Astrology is Foundational Knowledge for Occultists

Why People Believe in Astrology

•People believe in astrology for many reasons, which won't be the same for all. Some take a surface-level interest, turning to their daily horoscopes for a glimmer of what the day might hold. Others plummet into extensive dives into their natal charts in an effort to understand themselves and those around them more clearly. There is a general belief that a greater force in the cosmos has an effect on us humble humans, which leaves us turning to the heavens for clarity on our paths.

•Tropical astrology is typically practiced by western astrologers and is formed around the traditional dates of equinoxes and solstices. It finds these calculations based off its relationship to the sun. Sidereal astrology takes a different approach toward calculating planetary placements. It considers the wobble of the Earth on its axis–and pays more attention to the movement of our constellations versus the fixed nature of our sun.

The Rulers of the Zodiac

•Each of the zodiac signs is also associated with a planet, or a "ruler." This planet exerts a stronger influence over a given sign than any other planet. It affects how your zodiac sign interacts with others, approaches life, and forms relationships. A sign's temperament is often defined by its planetary ruler, bringing through a passive, aggressive, conservative, receptive, or extroverted personality type.

The 7 Ruling Planets

•The traditional planets–Mars, Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter–all serve more than one sign.

While the sun and moon are assigned only to Leo and Cancer.

Planetary Traits

•Mars–ruled signs tend to be motivated by passions and can sometimes lean toward aggressive or impulsive behaviors. Mercury-ruled signs have a natural curiosity, making them excellent students and communicators. With Venus as a planetary ruler, we see a desire for romance, aesthetics, and luxury. Saturn can bring out a restrained or traditional personality type who values structure and order. Jupiter bestows the signs it rules with optimism and a larger-than-life energy. The sun's rulership of Leo can be credited for this member of the zodiac's warmth and sense of pride. The Moon is responsible for Cancer's intuition and nurturing tendencies.

•These seven celestial bodies solely governed the zodiac for centuries. But as astronomers continued to discover planets, some members of the zodiac were given a secondary, or modern, ruler. Pluto represents power and transformation, aligning with the intensity it brings to Scorpios. Uranus is known to shake things up, bringing an unpredictable element to Aquarius signs. Meanwhile, Neptune is thought to be responsible for the dreamy outlook of Pisces. Though the modern planetary rulers have prominent roles in the signs they govern, it's important to take into account each sign's traditional planets as well, and how these rulers work together.

MODALITIES:

Cardinal Signs

•The cardinal signs are Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. They each mark the start of a new season, which means the main quality of their energy is full of initiative. The cardinal signs are impulsive, dynamic, and they always want to start new things. In general, people with cardinal signs in their birth charts come up with more new ideas and projects compared to the natives blessed with more passive energy.

Fixed Signs

•The fixed signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius. These signs carry the weight of each season, which makes them robust. These personalities are capable of a lot of endurance, and in general natives with a lot of fixed energy in their birth charts are stable and focused. Whilst on the other hand, those who lack the energy of the fixed signs may lack perseverance.

Mutable Signs

•The mutable signs are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. Since these signs fall at the end of each season, their energy anticipates movement and change. People with mutable signs in their natal charts tend to be more flexible and adaptable to the changing world around them. Those who lack mutable energy are often more stubborn and inflexible.

Astrology is the basis of Magick Ritual. Astro theurgy makes up the foundation of Ceremonial Magick. A basic knowledge is necessary to understanding High Magick.