Western astrology is the system of astrology most popular in Western countries. Western astrology originated in Mesopotamia during the 2nd millennium BC, from where it spread to much of the world. After spreading to Egypt, where further developments occurred, it then arrived into Greek or Hellenistic culture, where the Greek astronomer and astrologer Ptolemy in his work Tetrabiblos laid the foundations of the Western tradition. Western astrology is largely horoscopic, that is, it is largely based on the construction of a horoscope for an exact moment in time, such as a person's birth, in which various cosmic bodies are said to have an influence. In modern Western sun sign astrology, only the location of the Sun is considered.

The zodiac is the belt or band of constellations through which the Sun, Moon, and planets move on their journey across the sky. Astrologers noted these constellations and so attached a particular significance to them. Over time they developed the system of twelve signs of the zodiac, based on twelve of the constellations they considered to be particularly important. Most western astrologers use the tropical zodiac beginning with the sign of Aries at the Northern hemisphere Vernal Equinox always on or around March 21 of each year. Due to a phenomenon called precession of the equinoxes (where the Earth's axis slowly rotates like a spinning top in a 25,700 year cycle), there is a slow shift in the correspondence between Earth's seasons (and calendar) and the constellations of the zodiac. For this reason some Western astrologers use the Sidereal zodiac which still uses the actual star positions.

Cancer

Cancer is symbolized by the Crab

Birthdates: June 22 - July 22

Element of the Cancer zodiac sign: Water
Astrological quality of the Cancer zodiac sign: Cardinal (e.g. activity)

Planets and the Cancer zodiac sign:
* Ruling Planet: Moon
* Career Planet: Mars
* Love Planet: Saturn
* Money Planet: Sun
* Planet of Fun, Creativity and Speculations: Pluto
* Planet of Health and Work: Jupiter
* Planet of Home and Family Life: Venus
* Planet of Spirituality: Mecury

Colours of the Cancer zodiac sign: blue, silver
Gems of the Cancer zodiac sign: moonstone, pearl
Metals of the Cancer zodiac sign: silver
Best day of the week for Cancer zodiac sign: Monday

Strongest virtues of the Cancer zodiac sign: emotional sensitivity, the urge to nurture, tenacity
Deepest need of the Cancer zodiac sign: a harmonious family life
Weaknesses of the Cancer zodiac sign: over-sensitivity, negative moods

Horoscope compatibilities of the Cancer zodiac sign with other zodiac signs:
* Zodiac Signs of greatest overall compatibility: Scorpio, Pisces
* Zodiac Signs of greatest overall incompatibility: Aries, Libra
* Zodiac Sign most helpful to career: Aries
* Zodiac Sign most helpful for emotional support: Libra
* Zodiac Sign most helpful financially: Leo
* Zodiac Sign best for marriage and/or partnerships: Capricorn
* Zodiac Sign most helpful for creative projects: Scorpio
* Zodiac Signs most helpful in spiritual matters: Gemini, Pisces

Source: www.eastrolog.com

Gemini

Gemini is symbolized by the Twins

Birthdates: May 22 - June 21

Element of the Gemini zodiac sign: Air
Astrological quality of the Gemini zodiac sign: Mutable (i.e. flexibility)

Planets and the Gemini zodiac sign:
* Ruling Planet: Mercury
* Career Planet: Neptune
* Love Planet: Jupiter
* Money Planet: Moon
* Planet of Health and Work: Pluto
* Planet of Home and Family Life: Mercury

Colours of the Gemini zodiac sign: blue, yellow
Gems of the Gemini zodiac sign: agate, aquamarine
Metals of the Gemini zodiac sign: quicksilver
Best day of the week for Gemini zodiac sign: Wednesday

Strongest virtues of the Gemini zodiac sign: great communication skills, quickness of thought, quick learning
Deepest need of the Gemini zodiac sign: communication
Weaknesses of the Gemini zodiac sign: superficiality, gossiping, harsh speech that may hurt others, use of words for misleading or misinforming

Horoscope compatibilities of the Gemini zodiac sign with other zodiac signs:
* Zodiac Signs of greatest overall compatibility: Libra, Aquarius
* Zodiac Signs of greatest overall incompatibility: Virgo, Pisces
* Zodiac Sign most helpful to career: Pisces
* Zodiac Sign most helpful for emotional support: Virgo
* Zodiac Sign most helpful financially: Cancer
* Zodiac Sign best for marriage and/or partnerships: Sagittarius
* Zodiac Sign most helpful for creative projects: Libra
* Zodiac Signs most helpful in spiritual matters: Taurus, Aquarius

Source: www.eastrolog.com

Taurus

Taurus is symbolized by the Bull

Birthdates: April 21 - May 21

Element of the Taurus zodiac sign: Earth
Astrological quality of the Taurus zodiac sign: Fixed (i.e. stability)

Planets and the Taurus zodiac sign:
* Ruling Planet: Venus
* Career Planet: Uranus
* Love Planet: Pluto
* Money Planet: Mercury
* Planet of Health and Work: Venus
* Planet of Home and Family Life: Sun
* Planet of Spirituality: Mars
* Planet of Travel, Education and Religion: Saturn

Colours of the Taurus zodiac sign: yellow, yellow-orange, earth tones
Gems of the Taurus zodiac sign: coral, emerald
Metals of the Taurus zodiac sign: copper
Best day of the week for Taurus zodiac sign: Friday

Strongest virtues of the Taurus zodiac sign: loyalty, endurance, stability, patience
Deepest need of the Taurus zodiac sign: material ease, comfort
Weaknesses of the Taurus zodiac sign: stubbornness, tendency to be overly possesive and materialistic

Horoscope compatibilities of the Taurus zodiac sign with other zodiac signs:
* Zodiac Signs of greatest overall compatibility: Virgo, Capricorn
* Zodiac Signs of greatest overall incompatibility: Leo, Aquarius
* Zodiac Sign most helpful to career: Aquarius
* Zodiac Sign most helpful for emotional support: Leo
* Zodiac Sign most helpful financially: Gemini
* Zodiac Sign best for marriage and/or partnerships: Scorpio
* Zodiac Sign most helpful for creative projects: Virgo
* Zodiac Signs most helpful in spiritual matters: Aries, Capricorn

Source: www.eastrolog.com

Aries

Aries is symbolized by the Ram

Birthdates: March 21 - April 20

Element of the Aries zodiac sign: Fire
Astrological quality of the Aries zodiac sign: Cardinal (i.e. activity)

Planets and the Aries zodiac sign:
* Ruling Planet: Mars
* Career Planet: Saturn
* Love Planet: Venus
* Money Planet: Venus
* Planet of Fun, Creativity and Speculations: Sun
* Planet of Health and Work: Mercury
* Planet of Home and Family Life: Moon
* Planet of Spirituality: Neptune
* Planet of Travel, Education and Religion: Jupiter

Colours of the Aries zodiac sign: green, jade green
Gems of the Aries zodiac sign: amethyst
Metals of the Aries zodiac sign: iron, steel
Best day of the week for Aries zodiac sign: Tuesday

Strongest virtues of the Aries zodiac sign: physical energy, independence, courage, self-reliance, honesty
Deepest need of the Aries zodiac sign: action
Weaknesses of the Aries zodiac sign: impetuousness, haste, rashness, over-aggression

Horoscope compatibilities of the Aries zodiac sign with other zodiac signs:
* Zodiac Signs of greatest overall compatibility: Leo, Sagittarius
* Zodiac Signs of greatest overall incompatibility: Cancer, Capricorn
* Zodiac Sign most helpful to career: Capricorn
* Zodiac Sign most helpful for emotional support: Cancer
* Zodiac Sign most helpful financially: Taurus
* Zodiac Sign best for marriage and/or partnerships: Libra
* Zodiac Sign most helpful for creative projects: Leo
* Zodiac Signs most helpful in spiritual matters: Sagittarius, Pisces

Source: www.eastrolog.com

Planets

CLASSICAL PLANETS
These are the seven heavenly bodies known to the ancients and are believed to represent the seven basic drives in every individual (the sun and moon, also known as 'the lights', are included in this assessment alongside the planets). Astrologers call Mercury, Venus and Mars the 'personal planets', as they represent the most immediate drives. The 'lights' symbolise respectively the existential and sensitive fundamentals of the individuality. Jupiter and Saturn, until very recently the two furthest planets, represent aspects of the individual functioning as part of society.

* - Sun: Personal strength, vitality and achievement, leadership qualities, power and authority; the need to express oneself; creativity, parenthood, (especially fatherhood), the need for recognition, esteem and personal pride. Ruler of the zodiac sign Leo
* - Moon: Inner feeling, moods, habits, the unconscious, nurturing and parenthood (especially motherhood), femininity, home and family life in general, instinctive reactions to life, need for emotional security and safety. Ruler of the zodiac sign Cancer.
* - Mercury: Mentality, communication, (especially for short distances), thought processes, teaching, schooling and basic education, literary pursuits, the immediate environment or neighborhood, capacity to be logical, detached and rational. Ruler of the zodiac signs Gemini and Virgo.
* - Venus: Relationships and partnerships of all kinds, romantic love, desire for beauty, harmony and co-operation, personal comforts and possessions, the arts, fashions and social life. Ruler of the zodiac signs Taurus and Libra.
* - Mars: Urge for action, personal energy and drive, assertiveness and aggression, sexuality and passions. Sport, physical activity and competition. Ruler of the zodiac sign Aries and traditional ruler of the zodiac sign Scorpio.
* - Jupiter: Personal growth and expansion, aspirations, desire for freedom, sense of justice and morality, religion, philosophy, higher education, the law, long distance communication, enterprise, risk taking and gambling. Ruler of the zodiac sign Sagittarius and traditional ruler of the zodiac sign Pisces.
* - Saturn: Personal limitations and structure, sense of responsibility, ambition, career, authority and hierarchy, serious thought, concern for hard realities of life, capacity for hard work, discipline of self and others, tenacity and trustworthiness, capacity to deal with sickness and difficulties in life. Ruler of the zodiac sign Capricorn and traditional ruler of the zodiac sign Aquarius.

MODERN PLANETS
These are the planets discovered in modern times, which have since been assigned meanings by Western astrologers. Except Ceres, which is considered to be a 'personal' planet because of its rotation and proximity, the other three are considered to be 'impersonal' planets, representing broad trends and impulses in society rather than in the individual.

* - Uranus: Rebellion and unconventionality, breaking down of old structures, new ways of thinking and acting, innovation and invention, idealism and progressive thought, clubs, societies, humanitarian organizations, political movements, need to be unique, unusual, desire for individual self expression and independence. Ruler of the zodiac sign Aquarius.
* - Neptune: Mysticism, transcendence, psychic impulses, feelings of sensitivity and empathy, care of the sick, the mentally ill, animals, charities, religious institutions, hospitals, prisons, retreat from society, artistic inspiration, spirituality, vulnerability to drugs. Ruler of the zodiac sign Pisces.
* or - Pluto: Transformation and regeneration of person's life, beginnings and endings of phases of life, sex, death, issues of power and control, revealing hidden secrets, big business, police, detective and secret services, surgery, mining, extremes of wealth and poverty. Ruler of the zodiac sign Scorpio.
* - Ceres: Women's independence, climactic changes, native needs to feel loved and nurtured, the reproductive issues of an adult woman, pregnancy and gestation, family bonds and relationships. For some astrologers is the ruler of the zodiac sign Virgo.

SOURCE: en.wikipedia.org