Great encyclopedia. Fortune telling and predictions

4.4. The Planets as the Voices of the Gods

Here is the precise English translation of your passage, with full preservation of punctuation and stylistic rhythm:

• Sun — Apollo, the shining center, the light of consciousness, will, and the creative spark.

• Moon — Artemis or Selene, the reflected light, motherhood, the mystery of sleep and intuition.

• Mercury — Hermes, the messenger, patron of trade, cunning, and language.

• Venus — Aphrodite, the birth of beauty from sea foam, love, and harmony.

• Mars — Ares, the warrior, the symbol of conflict and passion, fire and action.

• Jupiter — Zeus, the thunderer, giver of laws and expansion, the generous ruler.

• Saturn — Cronus, devourer of children, the symbol of time, boundaries, and inevitability.

• Uranus — the Titan Uranus, the celestial revolutionary, the symbol of suddenness and breakthrough.

• Neptune — Poseidon, lord of the seas, mist and vision, inspiration and illusion.

• Pluto — Hades, ruler of the underworld, the symbol of death, mysteries, and transformation.

Every sign and every planet is not a dead symbol, but a living being of myth. And when we look at a natal chart, it is as if we are opening a theater, where all these heroes play together — sometimes in harmony, sometimes in conflict.

4.5. The Journey of the Soul through the Zodiac and the Houses

Astrology views our life as the great path of the soul, unfolding through the twelve signs of the Zodiac and the twelve Houses of the natal chart. It is like two spirals intertwined. The Zodiac is qualities, archetypes, states of consciousness, while the Houses are the stages on which these qualities manifest in life, as we have already said. Imagine the soul is born and begins to move around the circle. Each sign and each house is a gateway, a trial, and a lesson it must pass.

Prologue: The Birth of the Hero

The soul is a wanderer. It comes from the boundless ocean of eternity and takes a step into the world of forms. The moment of birth is like a flash of lightning: the heavens seal into the chart its earthly path. The natal chart is a map of wandering, written upon the stars.

Act One: Awakening of the Self

1st House — Aries. The Hero Awakens.

The Gates of Birth. The soul emerges from non-being and breathes air for the first time. It is the moment of “I am.” The hero does not yet know the road, but already rushes forward — fire in his hands, the spear piercing the darkness. Here courage is born, but also the clumsiness of first steps. The soul first opens its eyes and exclaims: “I am!” This is birth, impulse, beginning. Aries gives the spark of action, and the first house becomes the mirror of personality: how we show ourselves to the world, what mask we wear before others. Here the soul learns to be brave and to say: “I have come.”

2nd House — Taurus. Mastery of Matter.

The hero learns to command the earth: to breathe the scent of bread, to hold fruit in his hands, to feel his own “mine.” He discovers the power of resource — food, home, values. But also the danger of attachment: for what we own can also possess us. After the lightning flash of life, one must take root. The soul seeks support: earth, home, food, touch. Taurus teaches enjoyment of matter, and the second house shows what we have and what we value. Here we open the lesson: “What is valuable to me? What do I count as my treasure?”

3rd House — Gemini. Word and Path.

The wanderer first steps beyond the home. He meets brothers, neighbors, learns speech and signs. His world fills with roads and questions. Here the archetype of the mind is laid — the ability to weave the world with threads of words. Now the soul learns to speak and to know. Word, play, curiosity — these are its tools. Gemini opens the world of communication, and the third house becomes the school where we learn to exchange thoughts. The lesson: “I know the world through word and connection.”

4th House — Cancer. Return to the Roots.

The hero looks within, into the home of the soul. Here are motherly arms, the hearth, the memory of lineage. But also the challenge: not to drown in the shell, not to remain forever a child. Cancer is the root that nourishes, but also binds. All knowledge is meaningless without roots. The soul seeks home, warmth, protection. Cancer gives tenderness and sensitivity, and the fourth house is our inner temple and family. The lesson: “I find support in family, memory, and heart.”

Act Two: Encounter with Others

5th House — Leo. Radiance and Play.

The Hero steps onto the stage. He dances, plays, falls in love, creates. His heart is ablaze. But Leo gives a trial — not to become a slave of vanity, but to learn to shine not for applause, but for life itself. Here the soul comes onto the stage. Leo gives the courage to shine, and the Fifth House is the realm of play, creativity, love. The soul learns the joy of self-expression.

Lesson: “I create, and through this I become myself.”

6th House — Virgo. Service and Work.

The path becomes more serious. The soul realizes that the world is upheld by rituals and care for details. Here the Hero learns discipline, craft, health. Service becomes the key: he who serves gains mastery over himself. After play and glory comes service. Virgo teaches how to see details, to care for the body, for daily routines. The Sixth House is work, health, and everyday labor.

Lesson: “I become a master in the small and find harmony in service.”

7th House — Libra. The Mirror of the Other.

On his path the Hero meets a Companion. Through marriage, union, or opposition, he learns: the “I” cannot exist without the “You.” The House of Libra teaches balance and compromise, but can also draw one into dependence on another’s gaze. Now the soul seeks not only itself but also the Other. Libra reveals the laws of harmony and partnership, and the Seventh House becomes the stage of relationships: marriage, unions, alliances.

Lesson: “I learn not to be alone, but to be together.”

8th House — Scorpio. The Trial of Death.

Here the Hero enters the shadow. These are the gates of death and rebirth, of secrets, power, and passions. He loses in order to gain more deeply. Here alchemy takes place: the ego dies, and a new force is born. Having learned to love, the soul now faces mystery: death, passion, depth. Scorpio gives the power of transformation, and the Eighth House is the realm of crises, secrets, and rebirth.

Lesson: “I can let go in order to be reborn.”

Act Three: The Path to Meaning

9th House — Sagittarius. The Road to Truth.

From the darkness the Hero emerges into the light of knowledge. His arrow is aimed at the horizon. He seeks meaning in books, journeys, teachers. But the trial of Sagittarius is not to turn truth into dogma, not to confuse the path with the goal. Having passed through darkness, the soul seeks meaning. Sagittarius opens the road of travels, faith, philosophy. The Ninth House is the university of the spirit, the place where we search for truth and far horizons.

Lesson: “I discover the world and myself through meaning and the path.”

10th House — Capricorn. The Mountain Peak.

Now the Hero looks down from on high. This is the House of power, career, destiny, public recognition. He builds a structure that will outlast him. But the trial here is coldness: the peak is lonely, and power can become a heavy burden. Now the soul climbs to the summit. Capricorn teaches responsibility and labor, and the Tenth House is career, destiny, that by which we leave a mark.

Lesson: “I build my legacy.”

11th House — Aquarius. The City of the Future.

The Hero descends to the people, but now with a new vision. Here he seeks friends, allies, utopias. He carries the water of ideas to give drink to the world. But the challenge is not to lose himself in the crowd and not to destroy for destruction’s sake. Having risen high, the soul understands: it is not for one, but for all. Aquarius opens brotherhood, the future, freedom. The Eleventh House is friends, communities, great ideas.

Lesson: “I am part of humanity, and I contribute my share.”

12th House — Pisces. Return to the Ocean.

The final stage. The soul dissolves into the ocean from which it came. Here are mystery, prayer, solitude. This is the House of dreams, inspiration, but also illusions. Here the Hero realizes: the end is only the beginning of a new circle. When the soul completes the cycle, it returns to where it came from — into eternity. But each new turn will be different: the experience gathered along the path remains, turning into wisdom. The Zodiac is not just a system of signs. It is a myth of the eternal journey, where each of us is a Hero, wandering from the spark of birth to the ocean of silence. And finally, the soul dissolves into the ocean. Pisces reveal the mystery of the end and the beginning, and the Twelfth House is the realm of karma, spirituality, mystical experience.

Lesson: “I return to eternity in order to be born again.”

Thus the soul travels through the circle of the Zodiac and the Houses — from the first spark of birth in Aries to dissolution in Pisces. This path is an eternal cycle: every person passes through it again and again throughout life, only on different levels. The Zodiac is not only an astrological wheel, but also a tale of the soul’s growth — of how the “I” turns into the “We,” and then into a part of the infinite ocean.

Astrology is as old as the world. The most ancient horoscopes were found on Babylonian clay tablets dating from the 7th—6th centuries BCE. The first horoscopes were made not for common people, but for kings, since the ruler’s fate was seen as the fate of the whole people. In Egypt, astrology merged with mysteries. The goddess Isis was considered the mistress of starry knowledge, and temple priests tracked the cycles of Sirius — the star whose appearance foretold the flooding of the Nile. In Alexandria (3rd—2nd centuries BCE), Greek philosophers blended Babylonian observations with Egyptian mysticism. There, too, was created the zodiac close to our modern one. It was in Alexandria that the idea of the natal chart first took form — a celestial “passport of the soul.”

The Romans also adored astrology. Julius Caesar, who reformed the calendar, relied on observations of the stars. Emperor Augustus minted coins with the sign of Capricorn, his “celestial protector.” From time to time, however, the Senate banned astrologers, but they still flourished, hiding at royal courts.

The Christian Church for a long time treated astrology with suspicion: on the one hand, “the stars are God’s creation”; on the other, predictions were considered witchcraft. In 1227, Pope Gregory IX officially forbade predicting “the details of fate.” Yet it was in monasteries that the works of Ptolemy and Arab astrologers were copied. In the Arab world of the 9th—10th centuries, astrology thrived: in Baghdad and Cordoba observatories were built, “Books of Fates” were written. Through Arab translations astrology returned to Europe, already as a science, closely linked with medicine and alchemy. By the Renaissance, every physician was required to know astrology. It was believed that the position of the Moon and planets influenced the body and its illnesses. For example, Leonardo da Vinci and Paracelsus saw in man a “microcosm,” a reflection of the stars. At this time also existed “astrological human-figures” (Homo signorum), where each organ corresponded to a zodiac sign (for example, the heart — Leo, the stomach — Virgo).

Astrology and alchemy were two sides of one knowledge.

The alchemists said, “As above, so below.” They regarded the planets not only as celestial bodies, but also as archetypes of metals. Each planet of our solar system corresponds to a certain metal. Thus, the Sun corresponds to gold, the Moon to silver, Mars is iron, Venus is copper, and Jupiter is tin. Saturn completes this constellation of planets, and to him belongs lead. Saturn — lead. That is why any alchemical work began with the calculation of astrological hours.

Astrology became very popular in Europe. For example, Elizabeth I had a personal astrologer — John Dee, the famous magician and mathematician. It was he who chose the “auspicious day” for her coronation. And Charlemagne invited Arab astronomer-astrologers to his court in order to strengthen his power “under heavenly blessing.” Napoleon Bonaparte believed in his “star,” and even in exile he said: “I lost the Battle of Waterloo because my star had set.”

Astrology was believed in by both kings and ordinary people; it was also popular among the creative minds of that time. Dante, in The Divine Comedy, constantly mentioned the planets as symbols of spiritual worlds, and Shakespeare wrote: “We are born under the stars,” often employing astrology in the imagery of his tragedies.

During the Renaissance, the natal chart became a fashionable attribute: it was cast for artists, philosophers, even for architects at the construction of cathedrals. Interestingly, many “fathers of science” were astrologers. One may recall, for example, the great astronomer Johannes Kepler, court astrologer of Emperor Rudolf II, who saw the aspects of the planets as “the geometric music of the heavens.” The well-known scientist Galileo Galilei cast horoscopes for students and friends, and even Newton, who supposedly brushed it aside with the words “I do not study astrology,” had dozens of occult treatises in his personal library.

In the 20th century, astrology experienced a new wave. The psychoanalyst Carl Gustav Jung saw in astrology a “system of archetypes” and used it as a tool for analyzing the symbols of dreams and the psyche. On the other hand, mass culture gave birth to “newspaper horoscopes,” where profound knowledge was reduced to entertainment notes. But in its depths, astrology continues to remain a philosophy of the connection between man and the cosmos.

The calling of astrology as a serious science is evidenced by the fact that in the widely known and world-respected University of Paris — the Sorbonne — there exists a faculty of astrology, where renowned scholars from all over the world teach.

Thus, astrology has accompanied humanity for millennia and continues to live to this very day — at times forbidden, at times exalted — but it always remains the secret language between heaven and earth.

4.6. Masterclass: Astrology for Yourself. Natal Chart

We have already spoken about the zodiac signs and zodiac houses (chapter 3, sections 1—2). Each zodiac sign corresponds to one House. One house is a separate stage of life. But most often, destiny manifests itself where two houses intersect. The interaction of houses shows which spheres of life are interconnected. Let’s take some examples:

• 2nd House (values) +7th House (partnership)

→ often indicates that finances and relationships are intertwined: a person seeks a union with shared resources, or chooses a partner based on material stability.

• 4th House (family, roots) +10th House (career, fame)

→ the balance between home and work. For some — a contradiction (career interferes with family), for others — strength (success inspires the family).

• 5th House (creativity) +11th House (friends and communities)

→ a person fulfills themselves through collective creativity, team projects, a community of like-minded people.

• 8th House (transformation, hidden resources) +2nd House (personal resources)

→ the theme of debts, inheritance, business partnerships. A person often experiences financial crises through which they learn inner resilience.

Every time a planet stands on the border of houses or forms an aspect with the ruler of another house — this is a “bridge” that connects the stages of life. Now, knowing the sign and zodiacal House of a planet, you can understand many nuances of relationships for yourself.

2. How to Calculate a Natal Chart

Today, anyone can do this online, but it is important to understand the basis of the method.

What you need:

• Date of birth (day, month, year).

• Time of birth (preferably accurate to the minute). Time is the main secret ingredient. Even 4—5 minutes can shift the Ascendant, and therefore — all the houses. It is like tuning a compass: the slightest inaccuracy — and the path veers off.

• Place of birth (city). At the same hour, the planets will appear in different positions if you observe from Moscow or, for example, from New York. The Earth rotates — and the stars dance differently.

What is calculated:

• Rising sign (Ascendant) — the point on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth, the sign of the Zodiac that was rising in the east at that moment. It is the “mask,” the personality, how you manifest in the world. The Zodiac is a circle of 12 signs located along the ecliptic (the path of the Sun). The Earth rotates, and roughly every 2 hours a new sign rises above the horizon. Therefore, to determine the Ascendant, you must know not only the date of birth, but also the exact time and place. If a person was born at 6 a.m., the Ascendant may coincide with the Sun itself (a morning birth). If at noon — the Ascendant will be completely different, since the “eastern horizon” has already turned. The Ascendant is the first mask of personality, the energy with which we meet the world. The Sun sign shows who you are at your core (your essence). The Moon sign — how you feel (your soul). The Ascendant — how people perceive you in the very first minute of acquaintance, your “handwriting” in appearance and style. It is also called the “gates of incarnation” — through this sign the soul enters the body and the world. Figuratively speaking: the Sun is the actor (your true self). The Ascendant is the costume he puts on when stepping on stage. The Moon is the actor’s inner diary, his personal feelings and hidden experiences. If a person has the Sun in Taurus (calm, valuing stability), but the Ascendant in Aries, then in life they will be perceived as energetic, sharp, and initiative-driven. And they will open new doors much more boldly than their solar nature suggests. Thus, the Ascendant is both the point of rising and the point of entry. Astrologically — it is the 1st house of the horoscope, the foundation of the entire natal chart. It sets the tone of your path, defining through which “door” the soul enters life.

• Houses of the horoscope — divide the chart into 12 sectors. The first house begins with the Ascendant.

• Planets — their positions in signs and houses.

• Aspects — angles between planets (for example, square, trine, opposition).

How to calculate:

— Go to any free astrological service (Astro.com, Astrodienst, Astro-Seek). Or take the “old way” — through ephemerides and tables of houses (as astrologers worked before the computer era).

— Enter the data. Get a circle with 12 sectors (houses) and planets. The result — a circle (360°), divided into 12 sectors (houses). It marks: 10 main planets (from the Sun to Pluto), points (Ascendant, Descendant, Midheaven, IC), sometimes — fictitious points (Lunar Nodes, Chiron, Lilith).

How to read:

• First, look at the Sun, the Moon, and the Ascendant — these are the “three pillars.”

• Then — the positions of planets in houses. House = “where,” sign = “how,” planet = “what.”

Example: Venus (love) in the 7th house (partnership) in Virgo (practical, reserved) → the person seeks stable, “working” relationships.

• Then study the aspects: they show how the planets interact.

The Ascendant is the gate through which the soul enters the world.

If the Sun is the inner core of a person, their true essence, then the Ascendant is their clothing, their walk, their first glance and breath at the moment of meeting the world.

It shapes the impression we make on others, and the way we begin any endeavor.

Each sign on the Ascendant colors life with a special energy, as if placing a “seal upon the entrance.”

Rising Signs

Ascendant in Aries

You enter life like a warrior. Your gaze is direct, your movements quick, your energy bubbling. The world meets you as a leader, even if inside you are softer. People feel your strength and initiative. This is the “pioneer’s mask.”

Ascendant in Taurus

You enter life calmly, confidently, as if your soul knows the value of the ground beneath your feet. Outwardly — fortress-like, reliable, sometimes slow. People see you as a steady, “earthy” person to be trusted.

Ascendant in Gemini

You come into the world like the wind. Light gaze, quick gestures, smiles, words, questions. People perceive you as open, talkative, lively. Even if you are more serious inside, the Gemini “mask” always leaves an impression of lightness.

Ascendant in Cancer

You enter life gently, cautiously, as if feeling the ground. Your eyes are deep, your aura warm. People sense care or sensitivity, even if you are outwardly reserved. This is the “mask of soul and heart.”

Ascendant in Leo

You appear as if the sun itself has stepped onto the stage. Warmth, confidence, radiance, sometimes drama. People see a bright personality in you, even if you are humble inside. This is the “mask of the actor and the king.”