Pluto, the Newest Zodiac Planet

Poor Pluto's status to astronomers has changed many times. It is currently not considered a real planet, but a dwarf planet. Recently, from the 1980s to the 1990s, Pluto's orbit was actually closer to the Sun than Neptune's (invalidating thousands of reference books across the globe!), and it is technically known with a number preceding its name, so insignificant does popular astronomy hold it to be 134340 Pluto. It has a moon which is almost as large as it, Charon, which locks it in a perpetual struggle for dominance with the center of the orbit within neither body's sphere. However for astronomers, Pluto is just as important as it ever was. We look at how Pluto is interpreted in astrology predictions and natal charts.

Pluto rules…

Pluto is said to rule the underworld, named after the Roman ruler of Hades. It's mythological brothers are Jupiter and Neptune, which in Greek mythology are represented by Zeus and Poseidon.

This means that Pluto role in astrology prediction is as the great renewer. Something must be destroyed in order to be renewed … and destruction often means a journey to the underworld. It is associated with transformation, power and personal mastery. It can also be linked to extreme power and corruption -- the underworld is generally not seen as holding itself to the highest moral standards, and Pluto's discovery in 1930 occurred at the same time as the rise of fascism and Stalinism.

Pluto's positives

While the underworld is generally thought of as a negative place, we have already hinted at Pluto's positive aspects … it is, after all, the great renewer in astrology predictions.

It is a harbinger of big things and great events. After its discovery in 1930, its path was traced back to entering Cancer in 1913, coinciding with World War I. The ending of Pluto in Cancer, and the beginning of Pluto in Leo, was the beginning of World War II. However, these events ultimately led to positivity and a rearranging of the balance of power in a way that was favorable.

Pluto's enterprises

In terms of industries, Pluto is associated with anything but the small and insignificant types of work! Enormous wealth and big business are the domains of Pluto, as are mining, surgery, and the work of detectives.

Pluto may not be a big deal astronomically, but it certainly has a big impact in astrology predictions! Don’t ignore the power of the little guy.

Horoscopes -- Getting to the Bottom of the Innermost Planets

Astrology doesn’t just randomly assign potentials and effects to different planets. The effect of Venus, Mars, the Sun and the Moon in different aspects of an astrological reading all come from historical bases. They can also be strongly related to a planet's physical characteristics - so today we are examining exactly what makes Mercury, Venus, and Mars what they are!

Mercury

Mercury is the smallest and hottest planet in the solar system. Its orbit shows a greater degree of eccentricity than the orbit of any other planet, and it can only be viewed in the morning or evening twilight, due to the glare of the Sun. This planet has no substantial atmosphere, and the surface is similar to that of the Moon, with heavy cratering. It was once believed to be two separate planets, one appearing at dawn and the other at dusk.

In astrology, it represents communication, rationality and reason. Schooling, education, a person's immediate environment such as siblings and neighbors, and information-gathering skills are affected by the positioning of Mercury in an astrological reading.

Venus

Venus is the planet of love, named after the Roman goddess. It's surface cannot be seen (sort of like love itself) … it is protected by enormous clouds of sulphur dust which also create sulphuric acid. These are highly reflective, so light cannot penetrate for photos. Its atmosphere has plenty of carbon dioxide, essential for plant life, but there is no carbon cycle on the planet.

In astrology Venus is related to harmony and sympathy as well as love. Other areas of life are related to Venus in astrological readings also, for example business partnerships, art and fashion, as well as friendships and social life can be affected by Venus.

Mars

The fourth planet from the Sun has a reddish appearance because of a high concentration of iron oxide on its surface. It has a thin atmosphere and is often considered one of the planets most similar to Earth, which is why scientists have searched so hard for signs of prior life on its surface. After the moon and Venus, it is the third brightest object in the night sky.

In astrological readings as in anthropology, Mars is the planet of war. However this interpretation is quite a facetious one! It also represents sexuality, ambition, energy, impulsiveness and competition. It is said to preside over the genitals, the muscular system, and adrenal glands.

She's Got It! Venus in the Signs

Venus is the second closest planet to the Sun … an enormously hot glowing ball of fire, with a 224-day year. After the moon, it is the brightest natural object visible at night time, and it is named after the Roman goddess of love. Astrological readings teach us that we see many of these same planetary characteristics in people when Venus is in certain aspects to other signs at the time of their birth. The brightness of the star represents the importance of love in our lives … today we give you a quick overview of how Venus's position in different signs affects a person's love compatibility.

Venus in Aries

If Venus is positioned in Aries in a natal chart, these men and women will usually take a leadership role in their love life, and can be childish and a little impatient with their partners.

Venus in Taurus

If Venus falls in the sign of the Bull for you, you prefer a stable love life, a very physical relationship and a feeling of comfort in relationships. You definitely can’t push these people!

Venus in Gemini

These people will talk endlessly about their love lives, and are also very talkative with their partners. However you can’t hold them to everything they say! They like their relationships whimsical and light-hearted.

Venus in Cancer

Private, intensely emotional Venus in Cancer guys and girls see themselves as ordinary people -- they prefer eating in, rather than going out, and love to snuggle up on the couch with a good movie.

Venus in Leo

Dramatic, proud, boastful, and with high expectations, people born with Venus in Leo don’t sound like they have many positive qualities for relationships … until you delve a bit deeper! These erotic souls are vey warm-hearted and understanding.

Venus in Virgo

Perfection, sensitivity (to both their own feelings and that of their partners), and sometimes insecurity characterize the relationships of people born with Venus in Virgo. They often need space, and aim for perfection in their relationships.

Venus in Libra

Everything must be perfectly balanced for people with the planet of love in the sign of Libra in their natal chart. If anything is a little out of kilter (for example, if she has done the dishes four nights of the week for the last two weeks), he will know about it! On the upside, they give as good as they get (in a nice way) and are romantic and generous.

Venus in Scorpio

Intensity, commitment and sexual pleasure create the ultimately fulfilling relationship for Venus in Scorpio guys and girls. They are very loyal, and can be just as intense when upset as they can when feeling amorous.

Venus in Sagittarius

Idealistic, adventure loving Venus in Sagittarians mix the serious with the lighthearted, are friendly and flirtatious, and don’t like to dwell on things. They are generally a pleasure to be around!

Venus in Capricorn

Security, money, and wise investments (in love!) are important to those born with Venus in Capricorn. They plan ahead and have definite goals for the relationship, but don’t be tricked into feeling that they see you as a transaction … their feelings are just as real as the emotional Scorpio.

Venus in Aquarius

Open minded and future thinking, if your natal chart shows Venus in Aquarius you like unconventionality in their relationships, and like to make your own rules. Don’t restrict them, be their friend and appreciate their uniqueness.

Venus in Pisces

These dreamy, soft hearted people see others for what they really are. While they can be a bit vague in a relationship, they always have good intentions.

The Rising Sign in Personal Astrology Readings

The sign that is rising at the minute of your birth is known as your ascendant, and forms the basis for your personal astrological readings, destiny and compatibilities. Today we are looking at what the ascendant is, what it means to your natal chart, and how different ascendant signs can affect your personality.

The ascendant sign is one of the most important factors in determining your personality, love compatibility and future life events. It actually has more of an impact on your personality than the moon sign you were born under, and explains why many people who were born under a particular sign seem to have contradictory traits.

Your ascendant sign explains your automatic responses to your environment, indicates the front that you put on when meeting other people, and the way you cope with everyday life.

To calculate your rising sign you should get a qualified astrologer to do a personal astrological reading for you. Ascendants are not the same every year -- you need to know your time of birth, preferably to the nearest minute, to know your rising sign accurately. Knowing your birth time to at least the nearest 15 minutes can usually give you an accurate idea of your ascendant. You also need to know whether daylight savings time or war time was in effect in the year you were born -- it will affect your ascendant.

You can figure out what traits your ascendant sign causes you to express, according to astrological principles, simply by reading a personality guide for that monthly zodiac sign. For example, no matter what your monthly sign, if you have:

• Aries rising: your outward personality is often direct, competitive and a natural leader
• Cancer rising: your outward personality will be a sweet and gentle one that tries not to make waves.
• Virgo rising: you will generally appear intelligent and reserved to those around you, and be exceedingly aware of your body.

If you want to know your own ascendant sign, look out for automated guides on the internet. Astrology is not quick and easy -- it is both a science and an art, according to the practitioners. A personal astrology prediction is the best way to accurately know your ascendant, as well as to interpret that in light of the other astrological positionings at the time of your birth.

Finding Your Life Purpose with Intuitive Astrology

Personalized astrology readings are a great starting point to help you start thinking about career choices … yes, even if you are past thirty and have a well-established career! It is never too late to change, and it is never to late to gain immense happiness through that. However, your personal astrology reading doesn't give career recommendations, as such. They tell you how you interact with the world -- but your career choice is up to you! Here we look at some steps to take to use your personal astrology chart to identify your ideal career.

• Look at the Sun section of your personal astrology reading to get the best idea of what careers will suit you. The Sun shows you your potential, and when you master the issues that it points to, you can find unheard of balance and satisfaction. The Sun represents your major goals, so use the interpretation here as the biggest clues to your ideal career path.
• The Venus section of your chart will also be important -- it shows how you relate to others. There will usually be plenty of relating to do at work, no matter what your profession! Venus is also related to money.
• Jupiter's relationship to high ideals, pushing yourself beyond your ordinary limits and abstract thinking can reveal clues about your ideal career in your astrological reading.
• The positioning of Saturn in your astrology reading shows us how our ideas actually transform into something material. It relates to duty, trials and tests -- pay attention to this section to find a career that will challenge, but not overwhelm you.

However, you'll obviously have to do a lot of extrapolating to relate these qualities to a specific job or career. Here are some tips for building on that astrology chart to identify your strengths and goals:

• Go back to your childhood! What did you want to do or be? It will usually be something where you are an expert, and use extraordinary skills. If they relate to how you have actually grown up, then don’t ignore those long-ago fantasies … see if you can make them reality.
• Don’t fear your own strength, and recognize your own weaknesses. You will often be asked in interviews what your weakness is at work. It is actually useful to know these things and be honest about them. Jobs and careers that constantly test your weak points while leaving your strengths languishing will leave you frustrated.

A Look at the Venus Sign in Astrological Readings

One of the building blocks of happiness for most people in the world are our relationships. Careers are nice as a diversion, sports are fun to get the blood pumping and the internet holds the promise of many involved hours … but it is the relationships in our life that bring us true joy, and sometimes true sorrow!

In personal astrology readings, the positioning of Venus in the natal chart explains the things in relationships that you find fulfilling, and the things that don't work for you. It also indicates many different things that you love in your life. Your Venus sign can be different to your Sun sign, or may be the same -- it represents the constellation that Venus was in at the exact time of your birth. Your Venus astrology sign will usually be one of the zodiac signs adjacent to your Sun Sign, if not the same as it.

Please remember to view these general guidelines in the context of an accurate horoscope, from a personalized astrology reading!

Venus in Aries

Movement, excitement, action, and maybe even a little competition characterize the love lives of those born with Venus in Aries!

Venus in Taurus

Earthiness and sensuality are the hallmarks of love and relationships for people born with Venus in Taurus. Taurus as a sign is associated with the neck and shoulders, so give your Venus/Taurean partner a neck rub and watch them melt!

Venus in Gemini

Geminis are known for being sociable, whimsical and dualistic, and these words can also describe a love life. Freedom is important to those born with Venus in Gemini -- it is not incompatible with commitment, but the two need to go hand in hand.

Venus in Cancer

Cancer women and men need security and are often very emotional, but can be very indirect at times. If you are born with Venus in Cancer, focus on directness in your dealings with your partner and look for someone happy to give you that strong emotional bond.

Venus in Leo

Admiration, play and wonder characterize relationships when Venus falls in Leo at the time of your birth. Drama can be a favorite pastime … just try to make it victimless drama.

Venus in Virgo

Venus in Virgo personalities like relationships to be built to last, so you are usually cautious in choosing a partner. They express love by being helpful, so say a big thank you for that home-cooked dinner.

Venus in Libra

Balance and fairness are critical to have in a Libran relationship, and watch out if they aren’t forthcoming! Satisfied Venus-in-Librans, though, are entirely focused on their partner's enjoyment and happiness, and they can be excellent at (fair) compromising.

Venus in Scorpio

Intense, mysterious and deeply bonded -- these are Scorpios. Scorpio rules the genitals, so expect a lot of physicality in a Venus-in-Scorpio love life.

Venus in Sagittarius

Venus-in-Sagittarius men and women like to travel in their love life -- enjoying getting to know partners from other countries, and valuing freedom and an easygoing nature.

Venus in Capricorn

Venus in Capricorns don’t fall in love easily, and their relationships can end up quite business-like. Don’t take this personally! A Capricorn-lover's knees can actually be a potent erogenous zone.

Venus in Aquarius

Easygoing partners who aren’t the dramatic type, but can be quite objective about love, are the Venus-in-Aquarius's best mate.

Venus in Pisces

Artistic and ethereal Venus-in-Pisces can easily understand others' feelings … but they can also easily be influenced by them.

Getting a personalized love and romance astrology reading can help give you a much fuller picture of yours and your partner's love personalities and how they interact.

Celebrity Natal Charts - Princess Di and Bill Gates

We hear so much about celebrities that we often feel we know them, despite never having seen or met these people! A fun way to get even closer to celebrities, as well as verifying the validity of an astrological chart, is by looking at the natal charts of well-known people. Today we're going to get inside the hearts, souls and bio-charge of two very different, but equally famous people. Meet … Princess Diana and Bill Gates!

Princess Di

Princess Diana of Wales was born on July 1, 1961, at 7:45 p.m. You can check out her entire chart here.

Princess Di has Capricorn on the Ascendant, and Cancer on the Descendant. Capricorn creates a duality in the personality in the Ascendant, and makes for a lady who is serious but not depressingly so, and quite cautious. She would be shy with strangers, but very open with family and close friends. A reliable, dependable lady, Capricorn rising means that she is concerned with public appearances and most enjoys earning success through her own measures.

The Earth element dominates in Princess Di's chart, meaning that the material concerns of stability, money and the means to support oneself are her primary concerns. The Earth element made her practical and down-to-earth, rather than forthright and assertive.

The Sun is in Cancer for Princess Di's astrological reading, one of the most feminine of all signs, with a very strong attachment to home and maternal instincts.

Bill Gates

Bill Gates was born on October 28, 1955, at precisely 10 a.m. Have a look at his entire chart to get accurate astrology predictions, motivations and personality for him.

Mr Gates' birth time and date put his Ascendant and Descendant exactly opposite to Princess Diana's -- with Cancer on the Ascendant, and Capricorn on the Descendant. These people appear warm on the outside, but often have quite a bit of inner emotional turmoil. Despite this, they are able to gain extraordinary insight into people's motivations. They have few close friends, tend towards strength and tenacity, and can be quite reserved.

Water is Bill Gates' dominant element (unfortunate considering he works with electricity!). Water dominant charts see emotions rule. These are actually quite intuitive and often psychic people. They usually go well with earthy signs -- they help nourish the earth, while the earth gives them form and shape.

Surprised by the accuracy? Check out your own chart and see how amazingly accurate astrology can be!