Astrology helps explain life and it should be taken in that way instead of using it as a predictive tool. On the basis of planetary indications astrology guides us to understand ourselves better. Horoscope is a kind of birth chart or more popularly called a psychological map that throws light on your personality traits. However a horoscope needs to be based on correct interpretation of your birth position to reveal startling facts or traits about your personality. It provides insight about your behavior and how to adapt and change the same to lead a more fulfilling life.

Astrology seeks to explain the different traits that exist in human beings and how people to people differ in their personalities. According to astrology people who belong to a particular zodiac sign have specific traits that differ from others. Astrological matchmaking is done based on this theory. When the character of a particular individual matches with another then astrology terms this association to be perfect for mating. Astrology helps you to know the character of your potential mate and whether you are compatible.

There may be exceptions to astrological matchmaking but most people agree that it works. However it is becoming very popular nowadays and with the rate of divorces increasing day by day marriage compatibility is being given top priority by couples worldwide. With the help of astrology dating you are sure to find a partner who is made just for you. Astrology says that an individual whose zodiac sign is Aries is not compatible with an individual whose zodiac sign is Pisces. The reason is that Pisces represent the water element and Aries represents fire and hence it is a difficult combination. Moreover an Arian is a self driven and enthusiastic individual who can have a telling effect on a Piscean.

Perfect matches according to astrology are those which are at the opposite side of your zodiac sign. Aries with Libra, Taurus with Scorpio, Cancer with Capricorn, Leo with Aquarius, Virgo with Pisces, and Sagittarius with Gemini are considered to be perfect matches. Though these signs oppose each other in zodiac they tend to balance relationships as they support each others strengths and counter each others weaknesses. However as each of them have different personalities they need to smoothen out their differences.

All the 12 animals are placed in a particular order or each animal is ranked respectively. The rat comes first then second is the ox then next tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and finally the pig. Your Chinese zodiac sign is based on your date of birth and if you want to find out under which animal sign you were born then your date of birth is calculated to determine the same. The internet has many astrological sites where you can type in your date of birth to get your Chinese zodiac sign.

Each Chinese zodiac sign has affinities which are of two types. These are known as the affinity group and the affinity pair. There are four groups of animals in Chinese astrology and each is known as an affinity group that consists of three animals. On the other hand there are six affinity pairs namely the rat and ox, tiger and pig, rabbit and dog, dragon and rooster, snake and monkey and lastly the horse and goat. For compatibility you have to choose your partner either from the affinity group or from the affinity pair. If you can do that you are sure to develop a harmonious relationship with your partner. For instance a person born in the rat year would gel well with a person born either in the dragon or monkey year because all of them belong to the same affinity group. Similarly that person can also have a compatible relationship with someone who is born in the ox year as both of are under the same affinity pair. You can also consult any Chinese zodiac compatibility chart for further insight on this aspect.

Just as compatible signs, there are also incompatible signs in Chinese astrology called clashing signs. These signs are opposite to each other and have the tendency to clash often. The most incompatible signs in Chinese astrology are the rat with horse, ox with goat, tiger with monkey, rabbit with rooster, dragon with dog and snake with pig. Chinese astrologers suggest that you should not choose a partner whose birth sign clashes with yours.

All this knowledge and information about Chinese astrology and zodiac signs would come in handy when you entertain new friends or when you want to liven up social get togethers.

Chinese astrology is somewhat different from western astrology though some of its elements have similarities with eastern or Vedic astrology. The aim here is to delve into the finer aspects of this ancient astrological study and present a holistic view on the same.

Chinese astrology:

In Chinese astrology the twelve zodiac signs have been divided into four animal groups. According to Chinese scholars of astrology the animals representating the four groups have identical personalities and think similarly. To put it simply even though each animal is different their style of understanding and thinking is more or less aligned.

These animal signs are associated with the year, month, day and hour of birth. One has to enter his/her date of birth to determine the animal sign associated with the same. Accordingly a compatibility chart is prepared to check compatibility between two individuals. The five elements namely air, earth, fire, metal and water which make up a human body is also calculated along with the animal sign representating an individual. This, Chinese astrologers feel provide a more detailed compatibility percentage.

The four animal groups:

Group 1: – Mouse/Rat, Dragon and Monkey

Characteristics- action oriented, positive minded and hardcore competitors

Group 2: – Buffalo/Ox, Snake and Cock/Rooster

Characteristics- deep thinkers and objective minded

Group 3: – Tiger, Horse and Dog

Characteristics- independent and egoistic

Group 4: – Cat/Rabbit, Goat and Pig

Characteristics- peace loving, co-operative, sensitive and considerate

To know about your Chinese sign you have to use your date of birth. For example if you were born on the 9th of April 1967, then the animal sign corresponding to your date of birth will be the goat. The goat as you can see falls in the group 4 with the given characteristics. To find which animal sign is compatible with yours you have to refer to the compatibility chart prepared by Chinese astrologers. The compatibility percentage is numbered from 1 to 10 with 1 being less compatible and 10 considered as highly compatible. In the case of the goat it is highly compatible with the rabbit and the pig signs and less compatible with the ox, dog and tiger signs.

With Chinese astrology you can discover many things about yourself. You can also find out how far you are compatible with lovers, family members, celebrities, friends, co-workers, travel companions and so on. So go ahead and find more about your relationships.

* A loyal nature
* A strong sense of self
* A healthy respect for money

Step 1: Look good

If you want to attract a Taurus, take pains to look good. When it comes to dating, Tauruses are choosy, and physical attraction is particularly important to them.
Step 2: Wine and dine them

Wine and dine them. Tauruses love the sensual pleasures of good food and drink.

Tip: Taurus women love a good restaurant, while Taurus men appreciate a home-cooked meal.

Step 3: Don’t overspend

Don’t overspend, either on yourself or on them. Tauruses are careful with their money, and expect a potential life partner to be a sensible spender, too.
Step 4: Be circumspect

When it comes to the opposite sex, be circumspect around a Taurus lover; they are extremely possessive, and prone to jealous fits.

TIP: If you cheat on a Taurus, be aware that they will likely never forgive you. They may even seek revenge!

Step 5: Kiss their throat and neck

To turn on a Taurus, kiss their throat and neck, which are Tauruses’ erogenous zones.
Step 6: Be loyal

Be loyal to a Taurus, and they will be devoted to you. You might even inspire them to spend some of their hard-earned cash on a pricey present for you!

* Creativity
* Knowledge of art and music
* Good social skills

Step 1: Plan a memorable first date

Plan a memorable first date. Aquariuses don’t like the burden of making plans themselves, so they’ll be impressed with a person who comes up with a creative date idea, especially if it’s something that appeals to their intellect.

TIP: Aquariuses are interested in the arts, so planning a date around the debut of a promising new artist or a night of experimental theater is a good start.

Step 2: Lean to the left

Lean to the left. Aquariuses are humanitarians who feel great compassion for the less fortunate.
Step 3: Keep up with current events

Keep up with current events. If you know who Britney Spears is, but can’t name the current President of France, you don’t stand a chance with an Aquarius.
Step 4: Join a book club

Join a book club and familiarize yourself with the _New York Times_’ bestseller list. Aquariuses pride themselves on being well-read.
Step 5: Treat with respect

Always treat an Aquarius with respect; they want to be valued for their mind (though they also expect lavish appreciation of their body).
Step 6: Allow them privacy

Allow them their space and privacy. It’s the only way to one day be invited to join their club.

You Will Need

* Good conversation skills
* Intelligence
* Liberal political views

Step 1: Be coy

Be coy when you first meet a Gemini you like. They enjoy a little mystery, and become bored by those they can win over too easily.

Step 2: Invite them on a mystery date

Geminis love to be surprised, so tell them that all they need to know about the date is what to wear, and you’ll take care of the rest.

Tip : Geminis tend to be brainiacs, so you can’t go wrong with a date that appeals to the intellect, like a lecture, a book reading, or a political rally.

Step 3: Sharpen your conversational skills

Sharpen your conversational skills by boning up on current events for your date; Geminis are curious and articulate.

Step 4: Ask their opinion

Ask for their opinions. The only thing Geminis love more than hearing themselves talk is spouting opinions and giving advice.

Step 5: Be tolerant

Be tolerant – of both your Gemini love interest and others. Geminis lean toward the left and won’t tolerate narrow-mindedness in a lover.

Step 6: Stay flexible

Stay flexible. Geminis are free spirits who chafe under restrictions and schedules. Don’t freak if they’re late, or it will be the last time they’ll agree to meet you at all.

Fact : Famous Geminis include Angelina Jolie, Kanye West, Johnny Depp, and John F. Kennedy. And the guy who sings “Chocolate Rain.”

* Romance
* Sensitivity
* The time and ability to pet, pamper, and coddle

Step 1: Woo them

Woo them. Cancers don’t just want to be asked out—they want to be won over. So a surefire way to win a date is to do something nice for him at the same time you introduce the idea of dinner with you at a romantic little bistro.

TIP: Watch your mouth around a Cancer; they embarrass easily, and will never forgive you if they feel they have been mocked.

Step 2: Be complimentary

Be complimentary, especially of a Cancer’s home. Domesticity is very important to Cancers, who take great pains in feathering their nests.
Step 3: Be a good listener

Be prepared to be a good listener if you want to be with a Cancer; they are born storytellers and love an audience.
Step 4: Take things slowly

Take things slowly, especially when it comes to sex. Cancers need to feel cherished before they will allow themselves to be vulnerable.
Step 5: Do make a fuss

Always be ready to make a fuss over them – their clothes, their hair, their cooking, their sexual prowess. Cancers tend to be overly sensitive and need lots of reassurance.
Step 6: Let them cling a little

Be cool with their tendency to cling. Cancers can at times be smothering, but that’s the trade-off for their devotion, which knows no bounds.

* The ability to listen
* A love of the outdoors
* A non-possessive nature

Step 1: Be a good audience

Be a good audience. Sagittariuses love to talk, so they are naturally attracted to people who are willing to shut up and listen.
Step 2: Love the outdoors

Love the outdoors—or at least pretend to. A Sagittarius’s idea of a romantic date is an afternoon outside watching the clouds, not a night at the opera.
Step 3: Keep them entertained

Keep a Sagittarius entertained by keeping your own life interesting enough to share. People born under this sign hate to be bored.

TIP: If your Sagittarius is flirting with someone else (and, really, when are they not?), grit your teeth and ignore it. Flirting is like breathing to them, and showing your annoyance will only alienate them.

Step 4: Give them space

Give them space—lots of it. You don’t want to back a Sagittarius into a corner any more than you do a wild animal.
Step 5: Indulge their vanity

Indulge their vanity. Sagittariuses are narcissists, and will not take offense at a gift of Botox. On the contrary, they’ll be delighted.
Step 6: Be careful what you wish for

Be careful what you wish for. A Sagittarius can be dragged to the altar, and might even find the strength to remain faithful. But they’ll never let your forget what a chore and a bore it is.

* Flattery
* An uncritical nature

Step 1: Admire them

Admire them. Leos have a very healthy self-image, to say the least, so the first step to ingratiating yourself is to flatter them shamelessly. Trust us: You cannot overdo this.
Step 2: Invite them to a pricey restaurant

Invite them to a pricey restaurant – the more expensive and exclusive, the better. The only thing Leos love more than spending money on themselves is having someone else do it.
Step 3: Let them talk

Let them talk. And talk. And talk some more. Leos love to talk. So ask lots of questions and, above all, do not interrupt them.

TIP: Never steal a Leo’s thunder in any way; they’ll resent you for it.

Step 4: Make them laugh

Make them laugh. Leos have a great sense of humor and love to laugh – as long as the joke is not on them. Expect dire consequences if you dare to make them the butt of a joke.
Step 5: Give extravagant gifts

Give them extravagant gifts, because Leos adore luxury. If you’re a cheapskate at heart, don’t even think about wooing a Leo.

TIP: Airline tickets to faraway places and adventure travel packages make fine gifts for Leos, who love the exotic.

Step 6: Throw them a party

Throw them a party, especially if it’s to celebrate one of their accomplishments. Leos like nothing more than to be the center of attention, though they’d rather be in the spotlight for getting a big promotion than for turning 40.
Step 7: Give them space

Give them space. Leos need freedom and hate routine, so expecting them to meet you at the same place for sushi every Friday night is a quick way to alienate them.
Step 8: Never let your guard down

When it comes to massaging Leo’s ego, never let your guard down. A good-natured jibe about budding love handles will not be appreciated. Keep the flattery up and the criticism to yourself, and you have a good chance of winning Leo’s famed loyalty.

* An interest in the entertainment field
* A strong personality
* A reassuring nature

Step 1: Bone up on entertainment news

Bone up on entertainment news. Most Pisces either work in the entertainment field, or wish they did.
Step 2: Take them dancing

Take them dancing; Pisces love to show off their skills on the dance floor.
Step 3: Take the lead

Take the lead in the relationship. Pisces like a domineering partner.

TIP: Don’t play mind games with a Pisces. They’re unusually sensitive and crave constant reassurance.

Step 4: Avoid conflict

Avoid fighting with a Pisces; people born under this sign abhor conflict and go to great lengths to avoid it.
Step 5: Think hard before committing

Think hard before committing. Pisces are alluring creatures, but they find it difficult to be faithful – even after taking marital vows.