Astrology Blog
Steps to Read an Astrology Chart
A Brief Introduction to the Art of Astrology Synthesis
It often takes years of study and practice to really master chart synthesis and interpretation, but this introduction can provide insights into the ways to begin the process and sort the trees in the forest.
A solid astrology education is obviously critical to learn the meanings of each of the separate components of the chart – before we assemble the pieces, we need to learn about them separately. This is where many astrology enthusiasts gather the bits and pieces from astrology books, workshops, or online material. Every bit of exposure helps, as long as the source is credible and the knowledge delivered is tested.
Study Astrology for a life changing experience
The second step of analysis is usually the most challenging: how to bring all chart components together – the ART OF SYNTHESIS:
- How a planet works in a signs, and then a house?
- How each planet interacts with the others?
- How to bring the many pieces of the chart together?
Even after becoming familiar with synthesis, it is easy to get lost in the details and be confused about what to prioritize and identify the main leading themes of the chart. Maurice Fernandez has developed an accessible way to identify the core dynamics of a chart – you can view the video at the bottom of this page to see Maurice in action, unpacking the dynamics of a chart.
What is the Evolutionary Astrology approach in Chart Analysis?
- Each planet placement is intentional – we learn what the intention is. This helps understand what the challenges or positive outcomes can be for each placement.
- We not only explore WHAT is happening in a person’s life, but WHY it is happening. If the universe is intentional, nothing in our chart is random – how does that affect our lives? Getting to the WHY helps empower and heal ourselves and/or our client.
Where to begin?
Establish context:
- What is the place of birth, culture, current residence – what context does that provide for the chart? For example, people with the same chart living in Russia or Thailand will each be conditioned differently, even if they share the same chart.
- Gender of the person – Cultural pressures may impact male or female expression of the chart
- Their age. It is different to do a reading for a twenty year old, and for a sixty year old. Paying attention to the person’s age means you can be better prepared for the types of questions different age groups will have.
Bird’s Eye View on the chart:
- We look at the distribution by HOUSE: which hemisphere and then which quadrant is the most populated. This emphasis will already provide deep and important information about the chart.
- View below a quick explanation of each quadrant.
- Elements distribution by SIGNS. Which element is the most populated or the least populated by planets?
- View below a quick explanation of each element.
- Modes distribution by SIGNS. Which element is mostly populated or the least populated by planets?
- Read this article about the Modes to understand their meaning.
- Planets with 5 degrees of an angle (Ascendant/Descendant, MC/IC) will be the most dominant.
Learn about Hemispheres, Quadrants, and Element distribution in this Foundational Astrology book.
Quadrants
Book: Astrology and the Evolution of Consciousness by Maurice Fernandez
- 1st Quadrant emphasis: I CAN – Personal agency, survival readiness, resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, guarded and autonomous.
- 2nd Quadrant emphasis: I WILL – Production mode, self-motivation, making life happen.
- 3rd Quadrant emphasis: I WANT – Pushing personal boundaries for growth, pressure to leave the comfort zone and take risks. Connections.
- 4th Quadrant emphasis: I MUST – Integrating the self into the larger whole: community, society – needing to adapt and make personal compromises to find our place in the whole. More detached approach.
Which quadrant is the most populated, and what does that mean for the general orientation of the person?
Testimonial about astrology study
Elements
- Fire: self-expression, personal agency, manifesting, being visible. Emotional and personal.
- Earth: integration into the physical/material world: Practical approach, skills, strategy.
- Air: social development, social skill, exploration of the mind, a more objective and detached perspective.
- Water: in touch with vulnerability, retreat for processing, intimacy, lessons in trust.
Is there an element, or a pair that are more dominant? Is there an element lacking? How does that reflect their nature and natural tendencies?
For example:
- Emphasis in Water and Fire represent a highly emotional and very personal approach to life. They can move us, and bring more drama.
- Emphasis in Earth and Air represent a more rational, contained, self-conscious, and precise approach. They trouble-shoot and bring solutions to problems.
Planets on Angles
A planet on angles (any of the four angles) will naturally have a more dominant influence in the person’s life: their personality and the direction of their lives. Analyze the meaning of that planet and how it flavors the direction of the chart.
Examine the sign and house this planet placed, and how its prominence may affect the person.
For example:
- Sun on the angles: powerful presence, strong sense of purpose, leaving a legacy.
- Neptune on the angles: A more global approach, making sacrifices and learning not to take things personally, adaptability, mass appeal.
- Mars on the angles: Goal oriented and strong determination. Tendency for more rebellious, individualistic approach, tendency for ruptures and reinventing oneself.
Zooming in gradually and Building Layers in our Interpretation
Starting with the Bird’s Eye View and looking at the “bigger picture” perspective already provides a wealth of information about what the person is about, how their life is unfolding, and what will be most important for their soul journey. There is already a deep conversation that can begin from there.
The following steps can vary, depending on how each chart is built – Here are some options:
- Explore the Nodal Axis and its rulers. This gets to the depth of their deepest nature and evolutionary challenges.
- Explore the Luminaries (Sun and Moon). These are the engines of the chart and how the person goes about doing what they are here to do.
- Unpack the Ascendant sign, and its ruler. The Ascendant sign is the new cycle that the soul is launching, It shows the rising wave. The ruler of that sign, by house and sign will provide additional information about the direction of the new cycle.
The best way to learn is to first explore the chart of your friends and family so you can see in real time how the chart comes to life through them.
If you find astrology meaningful, you can dive deeper using resources on this page: An affordable book, deeper workshop immersion, a full commitment to astrology mastery. However you wish to approach it, remember this is soul work. Be responsible with your use of astrology.
EXAMPLE of Step by Step CHART ANALYSIS
View Maurice analyzing a chart step by step
Book: Astrology Fundamentals by Maurice Fernandez
Study Evolutionary Astrology with guided supervision
4 Tracks to choose from
What is Evolutionary Astrology
2024 copyright – all rights reserved.
For personal use only. No quoting or copying the contents without written permission of the author.
Steps to Read an Astrology Chart
A Brief Introduction to the Art of Astrology Synthesis
It often takes years of study and practice to really master chart synthesis and interpretation, but this introduction can provide insights into the ways to begin the process and sort the trees in the forest.
A solid astrology education is obviously critical to learn the meanings of each of the separate components of the chart – before we assemble the pieces, we need to learn about them separately. This is where many astrology enthusiasts gather the bits and pieces from astrology books, workshops, or online material. Every bit of exposure helps, as long as the source is credible and the knowledge delivered is tested.
Study Astrology for a life changing experience
The second step of analysis is usually the most challenging: how to bring all chart components together – the ART OF SYNTHESIS:
- How a planet works in a signs, and then a house?
- How each planet interacts with the others?
- How to bring the many pieces of the chart together?
Even after becoming familiar with synthesis, it is easy to get lost in the details and be confused about what to prioritize and identify the main leading themes of the chart. Maurice Fernandez has developed an accessible way to identify the core dynamics of a chart – you can view the video at the bottom of this page to see Maurice in action, unpacking the dynamics of a chart.
What is the Evolutionary Astrology approach in Chart Analysis?
- Each planet placement is intentional – we learn what the intention is. This helps understand what the challenges or positive outcomes can be for each placement.
- We not only explore WHAT is happening in a person’s life, but WHY it is happening. If the universe is intentional, nothing in our chart is random – how does that affect our lives? Getting to the WHY helps empower and heal ourselves and/or our client.
Where to begin?
Establish context:
- What is the place of birth, culture, current residence – what context does that provide for the chart? For example, people with the same chart living in Russia or Thailand will each be conditioned differently, even if they share the same chart.
- Gender of the person – Cultural pressures may impact male or female expression of the chart
- Their age. It is different to do a reading for a twenty year old, and for a sixty year old. Paying attention to the person’s age means you can be better prepared for the types of questions different age groups will have.
Bird’s Eye View on the chart:
- We look at the distribution by HOUSE: which hemisphere and then which quadrant is the most populated. This emphasis will already provide deep and important information about the chart.
- View below a quick explanation of each quadrant.
- Elements distribution by SIGNS. Which element is the most populated or the least populated by planets?
- View below a quick explanation of each element.
- Modes distribution by SIGNS. Which element is mostly populated or the least populated by planets?
- Read this article about the Modes to understand their meaning.
- Planets with 5 degrees of an angle (Ascendant/Descendant, MC/IC) will be the most dominant.
Learn about Hemispheres, Quadrants, and Element distribution in this Foundational Astrology book.
Quadrants
Book: Astrology and the Evolution of Consciousness by Maurice Fernandez
- 1st Quadrant emphasis: I CAN – Personal agency, survival readiness, resourcefulness, self-sufficiency, guarded and autonomous.
- 2nd Quadrant emphasis: I WILL – Production mode, self-motivation, making life happen.
- 3rd Quadrant emphasis: I WANT – Pushing personal boundaries for growth, pressure to leave the comfort zone and take risks. Connections.
- 4th Quadrant emphasis: I MUST – Integrating the self into the larger whole: community, society – needing to adapt and make personal compromises to find our place in the whole. More detached approach.
Which quadrant is the most populated, and what does that mean for the general orientation of the person?
Testimonial about astrology study
Elements
- Fire: self-expression, personal agency, manifesting, being visible. Emotional and personal.
- Earth: integration into the physical/material world: Practical approach, skills, strategy.
- Air: social development, social skill, exploration of the mind, a more objective and detached perspective.
- Water: in touch with vulnerability, retreat for processing, intimacy, lessons in trust.
Is there an element, or a pair that are more dominant? Is there an element lacking? How does that reflect their nature and natural tendencies?
For example:
- Emphasis in Water and Fire represent a highly emotional and very personal approach to life. They can move us, and bring more drama.
- Emphasis in Earth and Air represent a more rational, contained, self-conscious, and precise approach. They trouble-shoot and bring solutions to problems.
Planets on Angles
A planet on angles (any of the four angles) will naturally have a more dominant influence in the person’s life: their personality and the direction of their lives. Analyze the meaning of that planet and how it flavors the direction of the chart.
Examine the sign and house this planet placed, and how its prominence may affect the person.
For example:
- Sun on the angles: powerful presence, strong sense of purpose, leaving a legacy.
- Neptune on the angles: A more global approach, making sacrifices and learning not to take things personally, adaptability, mass appeal.
- Mars on the angles: Goal oriented and strong determination. Tendency for more rebellious, individualistic approach, tendency for ruptures and reinventing oneself.
Zooming in gradually and Building Layers in our Interpretation
Starting with the Bird’s Eye View and looking at the “bigger picture” perspective already provides a wealth of information about what the person is about, how their life is unfolding, and what will be most important for their soul journey. There is already a deep conversation that can begin from there.
The following steps can vary, depending on how each chart is built – Here are some options:
- Explore the Nodal Axis and its rulers. This gets to the depth of their deepest nature and evolutionary challenges.
- Explore the Luminaries (Sun and Moon). These are the engines of the chart and how the person goes about doing what they are here to do.
- Unpack the Ascendant sign, and its ruler. The Ascendant sign is the new cycle that the soul is launching, It shows the rising wave. The ruler of that sign, by house and sign will provide additional information about the direction of the new cycle.
The best way to learn is to first explore the chart of your friends and family so you can see in real time how the chart comes to life through them.
If you find astrology meaningful, you can dive deeper using resources on this page: An affordable book, deeper workshop immersion, a full commitment to astrology mastery. However you wish to approach it, remember this is soul work. Be responsible with your use of astrology.
EXAMPLE of Step by Step CHART ANALYSIS
View Maurice analyzing a chart step by step
Book: Astrology Fundamentals by Maurice Fernandez
Study Evolutionary Astrology with guided supervision
4 Tracks to choose from
What is Evolutionary Astrology
2024 copyright – all rights reserved.
For personal use only. No quoting or copying the contents without written permission of the author.
