When viewed from Earth over a 12 month period, the Sun transverses an elliptical course against a background of the constellations. This orbit can be divided into twelve parts, these are the zodiacs or Sun signs.
There are twelve signs in the zodiac, these are represented as a wheel. The outer rim of the wheel represents the zodiac, depicted as a symbolic circle of animals, the belt containing the constellations. The planets and luminaries (the Sun and the Moon) move through these constellations, along the plane of the ellipse. Some sectors of the zodiac, coinciding with named constellations, have been found to be important in astrology. They have been chosen to represent the astrological signs, although technically the signs and constellations no longer coincide in Western Astrology.
There are twelve signs, divided into thirty degrees each. The circle of the zodiac is therefore divided into three hundred and sixty degrees, each in itself significant - although the specific influence of degrees is beyond the scope of our brief analysis. Each sign, however, indicates a set of deep-seated behavioural characteristics and typical responses to the influence of circumstances. Particular planets can be either sympathetic or otherwise to specific signs. The path of the planets through the signs reveals the map of destiny.
The positions of the planets and their relationships determine your character, knowledge of the symbolism is the key.