Astrology for Real Life: A Workbook for Beginners

By Theresa Reed

A fun and sassy no-nonsense invitation to the practice of astrology with easy-to-understand tools for self-development and conscious living

Astrology books are typically either overly simplistic sun-sign books or overly complicated chart calculations filled with astro jargon. Astrology for Real Life goes beyond simple sun-sign interpretation and at the same time cuts through the complications of horoscope analysis to make understanding your chart in depth, simple and easy. The goal is to make astrology accessible to total newbies and provide a working reference guide for intermediates.

The book is presented in workbook format exploring each part of chart interpretation—signs, planets, houses, aspects—with exercises following each chapter and fill-in-the-blank lessons that take the reader through all the just-learned steps. The tone is warm, fun, and personal, and the exercises give the reader experiential hands-on practice.

The end result: once you learn the basics in Astrology for Real Life, you can easily navigate the cosmos by making them work for you. It’s kind of like a roadmap where we begin by understanding the terrain and the tools available. From there, the planets will guide you in making brave, excellent choices in love, work, and life. It’s profound, fun, and practical. You’ll learn how to interpret your chart with confidence and use astrology in a practical, proactive way, with no astro excuses (blaming the stars for your issues).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Red Wheel Weiser
• Release date: Oct 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781633411142

Theresa Reed

Theresa Reed, also known as The Tarot Lady, is the author of Tarot for Troubled Times and Astrology for Real Life. The host of Tarot Bytes, a popular podcast with short bite-sized tarot lessons, she has been a professional tarot reader for over twenty-five years. For more information, visit TheTarotLady.com.

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Introduction

I'm going to let you in on a little secret: although I'm known as the Tarot Lady, tarot wasn't my first love. I fell in love with astrology well before I ever laid my paws on a tarot deck. Tarot came to me later, and while I fell head over heels for those seventy-eight paper cards, I never left astrology.

In a way, I've been in a love triangle with both, never able to choose one over the other entirely. Sure, tarot is my main squeeze, but astrology is the perfect side piece. They complement each other like peanut butter and marshmallow fluff . . . and I find that both make my life quite delicious.

My first introduction to astrology happened many moons ago when I was a typical angsty fifteen-year-old misfit in the middle of an existential crisis. Who am I, and what the heck am I here to do with this so-called life? Why do I do the things I do, and what drives me to think like this?

Enter my best friend Sandie's mother, Lollie.

I met Sandie earlier that year, and we became insta-friends. Like me, she was an oddball, a curious, moccasin-wearing eccentric who moved through the hallways clutching her books as if they were some sort of oxygen tank keeping her alive. She stood out like a strange flamingo in a sea of Izod shirts, which meant that I was drawn to her immediately. Weirdos tend to stick together like that.

Not surprisingly, Sandie's mother was an unusual woman too. Barely five feet tall, she never wanted to be called Mrs. So-and-So like all the other parents. She preferred that I address her by her nickname, Lollie. She was a brilliant psychologist who enjoyed playing mind games for sport. We'd often find her chain-smoking Marlboros and tinkering around on the piano.

She was also really into astrology.

One day, she decided that I needed an astrological consult (I also suspect that she wanted to see if I was trouble). So, she sat me down and drew up a chart. As she scrutinized the strange symbols and markings, she muttered to herself and opened her vintage astrology books to double-check the interpretations. She shook her head a few times, grimaced, and finally told me . . . all about me.

You've got a difficult chart, but you're quite intelligent. You're also very psychic. You might be highly sexed. Oh, and you're going to have power struggles with friends. A lot. I don't remember much else about that night so long ago, but I do know one thing: I was instantly hooked.

Since that time, I've used astrology in my life for many reasons: to understand myself and my loved ones; plan events (even the birth of my children!); map out business strategies; and help clients choose dates for weddings, launches, and C-sections. Astrology has been a remarkable tool that has allowed me to amp up my strengths and make peace with my challenges. It's made me a better parent, entrepreneur, and person. Seriously.

It's funny, but when I meet astrology-curious people, they are game to have me look at their charts, but they shy away from trying to understand how it works . . . or how they might be able to rock that chart to their advantage if only they were able to grasp the basics.

It's too hard to understand.

All those symbols—you have to be a genius to know what they mean.

It's like you're speaking a different language when you're talking astrology.

It's too arcane for my membrane.

Here's the deal: it's like a different language, but you don't need to be a rocket scientist to get it. Once you learn the basics, you can easily navigate the cosmos and make it work for you. It's like a roadmap where we begin by understanding the terrain and the tools available. From there, the planets will guide you in making brave, excellent choices in love, work, and life. It's profound, fun, and practical as can be.

All you need is a person who speaks the native tongue fluently but does so in a way that takes the intimidation factor out of the equation. That's me. Astrology for Real Life is geared toward astrology newbies who want to understand their chart and maximize their potential without feeling like they are in over their head or too dumb to get it (you're not). In this book, you'll learn how to interpret your chart with confidence and use astrology in a practical, proactive way. This means no astro-excuses (blaming the stars for your issues). Heck, we've all got free will. Although the stars show the potential, you always have choices. But it's easier to make the right decisions when you are conscious of what's up and how you operate best.

I've been studying astrology for many years, using myself as a guinea pig. This means examining how astrology works in practice, not just in theory. I'm here to tell you: it works when you know how to play with it.

I am forever grateful to Lollie for that glimpse into my inner workings all those years ago. Because of her, a door opened up for me that became my life's work. I still have her old books, with all her messy notes in the margins, carefully wrapped in a plastic bag so that they don't disintegrate further. They are some of my most treasured belongings.

Now it's time for me to open up that door for other astro-curious folks who are seeking answers but feeling overwhelmed by all the other information that is out there. It's not that hard. You can do this. (Psst . . . the more you do it, the easier it gets.)

I've compiled some of my favorite lessons in this workbook. These are the ones that I've successfully used with my students over the years, plus information that I've shared on my blog in the Star School series. My hope is that Astrology for Real Life breaks down astrology in a friendly, fun way. Because the one thing I've learned over the years: it's easier to grasp when it's not a boring drag.

After reading this book, here's what I hope you'll be able to do:

You'll know where to go (online) to pull up your natal chart—aka your birth chart.

You'll be able to look at your natal chart and immediately spot the symbols for three Very Important Things—your Sun sign, Moon sign, and rising sign—and you'll understand what these mean.

You'll understand all the basic astrology lingo—words like retrograde, transit, sextile. You'll know what all these words mean. It won't feel like a foreign language anymore!

You'll be able to have friends over for dinner, and you'll know how to pull up each person's chart and do a basic astrology reading. Fun!

You'll know how to look at an ephemeris and see what's going on in the cosmos today, this week, this month, and this year, so you can plan your life more effectively.

You'll feel empowered, not helpless. You'll understand that astrology shows a general picture of what's going on—kinda like a weather forecast. Astrology provides information. What you choose to do with that info is up to you! You always have free will . . . and there's always a way to use the information to your advantage.

You'll feel inspired to keep learning! There's always more to study. Even after thirty years with this shizzle, I'm still learning new stuff too!

Ready? Let's go!

PART ONE

Before You Begin

how to use this workbook: • what you'll need • busting a few myths

Your Birth Chart

Before you begin poking around the beautiful world of astrology (and this book), you're going to need a few things. The most important: your birth chart, also known as your natal chart.

The birth chart is a map of the cosmos at the time you were born. This chart can be determined by calculating your exact date, time, and location. Thanks to modern technology, you no longer have to do this by hand. Software does the math for you, so you can spend your time analyzing the details. Whew! Believe me, back in the day, those calculations were a pain. Thank you, astrology software!

You can get a copy of your chart by visiting websites that offer free on-demand birth charts such as www.astro.com or www.alabe.com/freechart. Here's how:

For www.astro.com:

Scroll down to the Extended Charts section.

Click on For Guest Users or create a profile. I recommend creating a profile because you'll have your info stored and can access other cool features on the site.

Check the box for Data Privacy Information.

In the Birth Date Entry box, put in your information. For example:

first name: Jane

last name: Smith

gender: female

birthday: 5, December, 1992

hour: 2 (2 AM) min 45

country: USA

birth town: Boston, MA

Click Continue.

Leave the Chart Type and Chart Drawing Options as is. These are the default settings for a Tropical Chart, Placidus House system, which I use. If you want to use a different house system (explained later in this book), you can fiddle with that under the Options for Zodiac and Houses section.

Click on the link named Click here to show the chart. Voila! You've got a natal chart! Yay!

For www.alabe.com/freechart/:

Fill in all the information on the box below Free Birth Chart & Astrology Report Data Input. Click Submit and BOOM . . . your chart is right in front of your eyes. The internet is magic!

Or if you're totally gung-ho on all this astro-biz, you may want to invest in software. The best at the time of this writing is Solar Fire for PC and TimePassages for Mac. These programs have the basics for chart construction, plus everything you need for transits—and more.

Please make sure the information is exact. If you're not sure about the time of your birth, get a copy of your birth certificate (do not rely on Mom—my mother told my sister that her doctor was busy eating lunch during her birth, which wasn't helpful . . . or entirely accurate). Unfortunately, not all birth certificates have the time. In those cases, you're going to have to guess as best as you can. Or you can work with an astrologer who specializes in rectified charts, a practice that involves looking at different milestones in your life to determine a time of birth. This specialized service takes a lot of time and skill. I won't even attempt to touch it in this book!

So what if you're off by a few minutes? In some cases, a few minutes may not make a difference. But sometimes it might radically change a chart. It's always best to get as close to the time as you possibly can. If all else fails and you cannot determine a time of birth, you may want to choose to do a Solar Sign chart, which means using sunrise as your birth time. Although this won't give you an accurate ascendant and the houses will not be correct, you can still gather a lot of useful information. In this case, you would want to focus on the planets, signs, and aspects. Again, this chart may not give you the complete picture, but you'll have plenty to work with for a long time!

Next, you'll want a journal. Journaling is a great way to work through the exercises in this book and to record your own thoughts. When you write things down, the brain has a better chance of absorbing the information. Writing down the information is so important for astrology, which can feel overwhelming at the start. A journal dedicated to your astrology studies will help you greatly. Your journal doesn't need to be fancy. Just pick one that you like writing in. You may want to consider pasting a copy of your chart on the inside cover so that it's handy.

Of course, the purpose of this book is to use it as a guide. Look for the journaling sections, scribble in your journal, go through the exercises (called Astrocises), add notes from other resources—it's all good! Hands-on is the best way to learn.

Finally, you'll want an ephemeris, which is a reference book that shows you exactly what is happening in the cosmos. This book is a necessary tool for astrologers and is essential for mapping out transits. The times are usually listed as GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). When you first open your ephemeris, you might freak out at all those symbols and numbers. Don't stress; I'll show you how to understand all those arcane-looking tables in an upcoming chapter! You can purchase an ephemeris at your local metaphysical book-store or at one of the online booksellers. If you prefer, you can find digital ephemerides on various websites. (Psst . . . Astrology for Real Life is chock full of recommended books to help you go deeper with your studies if you feel called to. If you find a topic that draws you in, you may want to purchase one of my recommendations! My astrology library is packed, yo.)

Once you have all of these things, grab a few pens and let's dive in!

What Astrology Is . . . and Isn't

Since the beginning of time, we've been trying to figure out our place in the cosmos. We've tossed bones, gazed into flames, watched the birds, and looked to the heavens for answers. What are we doing here? Who are we? What's it all about, Alfie? More importantly, are our fates predetermined . . . or not?

Enter astrology.

Astrology is the study of the stars. It's a neat system believed to have been developed in Egypt many moons ago (pun intended) and passed on to the Babylonians, who are credited with fine-tuning the system into a practical and highly useful tool. The Babylonians used astrology to predict weather patterns, attend to seasonal tasks, and divine the future. Because they had the most advanced mathematical methods, they became quite adept at pinpointing planetary positions and transits. The zodiac was born around 500 BCE.

From there, it became intermingled with Egyptian and Greek beliefs before finally making its way to the Western world, where it continued to morph into what we know as astrology today.

Astrology became a respected science, utilized by kings and generals (President Ronald Reagan was a fan!), and finally, the rest of us ordinary folk.

WHAT ASTROLOGY IS

Astrology is a system that studies the effects that the planets and stars have on humans. Astrologers examine the correlation between the positions of the heavenly bodies and their relationship to events on earth. By studying the patterns and positions of the planets at the time of a person's birth, astrologers believe we can get an idea of that person's character and potential.

WHAT ASTROLOGY CAN DO

Not only can astrology give insights into your personality and possibilities for achievement (or trouble), but it can also help with timing events, exploring compatibility with your boo, and making conscious choices.

WHAT IT'S NOT

Astrology is not some foolproof system that will mark out every detail of your life with crystal-clear coordinates. Even though astrology can be a remarkably accurate tool, there are many ways of looking at a chart, which means interpretation could be different from astrologer to astrologer. And even the most gifted astrologer can't possibly see everything. To expect otherwise is unrealistic. No one has that power.

Astrology gives a general idea of the energy that is operating, but there is always room for interpretation . . . and error. So just because your astrology chart says that new beau will be an ardent lover who will make you tingle from the top of your crown chakra all the way down to the soles of your feet, don't assume he'll be that way with you.

Astrology is not a guarantee (My chart shows I'll be rich!). A challenging chart doesn't mean you're bound to be a drunken lout living under a bridge, nor does one with all the excellent aspects and planetary positions indicate you're destined for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Because life doesn't work unless you work too.

This means there is no such thing as a good chart or a bad one. Astrology only shows the potential. Whether you take advantage of your strengths or work through your difficult jazz is up to you.

Astrology is a tool for empowerment for those who are willing to look at themselves critically and do the work. When you use astrology in that way, your life becomes magical.

BUT IS ASTROLOGY REAL?

(EXPLAINING ASTROLOGY TO SKEPTICS AND CYNICS)

You've probably met plenty of people who roll their eyes when it comes to astrology.

Astrology? C'mon. I'm supposed to believe that {gestures vaguely to the sky} the planets and moons and stars {sarcastic quotation marks} influence my life? Get real. That's crazy.

But actually, it's not crazy. Think about it. The moon, sun, stars, and planets impact our lives in many ways. This has been studied and confirmed by scientists at top universities!

If you encounter a skeptic, here are three examples you can share with them.

1. THE MOON AND THE OCEAN TIDES

The moon's gravitational pull causes the ocean to have high tide and low tide. Think about that. The moon is so powerful that it's literally pulling the ocean back and forth.

If the moon is so powerful that it influences the entire ocean, is it really so crazy to think the moon might be influencing us tiny wee little humans, too? After all, our little human bodies are filled with water, sodium, and various minerals, just like the ocean. Surely, we're being influenced in some way!

2. JUPITER, VENUS, AND EARTH'S WEATHER

Researchers from Columbia University confirm that gravitational tugs from Jupiter and Venus impact our climate here on Earth.

As reported in USA Today: Scientists can now link changes in the climate, environment, dinosaurs, mammals and fossils around the world to this 405,000-year cycle in a very precise way, says Dennis Kent, a paleomagnetism expert at Columbia. Boom. Proof that other planets influence life here on Earth. (See https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/05/07/climate-changes-orbits-jupiter-and-venus-affect-earths-climate/587280002/.)

3. THE SUN, THE SEASONS, AND MENTAL HEALTH

Different seasons—spring, summer, autumn, winter—are caused by the tilt of the Earth's rotational axis relative to the Sun.

In wintertime, when it's dark, many people struggle with S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and experience apathy, exhaustion, anxiety, and depression.

That's one very clear way that a celestial body in the sky (in this case, the Sun) can influence how human beings feel and behave.

You can share those three examples with a skeptical friend. Hopefully, they'll begin to see that's not really silly or crazy to think that the moon, sun, stars, and planets influence our lives. Because . . . we know that they do!

When you study astrology, you're studying the subtle and emotional ways that the moon, sun, stars, and planets impact us—impact how we feel, how we behave, and the challenges and opportunities that arise at different moments.

Look, your ol' friend might still be totally skeptical, and that's okay! We're all entitled to our own beliefs, and you don't have to persuade or convince anyone to see the world the way you do.

However, when your skeptical friend's computer crashes during the next Mercury Retrograde and they lose the 80,000-word PhD thesis that they've been working on for three years, you can just gently shrug and say, Well, I did warn you. . . .

FREE WILL VERSUS FATE

Some schools of thought believe everything is predetermined. Others think that we create the future. There's actually a grain of truth in both camps.

Here are my thoughts on the matter.

Some things are fated. For example, a child born with the ability to paint like Picasso at the age of four is a prodigy. This isn't a learned behavior; it's an innate skill that cannot be explained. The talent is there, and by leaning into it, the child has the potential for great success.

Our free will determines the outcome. Let's say that same child prodigy develops his talent for a time to great acclaim but one day decides that he wants to be a plumber. He abandons his painting and enrolls in a trade school. His path, which seemed to be fated, has now shifted because he made a different choice.

Although we have free will, we assume we don't. Or we don't utilize it. This is why fortune-telling and predictive astrology seem to work. You'll get a reading, suppose that's the way the oatmeal cookie disintegrates, and then sit around, waiting for that tall, handsome stranger to arrive bearing gifts or for disaster to strike. This mindset treats life like some sort of waiting-for-things-to-happen, which is about as passive as it gets.

A better approach is to be proactive. This means: understand your chart and what may lie ahead, but then make smart decisions with that information. (Personal responsibility feels so good!) If you treat astrology like you're the boss, it will work for you.

To illustrate my point, I have a crummy chart by most standards. With a Scorpio Moon and a whole mess of Mutable planets in a tough T-square, it's no wonder astrologers wince when they take a gander at my chart. By all means, I should be screwed according to the heavens! But it hasn't worked out that way. Sure, I've had my share of drama here and there, but for the most part, I am happily married, have great kids, and have a successful career. My life rocks!

Why? I knew where I was lucky and where I needed to work. And then I took responsibility and made conscious choices along the way that allowed me to create a life I love. I use astrology as a guide, not as a bible. It's my secret sauce!

Another example: not that long ago, I had Saturn running through my second house of money. An astrologer buddy said, Oh, looks like you're going to be broke.

I laughed and said, That's not how I roll. I knew that Saturn can be a badass, but if you approach it with mindfulness and an eye for structure, you can work together like a dream team. With this in mind, I created a new budget and a big goal: pay off my mortgage fifteen years early.

Once I got this plan in place, I hunkered down like a banker during the Great Depression. I counted every penny, clipped coupons, looked for deals, and paid extra on the house. By the time the transit came to a close, I was only a year away from that big goal. Oh, and I was debt-free too.

That's how to max out the cosmos.

Once you move through this book, you'll be operating like that. Conscious. Responsible. Positioned for success. Sound good? Let's make the magic happen!

Journaling Exercise

How do you feel about free will versus fate? When have you felt as if life was leading you? Can you recall a time when your decisions completely changed your life?

PART TWO

Fun-damentals

In this section, we get all the nuts 'n bolts ironed out. You build a solid foundation, which sets you up to understand and speak this whole astrology jive confidently.

Me Speak Astrology One Day (get the lingo down)

Once upon a time, my husband and I were engaged in a smart war. Hey, we're both ruled by Mercury, so it's only natural that this is how we amuse ourselves. Anyhow, he was babbling on about physics or some such thing when I

Reviews for Astrology for Real Life

[Kay · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved the easy language of this book so much I bought a hard copy to study off of. My book club has said that I have gained ( surface level ) knowledge very quickly and I am indeed picking up other astrology books to increase my depth.

One down side is that I’m working away from viewing signs as inherently feminine or masculine and there are references to that on this book. However I am able to over look that and concentrate on the energy behind the descriptions instead.

Would recommend for anyone Who is Astro - curious!

[Minguita Palacios · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a fantastic introduction to astrology! Theresa Reed thoroughly covered as much as possible while remaining beginner-friendly. I looked at external references for further explanations only once. For the most part, everything was well explained. However, the manner in which it was written (filled with colloquialism), somewhat annoyed and distracted me which knocked off a star.

[Alejandra Cámara · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great begginers book! It does goes indepth and doesn't only otuch the superficial topics like other begginers book, but it is written in an easy fashion.
The only problem I had it was that sometimes there were too much jokes.