Astrology Series: How Using Astrology Helps Discover Your Inner Personality

Cats out of the bag, I love astrology. I remember the days of going to Barnes and Noble with my mom. I would sneak down the New Age aisle reading astrology books, hoping no one would see me reading something “crazy.” 
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During my collegiate years, I began to question the many secrets of life. I wondered why people are programmed differently, why I had struggled with certain qualities or why you feel a stronger connection with some people. During my travels in India, I consulted my first Vedic astrologer. I remember sitting in the chair with tears down my face on how a man dressed in white told me about my childhood, my stress and my fragile mind. That was the start to understanding how astrology influences one’s personality. 

If you are unfamiliar with astrology, every person has a birth chart, or a blue print, that is created upon your first breath into this world. It’s similar to snapping a picture of the sky with a camera to see the locations of the planets at the point of birth. At the time of your birth certain planets  and constellations are positioned in the sky. Aspects (positive or negative) are created depending on the planetary alignment. 

The main three influences include the sun, moon and ascendant sign. The sun sign is the sign you are born into at birth. For example, if you are born on February 7th then you are an Aquarius. The sun sign is the outer personality, the ego and what drives you.

The moon sign represents the mind and the emotions. It’s the inner-world and is how your mind is astrologically programmed. Someone with their moon sign in a water sign are usually deeper and more complex thinkers than someone who’s moon occupies an air sign.

The ascendant or rising sign is the sign that was at the eastern horizon point (as the sun rises) at the time of your birth. Many people grow into their rising sign as they age, but it is your true self. 

The next influences are the planets in the houses. Each planet rules a specific trait or quality. You can look at each planet individually, but how they aspect each other and the degrees apart also influence one’s personality. For example, Venus rules love. If someone has their Venus in the sign of Aries that person is likely to be impulsive or fall in and out of love easily. 
Another way astrology affects the personality is to understand the four elements - earth, air, fire and water. Each zodiac sign is classified under one of these elements. When looking at your birth chart, a person who has a lot of planets in earth and water tend to be more "home-bodies," stable, practical and emotional creatures. Someone with more air and fire signs can be more impulsive, explorative, airy, active or have a hard time sitting still. 
How can this help me? The power of astrology lies in understanding that we are created with positive and negative features. It’s part of our soul’s existence to overcome or balance the negative to live in harmony. Astrology helps people to recognize patterns. 
For example, someone who wakes up happy everyday and doesn’t let life bother them most likely has a strong influence from a planet in Sagittarius. Even if you look at your birth chart and you do not agree with everything you read, it is likely that you experienced that personality trait awhile back but your soul learned and became more mature from the experience. We must not forget that free will, our parents and culture also affects our personality. But those deep rooted instincts or qualities are most likely influenced from the planets. 

Every human on the planet has faults. When we are honest without criticism we can overcome the difficulties of our personality. Astrology empowers your strengths and helps you overcome the weaknesses. 

The best method to understanding your inner world is to consult an astrologer or to get your birth chart and research how to read about your alignments. Astrology is multifaceted and goes deeper than the basics mentioned in this blog. I recommend using astrodeinst.com for a free western astrology birth chart. For vedic astrology, I recommend Sam Geppi and KRS Channel Youtube videos to learn more about the subject. 

If you have any questions, contact MBSF and I would be more than happy to suggest additional Vedic or western astrology resources.