Astrology Basics

Astrology is a great guide to use in daily life; from planting a garden, planning a manifestation ritual, or tracking your emotional mood for the day or cutting your hair in relation to the moon. The planets and zodiacs influence can be used and activated, the first step to accessing this deep well of knowledge is to understand the basics. 

"Astrology measures the cycle by relating the Sun, Moon and all other planets in our universe through the backdrop of star signs (zodiac), helping us tell time in the larger cycles of the universe" (p. 6 Musawa).

 Planets: Like chakras in our solar system, planets allow for different frequencies or types of energies to be expressed.


from page 201 in We'Moon 2024

Signs: The twelve signs of the zodiac are a mandala in the sky, marking off 30° segments of a circle around the earth. Signs show major shifts in planetary energy through the cycles.

Glyphs: Glyphs are the symbols used to represent planets and signs.

 Sun Sign: The Sun enters a new sign once a month (on or around the 21st), completing the whole cycle of the zodiac in one year. The sun sign reflects qualities of your outward shining self.

Moon Sign: The Moon changes signs approximately every 2 to 2¹/₂ days, going through all twelve signs of the zodiac every 27¹/₃ days (the sidereal month). The Moon sign reflects qualities of your core inner self.

Lunar Quarter Phase: At the four quarter-points of the lunar cycle (new, waxing half, full and waning half moons), we indicate the phase, sign and exact time for each. These points mark off the “lunar week.”

Aspects are listed in fine print under the Moon sign each day within the datebook, and show the angle of relationship between different planets as they move. Daily aspects provide something like an astrological weather forecast, indicating which energies are working together easily and which combinations are more challenging. 

Transits are the motion of the planets and the moon as they move among the zodiacal constellations and in relationship to one another.

Ingresses (—>): When the Sun, Moon and planets move into new signs.

Moon “Void of Course” (¯ v/c): The Moon is said to be “void of course” from the last significant lunar aspect in each sign until the Moon enters a new sign. This is a good time to ground and center yourself.

Super Moon: A Super Moon is a New or Full Moon that occurs when the Moon is at or within 90% of perigee, its closest approach to Earth. On average, there are four to six Super Moons each year. Full Super Moons could appear visually closer and brighter, and promote stronger tides. Personally, we may use the greater proximity of Super Moons to illuminate our inner horizons and deepen our self-reflections and meditations.

Apogee (ApG): The point in a planet or the Moon’s orbit that is farthest from Earth. At this time, the effects of transits may be less noticeable immediately, but may appear later. Also, Black Moon Lilith, a hypothetical center point of the Moon's elliptical orbit around the Earth, will be conjunct the Moon.

Perigee (PrG): The point in a planet or the Moon’s orbit that is nearest to Earth. Transits with planets or the Moon, when at perigee, will be more intense.

Lunar Nodes: The most Northern and Southern points in the Moon’s monthly cycle when it crosses the Sun’s ecliptic or annual path, offering to integrate the past (South) and future (North) directions in life.

Direct or Retrograde (D or R): These are times when a planet moves forward (D) or backward (R) through the signs of the zodiac (an optical illusion, as when a moving train passes a slower train that appears to be going backward). When a planet is in direct motion, planetary energies are more straightforward; in retrograde, planetary energies turn back in on themselves and are more involuted.