Christina Chang

I’m sure you’re familiar with the cheesy line, “So, what’s your sign?” What many people do not realize is how limited a question that is. People commonly know what their sun sign (i.e., Aries) is, but that is only one piece of the puzzle. There are 12 planetary aspects, 12 houses, 9 planets, 12 zodiac signs, and 4 elements. That’s a lot of combinations!

The truth is, there is something called a “natal chart” which is unique to each individual, kind of like an astrological blue-print or DNA. It delves into all the aspects of your personality and possible life patterns. There are 3 signs which bear a certain level of significance in the chart: 1) the sun sign, which governs our core personality, 2) the moon sign, which controls our subconscious thoughts and feelings, and 3) the rising (or ascendant) sign, which affects our public persona or how others perceive us.

Of course, if you’re dating someone, it is also useful to know what sign their Venus is in, since that relates to how we connect with people, especially in a romantic context. As you can imagine, astrology is much more complex than many people realize! However, it is the complexity which allows it to be such a useful tool in understanding ourselves – and each other.