Astrology is the study of the impact of distant cosmic objects, typically stars and planets, on human lives. The position of the sun, stars, moon, and planets at the time of birth (not conception) is said to shape people’s personalities, influence romantic relationships, and predict economic fortunes, among other things.

Most people are familiar with their “sign,” which is one of the 12 constellations of the zodiac. This is a subset of sun-sign astrology, which is the foundation for newspaper horoscopes. It is probably the most basic form, because all that is required to generate a sun-sign horoscope is the date of someone’s birthday. Many astrologers will tell you that this type of astrology is so simplistic that it yields very few results. Astrologers look to see what sign each planet was in at the time of birth to produce a more accurate reading. Planets and signs interact with other elements such as houses and angles to create a complex and often very specific profile of a subject’s personality, life, and future prospects.

There is no single astrological theory or practice. All ancient cultures practiced their own forms of astrology, some of which merged and evolved into today’s popular western astrology. Chinese, Vedic, and Tibetan astrology are among the most well-known forms of astrology practiced by Eastern cultures. There is a wide range of methods and philosophies even within Western astrology. Some people divide astrology according to the desired outcome:

Mundane Astrology: Mundane astrology is used to analyse world events and forecast national affairs, wars, and economies.

Interrogatory Astrology: This branch can be further subdivided, but it generally refers to astrology which seeks to make specific analyses or predictions about the subject’s goals or events in life.

Natal Astrology: This is what most people associate with astrology. Natal Astrology makes predictions and analyses based on a person’s birth date. It is based on the idea that everything that happens to something is expressed at the very start of that thing, which is sometimes referred to as the Law of Beginnings.

In short, Astrology is thought to influence people’s behaviors and personalities based on their birth dates. It was first used to advise people on how to live their lives based on their zodiac sign.