This is but a humble essay intended for eastern astrologers or astro-lovers, to explain how western astrology works and the most common methods used today by the western astrologer.

Its main objective is to give a general view of western astrology today, therefore to highlight the "keys" to a general comprehension of the methods applied in western astrology, whereas the western-eastern common astrological viewpoints (i.e. the meaning of houses and planets) will not be referred to.

Drawing a chart

The western chart is circular in shape. In the outer circle the signs of the constellations are drawn, whereas the planets are placed inside the circle.

Before drawing a chart, we should keep in mind that in the western system the Tropical zodiac is employed and not the Sidereal, as in the Indian system.

Another important factor is the House System. There are many house systems, but only three of them are more widely used: the equal house system, the Placidus house system and the Koch house system. The tables of the Placidus and Koch houses (named after the personalities who have compiled them) must be consulted in order to find out the Ascendant, Midheaven and houses' degrees, after converting the local time to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) at birth and by keeping in mind the latitude and longitude of the place of birth.

Considering the chart as a projection of the sky at our birth time, the Ascendant is the degree of the ecliptic rising over the Eastern horizon at the moment of birth. Thus, it is important that the sign of the Ascendant be drawn on the left (eastern) side of the chart. At least, this should be the rule, though some schools do not strictly follow it. By correctly drawing the Ascendant point on the left side of the chart, the Descendant point (which corresponds to the 7th house) will be on the right side, whereas the Midheaven (which corresponds to the 10th house) is the North point of the chart and the Imum Coeli (which corresponds to the 4th house) is the South point. By thus drawing the chart, the astrologer may immediately have a clear vision of the two hemispheres the chart is divided into, for his interpretation.

The next step would be to calculate the right position of the planets at birth time, i.e. their degrees, by use of the ephemerids and the aspects they form with each other, depending on their degrees. We call aspect the relationship between two planets. There are many different aspects, but the most important are: the conjunction, which can be either positive or negative depending upon the planets involved, the trine and the sextile, meaning that there is a positive interaction between the planets, the square and the opposition, meaning that there is stress or conflict between the planets' energies. Moreover, the aspects between the planets are drawn within the chart by use of lines which may be different in shape or in colour, depending on their positive or negative meaning.

Chart symbols

The chart itself is but an artistic sketch of the celestial vault at the time of our birth. As I said before, it is circular in shape, and the planets are posited in their constellations, houses and degrees: by looking at it we get the impression of staring at the sky and its stars.

Anyhow, in our astrological birth chart there lies a much deeper meaning: after the aspects between the planets are drawn we may stare at the chart and meditate on our inner self. The aspect lines in fact show the way our inner self works through what the well-known Swiss psychotherapist C.G. Jung used to call "a conversation among the planets". Meditation on our birth chart may unveil a lot about the way we are, our character's weak and strong points and the stress peaks as well as the relaxation we are able to achieve in life. Moreover, the aspect lines which show conflict and action are - by some astrological schools - coloured red, whereas those lines showing positive relations between planets are coloured blue: in my opinion, by use of this method, meditation on the chart is more effective, as we can better identify ourselves with our inner self, trying to understand - by the blue and the red lines - our true nature.

The chart is thus not only a projection of the sky at birthtime, but also a thorough portrait of the person, for it depicts both her physical and her psychological features.

Some schools of astrology (whose philosophy I myself share) even point out the importance of leaving a circle at the centre of the chart untouched and free of aspect lines. This "nucleus" inside the chart may symbolize our Soul or Atman, which is free of influences from the outside world but is there to remind us that nothing is determined and we can still use our free will.

Chart interpretation

If the planets are crowding the left hemisphere of the chart, life is mostly projected towards one's own pursuits, whereas if they are mostly posited on the right hemisphere, the person will live not for herself alone but for the others or her achievements will be accomplished with the help of others. Moreover, stress on the northern hemisphere - where the Midheaven is - will show that person will be more concerned with her realization and career than one having a dominant southern hemisphere, who will be more concerned with her family life. The Huber school - a Swiss school of astrology based on a branch of psychology called "psychosynthesis" - is further dividing these hemispheres into "quadrants".

In the West the general trend in astrological interpretation is mostly psychological. Prediction of problems related to upbringing can be useful to the parents in order to know how to deal with their children. Moreover, the psychological motivation shown in the chart may help a person understand the mechanisms that lie deep within herself. Someone who is often depressed, for instance, may be helped by knowing the roots of his depression. There are many astrologers in the West who work together with psychotherapists: this cooperation is found very helpful for both the psychotherapist, who may immediately understand the true inner problems of his patient, and the astrologer who may better help a person with an appropriate treatment, if needed. In fact, sometimes the only knowledge of one's psychological problems is not enough, and if the problems are very deep rooted, astrological knowledge alone is not efficacious.

Traditional astrology, mainly concerned in predicting material events, is of course still practiced in the West, but this interpretation is generally used in connection with the psychological or other interpretations of the chart. Traditional astrology holds the outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto into consideration but does not use the North and South Lunar Nodes - i.e. Rahu and Ketu - in its predictions.

In contrast with traditional astrology there are schools called "Karmic Astrology", "Astrology of Evolution", "Spiritual Astrology", etc., which all emphasize the meanings of Rahu and Ketu in houses and signs: they may tell us about our past lives as well as show us the path of our inner growth in this life. This astrological interpretation has clearly taken inspiration from eastern philosophies. Again here, as in other systems, the outer planets are not only taken into consideration, but they are believed to add to the spiritual meaning of the chart.

The meanings of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto

Uranus in a chart always gives a meaning of unpredictibility, changeability (it has thus been related to the sign of Aquarius). It is the planet of the people of genius, as of those who look too eccentric. When in transit, it may suddenly request us to completely change our lives in ways we would never think of. Should we oppose its energy, we may be forced to face a much more difficult change in the future. But if we are aware of its strength, we may then let ourselves go with its energy and benefit from the change in our lives, which we will adapt to, by knowing that it will be more suitable for our inner growth. Uranus is also the planet linked with "astrological studies": its position in the birth chart may tell if the person is keen on astrology, and its transit may show the time when a person will profit from her astrological knowledge or will start being interested in this science.

Neptune is the planet of great compassion and intuition, related to the sign of Pisces. It is the planet of higher love and romance, of philosophy, as well as of drugs and states of mental confusion. When in transit and negatively aspected it hinders a clear vision of facts, as it may give a disposition to drug addiction. But, if its energy is positively captured it may intensify our intuitive mind and we will put no effort in understanding the most subtle meanings in life. Its energy is highly spiritual when rightly understood.

Pluto can make us either rise up to the very top or fall down right to the bottom, depending on how we use its very strong energy. It has been related to the sign of Scorpio, and when in transit it requests us to "renew" ourselves, or better to "transform" some particular aspect of ourselves (depending on the transiting house). Of course this "renovation" will have to go deep into our inner self. There is no way out: either we truly look into our Self without being scared of the "monsters" we may come across, and find the way to truly "transform" what is old and of no use into something new and more apt to our life, or we are bound to suffer.

Asteroids

Some schools of astrology tend to give more and more importance to the influence that asteroids can produce in our lives, either at birth time and in transit.

Chiron is one of the most important asteroids, whose meanings in the chart are found to be very reliable. In our birth chart it has been related with our spiritual master and in transit, it gives lessons about that particular field of application in life represented by the transiting house.

Moreover, Chiron is called "the healing planet", as it is also used to predict whether the diseases the person may suffer from (detected from her birth chart) may be easily treated. Moreover, the four asteroids Ceres, Pallas, Vesta and Juno are especially considered in the U.S.A.: the first one is linked with our nurturing needs; Pallas mostly tells about our artistic nature and pursuits; Vesta represents our ability to focus energy and experience wholeness of self; Juno tells especially about our intimate and legal relations, i.e. marriage.

Asteroids are important if we need to add meanings to or confirm the overall meaning of the birth chart; and their transits are as well used for predictions regarding future events. In western medical astrology asteroids are used to possibly give a more precise picture of diseases and the healing methods to be adopted.

Prediction techniques

Among the many techniques that are used in order to predict future events, Transits and the Solar Return are the major ones. The former are derived from the ephemerids and may predict daily events, whereas the Solar Return is a horoscope cast at the time of the year when the Sun reaches the same sign and degree as at birth time, and it predicts the major events of each year. The Lunar Return makes use of this same technique to predict each month's events but here, of course, the horoscope is cast on the sign and degree of one's Moon at birth.

In order to get a clearer picture of the psychological growth of the individual in a particular year, the Progression technique is also employed, which considers each day equal to one year, starting from the day of birth. Therefore, the influence of the Moon's sign, for instance, will change every two or three years, and the Ascendant will also, after some years, come into the signs that follow the one at birth, changing the person's attitude towards life, and so forth.

Chart comparison

The technique which is mostly used to compare the birth charts of two people is called "Synastry". This technique tells whether there is similarity of character, spiritual affinity, etc. between the two people and its interpretation is mainly based on the relationship existing between the planets of the two charts and the houses they fall into each other's chart.

Robert Hand, a very well-known contemporary astrologer, has developed a "comparison" system where a chart is drawn based on the place where two or more people meet the first time, considering the "middle point" of their planets and ascendants. The interpretation of this chart is almost the same as any other birth chart, but the signs where the Ascendant and the planets fall into are not important. Mostly important are the aspects between the planets and between the planets and the middle point of the ascendants. The latter will tell how the couple or group is seen by the people they are related with. The Solar Return may also be drawn from this chart comparison to understand the events of the two (or group of) people during one solar year.

Conclusion

In the West, astrology has undergone many changes through the centuries, adapting to the needs of society and adjusting to new ways of thinking. The language has perhaps changed, but the roots are the same, always.

I have tried to give a general idea of the form that this very ancient science has acquired in the present day. Therefore, the techniques and methods here not mentioned are not to be considered unrelevant, but only second as to the scope of this essay.