Astrology basics
The core ideas behind planets, signs, houses and aspects.
What is astrology?
Astrology is a symbolic tradition that links the positions of the Sun, Moon and planets with themes in human life. It is thousands of years old and grew up alongside astronomy. Today many people use it as a language for reflection: a way to notice patterns, ask better questions and think about timing, rather than as a source of guaranteed outcomes.
How does astrology interpret planetary positions?
Astrologers read three things together. The planet describes a kind of energy or function, the sign it occupies describes the style of expression, and the house points to an area of life. Relationships between planets, called aspects, add nuance. These meanings are traditional and symbolic, and they are offered as prompts for reflection.
What is the difference between a zodiac sign and a planet?
A planet is a celestial body, such as Mars or Venus, which astrologers associate with a particular function, for example action or values. A zodiac sign is one of twelve 30-degree divisions of the sky along the Sun’s path, and it describes the style a planet is expressing. Put simply, the planet is the “what” and the sign is the “how”.
What are the Sun sign, Moon sign and rising sign?
Your Sun sign is the sign the Sun occupied at your birth, the one people mean when they say “I’m a Leo”. Your Moon sign is the sign the Moon occupied, traditionally linked with emotional needs and instincts. Your rising sign, or ascendant, is the sign on the eastern horizon at birth, and it needs your birth time and place to calculate.
What are the four elements in astrology?
The twelve signs are grouped into four elements. Fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. Air signs are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Water signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Traditionally, Fire is linked with energy and initiative, Earth with practicality, Air with ideas and communication, and Water with feeling and intuition.
What are the twelve houses of astrology?
The houses divide a birth chart into twelve areas of life, such as home, relationships, work and shared resources. When a planet falls in a house, astrologers read its themes as showing up in that area. Which house a planet occupies depends on birth time, birthplace and the house system used, so it can differ from chart to chart.
What are astrological aspects?
Aspects are angles between planets, measured in degrees along the zodiac. The main ones are the conjunction (0°), sextile (60°), square (90°), trine (120°) and opposition (180°). Astrologers read them as relationships between the energies involved: blending, supporting, creating tension or pulling in opposite directions. A small allowance, called an orb, lets an aspect count when it is close but not exact.
Is astrology a science?
No. Astronomy measures where the planets are, and that is science. Astrology interprets those positions symbolically, and scientific studies have not shown that planets cause personality traits or events on Earth. Many people value astrology as a cultural tradition and a tool for reflection. Weather Astrology presents its readings in that spirit, not as scientific findings or predictions.
Understanding the cosmic forecast
How to read the sky ahead, and what it can and cannot tell you.
What is a cosmic forecast?
The Cosmic Forecast follows the moving sky in rolling seven-day, monthly and yearly views. It lists calculated planetary positions in the tropical zodiac, along with sign changes, retrograde periods, moon phases and aspects, and adds plain-language notes on what they may mean. Positions and dates come first. The interpretations that follow are traditional readings, not predictions.
What is the difference between a planetary placement and a planetary transit?
A placement is where a planet sits in the zodiac at a given moment, for example Venus at 12 degrees of Libra. In a birth chart, placements are fixed at the time of birth. A transit is a planet’s ongoing movement through the sky and the relationships it forms along the way, including with the placements in a birth chart.
What does it mean when a planet changes zodiac signs?
When a planet crosses from one sign into the next, astrologers call it an ingress. Because each sign is traditionally linked with its own style, the planet’s themes are read in a new light. Fast-moving bodies such as the Moon and Mercury change signs often, while the outer planets stay in one sign for years, so their changes mark longer shifts.
What does retrograde mean in astrology?
A planet is retrograde when it appears, from Earth, to move backward through the zodiac. This is an optical effect of how Earth and the other planet orbit the Sun, not a real reversal. Traditionally, retrogrades are read as times to review, revisit and reconsider related themes. The Sun and Moon never go retrograde, and the forecast marks planets that currently are.
What is the difference between a New Moon and a Full Moon?
At a New Moon, the Moon sits between Earth and the Sun, so the side facing us is dark. At a Full Moon, Earth is between them and the Moon appears fully lit. The whole cycle takes about 29.5 days. Astrologically, the New Moon is a symbol of beginnings and intentions, and the Full Moon of culmination, clarity and release.
How should I interpret planetary aspects?
Read an aspect as a conversation between two energies, not a verdict. Conjunctions blend them, trines and sextiles are traditionally easier, and squares and oppositions bring tension that can prompt action or adjustment. None is simply good or bad. Under each upcoming event, the “What this may mean” note gives a general reading, a constructive angle, a challenge and a question to reflect on.
Can astrology predict exactly what will happen?
No. Astrology cannot tell you exactly what will happen, and nothing here should be treated as a prediction or a promise. The astronomical dates are calculated, but their meanings are symbolic and open to interpretation. Use them to notice themes and ask questions, and rely on your own judgment, and qualified professionals, for medical, legal, financial or other important decisions.
How can I use a cosmic forecast in everyday life?
Start with the seven-day view and note one or two themes that stand out. Treat them as prompts: a good week to review plans, a day to slow down before replying, a moon phase to set an intention. Revisit your notes later to see what held true. Used this way, a forecast supports reflection without telling you what to do.
About Weather Astrology
What you can explore here, and where to begin.
What can I find on Weather Astrology?
You can follow the Cosmic Forecast, which has seven-day, monthly and yearly views, and explore the Lunar Guide and its moon calendar. There are guides to the twelve zodiac signs, an interactive explorer for the planets and houses, and educational articles. The Products page also lists personalized forecasts and birth chart reports written from your birth details.
How often should I check the cosmic forecast?
The seven-day view updates hourly and rolls forward each day, but you do not need to check it that often. Many people look once a day or once a week for the near-term picture. The monthly view suits planning the weeks ahead, and the yearly view, which leaves out the Moon, is best for longer planetary cycles. Event times are shown in UTC.
What is the Lunar Guide?
The Lunar Guide explains the Moon’s eight phases, with the astronomy of each shown alongside its traditional astrological themes. It includes a month-by-month lunar calendar, a list of upcoming New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon and Last Quarter times in UTC, a section on the New Moon and Full Moon, and a prompt for reflection.
Where can I learn about the twelve zodiac signs?
Start with the Zodiac Signs page. It explains how the signs began and links to a guide for each one, from Aries to Pisces. Each sign page offers a closer look at that sign’s dates, symbolism and traditional themes. The descriptions are symbolic interpretations for reflection and education, not scientific personality assessments.
Where can I learn about the planets and astrological houses?
The Planets & Houses page introduces the ten commonly used luminaries and planets and the twelve houses, each with a short explanation of its traditional meaning. Select a planet or a house to read more. It is written for beginners and focuses on core symbolism, so it is a good companion to the sign pages.
How can I get started if I am new to astrology?
Begin with the Planets & Houses page to learn the basic building blocks, then read about your Sun sign on the Zodiac Signs page. Next, open the seven-day Cosmic Forecast and read one or two events, and try the article on planetary transits. Go at your own pace and treat everything as a prompt for reflection.
Guides to keep reading
Longer, approachable stories for when you want to go a little deeper.
A gentler way to read the cosmic climate
Astrology does not need to be complicated to be meaningful. Start with the patterns, then bring the questions back to your own life.
Read the storyThe Moon, your rhythm, and the art of noticing
A simple guide to working with lunar symbolism as a tool for reflection, intention, and personal rhythm.
Read the storyWhat is a planetary transit, anyway?
A clear, grounded introduction to the moving planets and why astrologers pay attention to their changing relationships.
Read the story