A high school student emailed me looking for some answers to questions he had about astrology for a feature he was working on for the school newspaper. He asked questions that I have been asked many times so I thought perhaps it might interest you.

Questions:

Why do people read horoscopes?

Most people read horoscopes for entertainment purposes only. What most people don’t understand is that they really have to read all twelve signs to get the full benefit of the column. We are all made up of all twelve signs. A horoscope chart is a circle divided into twelve sections we refer to as houses – each representing different areas of our lives. Therefore if you know what sign you have in each house you can apply what is written on that day to the area of life that that section represents.

Do people really think the horoscope works?

Pretty much everywhere else in the world with the exception of North America astrology is recognized as a timing tool – a mathematical science and an interpretive art. Unfortunately on this continent most people think that astrology is psychic. Nothing could be further from the truth. For people who understand that a person’s chart is a road map of their life it is most definitely considered a guideline that encourages them to do the right thing at the right time. After all timing is the key to success. Perhaps that is why so many of my clients are successful including myself.

What is the importance of horoscopes?

As mentioned above astrology is a timing tool. Like the stock markets it is cyclical and that alone can help people make the right choices when faced with adversity or opportunities. In India couples do not marry without an astrological comparison between the man and woman. Astrology can tell you when to change your job, buy a house, start a diet and be successful. My research for the past thirty years has been medical astrology – detecting ailments and helping with diagnosis. Especially affective when dealing with cancer as it can show up in a persons chart long before the symptoms tell the individual they should see a doctor. Early detection can make a difference between life and death. I believe that astrology should be taught in high school. It would help students understand themselves better as well as what they are capable of and even the vocation best suited. It would also help students get along better with one another. After all we don’t have to like everyone we meet but if we understand him or her better it makes it easier to appreciate what he or she have to offer.

Who and how do you make a horoscope?

A horoscope is as mentioned above a mathematical science. First you calculate where the planets are situated at the precise moment a person is born along with their geographical location. In other words you take an individuals day month year time and place of birth and calculate the planetary positions and what zodiac sign is on the horizon (ascendant/rising sign) placing each planet and the two luminaries on an astrological chart form. Next you mathematically figure out the angles between the planets/luminaries etc and look at the signs and houses that each planet/luminaries fall in and you begin your interpretation of what is referred to as the person’s natal chart. To look into the future you look at where the planets are in the sky in the future (example tomorrow, next year or perhaps the year 2050. It’s the angles between where the planets are situated in a person’s natal chart and where they are in the sky in the future that divulges the possibilities trends cycles etc. Astrologers find the planetary positions in a book called an Ephemeris.

How are they written?

A daily horoscope is written by looking at the Moons movement and how it affects/influences the other planets in the sky daily. Not everyone writes a daily horoscope column this way. In some cases an editor will choose whoever doesn’t look busy to write it and that is sad because it is based on fiction not fact giving astrology a bad name. I receive emails everyday from people who claim my daily horoscopes are the most accurate they have ever read – that is because I specifically write them according to what’s actually happening in the sky. It only stands to reason that if the Moon affects the tides that the luminaries and planets also affect humans who primarily consist of fluids.

Who writes them?

As mentioned above some editors use people who know nothing about astrology and those columns are useless. Most people in my field have studied many years. I myself studied astrology anthropology and psychology. I am often asked how long it took me to learn my craft and my answer is always the same “another ten lifetimes”. I believe that we have only scratched the surface of this subject and that there is so much more to research learn and apply.

Are they closely followed?

I have been told that although many people do not admit to reading horoscopes the fact is 94% of the people reading newspapers do.

Who pays attention to them?

I have five different columns syndicated around the world my daily column (the last word in astrology) a weekly column (astro advice weekly), love column (lovescope), a monthly column (astro advice monthly) and Dear Eugenia (a weekly advice column where I specifically answer people who write to me with a problem). Based on my Dear Eugenia column I can tell you that the age range of majority being between 20 and 60 years old.

What is so cool about them?

It’s cool to be able to know how well you match up to a friend co-worker or lover, to know when to put your house on the market or to start a diet and be successful. It helps to know when to send out your resume or to go for an interview or to discover what your attributes are and how you can turn them into the way you earn your living. It’s good to know when it’s the best time to travel or to go back to school. It can tell you if you are going to have a problem with an institution such as a school bank hospital or prison. It can detect trends for you to invest or come into money or whether or not a settlement will turn out well for you or not. I could go on forever – let’s just say it can answer pretty much any question you ask. Most importantly it’s satisfying and very cool to be able to help people and to understand what makes them tick.

Readers Email:

Dear Eugenia

I have been seeing a married man for two years.  His birthday is July 6, 1949.  The situation has always gone against my better judgment. He has told me that he would leave his wife. I love him, but he tends to be jealous and controlling, which causes much anxiety for me.  I am almost ready to give up on this whole thing and just move on.  Am I destined to be alone? I am smart, funny, attractive and homey. I don’t understand why I can’t meet someone. I was born February 12, 1965 at 4:11 PM.

Aquarius

Dear Aquarius

Good grief – transiting Neptune has certainly confused you. Not only do you not match up with this over-bearing emotionally deceptive control freak but also you have missed opportunities in 2009 while you were busy wasting your time on a married man.

So here is the deal – you still have a window of opportunity to meet someone fabulous in April May August and November of this year and February March April 2011. Please dump this Jealous cheating sorry excuse for a boyfriend now so that you don’t miss fulfilling your life with the right partner. Please have anyone who interests you checked out for astrological as you are prone to attracting men like your Cancer.

You match up best to those born under the signs Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius and Aquarius.

Dear Eugenia,

I was born January 2, 1954 at 10:53 AM and I have my progressed Moon on my Midheaven and transiting Pluto conjuncting my Sun Mercury and Venus in Capricorn in the 10th. I feel fame and fortune should be here but it is not. I am an award winning Executive Chef and Food Director; my first career was in the theatre. I recently produced my own culinary talent video. I also have written, copyrighted and trademarked a food based TV show concept. I am trying to market the TV show concept to producers etc. I have made some contacts but none have worked out. My You Tube video is titled ” creating culinary drama “. I also designed and directed a culinary school for the homeless. Do you feel that in February 2010 when Pluto conjuncts my Mercury and Venus in the 10th that I will finally meet someone to produce my show. Thank you for being direct with me.

Many Thanks,

mg

Hi mg

You do have transiting Saturn adversely positioned to the area of your chart that indicates fame fortune status and basically how far you can go and that will certainly put a damper on your plans. On the bright side however between now and May an area of your chart that deals with publishing does have a favorable Mars transit that can get things up and running and off the ground. My fear however is that it will be short lived.

My thoughts are that you should be developing the culinary school for the homeless and video your classes for youtube, now that I believe will bring plenty of viewers and at that point the producers and networks will come to you. What’s sad but true is that a show has to be raw and reality based these days to get any interest. I believe that if you go this route you will gain greater recognition beginning mid 2011.

Dear Eugenia

I was born April 18, 1952 @ 10:14 AM. On May 18, 2002, l broke my neck and was totally paralyzed for 3 days until surgery took the pressure off my spinal cord, but the damage was done, l had to relearn everything from walking to holding utensils. Now I’m back to 90% of my old self, but disabled with a very noticeable limp in my right leg. Is Stem cell the answer to my continued recovery? It is very lonely going through this alone; will I ever have someone special in my life again?

Aries

Dear Aries

The possibility of having someone special in your life is present between now and May as well as February until May 2011. I believe that it will be someone from your past or someone you meet when you start to do something you used to do before the accident that you haven’t yet tried. You match up to the signs Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, and early Aquarius.

You have an exceptionally good and interesting chart. The day of your accident your transits were about a well placed as they could be. I believe the reason you survived is because you have a purpose that you must be fulfilled that will help others.

The area of your chart that represents chronic health problems does lend itself to progressive methods and indicates that you can do well following that path.

To have Eugenia answer your queries: www.eugenialast.com, click Dear Eugenia, fill in the form or send your snail mail to Eugenia Last, 150 Main St. N. Box 74117, Brampton, Ont., Canada, L6V 4J7 (Please submit complete birth data.)