To start with, of course, you will want to know something about how astrology works and how you can use it. Astrology is not a science, religion, cult, nor is it a Johnny-come-lately fad or fashion. It is knowledge that has existed for thousands of years. Scientists such as Isaac Newton and Galileo were also astrologers. Great generals—Napoleon, for instance—planned their campaigns with astrological assistance, and it is well known that several world leaders have depended heavily on advice from astrologers. In the East, astrology is an integral part of life, and even in the cynical West, thousands of people read their horoscopes every day.
You almost certainly know your Sun sign—that is, the sign of the zodiac covering the period in which you were born. Most people know, too, that for astrological purposes the year is divided into twelve sections, each represented by a certain sign.
The names given to these signs date back a long way, to the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, and Rome. It is known that the Magi, the three wise men who searched for the Christ child, were astrologers, so convinced of the accuracy of their beliefs that they allowed a star to guide them. Until the seventeenth century, astrology was synonymous with astronomy. The ancient Greeks first established astrology as we now know it. The zodiac comprises the twelve constellations that lie along the apparent trajectory of the Sun around the Earth. Astronomers and astrologers call this pathway the ecliptic. We all know, of course, that the Earth orbits the Sun, but the ancients didn't understand this. Hence the use, even today, of phrases such as “The Sun is now entering the sign of Cancer” and so on. Stroll around a tree and notice how the view behind it changes as you walk. You will understand then the old idea that the Sun was moving through the signs and circling around the Earth.
The term “zodiac” derives from the word “zoo” and relates to the fact that certain constellations (groups of stars) look like animals or people—for example, the sign of the ram, bull, twins, crab, and so on. We've all heard of Ursa Major (the Great Bear), Orion the Hunter, and many others. You may like to take a map of the stars outside with you on a clear, starry night to see how many of these constellations you can locate in the sky.
In order to explain how astrology can help you to find the love of your life, we must first define the dates covered by each sign. The zodiac circle begins on March 21, which equates to the start of the ancient Roman year, and it starts with the sign of Aries. It then works its way through to the last sign, which is Pisces. Astrologers describe your birth sign as a “Sun sign” because the Sun was in Taurus, Gemini, or whatever sign, on the day you were born.
Astrological signs are always expressed in the same order, with Aries as the first sign of the zodiac and Pisces as the twelfth, but the date on which each sign starts changes a little from time to time. For example, although the first day of Aries is usually March 21, it can sometimes be on the twentieth. Although each new sign starts when the Sun appears to move into it, this movement does not occur at a set time or date every year. Thus, the dates that follow are average ones, similiar to the ones that appear in any newspaper or magazine horoscope column.
Being born “on the cusp” may sound rather uncomfortable, but don't worry. It means only that you were born where one sign ends and another begins. If you're new to astrology, you may be confused, because some publications place you in one sign and some place you in another. There's an easy way to reach a decision about this. Simply surf the Internet using a search engine—such as Google—where you will find links to astrological Web sites such as www.sashafenton.com, with information about services that can provide you with an astrological chart. You'll be asked to give the place and date of birth for the person you're looking up, and—if possible—their time of birth. For the purposes of finding a Sun sign, it doesn't matter if you don't know the time of birth—just enter 12 noon.