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Transparency & Science

Methodology & Sources

Our transparent approach to astrological interpretations

Last Updated: January 2025

Our Commitment to Transparency

At StarFavor, we believe in transparency regarding our astrological interpretations and sources. This page outlines our methodology, the astrological systems we use, and our approach to content creation.

Astrological System

Western Tropical Astrology

StarFavor uses Western Tropical Astrology, the most widely practiced astrological system in the Western world.

Key Characteristics:

  • Tropical Zodiac: Based on the seasons and the relationship between Earth and the Sun, not the actual constellations
  • Spring Equinox: Aries begins at the spring equinox (around March 20-21), regardless of where constellations appear in the sky
  • Sun Sign Focus: Our primary content focuses on sun signs (the zodiac sign the Sun was in at birth)

Why Tropical?

  • Most familiar to Western audiences
  • Emphasizes psychological and symbolic meanings
  • Aligned with seasonal cycles and their cultural associations

House System: Whole Sign Houses

For astrological analyses that reference houses, we use the Whole Sign House System:

  • Each house corresponds to one complete zodiac sign
  • Simple, ancient, and historically grounded
  • Provides clear, unambiguous house boundaries

Note: Our current MVP focuses primarily on sun sign content and does not include extensive house-based interpretations.

Aspects: Major Aspects Only

When discussing planetary relationships, we focus on major aspects with fixed orbs:

Major Aspects:

  • Conjunction (0°): Unity, blending of energies
  • Sextile (60°): Harmony, opportunity
  • Square (90°): Tension, challenge, growth
  • Trine (120°): Flow, ease, natural talent
  • Opposition (180°): Polarity, balance, awareness

Orbs:

  • We use traditional fixed orbs (typically 6-10 degrees for major aspects)
  • Tighter orbs indicate stronger influence

Current Scope: Our MVP content focuses on sign-based characteristics rather than detailed aspect analysis. Future updates may include more aspect-based interpretations.

Content Philosophy

General vs. Personalized

What We Provide:

  • General zodiac sign profiles based on sun signs
  • Compatibility analyses using classical sun sign astrology
  • Traditional astrological interpretations
  • Educational content about astrological concepts

What We Don’t Provide (Yet):

  • Personalized birth chart readings
  • Transit predictions for specific dates
  • Progressions or solar returns
  • Horary or electional astrology

Why Sun Signs? While a complete birth chart includes:

  • Sun sign (core identity)
  • Moon sign (emotions)
  • Rising sign/Ascendant (outer personality)
  • Planetary positions in signs and houses
  • Aspects between planets

…sun sign astrology remains valuable for:

  • Accessibility and ease of understanding
  • Universal relatability
  • Foundation for deeper astrological learning
  • Self-reflection and personal growth

Sign-Based Guidance Only

Important Limitation: All content on StarFavor is general sign-based guidance, not:

  • Transit-specific predictions (“Mercury retrograde will affect you on [specific date]”)
  • Time-sensitive forecasts
  • Event-specific predictions

Why This Approach?

  • Ethical responsibility: Specific predictions without full chart analysis can be misleading
  • Accessibility: General content serves a broader audience
  • Quality over speculation: We focus on archetypal patterns rather than fortune-telling

Sources and Provenance

Phase 1: MVP (Current)

Content Creation: Our current content is developed through:

  1. Curated Rulebook:

    • Classical astrological texts and principles
    • Traditional planetary rulerships, elements, and modalities
    • Time-tested interpretive frameworks
  2. Deterministic Templates:

    • Structured approach to sign profiles
    • Consistent compatibility analysis methodology
    • Quality-controlled interpretations
  3. Expert Review:

    • Content reviewed for astrological accuracy
    • Balanced, non-sensationalist language
    • Respect for astrological tradition while remaining accessible

Key References: We draw from classical astrological sources including:

  • Traditional rulership systems (planetary dignities)
  • Elemental associations (Fire, Earth, Air, Water)
  • Modal qualities (Cardinal, Fixed, Mutable)
  • Historical astrological texts adapted for modern audiences

Phase 2: Future Enhancements (Planned)

Astronomical Data Integration: Future versions may incorporate:

  • NASA JPL Horizons System: Precise astronomical data for planetary positions
  • Ephemeris Data: Accurate planetary positions for any date and time
  • Eclipse Cycles: Saros cycles and eclipse patterns

Why NASA Data?

  • Scientific accuracy for astronomical positions
  • Publicly available and authoritative
  • Bridges symbolic astrology with astronomical precision

Evidence-Based Interpretations: We plan to:

  • Correlate traditional interpretations with actual planetary positions
  • Provide historical context for astrological events
  • Offer transparent sourcing for all astronomical claims

Quality Assurance

Accuracy Standards

We maintain quality through:

Content Review:

  • Multiple review passes for accuracy
  • Consistency checks across all sign profiles
  • Verification against traditional astrological sources

Balanced Interpretations:

  • Acknowledge both strengths and challenges of each sign
  • Avoid stereotyping or negative characterizations
  • Present astrology as a tool for growth, not judgment

Ethical Considerations:

  • No medical, legal, or financial predictions
  • Clear disclaimers on all content
  • Emphasis on free will and personal choice

Continuous Improvement

We welcome feedback from:

  • Practicing astrologers
  • Readers and astrology enthusiasts
  • Experts in related fields

Contact Us: If you notice inaccuracies or have suggestions: [email protected]

Compatibility Methodology

How We Analyze Compatibility

Our compatibility analyses are based on:

1. Elemental Compatibility

  • Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)
  • Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)
  • Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)
  • Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)

General Patterns:

  • Same element: Understanding and natural harmony
  • Complementary elements (Fire/Air, Earth/Water): Balance and synergy
  • Challenging elements: Growth through differences

2. Modal Compatibility

  • Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn): Initiators
  • Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius): Stabilizers
  • Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces): Adapters

3. Aspect Relationships Between Signs

  • Conjunction (same sign): Intense similarity
  • Sextile (60° apart): Easy rapport
  • Square (90° apart): Dynamic tension
  • Trine (120° apart): Natural flow
  • Opposition (180° apart): Complementary polarity

4. Planetary Rulerships Traditional ruling planets inform sign characteristics:

  • Mars rules Aries (action, assertion)
  • Venus rules Taurus & Libra (love, beauty, harmony)
  • Mercury rules Gemini & Virgo (communication, analysis)
  • Moon rules Cancer (emotions, nurturing)
  • Sun rules Leo (identity, creativity)
  • Saturn rules Capricorn (structure, responsibility)
  • Jupiter rules Sagittarius (expansion, philosophy)
  • Uranus, Neptune, Pluto: Modern planetary associations

Compatibility Limitations

Important Caveats:

  • Sun sign compatibility is just one factor
  • Full synastry requires complete birth charts
  • Individual growth and communication matter most
  • No pairing is “doomed” or “perfect” based on sun signs alone

Our Approach: We provide compatibility insights as:

  • Starting points for understanding relationship dynamics
  • Perspectives on different communication styles
  • Awareness of potential strengths and challenges
  • Entertainment and self-reflection tools

Transparency Principles

What We Promise

Honest Sourcing:

  • We cite traditional astrological principles
  • We acknowledge limitations of sun sign astrology
  • We clarify when content is interpretive vs. astronomical

Balanced Perspective:

  • No fear-mongering or sensationalism
  • Every sign has strengths and challenges
  • Emphasis on growth and understanding

Ethical Practice:

  • No specific life predictions
  • No medical, legal, or financial advice
  • Clear disclaimers about entertainment/informational purpose

Continuous Learning:

  • Open to feedback and corrections
  • Committed to accuracy improvements
  • Transparent about changes and updates

What We Don’t Claim

❌ We don’t claim to:

  • Predict specific future events
  • Provide personalized guidance without full birth data
  • Replace professional advice (medical, legal, financial, therapeutic)
  • Guarantee relationship outcomes based on sun signs

Future Developments

We’re committed to evolving StarFavor with:

Enhanced Content:

  • Moon sign and rising sign profiles
  • Planetary influence guides
  • More detailed compatibility synastry

Data Integration:

  • NASA JPL Horizons astronomical data
  • Historical transit research
  • Eclipse cycle information

Educational Resources:

  • Beginner’s guides to astrology
  • Glossary of astrological terms
  • How-to articles on reading birth charts

Feedback & Collaboration

We Welcome Input From:

Astrology Practitioners:

  • Professional astrologers with traditional training
  • Vedic or sidereal astrologers (for perspective)
  • Researchers in astrological history

Readers & Enthusiasts:

  • Your experiences with our content
  • Suggestions for new features
  • Questions about our methodology

Academics & Skeptics:

  • Constructive critique
  • Suggestions for clearer disclaimers
  • Dialogue about astrology’s cultural role

Contact: Email us at [email protected] with “Methodology Feedback” in the subject line.


Summary

System: Western Tropical Astrology Houses: Whole Sign (when applicable) Aspects: Major aspects with fixed orbs Scope: General sign-based guidance; no transit-specific predictions Sources: Classical astrological texts, traditional rulerships, expert review Future: NASA JPL Horizons data integration for astronomical accuracy Philosophy: Transparent, balanced, ethical, and educational

We’re committed to providing quality astrological content that respects both tradition and transparency.


Questions about our methodology? Contact [email protected]

Last Updated: January 2025