Horoscopes Explained: What They Are and How Astrologers Create Them
Learn how astrologers craft your horoscope from celestial clues
Most people meet Astrology through horoscopes. They’re the daily, weekly, or monthly notes that seem to speak to your inner world, even when they’re only a few sentences long. But how do astrologers actually write them? And how can they possibly be accurate for millions of people?
Let’s lift the curtain on this cosmic craft and explore how horoscopes work for you, with a little extra insight from astrologers who write these forecasts every day.
What is a horoscope?
Eva Sylwester, an excellent astrologer and author on astrological topics, puts it this way:
“In music, the same melody can be played in 12 different keys. That’s basically what I do as a daily horoscope writer. The aspects I write about for the day are the melody, and then I describe how that melody plays out for each of the 12 zodiac signs.”
At its core, a horoscope is a kind of cosmic weather report. Instead of tracking cold fronts and heat waves, astrologers track planetary movements -- shifts that symbolize collective moods, opportunities, tensions, and themes.
On any given day, the planets form angles to each other, occupy signs, and activate certain parts of the zodiac. Astrologers read these patterns and translate them into human language. That translation is the essential magic of a horoscope: it turns sky-data into something that speaks to your choices, your relationships, your internal landscape, and your timing.
When applied correctly, horoscopes don’t predict precise events. The Greek root words (hora, meaning “time,” and skopos, meaning “observer”) suggest that the art of writing horoscopes really comes down to identifying energies, patterns, and potentials that each person ultimately experiences in their own way. It’s a matter of witnessing and paying attention to what you see.
Consider this perspective from Fiona Giselle, a trusted astrologer and friend of Tarot.com:
“I think, in times of uncertainty, one looks for answers instead of awareness. But the gift of a daily or weekly horoscope is that a reader can peek into one window of time, hear from the current essence of the zodiac and planetary consciousnesses, and recognize the events of the moment as a brush stroke on a much larger canvas, one that spans not just across one life but across the collective.”
Why you should read the horoscope for your Rising sign (not just your Sun sign)
Most people only know their Sun sign. That’s the zodiac sign the Sun was in when you were born, and it describes your general identity and core expression. It’s important -- no astrologer would argue otherwise.
But here’s the secret many casual readers never hear about: horoscopes are written for your Rising sign first. The horoscope for your Sun sign is a simplified stand-in, not a personalized map.
Why? Because your Rising sign (also called the Ascendant) sets up your entire birth chart’s house system. When an astrologer writes, “The Moon moves through your 5th house today,” they’re explaining that the Moon is hanging out in a certain part of your birth chart, and that part is tied to a specific part of life -- for the 5th house, it’s all about creativity, play, romance, and self-expression.
To understand planetary movements and how they impact you specifically, you have to know which of your houses are involved. Your Sun sign doesn’t determine those houses. Your Rising sign does.
A quick example:
Let’s say Mars is moving into Aries this week. (It’s probably not -- let’s just pretend.)
If you’re a Cancer Rising, Aries rules your 10th House of Career. Mars in this part of your chart energizes your ambitious side. It might inspire you to go for a promotion or insist on getting credit for your accomplishments.
If you’re a Cancer Sun but not a Cancer Rising, Aries rules a totally different part of your life -- maybe your 7th House of Relationships (if you’re a Libra Rising), 2nd House of Money (if you’re a Pisces Rising), 4th House of Foundations (if you’re a Capricorn Rising), or 6th House of Health (if you’re a Scorpio Rising).
This is why two Cancer Suns can read the same horoscope and feel very differently about it -- this astrological event is hitting different areas of their charts.
So what should you actually read?
If possible, read the horoscope for your Rising sign first. It gives you the most accurate house system and therefore the clearest sense of where transits land in your life.
That said, Rising signs are harder to figure out than Sun signs. That’s because Rising signs change very quickly, about every two hours or so, while the Sun stays in a sign for an entire month. This is one of the reasons why, at Tarot.com, we default to showing the horoscope for a person’s Sun sign -- when you get right down to it, for many people, Rising sign info just isn’t available!
If you don’t know your Rising sign, your Sun sign is still a great place to start. It offers a broader archetype, and many people find it reflective enough to be helpful. But knowing your Rising sign can upgrade your horoscope from “interesting” to “oh wow, this is eerie.” (And psst, we’ve got a little guide to figuring out your Rising sign if you’re not sure of your birth time -- check it out.)
How astrologers turn the sky into something you can use
The art of horoscope writing sits at the intersection of technique and intuition. Most horoscope writers use a consistent process that includes the steps below.
1. Map the major transits
Every horoscope begins with a look at planetary transits, for example:
- What is the Moon doing today?
- Are there major aspects like squares, trines, conjunctions, or oppositions?
- Is a planet changing signs or turning retrograde?
Astrologers identify what will matter most for the time period they’re writing about.
Cosmic Kait, a wonderful astrologer who focuses on self-empowerment, breaks down part of her process:
“Deciding which transits matter the most on any given day or week is purely circumstantial. It first comes down to how rare a transit is, i.e. how often it occurs.
“The outer planets operate on slow and lengthy cycles. For example Saturn takes 29.5 years to go through every sign and changes signs every 2.5 years. Uranus takes 84 years and spends 7 years in one sign. These shifts are monumental for everyone.
“Next it depends on how the transit is impacting each sign individually. Does the transit involve a specific sign’s ruler? Is it occurring in one of their angular houses? The 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses are typically the most prominent.
“It's a two-part formula that looks at the cosmic influence in the big picture on a collective level, then a case-by-case, or sign-by-sign, basis.”
2. Apply those transits to each Rising sign
This is where your chart structure comes in. Writers locate each transit according to the correct house(s) for your Rising sign, revealing which part of your life is being activated.
A Mars-Saturn square in the sky might be about:
- Communication (3rd house) vs. habits (6th house)
- Identity (1st house) vs. your family roots (4th house)
- Money (2nd house) vs. friendship (11th house)
It all depends on your Rising sign.
3. Translate symbolism into lived experience
This is the interpretive layer. Astrologers take the basic facts -- “Venus in the 11th house,” “Mercury Retrograde in your 3rd house” -- and turn them into guidance you can actually use.
- Venus Retrograde in your 1st house? Time to clarify boundaries with a partner.
- Moon-Mercury conjunction in your 3rd house? This could be a good day to initiate a vulnerable conversation.
- Saturn moving into your 6th house? Pause and think about some boundaries you might need around service to other people.
- New Moon in your 5th house? Look for ways to express your creativity!
A horoscope writer has to consider lots of factors, most notably the energies of the planets, the implications of the aspects (a square is different from a trine is different from a conjunction), and the themes of the houses. There’s no way a single horoscope can cover every person’s experience in great detail, but thanks to their effort, experience, and sensitivity, talented astrologers can sum up the heart of the matter in a way that rings true for thousands of people.
In the words of Cosmic Kait,
“First I start with a purely analytical analysis, looking at the nature of the day or week’s astrological forecast. Is it challenging but rewarding? Easygoing? An emotional roller coaster?
“I let the planets speak when it comes to advice, using them as the medium. If Venus is prominent for one specific sign, the answer lies in love or expression. If it's Mars, the situation may call for action. I blend my astrological knowledge with intuition to offer the advice that each sign needs.”
4. Balance tone, timing, and empowerment
A good horoscope isn’t doom and gloom, but it doesn’t pretend life is only sunshine, either. It acknowledges tension while strengthening your ability to navigate it.
Astrologer Fiona Giselle describes her process this way:
“Turning planetary symbolism into advice is a practice of listening and intuitive interpretation. There are patterns that begin to emerge. For example, we may feel more sensitive or tender during Moon-Chiron transits. (The Moon governs over the emotional body, and Chiron, the Wounded Healer, governs our chances for growth and integration).
“Yet, these patterns are not always the same, since these transits may also occur at times when Venus is in Jupiter-ruled signs, and that may add another layer to the story. Or perhaps the Moon-Chiron connection occurs when Mercury is nearby, so the wound feels less ambiguous and instead more sharply defined.
“I personally get a lot of joy out of puzzles and observing situations, so to do so from a cosmic level is so much fun, and that’s putting it in the simplest of terms. On a deeper, more personal level, it connects me to my ancestry. I take great pride in knowing that my late father, Robert P. Blaschke, was doing the same, and having learned from his lectures and books after he passed adds a deeper level of reverence I hold for this craft. I feel his presence when I sit down and peer over charts. I feel as if we’re spending time together, the time that I didn’t get during my childhood.”
Astrologers can arrive at their work through very different paths, and those paths shape how they understand and practice their craft. For some, Astrology is part of a cultural or familial heritage. Others discover it as a pursuit that sets them apart from others in their community, sometimes during periods of transition, curiosity, or personal upheaval. What begins as interest can reveal a natural aptitude, a sensitivity to patterns, symbolism, and human behavior.
Whether inherited, chosen, or both, Astrology tends to “find” people who are inclined to notice connections between inner life and outer cycles, and that diversity of entry points brings needed variety to modern horoscopes.
Why horoscopes feel accurate, even when they’re brief and written for millions of people
One of the enduring mysteries for newcomers is why a few sentences can feel so personally relevant. The answer isn’t trickery; it has to do with the very nature of Astrology.
Consider this explanation from Heather Harris, a fantastic astrologer and Tarot reader:
“Horoscopes can be uncanny in their accuracy, even for a large collective, because we are dealing in archetypes. Each component, whether it be planet, sign, house or aspect, has a range of expressions. Venus will always be about relationships and value, while Saturn will always be about limitations and structure. There are countless ways these motifs can manifest, but they will always be archetypally correct. Horoscopes give you the thematic tone while your specific life supplies the details.”
If you’d like to know how one horoscope can apply to so many different people, it all comes down to two simple facts.
1. We all live with the same sky
If Mercury squares Saturn today, everyone feels a version of that mental friction -- some in communication, others in work, boundaries, or self-image.
Horoscopes help us name what we’re already experiencing, so we can respond intentionally rather than reactively.
Cosmic Kait has this to say:
“Collective or ‘universal’ consciousness plays a role. This stems from the belief that humanity, the stars, planets and universe all come from the same source and are essentially one. We are all a part of the same universe, experiencing the same reality, so when the planets are aligned in a certain way there is a unified underlying theme or energy we’re all feeling. This is why even collective or all-sign horoscopes can also resonate with so many.”
2. Astrology speaks in archetypes
Symbols like “the Moon,” “Venus,” or “the 7th house” carry centuries of meaning. Those meanings resonate because they mirror universal human experiences of love, fear, ambition, longing, growth, desire, conflict, and change.
In the words of Fiona Giselle,
“For some, horoscopes are an altar they visit daily. For others, they are a roadside attraction, pulled into on a whim. I suppose horoscopes can reach both audiences because, when paying tribute to the celestial and esoteric energies that govern our planetary messengers, those words pierce through the veil and transcend.
“Sure, it’s easy to find the right words to wish someone a good day or advise against simple common missteps. The true challenge is crafting a horoscope that lands where someone is at in such a digestible manner that it reminds them that each day is sacred, whether it’s a little sour, slightly simple, or deeply sentimental.”
How to get the most out of your horoscope
Astrologer Heather Harris has this to say about how to approach your horoscope for the best possible outcome:
“When I write a horoscope or read a chart, there are innumerable ways the symbolic could potentially manifest. This is a feature, not a bug. You may not be able to avoid a specific transit, but you can put it to good use. Knowing the archetypal range of the transits allows you to move the slider bar in your favor and work co-creatively with the energies. I always try to orient a reading or horoscope towards optimal expression of the pattern while remaining true to the archetypal form.”
Reading horoscopes intentionally unlocks more meaning and accuracy. Here’s how to elevate your experience …
1. Read for your Rising sign first
If you know it, this is the most accurate placement for understanding the current transits.
2. Next, read for your Sun sign
This adds nuance about your identity, vitality, and long-term themes.
3. Know more of your chart for deeper insight
The more details of your chart you’re familiar with, the richer every horoscope becomes.
For example, if you’re a Leo Rising, a horoscope written for Leo has a built-in layer of relevance. However, if the horoscope mentions that the Moon is conjunct Neptune in your 8th House of Intimacy today, it will help to know what, if anything, the 8th house of your birth chart contains! Perhaps you were born with Venus in Pisces, placing it in your 8th house. Understanding that the Moon-Neptune conjunction is also lighting up your natal Venus placement adds another dimension to the day.
Not sure where to start? A detailed birth chart gives you the full map -- planets, houses, signs, and aspects -- so every horoscope becomes more personal, precise, and meaningful.
4. Use your discernment
In a few short paragraphs (or even less), a horoscope tries to translate overarching energies into day-to-day realities. There are bound to be blind spots occasionally.
Let’s consider a hypothetical example: Mercury Retrograde in your 3rd house. The 3rd house governs communication, information, and technology, and a horoscope writer is very likely to cover these topics. They might remind you to back up important documents or be careful about misinterpreting text messages or emails. This is sound advice, and it makes sense for the transit!
But what else does the 3rd house govern? Less acknowledged is its relationship to siblings, neighbors, nearby travel, and teaching. For you, Mercury Retrograde in the 3rd house may bring up issues in any of these areas. The horoscope failed to mention them, focusing instead on other situations that may be more common. That doesn’t mean that Astrology is useless or that a certain horoscope writer messed up -- it’s just part of the difficulty with trying to simplify something this inherently layered.
Cosmic Kait offers this crucial piece of wisdom:
“Only take what resonates. I’m a big believer that we get the messages we’re meant to receive, but sometimes we can come across ones that aren’t aligned. So if a horoscope mentions or alludes to turbulence in a romantic relationship or trouble on the job, but you seem to be experiencing the complete opposite, don’t create problems where there are none.”
At their best, horoscopes don’t rely on prediction or passive belief -- they call for participation.
Whether you read yours daily or occasionally, by Sun sign or Rising sign, the value lies in how it invites you to notice patterns in your own life and make more intentional decisions. Horoscopes work when they give you context, timing, and perspective but leave the meaning, as always, in your hands.
Now that you’ve got the full story, put it to use! Our daily, weekly, and monthly horoscopes are waiting for you to make them your own.
