What's Your Sign?

If everyone knew their astrology, maybe we would all get along better

Please note: If you’re listening to the post instead of reading, I just added a wonderful video at the end that was not included in the voiceover. So be sure to scroll down to watch!

First off, let me apologize to any astrologers who might read this. I am truly just a baby in terms of how much I know. So, please don’t expect any astrology wisdom here. I just want to ramble on a bit about how it has informed me in the past couple of decades.

I was in my fifties before I knew anything more than my sun sign was Sagittarius. By some stroke of luck, I discovered a blue notebook that was in a box found in the attic of my former home in Michigan. My mother had sent it to me in response to something I had written to her. She had been deceased for many years when I made this discovery.

And there was the solid gold sentence: “You were born at 2:32 p.m.” When you know your time, date, and place of birth, you will have a complete astrological chart.

Time of birth! 2:32 p.m.

Just for fun, I searched “What is astrology?”

“Astrology, type of divination that involves the forecasting of earthly and human events through the observation and interpretation of the fixed stars, the Sun, the Moon, and the planets. Devotees believe that an understanding of the influence of the planets and stars on earthly affairs allows them to both predict and affect the destinies of individuals, groups, and nations. Though often regarded as a science throughout its history, astrology is widely considered today to be diametrically opposed to the findings and theories of modern Western science.” —Brittanica

You can sort of feel the skepticism/mockery in that definition, can’t you? The last sentence made me laugh.

But, being the Sagittarian that I am (my sun, at least), my thirst for knowledge and Truth is part of my very being, and so astrology captivates me. Sag is a fire sign. We can’t seem to stop seeking, learning, and wanting to share what we’ve learned with others.

Sagittarians love to explore. To travel. I always wondered why I didn’t love traveling to the extent of being a wanderer or a nomad. I like to travel but am always so happy to return to my home.

And then, in my first reading, I discovered that my moon and rising signs are in Taurus, an earth sign. Taurus loves home. Beauty. Stability. Nature.

I can live in the teeniest of spaces (I do!), but I have to pretty it up. It has to have character. Old charm. Wood floors. The right colors. Bright light. Lots of plants.

I used to have bad dreams that I was forced to live in a brand new apartment with toxic carpeting and cold white walls on the first floor of a building with no character. I would wake up in a cold sweat. I began having these dreams again when I started the looking-for-a-new-home process two years ago.

When I married my high school sweetheart at age 20, it felt like I was playing house. I must have had a hundred plants.

This was my favorite song from that time. A perfectly Taurean tune.

Many years later, with two children in tow, we were looking to buy a new house. I remember the day I pulled up alone in front of what would become our new home. I felt a surge in my heart and thought to myself, “I want to grow old in this house.” It was perfect. Well, I’m getting old but am no longer married or living in that house. Still, I have tender memories from those years. That house nourished me, supported me, and grounded me.

It soothed my Taurus.

But, even knowing these three signs - sun, moon, and rising, isn’t enough. They’re only puzzle pieces in our chart.

There are the houses and the signs and the stars and planets and the aspects and the trines and sextiles and oppositions, and how’s this for a word - sesquiquadrate? What?????

That’s where a good astrology reading comes in. There’s nothing quite like it. You feel so seen and understood. A good intuitive astrologer is a gem, that’s for sure.

“Your Soul Purpose is the signature of living and thriving in your authentic truth.  It is life in the moment of the eternal NOW…a wholistic trust in yourself and your true immense love and wisdom.” —Lynnette Duncan

Because I had already lived half my life before knowing any of this, I had the advantage of looking back and seeing just how much my life had been in sync with my chart. That’s all the confirmation I need that astrology is very real and relevant.

Learning about my north and south nodes was especially jarring. I’m not sure how I would have reacted had I known about it earlier in my life. Would I have made different life choices? I mean, I made some very difficult ones. But, seeing it in retrospect, it all happened just as it was meant to.

Here’s a very easy-to-understand explanation of the lunar nodes:

“What’s your life purpose? In your birth chart, the lunar nodes—known as the North and South Nodes—hold the keys to your destiny and ultimate life lessons.

The North Node represents our karmic paths and the lessons we came here to learn—or the language we are learning to speak.

The South Node reveals the challenges and gifts we bring in from previous lifetimes.” Astrostyle

Instagram astrology humor :)...

And now, to the point of this post! Boy, would it be helpful to know the astrology of our friends and family members! To be honest, most of mine don’t know theirs and/or don’t give a damn.

The thing is, our chart can help us see why we do or don’t jive with certain people. We all have the light aspects of our signs and the dark. Our shadow side.

If I know someone’s astrology, it really helps me to temper my reaction to situations. I can better understand the other person. Wouldn’t it be grand if we all had this information? Sagittarians can be notoriously blunt with their honesty, and so I have learned to be more cognizant of that.

But, as I said, the Sag is only one piece of my puzzle.

There are fire signs, air signs, earth signs, and water signs. We might have an abundance of one in our chart that could make us extra fiery, airy, earthy, or watery! Get the picture?

I remember meeting a friend for the first time. We were sitting at my kitchen table, and we started talking about astrology. She asked me to guess what her sun sign was. She had already teared up at least twice while chatting for the first time ever, so of course, I guessed Cancer. My second guess would have been Pisces. These are water signs. Highly emotional water signs.

And the planets! Oh, my! They’re forever moving in and out of the houses (yes, there are houses!) Sometimes they retrograde, and sometimes they stay in one place for ages (the planets, not the houses.) I hope I got that right!

I feel like astrology is also just one part of the bigger picture. There’s Ayurveda, which is also a great way to practice self-awareness and understand others. While I have very little air in my astrology chart, I have an abundance of it (Vata) in my Ayurvedic constitution. Lots of earth in my astrology but very little according to Ayurveda. And then there’s numerology. A subject for another time!

I hope my little ramble has inspired you to search for your time of birth (it’s not always on your birth certificate) or at least delve into astrology a little bit to understand yourself and your fellow humans better.

Alas, that Sagittarian sun of mine thinks everyone on the planet has an insatiable thirst for knowledge in all forms. I want to share everything I learn, but this pretty much sums up how those around me tend to react:

Laura Jane Bolton, Instagram

Sometimes I see other people’s charts, and they look so, well, calm. Mine looks chaotic and Vata. But it’s been an interesting life so far. I actually have some pretty exciting astrology on the horizon, says my astrologer. Even knowing that, I still just like to live each day without looking to the future. I don’t read my daily horoscope. I like to see what unfolds without any preconceptions.

Isn’t it all just so interesting?

Much love,
Barbara

P.S. Nothing that’s going on in the world is a surprise to astrologers…

P.P.S. I found the video below after I’d already sent this post out. Darn it! If you’re reading the post late, consider yourself lucky. I just discovered this astrologer, and he’s amazing. This is a great breakdown of the sun signs. Enjoy!