Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I trust you over other online astrologers?
Astrology is not a competition, and there are some online astrologers who are probably very good. Yet you should
always be careful who you trust, and you shouldn't put your faith in me or anyone else. However what you can do is
visit my site regularly, listen to your audio horoscope and read my views and forecasts. And also check out my
replies to readers' questions. Then, after a suitable period of time, ask yourself whether I'm the kind of person
you want to trust.
I was born on the first/last date of a star sign. Which sign is correct for me?
Good question. Star signs change at roughly the same time of the month - around two-thirds of the way through a calendar month, between the 19th and the 23rd. However it does vary. For example in 2001 the Sun went into Leo on July 22, at 7.27 pm British Summer Time. In 2002 it went into Leo on July 23, at 1.16 am. In other words the sun sign, or the star sign ('sun sign' and 'star sign' are the same thing),
changes at a precise time. If you were born in London, at 1.15 am on July 23 you would definitely be a Cancer, if
you were born at 1.17 am you would definitely be a Leo. So there's no such thing as being born on the cusp - you're
one sign or the other, and there's no grey area between the two. And if you're born on a change-over day, you'll
have to know your time of birth, as well as your date of birth, to know with certainty what your star sign is.
Nonetheless, around 95% of people can accurately find their star sign by looking at the dates given in newspaper and
magazine horoscope columns.
I don't feel the description of my star sign reflects my personality at all. Why is this?
The star sign is not the only thing that astrologers look at. They will, for example, look at the Ascendant and the
Moon. However the star sign is important and it's unusual for a person's personality not to be reflected by it.
One possible explanation is an incomplete understanding of astrology. For example, many people regard Libra as
being a gentle sign, always trying to compromise. And they don't understand how leaders like Margaret Thatcher or
Vladimir Putin can have this as their star sign. Well, Librans have a good understanding of human nature - they
understand their friends and enemies, they also understand the public. As a result they can be manipulative and
very powerful - and they can do well in politics. Yet sometimes it's a question of denial, of refusing to accept
the reality of one's sign. In such a situation one needs to do some work on oneself, so as to tune into the
fundamentals of who one is.
Where can I find scientific research on astrology?
Why bother? There has been a lot of scientific research on astrology, and it hasn't told us much. Which isn't
surprising. The scientific method is about measuring and validating physical phenomena. The mechanics of astrology
have nothing to do with the material universe, instead they're metaphysical and perhaps divine. And when you try to
measure metaphysical forces, with statistics and tape measures, they'll laugh in your face. Or as Jesus put it,
'Render therefore unto Caesar
the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's'.
What is a moon sign?
A moon sign is the sign the Moon was in at the time of your birth. The Moon goes through all twelve signs in the
space of a month. The position of the Moon is particularly important in Indian astrology.
What are the origins of modern Western astrology?
Western astrology is Babylonian in origin, so its roots are at least three or four thousand years old. By the time
of Christ, astrologers were doing birth charts that were very similar to what we have now.
It's likely that Greek astrologers helped streamline the Babylonian system. Over the last two thousand years there
have been no significant modifications in astrological practice. Though it's worth noting that the planets Uranus
and Neptune, which provide useful details when interpreting a chart, were only discovered in the last couple of
centuries. Also, it's only been in the last hundred years that star sign astrology has really taken off.
How does Hindu astrology differ from Western astrology?
Hindu astrology - sometimes known as Indian or Vedic astrology - has the same source as Western astrology. In other
words, Ancient Babylon and Ancient Greece. Although Indian astrologers often claim that it's a unique system that's
over four thousand years old, the Babylonian and Greek influence is unmistakable. This doesn't diminish Hindu
astrology - it's an excellent system, that in terms of individual horoscopy is almost certainly superior to its Western
counterpart. The signs of the Zodiac in Hindu astrology are slightly different than they are in the West, and the
emphasis is more on prediction than character analysis.
Can you do a horoscope for my pet?
I can do a horoscope for your pet, but I probably wouldn't.
What does 'elnu' mean?
'Elnu' is a short word, that has several meanings. It can be an acronyn for ELectronic NUmbering system. It's also a North American tribe, centred in Vermont. And it also means something in at least one Scandinavian language - Icelandic, for example. Though quite what it means in Icelandic, I don't know. Yet it's the shortness that matters. Four letters, that provide a gateway to astrology. Elnu astrology. Elnu.com. Elnu.
Archie, what's your star sign?
Gemini.
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