The best thing I would advice you is to first focus more on a good material but keeping always a critical spirit. There is a lot of superfitial or preconceived analysis out there. Not that the information is wrong (it's almost never) but it is much biased, or just the tip of the iceberg, or sometimes just a little bit limited.
To start:
I must also tell you I feel humble to see these workings of astrology without fully understanding why.
I think there are basic archetypes of energies and these correlate at least with our natures down here, and the events down here.
Do you know the "as above so below"?
It's a kind of that the way I think astrology works.
Anyway in a practical level I would start by, in a silenced way, to look at what you are and you see in a natal chart analysis, and this to some of your close relatives. But please understand that many do not want to know about astrology or their charts. And many others just take the "newspaper" approach.
If you send me your birth date, I can start giving you some clues about the nature you decide to incarnate here, your personality. Of course other than, you have a specific soul essence, a specific degree of evolution, and a free-will that it never seen in a natal chart!
However this week I will be busy,
so my best guess is to do your study and ask me anything you want. 
To start, there are twelve basic archetypes called the signs of the zodiac. Every planet and sun and the moon placed or passing by in a specific one, colours, as if it focused towards Earth, its energy. Please understand that this is just an analogy, it may not be the real way things work since I do not even know it!
You can also use wikipedia or google for more an astrological start.
The signs are as following. It starts from Aries, the Ram, to Pisces the fishes, from the most individual-related to a more global-related. But this has nothing to do I think with STS or STO.
It has to be with this: Aries is fiery, impulsive, it marks the very beggining of a creation, therefore Aries brings a powerful criative and impulsive energetic to a person that has a sun sign or rising (ascendant) of this sign. One example is Leonardo da Vinci, a great genious, but many under Aries are unfortunately prone to agressive behaviour. It then goes more and more outwards. Taurus refers to a stabilization of action, bringing it to earth. These are more solid steady, people. Also related to nature, sensuality and the senses. Gemini to a mental analysis to see the opposites, mind and body, material and spiritual, for example. It is also communication outwards. Therefore these are very talkative, inventive and also gifted people. Cancer refers to an emotional confrontation, to nurturing the growing soul (brings criative, sensitive people). Leo is the archetype for the powerful self-criative and expressive energy of the personality or higher self (if more evolved). Think of Obama for example. Virgo is finding him/herself with a purpose, therefore it is a highly inclined sign for service to others, it rules work and routine. Libra is balancing, of opposites, of diplomacy, relationships, romantism, of spiritual balance. Gandhi was a typical Libra. Scorpio is self-transcendence, desire-transcendence (this and Taurus are signs very much dealing with the nature of desire). Bjork is a Scorpio. Sagittarius is one-focus, expansion, exploration, visionary. Capricorn is going up and finding a roof, if you like the analogy. It brings pessimist or materialist people so they can really find their high spiritual (and social) purpose in life. Aquarius is brotherhood and a pour of knowledge and humanism. Abraham Lyncon, Bob Marley, Copernicus as different examples. Pisces is self-transcendence, beyond the material, beyond the emotional. Einstein and Michaelangelo are examples.
I am free to speak more about these archetypes.
Briefly for the planets:
Sun is the solar logos, the source, the soul, the shining influence and purpose
Moon emotions, needs and past links
And the rest I guess you know
Mecury=mind/communication
Venus=arts/aesthetics/love
Mars=action/motivation/impulse to act, move
Jupiter=philosophical ideals, visions, opportunities to grow
Saturn=structure, getting real, getting simples and real
Uranus=break from opression, awakening, innovation
Neptune=dissolution of barriers that allows us to see the united all
Pluto=transformation, crumbling structures and power, to bring a new rebirth
Then you can have placements of both of these in the houses of a chart. The ascendant marks your visions of the world, your new impulse. And then on, you have three other important points, the descendant, the IC and the MC. and these form 12 houses, quite similar and related but diferent from each sign
However as with the signs, it is important to understand that despite the fact that each archetype is different they blend one into the next. However the differences between one and the next are often very clear to see.~
Be also aware that a mix of a chart that is equilibrated with many different energies may create a person that it is difficult to guess these different energies, as you would see them all blend and manifested one here, the other there.. When you have people like with a Cancer with strong water element in their charts, then you see that you have identified easily what is Cancer is many different people. Then it is really easy to pinpoint these things and to understand them. But notice that the archetype is manifested also in different levels and ways!! For example, there are Aquarius that are eccentric and activist singers, other are great scientists, and other great thinkers and freedom fighters. All related to the same global brotherhood and mental/knowledge archetypem manifested in different ways.
Then you have the natal chart which marks what you have brough to the current incarnation, mostly your personality, talents, motivations, issues to deal, purposes, etc...
The transits reflect the passing planets through your map and correlate with important times of change in life, wth catalysts, with turning points, ending, dealing with certain issues, focusing in a specific area of life...
Also, when planets form geometrical aspects between each other, their energies are highly magnified, so one studies and looks for these during natal chart analysis and transits.
For example, I am Sagittarius (sun sign), therefore I tend to focus in specific goals that are far reaching, expanding myself and focus in uniting things. In my chart sun is Conjuncted Neptune, so I have a personality with quite dissolved personal barriers and sensitivity. These are placed in eleventh house (which rules brotherhood ideals), so my personality (focused and sensitive) focus on those purposes. I had a transit in 2006 when Pluto passed in my natal sun position, and that time I moved from focusing on friends and carrier (also brotherhood) to more groups and idealistic activities (which in my perspective favour more a STO work). This works, even when you don't know nothing about astrology (then it works partially unconsiously to that person)
This is just one example in how astrology may help us to understand our lives. One advice: I would not control my life or others, with the use of astrology.
Light,
To start:
I must also tell you I feel humble to see these workings of astrology without fully understanding why.
I think there are basic archetypes of energies and these correlate at least with our natures down here, and the events down here.
Do you know the "as above so below"?
It's a kind of that the way I think astrology works.
Anyway in a practical level I would start by, in a silenced way, to look at what you are and you see in a natal chart analysis, and this to some of your close relatives. But please understand that many do not want to know about astrology or their charts. And many others just take the "newspaper" approach.
If you send me your birth date, I can start giving you some clues about the nature you decide to incarnate here, your personality. Of course other than, you have a specific soul essence, a specific degree of evolution, and a free-will that it never seen in a natal chart!
However this week I will be busy,
so my best guess is to do your study and ask me anything you want. To start, there are twelve basic archetypes called the signs of the zodiac. Every planet and sun and the moon placed or passing by in a specific one, colours, as if it focused towards Earth, its energy. Please understand that this is just an analogy, it may not be the real way things work since I do not even know it!
You can also use wikipedia or google for more an astrological start.
The signs are as following. It starts from Aries, the Ram, to Pisces the fishes, from the most individual-related to a more global-related. But this has nothing to do I think with STS or STO.
It has to be with this: Aries is fiery, impulsive, it marks the very beggining of a creation, therefore Aries brings a powerful criative and impulsive energetic to a person that has a sun sign or rising (ascendant) of this sign. One example is Leonardo da Vinci, a great genious, but many under Aries are unfortunately prone to agressive behaviour. It then goes more and more outwards. Taurus refers to a stabilization of action, bringing it to earth. These are more solid steady, people. Also related to nature, sensuality and the senses. Gemini to a mental analysis to see the opposites, mind and body, material and spiritual, for example. It is also communication outwards. Therefore these are very talkative, inventive and also gifted people. Cancer refers to an emotional confrontation, to nurturing the growing soul (brings criative, sensitive people). Leo is the archetype for the powerful self-criative and expressive energy of the personality or higher self (if more evolved). Think of Obama for example. Virgo is finding him/herself with a purpose, therefore it is a highly inclined sign for service to others, it rules work and routine. Libra is balancing, of opposites, of diplomacy, relationships, romantism, of spiritual balance. Gandhi was a typical Libra. Scorpio is self-transcendence, desire-transcendence (this and Taurus are signs very much dealing with the nature of desire). Bjork is a Scorpio. Sagittarius is one-focus, expansion, exploration, visionary. Capricorn is going up and finding a roof, if you like the analogy. It brings pessimist or materialist people so they can really find their high spiritual (and social) purpose in life. Aquarius is brotherhood and a pour of knowledge and humanism. Abraham Lyncon, Bob Marley, Copernicus as different examples. Pisces is self-transcendence, beyond the material, beyond the emotional. Einstein and Michaelangelo are examples.
I am free to speak more about these archetypes.
Briefly for the planets:
Sun is the solar logos, the source, the soul, the shining influence and purpose
Moon emotions, needs and past links
And the rest I guess you know
Mecury=mind/communication
Venus=arts/aesthetics/love
Mars=action/motivation/impulse to act, move
Jupiter=philosophical ideals, visions, opportunities to grow
Saturn=structure, getting real, getting simples and real
Uranus=break from opression, awakening, innovation
Neptune=dissolution of barriers that allows us to see the united all
Pluto=transformation, crumbling structures and power, to bring a new rebirth
Then you can have placements of both of these in the houses of a chart. The ascendant marks your visions of the world, your new impulse. And then on, you have three other important points, the descendant, the IC and the MC. and these form 12 houses, quite similar and related but diferent from each sign
However as with the signs, it is important to understand that despite the fact that each archetype is different they blend one into the next. However the differences between one and the next are often very clear to see.~
Be also aware that a mix of a chart that is equilibrated with many different energies may create a person that it is difficult to guess these different energies, as you would see them all blend and manifested one here, the other there.. When you have people like with a Cancer with strong water element in their charts, then you see that you have identified easily what is Cancer is many different people. Then it is really easy to pinpoint these things and to understand them. But notice that the archetype is manifested also in different levels and ways!! For example, there are Aquarius that are eccentric and activist singers, other are great scientists, and other great thinkers and freedom fighters. All related to the same global brotherhood and mental/knowledge archetypem manifested in different ways.
Then you have the natal chart which marks what you have brough to the current incarnation, mostly your personality, talents, motivations, issues to deal, purposes, etc...
The transits reflect the passing planets through your map and correlate with important times of change in life, wth catalysts, with turning points, ending, dealing with certain issues, focusing in a specific area of life...
Also, when planets form geometrical aspects between each other, their energies are highly magnified, so one studies and looks for these during natal chart analysis and transits.
For example, I am Sagittarius (sun sign), therefore I tend to focus in specific goals that are far reaching, expanding myself and focus in uniting things. In my chart sun is Conjuncted Neptune, so I have a personality with quite dissolved personal barriers and sensitivity. These are placed in eleventh house (which rules brotherhood ideals), so my personality (focused and sensitive) focus on those purposes. I had a transit in 2006 when Pluto passed in my natal sun position, and that time I moved from focusing on friends and carrier (also brotherhood) to more groups and idealistic activities (which in my perspective favour more a STO work). This works, even when you don't know nothing about astrology (then it works partially unconsiously to that person)
This is just one example in how astrology may help us to understand our lives. One advice: I would not control my life or others, with the use of astrology.
Light,
(01-24-2009, 06:36 PM)ayadew Wrote: Hello irpsit, I am grateful for your help.
I have tried studying astrology a few times, but I simply do not know where to start. There seems to be an awful lot of information to know before you can get somewhere. As such I would like help with knowing: What are the fundamental things to understand, so that I may study further by myself with best results? Do you know of any good guides, ie books or websites?