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What Do the Astrological Signs and Symbols Mean?

Most people are familiar with the basics of astrology. You can ask anyone his "sign" and he can tell you. But not everyone knows exactly what astrological signs and symbols mean. Astrology has existed as long as humans have observed the stars in the sky. It was considered a science by ancient civilizations. Astrological signs and symbols are the "shorthand" used by astrologers when they draw up natal charts.

Astrological Signs
- As the sun travels through the sky, it passes through one of 12 constellations at various times of the year. This belt-like area in the sky is referred to as the "zodiac." An astrological "sign" refers to one of the constellations in the zodiac. You are considered to be born "under the sign of" one of these constellations depending on which constellation the sun was passing through at the time of your birth. Each of the 12 astrological signs is considered to represent specific qualities and traits.
Astrological Symbols
- Each astrological sign is represented by a symbol. For example, Taurus, the bull, is symbolized by a circle with a curve above it to represent horns. The symbol for Leo, the lion, is reminiscent of a lion's mane. Besides symbols for the signs, there are also symbols used to represent the planets. Most people will easily recognize the symbols for Mars and Venus. Mars' symbol is the same as that used to indicate a male--a circle with an arrow drawn near the upper right. The symbol used for a female--a circle on top of a cross--is the symbol for Venus.
Signs and Planets
- The twelve signs consist of: Aries (the ram), Taurus (the bull), Gemini (the twins), Cancer (the crab), Leo (the lion), Virgo (the virgin), Libra ( the scales), Scorpio (the scorpion), Sagittarius (the centaur), Capricorn (the sea goat), Aquarius (the water bearer) and Pisces (the fish). The planets are the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
Natal Charts
- Astrologers draw up a natal chart for a person based on the time, date and place of birth. This is a diagram of the position of the planets and the constellations for that moment in time. It is drawn in the form of a circle and divided into 12 sections referred to as "houses." Based on the birth data, the symbols for the signs and planets are drawn in the appropriate house. The astrologer then considers the signs the planets are in, which planets appear in the different houses and certain angles formed between the planets to obtain information on the personality and character traits of the person.

Astrology