10 quick tips on

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10 QUICK TIPS ON

HOW TO LEARN ASTROLOGY FAST

by Marcia Sacks

To know astrology for yourself is like having an open book

to read into the past, present and futureof any individual, relationship, or situation

1. BE WILLING TO MEMORIZE

I have taught beginning astrology since 1980, and the most difficult concept to get across to adult

learners is memorization of the glyphs. Astrology is a language with the symbols of signs,planets and aspects as its alphabet. We don't expect children to be able to read without first

learning their ABC's. But if I say to an adult class, after explaining the symbolism of each glyph,

"take these home and memorize them" there are moans and groans like I just announced atwenty-mile hike through a leech-filled, mosquito-breeding swamp.

It would probably be rude to mention to them that when my older son was two years old he couldidentify every symbol of planets and signs off a flash card the same way he could the English

alphabet. Or that my younger son when he was 9 decided that he wanted to learn astrology andtook the handouts from my class to his room for twenty minutes and came back knowing them

all. Sure it takes longer for adults. But it's worth it. Just do it.

Here are the things I feel must be memorized to move on to further study of astrology:

1. The glyphs for theplanetsand the basic keyword meanings.

2. The glyphs for thezodiacal signs,their basic keyword meanings, plus

a) the order of the signs;

b) their element and quality;

3. The glyphs for the majoraspects, their basic keyword meanings, plus

a) their opposite sign; b) the squaring signs; c) the trining signs; d) the sextile signs.

Practice writing the glyphs (it expands your mental patternings).

2. COLLECT CHARTS
http://www.astrologywizard.com/gameone.htmhttp://www.astrologywizard.com/gameone.htmhttp://www.astrologywizard.com/gameone.htmhttp://www.astrologywizard.com/gametwo.htmhttp://www.astrologywizard.com/gametwo.htmhttp://www.astrologywizard.com/gametwo.htmhttp://www.marciasacks.com/astrology-aspects.htmhttp://www.marciasacks.com/astrology-aspects.htmhttp://www.marciasacks.com/astrology-aspects.htmhttp://www.marciasacks.com/astrology-aspects.htmhttp://www.astrologywizard.com/gametwo.htmhttp://www.astrologywizard.com/gameone.htm


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I encourage my students to collect horoscopes. The first collections is of folks you can

personally observe: you, your family and friends. I have my own collection of family charts

inserted into transparent page protectors in a three-ring binder. I take it to every astrologyseminar I attend. It makes what I'm learning more meaningful if I can apply it to the people I

know. I use it in the same way when I'm studying an astrological principle in a book.

The second collection should be offamous people. If a historic figure or modern superstar

fascinates you then research his/her birthdata and compute the horoscope or make aflat chart "in

signs" (link to flat chart article) from the ephemeris. Then find a biography or extendedinterview and see if you can correlate the astrological and biographical information.

3. STUDY YOUR OWN HOROSCOPE IN DEPTH

The most important chart collection is your own. You would be unlikely to apply every minor

aspect, converse progression or personal-name asteroid to each chart in your collection. But youwould definitely want to try them on your own. Why? Because you know you. You can be

sensitive to the subtle psychological states expressed by some of the finer points of astrology.

Knowing your own horoscope in depth, especially as applied to real life experiences (internal

and external) will broaden your understanding of astrology.

4. JOURNAL

One of the ways to study your own horoscope in depth and to apply astrology to your life

experiences is journaling. Keep track of yourself in a variety of ways (the following are just

suggestions, not a regiment):

Notations of daily activities.

Accomplishments and set-backs

People that you've met.

New projects started.

Emotions and feelings.Poetry.

Dreams

Physical, mental, emotionalIf you've kept a journal in the past, re-read it with your chart and an ephemeris.

Astrology is the study of cycles. You want to know what happened during the last cycle of a

major transit because it's sure to come around again with similar lessons.

5. LIFE HISTORY

Create a one page chronological history of your major life events: marriages, births of children

(which are of course, your children's natal charts as well), divorces, deaths of parents, health

problems, job changes and transformations of consciousness.
http://www.astrodatabank.com/http://www.astrodatabank.com/http://www.astrodatabank.com/http://www.marciasacks.com/newsletter/newsletter-nov-02.html#beginnershttp://www.marciasacks.com/newsletter/newsletter-nov-02.html#beginnershttp://www.marciasacks.com/newsletter/newsletter-nov-02.html#beginnershttp://www.marciasacks.com/newsletter/newsletter-nov-02.html#beginnershttp://www.astrodatabank.com/


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Take major transits, progressions, and eclipses and look for correlations.

Take this document with you to astrology lectures along with your collection of charts. It willhelp you instantly make connections to new data.

6. BECOME AWARE OF LIFE AROUND YOU

People speak the aspects. "I came out of the chiropractor's office and just started walkingbackwards. I don't know why," said a Gemini friend of mine on a day when Mercury went

retrograde. "I'm so depressed. I feel like I'm dragging around a two-ton weight," said a client

with Saturn conjunct the sun.

Everything in your life will symbolically show you how astrology manifests.

Get an astrological calendar. Watch thedaily transits,the moon through the signs and/or the

moon phases. Attune to life rythyms. Don't go by beliefs. Work with observation and

correlation of life in and around you.

7. HANG OUT WITH OTHERS INTERESTED IN ASTROLOGY

Just like speaking a foreign language, there's a lot of astrology learned by osmosis, by being in

the environment. If you want to learn French quickly, go to France where you'll hear it all

around you. The same with astrology. It's fun to be someplace where everyone's speaking"astrologese" and it will accelerate your learning process.

Where to go? Below is a listing of astrological organizations. There may be others in your localarea. Some of them have monthly meetings with lectures on various aspects of astrology. Some

of them have special interest groups or study groups that center on a specific topic.

Don't forget to bring your own chart and your personal collection of horoscopes of friends and

family. It helps to apply what you're learning directly to people you know. Also many social

conversations include passing charts around and you may get some insights from others a littlefarther along than you.

National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR)

Friends of Astrology

American Federation of Astrologers (AFA)

International Society of Astrological Research (ISAR)

Association for Astrological Networking (AFAN)
http://www.lightworks.com/astroweather/index.htmhttp://www.lightworks.com/astroweather/index.htmhttp://www.lightworks.com/astroweather/index.htmhttp://www.geocosmic.org/http://www.geocosmic.org/http://friendsofastrology.org/http://friendsofastrology.org/http://www.astrologers.com/http://www.astrologers.com/http://www.isarastrology.com/http://www.isarastrology.com/http://www.afan.org/http://www.afan.org/http://www.afan.org/http://www.isarastrology.com/http://www.astrologers.com/http://friendsofastrology.org/http://www.geocosmic.org/http://www.lightworks.com/astroweather/index.htm


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8. TAKE CLASSES(in person, by tape, or online)

This is sort of obvious but there are many of us who learn faster from listening to a teacher than

we could by reading a book. Also, other students may ask the questions we'd like to or didn't

think of. Where to find teachers? Start with the organizations above. They may be able to referyou to someone in your area. Metaphysical/New Age Centers & Bookstores often have

astrology classes as part of their educational programs. Also, community colleges & other adult

continuing educationprograms sometimes offer astrology classes.

Conferences

Some of the organizations listed above have regional and national conferences throughout the

year with astrological lectures given by excellent teachers. Many of the conferences are taped,

and available to those unable to attend.

Temple of Kriya Yoga

The Temple of Kriya Yoga is a center that offers excellent learning opportunities in astrology

(as well as other spiritual growth processes). Two of their most popular classes are Astrology

from the Beginning and the Professional Astrology Course. Many of these classes are availablefor home study on audio and videotape. (773) 342-4600.

9. READ AND COLLECT BOOKS

We live in a time of abundance of astrological writing. There aremany good booksout there.

However, the wise astrology student does not just read astrology -- try to include history,

biography, mythology, and psychology.

An astrological "cookbook" is one that lists descriptions for planets in signs, planets in houses,

planets in aspect, etc. Don't read these straight through. Apply them to your chart collection.

The correlation with real people will help you to remember them. Take notes if you like to -- the

pen is your magic wanted. P.S. -- don't believe everything just because it's written in a book.

10. READ MAGAZINES & WEBZINES

Astrology magazines, webzines, andemail listsare another way of hanging out and spending

time with the people who are active in the field today. There are some excellent astrology

magazines available in print and on the 'net. Here's a few sites to start with:
http://www.marciasacks.com/chicagoclasses.htmhttp://www.marciasacks.com/chicagoclasses.htmhttp://www.astropro.com/features/conxions/textonly/meetings.htmlhttp://www.astropro.com/features/conxions/textonly/meetings.htmlhttp://www.yogakriya.org/http://www.yogakriya.org/http://astore.amazon.com/marciasakashicrehttp://astore.amazon.com/marciasakashicrehttp://astore.amazon.com/marciasakashicrehttp://www.astropro.com/features/conxions/textonly/maillist.htmlhttp://www.astropro.com/features/conxions/textonly/maillist.htmlhttp://www.astropro.com/features/conxions/textonly/maillist.htmlhttp://www.astropro.com/features/conxions/textonly/maillist.htmlhttp://astore.amazon.com/marciasakashicrehttp://www.yogakriya.org/http://www.astropro.com/features/conxions/textonly/meetings.htmlhttp://www.marciasacks.com/chicagoclasses.htm

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