With so much literature available on modern natal astrology, there’s no need to cover all the bases here.  Instead of giving paragraph after paragraph of interpretations of the planets, houses, aspects and zodiac signs, let us borrow from the experts.

Definition of Astrological Principles

To quote Stephen Arroyo in his Chart Interpretation Handbook:

The elements are the energy substance of experience.
The signs are the primary energy patterns and indicate specific qualities of experience.
The planets regulate energy flow and represent dimensions of experience.
The houses represent the fields of experience wherein specific energies will be most easily expressed and most directly encountered.
The aspects reveal the dynamism and intensity of experience as well as how the energies within the individual interact.

The Planets

The planets are:

  1. The sun: creative energy, ego
  2. The moon: emotions and reactions
  3. Mercury: rational mind, communication
  4. Venus: tastes, values, affection, sharing
  5. Mars: drive, passion, courage
  6. Jupiter: expansion, faith, confidence
  7. Saturn: effort, fear, responsibility
  8. Uranus: insight, rebellion, freedom
  9. Neptune: selflessness, mysticism, deception
  10. Pluto: transformation, destruction, rebirth

The Zodiac Signs

The zodiac signs are:

  1. Aries the Ram: cardinal fire sign
  2. Taurus the Bull: fixed earth sign
  3. Gemini the Twins: mutable air sign
  4. Cancer the Crab: cardinal water sign
  5. Leo the Lion: fixed fire sign
  6. Virgo the Young Woman: mutable earth sign
  7. Libra the Balances: cardinal air sign
  8. Scorpio the Scorpion: fixed water sign
  9. Sagittarius the Archer: mutable fire sign
  10. Capricorn the Goat: cardinal earth sign
  11. Aquarius the Water Bearer: fixed air sign
  12. Pisces the Fish: mutable water sign

The Houses

  1. First house: self, physical body
  2. Second house: possessions and resources (not including real estate)
  3. Third house: communication, relatives, neighbors, short trips, lower education
  4. Fourth house: home, father (or, as many moderns insist, mother)
  5. Fifth house: sex, pleasure, children, creativity, gambling
  6. Sixth house: health, pets, employees
  7. Seventh house: marriage, partners, open enemies
  8. Eighth house: other people’s money, debt, death
  9. Ninth house: religion, faith, travel, higher education, publishing, learned people
  10. Tenth house: career, ambition, mother (or, as moderns say, father)
  11. Eleventh house: friends, hopes, community
  12. Twelfth house: end of a cycle, suffering, solitude, self-undoing

Rulerships

  1. Mars rules Aries
  2. Venus rules Taurus
  3. Mercury rules Gemini
  4. Moon rules Cancer
  5. Sun rules Leo
  6. Mercury rules Virgo
  7. Venus rules Libra
  8. Pluto and Mars co-rule Scorpio (modern only)
  9. Jupiter rules Sagittarius
  10. Saturn rules Capricorn
  11. Uranus and Saturn co-rule Aquarius (modern only)
  12. Neptune and Jupiter co-rule Pisces (modern only)

The Aspects

The only important aspects you need to know are:

  1. The conjunction: 0 degrees
  2. The sextile: 60 degrees
  3. The square: 90 degrees
  4. The trine: 120 degrees
  5. The opposition: 180 degrees

 Arroyo’s Chart Interpretation Handbook is one of the best interpretation guides in modern natal astrology.  It’s recommended you read it to learn more about how to read a birth chart.