How to rē•align Your Lifestyle With Your Astrological Sign

Everyone has seen their horoscope in the back of a magazine of choice, newspaper, or favorite app. The norm is to turn to pop culture for astrological guidance via weekly or monthly forecasts. But it is essential to know that singling your horoscope down to your sun sign does not provide you with the most detailed picture. As typical as it is to whittle your cosmic tendencies down to the stereotypical traits of your sun sign, astrology is more like a science — diving deeper, helping to connect the patterns of the macro (i.e., universe) with the micro (i.e., individual). This time-honored tool helps many to understand their connection to the universe and the magnitude of their souls.

For Rose Theodora, astrology and mysticism were two things introduced to her at a young age. An astrologer for over a decade, Theodora acknowledges that while astrology may be a trend now, it’s so much more than that, spanning millennia and out-existing religion. 

Reading daily, weekly, or monthly horoscopes corresponding to your sign is common. But the conventional practice is to read them for your Sun sign instead of your Ascendant or Rising sign. In astrology, your Sun sign represents your fundamental identity as dictated by the stars. Your rising sign is how you appear/present to others and what you become as you evolve and mature. So even though it is more common to read the horoscope that corresponds to your sun sign, if you start reading your horoscope for your rising sign, it might relay a more experientially accurate and objective view concerning the timing of your life’s events. The reason is that these types of generalized horoscopes can be vague, not as detailed or resonant as one that speaks to the deeper workings of your chart.

Theodora views horoscopes as more of a “gateway drug” into the depths of astrology. “[They are] the access point through which people become more curious to explore the ‘why’ behind astrology; such as why it works, or how can my birthdate’s relationship to all of the planets in our solar system yield a [vague-yet-intriguing] description,” she tells rē•spin. “The level at which someone wants to dive deeper, beyond memes and stereotypes, is a testament to their curiosity to know one’s self — [seeking] a level of intelligence and depth of an individual.”

The curious will find a deep world beyond the superficial to describe the individual’s unique relationship with each celestial orb, transit, and their magnetic resonance within the cosmos. This deeper look is found in the birth chart, also known as a natal chart. Additionally, the progressed chart, which Theodora describes as “a slow evolving chart that is blossoming from the natal chart in real-time, describes significant life changes and is used in predictive astrology.”

The bottom line is knowing that your horoscope is general, while your birth chart is highly personal. “You share your same sign with approximately six million other people, yet no two people (not even identical twins) share the same astrological natal (birth) make-up; out of those six million other people, you will express your Sun sign (i.e., identity), Moon sign (i.e., inner feelings), rising sign (i.e., appearance), Mercury (i.e., communication style), Venus (i.e., self-worth and value), Mars (i.e., drive and will), etc., differently,” she says.

We’re all connected to the cycles of the planets, each correlating to an aspect of the human experience. If you think of the planets like organs in the body, each has its own specialty and unique function. Theodora says, “When all working parts are in unison, a person is healthy; when out of sync, or one ‘part’ is not functioning well, a person is prone to sickness, unhappiness, and the sense that something is just ‘off in their life.'”

No one’s life is perfectly aligned at all times, and Theodora encourages the view that your life is a work in progress towards greater and more authentic alignment. When you begin to use your chart placements to better understand the planetary influencers in your lives, you can actually prepare yourself for resistance or even harness momentum to achieve your goals. Really, astrology is your essence; it’s the map of who you are and how to create a more harmonious person-in-environment fit within the universe.

“Utilizing this map empowers a person to live in accordance with what is unique, right, and specialized for who they are,” Theodora says. “Living according to your unique birth map (natal chart) supports your individuality. Not everyone needs nine hours of sleep, rigorous activity every day, or to eat three full meals. Likewise, ambition isn’t good for everyone. This is how astrology empowers us to make daily choices that are right based on individual and authentic needs, rather than a vague collective consensus of what’s healthy.”

Astrology can support you in understanding the ebbs and flows of your moods, the colors that you are most drawn to, certain lifestyle choices and habits you adhere to, and the reasons behind these personal traits. As she puts it, “Astrology is the connection between science and spirit — it gifts us the unique framework for how we fit into the whole as an individual.” Of course, timing — and the universal geometry that describes the angles to which the planets are synced — is everything, and this absolutely means that your chart holds the key to knowing when the windows of opportunity for certain goals will occur, as well as those times when you might face struggles. (Have you ever tried traveling during Mercury retrograde? Case-in-point.) 

Theodora points out that better understanding yourself can also give you permission to accept your natural inclinations and adopt the lifestyle that promotes your wellness, not that of what society (or someone else in your life) dictates. “The effects of knowing which signs are most prominent or deficient in the natal chart build self-confidence and frees a person from guilt about needing to be on everyone’s schedule, fulfill another’s idea of you, or adopt normalcy,” she says.

Each of the big three signs — your Sun, Moon, and Ascendant — rules an aspect of your core that impacts your life experience. For example, your sun sign relates to your “subjective identity,” which includes your underlying template for self-expression and needs. “Daily, your Sun describes how you view yourself: confidence, vitality, feeling witnessed, and speaks to wholeness,” Theodora explains. Because the Sun also corresponds to the divine masculine energy of the universe, she points out that it also signifies how you relate to the masculine part of yourselves — including how you were fathered and/or where you shine a light for others. “The Sun is our ability to be ourselves.”

The Moon correlates to the divine feminine energy of the universe, governing your emotions and their many waves — just as the Moon dictates the ocean’s tides. Therefore your Moon sign essentially refers to your emotional disposition. It relates to things like your habits and moods and describes your feelings daily. Theodora adds, “Tending to your natal Moon through sign, aspect, and position in the natal chart can support you to feel more emotionally fulfilled and balanced.” In addition, because the Moon corresponds to the divine feminine within the universe, it signifies your relationship to the feminine elements of life — how you were mothered or mother others, the women in your life, and your family.

Your ascendant (or rising) sign applies to how you present yourself — and are perceived — by the outer world, down to your style and the way you dress or look. “It’s how you approach life: do you tackle life open-heartedly, reservedly, eagerly, or timidly? Realizing when particular transits are occurring can give you the upper hand to tackle things like weight loss or gain opportunities, depending on your personal goals. The rising sign also speaks to the birth experience and how you came into this world.”

If, like many others, you are increasingly interested in the knowledge to be found in your birth chart — or what the upcoming planetary transits might hold for you — some countless apps and websites will calculate and provide descriptions of your individual placements. For instance, we love digital destinations like the Satori Shala, Pattern app, Astro Gold app, Astrology Zone by Susan Miller, or the Chani App by Chani Nicholas. You can also book readings with astrologers — for instance, the dream expert Dr. Michael Lennox provides incredible readings.

Otherwise, know that astrology — like Human Design — can be a valuable tool for cultivating self-knowledge and personal evolution. “Self-alignment or self-love happens through self-awareness,” Rose says. “I think the big words here are Acceptance and Accountability — knowing and accepting who you are through the realization of your natal placements and working actively with them promotes greater self-alignment and empowerment and can teach us to be more compassionate of others and understanding of where they are in their journey as well.” Each sign in your natal chart will rule as an aspect of your being, and knowing and understanding your big three can help you better identify where you need to tap into your best flow with the universe — syncing the internal with the external.