Interpretation

Interpretation is central to astrology. The horoscope, or to be more precise the chart drawing, is simply the symbolic representation of the planets at a particular point in time which then needs to be interpreted. Each astrological symbol is multifaceted and can be interpreted on various levels (Level of Awareness), and the interplay of the various horoscope factors further multiplies the number of possibilities. For a successful interpretation an astrologer should possess the following:

• Astrological knowledge; he or she must understand the meaning of astrological symbols and their various concrete manifestations.
• Intuition; is important when attempting to comprehend how the various horoscope factors interact with each other as a whole and enables the astrologer to find images and symbols for these factors.
• The ability to make sense of apparently contradictory elements which are often present in horoscopes.

A horoscope's complex nature makes a holistic interpretation necessary (Art of Combination). This means that each individual constellation needs to be assessed in relation to the whole chart. Other factors may either emphasise or moderate its influence. But this is not the only reason why one should be wary of relying too heavily on the standard interpretations given in many so-called astrological 'recipe books'. Although they do offer some useful suggestions they can only hint at the full complexity of the nature of each astrological symbol.

An important part of interpretation is being able to pinpoint dominant themes.

Interpretation is an artistic undertaking which evades exact statistical analysis.