by Alison Price
If you are an aspiring astrologer or even a full-blown astrologer for that matter, these five items you need to have in order to read charts effectively.
You may be attracted to a different branch of astrology than the next astrologer, but the basics to need are the same.
I am going to share with you the five essential things every aspiring astrologer requires to read a chart.
These items are distilled from many years of experience in my practice where I have cast and read charts for people.
Although you can have tons more books and goodies that can help with the process, I have trimmed the list down to the five basic necessities that you require to read a chart.
1) An Ephemeris
This is the best book you can have on your desk. An ephemeris contains the planet’s positions, retrogrades, eclipses, lunations and many other interesting facts about what the solar system is actually doing.
Back in the day (before we all had a computer to cast charts) you would need your ephemeris to calculate the chart in the first place.
Now you will reach for your ephemeris to quickly find when Pluto will enter your client’s eighth house for the second time, retrograde in a five-hit transit or to discover if it is going to be an appulse or total eclipse next autumn as you write you horoscopes for the following year.
If you never refer to your ephemeris for charts and forecasting it makes a great spot for your cat to sleep.
2) A Computer with Solar Fire
Where would we be without a professional astrology software program?
Still casting charts by hand I suppose. You do need some way to draw charts quickly and correctly if you read charts for a living.
I use Solar Fire and it is really powerful software and to be honest I don’t use all the features all the time, or even many of the features most of the time, but
I do use the powerful chart processing ability and its calculations for secondary progressions, solar arcs, solar returns, and transits. These are for client work and the chart for right-here right-now to plan my day.
You can get chart calculation apps for your iPhone like Astro Gold and this is wonderful for casting charts on-the-go. I use Astro Gold for pondering the charts of my clients as I always load their birth data into my phone, as well as Solar Fire, before the consultation so I can consider all the ideas I may have about their chart wherever I am in my day.
I can do this because I book clients usually one week ahead because I like to cast their chart and then mull over it for a few days so it can “speak” to me.
If you work differently (and you should follow your path) or work ahead of time as I do then, either way, you need powerful astrology software.
3) The Chart
You need the chart to do the interpretation. Usually, you will print the chart from your computer or draw it by hand.
But just having a plain chart is no good and you have to make notes on it, highlight special planets, draw attention to grand trines or yods and the like. This extra jotting on the chart is best done in color.
Emphasize the ruling planet in yellow wherever it appears on the page even in the aspectarian.
Color the grand trines and mini-grand trines in blue along with the normal blue trines for ease the T-squares in red (red is for squares in general), Thor’s hammers in tangerine (sesquiquadrates are always orange), emerald for yods (quincunxes are green).
You do this in color because after a time when you have looked at hundreds of charts they can easily blend into one in your mind. If you have each chart highlighted in color and the main features, planets, houses and major aspect patterns enhanced it is quicker to scan and immediately get up to speed on that particular chart.
It is a way to streamline your readings and stop you ploughing through all the myriad of details that each chart contains. By adding primary and secondary shades, as a component to clarity, you become more effective and just glancing at the wheel hues can become almost as a mandala when you contemplate many charts.
4) Your Astrology Journal
An astrology journal is every aspiring astrologer’s friend. You will always be learning new interpretations for charts. When you read astrology articles online, blogs or pieces in trade publications there is always something to learn.
It could be a technique or another way to remember planetary placement meanings, if you write them down you don’t have to remember everything.
You may not ever use these tidbits of information but then again you might. Points you find that may not make much sense today may be just what you are looking for in the next chart you read or maybe next year when you tackle another method that is new to you.
Astrologers are always learning and this is what the journal is for.
I use mine when I planning my horoscopes for next year or other writing projects that I may be developing.
5) Herb Tea
As you sit at your desk for a few hours each day working on charts and chatting to people it is nice to have a soothing cup of herb tea at your elbow.
Personally, I enjoy green tea, jasmine tea and now and then a refreshing Earl Grey. If you are not a tea drinker it doesn’t matter but you do need your favorite drink to hand.
Taking a beverage break lets you sit back, ease your shoulders that have become tense leaning in, drawing notes on your charts and making case notes for your charts.
Pausing for a drink gives you a time to breathe and make a moment of stillness in your day.
These are the five basics that should be on your desk. There is room for many more reference books (oh the books), but to cast a chart and read it you only need five things.
Start with these items on your desk and develop your aspiring astrology chart reading skills as you immerse yourself in the magical world of astrology.
by Alison Price
12 Benefits of an Astrology Reading
When you have an astrology session/reading/consultation, call it what you will, all you see is the finished product.
That is your astrologer discussing your chart and maybe some specific issues you have previously highlighted for attention.
This is usually a one hour meeting and then it is finished.
When you meet your astrologer you don’t see what went on behind the scenes and the time and effort which went into the polished reading you are experiencing.
I want to share with you what goes into make up a client reading.
If you are my client, you may book your hour consultation with me, or sign up for a class or some mentoring and you will see me in action discussing your chart and referring to your charts, diagrams and colored notes.
I thought I’d discuss with you twelve important benefits that go on out of sight to make your personal reading the best you can get. I always think it is convenient that astrology has twelve signs as they can be used to underline different things, just like those here.
More >>> Book your personal astrology reading now
Aries: My personal efforts for you
When you experience a reading with me you are not just getting my attention for one hour, you are benefitting from my years of dedication and passion for astrology.
I strive to present the very best information I can for you and to offer it in a way that you can understand. I am constantly on the look out for, and creating, new initiatives to appreciate astrology and all of these projects that I have up my sleeve will benefit you.
Taurus: A love of astrology
I love astrology, its value as a tool for self-understanding and how at times it unfolds in the most unlikely way.
I believe in getting to grips with the basics of chart interpretation and this comes from the long slog of learning all the building blocks of astrology which are the signs, planets, houses and aspects.
This is foundational information but you need to know it all before you can start a full interpretation for anyone’s chart. To be a good astrologer you have to pay your dues.
Gemini: Years of classroom learning and reading
I have spent many hours in assorted astrology classrooms. In my initial diploma course way back in the 1980’s for over three years and since then at various in between classes and during the past eight years through further study at the Faculty.
To my mind learning is an ongoing process as new things come up all the time and it is important that I, as your astrologer, keep up to date and hone my information to remain relevant.
Read more >>> One Hour Consultation with Alison
Read more >>> What Happens at an Astrology Reading
Cancer: Know where you come from
Part of being an astrologer is knowing what you can and can’t do. You need to know where you are coming from and where you can confidently go with your clients.
This is what I do for you.
I know I only do western astrology, I typically have engaged and creative people in my practice and I prefer to inspire my clients to live their life through their charts.
At the same time I also know what I don’t do such as rectification or mundane work.
Leo: My creative expression of your chart
Much of my work these days focuses on finding the creativity and genius in your chart. Many of my clients want to know what they can expect and how they can work towards finding satisfaction in their lives.
I honestly believe that this shows in your natal chart and I endeavour to tease out all the creative possibilities I see for you so you can give birth to them.
Virgo: Attention to detail
The research work that goes into exploring your natal chart is detail oriented. There is lots of maths, fine tuning with small degrees and minutes that can make a huge difference in the timing of events in your future.
Checking your chart data and facts is essential for a thorough interpretation and this does take time.
The devil is in the details.
Libra: You and me
All consultations involve two people. You and me. We come together to explore your chart and find a balance, or a middle ground, between what you need to know and what you want to know.
Because we don’t have all day to spend looking into every nook and cranny it is important that I think about our personal one-to-one relationship and concerns and that I harmonise the session to suit you.
Scorpio: Your privacy
This means that I am mindful of anything that you wish to keep quiet about and I respect your wishes by being aware that what I may think is not such a big deal but you may be in angst about.
If you so desire I will help you tune in to your deeper issues but I will not force you to face things for which you are not ready.
A reading is not about doing the dirty laundry it is about being where you are at this time in your life and as your astrologer I will acknowledge that.
Sagittarius: Your vision for your future
My philosophy about your reading is much like, “What has gone is gone. it’s all about what you will do from this day onward.” This means that how you move forward in your life is more important than what has passed.
We all have issues or baggage and the day does arrive when it is time to branch out and strike a new path for yourself.
This forward drive will always be the focus of any reading I do for you as I show you the possibilities.
Capricorn: Respect for you
I am not here to tell you what to do or to urge you to live your life as how I see fit. That is not my role. I respect your chart, its message and the planetary combinations that make up the individual you.
You are your chart and I acknowledge this.
I will not try to change you or to dismiss any fears you may have. I will accept you just as you are.
I want you to achieve your full potential as shown by your chart and this is what I will hold up to you. You are in the driver’s seat and decisions you make are your choice.
Aquarius: Becoming friends
I would like to think that with all (or most) of my students and clients we have a rapport at the end. That when the period for us to come together such as after a class has finished or a reading is done that we can be friends and that we are at ease with each other in a social setting.
Now this does not happen every time but I’ve got to tell you, it happens most of the time.
It is as though my chart attracts those that I can help through my own planetary placing and that connection sustains us through into a future friendship as well.
Pisces: Offering you a place for reflection
As your personal astrology session draws to a close it is important for you to have time for reflection on what has been said in the reading.
I always let you know that you can email me if something comes up in the following few days or if you need time to compose a question upon which some light needs to be shone.
I leave you with time to pause and reflect on your consultation with me which is a very important part of the process and rounds it all off well.
Conclusion
These are some of the ways that I prepare for your personal astrology session.
Clearly it is not just sixty minutes out of my life, although it may be one hour out of yours. The background preparation for me is both intense and reflective.
The experience and skill of your astrologer will show through in the reading they can provide and the lasting value that is perceived by the most important part of this process, you.
