Back to Basics

Author: Alison Price – Published: December 2025

Basic Natal Astrology

This article is part of my Basic Natal Astrology series, where I explore deeper chart analysis for practicing and aspiring astrologers.

Sometimes it’s good to get back-to-basics with astrology and here I mean avoiding going down the complicated roads which are scattered liberally throughout any astrology reading or forecast.

Basics

Distractions

Personally, I always like to try out any new technique or astro hack that I’ve happened upon in the past week. This could be anything from checking a Mars to Saturn cross chart aspect to idly exploring the Part of Marriage for a couple whom I’ve just met.

Sometimes it fun to get into the highfaluting parts of astrology readings and there certainly are many of them, but now and then I like to get back to the basics.

Cornerstones

The astrology basics are the signs, planets, houses and aspects, the backbone of chart reading if you will. These four cornerstone components when fully understood will help you provide a better reading for you family, friends and clients. It’s a bit like going back to school to relearn what you think you know.

We all do it.

You’ve been reading charts for ten years and you think you know it all. But to spend a day or two each month revisiting the basics of chart components will stand you in good stead for the charts you will read later this year.

Signs

Capricorn

You know which sign is your weakest one. You know, the one that you’re not really sure of and can never remember the keywords for. For me that tends to be Capricorn. I’m constantly going back over my notes to understand this sign better.

That Capricorn is quincunx my Leo Sun is part of the equation. I’m constantly having to adjust my ideas on the cardinal earth sign as the years go by.

Pisces

The other sign which is quincunx my Leo is Pisces, but here I do have an advantage.

In my life I am fortunate to know a delightful load of mutable water people. My mother, father, sister and daughter are all Pisces.

I am almost swimming in Pisces energy and have been aware of it in action all my life. No surprise there, only that they do what they do.

It all about the shoes…

Planets

Drawing a Blank

Which planet do you know the least about?

You know, the one that you tend to draw a blank on when caught in conversation with your client.

For me this planet is Neptune, so no surprise there. By its very nature Neptune is elusive and a mystery.

Again, I believe (see what I did there?), I believe that it is because the sign which Neptune rules is the sign of The Fish, and that sign too is quincunx my Leo.

Aspects

Quincunx

Are we seeing a pattern here?

Does this automatically mean that the aspect which I struggle with the most is the lowly quincunx at a mere 150° and with a tight orb of only 2°?

Perhaps.

Ptolemaic

I am far more confident with the big five Ptolemaic aspects which are the conjunction, opposition, trine, square and sextile. These aspects I know well and can wax lyrical about for hours.

Quintiles

Additionally, I love the five-base aspects, the quintiles and bi-quintiles. These aspects are great and show creativity (which I love) and your natural talents.

Brilliant!

Let’s have them too.

So yes, maybe when I go back-to-basics with the aspects I revisit the quincunx aspect which is five signs apart from my Sun and is the one which brings awkwardness and demands adjustments in my thinking.

Houses

12th House

Most of the houses I’m pretty strong on. I know them very well, but now and then I have to pause and perhaps you’ve already guessed it?

I often refresh my memory around the 12th house. This is a very quiet house and is not really exciting like the 1st, 10th or 5th houses are. The twelfth house tends to be quiet, subdued, and things in it are done privately or in secret.

As an astrologer, one never really knows how someone will use the energy, or not, found in this house and what goes on behind closed doors.

Traditionally it is the house of self-undoing, of recouperation and convalescing (post-partum) and or being in solitude self-imposed (retreating) or forced upon you (incarceration).

More on Houses

Here are a few more articles about the astrological houses.

Going Forward

Going Back

When you’ve been doing astrology for over thirty years you do know a lot and you may become complacent in your knowledge in general.

I believe that we can all benefit from some self-reflection and the action of revisiting some cornerstones of astrology to build our own solid foundation of knowledge.

You may have learned your astrology decades ago and if so, it will do you good to enliven your ideas on certain signs, planets, houses or aspects.

Seasonal

You don’t have to be doing this every day or every week for that matter. I like to do some back-to-basic work once each season. The four seasons are winter, spring, summer and autumn. They start at the solstices and equinoxes.

Because we as good astrologers are paying attention to the Sun’s annual ingresses into the four cardinal signs, it can be a great reminder to practice some back-to-basics studying for ourselves.

Extend Yourself

Take a moment to consider in which of the four cornerstones you are weakest in your knowledge.

In your astrology journal note your weakest:

Sign
Planet
House
Aspect

Awareness

Don’t feel you have to tackle all of these right now but do yourself a favor and address one weakness this season to improve your astrology knowledge for the future.

You will become a better astrologer for it and your readings for your family, friends and clients will improve as well.

Everyone benefits.

Overarch

Growth or Stagnate

It’s one thing to have twenty years of experience and another to have one year of experience twenty times. In the former you are growing and, in the latter, you are stagnant.

Make sure you develop your astrology knowledge each year through simple seasonal reflection. Actively do some self-imposed revisiting of what you thought you knew.

Author Bio

Alison Price: Professional Astrologer

Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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