How do astrologers write Sun sign horoscopes?
Sun sign columns were first published in English newspapers in 1937 and they quickly gained popularity. So long as you knew your birthday, you could join in with the fortune-telling fun. Still a mainstay of most lifestyle publications, their longevity can be explained by the fact that Sun signs hold a great deal of truth within their broad categories. And while some shoddy columns have probably been written by the office junior, a good Sun sign astrologer attracts a loyal following as they manage to accurately describe and explain aspects of their readers’ lives.
The popularity of horoscopes and ‘stars’ lies in their focus on the ‘Sun’. The Sun spends a month of year in each of the 12 Zodiac signs. In a birth chart, the Sun placement shows a core part of a person - it’s your fundamental self expression - a constant ‘self’ that allows you to be categorised and grouped into personality ‘types’.
The broad Sun sign keywords are often how we instinctively describe ourselves to others - chatty (Gemini), optimistic (Sagittarius), practical (Capricorn). Using adjectives like this shares basic, socially acceptable truths. It’s a simple summary of our essence, rather than a description of our deeper complexity. It skips the socially awkward revelations of our emotions (Moon), our relationships (Venus) or our general mindset (Mercury). The Sun sign is the broad, constant life-force that we identify with.
So dividing people into these categories IS accurate. You can make general assumptions about them that will ring true. Astrologers can then focus on the upcoming influences for that Zodiac sign and gain insights for that entire group of people.
To write a forecast for a Sun sign, astrologers focus on a few key factors over a defined time-frame. Let’s explore the techniques, using the example of a weekly horoscope for Libra…
1. The Zodiac overview
What planets are passing through the 30 degrees of Libra this week? Their influence will strongly impact Librans who will be experiencing those planets conjunct their Sun. Similarly, you can look to see planets travelling through Aries, Capricorn and Cancer to understand more challenging opposition and square aspects that are currently in play.
2. The ruler of the sign
Each Zodiac sign has a ruling planet. We’d look to the position of Venus, Libra’s ruler to gain more insight. Where is she in the Zodiac? Is she comfortable (in dignity or detriment)? What aspects is she receiving or making over the week?
3. Big news stories
Eclipses, lunations and retrogrades can be factors that give important extra information.
From September 2023, the South Node is travelling through Libra, so most eclipses will impact this sign for the next 18 months. Eclipses are wildcard energy that can bring sudden changes, therefore this is likely to be a more tumultuous time for those with Libra Suns. Similarly, lunations can be fresh starts and culmination times.
Retrogrades either in the sign, square or opposed the sign may be important. A retrograde of the sign’s ruler (such as the Venus Retrograde in August 2023) will definitely be felt by the native.
4. Midpoints
When devising daily and weekly Sun sign predictions, midpoints can be a useful tool for seeing the shifting energetic influences. Midpoints are the degree equidistant between two planets. They are an amalgamation of the two energy sources. So if Venus (relating, aesthetics) is at the midpoint of the Moon (emotions) and Pluto (intensity, transformation), then we’d expect a day of intense emotions. There could be control issues within relationships or we may experience an emotionally transformative social event. There’s a level of detail here that comes with synthesising a number of planets that can be really fruitful.
5. Orienting the ‘natural’ wheel
Many astrologers use a method of ‘shifting’ the zodiac, to sit the focus sign on the Ascendent which then allows them to include house topics. They would put 0º degrees Libra on the Ascendent, to see which houses are currently being triggered. For example, with Libra in the 1st house, each August brings the Sun to the 11th house, emphasising friends and socialising. While this is a popular technique, it’s not one I use personally - this really only gives accurate information if you have a Libra Rising sign, not Sun sign. It’s a shame people don’t widely know their ascendents - this is an really great way to make general predictions. If you do know your ascendent sign, then reading for that Zodiac sign will often seem more accurate.
Once we’ve assessed the different factors, it’s time for the astrologer to write a description that honours the energy at play but also provides something interesting to read. As much effort as astrologers put into this form of astrology, a Sun sign column is always going to be highly speculative, with broad suggestions and vague predictions. Generally these columns are written in a light-hearted way, for entertainment.
To get truly detailed and specific insights about astrological prediction, you need to use a person’s timed birth chart. With this, the world is our oyster - a huge range of timing techniques such as progressions, solar arcs and solar returns become available. That’s why if you really want to know what your future holds, you need to book in with your friendly local astrologer!
Never had a reading? Why not book a session with me and get the personalised Sun sign experience! Every natal chart reading contains a half hour of diving into your birth chart and a half hour of exploring the current energetic weather that influences every part of your life. Make your booking here.