The astrological sun signs, known in popular language as star signs, are what most people think of when they think about astrology. Almost everyone today knows what their star sign is, even if they know nothing else at all about astrology. The popular horoscopes that you find in magazines and newspapers, which are most people’s first (and perhaps only) point of contact with the fascinating subject of astrology are all based on providing short readings for each of the twelve sun signs. In short, they are the major part of astrology today.

One of the main criticisms levelled at astrologers is that humanity is infinitely more diverse than this, and dividing everyone up into just 12 groups, and suggesting that similar things will happen to all of the people in each group is just laughably absurd. I do not entirely disagree with this criticism. In actual fact astrology is also infinitely more diverse than this.

The idea that most people subscribe to about sun signs – that they provide a general overview of a person’s main character traits – and about horoscopes – that they are only based on these 12 groups – is actually something of a myth. The sun sign is in truth only one part of our natal zodiac, and there isn’t even any real reason to suggest that it is the single most important part. My own understanding is that the sun and moon signs are equally important. The reason why the sun sign has gained such a pre-eminent position in most people’s awareness and understanding is simply this: it is the only part that fits in well with mass media. It is easy to know what your sun sign is: if you are born between certain dates (pretty much the same ones each year) then you belong to a particular sign. The moon signs, of which there are also 12 (using the same zodiac), are more difficult to find out because the lunar year doesn’t fit in neatly with our calendar, which is based on the solar year. And it’s obviously not possible to include more detailed horoscopes using more than just the twelve categories in a single column or page of a magazine.

Rather than being this universal, general signifier the sun sign actually relates to particular aspects of a person. In brief: it is the centre of our sense of self, but not necessarily how we behave or how others see us, it is our will and intellect, but not necessarily (all the necessarily’s in this paragraph are important) our emotions and intuitions, and it relates to our idealism, but not necessarily our understanding. And finally its horoscope generally influences our soul more than our body. In short, it relates primarily to solar rather than lunar characteristics and phenomenon.

So if you want to get the full picture and the full benefits that astrology can bring into your life, then why not go beyond your star sign and truly “know thyself”.

To get your birth chart and learn more about your natal astrology (like your moon sign) without having to hire a professional astrologer take a look at our Astrology Software section.