Astrology for Beginners
New to Astrology? Here's How to Get Started!
If you’re ready to jump into learning astrology but don’t know where to start, you’re in the right place!
At Astrology University we provide all the resources you need to learn astrology from the ground up.
Not only that, but we provide structure and support for those of you who need it. And at the same time, our webinars and courses are suitable for independent study. You can take the classes you need whenever you need them.
It’s exciting to start learning astrology, but it can get overwhelming fast.
Know that you have friends at Astrology University who are ready to help guide you so that you develop confidence in your ability to analyze astrology charts.
Introduction to Astrology Course
Our Intro to Astrological Symbols course is a great place to start if you’re brand new to astrology.
This course will introduce you to the main symbols astrologers use to read a chart: planets, signs and houses.
You’ll learn your way around the “natal” chart (birth chart) as we teach you the first steps for using astrology software.
You’ll also start learning how astrology can be used as an important tool for personal growth and spiritual development.
courses for self study
A strong foundation in the basics to any serious study of astrology.
The following courses, webinars, audio downloads and reading suggestions will help you create a solid course of self-guided astrology study.
These courses will introduce you to the basic building blocks of astrology.
You’ll learn how a natal chart is constructed, discover some of the ways to best actualize the planets and the signs, learn what the houses are and why they’re so important to interpretation, and discover some of the big-picture ideas that make astrology so inspiring and so useful as a tool for personal growth.
- Intro to Astrological Symbols – Learn astrology from the ground up starting with the first course in our four-year astrologer training program! You can take this course any time, and you’ll also get access to a discussion area where you can ask questions.
- Practical Astrology for Beginners with Kelly Surtees. Kelly’s beginner course is the first of a series of courses designed to teach you how to do chart interpretation using Kelly’s favorite techniques. Kelly blends traditional techniques with a modern approach.
- Beginning Astrology – A Language of Life with Robert Blaschke. This classic audio program introduces you to the full set of astrological symbols. From there you can deepen your study with additional courses or webinars.
Astrology Building Blocks
Planets, Signs and Houses
The building blocks of astrology are the planets, signs and houses. From there we add on many techniques, but mastering these basics will set you up to become a great astrologer.
You’ll need to understand these basic symbols to do just about anything with astrology, whether you want to read birth chart or understand the unique and changing energies that are available to us each day.
Steven Forrest’s Elements Series covers all of the major astrological symbols over 4 audio lectures.
- Earth Element Symbols with Steven Forrest
- Water Element Symbols with Steven Forrest
- Air Element Symbols with Steven Forrest
- Fire Element Symbols with Steven Forrest
Signs
- The Transformational Journey of Astrology and the 12 Signs with Mark Jones – This talk expands our understanding of the signs to include their potential for personal growth.
- The Signs of the Zodiac with Jeff Jawer – This talk by Jeff Jawer addresses the signs from a humanistic perspective.
- The 12 Signs in Myth and Psyche – This in-depth exploration of the signs through classic mythology is more suited to students above the “new beginner” level, and opens up multi-layered thinking about the signs.
Steven Forrest’s Elements series above provides foundational information about the signs. Each program covers 3 signs in detail in addition to the major planets and all 12 houses.
Planets
You can spend a lifetime exploring the meaning of the planets! But you have to start somewhere. Here are some great webinars and classes that will get you started.
- Chart Interpretation 1: Planets with Kelly Surtees
- The Moon through the 12 Signs with Steven Forrest
- Mercury through the 12 Signs with Steven Forrest
- Venus through the 12 Signs with Steven Forrest
- Mars and the Spiritual Warrior with Steven Forrest
- Challenging Mars with Tony Howard
- Understanding Saturn with Jessica Murray
- Saturn the Guardian of Our True Potential with Mark Jones
- Understanding Uranus with Jessica Murray
- Working with Neptune with Jessica Murray
- Working with Pluto with Jessica Murray
Learn the Meaning of the 10 Major Planets in Astrology
Learn the meaning of the most important symbols in astrology: the planets.
Discover the 10 major planets and learn how to interpret their placements. You’ll learn how signs and houses alter their meaning and how to evaluate planetary strength.
The material in this course will form the bedrock of your astrological interpretation skills.
Kelly Surtees provides the strong foundation you’ll need before adding additional techniques and skills to your repertoire.
Houses
The houses are the places where all the action happens. Every planet is in a sign and a house. The sign tells us about the style, the mode or the agenda the planet has. While the house describes where that planet expresses most visibly in our life.
If you’re brand new to astrology, start with the planets and then the signs. Once you’re feeling comfortable with those, add the houses. Here are some classes to get you started with the houses:
- The Twelve Houses: The Wheel of Life with Demetra George
- The Ascendant: The Mask You Wear with Kelly Surtees
- The Spiritual Dimensions of the Ascendant with Robert Blaschke
- The 11th House of Good Spirit with Kelly Surtees
- The Water Houses with Darby Costello
- The Archaeology of the Astrological Houses with Brian Clark
Demetra George explores the meaning of the houses in astrology starting with the earliest teachings in the tradition through modern interpretations.
You’ll learn a broad overview of house meanings as well as how to interpret planets in the houses.
Each lecture includes examples of the theory applied to specific charts so that you can apply this material on your own.
Supplementary Topics for Beginners
Once you have a handle on the planets, signs and houses, it’s important to take in the elements and modalities.
Exploring our rich history will help you place astrology in the current context of our times as well as develop a profound respect for our craft.
Elements and Modalities
- Elements and Modalities webinar with Demetra George
- Elements, Modalities and Polarities four-week course
The History of Astrology
Learning about the rich history of our craft can inspire awe and wonder as well as an appreciation for the context current astrological study arises from.
- The History of Astrology audio course with Demetra George
Recommended Reading for Beginners
Search for these books at your favorite local book shop or online.
- The Inner Sky by Steven Forrest – This timeless classic considers why the symbols are oriented as they are, rather than just describing them.
- The Contemporary Astrologer’s Handbook by Sue Tompkins – If you’re serious about practicing astrology, this is a great place to start, and will be a handy reference for years to come.
- Astrology by Ronald Davison – A handy little reference book you’ll refer to often as you’re getting started.
- Making the Gods Work for You by Caroline Casey – This book will help you think more creatively right from the start of your studies.
- Astrology for Lovers by Liz Greene – This classic and often-quoted book has one of the best descriptions of the psychological dynamics of signs available.
- Astrology, Karma and Transformation by Stephen Arroyo
- The Inner Planets by Liz Greene – A wonderful introduction to the three “personal” planets: Mercury, Venus and Mars
- Saturn: A New Look at an Old Devil by Liz Greene
- The Houses: Temples of the Sky by Deborah Houlding
- The Astrological Houses by Dane Rudhyar
- The Quotable Zodiac series by Mary Valby – One book for each of the 12 signs.
Study with support and structure
If you’re interested in a structured program with additional support, you’re in luck! Try out the first year of our four-year program which is curated with best instructors, books and video lessons to help you learn astrology from the ground up and to become confident reading charts.
We’re here to help you make the most of your astrological studies. In many of our live courses you will have access to Q&A sessions to get your questions answered. Some of our instructors are also available for one-on-one tutoring, so just reach out and we’ll help connect you.
At the beginning, you’ll need to spend time getting to know the building blocks of astrology: Signs, Planets and Houses. All styles of astrology are built out of these core symbols.
Get started in our program with Intro to Astrological Symbols, taught by Tony Howard.