Fire, Earth, Air and Water Signs

In astrology each one of the 12 zodiac signs are associated with one of the four elements, Fire, Earth, Air and Water.
The Fire signs are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.
The Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.
The Air signs are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.
The Water Signs are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.
All of the elements exhibit certain traits.
Fire signs are associated with the abstract mental plane.
Earth signs are associated with the physical plane.
The Air signs are associated with the concrete mental plane.
The Water signs are associated with the emotional plane.

Ascendant/First House

The Ascendant (aka; Rising Sign) and the First House cusp are all one and the same. It describes your outward appearance and the image you like to project. This is your survival personna. The first face you show the world. It tells what you project as a social being trying to make your place in the human hierarchy. Note that the first house is a major indicator of physical image. This is also the house of first impressions.
Everything is filtered through the rising sign, so besides personality and image, the principle that the sign represents will affect nearly every area of life in some manner. This will be modified by any planets in the first house, and/or the placement of the Rising Sign´s ruler in the chart. In fact, all chart factors must be blended together to create the whole person.

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Astrology vs. Horoscopes

Both of these terms are used to describe the study of the effects of the planets and other cosmic bodies on the lives of people.
The term horoscope means chart (scope) of the hour (horo). The term horoscope is generally widely associated with the daily, weekly or monthly Sun sign horoscopes found in newspapers and on the internet. In fact, it is a perfectly legitimate astrological term which describes a map of the solar system at the exact time and place of birth; usually shown as a 360 degree wheel divided into 12 houses with the planets placed therein.
Astrology means star (astro) study (logy).
It is the science of the interrelationships between the parts of the cosmos as a whole. It is also the art of interpreting the effects of these relationships on people.

Synastry Overview

The art of astrological synastry, the comparisons of two or more charts, is something that astrologers are often asked to do. Most people are curious about their compatibility quotient with someone who might play a significant role in their life. It begins by studying the traits most likely to manifest according to the planets in signs in a chart. The astrologer looks for compatibility with respect to attitudes towards areas of life such as love, spending money, raising children, in-laws, etc.
A synastry or relationship reading can reveal potential problems and thus give advice about how to handle differences. It can also point out the balance of positive and negative factors between two charts.
Any two charts may be compared. Lovers, parent and child, family members, and coworkers to name a few.

Solar Returns

Solar returns are an increasingly popular method of forecasting. Once difficult and expensive, they have been made more available by astrology software. Once a year the Sun returns to the exact degree, minute
and second as it was on the original birth date. That date each year may be different from the original date and time. It is either the day before, the same day or the day after. A new chart is calculated for the time and day of your birth, but with the current year and location substituted for the natal year and location. This new chart is "laid over" the natal chart, so apects can be clearly seen. A Solar Return gives indications of events in the 12 months until your next birthday. The house the Sun falls in each year is an especially significant indicator of the year ahead.

Start at the Ascendant

The term "natal" means birth. Therefore, to have one´s natal astrology chart explained means that the astrologer will read the planetary positions and aspects in the person´s chart for whom the natal reading is being done.
To begin reading a Natal Chart, start at the Ascendant (left centre line of the chart). Note the sign here, and any planets in the First House. (That is the segment of the chart immediately below the line of the Ascendant). If there are no planets here, note the sign on the 1st house cusp and look for the house and sign placement of the planetary ruler of that sign.

Major Transits

One of the simplest and yet fundamental methods of forecasting is to look at the transits (movements) planets will make in the current time and in the years ahead to planets in the natal chart. This is known in astrology as the transit forecast. If someone says, "I want my 2004 forecast" then this is most likely the kind of forecast they are referring to. For example, if Pluto is in Sagittarius, it is a simple matter to check the position of Pluto in an ephemeris and see if it is in aspect (making an angle) to a natal planet. Anyone with planets in Sagittarius will have a conjunction of Pluto while it is in this sign. Anyone with planets in Gemini will have an opposition of Pluto.

Finding Your Birth Time

The clock time of birth will make an astrology chart reading much more in-depth. Try to find the time of birth exactly, including the hour and minute and if AM or PM. It´s well worth the effort.
If you simply cannot locate it then ask older relatives who might remember the time of your birth.
With a new sign rising on the ascendent about every 2 hours, "morning time" or "afternoon" is not exact
enough to bother with.
Ask them if it was day or night time, close to a meal time or other event.
If anyone in your family keeps a regular diary, they may have recorded it.
Approach the hospital for your birth records. These often give the time of birth.
Contact the Bureau of Vital Statistics in the city you were born in. They can take your name and other information and send you a copy of your birth certificate. Tell them you want the version with time of birth on it.
You can have your chart rectified by a qualified astrologer, but this is a very lengthy, expensive procedure.