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Kinds of horoscopes and how they are read
A horoscope is a forecast or a description based on the positions of the planets. The kinds differ by the period and by the data they are written from: the daily, weekly, monthly and yearly ones are by sign; the love horoscope is a daily text on relationships; the Chinese one is by the year of birth; the personal and the children’s horoscopes are by the person’s natal chart.
9 kinds
Kinds of horoscopes
for the day · by sign
Daily horoscope
The forecast for the day by sign: what the day brings each of the 12 signs.
for the week · by sign
Weekly horoscope
The forecast for the week from Monday to Sunday for every sign.
for the month · by sign
Monthly horoscope
The forecast for the whole month: the main themes for every sign.
for the year · by sign or by the birth chart
Yearly horoscope
The yearly horoscope by sign describes the year for every sign, on the page of each sign. The personal yearly reading is written from the person’s natal chart. The personal one is a paid reading.
for the day · by sign
Love horoscope
A daily text on love and relationships for every sign.
by the year of birth
Chinese horoscope
The animal and the element of the year of birth in the Chinese calendar, with the boundary of the Chinese New Year.
by the date, time and place of birth
Personal horoscope
A forecast by your own natal chart: which planets pass through your houses. Part of the membership.
by the child’s birth data
Children’s horoscope
A reading of the child’s natal chart, written for the child’s age. A paid reading.
by the birth data
Vedic horoscope
Indian astrology counts the signs by the stars, so for many people the Sun falls in the previous sign.
Reading
Before taking a forecast personally
Check the period it covers
Daily, weekly and yearly horoscopes cover different time spans. An old text without a date does not necessarily describe the present.
Check which sign to read
Short forecasts often use the Sun sign. Some authors explicitly include the Ascendant. Follow the instructions for that particular text; reading for the Ascendant is not a universal rule.
Separate position from interpretation
Mercury at a particular degree is a calculable position. An important conversation ahead is an interpretation. Accurate astronomical calculation does not itself confirm the predicted event.
A teaching example, not a current forecast
“Leave time to review the terms before giving an answer.”
This suggests an action. It does not establish that you will receive an offer or that a particular day is dangerous. If the advice fits your situation, you can use it and assess the outcome against actual circumstances.
The chart
Sun, Moon and Ascendant
- Sun sign
- The Sun’s position in the zodiac at birth. This is usually what people mean when asking for your zodiac sign; the dates of the signs are in zodiac signs and dates.
- Moon sign
- The sign occupied by the Moon at the same moment. When it changes signs on the birth date, an unknown birth time can leave two possibilities. Calculate your Moon sign.
- Ascendant
- The intersection of the ecliptic with the eastern horizon. Its calculation requires the date, time and place of birth. Calculate your ascendant.
The zodiac
Twelve signs, four elements
The twelve signs fall into four elements of three signs each. Each sign leads to its own page with its character and forecasts.
Fire
In astrological symbolism, fire is associated with the impulse to begin and express desire.
Earth
Earth represents material things and working with what can be touched and organized.
Air
Air symbolizes thought, conversation and the exchange of ideas. Despite its name, Aquarius is an air sign.
Water
Water is associated with feeling, memory and closeness.
The charts
Kinds of charts in astrology
Besides the forecasts by period, astrology works with charts: the natal chart is the sky at the moment of birth, synastry compares two natal charts, and transits show today’s planets against the birth chart.
Horoscopes
Questions about zodiac signs and horoscopes
Which horoscope should I read?
For the day and the week: the horoscope by sign, for example the horoscope for today. For yourself: the personal horoscope, written from the natal chart.
Is a personal horoscope more accurate?
A personal reading uses more data and can consider specific placements. That makes it more individualized, but does not itself demonstrate more accurate prediction of future events.
What is my sign if I was born on a boundary date?
Check the Sun’s position for the year, birth time and time zone. It does not enter the next sign at the same local time each year. The exact dates for every year are in zodiac signs and dates.
What is a Vedic horoscope?
The Vedic horoscope is the horoscope of Indian astrology, which counts the signs by the stars. For many people the Sun falls in the previous sign in it.
Are zodiac signs and constellations the same?
No. The tropical zodiac consists of 12 equal 30° divisions beginning at the March equinox. Constellations are regions of the sky with unequal sizes. A zodiac date table is not a constellation map.
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Related topics
Horoscope for today
The daily forecast for each of the 12 signs.The phases of the Moon
The eight phases, the new moon and the full moon.Saturn return
When Saturn comes back to its place at birth.Astrology for beginners
The planets, the signs, the houses and the aspects in order.
The horoscopes follow the astrological tradition, for education and entertainment. They are not medical, financial or legal advice.