Astrology is super trendy, so if you’re not at least a little bit familiar with it, you’re being left behind. It doesn’t matter who you are or whether or not you’ll read your horoscope daily, if you can’t at least jive with the people who find value in it, you’re an outsider of the club.
Considering tons of people are jumping further onto the astrology bandwagon, here’s your little Astrology 101 of some top details you have got to know!
As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, astrology is an art form that utilizes the placement of the stars to make predictions about someone’s personality, as well as the timing of important life events. Astrology is not a religion and it is not classified as modern science. While astronomy and astrology used to be one and the same, in recent years we’ve found that astrology is a tool that unlocks one’s understanding of themselves, other people and the world in which we live.
In that regard, this is why I feel it falls somewhere between the realms of art, spirituality and psychology. Whichever blend works the best for you is how you’ll choose to incorporate it into your life. Hey, it can even be a form of entertainment. I make plenty of astrology jokes and celebrity astrology analyses, and people think I’m funny as hell.
Now: Do you need to do a full birth chart and analyze every single detail in your sky to understand each aspect of who you are and what is coming in your future? Of course not. But is it immensely eye-opening and extremely helpful? Abso-freaking-lutely, yes. Whether you use an online birth chart calculator that uses your birth time, date and place (or as much of that information as you can find) or consult with a professional astrologer like myself (yes, I do readings for celebrities, politicians and cool people all over the world), you will find the experience memorable and enlightening.
Here’s what you’ll need to know to talk shop with me and the other astro-fans. Want more insight into your astrology? Follow me or check it out here.
What’s my Sun sign?
KEYWORDS: Identity, Ego, Life Force, Core
When someone asks you your zodiac sign, they’re usually referencing your Sun sign. And, TBH: everyone knows their Sun sign. In the age of the Internet, it’s easy to look it up and, at the very least, everyone has been a little curious about what the stars might say about them. Some people totally identify with their Sun sign, whereas others look at it and think it makes no sense at all.
There are a few reasons for that — likely your Moon sign and Ascendant, which I’ll get to later. I always encourage people to read for the Sun sign in daily/monthly/yearly horoscopes because even if you don’t entirely relate to the traits of that zodiac sign, from the perspective of the sky, you will see patterns that correlate due to planetary movements at any given time.
The Sun sign is based on your date of birth. Sometimes, if you’re born on the day the Sun shifts between zodiac signs, you’ll need to reference a personal natal chart because you may actually be one over the other. You cannot have two Sun signs — meaning that cusps do not exist (despite pop culture mags trying to make them a thing; stop trying to make them a thing, Karen!).
Here’s a quick list of the usual dates the Sun is in each zodiac sign.
ARIES (MARCH 21 – APRIL 19)
TAURUS (APRIL 20 – MAY 20)
GEMINI (MAY 21 – JUNE 20)
CANCER (JUNE 21 – JULY 22)
LEO (JULY 23 – AUGUST 22)
VIRGO (AUGUST 23 – SEPTEMBER 22)
LIBRA (SEPTEMBER 23 – OCTOBER 22)
SCORPIO (OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 21)
SAGITTARIUS (NOVEMBER 22 – DECEMBER 21)
CAPRICORN (DECEMBER 22 – JANUARY 19)
AQUARIUS (JANUARY 20 – FEBRUARY 18)
PISCES (FEBRUARY 19 – MARCH 20)
As the Sun is the brightest force in our solar system, so, too, is it the most radiant force in your birth chart — or personality map. That energy ties to your core identity and who you are evolving to become throughout your lifetime. It reveals how you share your light with the world and is a cornerstone of your values, goals and intrinsic sense of self. As you age, your connection to your Sun sign gets stronger because you become more confident being who and what you are in all of your glory.
What’s my Moon sign?
KEYWORDS: Soul, Emotions, Feelings, Inner World
Next up in your big three: We have the Moon sign. Whereas the Sun is the bright light we see in the sky, the Moon is the beacon that guides us in the night. In this same way, the Moon sign is tied to our inner world, feelings and emotions. The Moon sign gives insight into how we process stimuli and then reflect our responses back to the world in our habits, reactions and behaviors. In a psychological analysis, we’d connect the Moon sign with the id — which is deeply rooted within our instincts and unconscious.
Depending on how we process these energies will also explain how we express our intimate and vulnerable sides, as well as internalize and comprehend our emotions. Your authentic desires and impulses rise up from the Moon sign, but how we communicate them to the world will often be colored by our Sun sign and Rising sign.
Another way of understanding the Moon sign is thinking about it as your inner spirit or soul. This energetic frequency moves through you intuitively and is often a powerful force that motivates how you respond to others and the world.
What’s my Rising sign?
KEYWORDS: Mask, Social Personality, Physical Body, Outward Style
And then — drum roll, please — we get to the final piece of the big three puzzle! Your Rising sign, interchangeably called the Ascendant, is extremely important in your birth chart because it dictates where your natal chart begins. If you’re looking for it on your chart, it will be the line that is at the 9 a.m. position of the circle. This Rising Sign is synonymous with your First House, which ultimately refers to how other people perceive you and how you interact with the world.
To find your Rising sign, it’s extremely crucial to know your time of birth (on top of place, date and year) because it reveals which zodiac sign the Sun was rising on the eastern horizon. In esoteric astrology, we say in that moment — when you took your first breath — that was when you became you and your soul entered your body. Deep stuff, right? Mind blown.
So, basically, think of your Rising sign as the mask you wear with the world. It often gives insight into your style, how you look and even how you partner and relate to other people. That’s why if, for some reason, your Sun sign doesn’t describe your personality quite as well as you’d expect, it’s very likely your Rising sign is stealing the show! Our Rising signs are extremely powerful, often telling us the patterns we are experiencing at any given time.
That’s why I always encourage you to read for both your Sun sign as well as your Rising sign in all horoscopes, as together, they will reveal the predictions and path you are on.
What’s your big three?
Kyle Thomas is a globally recognized pop culture astrologer who has been featured in “Access Hollywood,” E! Entertainment, NBC & ABC television, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Hulu, Bustle, Elite Daily, Marie Claire and more. He is known for his cosmic guidance for celebrities, business executives and prominent influencers. His work harnesses the power of the stars in regards to entertainment lifestyle and trends affecting people worldwide. For more information, visit KyleThomasAstrology.com.