So you want to learn astrology– a symbolic language that describes the subjective human experience with seemingly miraculous depth and accuracy. Woot woot!! I’m so glad you’re here– and I’m here to help you.
Have you ever studied a foreign language? Learning the planets, signs, and houses in astrology is a lot like learning a new language– a language of symbols rather than words.
As with any language, you can’t start with Shakespeare. First, you must learn the words, then the pattern that strings them together. Gradually, with practice, you’ll read and speak more “fluently” in this new language.
Here are a few study tips that worked for me!
Here are my tips in more depth.
I like to use 3” x 5” or 4” x 6” note cards, lined on one side, and blank on the other. On the unlined side, draw the glyph for the planet or sign, or the number of the house. On the lined side, write down keywords for that planet, sign, or house. You can start with the keywords in this course, and add to them as you learn more about the symbols of astrology and their meanings.
Making your own flashcards offers a great opportunity to learn more about the planets, signs, and houses.
You can use the cards to quiz yourself on the meanings and other basic information about each of the planets and signs. You can also put them together to help you interpret a chart.
For example, say you have your Moon in Taurus. You would get out your Moon card and your Taurus card, and put them together to get an idea of how the sign Taurus influences the expression of your Moon, and how that reflects your emotions and habits.
The best way to learn astrology is to study your own birth chart, and the birth charts of the people in your life. Many charts, especially those of the people closest to you, may not make a lot of sense to you at first, and that’s okay. They will make more sense in time. Just keep reading charts, learning, and observing.
Eventually, you’ll move on to in-depth topics, like aspects, transits, progressions and composite charts. You’ll start comparing your chart to other people’s and learning the energetics of relationships. Still, don’t stop reviewing the basics: planets, signs, and houses. Every one of these symbols has multiple layers of meaning. The more you know, the better chart reader you will be.
If you want to get good at reading charts, you have to practice. It’s like riding a bike– the more you do it, the more natural it becomes.
You can get all the birth charts you want for free at Astro.com! You’ll find a treasure trove of data for public figures in the AstroDatabank wiki.
Continue through this free offering to familiarize yourself with some astrology basics. Or sign up for my course Meet the Planets. This course guides you through the basics of your birth chart, taking each planet one by one and stepping into interpretation. You’ll get handy formulas you can use to start interpreting your chart and writing your Book of You.
Most astrology enthusiasts love to gather, share, and learn about their craft. Find someone to “talk shop” with. Attend a lecture at your local astrological organization, if you’re lucky enough to have one nearby. Or join one of the many communities online where people gather and discuss astrology and share knowledge at all levels.
Regardless of your level of expertise, you can also study and learn from the planetary patterns swirling around us today and every day. Keep an eye on the astrological calendar. This is a wonderful way to learn since you’ll be doing so much more than memorize keywords for the planetary energy— you experience it first hand!
Every symbol, sign placement, house placement, aspect, and whizzbang in astrology represents an archetypal pattern that has many possible manifestations.
Newcomers to chart interpretation tend to look up their symbols and placements in books and online. And that’s a great thing to do! But you might come across a negative-sounding interpretation (especially in older texts), and think, yikes, I must be a terrible person. (I know I did.)
But I learned to think of it this way— difficult things in your chart represent challenges or inner conflicts that take some effort to work out.
The bad news is, yes, you may exhibit some of these negative characteristics. The good news is, being aware of your patterns and being honest with yourself is the first and most important step towards mastering the challenges represented in your chart (or at least coping with them).
A good interpretation of your chart can light the way for you to turn your stumbling blocks into stepping stones.
Astrology is a fascinating, complex, serious and incredibly rewarding study. It usually takes at least a few years and a whole lot of practice to get good at reading charts, so the first thing to remember is to be patient with yourself. I have been studying since 1996, and I still feel like I have a lot to learn.
As you study astrology, learn new techniques and perspectives, and work with the astrological calendar, time will pass. One day you’ll realize, you’re getting pretty good at this. You’ll arrive at your own unique perspective on astrology based on your life experience and worldly expertise.
© 2023 Molly C. Gauthier
