I left home and made my way to the Vancouver Art Gallery plaza and Robson Square in the heart of Vancouver.
I found a spot on the steps high up where the early birds had gathered. You know those eclipse watchers that were there before me.
9:10am
With my super eclipse shades, I began to watch the eclipse and the Moon’s limb slowly crept over the disk of the Sun. Very exciting.
The guy next to me was photographing with a very expensive looking camera. Two young students about aged 19 sat down with two plates of bacon, fried eggs, and toast from the food truck nearby. They proceeded to tuck in and wolf the lot down.
9:50am
The Moon’s limb reached the center point of the Sun’s disk easing in from the right.
So far it has been a bright and sunny summer’s day in the city. The sky was blue and virtually cloud-free, so perfect eclipse viewing weather. By now it is still very hot and with a slight breeze.
10:00am
The Moon is now almost two-thirds over the Sun. Is it getting cooler? I believe it may be.
The crowd has grown as more people gather on the steps.
Many are using the pinpoint viewing method of projecting the eclipse onto a card or the back wall.
The excitement was getting palpable.
I tried to take a photo with my eclipse glasses but the shot is a very blurry orange blob. Clearly, I am not a great photographer.
Trying to take a photo through my eclipse shades with my iPhone camera.
10:05am
Feeling a bit cooler now. Lots of people on the steps. The excitement is stronger as the conversations flow amongst the strangers who have come together at this special moment in time. Keen eclipse they exchange opinions on the best way to view the eclipse.
Keen eclipse watchers exchange opinions on the best way to view the eclipse.
The orange blurry blob is the eclipse.
10:20am
We are now at maximum coverage for Vancouver at around 78%. It seems strange how the Moon is moving from the right to the left. Now it is as total as it gets and it is definitely cooler now. The crowd is at full capacity on the steps now.
At the maximum the Moon seems to be moving off towards the bottom of the Sun as the thin crescent of the Sun still glares through the light is still strong but not the heat. The shadows seem even longer but how can that be?
At the moment of maximum, the crowd cheers and yells and everyone is smiling. What a super community here in Vancouver.
I am so happy I chose this spot to view the eclipse. The Sun now look orange and nearly red through my super cool shades.
People start to share their viewing screens and some let the flood of lawyers from the courts nearby to see. I cannot tell you the community support and camaraderie here on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza.
This is truly a special place to live. I am grateful that my husband brought us here over five years ago.
What teh Sun looks like at greatest eclipse. Still lots of light but a little cooler.
The last solar eclipse I saw was in Phalaborwa on the Tropic of Capricorn at latitude 23S in the southern hemisphere. This solar eclipse is being watched on the forty-ninth parallel at latitude 49N on the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
Where will I see my next solar eclipse? Who knows but I will look in Solar Fire and find one close by or one that I can comfortably travel to.
My notes that were taken on location in Vancouver.
I’ll definitely see you the next eclipse and I may even have special Starzology eclipse shades for you as well in my favourite cantaloupe colour.
“Can you tell me if Financial Astrology is lucrative? I would like to earn money as an astrologer.
What do you think is the best way to learn financial astrology?”
This is a question I received from a reader like you about making money as a financial astrologer. This query comes up often and I have answered it below.
“Is Financial Astrology Lucrative?”
Whether financial astrology is lucrative depends. There is not a “yes” or “no” answer.
It depends on who you are and what you know.
As an astrologer, it really hinges on your own natal chart. For all questions like these, we would look to your unique birth chart
Ask yourself the following about your own chart:
Do I have thenatal promise for income from financial astrology or even regular astrology for that matter?
Do I have planets in my second house?
Are they unafflicted?
Where is Uranus (the planet that rules astrology) and what is its condition?
Is Uranus unafflicted and that means it has no squares or oppositions from the malefics?
Is my second house ruler strong, direct and well-placed?
Then you would assess the Midheaven its ruler and the tenth house for your entrepreneurial skills.
Many astrologers do make some money from astrology. Anything from US$1 to US$999 per month.
Many astrologers work in this area with a variable income that can vary each month and it depends on how many charts they read and other activities.
Income of over US$1000 per month
Some astrologers make a reasonable amount. Here the benchmark is more than US$1000 per month. So that is around US$12000 per year.
But, does it provide for a full time living off astrology alone?
Perhaps not, but it does augment your day job, and it provides an outlet for the creative work that astrology can be.
If you live in Africa (as I did for over thirty years) or Asia you are likely to find this adequate income.
Income of over US$5000 per month
Very few astrologer fall into this category but it can be done. Here the income is enough to sustain astrology as a full-time job, career and vocation and you can comfortably budget for tax at around 20%.
With a net income of US$4000, anyone can manage, even those of us living in expensive cities in the first world.
You can look atthe five levels of astrologerand see where you are and map out yoru career path using this a guideline.
“What do you think is the best way to learn financial astrology?”
Let us assume that you already know basic chart reading and you can you interpret a chart with confidence.
Financial astrology falls into two camps:
Do you want to follow the stock exchanges, forex and financial markets and earn money through your general fiscal information and tips?
Or,
Do you want to help everyday people to make good financial decisions based on their own natal chart and what it suggests for investments and luck?
Either way, you need to fully understand the dynamics of a chart, the four financial house and two financial planets. In other words your money planets.
Where to next?
You have to be confident in basic astrology in the first place.
You have to understand financial markets, economics etc.
You should be tracking your own financial upliftment that has happened through your own decisions based on the astrology in your chart.
You should already be giving astrological financial advice to family and friends.
Investigate the messages from the forecasting techniques of current transits, solar arc directions and solar returns, secondary progressions and eclipses.
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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.
Author: Alison Price - Published: June 2024 Let’s Talk About Birth Data In astrology the actual chart is the core of an interpretation. For every reading you absolutely require a chart. When you cast a birth chart for someone you do need a few bits of information....
This post is part of a series on basic chart interpretation and how to read a natal chart. The other steps are listed below and will be developed soon.
The fourth step for a basic chart interpretation is where you take the margin notes and flesh them out.
You can either write directly onto the margin notes page or type some detailed notes up for a written report for your client. I tend to do the written notes if I am having a face to face session with my client.
Gone are the days of written reports but some of you may still find there is a clarity that comes from details written notes. I certainly suggest you do this at least once either for your own chart of someone close to you.
It is a good exercise in the discipline required to read an astrology chart.
Example Detailed Notes
Below is an example of the first page for detailed astrology chart notes for an example chart.
Each piece of the chart is considered and a report like this can be over 50 pages of text.
If you have Solar Fire you can start to add each paragraph into the database so you don’t have t o keep repeating yourself in the future when you do another chart which has the same components.
Notice how the second paragraph draws together the three parts of; the strong western hemisphere, the strong triple division of houses and the strong second quadrant.
This is a typical feature of interpretation where three indicators bring clarity to your readings.
1 Strong western hemisphere
2 Strong 2nd triple division of house
3 Strong 2nd quadrants
You always need to be on the look out for themes and indicators that come from more than one source when doing a basic chart interpretation.
Your Future Chart Interpretations
The more charts you read the better you will get at interpretations.
There is a tipping point for chart readings and when they start to get easier. It is after your twenty-fifth chart that you suddenly can read a chart with ease.
Every time you start to read a chart there are so many things to look at and it can be daunting.
Here I have brought the essence of chart reading down to a few features to consider. These are things you will always look at when you do any chart reading.
If you practice this type of high level chart your interpretation you will get to the heart of your chart reading sooner rather than later.
These tips will sharpen your focus so you don’t go off at a tangent or wander down a chart reading rabbit hole.
1. The Dominant Broad Stroke
The dominant broad stroke refers to the background feel for a chart. This is shown by the quantity of planets and their distribution throughout the chart.
The broad strokes do not consider individual planets.
Planet Count
You count the visible planets only and this will always add up to seven. The seven visible planets are the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
The four hemispheres of north, south, east and west
The four quadrants numbered first, second, third and fourth.
In all of this find the highest possible number and focus on interpreting that broad stroke.
2. The Chart Ruler Complex
The chart ruler is the planet that rules the sign on the ascendant. If it is one of the three signs with two rulers (Scorpio, Aquarius or Capricorn) then look at both rulers.
Look closely at this planet and discover it’s message. Understand the chart ruler by sign, house, aspects and position in the chart.
Strong
The chart ruler is strong if it is in its own sign or in exaltation or in other words if it has essential dignity.
It is strong in accidental dignity which is the natural house of its sign. So for example, Mars in the eighth house is strong because Mars rules Scorpio the natural eighth sign.
Notice if it rules the hemisphere, quadrant, division or the house it tenants.
If the chart ruler has only soft aspects it is supported, but if it receives only hard aspects it is afflicted. A combination of both brings a neutral feel.
Position in the Chart
See if the chart ruler dominates the chart by being high in teh chart and most elevated, oriental, the final dispositor or is it in an angular house (first, fourth, seventh or tenth).
These positions add weight to the planets and give it gravitas.
Major Aspect Patterns
See if the chart ruler is well engaged by being part of a major aspect pattern. Check if it dominates the pattern.
This placement adds strength to the chart ruler.
Chart Ruler’s Direction
Check if the chart ruler’s motion is direct, stationary or retrograde.
Being direct adds weight and makes the planet strong but the state of being retrograde detracts from the planet’s potential. Being stationary can add strength depending on how comfortable it is in its sign.
To find the tightest aspect you have to consider the aspects between the planets and the orbs.
What to Look For
Look for aspects between the planets and not the points.
The planets to consider when looking for the tightest aspect are; the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Chiron.
What to Ignore
Do not consider any points like the Ascendant, the Midheaven, the Lunar Nodes or the Part of Fortuneetc.
I also do not consider the asteroids unless you use them in your daily astrology practice. If not then ignore asteroids including Ceres.
Only look for the five Ptolemaic aspects which are the conjunction, sextile, square, trine and opposition.
Tightest orb
Find the aspect with the tightest orb which should be 00°00′.
See which aspect it is and understand the meaning of this aspect.
Consider at the two planets in the aspect and how they will work together in this chart and in this aspect.
Check the house and signs that the tightest aspect lies over and understand what this means.
5. The Prominent Major Aspect Pattern
You need the find the most dominant major aspect pattern in the chart.
Some charts may not have a major aspect pattern and if so, then skip this step.
If there is more than one major aspect pattern of the same type, say you have three T-squares, then find the tightest orbed T-square, the non-disassociate T-square and the one that includes the chart ruler, the Sun or the final dispositor.
Find this major aspect pattern and fully understand the planets involved in it by sign, house and essential dignity.
Use these tips to help you read a chart quickly and easily.
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 atstarzology@gmail.com.
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If you enjoyed this post, you may like some more astrology related articles from our blog.
This post is part of a series on basic chart interpretation and how to read a natal chart. The other steps are listed below and will be developed soon.
Step 3 – Preparing for the interpretation – margin notes
Step 4 – Your interpretation – detailed notes
Preparing for the Interpretation – Margin Notes
Once you have the correct chart data, have cast the chart and printed it with the appropriate coloured highlights on the page the next step is the written notes you will make and first you will do the margin notes.
At this stage your are not using you astrology journal to take notes for a client that will be used to capture basic astrology interpretation meaning.
You will typically use loose paper with lines and, wait for it, a margin.
Margin
The margin is the column on the left side of a ruled page.
Margin notes are any notes you put in a margin. Simple.
Yes, but exactly what notes will you put in a margin when you do a chart interpretation?
Margin notes can be either handwritten astrology glyphs or astrology short form codes (used when typing or emailing).
Example Chart – Stephen King
Below is Stephen King’s chart.
Five Main Points for Chart Interpretation
The five important details for margin notes are:
The Balances
The Ascendant Complex
The Chart Ruler Complex
The Sun Complex
Major Aspect Patterns
Example Margin Notes for Stephen King
The Balances
Polarity
Active = 4 and passive = 3.
Hemispheres
NH = 6, SH – 1, EH = 4 and WH = 3.
Quadrants
Q1 = 3, Q2 = 3, Q3 = 0 and Q4 = 1.
The Ascendant Complex
ASC 29CA51.
Ascendant aspects
ASC-60-SU, ASC-60-VE, ASC-0-MA, ASC-120-JP, and ASC-120-NN.
First House Planets
PL and SA.
The Chart Ruler complex
MO SG 5th
Aspects of the chart ruler
MO-120-SA, MO-120-PL and MO-60-ME.
The Sun Complex
SU VI 3rd.
Sun aspects
SU-0-VE, SU-90-UR and SU-45-PL.
Major Aspect Patterns
Mini grand trine 1
(MO-120-PL)-60-ME
ME focal planet 4th
Mini grand trine 2
(MO-120-SA)-60-ME
ME focal planet 4th
Subsequent Margin Notes
After the five main points you will list in order:
The Moon complex (if not already done as the chart ruler)
The final dispositors complex (if not already done as the chart ruler)
The rest of the planets in order in the houses by angular, succedent and cadent
At the end, you will have everything listed in the chart. But the first five things will be the important issues and the ones that the client is dealing with already.
Interpreting a chart is easy when you break down the steps and do them in order of importance and order of relevance.
You do not need to be looking at a Chiron semi-sextile the North Node aspect as the first thing you consider.
Nor do you interpret from the planets in Aries first and then Taurus. Understand the weight of the planet and its prominence within a chart.
This post is part of a series on basic chart interpretation and how to read a natal chart. The other steps are listed below and will be developed soon.
The Physical Chart – Printing and Highlighting Main Features
This time I going to share with you some of my process and the focus will be on the natal chart. I will answer the following questions that plague new astrologers.
Once you have the chart cast what do you look for? What is important? What is not worthy of consideration and where do you start?
The image below is of a chart for Rosie and she is one of my clients. I have not shown the chart details that is; the time, date and place as that is not important.
What we are going to be looking at is how to prepare a chart for reading after you have printed it out and before you start.
This is like step 2 of the natal chart reading process.
What to Print
In Solar Fire or your other astrology program print a chart with a half aspectarian in the corner as shown above. This is a standard chart so you should have no problem doing this.
House Rulers
Write the house rulers against every house cusp. Start at the ascendant and in this chart (above) I have written Jupiter/Neptune and drawn a bubble around them at the house cusp.
Quadrant and Hemispheres
Draw a circle in the top right of the page. Draw a cross in it with one horizontal line and one vertical line.
This shows the four quadrants (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th) and the four hemispheres (north, south, east and west).
Only counting the visible planets from the Sun to Saturn count how many planets are in each quadrant.
In this chart there is one planet in the first quadrant (Saturn), two planets in the second quadrant (Jupiter and Venus), three planets in the third quadrant (the Sun, Mars and Mercury) and one planet in the fourth quadrant (the Moon).
Elements and Modes Table
Draw a table of four columns and three rows.
On the top label the columns F (fire), E (earth), A (air) and W (water). On the side label the rows C (cardinal), F (fixed) and M (mutable).
Add the number of visible planets (the Sun to Saturn) and write the quantity in the appropriate cell in the table.
Add up each row and column. The total will always be seven.
Chart Ruler
Find the chart ruler which is the planet or planets that rules the ascendant sign. In this case, it is Pisces so the ruling planets are Jupiter and Neptune. Colour in each instance of the ruling planets in yellow.
Major Aspect Patterns
Find all the major aspect patterns.
In this chart there is a stellium of the Sun, Neptune and Mars and a Moon yod of Mars, Pluto and the Moon.
Bracket the stellium and highlight in red so you can see it easily.
Colour the yod in green to relate to the quincunx colour which is green.
The idea is to bring forth the main features of a chart through the use of colour so you can easily see the main points when you pick up this chart again next month.
If you are reading many charts a week you do not have time to reread each chart to discover the main threads. they should be highlighted the first time around.
Most Elevated
Note the most elevated planet in this case it is Mercury (although I originally noted Mars in the drawing and I can’t change the image.
Note the lunar phase in this chart for Rosie it is a gibbous Moon phase.
Essential Dignity
Find the essential dignity of the planets and write the score on the left of the aspectarian. the aspectarian is the triangle-shaped grid at the bottom left of the chart.
In this chart we note that Mars gets a score of -5 for being in Libra and Venus of -4 for being in fall in Virgo.
Mutual Receptions
Note all mutual receptions in the chart. Interestingly enough in Rosie’s chart there are two mutual reception pairs, Mercury and Venus are the first pair and the Moon and Jupiter are the second.
On the back of the natal chart page you will also draw the dispositor tree using these handy mutual receptions as your start.
Alison
Watch the video about highlighting a birth chart as part of your chart preparation process.
Note that it refers to another birth chart but show sthe process that you will use for every chart you cast.
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