Western Astrology

Western astrology originated in Mesopotamia during the 2nd millennium BC, from where it spread to Egypt and then onto the rest of the world. After arriving into Greek or Hellenistic culture, the Greek astronomer and astrologer Ptolemy laid the foundations of the Western tradition in his work Tetrabiblos.

Western astrology is largely based on the construction of a horoscope for an exact moment in time (for example, a person's birth), in which various cosmic bodies are said to have an influence. In modern Western sun sign astrology, only the location of the Sun is considered.

Synastry

This branch of astrology is devoted to the way people are likely to interact with each other. By comparing different birth charts, an astrologer can discover insights about the kind of people the subject will relate to best, and the dynamics that will emerge in the relationship. It examines what each person wants from the relationship, shows how they perceive each other, and highlights both the strengths and weaknesses of that particular partnership.

Any type of relationship can be studied - romantic, friendship, business, parent-child or sibling-sibling.

You can find out your compatibility with the other sun signs in Astrology in Relationships.

Natal Astrology

Natal Astrology is most people's perception of what Western astrology really is. It seeks to make predictions and analysis based on a person's date of birth, through the use of a birthchart.

This reveals the basic building blocks that make up an individual's own unique and complex personality, along with a personality profile of their talents, strengths and weaknesses, dreams and fears. Using a birthchart, a professional astrologer can reveal valuable insights about who you are, how you think, and how you react to the dilemmas you experience in life.

This can shed light on areas of your life that you might not have acknowledged, which can lead you to find a new level of self-understanding. This, in turn, can act as motivation to make positive changes.

To learn more, take a look at the section on how to create and interpret your own birthchart.

Horary Astrology

Horary Astrology is a technique used to answer a particular question by using astrological guidance. The questions must be specific and personal to the questioner, such as:

• Should I start a new business now, or wait?
• Will I sell my house in the next 3 months?
• Is this a good time to ask for a pay rise?

The time that the question first occurs to the questioner is taken as the 'birth' of the question, and using that time and place, a birthchart for the question is drawn up. This is then interpreted with regard to the questioner's birthchart to provide an answer.

Electional Astrology

This is the technique that may be used to decide upon the most auspicious day and time for a particular event to take place. It can be used to plan any event that has a definite starting moment, such as wedding dates, house moves and new business launches.

After determining the nature of the event to take place, it is decided what astrological factors would be most significant to ensure the success of that event. Then the most suitable date and time for the event is found - or at least the one that has the most favourable aspects and the least unfavourable ones.