10 Surprising Things Most People Don’t Know About Astrology

Whether you’re a firm believer in what the stars have to say about your life or just like to have a little fun reading your weekly horoscope, there is so much more to astrology than most folks really know about.

In fact, I thought I had a pretty good grasp on the study of celestial bodies as a personal hobby of mine, but apparently I was only scratching the surface of all the fascinating aspects to astrology — especially when it comes to Mercury going into the always dreaded retrograde phase.

Take a look to learn more about what might be hiding behind your horoscope and chances are you’ll be inspired to have your own chart mapped out with your sun sign, rising sign, and everything else in between!

Thumbnail sources: Wikimedia Commons 1,2

1. You Need Your Exact Time Of Birth For An Accurate Chart

Whether you’re using a convenient online astrology chart mapper, like the popular oneprovided by Astro Sofa, or seeking out an in-person consulation, you’ll need to check with your parents or birth records to know the precise time you entered the world for them to correctly pin down your various signs.

( Pixabay / MiraDeShazer )

2. You Have Way More Than One Sign

What you probably assume as your only sign based only on your date of birth is actually your sun sign, but there are several others including ones for each planet and 12 different “house cusps,” all of which you will discover once having a chart made for you.

The three biggest ones pointed to while interpreting how they represent your personality are the aforementioned sun sign, rising (also know as ascendant and “first house cusp”) sign, and moon sign.

For example, I thought I was just a Taurus, but it turns out that is actually my sun sign with another Taurus for my rising sign and Aquarius as my moon sign. I guess I know why I can be so darn stubborn with that doubling up on Taurus!

( Wikimedia Commons / Micheletb )

3. Your Rising Sign Identifies Your Personality

In other words, according to Cafe Astrology, this sign is what determines what type of first impression you make on others or the “mask” we tend to put on ourselves in public.

This is supposedly where the stubbornness comes in for me and my fellow rising Taureans who prefer to “stand firmly on their feet.”

( Wikimedia Commons / Wellcome Images )

4. Your Sun Sign Inspires Your Goals

With its connection to your heart,Astrology.com describes this as what drives our spirit and ego. Essentially, it motivates someone to reach toward their aspirations.

Continuing with my own chart as an example, having a Taurus sun sign can be interpreted to mean I’m more materialistic when it comes to my goals in life.

( Pixabay / Myriams-Fotos )

5. Your Moon Sign Represents Your Emotions

Astrology.com says this is the indicator for how our moods swing and in what way our instincts kick in, varying from stone-faced stoics to hand-wringing worriers.

The final example from my chart describes my Aquarian moon sign as someone who likes to be neighborly and helpful, but also tends to prefer plenty of their own personal space.

( Wikimedia Commons / NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center )

6. Most People Have Aspects Of All 12 Signs

If you’ve always been a skeptic about astrology because you don’t identify with the main traits of your sun sign as you’ve seen them described in vague horoscopes over the years, it could be because you relate more to your Saturn, Pluto, or another planetary sign — or one of your other 11 “house cusps” — more than your rising sign.

( Wikimedia Commons / Wellcome Images )

7. Mercury Doesn't Actually Go Into "Retrograde"

According to Jean-Luc Margot, a planetary astronomer and professor at University of California Los Angeles, who discussed the phenomena with LiveScience, the term is a misnomer for what is actually happening.

To understand what’s really happening, imagine you’re in the fast lane of a highway looking out your window at the cars going slower in the other lanes. From this perspective, it looks like they are moving backwards when they are just going at a different speed, which is the same case for Mercury slowing down on its path and making it appear to be backtracking.

( Wikimedia Commons / NASA )

8. Other Planets Also Appear To Move Backwards

Though we tend to only hear about the way Mercury adversely affects us when it appears to be traveling backward, all of the planets, including Earth, can have the same appearance and astrologers take them each into account while mapping out someone’s individual chart.

In fact, Mercury has one of the shortest retrogrades in comparison to the other planets in the solar system.

( Wikimedia Commons / Geographicus Rare Antique Maps )

9. Sagittarius Is The Most Common Sign For Celebs

According to research uncovered by the Daily Mail, the folks born between November 22 and December 21 make up the largest number of zodiac signs in the entertainment business.

On the other end of the spectrum, Taurus was the least represented sign among famous celebrities.

( Wikimedia Commons / Johannes Hevelius )

10. Sign Compatibility Isn't As Trustworthy As You Might Think

Asking someone about their zodiac sign isn’t just a cheesy pick-up line, but also totally irrelevant according to scientists.

Whether or not you believe in the traits assigned with each zodiac symbol, the Smithsonian Magazine cited several different studies that looked at the success rates of millions of couples and the so-called compatibility between their signs and found empirical evidence that, “astrological sign has no impact on the probability of marrying – and staying married to – someone of any other sign.”

More reputable astrologists have admitted to similar findings, so keep that in mind next time your horoscope says your relationship is doomed.