My Blogging Experience (For MC 4381)
Hi all,
This post is solely for my MC 4381 class, so feel free to ignore if you wish. Or not, if you’re interested in reading.
astrology
Astrology, Tarot Cards, and How They’re Tied Together
You’ve probably seen Tarot cards before, haven’t you? You know, those interesting cards most psychics use to help “predict” your future? Well, did you know that they are very closely tied to astrology? It makes sense; both are used in predicting outcomes in your life as well as telling you more about yourself.
Chat Amongst the Stars! (VLOG)
Hey all! This is a new video segment that I’d like to introduce called “Chat Amongst the Stars!” It’ll feature my roommate/friend Annie Gonzalez, who is very much a Gemini. And since Geminis love to chat, why not stop her for a bit to ask a few questions? In the future, I may interview other folk under different signs, but for now, Gemini was the easiest to catch for a quick chitchat! Hope you enjoy!
The questions were:
- How does your zodiac sign affect your daily life?
- Are there any truths/untruths that you’ve read about your sign?
- How does/would your sign affect how you build relationships?
The Genius of Robert Hand
Robert Hand is among the greats when it comes to the study of astrology. He started studying astrology at 17 years old, and built his passion into the career he holds today. Aided by his father, who was a specialist in cosmobiology and heliocentric astrology, Hand quickly learned the basics of casting astrological charts. In 1965, he graduated from Brandeis University, where he earned a B.A. in Intellectual History. He then went on to Princeton University and left before receiving a degree to pursue astrology as a full time profession in 1972.
Hand has authored quite a few books, essays, as well as keeping up his own blog. His blog is filled with many of his intellectual insights, including all of the topics I have covered thus far on my own blog. He covers numerous topics in beautiful detail, opening up the minds of his readers and, while not forcing his theories onto others, allows his readers to take in new ideas in an educated manner.
Robert Hand teaching at the boutique-styled Blast Astrology Conference in Spring 2008 in Sedona, AZ.
Photo by Eric Francis.
With each of his posts, I find that I always learn something new and fascinating. This is coming from someone who’s researched and read over astrology (though obviously not up to Hand’s caliber) for almost ten years. He is a common source for citations whenever I need to add credibility to my findings, and I believe that by going through his posts, you’ll agree that he’s definitely one to be trusted.
I recommend his work to anyone, but especially to those interested in a more in-depth and historical view on astrology!
See you soon!
–Jessy
featured image credit
Ophiuchus — The Mysterious 13th Zodiac Sign
Symbol of Ophiuchus (x)
Though most people are only aware of the twelve signs of the zodiac, you may remember me mentioning back in my very first post that there are actually supposedly thirteen signs. This thirteenth sign is not usually recognized by most astrologers, however, since it only encompasses a small portion of the year. If recognized, the addition of Ophiuchus (pronounced off·ee·YOU·cuss) would also throw off the entire zodiac all together. Little is really known about this sign, so I’m here to delve into the history and whatever truths lie beneath this obscure and inexplicable sign.
BuzzFeed talks Zodiac Signs!
Yesterday, BuzzFeed posted two videos regarding their thoughts on certain signs of the zodiac. The two videos are divided into elements; one video is over ‘Earth and Air signs’, and the other over ‘Fire and Water signs’. Both videos can be found below.
Now of course, most of these reflections are heavily based on the stereotypes I’ve spoken about in past posts, as well as bias towards the individual’s own sign. However, these videos do in fact bring insight into the notion that everyone has their own interpretation of their zodiac sign, as well as others. What you may think of one sign may be completely different than what another thinks.
What do you think about your sign?
See you soon!
–Jessy
The Zodiac Signs in the French Quarter!
Ah, the French Quarter. A personal favorite vacation spot for me. I had the pleasure of visiting during my spring break, and took a few photos for memorabilia’s sake. For those who may not know, the French Quarter is also a hub for many psychics, astrologers, and voodoo specialists. I was unable to photograph any of them as they were very strictly against it, but I was definitely able to look around the various voodoo and spice shops, many of which contained astrology books and merchandise.
It’s been a while since I’ve posted, I know, so I’ve decided that, with this post, I’d play a little game. What if we take the twelve signs and their stereotypes and place them in the French Quarter? Where would they wander?
Notice how I bring up using their “stereotypes”. This is emphasized as I truly believe that any person, regardless of birth, can enjoy all the wonders of New Orleans, not just the French Quarter. However, for the sake of a bit of lighthearted fun, let’s venture into the “what ifs”. Humor me, if you will.
Astrological Compatibility…Does It Truly Exist?
It’s the age-old question and every curious astrologer’s favorite topic. Is there any truth behind the so-called “compatibility tests” that everyone sees in magazines, newspapers, and frankly every possible place within the online social world? Is there any truth behind your supposed “perfect match” or “soulmate” as proclaimed by your cellphone notifications? Are your “worst matches” really your worst matches?
Well, I’m here to put my two-cents in using my own experiences with the different signs, so continue on reading if you’d like to hear me out, because believe it or not, there is some truth to them.
But that really depends on how you read it.
An Astrology App?–NOT Horoscopes!
In my MC 4381 class (the class for which this blog is initially meant for), we have a project in which we are to design an app that coincides with the theme of our blog. It has to be new and inventive, so of course I’m going to stray away from creating anything horoscope related, because that seems to be what 90% of Astrology apps are. I’m also going to stray away from creating the commonly found “Learn About Your Sign” app because we all know that those all seem to sound the same and are all based on stereotypes.
Instead, I propose the idea of little known fact notifications that would be sent daily. Kind of like a fact of the day about not just your sun sign, but your other signs as well.
Disclaimer: These app screenshots were created using Yapp and has not been released to any merchant.
The “facts” can cover a range of topics; they would even cover those suggested by readers via the Discussion tab of the app or this blog! The poll changes every other week, depending on the month or also by suggestion. The twitter tab would keep readers up to date on blog posts, random tidbits and other interesting facts about other signs.
The Discussion tab would also be open to anyone with questions or comments over the blog, to which I’d be happy to look over and answer. Other readers are also welcome to answer and chat.
I would hope that, by using this app, people will continue to realize that astrology can embody many different concepts, not just stereotypical personality traits and frankly inaccurate descriptions about your “future love life”. My app would serve more as a reality check in terms of Astrology, as well as an interactive place where people (and myself) can learn more about the true history behind the zodiac.
But lets be real here; we’ve all wondered about compatibility, have we not?
Still curious? Tune in to my next post coming soon to find out more!
See you next time!
–Jessy
Elements & Modality
Each of the signs are categorized into different elements: Earth (Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo), Air (Aquarius, Gemini, Libra), Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), and Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius). They are sorted this way for a number of reasons, mostly to differentiate their states of consciousness. This idea was first presented by astronomer Claudius Ptolemy (approx. 90-168 A.D.).
Think of it this way: Earth brings stability, Air brings clarity, Water brings revitalization, and Fire brings warmth. This simplicity will make it easier to relate to each of the signs.
In the same sense, the signs of the zodiac are also divided into three modes that correspond to the seasons. As explained by Gahl Sasson in Cosmic Navigator,
- The cardinal modality marks the beginning of the season and the power of initiation.
- The fixed modality corresponds to the middle of the season and the power of sustaining.
- The mutable modality represents the end of the season and the power of change.
Interested? Continue to read more.
astrology fix 
