Astrologer Kelly Surtees joins the podcast in this episode to discuss some recommendations for learning astrology and eventually becoming an astrologer.
The conversation is based in part on a post I did on my blog several years ago titled 10 recommendations for understanding astrology. (Update 8/18/2018: watch also my video on five short beginner astrology recommendations.) I wanted to revisit the subject in order to dig a little deeper into some of the suggestions and add a few new ones.
Kelly and I take you from the very first steps you need to take in order to begin your studies in astrology, assuming you know nothing or very little about it, all the way to the intermediate and advanced phases of learning about the subject, during the course of the show.
The end result is a 3-5 year framework for how to become an astrologer, and by the end of the program, we’ll have gotten the listener to the stage where they should be able to transition into professional astrology practice.
I’ve included an outline of some of the subjects covered in the program below, but please visit the original blog post linked at the top of the page for a full article with all of the links.
In This Article...
Studying Astrology: Episode Outline
Kelly’s three key astrological learning suggestions are as follows:
- Readbooks/blogs/websites/journals.
- Make contact with other people who are interested in astrology. Meetups, local astrology groups, and online astrology groups are all options.
- Educate yourself and get official training. Choose a person you can meet in person or an online course that interests you.
Tips for learning astrology in particular:
- www.astro.com can provide you with a copy of your birth chart.
- If at all possible, double-check your birth time.
- Learn the symbols for the zodiac signs, planets, aspects, and more.
- Kelly provides a free handout with the icons for the planets and zodiac signs.
- She also has some more astrological handouts for beginners here.
- Make use of free online resources. Blogs, blogs, podcasts, YouTube, Reddit, and other social media platforms
- Dictionary of Astrology
- Reddit’s Astrology section
- For astrology videos, go to Chris’ YouTube account.
- Get yourself a few astrology books. Here are some decent books for beginners:
- April Elliott Kent’s The Essential Guide to Practical Astrology
- Derek and Julia Parker’s Astrology is a book on astrology.
- Helena Avelar and Luis Ribeiro’s On the Heavenly Spheres
- Richard Tarnas’ Cosmos and Psyche
- Stephen Arroyo’s Chart Interpretation Handbook
- Principles of Practical Natal Astrology, by Kevin Burk, is his most recent book.
- The Mountain Astrologer magazine is available for subscription.
- On their website, they also feature a fantastic beginner’s series.
- Learn to read an ephemeris if you don’t already have one.
- The free online ephemeris from Astrodienst.
- Learn how to use an ephemeris in our guide.
- With Astro.com’s unique daily horoscope, you can start tracking your transits.
- Begin by charting the Moon’s path through your houses or making aspects to planets in your birth chart.
- Examine the horoscopes of your friends, family, and celebrities.
- AstroDatabank has birth information for a number of celebrities.
- Use online forums to connect with other astrologers.
- Skyscript, Astrodienst, Facebook, and other similar services are available.
- Meet up with astrologers in your area. Meetup.com, the NCGR, and a Google search are all good places to start.
- Start your own meetup if there isn’t one already.
- Take an astrological course, either online or in person.
- Kepler College, The International Academy of Astrology, The Faculty of Astrological Studies, The American College of Vedic Astrology, or classes taught by Chris or Kelly are all good places to start.
- Kelly delivers A Beginner’s Online Astrology Course: Practical Astrology.
- Chris teaches ancient astrology through his online course.
- Become a member of an astrological organization.
- AAGB, ACVA, AYA, FAA (in Australia), NCGR, ISAR, AFA, AFAN, OPA, AAGB, ACVA, AYA, FAA (in Australia), and so on.
- Attend a conference on astrology.
- Next week, NORWAC will be in Seattle.
- Obtain certification (?)
- Certification’s benefits and drawbacks.
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Is it difficult to learn astrology?
The cosmic weather seemed promising on the morning of the International Society for Astrological Research’s Certification of Astrological Proficiency (ISAR CAP) exam, which was held at a Marriott in Chicago on a warm May morning. The moon was in Sagittarius, the most learned of the zodiac signs, and Mercury, the communication planet, had just entered Gemini, the most quick-witted.
Yes. Multiple tough exams are available in 2018 to assess one’s skill to read the stars.
And, while it may seem unusual to apply very technical standards to an abstract spiritual exercise, it has been done before. Astrology has been around in some form since at least ancient Babylonian times, and for a long time, it was seen to be a totally logical way of understanding the world. Astrology was assigned to the domain of the mystical and ludicrous until the 19th century, when rationalism became fashionable.
Today, it’s largely associated with women’s magazines and Instagram memes, and it’s seen as a harmless fantasy at best and a harmful pseudoscience at worst. However, for an increasing number of students and specialists, the practice is quite serious, despite the fact that it is undeniably unscientific.
How long does it take to become proficient in astrology?
Astrology is a branch of science. It’s similar to a doctor’s treatment for diagnosing a problem or condition.
Any astrologer can read astrology, the Vedic system, and make forecasts, but real-life difficulties are unique, and are not talked about in books.
So, from my perspective, it’s all about how much knowledge you have from books, as well as how many charts you’ve gone through to try to figure out the exact mapping of life events. By analyzing charts and providing precise solutions to clients with correct explanations.
It could take months or perhaps a year, but it won’t be as simple as six months or a few weeks. It’s like being in the middle of a sea. Don’t pass judgment based on the appearance of the waves.
A great astrologer is a lifelong learner, and the more charts you see, the more you understand it.
Is it possible to research astrology?
Students from many disciplines, including Arts, Commerce, and Science, are encouraged to apply.
Students must have finished their Higher Secondary education (Class 10 + 2) with a minimum of 45 percent aggregate marks from a recognized board or university.
A bachelor’s degree in astrology or an equivalent degree from a recognized board or university is needed of students. To be eligible for the master’s program, students must have received a minimum of 60% aggregate score.
Students from all disciplines, including Arts, Commerce, and Science, are welcome to apply.
Although there are usually no entrance exams for admission, it is recommended that students visit the official website at least once to learn more about the entrance exams.
Students can study Astrology at the undergraduate level by obtaining a bachelor’s degree with Astrology as a concentration, such as a B.A. B.A. in Astrology, like other bachelor’s degree arts programs, is a three-year full-time program.
Many Indian institutes, colleges, and universities provide full-time study in this field. Students must, however, meet the admission standards in order to be admitted to this programme.
Although there are no such entrance tests in this field, candidates must meet the following admission requirements:
To be admitted to a specific institution, students must pass their Institutional test.
Students must pass a personal interview round as well as several fitness, work experience, and publication-related assessments.
Many colleges hold entrance tests and admit students based on the results.
Some colleges also accept students depending on their performance on their most recent qualifying exam.
Astrology can be studied at the postgraduate level with a master’s degree such as M.Sc. with astrology as a specialization. M.Sc. in Astrology, like other master’s degree arts programs, is a two-year full-time program.
Although there are no standard entry tests in this field, there are several admission criteria that candidates must meet, which are listed below:
Some colleges and universities have entrance tests to determine who will be admitted.
Many colleges also hold interview rounds in which students must perform well in order to be accepted.
Diploma programs are available in this discipline, which typically last 612 months. After finishing their senior secondary school, students can enroll in diploma programs. There aren’t any specific entrance examinations. Students are admitted instead depending on their performance on the qualifying exam.
Is it possible to learn astrology online?
I’ve developed an online astrology course based on the classic and most popular lunar zodiacs, complete with examples from both ancient and modern astrological traditions. You can study at your own pace and learn everything you want in my course. It’s a free online astrology course that teaches you everything you need to know about the Moon, Sun, Ascendant, Moon Sign, Planets, and Zodiac signs. There are numerous advantages to learning astrology online. To help you get started right away, I’ve included a free four-hour foundations course in this course.
Is there a difference between astronomy and astrology?
Astronomy is the study of celestial bodies outside of the earth’s atmosphere, such as planets, stars, asteroids, and galaxies, as well as their attributes and relationships. Astronomers conduct their study and observations. Astrology, on the other hand, is the notion that the positions of the stars and planets have an impact on how events unfold on the planet. Astronomy is the field to consider if you’re interested in the solar system and planets, other celestial objects such as asteroids and comets, other galaxies and the rest of the universe, what makes up space, and the possibility of alien life or space travel.
Is math used in astrology?
Zodiac. In order to determine the signs in the heavens, astrology relies on the usage of charts. Astrology, on the other hand, uses a lot of arithmetic to create such charts. Each Zodiac sign represents the amount of distance the sun moves from the Earth’s perspective in the time it takes for one lunar orbit to complete.
Is there any scientific basis for astrology?
Is astrology accurate? Reading horoscopes is a popular pastime, but is there any scientific evidence that they are accurate?
When you’re enticed by a familiar interruption and your willpower weakens, problems can occur.
Every day, up to 70 million Americans consult their horoscopes. At least, that’s what the American Federation of Astrologers claims. According to a Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life poll conducted twenty years ago, 25% of Americans believe that the positions of the stars and planets have an impact on our daily life. In 2012, the General Social Survey indicated that 34% of Americans think astrology is “extremely” or “kind of scientific,” with the percentage of individuals who think astrology is “not at all scientific” dropping from two-thirds to about half.
Astrology is the concept that astronomical phenomena, such as the stars over your head when you were born or the fact that Mercury is retrograde, have the potential to influence our daily lives and personality traits. Of course, this is distinct from astronomy, which is the scientific study of celestial objects, space, and the physics of the cosmos.
A particular facet of astrology, the foretelling of a person’s future or the provision of daily counsel via horoscopes, is gaining in popularity. The Cut, for example, recorded a 150 percent rise in horoscope page views in 2017 compared to 2016.
Clearly, a lot of people are trying to figure out how to read the stars for guidance. Understanding the positions of the stars is the foundation of astrology, which appears to be a scientific discipline in and of itself. Is there any scientific evidence that astrology has an impact on our personalities and lives?
But, since I still have five minutes of this six-minute podcast to fill, let’s take a look at how astrology has been put to the test.
What are the earnings of astrologers?
Astrologers’ Salary Scales Astrologers’ wages in the United States range from $16,640 to $74,880, with a median of $28,300. Astrologers in the center earn between $24,536 and $28,295, while the top 83 percent earn $74,880.
