Asian Astrology is one type of astrology, with most of us familiar with Western astrology; we know our own star sign and read our horoscope on a daily basis. There are different types of astrology that originated in other parts of the world, with Asian astrology systems being the best known of these.
Chinese astrology
Chinese astrology is perhaps the most famous of the Asian astrology systems. Like Western astrology it divides character types into 12 signs, however each of these is ruled by an animal. Chinese astrology differs from Western astrology in that it is based on the lunar calendar rather than the movements of the sun.
As lunar months are shorter than solar months Chinese New Year begins on a different day every year, although it always begins sometime in January or February. The 12 signs of the Chinese Zodiac are the:
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
One of these animals is your ruler depending on the year you were born. Once you know your animal sign this is then broken down into a further sub-section based on one of the five Chinese elements - Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth. So you can be a wooden tiger, metal snake or water dragon etc. as one of these elements is also assigned to every year.
Chinese astrology works on a similar basis to Western astrology in that you can find out how you will fare in each year and also discover your compatibility with other animal signs.
Indian Astrology
Another Asian astrology system that is becoming increasingly popular in the West is Indian astrology. This is sometimes referred to as Vedic astrology or Jyotish. Indian astrology differs from Western astrology in that it uses something called the ‘sidereal’ zodiac; the kind of astrology most of us are familiar with is based on what is known as the ‘tropical’ zodiac. The difference relates to timing and you may find that in Vedic astrology your star sign is different, so if you are a Scorpio you could be a Libra using the Indian system.
Vedic astrology uses many classical techniques that have fallen out of favor with Western astrologers over the years, for example Indian astrologers draw up natal birth charts using a traditional square format. The square chart was used by Western astrologers up until the 19th Century who switched to using the circle format for birth charts we are familiar with today.
In Indian astrology there is less focus on the psychological ‘personality’ aspects of the horoscope and a stronger focus on a technique known as ‘electional’ astrology. This means tracking the skies to work out the best times to do things, such as get married or start a new business.
An example of this at the most basic level in Asian astrology is that weddings should never be held on a Saturday as Saturn, which is considered to be inauspicious, rules that day. Thursdays, ruled by optimistic Jupiter, are thought to be much more fortunate for weddings.
