Sun travels through the twelve signs of the zodiac through the course of the year and so when someone is said to have been born under Pisces, they were born when the Sun was passing through the portion of the zodiac named after the constellation of Pisces.
Each of the 12 signs has its own personality traits (see pages x-xi), with the daily position of the planets, and the element associated with the planet—fire, water, earth, and air—also affecting each Sun sign. In addition, for serious astrologers, as the Sun passes through the zodiac sign over the course of a month, it passes through three decanates, making each decanate approximately ten days long. Each of the decanates adds its own associated planet and sign influences to the basic influences of the Sun sign. Therefore by considering the decanate as well as the Sun sign, the reading for an individual’s birthday is fine-tuned. For example, an Aries born sometime in the third decanate (April 10 to 21) will also be under the influence of the third decanate sign of Sagittarius and the planet associated with Sagittarius, which is Jupiter. The ancient Egyptians considered the decanates as important as the Sun signs themselves.
Progressions are another widely used technique in the system of prediction. With this method the Sun takes about thirty years to journey (or progress) through each sign of the zodiac and in a person’s lifetime it will typically progress through three to four zodiac signs, depending on the lifespan of the individual and their date of birth. Each time the Sun progresses from one sign to another, this indicates a significant birthday or time in your life when there is likely to be a dramatic change in either your circumstances or outlook. For example, the progressed Sun of a Scorpio born on November 9 will move into Sagittarius at the age of thirteen, into Capricorn at the age of forty-three and then Aquarius at the age of seventy-three.
Fixed stars associated with a particular day of the year also exert additional influences, but if decanates and progressions sound confusing, don’t worry; to use this book you don’t need to do any math or look anything up in complicated tables as the calculations and relevant interpretations have been taken into account when each birthday profile was compiled. All you need to do is read and enjoy.
Skeptics argue that astrology’s suggested link between planetary position and human destiny is unproven, but recent scientific research about the seasons and even the month in which a person is born appears to suggest otherwise.
In the early 1970s, Professor Alan Smithers of Manchester University compiled data from the British population census showing clearly that architects tended to be born in the spring, secretaries in the summer, miners in the fall and electricians in the winter. He also asked members of the British Astrological Association (BAA) to indicate which signs were associated with the professions of nurse and labor union official. Without knowing what the BAA predicted, Smithers conducted a large survey of nurses and labor officials and discovered that, just as the astrologers had indicated, there was a statistical bias toward nurses being born under the signs of Taurus, Cancer, Virgo, Scorpio and Pisces, and labor union officials being born under one or other of the other signs.
Other research has focused on the influence of one star in particular, the Sun. This is because a type of radiation emitted by the Sun, ultraviolet (UVR), is believed to cause genetic changes in the developing baby that may have a shaping effect on their life and personality. This could explain why many of us believe that common characteristics and fates are shared by those born at the same time of the year. For example, researchers at the University of Rostock in Germany have analyzed data to see if the month in which you are born affects how long you will live. It does. Their research found that your chances of living beyond 100 were up to 16 percent higher than average if you were born in December, but if you were born in June, your chances were 23 per cent lower. Another study carried out by researchers at the University of Chicago and published in the Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine backed this up, finding that those born in December lived longer by about three years.
Experts believe that the reason people born in December might live longer could be that they were conceived in March, possibly avoiding the most harmful effects of radiation early on. They argue that solar radiation peaks at conception affect personality and health later in life and therefore where you are born is perhaps more important that the month you were born.
Here’s a roundup of some findings by different researchers to date.
Happiness: Happy people are more likely to have been born in June, July and August, according to a University of Vienna study. Meanwhile a study at the University of Tokyo found that people born in December, January and February were likely to be more pessimistic than those born at other times of the year.
Personality: Psychiatrists at the University of Umea, in Sweden, looked at personality differences in 2,000 people and found that women born between February and April were more likely to be novelty seekers than those born in October and February. Men born in spring were more likely to be impulsive, while those born in winter were prone to introspection.
Intelligence: Winter-born children may end up being bigger and more academically inclined than those born in summer. Psychiatrists and anthropologists from Harvard and Queensland universities tracked the development of 21,000 boys and girls over seven years, finding seasonal variations in intelligence, weight, height, and head size. Another study from the University of Vienna, however, indicated that female students born in spring and summer achieved better exam marks than those born in fall and winter.
Health: Research from the University Hospital Clinic of Modena, Italy, showed that women born in the fall have the fewest symptoms at menopause and those born in spring have the most. Work at Bristol University has shown that those born in winter have a greater risk of developing heart disease, while another study from the University of Southampton indicated that being born in the winter months may increase the risk of obesity.
True to your sign?
Aries
(March 21 to April 19)
The first sign of the zodiac is a fire sign ruled by Mars. The symbol of Aries is the ram. Aries-born people are typically dynamic, energetic and motivated toward action. Assertive is a good way to describe people born under this sign. They tend to be enterprising, impulsive, warm-hearted, and confident free spirits who say what they mean and mean what they say, although they can also be impatient, rash, tactless, excitable and bossy.
Taurus
(April 20 to May 20)
The second sign of the zodiac is an earth sign ruled by Venus. The symbol of Taurus is the bull. Taureans are typically reliable, loyal and patient individuals with a discriminating taste for quality and the good things in life. A good word to describe them would be determined. These people like to improve their knowledge so that they can make the best out of their intelligence and practicality, but they can also be lazy, materialistic and moody at times.
Gemini
(May 21 to June 20)
The third sign of the zodiac is an air sign ruled by Mercury. The symbol of Gemini is the twins. Geminis are often intellectual and natural communicators who are driven to forward thinking and analyzing, their minds capable of going anywhere. A good word to describe them would be inquisitive, but at times they can be inconsistent and changeable. Their endearing zest for ideas and something new can make committing to anyone and anything problematic.
Cancer
(June 21 to July 22)
The fourth sign of the zodiac is a water sign ruled by the Moon. The symbol of cancer is the crab. Being ruled by the Moon, these people are often highly creative and intuitive. A good word to describe them would be sensitive, but at times they can be oversensitive and insecure. Their empathy and good sense of humor win them many admirers but their moodiness can also be confusing.