Teaching Yourself Astrology: Where to Start
Over the past year and a half, I’ve been taking a very, deep dive into the art of astrology on my path to mastering this art form. And people have been asking me recently how I learned and where to start. So I wanted to share the teachers I’ve discovered on my journey who I feel offer the most holistic and healing approach to chart readings.
Sharing this info is important to me for several reasons:
1. I wish I had had someone like me to share these resources when I was first starting out.
2. I truly feel the world will be a better place when more people have an understanding of their natal chart and the unique combination of energies they have been gifted with in this lifetime and how to harness them to their greatest potential.
It took a lot of digging to find the people whose style and approach I most resonated with. With my background in spiritual psychology it was important to me that my astrological influencers have a softer, more soul-oriented approach rather than one that felt predictive and rigid.
One of my fave astrologers - Dana Gerhardt - puts it perfectly by saying that there are two approaches to astrology: scribes and magicians. Scribes approach the natal chart more scientifically. They tend to dissect and isolate areas of the chart and start by chopping things up. Their predictions are mostly based on their intellect and what the books say. Whereas magicians prefer to feel into the circular whole that presents itself in a chart, looking at the flow of energy and always grounding raw, planetary information in the actual person in front of them, their intuition and the notion that there is no good or bad, or right or wrong in a chart, only unique energetic combinations and the opportunities they present.
I think you can guess which camp I tend toward ;) So if you’re magician-minded like me (neptune is strong in my chart), here are my recs on where to start:
General Overview/Beginner Resources:
The Inner Sky by Steven Forrest. Steven’s approach to astrology is deeply poetic, imaginative and rooted in psychology. He is my go-to. And this book offers an in-depth and intuitive journey into all the essentials of astrology.
You Were Born For This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance by Chani Nicholas. Great for true beginners seeking a more simplified approach to navigating the natal chart. Chani also has a fantastic app, which gives you weekly updates on planetary movements and how they effect you/your chart. FYI she uses Whole Sign houses so some placements may differ when using her app if you have been looking up your chart through a different house system.
Visionary Activist Astrology by Caroline Casey absolutely blew my mind. If you want a poetic approach to astrology and you’re a fan of myth and folklore in the Joseph Campbell way, do yourself a favor and download this audiobook.
Dani Beinstein: This is the brilliant woman who introduced me to the magician-version of astrology. I love following her posts on insta to get weekly reports of what is going on in the sky and she now offers an online intro to astrology course. Dani and I did a fascinating interview together a while back that you can watch here.
Dana Gerhardt: Dana is the OG astro-magician who taught me the art of feeling into a chart. I highly recommend reading her articles on Astro.com that explore the significances of the houses, planets and signs in a super creative and playful way. Dana’s monthly articles on the planetary transits and lunations are also full of information not to mention spot on.
Astrology Podcast: This is the main podcast on astrology that I listen to. They tend to err on the scribe side of things, but their monthly and yearly reports of planetary movements are always really helpful to understand the energy that is present in the sky. And the podcasts they did a while back on the significance of the signs and planets are great for basic understanding.
Lifting the Veil: Becoming Your Own Best Astrologer by Elizabeth Spring. Elizabeth’s background is in Jungian Psychology, which pairs so beautifully with astrology. And this book is incredibly encouraging to anyone just starting out in their exploration of astrology who may be feeling overwhelmed by all the moving pieces!
North/South Node Resources:
Yesterday’s Sky” by Steven Forrest. Again, my go-to book on the nodes as Steven is really the leading astrologer when it comes to this subject.
North Node Astrology: Rediscovering Your Life Direction and Soul Purpose by Elizabeth Spring. For those who want to take their understanding of the significance of the nodes more in-depth. Love this book.
Astrology for the Soul by Jan Spiller. Another great one that is incredibly thorough regarding the sign placements of the nodes. And I mean THOROUGH.
Other Resources:
Aspects in Astrology by Sue Tompkins. Really brilliant insights into the aspects of the natal chart aka how the planets are in angle to one another and the challenges and/or strengths these contacts create in an individual.
The Astrology of Success by Jan Spiller. Great for understanding how to read the natal chart for hints as to your soul-fulfilling career.
The Soul Speaks: The Therapeutic Potential of Astrology by Mark Jones. Mark is a psychosynthesis therapist and hypnotherapist who is dedicated to bridging the gap between the fields of astrology and therapy and exploring how one can so beautifully complement the other with the right foundational understanding.
I hope this helps you get going and happy learning!