Discover What the Stars Say About You

Beginner’s guide

Astrology, Numerology & Tarot: A Quick Guide

Each of the traditions on this site has its own logic and history. Knowing a little about how they work makes your readings far more meaningful — and helps you understand why two tools can give you different answers.

Western and Vedic astrology: two zodiacs

Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac, which begins at the spring equinox and is tied to the seasons. Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, uses the sidereal zodiac, which is aligned with the fixed stars. Because Earth’s axis slowly wobbles, the two zodiacs have drifted about 24 degrees apart, which is why many people find their Vedic sign is one sign earlier than their Western one.

Western astrology tends to focus on the Sun sign and personality. Vedic astrology gives a central role to your Moon sign, or rashi, and to the 27 lunar mansions called nakshatras. It is also widely used for Kundli matching before marriage.

Your Sun, Moon and Rising signs

Your Sun sign describes your core identity and depends only on your birth date. Your Moon sign reflects your emotional needs and changes roughly every two and a half days, so it needs your birth time. Your Rising sign, or Ascendant, is the sign that was rising on the eastern horizon when you were born. It changes about every two hours, which is why the Big Three calculator also asks for your birth city.

Numerology basics

Numerology gives each letter a number and reduces names and dates to a single digit. In the Pythagorean system, A is 1, B is 2 and so on up to I = 9, then the cycle repeats. Your Life Path number, the most important in numerology, comes from adding up the digits of your full birth date. The master numbers 11, 22 and 33 are traditionally not reduced further. The older Chaldean system uses a different letter chart and only the numbers 1 to 8. The numerology calculator shows each step.

Tarot basics

A tarot deck has 78 cards. The 22 Major Arcana cards, such as The Fool and The Star, represent big life themes. The 56 Minor Arcana cards are split into four suits — Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles — and speak to everyday matters. A card drawn upside down, or reversed, usually softens or blocks its upright meaning. Many people use a tarot reading less to predict events and more as a prompt for reflection.

The Chinese zodiac

The Chinese zodiac follows a 12-year cycle of animals combined with five elements, which together make a 60-year cycle. Because it follows the lunar calendar, each year starts at Chinese New Year, somewhere between 21 January and 20 February. If you were born in January or early February, check your animal carefully with the Chinese zodiac finder.

Using these tools wisely

Astrology and its sister arts work best as a mirror rather than a map. Use your readings as conversation starters, journaling prompts or a fresh way to think about your strengths. For decisions about health, money, law or relationships, always rely on qualified professionals.