The Purpose of a Horoscope

Astrologers and fans of astrological lore recognize different types of horoscopes. Originally, the term "horoscope" referred to the first segment of an astrological chart, or "first house" and was dependent on the place and hour for which the chart was erected. Nowadays horoscope has a much wider application.

The most popular type of horoscope is supposed to be a prediction for the future and is based on the reader's "birth sign." This is misleading in a way, because no human being is comprised of only one zodiac sign, nor is one sign the property of all people born within the same month. Real astrologers know that the zodiac signs are found in the astrology charts of allpeople; it's just that some signs are more pronounced in a chart than others. Yet the practice of labeling individuals as either an "Aries" or a "Gemini" persists even among professional astrologers.

Horoscopes of this kind predict future and present trends for a particular zodiac sign in a general way. As the planets make contact to one another in real time, journeying from one zodiac sign to another, they trigger points in the astrology birth charts of people. Persons who share characteristics in their charts, say their Suns are in Virgo (that is, they are said to be Virgos in the popular sense), these trends have a similar effect on them. If, for example, Jupiter enters Pisces this year, it will increase idealism, kindness and creativity among Sun in Pisces persons. But because one person may have the Sun in a slightly different position in Pisces from another person - say, you have the Sun in the first degree of that sign and your neighbor has it in the tenth degree - then the transit will hit at different times: first for you, then your neighbor.

Predictive horoscopes can be given daily, weekly, monthly or yearly. If a real astrologer prepares these horoscopes, he or she may assume that the readers are all born at the same time of day, even if they aren't. The astrologer may cite the influences of the lunar phases, the transit of planets through the signs, and cosmic events such as eclipses and retrograde planets.

Such horoscopes are meant only as a rough guide, if at all. Usually it is understood that the material is "just for fun." As said above, horoscopes based in zodiac signs are mere generalizations. They cannot be otherwise since the full birth charts are not considered. To personalize a horoscope prediction for a specific chart, you would need your own custom horoscope reading. Despite this limitation, such astrological forecasts remain popular. We bar so-called fun "readings" that are more entertainment than anything else and have nothing to do with astrology.

The term "horoscope" is also applied to compatibility readings. Again, these tend to focus solely on one's "birth sign." Love horoscopes are amusing, and at times stunningly accurate. But they are a far cry from real horoscope matching, an art known as synastry. Real chart matching takes a close look at the relationship between two people and how they relate to each other.

So to answer the question: what's the purpose of a horoscope? General horoscopes that are published in astrology websites, magazines, etc. are mostly for entertainment and general knowledge only. People who want a serious, accurate guide to astrological transits may prefer to consult with a real astrologer using their own birth data.

Many people swear by the efficacy of their horoscopes. But approach generalized horoscopes with caution. While fun to read, they are nothing to base your decisions on. No matter what type of reading you get, don't follow it or believe in it blindly. You have a will. Use it. Most of all, educate yourself in astrology if you want to be guided by the stars. The basics of astrology are not hard to learn and if you can do that, horoscope compatibility would not be that difficult either.