What can the starry skies tell you about yourself and others? More than you might imagine.For over four thousand years, people have watched the skies, correlating the movements of the Sun, the Moon, and the planets with human affairs. Astrology for Dummies shows the reader how to use that accumulated wisdom to identify strengths and weaknesses, discover creative abilities, understand relationships, and make the most of the times in which we live. Using an abundance of real-life examples, author Rae Orion offers an incisive account of each sign and planet, taking the reader far beyond the daily horoscope and illuminating the birth chart in all its individuality and complexity.Astrology for Dummies examines the time-honored ways astrology helps us understand ourselves and others. From how to map and interpret individual horoscopes to building and reading birth charts, Astrology For Dummies provides you with the tools to apply the art of astrology to your everyday life.* Explore the long, multi-cultural, occasionally bloody history of astrology* Discover useful advice about romance, career, and wellness* Find the creative potential to be found in every sign and every birth chart* Unravel the mysteries behind Mercury retrograde and other celestial phenomena* Delve into the horoscopes of dozens of famous (and infamous) people, both past and present* Investigate different ways to align yourself with the cosmos.Astrology hasn't been around for millennia for nothing. It's a practical tool, a symbolic language, a way to expand awareness, a means to increase empathy, and an exploration that touches the soul. Whether you want to learn about yourself, understand others, or glimpse the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, the answers are here -- and in the stars!

Introduction 1Part 1: Mapping Your Place in the Cosmos 7Chapter 1: An Astrological Overview: The Horoscope in Brief 9Chapter 2: Getting Your Precise Horoscope: The Old Way, the Internet Way, and the Software 29Chapter 3: The History of Astrology: 5,000 Years of Cosmic Ups and Downs 41Part 2: Here Comes the Sun 59Chapter 4: The Signs of Spring: Aries, Taurus, and Gemini 61Chapter 5: The Signs of Summer: Cancer, Leo, and Virgo 81Chapter 6: The Signs of Autumn: Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius 101Chapter 7: The Signs of Winter: Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces 121Part 3: Leafing through the Cosmic Cookbook 143Chapter 8: Moon Signs: The Lunacy Factor 145Chapter 9: The Personal Planets 155Chapter 10: The Outer Planets (And More) 175Chapter 11: What You See versus What You Get: The Rising Sign (And More) 195Chapter 12: The Sun, the Moon, and the Planets in the Houses 211Chapter 13: Amazing Aspects: The Secrets of Cosmic Geometry 237Chapter 14: Interpreting Your Birth Chart: A Guide 267Part 4: Using Astrology Right Now 285Chapter 15: The Sun Sign Combinations 287Chapter 16: The Times of Our Lives: Transits 307Chapter 17: The Lunar Advantage: Using Astrology in Daily Life 333Chapter 18: Retrograde Hell? The Truth Revealed 343Chapter 19: Creativity and the Stars 355Part 5: The Part of Tens 373Chapter 20: Ten Talents You Can Spot in a Chart 375Chapter 21: Ten (Plus One) Ways to Use Astrology in Your Life: The Art of Timing 389Index 399