Minderwiz
Although there is now a danger of this thread turning into a mutual admiration society I agree very much with Dave. If someone is to progress beyond a basic appreciation of Astrology to a deeper understanding then it's important to realise that Astrology works by fitting together a whole series of bits of information to achieve an understanding of a person, event, thing. illness, country, etc. We are far more complex beings than a single sign or planet would suggest. The natal chart (or any chart) shows this complexity.
One problem we're all at some time or another guilty of is to use the Sun Sign or the Ascendant as a short hand description of someone. At best this is a guess at worst it's far of the mark.
To give you an example. My daughter is a Sun Sign Taurus but has all her other personal planets in Aries and Jupiter in Leo. Some Astrologers would dub her an Aries signature as her balance overall is 'Cardinal Fire'. She certainly isn't a typical 'Taurus', though with a Virgo Ascendant she does suffer from typical Virgo health problems.
One problem we're all at some time or another guilty of is to use the Sun Sign or the Ascendant as a short hand description of someone. At best this is a guess at worst it's far of the mark.
To give you an example. My daughter is a Sun Sign Taurus but has all her other personal planets in Aries and Jupiter in Leo. Some Astrologers would dub her an Aries signature as her balance overall is 'Cardinal Fire'. She certainly isn't a typical 'Taurus', though with a Virgo Ascendant she does suffer from typical Virgo health problems.