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Learning Without Tears – Book Review

Overview

Discover how the Mercury Model (TM) can: 

  • Identify a child’s unique learning style
  • Unlock a child’s true potential
  • Turn tension into talking

Buy this book on Amazon.


Introduction

Of all the astrology books I have had the pleasure of reviewing over the years Learning Without Tears is in a class of its own. Connerr takes the Mercury archetype, well known by astrologers, to a new level.

The author does not complicate the information being presented with an excess of technical terms, words and astrologese. She specifically uses regular dialogue to get her message across to the layperson.

There is the option to skip the detailed astrological explanations, if you wish to clearly focus on the child’s learning style, and not where it originates. With this brilliant approach the author has subtlety woven birth chart features into mainstream education which is directly aimed at parents and teachers.

We often hear the lament that astrology is not taken seriously by science. It is portrayed as the poor relation to astronomy and psychology. This fact was brought home to us during the 2011 online heated discussions. Here lies the beauty of this original book from an astrologer’s point of view. The author has parlayed astrology, and its centuries old traditions, into mainstream educational thought even perhaps without its detractors noticing.

 

Three Parts

This book is divided into three parts.

Part I – Individual Learning Styles and How They Interact

In the first section she discusses each of the twelve possible learning styles and how they manifest in every child. Presented with colorful animal characters clearly identifying each role.

Areas of similarity and difference are brought out in a subset by the style groupings and divisions which are easily recognizable to the astrology student as polarity, quadruplicity and element.

Connerr presents some real life parent and child scenarios and the resolutions are provided using the Mercury model.

We are challenged to explore our own learning style as parents and to consider how we default to that particular method by personally giving it preference and value

 

Part II – Variations and Background

She discusses how features in the whole nativity can influence each personality and provide modifications. Then goes on to explain the extraction of the essence for each Mercury archetype during individual analysis.

 

Part III – Identify a Learning Style

The author provides yearly assessment tables (Mercury ephemeris) to discover each persons learning style.

 

The New Physics and Essential Mercury

Helyn Connerr MSc is well qualified to write this book. Her background is impressive and she has studied astrology for over thirty years. She brings a scientist’s mind to an astrology problem.

Believing you can observe the energy principle of Essential Mercury in action and watch its effects, she discusses how the principles outlined are shown by planet, element, music, animals, literature, esoterica and the physical body. That Mercury, as an information receptor, is inherent in how we live, breathe and perceive.

 

Final thoughts

Although this book is aimed at educators, parents and children, one wonders if astrology teachers, when using this method, will find their students benefit and grasp new information in a way each learner can assimilate.

It is quite apparent that we retain our learning style throughout life. If as grown-ups, we choose to embark on further study, we will benefit by aligning ourselves with our own Mercury model.

This simple practice would enhance the adult education process. Rather than thinking, “I’m too old to learn this” perhaps we need to open up our minds, because, obviously we can learn if we are presented and communicated information in a way we each can appreciate

Learning Without Tears comes highly recommended for students, parents and educators.

 

The Yod: Major Aspect Pattern

The Yod: Major Aspect Pattern

Some students may think it is odd

to work with the finger of God.   

One sextile and two

quincunxes to view

and now we all call it a yod.

The Yod Limerick

Most of you are probably wondering what the heck this limerick is all about.

Let me explain.

A Yod is an astrological major aspect pattern sometimes found in birth charts.

It comprises of one sextile aspect (blue line) and two quincunx aspects (green lines).

 

Yod Bearers

An aspect is an imaginary line drawn between two planets in a horoscope.

People who have a yod in their charts are known as Yod Bearers as it indicates there are burdens that need to be carried through life.

The image is that of an isosceles triangle where the short side is 60 degrees and the two equal longer sides are 150 degrees.

The shape is somewhat reminiscent of an arrow or finger pointing thus the nickname of The Finger Of God. It is also referred to as the Finger of Fate.

In chart interpretation the area of life that the yod is pointing at is highlighted and becomes an important focus for that person.

 

The Yod Major Aspect Pattern

A Yod is an astrological planetary configuration also know as a major aspect pattern which is formed when three planets line-up in a particular way.

A Yod is an aspect pattern composed of one sextile and two quincunxes. It looks like an isosceles triangle with one short side and two equal length longer sides.

A yod looks like a triangle. But it is different to a grand trine, T-square or a Thor’s Hammer because of the aspects it contains.

In the example chart of Margaret Atwood, she has a Neptune Yod with the Moon and Saturn as the base planets.

The Aspects in a Yod

Sextile

A sextile is an aspect 60° wide or two signs. The orb for a sextile is 4° degrees.

It is an aspect of ease and it suggests your latent talents.

Quincunx

A quincunx is an aspect 150° wide or five signs.

The orb for a quincunx is 2°.

It is an aspect requiring constant adjustment and causes mild irritation.

 

How to Interpret a Yod

The broad stroke with interpreting yods is to look at the one planet being quincunxed (the green lines) by the other two.

This is known as the focal planet and is a sensitive spot in the zodiac which will be reflected in your chart by the house placement.

  • Pay special attention to the focal planet and interpret it thoroughly. Check the essential dignity of the planet and its condition.
  • Look at the house or the area of life that is bringing pointed to.
  • Look at the sign that the focal planet is in, this shows the type of energy that the focal planet can express.
  • The two planets in sextile are the support for the yod and offer up their energy and qualities to the focal planet.

 

Double Yod Key

If there are two yods lying side by side (so four planets and three quincunxes) then it is known as a “double yod key”.

This will reinforce the general meaning of the yod for the person.

What to Consider in a Yod

The focal planet at the end of the quincunxes, is the most sensitive planet as energies flow to it from the two other planets.

The two planets in sextile are known as the base of the yod and work together harmoniously.

The planetary ruler of the sign of the focal planet is important.

Interpretation of a Yod

Charts with yods suggest the person is independent and driven.

Due to the nature of the quincunxes they can be constant and unchanging but fraught with the constant adjustments demanded. T

his person may experience a crisis of energy and find they are constantly battling to stay on track.

There is a certain spiritual element to this pattern and these people can be lofty.

The meaning of the house and sign of the focal planet points (as the pointed in the shape) to the issues that need addressing in this person’s life.

Starzclass

Aspiring Astrologer Activity: Yod

In your astrology journal and referring to a chart with a yod major aspect pattern, please do the following:

  • Name the two aspects that form a yod, their angles and orbs.
  • Note the three planets involved.
  • Name the focal planet.
  • List all the individual aspects that make up this yod.

Extend Yourself

  • Write a brief interpretation for the sextile aspect and consider the two planets, houses, signs, and the aspect (100 words).

  • Write a brief interpretation for the first quincunx aspect and consider the two planets, houses, signs, and the aspect (100 words).

  • Write a brief interpretation for the second quincunx aspect and consider the two planets, houses, signs, and the aspect (100 words).

Extend Yourself Further

  • Write a detailed interpretation of the yod incorporating the meaning of the individual aspects and try to weave a comprehensive interpretation (250 words).

February Astro Overarch

February Astro Overarch

Author: Alison Price   -   Published: January 2026 About Starzology Overarches Who Creates the Starzology Monthly Overarches? Each Starzology Monthly Overarch is thoughtfully written by me, Alison Price, a professional astrologer based in beautiful Vancouver, Canada....

Self-care for Astrologers

Self-care for Astrologers

Author: Alison Price   -   Published: December 2024 Your Astrology Business This article is part of my "Your Astrology Business" category series, where I explore setting up and running a small astrology business for yourself.This time I want to talk about some...

Pluto Transits Change Lives

Pluto Transits Change Lives

Author: Alison Price   -   Published: November 2024 Pluto Transits Change Lives Often astrology jogs along with not much happening. Moons come and go, the Sun trots thorough the signs in a predictable manner and Mercury and Venus follow suit. But now and then big...

Events

Events

Events This page covers all the upcoming presentations and events with Alison Price, professional astrology coach and podcaster.. 200th Podcast Celebration Astrology friends, family and followers are welcome to join us for a relaxed and friendly gathering. Come and...

How to Cast a Chart without a Birth Time

How to Cast a Chart without a Birth Time

Author: Alison Price   –   Updated: March 2025

How to Cast a Chart with No Birth time

The Birth Time

The basis of casting a birth chart for someone is to erect one for the exact time, date and place of their birth. And to be precise, the time you want is the time of the inhalation of the first breathNot the time the surgeon made the first cut (for C-sections), not the time the head crowned and not the time the cord was cut.

Birth Time

Unless the birth details are written down, like on a birth certificate or in a baby memory book, you never really know. Birth times are categorized into Rodden Ratings after the great astrologer Lois Rodden.

Rodden Ratings

AA = Accurate Accurate: From a birth certificate or a birth record. This time is written down and in hand perhaps in a baby book.

A = Accurate: From memory, family legend or hearsay and is spoken or word-of-mouth typically from an aunt or someone in the family who was there.

B = Biographical: From autobiography or biography. This is secondhand information usually gleaned by an interview.

C = Caution: The data is from conflicting sources.

DD = Dirty Data: Don’t use or rely on this data.

X = No time: Here there is the birthdate only with no birthtime.

XX = Very insecure: No date or year. Very weak.

People will generally know their birthdate, although I did once come across a woman who did not know her year of birth.

Birthtime

If your client does not know their birth time (and they are not interested in rectification) how do you cast their chart and find some information that you can use? This frequently comes up in chart readings. As a professional astrologer, you need to help your client and there are a couple of ways of working with a time unknown chart. Here are some simple steps that I use to overcome the issue.

 

The Noon Chart

12 Hours Out

It is best to cast your client’s chart for noon on their birthday then you can only be twelve hours out. Clearly this is not an ideal situation, but it is better than being twenty-four hours off the birth placements which would be the case of you set the chart for 12am at the beginning of the day or 11:59pm at the end of the day.

Suspect Data

Experience will tell you that many people’s birth information is suspect at the best of times. You have to constantly be on the lookout for incorrect birth data and the chart results when face-to-face with your client.

 

The Noon Moon

The Lunar Question

The Moon travels about twelve to fifteen degrees each day and on average about 13° forward. With this movement, halfway through the day (at noon), it will be six to seven and a half degrees out either way and may or may not be of use. 

Moon Sign

However, you could ascertain the lunar sign because if the Moon is between seven and a half degrees and twenty-two and a half degrees of a sign at noon, then you know for sure it is in that sign in the birth chart.  Because the Moon would still be in the sign for a birth first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

Example Moon

In our example chart, the Moon is at 13°49′ Pisces at noon. When you check the 12am chart the Moon starts the day at 06°43′ Pisces. On the 12 midnight chart the Moon has moved to 21°13′ Pisces, so we can be quite confident and say that the Moon was in Pisces in this chart.

 

Natal Noon Chart

Signs and Aspects

With a “noon chart” the planets in the signs and planetary aspects are correct (except the Moon). You can use the dispositor tree, but check the Moon.

Angles and Houses

Unfortunately, there are no firm angles or house cusps because we do not have a birth time. Therefore, you cannot use the Ascendant, Midheaven, Descendant or IC or the houses in your chart interpretation. In this case you will not have a chart ruler or a most elevated planet either.

Quality not Quantity

This means of the possible 100% information shown in a normal chart with a noon chart you only have 60% of information. The point is that the 60% you do have is still 100% correct. There is less quantity of information available, but it is still quality information when you interpret a “noon chart”.

Planets on Sign Cusps

0° and 29° Sign Placements

You do need to watch out for inner planets near the cusps of signs and weigh the possibilities of them being in the next sign, or in the previous sign (as we shall see for Venus) for retrograde planets.

Venus

In our example noon chart, you can see that Venus is at 29° 44′ Pisces and is retrograde. We know that Venus can move over 1° each day, so there is the likelihood that it was in another sign earlier in the day, that is before noon. 

In the 12am chart, Venus is at 00° 02′ AriesSo, in this noon chart you must realize that Venus could have been in either Aries or Pisces on the day. Early in the morning Venus was in Aries and later in the day, but before noon, Venus had moved into Pisces. You will need to make an assessment of Venus’ sign for your client.

Neptune

Note that Neptune is also in the 29th degree. Because we know that Neptune moves so much slower, around 0°03′ each day, it does not change signs.

Planetary Stations

Less than 0°10′ of the Station

If a planet is stationary on the birthday, you can bet it is in that position dead-on in the natal chart but do always check.

 

 

Forecasting with a Noon Chart

Direct and Indirect

Forecasting with transits and solar returns (by planetary sign position not house) can be used as well as secondary progressions and solar arc directions the latter two with care.

Overarch

Your Ability

Your role as an astrologer is to help people. When someone comes to you and says, “I don’t know my birth time. Therefore, can I not have my chart done?” You really need to have an answer for these people, and the answer is that yes, you can cast their noon chart. You don’t need to tell them the techniques you will use, but you certainly can give them an astrology reading to the best of your abilities by casting a noon chart. Of course, you haven’t got all the information, but not everybody knows their birth time.

Helping People

If you truly feel that you are there to help people gain insights into their life through the art of astrology, I think it’s important that you do the best you can. Which is by casting a noon chart where you’ve got 60% of correct data and you can help them that way. There are some astrologers who believe that if the person doesn’t have a birth time, they can’t help that person and they will refuse to do the reading, but I’m not one of those people.

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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The Celestial Garden

The Celestial Garden

The Celestial Garden by Jane Hawley Stevens Book Review "The Celestial Garden Growing herbs, vegetables, and flower in sync with the Moon and Zodiac" by Jane Hawley Stevens is a delightful journey through the techniques of blending gardening activities with the Moon...

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Fibonacci Aspects

Fibonacci Aspects

Aspects of the Fibonacci Sequence

To remind you the Fibonacci sequence is a pattern in numbers where the previous two are added together to result in the next number in the sequence.

1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21…

One plus two equals three, two plus three equals five, three plus five equals eight and so on. It can be drawn as a widening spiral. This shape is found in nature in plants and animals and can be clearly seen in the nautilus shell chambers and in the head of a sunflower. The numbers build on the past sequence to create the future patterns.

It seems to me that this reflects a natal chart as it begins to progress and develop by building on what has gone before. The progressed chart unfolds over time from a base point in time i.e. the natal chart. Situations that occur in life must have been in the natal promise to start with.

 

Read more >>> Aspect Basics

 

Fibonacci Aspects

The aspects in the Fibonacci sequence are:

 

  • Conjunction (1)
  • Opposition (2)
  • Trine (3)
  • Quintile (5)
  • Semi-square (8)
  • Baker’s dozen (13)

Missing Ptolemaic Aspects

In this sequence of numbers we see that the square (4) and the sextile (6) do not appear. Nor will the semi-sextile (12) aspect.

So what? Well, astrology is a system of patterns and symbols. We happily take chart divisions from one to twelve and for the simple reason that every number is represented.

We are also ok to extract the hard aspects in the eighth harmonic (1, 2, 4, 8) and call them manifesting aspects. Surely if the Fibonacci sequence occurs in nature and so is part of the Earth experience, should we not consider this group of aspects in a particular way?

 

Quintile

Perhaps because the quintile aspect is found in the Fibonacci list that is our first clue. Quintiles are closely associated with your creativity and genius.

 

 

13th Harmonic a Baker’s Dozen

What about the thirteenth harmonic?

Keywords transformation and values. This is not an aspect that is widely used in general astrology but can it be somehow associated with the meanings of the others in our sequence, maybe following the quintile theme?

I’m not sure, but using the Fibonacci aspects in a particular way as a group is a theory that has been buzzing in my thoughts for a while now. I wanted to put these ideas out there for consideration.

 

Author Bio

Alison Price: Astrology Coach

Alison wants to help 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.

Learn more about Alison’s journey.

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

More Articles

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How to Interpret a Retrograde Sun

How to Interpret a Retrograde Sun

Retrograde Sun

Introduction

Everything you wanted to know about a retrograde Sun, but were too afraid to ask

There really are only two responses to the title of this piece. Ok, maybe more than two, but the essence of each will be the same as they are just variations on a theme.

The first response is “I have to learn about this new feature in astrology” and the second reaction is “What’s she banging on about now?”

 

Part 1: If you don’t know about retrograde Suns

Read this part if you have a retrograde Sun in your chart, if it is in a member of your family’s nativity, if it has cropped up in a friend’s horoscope or if you wish to learn how to interpret one.

 

  • Decide if it is a daytime or nighttime birth
  • Check for converse progressions
  • Realize that astrology has many confusing details
  • Calculate the chart with Regiomontanus house cusps
  • Book in for the class “Astronomy for Astrologers”
  • Make sure to discuss this interesting phenomena at you next astrology meeting

Part 2: If you do know all about retrograde Suns

Read this part if you know about retrograde Suns or if you have come across them before. Here are some thoughts on how to proceed.

  • A little knowledge is a dangerous thing
  • Choose your mentors wisely
  • Always be on the lookout for a sense of humor
  • Know that not all those reading this have your powers
  • Get behind the “All practitioners must get certified” regime
  • Go outside, stand in the Sun and smile

Remember everyone sees the world through the lens of their own chart. What one person sees is often different to how you view things.

Who is correct?

Sometimes it is not easy to tell.

Let astrology inspire you.

 

Author Bio

Alison Price: Astrology Coach

Alison wants to help 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.

Learn more about Alison’s journey.

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

More Articles

If you enjoyed this post, you may like some more astrology related articles from our blog.

 

Venus Retrograde 2025

Venus Retrograde 2025

Author: Alison Price   -   Published: March 2025 Venus Retrograde 2025 Mark your calendars, as the the love and money planet Venus is going retrograde and this is set to begin on March 2, 2025 and will continue until April 13, 2025, from Aries to 24° Pisces. This...

Astrology Crossword Challenge

Astrology Crossword Challenge

Astrology Crossword Challenge

Here is a fun Astrology Crossword for those strong Mercury types.

What to do

Print this page, complete the crossword, scan to a file, attach to an email and send to info@starzology.com to have your name posted here as one of the few to complete this crossword.

 


Our correct completed crossword congrats go to…

Julia Cann from Plymouth, England.

Arwynne O’Neill from Vancouver, Canada.

Maria Michaelidis from Skorpios, Greece.

Hennie Potgieter from Phalaborwa, South Africa.

Jan Weiss from Coventry, England.

Ali Khan from Toronto, Canada

 

 

 

 

Clues Across

1. A positive element (3).

2. His laws on planetary motion (6).

4. Part of the Great Year (3).

5.  Greenwich Mean Time abbr. (3).

10.  An astrologer’s reference book (5, 2, 6).

12.  Mars’ colour (3).

14. Exalted in Aries (3).

15.  Largest of the big four asteroids (5).

16.  Ptolemy’s famous work (11).

19.  The house of your children’s career (6).

21.  An asteroid award (4).

24.  Finger of God aspect pattern (3).

25.  Local Mean Time abbr. (3).

26.  Easy aspect (5).

28.  The metal of Mars (4).

29.  Sagittarius’ element (4).

30.  Right Ascension abbr. (2).

31.  Falls in Virgo (5).

34.  Junction of the plane of the ecliptic and a planet’s path (4).

35.  A chart used in synastry (9, 5).

36.  Aspect tolerances (4).

37.  The point of the celestial sphere directly above the observer (6).

38.  Castor and Pollux are the Gemini pair (5).

Clues Down

1.  Saturn is the traditional ruler (8).

3.  The sign of the monarchy (3).

6.  Quadruplicities (5).

7.  Age of Aries symbolic animal (3).

8.  Planet of reflection (4).

9.  Toronto’s vibrant astrology group (9, 7).

11.  A planetary condition (7).

13.  The planet that rules the Phoenix (5).

14.  The State Of The Art astrology conference (4).

15.  A planetary key (6).

17.  Hemisphere from 4th to 9th (7).

18.  Immum Coeli abbr. (2).

20.  Below the Asc/Dec axis (5).

22.  Planet of rebellion (6).

23.  The 29th degree (8).

27.  The rulers of the signs (7).

32.  These can be fixed (5).

33.  The 6th house pertains to animals smaller than this one (4).

 

 

Author Bio

Alison encourages you to explore your unique creativity and live a satisfying life through your personal astrology. She offers her insights from the heart and with a sense of humor.

Go here to read more about Alison’s story.

If you want to send Alison a quick message go here.

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January 2026 Overarch

January 2026 Overarch

January 2026 Starzology Astro Overarch for aspiring astrologers. Learn about the ingresses, lunations and stations unfolding in January 2026 with Alison Price from Starzology, Vancouver.

February Astro Overarch

February Astro Overarch

Author: Alison Price   -   Published: January 2026 About Starzology Overarches Who Creates the Starzology Monthly Overarches? Each Starzology Monthly Overarch is thoughtfully written by me, Alison Price, a professional astrologer based in beautiful Vancouver, Canada....

February Astro Overarch

February Astro Overarch

Author: Alison Price   -   Published: January 2026 About Starzology Overarches Who Creates the Starzology Monthly Overarches? Each Starzology Monthly Overarch is thoughtfully written by me, Alison Price, a professional astrologer based in beautiful Vancouver, Canada....