Today, nearly twice as many women as men follow astrology, but that hasn’t always been the case.
Astrology is thousands of years old, and was used by both men and women in ancient cultures across the world, from China to Babylon to Greece and Rome.
Many famous men have depended on astrology in their lives. Napoleon Bonaparte consulted an astrologer before going to war. Ronald Reagan had an in-house astrologer who he would consult. And Theodore Roosevelt hung his horoscope in the Oval Office.
Napoleon Bonaparte, a historical figure who consulted astrology.
If you want to use astrology to understand yourself and others, you need to know the astrological basics and what they represent: the 12 signs of the zodiac; the sun, the moon, and the planets; and the 12 houses of the horoscope.
Read also: Learn about Rick Levine and his contributions to astrology.
Understanding the Zodiac Signs
A zodiac sign is the portion of the zodiac occupied by the sun at the moment of your birth. Because the sun resides in each sign of the zodiac for about a month, those signs are also known as sun signs.
The following table shows the 12 sun signs - along with their astrological symbols, their dates, the essential traits associated with them, and their planetary rulers:
| Sign | Symbol | Dates | Traits | Planetary Rulers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | ♈ | March 21 - April 20 | Uncomplicated, inspiring, stimulating | Mars |
| Taurus | ♉ | April 21 - May 20 | Determined, sensual, reliable | Venus |
| Gemini | ♊ | May 21 - June 20 | Great communication, deep thinking, charming | Mercury |
| Cancer | ♋ | June 21 - July 22 | Sensitive, emotive, nurturing | Moon |
| Leo | ♌ | July 23 - August 22 | Heart of gold, confident, wild | Sun |
| Virgo | ♍ | August 23 - September 22 | Analytical, practical, diligent | Mercury |
| Libra | ♎ | September 23 - October 22 | Judicial, charming, diplomatic | Venus |
| Scorpio | ♏ | October 23 - November 21 | Mysterious, truth seeker, intense | Pluto, Mars |
| Sagittarius | ♐ | November 22 - December 21 | Intellectual, epicurean, adventurous | Jupiter |
| Capricorn | ♑ | December 22 - January 19 | Practical, pragmatic, disciplined | Saturn |
| Aquarius | ♒ | January 20 - February 18 | Humanitarian, idealistic, innovative | Uranus, Saturn |
| Pisces | ♓ | February 19 - March 20 | Imaginative, intuitive, compassionate | Neptune, Jupiter |
Planetary Influences
Astrology holds that the sun, the moon, and the planets represent different facets of who you are and express their energies through the signs that they occupy in your birth chart.
Astrological symbols for planets and celestial bodies.
Astrological Houses
Just as the band of sky where the sun, the moon, and the planets can be found is divided into 12 signs, an astrological chart is divided into 12 houses.
Read also: The Secrets of Astrology and Numerology
The Man of the Signs: A Historical Perspective
Early Almanac readers were thoroughly familiar with The Man of the Signs. It was not mere superstition, but a trusted guide that they consulted before undertaking any important task. Not only did readers use the Man of the Signs to determine the best times for certain health-related activities, but they also found it helpful for other tasks, such as caring for livestock, cutting timber or weeds, or making sauerkraut.
Specifically, they looked for when the Moon was in the astrological sign associated with a certain body part to direct them, sometimes also taking into account the Moon’s phase.
These readers deeply understood the connection between celestial bodies and earthly matters. They saw the signs of the Zodiac and the phases of the Moon as powerful forces that could profoundly influence their lives; by paying attention to the Moon’s changes, readers felt a sense of harmony with the universe and a greater hope of success in their endeavors.
Although some in modern society may view these practices as mere folklore, it is fascinating to delve into the rich history of astrology and its continuing impact on people’s lives.
The Man of the Signs: An ancient astrological guide.
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How to Follow the Man of the Signs
The first sign of the zodiac-Aries-is attributed to the head, with the rest of the signs moving down the body, ending with Pisces at the feet.
Consult the chart below to see which body parts are associated with which signs and dates. According to astrology, it is considered a poor time to do an activity that involves the given body part within the associated range of dates.
For example, because Aries is connected to the head, it would be considered unfavorable to have an eye examination during Aries (March 21 to April 20).
Please Note: The Old Farmer’s Almanac does not give medical advice. Consult with a medical professional before making any decisions related to your health or the health of loved ones.
| Sign | Symbol | Body Part |
|---|---|---|
| Aries | ♈ | Head |
| Taurus | ♉ | Neck |
| Gemini | ♊ | Arms |
| Cancer | ♋ | Breast |
| Leo | ♌ | Heart |
| Virgo | ♍ | Belly |
| Libra | ♎ | Reins |
| Scorpio | ♏ | Secrets |
| Sagittarius | ♐ | Thighs |
| Capricorn | ♑ | Knees |
| Aquarius | ♒ | Legs |
| Pisces | ♓ | Feet |
Just as in earlier times, Almanac readers today use our astrological tables to determine the timing of various events.
Astrology and Relationships
Astrology and Relationships: Synastry, Composite Charts, and Compatibility Insights
The AstroTwins’ Love Zodiac is the must-have guide to understanding the astrology of men and your man’s horoscope. Demystify men and transform any relationship.
The AstroTwins have been using the zodiac for over 15 years to help couples find the love affair of their dreams. A good relationship may mean adjusting to someone who often thinks, acts, and views the world in a way totally foreign to you. You can have a great relationship with a man of any zodiac sign-the key is to learn what makes him tick.
Attracting Fire Sign Men
Are YOU Interested in Attracting Fire Signs like Aries Men, Leo Men or Sagittarius Men?
Inside "How To Attract Fire Sign Men", you'll discover EVERYTHING you need to know about attracting and keeping him in love. Some of the topics covered in this astrology and love guide include...
- Aries Horoscope Compatibility - FINALLY an uncomplicated man. There are many characteristics of an Aries man that will attract you to him. He is an inspiring friend and stimulating lover.
- Leo Horoscope Compatibility - He’s not afraid to approach a beautiful woman but, he might not know exactly what to say after he breaks the ice. This kind of clumsy confidence is absolutely IRRESISTIBLE to some women.
- Sagittarius Horoscope Compatibility - He DEFINITELY lives on the intellectual side of life but when it comes to romance, the Sagittarius man is a TRUE Epicurean.
For EACH sign the topics covered include…
- What To Expect when Dating Him
- Signs He Likes You
- How To Know When He's in Love
- His Preferences in Women
- What to Expect in The Bedroom
- His Jealousy
- His Honesty
- His Faithfulness
- Keeping Him Interested
- Keeping Him from Pulling Away
- Getting Him Back and Relationship Matches with EACH Sign.
Wondering what the fair and courageous Aries man in your life is all about? Understand the Aries man traits, including negative traits and love traits. Great communication and deep thinking are primary Gemini man traits. Find out if you’ll be able to keep up with your charming Gemini man.
Got your heart set on a sensitive man? Read more about Cancer man traits, the zodiac’s infamous emotive crab to fulfill all your relationship needs. Astrology’s King of the jungle can be a little wild, but he has a heart of gold. Discover Leo man traits. Is he the ideal partner of your dreams? Learn about Virgo man traits.
There are many more Libra man traits than just his judicial nature. Learn how might Astrology’s charming cosmic chameleon blend best into your life. Astrology’s mysterious truth seeker, the Scorpio man traits proceed him. But don’t let his cold exterior dissuade you from getting to know him.
Curious about Sagittarius man traits and what he is all about at the core? Read on for the nitty gritty details about his adventurous personality traits. Does the Capricorn man in your life lives up to his reputation as practical and pragmatic? Discover all of the surprising Capricorn man traits.
There’s more to Astrology’s humanitarian idealist than meets the eye. Find out how the Aquarius man traits line up with your ideal relationship needs. Is astrology’s imaginative intuitive the right man for you? See if the otherworldly traits of the Pisces man in your life are perfectly aligned with the relationship of your dreams.