This blog is written for all who want to know more about astrology but don’t know where to begin.
There is no doubt about it: learning astrology is learning a whole new language. There are symbols, numbers, definitions, chart layouts, and many different house systems which astrologers use to calculate charts. But once you accept the fact that you will have to learn some technical details, it’s an exciting journey inward as you unravel all the mysteries and nuances your chart has to reveal about you.
Before we jump into my top five guidelines for dismantling the roadblocks, I want you to ask yourself one question: are you inspired? Are you inspired to learn astrology? If the answer is yes, then no matter what confusion arises along the way, it will only motivate you to dig deeper and find the answers that ring true for you. As long as you are interested enough to learn about yourself and intrigued by what this cosmic science can tell you about your soul’s journey, then you will navigate the road to astrological knowledge just fine.
My best advice is to let your heart be your guide. To see the magic in your chart, you have to feel the excitement in your heart. And this means you have to remember what this is all for: YOU. This is an ever-evolving journey that takes you right to the doorway of your best self. If you are seeking astrology for self-growth, you will find it. If you are seeking astrology to become your best self, you will achieve it, and if you are simply curious-minded and want answers you haven’t been able to find elsewhere, you’re in the right place.
So, how do you read your chart as an intuitive art?
Well, with time and practice… and looking at a lot of charts. But it’s worth it if you want to become proficient in the language of astrology. The benefits of learning the symbols, numbers, and layout of your chart are endless. Because when you can apply them to your own life, to your loved ones, and maybe even to your own clients one day, you can bring peace of mind, navigation, and validation to all who seek you for wise astrological counsel.
So where do we begin? We begin by trusting our intuition. This means that when you look at your chart you notice where your eyes fall first and where your instincts tell you to go. You may be drawn to a certain house, or area of life, because you have many planets there. Or you may go right to Venus because you recognize that symbol and you want to know more about your love life.
The point is, you don’t have to logically “know where to begin,” you have to let your senses lead the way.
Below I have created five guidelines to help you navigate your chart and resist getting overwhelmed by unnecessary details right away.
1. Look at your own chart before you concern yourself with universal transits.
This is very helpful to keep in mind when you are just starting to learn about astrology because there is so much information you receive initially, it can be confusing enough just studying your own chart without concerning yourself with universal transits too. Many people get overly concerned with “what’s going on in the collective” that they forget about astrology's specific meaning for them, personally. When you know how to read and interpret your own chart and you then look at it against the transiting planets happening in the sky, this is when you will have true clarity on what universal transits mean for you.
2. Don’t look too far ahead. Don’t overwhelm yourself unnecessarily.
Similar to #1, you don’t need to see everything that’s coming and everything that’s happening right now. Saying this brings to mind Michael Brown’s advice in his book, The Presence Process. If we are always so caught up in our past and future, we miss the gift of right now. So, focus on where the planets are now and where they are asking you to grow now and let the future come when it’s time. With this approach, you can be sure that you respectfully honor the current planetary energies and that you will be best equipped to handle future events as they come.
3. Start by getting to know the houses in your chart because these are simply areas of life - things we can all relate to whether we understand astrology or not.
The houses in your astrology chart are the 12 pie-slice shapes that represent areas of life we all experience. So, when you are familiar with these, and you happen to notice a lot of planets in one area, you can concentrate on that space as a starting point to see what arenas of life your Soul has some lessons to work out. To read more about the houses click here.
4. Understand the nature of each sign. Example: if it’s Capricorn season, act like a Capricorn. Attune yourself to the positive aspects of whatever sign the Sun is in.
Each sign has certain characteristics that make it unique from others. And, each person has EVERY sign in their birth chart, so it’s beneficial no matter what your Sun, Moon, or rising sign is, to know the basic qualities of each sign. Focusing on the positive qualities helps you bring out more of these in your life. Here is a blog resource on the signs. If you are interested in solidifying your understanding even further, check out Elements, Modes, and Polarities.
5. Keep a positive mindset. See the beneficial characteristics of each aspect and planet instead of their weaknesses.
All the planets have a “shadow side” just like all humans do. So, it’s wise to point your compass toward the highest expression of each planet, just as you do with each sign. The same goes for aspects. Aspects are mathematical angles that occur between planets and important chart points. They exist to help us understand the quality of communication happening between our ears – in our psyche – and with all the different personalities we have. Even “hard” aspects can go smoother for us if we know where they exist in our chart, and we learn to develop greater compassion for ourselves in these areas. Read this blog if you’d like to learn more about aspects.
In Summary
It’s best to approach astrology as a lifetime adventure of getting to know yourself. The journey never ends, so there is no hurry or need to master everything at once. Just as your personality evolves over time, your soul evolves too. And as it does, you learn how to go through life with more presence and grace. My hope is that astrology can provide you with a new tool to recognize the inner workings of yourself and an awareness of the importance of having more acceptance for those parts as well. May your journey of self-exploration be never-ending, ever unfolding, and increasingly gratifying.
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