This article was co-authored by Tara Divina. Tara Divina is a California-based Vedic Astrologer. Vedic Astrology, also known as Jyotish, is an ancient, sacred art of self-understanding and divination. With nearly 10 years of experience, Tara gives personalized readings that answer her clients' biggest questions about relationships, money, purpose, career, and other big life decisions.
There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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Astrology is not the same thing as astronomy, although they are sometimes confused. Astrology is the study of the alignment of planets, often at the time of a person’s birth. People create and read astrological charts to help them identify personality traits—good and bad—and to gain insight into the events of their lives. Anyone with an interest in astrology can learn how it works and apply the principles to create and interpret astrological charts of their own.
Steps
Mastering the Basics of Astrology
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1Identify the 12 zodiac signs and their related sun sign dates. Most people are familiar with sun signs, since these are commonly thought to be significant for determining one’s individual traits. However, all of the astrological signs are present on a person’s astrological chart at the time of their birth. They just appear in different positions depending on the time of year. The sun travels through all of the signs of the zodiac as the year progresses. Its alignment with each sign is as follows:[1]
- Aries: March 20 to April 22
- Taurus: April 21 to May 22
- Gemini: May 21 to June 22
- Cancer: June 21 to July 22
- Leo: July 21 to August 22
- Virgo: August 21 to September 22
- Libra: September 21 to October 22
- Scorpio: October 21 to November 22
- Sagittarius: November 21 to December 22
- Capricorn: December 21 to January 22
- Aquarius: January 20 to February 19
- Pisces: February 18 to March 21
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2Look at the sun, moon, and planets that are incorporated into astrology. Astrology incorporates the positions of the sun, moon, and other planets in earth’s orbit. Where each is positioned on an astrological chart will affect the meaning of the chart. When you look at an astrological chart, you will see symbols for:[2]
- Sun
- Moon
- Mercury
- Venus
- Mars
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Uranus
- Neptune
- Pluto
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3Look at the zodiac as a 360 degree circle to identify aspects. Aspects in astrology are the way that the planets align with each other in relation to their position around the earth. If 2 planets are in aspect in an astrological chart, they may form an angle, overlap, or be opposite each other. This changes the significance of their positions and you will have to interpret their positions in relation to each other. The 4 major aspects to look for on an astrological chart include:[3]
- Conjunction, which is when there is 0 degrees of separation between 2 planets and they overlap.
- Sextile, which is when there is 60 degrees of separation.
- Square, which is when the planets form a 90 degree angle.
- Trine, which is when the planets form a 120 degree angle.
- Opposition, which is when the planets are at opposite sides of the chart or have 180 degrees of separation.
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4Identify the astrological symbols or glyphs. Before you can create or read a chart, you’ll need to know what all of the symbols on the chart mean. There are symbols for the planets, astrological signs, and special points and angles, so it can get a little complicated. Study the symbols and try drawing each one yourself to help familiarize yourself with them.[4]
- For example, the sun symbol is shaped like a circle with a dot at the center of it, while the moon looks like a crescent.
- Aquarius’ symbol looks like 2 parallel wavy lines, while Taurus looks like a bull’s head with 2 horns on top of it.
- The north node symbol looks like a pair of right side up headphones, while the south node looks like a pair of upside down headphones.
Tip: You can find a chart of all of the symbols and glyphs on Astro Library’s website: https://astrolibrary.org/glyphs/ or Always’s Astrology’s website: https://www.alwaysastrology.com/astrology-symbols.html
Going Deeper into Astrological Concepts
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1Learn about the different astrological houses. The houses are arranged on a wheel like the signs of the zodiac, but they are not the same thing. The houses correspond to the hours of the day on a person’s birth chart rather than to a time of the year. Depending on the time of a person’s birth, they might have different traits associated with each house.[5]
- 1st house: Self
- 2nd house: Money and possessions
- 3rd house: Communication
- 4th house: Home and everything associated with it
- 5th house: Children, creativity, and the pursuit of pleasure
- 6th house: Daily work, service, health, and sickness
- 7th house: Marriage and relationships
- 8th house: Joint finances
- 9th house: Philosophy, religion, law, and education
- 10th house: Status, reputation, and honor
- 11th house: Community, friends, and large groups
- 12th house: The subconscious mind, memory, and habits
Tip: If you’re planning on making a birth chart for someone, make sure to find out their time of birth. This will impact the position of the houses on their chart and allow you to provide a more accurate reading.
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2Look for the rising sign and its significance. The rising sign, also known as the ascendant, is the sign that appears in the first house on an astrological birth chart. This will vary depending on the person’s time of birth. A person’s rising sign will indicate personality traits that are more apparent to other people than to that person. The rising sign may also impact the person’s actions and their lasting impact on the world.[6]
- Note that your rising sign can be different from your sun sign. For example, you might be a Taurus with a rising sign of Gemini, or a Pisces with a rising sign of Leo.
- You need to complete an astrology birth chart to find your rising sign.
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3Develop your knowledge of the 4 zodiac elements. Understanding the elements will make it much easier to interpret an astrological chart since these are the underlying traits of each zodiac sign. By committing these to memory or at least developing a good understanding of them, you will gain a deeper understanding of how astrology works and how to apply it. The 4 elements and their associated traits include:[7]
- Fire: Associated with Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Fire signs are quick to act and take risks. They are often extroverts, energetic, and physically active. However, they may also be impatient, insensitive, and selfish.
- Air: Associated with Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. Air signs are thoughtful, social, and love learning. They are often articulate, understanding, and objective. However, they may also be unemotional, impractical, and hyperactive.
- Water: Associated with Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. They are responsive to energy, deeply emotional, nurturing, calm, and compassionate. However, they may also be shy, oversensitive, vindictive, and moody.
- Earth: Associated with Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Earth signs are practical, realistic, cautious, efficient, patient, and hard-working. However, they may also be slow, unimaginative, and stubborn.
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4Determine if a sign is yin or yang to find its polarity and qualities. Yin and yang are opposites and all of the zodiac signs correspond to one or the other. In general, yang signs are more active and assertive while yin signs are more passive and receptive. Yang is typically associated with masculine energy while yin is associated with feminine energy. By knowing what signs are yin and what signs are yang, you can gain some additional insight into the meaning of a sign.[8]
- Yin: Virgo, Taurus, Capricorn, Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Yin signs are also more likely to be passive, introverted, withdrawn, and reactive.
- Yang: Aquarius, Aries, Gemini, Leo, Libra, and Sagittarius. Yang signs are also more likely to be direct, outgoing, extroverted, and giving.
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5Study astrology to gain additional knowledge on the subject. There are tons of ways that you can deepen your knowledge of astrology even further if you want to learn more. Some options you might try include:
- Reading books on Astrology
- Taking an astrology class in-person or online
- Attending a local meetup or other group to meet other people interested in astrology
- Using online resources to help you understand astrology’s concepts, such as the Astrology Dictionary: http://theastrologydictionary.com/
Putting Your Astrology Knowledge into Practice
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1Learn how to create an astrological chart. Making astrological charts is a great way to learn more about astrology and practice your skills. You can create charts by hand, use a computer program, or create them online with a free website. You can make a birth chart or natal astrology chart for yourself or someone else, or create charts for different events.
- If you want to print out a chart, you can get a free printable template on Always Astrology’s website: https://www.alwaysastrology.com/astrology-symbols.html
Tip: There are websites that will automatically create a birth chart for you for free if you have the necessary information, such as the person’s birth date, year, and time. Try making a chart using Astro Library’s website: https://astrolibrary.org/free-birth-chart/
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2Read the results of the charts you create. Use the knowledge you have gained about the different zodiac signs, planetary aspects, and elements to help you interpret a chart. Keep in mind that astrology is not an exact science, so don’t worry if some aspects of your reading seem a little off. You will gain more insight and improve your chart readings with time.[9]
- If you create an astrological chart using a website, then it will also provide interpretations of your chart.
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3Write horoscopes based on your astrology findings. If you create a chart and want to boil it down into a forecast for the day, week, or month, then you might try your hand at writing horoscopes. This is a way of succinctly describing what the planetary alignment indicates for different individuals. It’s a fun way to practice your astrology skills and continue building your knowledge.
Glossary of Astrological Terms
Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do you become an astrologer?
Tara DivinaTara Divina is a California-based Vedic Astrologer. Vedic Astrology, also known as Jyotish, is an ancient, sacred art of self-understanding and divination. With nearly 10 years of experience, Tara gives personalized readings that answer her clients' biggest questions about relationships, money, purpose, career, and other big life decisions.
Vedic AstrologerAstrology is meant to be learned from a teacher and many essential aspects of astrology aren't taught in books. Find a reputable astrology teacher with a lot of experience in both teaching and giving readings. -
QuestionIs it hard to learn astrology?
Drew Hawkins1Community AnswerAstrology has a rich and deep history, but learning the basics is actually really simple! Start by identifying the 12 zodiac signs and their corresponding dates. Most people are familiar with sun signs, since these are commonly thought to be significant for determining one’s individual traits. But the truth is that all of the signs are present on your chart, they just appear in different positions depending on the time of year. Once you learn the 12 signs, you can start to look at the way they correspond to each other like a large circle. Aspects in astrology are the way that the planets align with each other in relation to their position around the earth. So if 2 planets are in aspect, they may form an angle, overlap, or be across from each other. It can start to get more complicated from here, but once you understand the basics, you can start exploring astrology even further. -
QuestionWhere can I learn about astrology?Drew Hawkins1Community AnswerThere are actually a couple of ways you can learn about astrology. The best way is to take a class or go to a holistic school that teaches astrology. That way you can listen to a teacher, read the materials, and ask questions if you're unsure about something. However, you don't have to take a class. You can learn on your own. Try reading books about astrology or watching videos explaining how it all works. If you're committed to it, you can definitely learn all about it.
Warnings
- Never use astrology alone or to help you make major life decisions!⧼thumbs_response⧽
References
- ↑ https://astrolibrary.org/zodiac/
- ↑ https://astrolibrary.org/planets/
- ↑ https://astrolibrary.org/aspects-in-astrology/
- ↑ https://astrolibrary.org/glyphs/
- ↑ https://astrolibrary.org/houses/
- ↑ https://astrolibrary.org/rising/
- ↑ https://astrolibrary.org/elements/
- ↑ https://astrolibrary.org/elements/
- ↑ https://astrolibrary.org/easy-birth-chart-reading-techniques/
About This Article
Astrology is a complex topic, but mastering some of the basic concepts will give you a good starting foundation for understanding how it works. To start learning astrology, first get familiar with the 12 signs of the zodiac. These are a series of constellations that the sun passes through at different times of the year. Astrologers believe that the sign most closely associated with the sun at the time of your birth—called your sun sign or star sign—influences things like your personality and physical traits. To find your sun sign, locate the sign associated with the appropriate date range for your birth on an astrology chart. For example, if you were born between August 21st and September 22nd, that makes you a Virgo. The sun, moon, and planets—including Pluto—also play key roles in the study of astrology. Each of these celestial bodies is thought to have its own special traits that can influence things like your relationships, your moods, and your health. Astrologers look at the zodiac as a circle divided up into 12 main segments, or houses. They use circular astrological charts to show the positions of the signs, planets, and other celestial bodies relative to each other around the circle. Take some time to get familiar with the common symbols you might see on one of these charts, like the solar disk for the sun, the lunar crescent for the moon, and the unique symbols representing each of the 12 signs. Once you know the basics, improve your knowledge by brushing up on some of the more advanced concepts in astrology. For example, get to know the 12 houses associated with each of the signs. The houses are linked to different aspects of a person’s life, such as their romantic relationships, financial status, or home life, and are affected by which celestial bodies were located in each house at the time and date of their birth. Other important concepts include the rising sign, which is the sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the exact moment of your birth, and the zodiac elements, which help determine the underlying traits of each sign. To deepen your understanding of astrology, try reading books on astrology, taking classes online or in-person, and putting your knowledge into practice by reading or creating astrology charts and horoscopes.
