Zodiac, in astronomy and astrology, a belt around the heavens extending 9° on either side of the ecliptic, the plane of Earth’s orbit and of the Sun’s apparent annual path. The orbits of the Moon and of the principal planets also lie entirely within the zodiac. The 12 astrological signs of the zodiac are each considered to occupy 1/12 (or 30°) of its great circle. These signs no longer correspond to the astronomical constellations in which the Sun actually appears. The constellations are irregular in size and shape, and the Sun regularly passes through one constellation (Ophiuchus) that is not considered a member of the zodiac. The zodiac, the 12 signs listed in a horoscope, is closely tied to how the Earth moves through the sky. We derive these signs from the constellations that mark out the path that the sun appears to take through the year. You might think that dates in a horoscope correspond to when the sun passes through each constellation. But they don’t, much of the time, because astrology and astronomy are different systems. Plus, a closer examination of the motion of the Earth, the sun, and the stars, shows the zodiac to be more intricate than you might imagine!
Astrology is a vast subject, it is an ocean and no man can ever measure its depth. The moment a man makes the claim of being accurate, know that he isn’t an astrologer. It is outright impossible to be 100% accurate. At best, 70% is what you can hope for. In fact, the strongly a person claims accuracy, the quickly the person gets proven wrong. The thing that happens is that the horoscope is a complex chart. If you’ve ever seen a horoscope, it is only a box with 12 small boxes with 9 words and a few numbers. That is all! That is all your life, all the thoughts, all you’ve ever spoken or done. It is from those 12 boxed and 9 words that your entire life is read. Each day, each hour, and each second! Now, just imagine the number of permutations and combinations that would form. Astrologers differ in opinion because they all have their rules. Memorized rule. And yet, one rules cuts the other, a third rule cuts the second, a fourth cuts the third, and on and on. The more you know, the more factors you can comprehend at once, the more you can visualize, the more you are accurate. It is about knowledge of all aspects as a whole. It is about wisdom. The more you know, the more you can tell, the less you know, the more you’ll be wrong.
The Rising Sign refers to the zodiac sign that was rising (or ascending, hence why it's also referred to as the “Ascendant”) in the eastern horizon when you were born.
The houses of the horoscope represent different fields of experience wherein the energies of the signs and planets operate described in terms of physical surroundings as well as personal life experiences.