Astrology is the study of the influence that cosmic objects, stars, planets and even asteroids, have on human lives. The position of the sun, moon and planets at the time of an individual’s birth, as seen against the specific band of constellations called the “Zodiac,” is said to indicate the character, circumstances and events of the person’s life.

This first series of “Astrology 101” articles will outline the basic components of this “Queen of Sciences.” It will address some requisite information about the planets, signs and houses and introduce the idea of astrology as a guide to living the self-actualized life. As such, it is in keeping with one of the major themes of these Desert Cities Guides, Wellness. But first, some background.

Ancient Sumer (circa 3,800 BCE), which gave us the earliest forms of writing, agriculture and urban life, also bequeathed to civilization the practice of astrology. We know that its proto-astronomers, although they may indeed have been superstitious, were also not entirely unintelligent about it. The breath of their civilization alone tells us that their intellectual capacity was at least equal to ours today. They saw the heavens as the abode of the gods, and thus saw its movements as the language in which the gods spoke. They correlated those movements to the timing of terrestrial events. The Sumerian scholar/priests, working for a paying clientele of nobility, naturally recorded the “effect” of the planetary and stellar movements as they affected that class. Through the ages since, however, the audience for astrology has expanded far beyond the affairs of the nobility. It is important to note that, from its beginnings, astrology has been the province of the best and most highly educated minds of the times. The list of notable astrologers is a virtual "Who’s Who" of luminaries in the pre-20th century pantheon of scientific, mathematical and philosophical letters. What these men of genius have found is repeated and demonstrable connections between every kind of terrestrial activity and the motions of the planets as seen against the background of the belt of the Zodiac, that proscribed band of constellations which lies beyond the solar system.

During its more than 5,000-year history, astrology has seen its reputation rise and fall more than a few times. The Christian Bible is filled with astrological references. Popes, presidents, kings and captains of industry have consulted them through the ages. Disasters, both natural and man-made, have been predicted astrologically. Today, thanks in no small part to worldwide media attention, it has garnered more interest and study than at any other time in that span of ages with adherents now far outnumbering its detractors. Who is it today, for example, that does not at least know their “sign?” Literally thousands of newspapers and magazines in countries around the world regularly run “Sun Sign” horoscope columns. Who has not heard astrological catchphrases such as “the Age of Aquarius?” Yet, astrology is so much more.

While there are different branches of astrology; such as the traditional Western practice, Sidereal, or Eastern/Vedic astrology and Chinese astrology to name the most prevalent; each begins with establishing the date, time and place of birth of an individual, institution or question to be answered. Following standard mathematical formulae, a precise astrological chart is cast, which provides a map of the planetary positions set against the Zodiac of choice (more about this in a later column) and transcribing the division of that Zodiac onto the chart’s 12 houses.

Modern astrologers often work in specific fields of interest specializing, for instance, in mundane or political astrology, medical astrology, meteorological astrology, stock forecasting, relationship astrology, spiritual astrology and relocation astrology, as well as in the timing of events for personal astrology. In an attempt to standardize practices, many astrologers now belong to a wide variety of accrediting associations in dozens of countries worldwide. There is hardly a community or urban center where one cannot find a practicing astrologer and the Coachella Valley is no exception.

In the next article in this series we will embark upon an explication of some of the basic items in the astrologer’s tool kit. Among other things, they include the “planets,” the astrological signs, and the houses of a horoscope chart. Given those particulars we will explore how they each may be seen as representing elements of who we are. Knowing this, we can then focus on how to take advantage of the best of our qualities, and the right moment(s) to act on them, so that we are living a self-actualized life filled with purpose, passion and joy.

Thanks for joining me in this journey.

Johnny Mirehiel is a 40-year student of spiritual, metaphysical and astrological ideas. A former secondary school teacher and one-time "Man of the Year in Education," he is internationally known as the discoverer of the astrological chart of the Harmonic Concordance moment. He is accredited by The International College of Astrology as both an astrological practitioner and teacher. He now plies his trade in the high desert of Southern California.  He and his wife Jan, continue to support the Harmonic Concordance message of Unity, Joy, Peace and Reconciliation.