Astrology 101: Beginner Astrology

This post goes over the beginner concepts of astrology – these are the things I used when I first started my spiritual journey. There’s so much more to astrology than what I have listed, but what is in this post are the steps I used to get started…

How to Read Your Chart

Generate your natal chart
- Grab your birthday, birth time, and birth location then search for a birth chart generator. Here’s my two favorites:
  - https://yasminboland.astrostore.net/free/free-horoscopechart
  - https://astro.cafeastrology.com/natal.php
Focus on your sun, moon, and rising/ascendant first
- Take note of what house and what sign your sun, moon, and ascendant are in.
Then move onto Mercury, Venus, and Mars (your other personal planets)
- Repeat step 2 with Mercury, Venus, and Mars. These planets move position often and the placements are more focused on you as an individual.
Look into the generational or transpersonal planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
- Repeat with Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. These planets move much more slowly and the placements describe more what is going on within a generation rather than focusing primarily on us as individuals.
Look at the combination of the sign and which house it’s in
- Some houses won’t have planets in them, that’s ok! Take note of the combination of the house and which sign it is in.
Check out aspects on your charts
- These are the relationships between each planet. Some aspects or relationships are more difficult than others
Compare the charts of people you know
- Generate charts for people you know and look at similarities and differences between you and the other people. What can themes do you see between the similarities?

Astrological Signs

If you want a deeper dive into the zodiac seasons check out the Zodiac Seasons 101: Basic Information blog post

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

Icon: Ram
Element: Fire
Energy: Masculine
Modality: Cardinal
Ruling Planet: Mars
Cycle: Personal
Evolution: Ram>Shepherd>Reborn Sun
Keywords: self, courage, passionate, entrepreneurial, expressive, energetic, leader

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Icon: Bull
Element: Earth
Energy: Feminine
Modality: Fixed
Ruling Planet: Venus
Cycle: Personal
Evolution: Bull>Minotaur>Demigod
Keywords: loyal, reliable, sensual, practical, grounded, luxurious

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Icon: The Twins
Element: Air
Energy: Masculine
Modality: Mutable
Ruling Planet: Mercury
Cycle: Personal
Evolution: The Twins>Ship>Stars
Keywords: dualistic, self-expression, visionary, funny, clever, communicative

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Icon: Crab
Element: Water
Energy: Feminine
Modality: Cardinal
Ruling Planet: Moon
Cycle: Personal
Evolution: Crab>Hydra>Peacock
Keywords: home life, nurture, emotions, nostalgia, intuitive, sensitive

Leo (July 22-August 22)

Icon: Lion
Element: Fire
Energy: Masculine
Modality: Fixed
Ruling Planet: Sun
Cycle: Interpersonal
Evolution: Lion>Warrior>King
Keywords: creativity, pleasure, drama, outspoken, generous, devoted, assertive

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Icon: Virgin/Maiden
Element: Earth
Energy: Feminine
Modality: Mutable
Ruling Planet: Mercury
Cycle: Interpersonal
Evolution: Maiden>Dark Maiden>Queen
Keywords: self-improvement, grounded, practical, analytical, modest, industrious, reserved

Libra (September 23-October 22)

Icon: Scales
Element: Air
Energy: Masculine
Modality: Cardinal
Ruling Planet: Venus
Cycle: Interpersonal
Evolution: Scales>Blindfold>Sword
Keywords: partnership, balanced, caring, expressive, charming, outgoing, beauty

Scorpio (October 23-November 22)

Icon: Scorpion
Element: Water
Energy: Feminine
Modality: Fixed
Ruling Planet: Pluto
Cycle: Interpersonal
Evolution: Scorpion>Eagle>Phoenix
Keywords: legacies, passionate, intense, imaginative, transformative, persistent, subtle

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

Icon: Archer
Element: Fire
Energy: Masculine
Modality: Mutable
Ruling Planet: Jupiter
Cycle: Transpersonal
Evolution: Archer>Arrow>Centaur
Keywords: philosophy, optimism, generosity, explore, energy, honesty, vision

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Icon: Goat
Element: Earth
Energy: Feminine
Modality: Cardinal
Ruling Planet: Saturn
Cycle: Transpersonal
Evolution: Goat>Cave>Horn of Plenty
Keywords: public life, patient, disciplined, determined, methodical, responsible, rational

Aquarius (January 20-February 18)

Icon: Water Bearer
Element: Air
Energy: Masculine
Modality: Fixed
Ruling Planet: Uranus
Cycle: Transpersonal
Evolution: Water Bearer>Owl>Angel
Keywords: hope, ideals, intuitive, independent, humanitarian, inventive, opinionated, original

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

Icon: Two Fishes
Element: Water
Energy: Feminine
Modality: Mutable
Ruling Planet: Neptune
Cycle: Transpersonal
Evolution: Fish>Darkness>Ocean
Keywords: dreams, imaginative, intuitive, romantic, mystical, adaptable, artistic

Planets

Sun

Focus: Self and Basic Personality
Rules: Leo
Cycle: Personal Sign
Keywords: outward personality, how you appear to friends, ego, creativity, strengths, spirit

Moon

Focus: Emotions and Inner-self
Rules: Cancer
Cycle: Personal Sign
Keywords: inner self, emotional self, habitual behavior, instincts, needs

Rising/Ascendent

Focus: The First Impression you give and the mask you wear
Cycle: Personal Sign
Keywords: social personality, how you appear to strangers, your essence, physical appearance

Mercury

Focus: Communication and how you express yourself
Rules: Gemini and Virgo
Cycle: Personal Sign
Keywords: how you think, how you communicate, your thoughts, logic, mind, ideas

Venus

Focus: Love and Money and How you relate to people
Rules: Taurus and Libra
Cycle: Personal Sign
Keywords: how you love, aesthetics, what you enjoy, what you value, how you view money

Mars

Focus: Passion and how you chase your dreams
Rules: Aries
Cycle: Personal Sign
Keywords: how you fight, how you take action, what drives you, how you express your sexuality, competition

Jupiter

Focus: Luck and where you see adventure and learning
Rules: Sagittarius
Cycle: Transpersonal Sign
Keywords: fortune, luck, expansion, what is your truth, how you can use your gifts, optimism

Saturn

Focus: Your karma, planning and structure
Rules: Capricorn
Cycle: Transpersonal Sign
Keywords: career, where you need structure, karma in this life, what benefits you, boundaries

Uranus

Focus: Rebellion and where you find surprises/unexpectedness
Rules: Aquarius
Cycle: Transpersonal Sign
Keywords: innovation, how you are unique, change, awakening, breakthroughs in this life

Neptune

Focus: Illusion and your dreams for your life
Rules: Pisces
Cycle: Transpersonal Sign
Keywords: how you use your imagination, compassion, dreams, ideals, mystery

Pluto

Focus: Power and where transformation can happen for you
Rules: Scorpio
Cycle: Transpersonal Sign
Keywords: how you can transform, money, death, how you hold power, evolution

Houses

1st house

Ruling Planet: Mars
Associated Zodiac: Aries
Keywords: self, beginnings, how you interface with the world, your appearance, “how you do your sun”

2nd House

Ruling Planet: Venus
Associated Zodiac: Taurus
Keywords: possessions, income, values, skills, material attachments, financial security

3rd House

Ruling Planet: Mercury
Associated Zodiac: Gemini
Keywords: siblings, local adventures, habits, early education, social activity

4th House

Ruling Planet: The Moon
Associated Zodiac: Cancer
Keywords: home, mother, self-care, emotional foundations, ancestors, how you see yourself

5th House

Ruling Planet: The Sun
Associated Zodiac: Leo
Keywords: creativity, romance, children, passions, creative projects, leisure

6th House

Ruling Planet: Mercury
Associated Zodiac: Virgo
Keywords: service, health, your purpose, work, routine and wellness, work you do for money, obligations

7th House

Ruling Planet: Venus
Associated Zodiac: Libra
Keywords: business partnerships, social awareness, projections, enemies, mirroring

8th House

Ruling Planet: Pluto
Associated Zodiac: Scorpio
Keywords: transformation, intimacy, sex, shadow work, the occult, inheritance

9th House

Ruling Planet: Jupiter
Associated Zodiac: Sagittarius
Keywords: mental expansion, adventure, higher education, morals, long distance travel, organized religion

10th House

Ruling Planet: Saturn
Associated Zodiac: Capricorn
Keywords: career, father, authority, reputation, what you do for fulfillment, social status

11th House

Ruling Planet: Uranus
Associated Zodiac: Aquarius
Keywords: life vision, humanitarian causes, community, social life, shared vision

12th House

Ruling Planet: Neptune
Associated Zodiac: Pisces
Keywords: spiritual life, soul, spiritual development, healing, ego death, self undoing, collective unconsciousness

Aspects

Conjunctions:

Two planets in the same degree in the same sign
Powerful/Intense relationship

Sextiles:

Two planets 60* apart
Favorable relationship

Squares:

Two planets 90* apart
Difficult relationship

Trines:

Two planets 120* apart
Favorable relationship

Opposites:

Two planets 180* apart
Stressful relationship but areas for growth