Complete Idiot's Guide to Astrology

I. ALL ABOUT ASTROLOGY. 1. What Is Astrology? Astrology: The First Science. Our Calendar Is Based on Astrology. Debunking the Myths. The Planets Don't Influence Human Behavior. Astrology Is Not a Dark Art. Astrology and Science Can Peacefully Coexist. Smart People Use Astrology. Famous Astrologers. The Three Wise Men. Pythagoras (580?-500? b.c.e.). Nostradamus (1503-1566). Isaac Newton (1642-1727). Steering by the Stars. Getting in Touch with Ancient Rhythms. An Open Mind, a Curious Nature, and a Sense of Humor. 2. Heavenly Revelations. What Astrology Can Reveal in Your Everyday Life. The Company You Keep. The Signs and Your Career. Healthy in Mind and Body. Cosmic Investments and Money Management. Home Is Where Your Hat Is. Horoscope Junkies. Free Will Versus Your Daily Forecast. Can You Believe Everything You Read in the Papers? Hot Lines: The Best Advice or Costly Rip-Offs? Astrology Is Everywhere: Going Beyond the Stars. 3. Astrology Basics for Your Personal Forecast. What Is an Astrological Chart? Your Chart Shows the Position of the Heavens at Your Birth. Energies, Qualities, and Elements (You Thought This Was Gonna Be Easy?). Energies: Two for the Show. Qualities: Three to Get Ready. Elements: Four to Go. Let the Sun Shine. What Is a Sun Sign? Top Five Reasons You Should Know Your Sun Sign. You Are Unique. 4. There's More to You Than Just Your Sun Sign. Ascendants. The Sun, the Moon, the Planets, and the Nodes. Every Heavenly Body Tells a Story. Nodes? What Are Nodes, Anyway? Planetary Rulers. Planet Power: Where Do You Put Your Energy? Houses. Each House Is an Area of Your Life. Knock, Knock, Who's There? Heavenly Bodies in Your Houses. II. TOURING THE ZODIAC: SUN SIGNS AND ASCENDANTS. 5. Signs of Spring. Aries, the Ram: Butting Your Way In. The Ramifications of Being Aries. The Best and Worst of Ram. Rams in Love. The Healthy Ram. Rams at Home. Rams at Work. Rams and Their Money. Taurus, the Bull: Holding Down the Fort. The Bull on the Bull. The Best and Worst of Bull. Bulls in Love. The Healthy Bull. Bulls at Home. Bulls at Work. Bulls and Their Money. Gemini, the Twins: Keep on Truckin'. Twin Tales. The Best and Worst of Twins. Twins in Love. Healthy Twins. Twins at Home. Twins at Work. Twins and Their Money. 6. Signs of Summer. Cancer, the Crab: Come to Mama (or Papa). Crucial Crab-iness. The Best and Worst of Crabs. Crabs in Love. The Healthy Crab. Crabs at Home. Crabs at Work. Crabs and Their Money. Leo, the Lion: King of the Jungle. The Lion's Roar. The Best and Worst of Lions. Lions in Love. The Healthy Lion. Lions at Home. Lions at Work. Lions and Their Money. Virgo, the Virgin: Service with a Smile. Virgin Values. The Best and Worst of Virgins. Virgins in Love. The Healthy Virgin. Virgins at Home. Virgins at Work. Virgins and Their Money. 7. Signs of Fall. Libra, the Scales: Judge and Juror. Scaling Heights. The Best and Worst of Scales. Scales in Love. Healthy Scales. Scales at Home. Scales at Work. Scales and Their Money. Scorpio, the Scorpion: Getting to the Root of Things. The Scorpion's Score. The Best and Worst of Scorpions. Scorp in Love. The Healthy Scorp. Scorp at Home. Scorp at Work. Scorps and Their Money. Sagittarius, the Archer: Shooting for the Truth. The Archer's Point. The Best and Worst of Archers. Archers in Love. The Healthy Archer. Archers at Home. Archers at Work. Archers and Their Money. 8. Signs of Winter. Capricorn, the Goat: Climb Every Mountain. Goat Tales. The Best and Worst of Goats. Goats in Love. The Healthy Goat. Goats at Home. Goats at Work. Goats and Their Money. Aquarius, the Water Bearer: I Gotta Be Me. Water-Bearer Wonders. The Best and Worst of W-B. W-Bs in Love. The Healthy W-B. W-Bs at Home. W-Bs at Work. W-Bs and Their Money. Pisces, the Fishes: With the Flow. Fish Facts. The Best and Worst of Fishes. Fishes in Love. Healthy Fishes. Fishes at Home. Fishes at Work. Fishes and Their Money. 9. Ascendants: The Mask You Wear for the World. What's Rising? Rising Signs. Rising Signs of Spring. Ram Rising: The Aries 1 Ascendant. Bull Rising: The Taurus 2 Ascendant. Twins Rising: The Gemini 3 Ascendant. The Rising Signs of Summer. Crabs Rising: The Cancer 4 Ascendant. Lion Rising: The Leo 5 Ascendant. Virgin Rising: The Virgo 6 Ascendant. The Rising Signs of Fall. Scales Rising: The Libra 7 Ascendant. Scorp Rising: The Scorpio 8 Ascendant. Archer Rising: The Sagittarius 9 Ascendant. The Rising Signs of Winter. Goat Rising: The Capricorn 0 Ascendant. W-B Rising: The Aquarius - Ascendant. Fishes Rising: The Pisces = Ascendant. III. GOOD HEAVENS: HEAVENLY BODIES, HOUSES, AND YOUR ASTROLOGICAL CHART. 10. When the Moon Is in the Seventh House. Lessons in Housekeeping. A House Is More Than a Home. What's Behind Those Doors? Star Gazing: Heavenly Bodies in Your Astrological Chart. Where Are the Heavenly Bodies? The Planets as Landlords. When Planets Seem Backward: Retrogrades. Why Neptune and Pluto Are Special. 11. The Inner Planets: WHO Are YOU? The Sun !: Mr. BIG. The Moon @: Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered. Moonshine: The Moon in Each Zodiac Sign. Mercury #: Hey, Hey, Mr. Postman. How You Think: Mercury in Each Zodiac Sign. Venus $: Beauty and the Beast. How You Love: Venus in Each Zodiac Sign. Mars %: War and Peace. How You're Driven: Mars in Each Zodiac Sign. 12. The Social Planets: You and Your World. Jupiter ^: Here Comes Santa Claus. How You Grow: Jupiter in Each Zodiac Sign. Saturn &: Just the Facts, Ma'am. Knowing Your Limits: Saturn in Each Zodiac Sign. 13. The Outer Planets and the Nodes: The Bigger Picture. Uranus *: Born to Be Wild. Your Liberator: Uranus in Each Zodiac Sign. Neptune (: Dream a Little Dream. How You're Inspired: Neptune in Each Zodiac Sign. Pluto ): Soul Man. How You're Changing: Pluto in Each Zodiac Sign. The Nodes N n: Back to the Future. Coming and Going: The Nodal Pairs in Each Zodiac Sign. 14. Retrogrades: One Step Forward and Two Steps Back. A Brief History of Planetary Motion. Understanding Retrograde Planets. Personal Retrogrades: Self-Expression. Transiting Retrogrades: Change Is a Fact of Life. Mercury Retrograde: Crossed Wires # R. Personal Mercury Retrograde. Transiting Mercury Retrograde. Venus Retrograde: What's Love Got to Do with It? $ R. Personal Venus Retrograde. Transiting Venus Retrograde. Mars Retrograde: Inward Action % R. Personal Mars Retrograde. Transiting Mars Retrograde. Jupiter Retrograde: Stepping Back ^ R. Personal Jupiter Retrograde. Transiting Jupiter Retrograde. Saturn Retrograde: Restructuring & R. Personal Saturn Retrograde. Transiting Saturn Retrograde. Uranus Retrograde: The Times, They Are a-Changing * R. Personal Uranus Retrograde. Transiting Uranus Retrograde. Neptune Retrograde: Not Just Blind Faith ( R. Personal Neptune Retrograde. Transiting Neptune Retrograde. Pluto Retrograde: Transformation Time ) R. Personal Pluto Retrograde. Transiting Pluto Retrograde. 15. Houses in the First Quadrant: Let's Get Personal. The First House: Taking Care of Number 1. Heavenly Bodies and Me, Me, Me. The Second House: Are You What You Own? What Do I Have in the House? The Third House: The Street Where You Live. Heavenly Bodies in Your 'Hood. 16. Houses in the Second Quadrant: Establishing Yourself. The Fourth House: It's a Family Affair. Who's Nesting in This House? The Fifth House: Do What You Wanna Do. Getting Creative. The Sixth House: 9 to 5. Heavenly Bodies at Work. 17. Houses in the Third Quadrant: Out in the World. The Seventh House: Forever Yours. Heavenly Connections. The Eighth House: Sex, Money-and Other, Equally Important Matters. Who's in the Bedroom? The Ninth House: Don't Know Much About History. What's Behind Your Beliefs? 18. Houses in the Fourth Quadrant: Wishin' and Hopin'. The Tenth House: They Say the Neon Lights Are Bright. Your Supporting Cast. The Eleventh House: When You Wish Upon a Star. Reaching for the Stars. The Twelfth House: Secret Agent Man. Skeletons in Your Closet. IV. GETTING AND INTERPRETING YOUR CHART. 19. Getting Started. How Easy Is It to Do Your Own Chart? (It's Not). Your Vital Statistics. Your Most Important Day. The Time of Your Life. Where Did You Come From? Resources Your Computer's Replaced (Just to Give You an Idea). Ephemeris. Table of Houses. Atlas. Book of Time Zone Changes. Getting Your Chart Done for You. 20. Lost in Space: How a Computer Calculates a Birth Chart. It's About Time; It's About Space. Working in Base 60. Converting to GMT. To Boldly Seek Those Planetary Positions. Daily Travel. What About Retrogrades? A Wrinkle in Sidereal, or Star, Time. Calculating Sidereal Time. Will the True Local Time Please Stand Up? Calculating True Local Time. Acceleration. Correction for Place of Birth. Houses, Houses, and More Houses! Desperately Seeking House Cusps. The Search for Midheaven. Calculating the Other Houses. Putting It All Together. 21. All About Me: Interpreting Your Astrological Chart. Chart Basics: It's All Greek to Me. Aspects: Specifics on Experience. The New Math: From Conjunctions to Sextiles. Getting Along: Venus/Jupiter Aspects. A Harder Row to Hoe: Sun/Saturn Aspects. Aspect Grid. Chart Interpretations Even Idiots Can Make. Your Astrological Signature. Sowing or Reaping: Which Lifetime Are You In? A Sample Chart Interpreted, or, Let's Be Voyeurs. Here Comes the Sun. Moon River (aka Moon in Scorpio). And He's Got Personality! Happy Trails to You! When You Need to Know More: Getting a Professional Reading. 22. Using Astrology to Map Your Life. What Transits and Progressions Have to Do with You. Progressions, or, I Can't Stand Still. Who, Me? Evolve? How Your Chart Evolves as You Age. Transits, or Planetary Triggers. Outer and Social Planet Transits. From the Terrible Twos to the Midlife Crisis and Beyond. Oh, What Fun It Is to Transform Ourselves! Uranus and Neptune and Saturn-Oh My! Unlocking Personal Transits. Astrology Is Your Compass. Windows of Opportunity. Jump or Be Pushed, Your Choice. If You Want to Know More. Diana, Princess of Wales and Her Son, Prince William. Diana's Life and Her Birth Chart. Diana's Cycles at Her Death. The Meaning of Diana's Death. Prince William's Natal Chart. 23. Should You Love the One You're With? Relationship Astrology and You. Charting Your Relationships. Signposts. Planet Placings. House Hunting. Aspects, Heart to Heart. Stars by the Stars: The Relationship Charts of Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett. Matches Made in Heaven. V. YOU'VE DONE YOUR CHART, NOW YOU WANT MORE. 24. It's in the Cards. Tarot Cards: Much More Than Works of Art. Don't Be an Idiot, Be a Fool. From the World's Oldest Book: The Major Arcana. The Minor Arcana. Wands. Cups. Swords. Pentacles. What Do They Mean in Your Life? "Can I Read My Own Cards?". Simple Reading 1: An Overview of You. Simple Reading 2: Ask a Specific Question. What You Should Do Now. 25. Hand-y Forecasts. Palmistry and Astrology. "It's Just a Hand," You Say? Guess Again. Geography of the Hand. The Life Line. The Heart Line. The Head Line. The Shape of the Hands. The Thumb and Fingers. Thumb. Index Finger. Middle Finger. Ring Finger. Baby Finger. What Your Hand Knows About You-and How to Make It Talk. The Success Story. The Mentor or the Boss. Money and Love. Learning to Live with Others. Weird and Wonderful. Ahh-Where Life Begins. 26. Please Take a Number. Numerology and Astrology: Maps for Life. It's in the Numbers. Your Birthday Numbers. What's in a Name? About the "Y". It's in the Numbers, Again. You Can Do More with Numbers Than Just Count. The Numbers and the Signs: 1 Through 9. The Master Numbers. What Are Your Numbers (and Do They Add Up)? Your Destiny, or Name, Number. Your Heart's Desire. Your Personality Number. Your Life Path, or Birth Path, Number. Your Power Number. Pulling It All Together. Career Needs. Foundation Needs. Relationship Needs. Personality Needs. Your Power Center. 27. In Tune with Your Cycles: Psychic Intuition and Astrology. You Know What You Know, Even If You Don't Know It. How Psychic Are You? Getting Intuitive. Intuitive Insight Exercise. Astrology and Shamanism. Ancient Art Meets Modern Mastery. Heal Thyself. Psychic Signs: Your Intuitive Advantage. Moon in Aries: Born Leader. Moon in Taurus: Born Content. Moon in Gemini: Born Talking. Moon in Cancer: Born Sensing. Moon in Leo: Born Smiling. Moon in Virgo: Born Logical. Moon in Libra: Born Balancing. Moon in Scorpio: Born Powerful. Moon in Sagittarius: Born Free. Moon in Capricorn: Born Responsible. Moon in Aquarius: Born to the Beat of a Different Drum. Moon in Pisces: Born Psychic. Flavors of the Day: Every Day Tells a Story. VI. ASTROLOGY'S SPIN ON THE GLOBE. 28. Moon Phases: Our Unconscious Collective Mood Monitor. What Are Moon Phases? In and Out with the Tide. Everybody Feels the Pull. How Moon Phases Affect the Way We Do Things. Using Moon Signs to Guide You. Beginnings and the New Moon M. First Quarter Moon: External Challenges /. Full Moon: The Better to See What's Happening m. Third Quarter Moon: Internal Challenges ? 29. Astrology and the Natural World. Who Needs a Weather Report When You Have Astrology? Our Cosmic Garden, the Earth. A Time to Plant. Planting by Moon Phase. Planting by Moon Sign. Barren Times. The Joy of Weeding. Pest Control: Say Good-Bye to Bugs and Blights. 30. The Best Timing for Better Business. Working with Cycles, Not Against Them. Time-Outs: Don't Do It! Swimming Against the Tide. A Message from the Universe: Relax! Gearing Up and Reaching Out. Listening to Mars. Warning: Mars Retrograde. What Goes Wrong. And Still More Problems! What to Do, What Not to Do. Communications, Travel, and Computers. Ignoring the Messenger. Don't Rush! Working with Mercury. Getting to "Yes" and Signing on the Dotted Line. The Venus Bottom Line. False Starts. APPENDIXES. A. Astrological Insights to the New Millennium. B. Online with the Heavens. C. Resources for the Starry-Eyed: If You Want to Find Out More. Glossary. Index.