Astrology 101: A Map, Not a Verdict
When most people think of astrology, they think of horoscopes. “What’s your sign?” gets tossed around like small talk. But real astrology is so much more than the memes, the apps, or the Mercury retrograde panic spirals.
It’s a system. A language. A map.
One that doesn't tell you what will happen — but helps you understand how you're wired to move through what might.
So, What Is Astrology?
Astrology is the study of planetary movements and their symbolic influence on our inner and outer lives. It's based on the idea that there’s a relationship between the cosmos and the human experience — that what happens above reflects what happens below.
The moment you're born, the planets are frozen in a particular alignment. That moment becomes your birth chart — a celestial snapshot of your soul’s blueprint.
It’s not fate. It’s rhythm.
Just like the moon pulls the tides, astrology suggests it also pulls something within us — not to control us, but to reflect us.
Your Big Three: Sun, Moon, Rising
You are not just your “sign.” That’s just your Sun — the ego, the core, the fuel.
But the Moon? That’s your inner world. Your moods. Your comfort zone.
And your Rising sign (or Ascendant)? That’s your interface — how you meet the world, the first impression you give off.
Knowing these three gives you a fuller picture of your personality:
Sun: your identity
Moon: your emotional landscape
Rising: your lens on life
These aren’t boxes to trap you. They’re archetypes to explore.
The Planets as Archetypes
Each planet represents a different function of the human experience:
Mercury – how you think and speak
Venus – how you love, attract, and relate
Mars – how you assert, desire, and move
Jupiter – your beliefs, growth, and abundance
Saturn – your boundaries, discipline, and fears
Uranus – your rebellion, evolution, and breakthroughs
Neptune – your dreams, illusions, and spiritual leanings
Pluto – your shadow, power, and transformation
They move through signs and houses (areas of life), giving us clues about where and how we’ll experience their lessons.
Astrology Isn’t Destiny — It’s Dialogue
Astrology doesn’t take away your free will. It shows you where the waves are strongest so you can choose how to surf them.
It’s a system of awareness, not control.
If your birth chart says you’re prone to overthinking, it’s not dooming you — it’s inviting you to create spaciousness in your mind. If Saturn sits in your house of relationships, it doesn’t mean you’ll be lonely. It means your soul came to do deep work there.
Astrology helps you ask better questions:
What am I being asked to learn here?
Where am I stuck in a cycle?
How can I work with my nature instead of against it?
Astrology as Ritual
For the modern bruja, astrology can become a tool for:
Planning rituals: New Moons for beginnings, Full Moons for release
Timing intention: Use Mercury for communication spells, Venus for love, Mars for action
Self-acceptance: Embracing your natural patterns, instead of forcing someone else’s path
It’s not about finding answers outside of yourself — it’s about remembering the cosmos is already inside you.
