5 Things I'd Do Over in my Astrology Journey
Let me start with this:
I like to read, I like to learn new things. I'm no stranger to thick books on dense topics: surveillance capitalism, string theory, philosophy.
To be honest, when I approached astrology, I was almost unbearably cocky, and a little condescending. I figured learning astrology would be as simple as learning things like, “Scorpios aren’t as complicated as they seem, and Aries and Leos should hook up but not get married.”
But I'll confess to being surprised when Bookshop.org of beginner astrology books arrived, and not a single one was under 300 pages. Even more humbling: as I dove into the books...
I didn’t get it. I read and read, studied and studied, and astrology still wasn’t clicking.
It finally did, but it’s been a hell of a humbling journey — and one I made a lot harder than it needed to be!
If I could go back and do it all over again, here’s how I’d approach learning astrology:
Decide Why You Want to Learn First
Astrology is a massive topic. And even the beginning books will throw it at you all at once, and tell you it’s all important. It is all important, but the truth is you don’t need to understand all of it to get some of it.
Here's what I recommend. Figure out why you want to learn astrology, and then try to understand that. And only that. For example:
- Trying to use astrology to help make life decisions? Start with transits.
- Interested in the nerdy academic side? Dig into the history.
- Just want to know why you feel like a badass but everyone treats you like a delicate flower? Focus on your Big 3 (Sun, Moon, Rising).
- Want to become an astrologer? Buckle up — you’re in for planets, signs, aspects, houses, asteroids, synastry, decans... and probably several identity crises.
Even if you’re all in, though, you should still...
Simplify Everything
I'm talking baby steps. The kind of steps that will ruffle Real Astrologers' feathers because it's not the complete picture. That's okay.
It's okay to just learn the zodiac signs, and dig into what it means to be "a Libra" or "a Cancer." If you're intrigued and want to go deeper, then dive into Your Big 3.
If that intrigues, then dig into the rest of the planets. Then dig into houses.
Yes, the relationship among signs, planets, houses, elements, modalities, aspects is where the good stuff happens, but until you know what all of those things are, there’s no way you can start to connect them.
Skip the Beginner Books… at First
As a lifelong bookwork, I can’t believe I’m even typing this, but all of those highly recommended beginner astrology books? I wish I would have skipped them at first.
They honestly did more harm than good.
I would have been way better off starting with blogs, YouTube videos, and social media posts. When creators only have 90 seconds or 500 words, or at most, a 30 minute video, they're forced to simplify. For beginners, simplicity is a good thing.
Only once I grasped all the little individual concepts did those heavy books start to actually help. In other words, I think most “beginning” books should really be labeled as “intermediate.”
Get Personal
I started out trying to memorize what Pluto represented, what Libra's vibe was, what the third house meant, and so on. It was a total slog and I almost quit.
The moment it finally started to click for me was when I limited my focus to my own chart. Instead of trying to learn the 10th house as an abstract concept, I dug into what it meant that I have four personal planets there. Instead of trying to memorize the traits of Leo, I dug into what it meant that Leo rules my (empty) second house.
Astrology not only becomes more manageable when you have context, it becomes more interesting.
Understand There’s No One “Right Way” to Do Astrology
I knew astrology was more art than science. What I didn’t realize was how many different ways there were to approach it — to the point that the more you learn, the more contradictory it all seems.
The deeper you go, the more you'll run into debates about house systems, chart rulers, the relevance of asteroids. It's all mostly friendly debate, but there are a lot of strong opinions!
Here’s what I wish someone told me early on:
If it feels like the experts are contradicting each other, they are. It’s not you. It’s them. And it’s okay. If brilliant physicists are allowed to have different opinions about the many-worlds theory, then brilliant astrologers are allowed to have different opinions about whether or not Chiron counts.
Roll with it. Take it all in. Let the confusion simmer.
One day — without warning — you’ll wake up and not only get it, you’ll have strong opinions about it. (And you’ll love it.)
Write Down What You Don’t Understand (Yet)
I wish I had kept a running list in a notebook of all the astrology terms and concepts I didn't yet know (MC, Chiron, semi-sextile) with the intent of coming back to them later. Instead, I tried to keep it all in my head, or worse, learn every concept then and there via a frantic Google Search, or flipping to the index in one of those big tomes of a book.
In my attempt to learn everything at once, I learned nothing for months. Trust me when I say if you take one concept at a time, you’ll instinctively know when it’s time to take on one more concept from your “to be learned” list. And the way these concepts start to click together is truly addicting.
Final Thoughts
Start small. Stay curious. Expect to be confused. Enjoy the process