, astrology was chiefly used for divination (fortune-telling) purposes by nobles and royalty. It fell out of favor in the seventeenth century and, as science developed, it was dismissed as superstition, but it never completely lost its appeal. In the early twentieth century interest in astrology re-emerged, this time not as a predictive technique but rather as a psychological tool for greater self-knowledge or awareness.
From the 1960s onward the popularity of astrology began to rise, with increasing numbers of people seeking a spiritual perspective on life. Today, astrology is not so much seen as a divination tool but as a self-help or personal-growth aid to finding meaning in life. Another modern development is that astrology is no longer regarded as complicated and requiring professional interpretation. These days anyone can learn about astrology and use its wisdom as a way to help them understand themselves and fulfill their potential.
Most of us know and identify with the characteristics of our sun sign—for example, Aries, Taurus and so on. The sun travels through the 12 signs of the zodiac through the course of the year and so when someone is said to have been born under Pisces, they were born when the sun was passing through the portion of the zodiac named after the constellation of Pisces. Each of the 12 signs has defining personality traits, with the elements of fire, water, earth and air also affecting each sun sign.
The 12 sun or zodiac signs correspond roughly to the 12 months of the year, and each of these sun signs symbolizes archetypes or universal life experiences. In your life you need to journey through the entire zodiac wheel of life and understand the experiences of all the other sun signs, but your sun sign reveals the major personality characteristics you are born to learn and express.
Although two people born under the same sun sign may share general personality traits, the reason they will not be entirely the same personality-wise is that the positions of the other planets will be different, depending on their motion on the day and at the time and place of birth. For example, as the sun travels through the zodiac sign over the course of a month, it passes through three periods of time called decanates, making each decanate approximately ten days long. Each decanate adds the influences of its own associated planet and sign to the basic influences of the sun sign. Therefore, by considering the decanate as well as the sun sign, you can fine-tune the reading for an individual’s birthday. Let’s look at an example. An Aries born sometime in the second decanate (March 31 to April 9) will be under the additional influence of the second decanate sign of Leo and the star associated with Leo, which is the sun. The ancient Egyptian astrologers considered the decanates to be as important as the sun signs themselves.
Progressions are another important consideration, especially for predictive purposes. The sun takes about thirty years to journey (or progress) through each sign of the zodiac and, in a person’s lifetime, it will typically move through three to four zodiac signs, depending on the lifespan of the individual and their date of birth. Each time the sun progresses from one sign to another, this indicates a significant birthday or time in life when there is likely to be a dramatic change in either circumstances or outlook. For example, the progressed sun of a Scorpio born on November 9 will move into Sagittarius at the age of 13, into Capricorn at the age of 43 and then Aquarius at the age of 73. That’s why you’ll notice that in each of the 366 profiles I have made reference to specific ages.
Fixed stars associated with a particular day of the year also exert additional influences, and other astrological factors come into play, but if decanates and progressions sound confusing, don’t worry. You don’t need to have your birth chart drawn up or to consult complicated tables to use this book. I have taken all the calculations and relevant interpretations into account when compiling each birthday profile. All you need to do is read your profile and let it inspire you to reach your full potential.
Sun-sign date variations
You may notice variations in the dates given for your sun sign, depending on which source you consult. This is because the zodiac has 360 degrees, whereas a year has 365 days, or 366 if it is a leap year. In addition, the sun does not enter the various sections of the zodiac on exactly the same date each year. The dates in this book try to take into account sun-sign variations from one year to another, but if you are born within two or three days of the dates given for each sign, your birthday lies on what astrologers call the cusp. If you were born on a cusp this is exciting, as you can read and benefit from the sun-sign insight in the Heed Your Signs section for two signs—the one your birthday falls in and the sign that follows or precedes it. For example, if you were born on April 19, you will share both Aries and Taurus characteristics. If you were born on September 23, you will share both Libra and Virgo traits. Needless to say, I have taken the characteristics of both signs into account when creating all the cusp birthday profiles. And, if you were born a few hours after or a few hours before midnight, you may want to read the profile for the day before or after your birthday too, as those influences will cross over to your birthday.
The Science of Astrology
For the skeptics who struggle with the concept of “as above, so below,” ponder this: Science has shown that the gravitational pull of the moon on the Earth impacts the water in our oceans and tides. And up to 60 percent of the human adult body is made up of water!
Although some studies show that lunar phases can affect a person’s mood and behavior, to date there is no proven link between the position of the moon, sun and planets at time of birth and human personality. However, research into the seasons, and even the month in which a person is born, suggests otherwise.
In the early 1970s, researchers from the UK compiled data from the British population census showing clearly that architects tended to be born in the spring, secretaries in the summer, miners in the autumn and electricians in the winter. The researchers asked members of the British Astrological Association (BAA) to indicate which signs were associated with the professions of nurse and labor union official. The astrologers’ predictions corresponded with the researchers’ own findings that there was a statistical bias toward nurses being born under the signs of Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio and Pisces, and labor union officials being born under one or other of the other signs.
Over the years research has focused on the influence of one star in particular—the sun. This is because ultraviolet radiation (UVR), a type of radiation emitted by the sun, is believed to cause genetic changes in the developing baby that may have a shaping effect on their life and personality. This could explain from a scientific perspective why many of us believe that common characteristics and fates are shared by those born at the same time of the year. For example, researchers have found that your chances of living beyond 100 are higher if you are born in November or December. However, it is important to remember that the research on which this is based, on the impact of sun radiation, doesn’t necessarily apply to people born in the southern hemisphere, where summer starts in December and finishes at the end of February.
Here’s a snapshot of other significant findings by different researchers to date. Bear in mind that new studies come out all the time; now you have this book, you may want to keep track of them.
Happiness: According to a UK study, people born in March, April and May tend to be more optimistic than people born at other times of the year. But those born in winter and spring can also be more prone to mood swings, with January being the month most linked with bipolar disorder and May being the month most linked with depression. Those born in September, October and November have the lowest rates of depression, but can be more prone to irritability. Another study from Austria suggested that happy people are more likely to have been born in June, July and August. Meanwhile, research from Japan found that people born in December, January and February were likely to be more pessimistic than those born at other times
