Having trouble figuring out astrology? Astrology has taken me years to understand. Probably, one of the more complex subjects I have explored in my life. I had a few difficulties on my path to becoming an astrologer. Here are some ways to get past some of those early stumbling blocks.
First, motivation. As a life-long (at least since I was 9 or 10) cosmic explorer you would think astrology would be a natural for me?
Not the case. Every time I would give it another go I felt like I was an analyst. Like at a hospital or a bank. Numbers everywhere! I am no stranger to numbers or analyzing them. But that is not what I wanted to be doing in my off-time.
Without thinking about it much I eventually stumbled on an approach to astrology that really resonated with me. This discovery process took me years! Ten or fifteen years actually. Maybe more. I don’t remember.
For me, finding Steven Forrest’s books introduced me to a new way, to me, to look at an astrological chart. Astrology as a way to gain insight into my evolution over lifetimes. Everything started making sense. The chart was also much less overwhelming somehow. Growth. All about growth. A reason was what I needed. A compelling reason.
Second, looking up meanings and definitions constantly. Why wasn’t anything sticking in my head. In part, the lacking motivation part was a factor here. Beyond that though is the vast number of interpretations and opinions on what different parts of and relationships in a chart mean!
Though this happened before I began Steven’s books, creating a framework for understanding an astrological chart was my key tool. Finding a way to organize concepts and processes took a while but paid off. I could begin to memorize keywords instead of countless interpretations by others. Turned out Steven’s books already had the frameworks I was developing and were much better than what I had created. So I knew I was on the right track and I switched to his which is when things really took off.
A framework doesn’t need to be and probably shouldn’t be complicated. Planets, signs, and houses associated with certain (few) key words give a starting point for interpreting the chart. You might still need to look up information now and then. When you do though you end up going deeper making more subtle connections. No longer needing to look up basic concept your intuition gets a chance to work. Connecting ideas behind the scenes.
As you continue composing basic interpretations your intuition continues to develop. In time, you don’t need to think about the basics. You have time to see more details. As you practice those levels of interpretation you will find more space in your brain to go even deeper. Without end.
The process reminds me of learning to dance. In my case, Argentine Tango. At first, the overwhelm is total. Social skills, physical skills, music, and more are almost too much.
After a while your mind has time to process the basics. You begin to hear the spaces and beats in the music. Which leads to being able to experience more complex and nuanced movements in relationship to the music and your partner.
Astrology feels a lot like that too. The key is being able to integrate and internalize. In astrology, planets, signs, and houses and how they are used together. Planet in sign in house makes a statement of some sort. You keep going by observing relationships between planets in other signs and houses. Etc. Etc. The complexity looks infinite the further you go down the astrology rabbit hole.
One practice which has helped me enormously with my learning process is meditation. Picking some element in astrology and using it as a theme to explore with meditation is all I do.
For example, this week I am finishing up a series of daily meditations on the signs. I contemplate their meaning one sign per day for 20 minutes. Including how they relate to the different planets and houses. There is easily a few weeks of meditation themes one could use per sign. But one sign per day is enough for now.
When I finish with the signs in a few days I am going to use the planets for meditation themes. Then the houses.
Some of these meditations I have already done in part. I used my natal chart as a source of themes early on in my learning process. Which naturally include some of the same elements as the more methodical approach. Not surprisingly the repeated themes become opportunities to go even deeper. The process is like peeling an onion. More is revealed no matter how many layers get peeled back!
All while focused on the fundamentals. Which is another key. Fundamentals and first principles will take you far in any field of study. Astrology included. It is so easy to get lost in ever increasing complexity. Often self-created. Going back to the basics is how one follows the path of mastery.