Horoscope vs Astrology

You probably discovered astrology because of Sun Sign based horoscopes. These short blurbs profess to tell what’s in store for you based on your Sun sign. Will you have a new love interest or is there a job promotion in your stars? These horoscopes may predict there is.

But there is some confusion about the word “horoscope” and what it really means. A horoscope has many definitions. So let me attempt to set the record straight.

What a horoscope is: the word “horoscope” is a general term solely used to describe a birth chart—also called a natal chart. A birth chart is a circular diagram that shows the location of all the planets in the sky at the exact moment you were born. It displays where the ten planets, twelve zodiac signs, twelve houses, and various aspects were at your birth.

What is also a horoscope: A horoscope is also the name of a generic forecast based on your Sun sign. It’s those daily, weekly or monthly predictions that appear on an app, or a newspaper or magazine column.

What it’s not: A horoscope is not the same as “astrology”. In regards to a birth chart, a horoscope uses the fundamentals of astrology to map out the location of all your planets and sign. When referring to a forecast, horoscopes use astrology as a basis for coming up with “predictions”

The word “horoscope” has its origins in the Latin word “horoscopus.” Since the 11th century it has been used to describe your birth chart.

But around 1930, the word began to change. It became associated with a forecast of your future based on your Sun sign. It is now used to describe the daily, weekly, monthly or annual forecasts.

This practice started in 1930, by a prominent British astrologer named R.H. Naylor. He wrote about the birth of Princess Margaret for the Sunday Express. It led to him writing a regular column and “horoscopes” becoming a thing. Presumably Naylor using Princess Margaret’s horoscope – aka birth chart – to predict her future fused these two concepts together in the same word.

By the way, the article, "What The Stars Foretell For The New Princess” appeared three days after her birth and spoke about her having an “eventful life.” This prediction was uncannily accurate as Princess Margaret went to have multiple affairs, break-downs and many others non-royal behavior. She was called the “rebel” sister to Princess – now Queen Elizabeth. 

The introduction to Naylor’s article piqued British society’s interest:

 Everybody is interested in the future. Can it be told by the stars? Readers of the Sunday Express will be able to judge for themselves after reading the following article, which tells you just what is expected to happen during the remainder of the month.

Do you believe in your horoscope?


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