Beginner Astro Guide: By Astrostell on Tumblr
Stella here! Here’s some beginner astrology information that may help some of you out if you’re new to astrology. This isn’t a deep dive, just a guide of basic information
Your astrology chart is like a snapshot of where all the planets, asteroids, midpoints, fixed stars, etc were when you were born relative to the location you were born in. Think of it like your cosmic imprint. It can show an endless amount of things about your life and self including information about your career, love life, fate, sex life, life purpose, past life, and more
*✧˖* How to find your Natal Chart
Tropical/Western Astrology: Influenced by the equinox (seasons) and is based on the orientation of Earth relative to the planets in the solar system
Sidereal/Traditional Astrology: Influenced by the zodiac constellation and fixed stars relative to the Earth. There are multiple types of Sidereal astrology such as Vedic, Fagan Bradley, Babylonian, and more
Draconic Astrology: This type of astrology gives insight about your soul. It shows spiritual purposes and challenges in our life. Some people believe the chart is linked to past lives and soulmates as well
Chinese Astrology: A type of astrology based on the year you were born
Celtic Astrology: Based on the cycle of the moon. Created at around 1000 B.C
Whole Signs System: The oldest system in astrology. It takes the entire span of the zodiac sign that appears on the Ascendant at the time of a person's birth as the 1st house. The following sign makes up the 2nd house, the next the 3rd house, and so on. All houses are of equal size (30°) in the Whole Sign system
Placidus System: A system of house division that utilizes the movement over time on the ecliptic, or the sun’s apparent path through the sky. The placidus house system is often critiqued by astrologers because of its failure to operate correctly in extreme latitudes because certain degrees are circumpolar (never touching the horizon) incorrect mathematically sometimes because of this
Equal House System: All house degrees become equal to the ascendants degree Each house has the same size (equal) of exactly 30°. The 10th house cusp therefore does not coincide with the MC but is square to the ascendant and consequently the highest point of the zodiac above the horizon
Porphyry System: The porphyry house system creates the intermediate houses by dividing each of the four quadrants into three equal-sized segments
Koch System: The koch house system assigns special significance to the MC-IC axis, because the measure of the division is predefined by the diurnal arc of the zodiacal degree of the MC at birth. Like Placidus, the Koch system divides celestial movements and is therefore considered a time oriented system. For mathematical reasons, koch houses cannot be calculated for regions beyond the polar circles which is why it’s commonly critiqued by astrologers
Aries: Passionate, bold, competitive, confident, ambitious, courageous, motivated, energetic, enthusiastic, assertive, dominant, masculine, athletic, lustful, aggressive, and/or impulsive
Taurus: Determined, strong values, dependable, pretty, laid-back/relaxed, go with the flow, self loving, sensual, patient, sloth, materialistic, possessive, and/or stubborn
Gemini: Communicative, intelligent, witty, playful, multi-tasker, curious, youthful spirit, adaptable, strong mind, comical, forgetful, clumsy, and/or nosy
Cancer: Nurturing, emotionally intelligent, empathetic/emotionally intuitive, feminine, cautious, family oriented, tender/emotionally sensitive, and/or defensive
Leo: Natural leader, loyal, creative, entertaining, generous, self-reliant, determination, strong drive, dramatic, and/or prideful
Virgo: Reliable, humble, enterprising, giving, innocent, organized, perfectionist, logical/practical, analytical, and/or judgmental
Libra: Loving, romantic, charming, attractive, fashionable, artsy, peace-maker, cooperative, fair-minded, and/or indecisive
Scorpio: Loyal, powerful, passionate, brave, strong, magnetic/enticing, secretive, seductive, sexual, temperamental, obsessive/controlling, and/or manipulative
Sagittarius: Optimistic, adventurous, humorous, popular, wise/knowledgeable, lucky, wealthy, philosophical, devoted, successful, honest, unreliable, arrogant, and/or blunt/straightforward
Capricorn: Mature/serious, responsible, self-disciplined, strong work-ethic/hard-working, consistent, pessimistic, unforgiving, fearful/anxious, and/or detached from emotions
Aquarius: Friendly, humanitarian, intellectual/clever, innovative, unique/original, independent, progressive, risk-taking, unpredictable, and/or rebellious
Pisces: Kind, compassionate, inspiring, glamorous, spiritual, creative, selfless, intuitive, hypnotic, sensitive, idealistic/delusional, and/or deceiving
There are four elements in astrology. Fire, earth, air, and water. Fire is compatible with air, earth is compatible with water, and elements are also compatible with their own element
Dualities: There are masculine signs and feminine signs. Air and fire signs are masculine. Earth and water signs are feminine
Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius (Fire traits- passionate, brave, confident, and ambitious)
Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn (Earth traits- grounded, humble, practical, and dependable)
Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius (Air traits- witty, intellectual, social, and charming)
Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces (Water traits- empathetic, intuitive, emotional, and nurturing)
Cardinal Signs create/invent, take action, and are often leaders -> Capricorn, Aries, Cancer, and Libra
Fixed Signs build, maintain, and feel the need to have control -> Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius
Mutable Signs adapt, organize, and need constant change -> Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces
There are 5 Planetary Dignities in astrology that can show strengths or challenges in someone’s planets in their natal chart
Domicile: Domicile planets are in the sign that the planet rules itself over. This is the strongest of the five dignities and tends to function really well
Detriment: This is the most challenging of the five dignities and can indicate obstacles surrounding the topics of the planet
Exaltation: Indicates strong and positive energy surrounding the topics of the planet
Fall: These planets are watered down in their energy and can be challenging
Peregrine: Planets that aren’t domicile, in detriment, exaltation, or fall are called peregrine planets. They can be easy or challenging depending on how you choose to work with the energy
Malefic & Benefic Planets
There are certain planets that carry more positive energy than others and certain planets that have more challenging energies to them than others. This however does not mean malefic planets are purely bad energy just that they have more challenging energy to them than the other planets
Malefic Planets: Mars and Saturn
Benefic Planets: Venus and Jupiter
Planetary Joy is the idea that planets/luminaries are more beneficial in certain houses. This is more commonly used in Sidereal but can be used in Tropical Astrology too
Each sign is ruled by a planet which is where the traits of that sign come from. In Western Astrology people use both traditional and modern rulers but in Traditional Astrology the modern rulers are not used
Jupiter -> Sagittarius/Pisces
Saturn -> Capricorn/Aquarius
The Sun: Identity, basic personality, ego, vitality, leadership, attention, creativity, father/father figure, self-expression, your consciousness, generosity, happiness, individuality, and masculinity
The Moon: Emotions, moods, instincts, habits, your unconsciousness, mother/motherly figure, fertility, childhood, care, comfort, adaptability, and femininity
Mercury: Communication/speaking, perceptions, your mind, intellect, reason, lower education, youth, literature/writing, ground transportation, mannerisms, short trips, math, siblings, social media, and health
Venus: Love/romance, attraction, beauty, art, fashion, values, harmony, harmonies, self love, pleasures, sensuality, material items, luxuries, cheerfulness, dancing, food, cooperation/compromising, and femininity
Mars: Ambition, lust/libido, desire, aggression/anger, war, action, competition, confidence, courage, passion, athletics, enthusiasm, dominance, assertion, and masculinity
Jupiter: Luck, abundance, expansion, wealth, success, opportunity, adventure, travel, popularity, philosophy, justice, blessings, ease, religion, faith, optimism, growth, wisdom, honesty, knowledge, higher education, and profit
Saturn: Work, work ethic, effort, rewards/achievement, old age, delay, structure, discipline, responsibility, challenges/struggles, your father/fatherly figure, longevity, the past, history, consistency, grudges, maturity, and detachment
Uranus: Friends, socialization, eccentricity, unexpected events/changes, unpredictability, rebellion, chaos, independence, reformation, technology, film, uniqueness, ups and downs, fans/followers, freakiness, shock, invention, freedom, natural disasters, and science
Neptune: Kindness/compassion, spirituality, lies and deception, creativity, glamour, sensitivity, selflessness, idealism, fascination, prophecy/the future, imagination, dreams, delusion, confusion, the hidden, and intuition
Pluto: Major transformation, power, sex, death, rebirth, intimacy, mystery, magnetism, manipulation, intensity, infatuation, destruction and renewal, regeneration, obsession, seduction, and extremes
1st house: Identity, outlook on life/approach to life, appearance, physical body, outward persona, individuality, beauty, confidence, beginnings, initiation, mannerisms, presence, and physical fights
2nd house: Finances, how you spend/manage money, how you store money, material items/possessions, self worth, food, work ethic, values, singing, emotional security, giving/receiving, stability, and material desires
3rd house: Communication/speaking, the mind, mental intelligence, interests, perception, early education, social media, ground transportation, short trips, neighbors, siblings, math, conscious mind, and visits
4th house: Home, family, parents, mother/motherly figure, emotions, foundations, childhood/inner child, places of residence, properties, real estate, traditions, heredity, self-care, femininity, and conditions in early life
5th house: Children, fertility, child-like spirit, self-expression, pleasures, creativity, talent, drama, spotlight, romance, vacations, games, hobbies, risk-taking, joy, objects of affection, gambling/gambling money, and prizes
6th house: Daily routine/daily tasks, day to day life, health, fitness, diet, self improvement, consistency, coworkers, duties, hygiene, innocence, step-siblings, animals/pets, analytical nature, service to others, and systems
7th house: Marriage, long term relationships, partnership, concern for others, harmony, contracts, attraction, attractiveness, charm, conflicts, open enemies, love affairs, negotiations, equality, and sharing
8th house: Major transformation, death, intimacy, deep connection, sex, longevity, joint finances/shared finances, investments, your partners resources, inheritance, reproduction, seduction, rebirth, mystery, secrets, spiritual transformation, magic, trauma, periods, and the occult
9th house: Intelligence, wisdom, religion, law, grandparents, beliefs, philosophy, higher education, languages, viewpoints, foreign environments, travel, ideologies, courts, media, television, photography, luck, growth, and interviews
10th house: Career, your highest potential, public image, reputation, fame, your legacy left on earth, your goals, worldly attainment, sense of mission, responsibilities, recognition, authority, bosses/managers, your father or fatherly figure, experts, achievements, and professional aspirations
11th house: Friends/friendship, friend groups, socialization, technology, film, desires, material gains/money made from your career, manifestation, hopes and wishes, humanitarianism, fans and followers, inventions, uniqueness, politics, clubs, organizations, social events/parties, influence, social networking, and companions/allies/associates
12th house: Spirituality, sleep, dreams you have when you sleep, bed pleasures, mental health, healing, karma, old age, delay, the hidden, isolation, hidden enemies, lies/deception, illusion, impersonation, fears, losses, endings, closure, need for withdrawal/privacy, selflessness, intuition, subconscious mind and memory, hypnotism, hidden desires, and the past
The angular houses in astrology are the 1st, 4th, 7th, and 10th houses. These houses develop fairly early in your life and will also branch out into your future. These houses are the most powerful houses and represent the foundations of life in astrology. Planets in these houses are very important because they represent your strongest characteristics and where you have the most power. If you happen to not have planets in these houses that’s okay, these characteristics will come later in life for you, but if you do have planets in these houses you can lean into the energy of these planets and accomplish your goals more efficiently and powerfully
A stellium is when you have 3 or more planets/luminaries occupying the same sign or house. The Ascendant, Midheaven, Chiron, Lilith, etc do not apply to stelliums. Only your planets and luminaires do because they are existing physical celestial bodies. They aren’t rare but having more than 2 of them is rare
Stelliums show strong and prominent energies within your chart. They can heavily affect your personality, appearance, and life purpose
Example 1: Your Sun, Uranus, and Neptune in Aquarius means you have an Aquarius stellium
Example 2: Having your Moon, Mercury, and Venus in the 8th house would mean you have an 8th house stellium
True Node vs Mean Node: Mean is estimated and True is exact. Sometimes they appear in the same degree but sometimes it will be different. True is more accurate
North Node: Life purpose and destiny
South Node: Past life and familiar energy
Vertex: The vertex is a very important karmic point representing the intersection of the ecliptic/prime vertical in your chart that represents events in your life that are fate and meant to happen. These events will cause growth that will change your life for the better though it may take time to realize. Something that isn’t commonly talked about is that the vertex also represents our innate qualities that haven’t fully came out that could open new pathways in our life for the better if we put them to use. To summarize the vertex is basically the universes contribution to your fate and what events the universe will bring to you for the better
Anti-Vertex: The anti-vertex is kind of the opposite of the vertex. It’s what YOU contribute to your life/fate rather than the universes contribution and this can sometimes bring challenges. For Example: Often with anti-vertex synastry there will be lots of commitment and sacrifices you have to make for that person that could steer you out of your life path and delay life lessons that need to be learnt. In other words this is challenging energy
The most common lilith people refer to/use it black moon lilith h12. There are 3 black moon liliths (true, mean, and interpolated), waldemath dark moon lilith, and asteroid lilith
Black Moon Lilith: Represents your shadow self, the parts of yourself you can’t repress, sexual empowerment, temptation, seduction, vengeance, obsession, things that are forbidden, altered states, sexual energy, and subconscious energy
Dark Moon Lilith: Represents internal conflict, trauma, feelings of shame, and distorted thinking
Asteroid Lilith: This asteroid represents repressed anger, fight or flight responses, the desire for freedom, and refusal
Aspects in astrology tell you the angular relationships between two celestial bodies and can help you discover both challenges within yourself/life along with talents or beneficial areas of yourself/life
Major aspects are the strongest and most important aspects in your chart
Conjunction: The strongest aspect. A conjunction is when planets/celestial bodies are aligned. What’s unique about this aspect compared to others is that it can be positive, challenging, or both
Sextile: This is a harmonious aspect representing open pathways for growth in the area of life involved. Sextile’s also carry sexual/flirtatious energy
Trine: The most harmonious aspect. This aspect can show talents you have as well as things that come with ease in your life. The only challenge to this aspect is that it can show us areas of life where we lack ambition/drive
Square: This aspect represents challenges and obstacles that you need to accomplish in order to find purpose, be successful, be happy, etc. and major hardships in your life in general with the area of life involved
Opposition: This aspect represents tensions and confusion with the area of life involved
These are not talked about much but actually have a lot of importance. Just not as much as major aspects
Parallels: Similar to conjunctions but there’s no possibility of a challenging energy occurring. Parallels are purely positive aspects
Contra-Parallel: Similar to the energy of an opposition but a bit more challenging
Degree theory is the idea that each degree represents a signs energy. The sign your placements are in are going to be more powerful than the degree but the degree’s energy is still mixed in with it
Aries Degrees: 1°/13°/25°
Taurus Degrees: 2°/14°/26°
Gemini Degrees: 3°/15°/27°
Cancer Degrees: 4°/16°/28°
Sagittarius Degrees: 9°/21°
Capricorn Degrees: 10°/22°
Aquarius Degrees: 11°/23°
Critical degrees are another part of degree theory. They are meant to be challenging since they show major karmic lessons that are a focal point in your life. It is however where a superpower lies. These are the critical degrees-
Cardinal Sign Placements: At 0°, 13°, or 26°
Fixed Sign Placements: At 8°/9° or 21°/22°
Mutable Sign Placements: At 4° or 17°
Any Placements: At 0° or 29°
Advanced Astrology Topics
Compatibility Charts: There are 4 different types of compatibility charts- Synastry, Composite, Davison, and Coalescent which you can read about here
Asteroids: Rocky objects in space that can give insight about more specific topics in your life
Persona Charts: Charts deeper into a placement mapping out that specific placements topics alone
Asteroid Persona Charts: Charts deeper into asteroids mapping out the specific asteroids energy and how it plays out in your life
Solar Return Charts: A yearly chart mapping out themes you’ll experience throughout each year
Lunar Return Charts: A monthly chart mapping out themes you’ll experience throughout each month
Astrocartography: A map showing locations certain energies are felt with astrological lines
Fixed Stars: Stars that were used by the egyptians to predict events
Comets: Similar to asteroids and fixed stars they can tell about specific topics planets don’t give insight on
Outer Planets: The signs in outer planets (jupiter, saturn, uranus, neptune, and pluto) are slow moving so it’s more important to pay attention to the houses they’re in
Orbs: Orbs are the numbers next to your aspects. The lower an orb the stronger and more important an aspect is
Applying vs Separating Aspects: Applying aspects have stronger energy than separating ones but both are still important
Transits: Aspects from the current chart (astrological energy occurring in present time) to your natal chart. It can show energy that’s felt in the present moment and be used as a predictive astrology method as well
Progressed Charts: A chart method of progressing the natal chart forward from the moment of the birth or beginning of the subject into the future, to see how the natal has progressed, developed, and grown
Out of sign aspects: Sometimes aspects will show up differently than others and may not occur within a certain amount of signs apart like normal because of degrees. This is what’s called an out of sign aspect (Example: Sagittarius Sun at 26° square Aries Mars at 1°. Even though they aren’t 3 signs apart like most squares the degrees make this aspect still count as a square since they’re within 10°)
Aspects that can’t occur: There are certain aspects that can’t physically occur in natal charts. Example: Sun square Venus -> more info here
Prominent Placements: Refers to placements with stronger energy and importance -> more here
Your Earth Placement: Not many people know but we do actually have an Earth sign in Sidereal. It doesn’t show up it chart calculations but it would be the opposite sign and house of your Sun -> more info on astrosky’s page
Cusps: There is no such thing as sign cusps. The beginning mark is the beginning of the energy and the end mark is the end of the energy. There’s no in between. You can read about this here on astrosky’s page since she graduated from Kepler College or here from another professional astrologer who talks about them in the article linked
Empty Houses: There is no such thing as an “empty house”. Everyone has a sign in all 1-12 houses. You may just not have planets that reside in there. This doesn’t indicate bad or negative energy surrounding that area of life but rather that there just won’t be a major focus there compared to other areas of life
Houses = Planets: Houses do not equal planets. They have similar energies but they’re not the same -> more here
@astrosky33 has a lot of good information for beginners and is a professional astrologer with a degree. She has helped me learn so much -> click here. A lot of the information in this post is from her account. She also has info on minor aspects which I didn’t discuss in this post
Sources I used for this post: The only astrology book you’ll ever need by Joanna Woolfolk, The Inner Sky by Steven Forrest, and Astrosky33 on Tumblr/Tiktok who is a professional astrologer that got her degree from kepler college