Heart Astrology

When you want an astrology reading, know what kind of reading you are getting and in need of.

So you want an astrology reading, but you don’t know what to ask for? With the recent renaissance in astrology, the options can become rather confusing. There are offerings in Traditional astrology, Modern Astrology, Psychological Astrology, Evolutionary Astrology, Centaur Astrology, Electional Astrology, greek Astrology, Human Design, Uranian astrology, Horary astrology, Talismanic Astrology and Jyotish Astrology, just to name a few! Which do you choose, and even once you choose you are going to encounter variations in how astrologers approach the chart.

When you seek an astrology reading, usually you are going to find a certain range of astrologers who have almost archetypal ways of approaching a chart. If you become an astrologer, mostly you will also end up adopting one or another of these particular stances. I think it is best to be aware of the different categories and which style you might gravitate to, when, and why. After all do we not come to astrology for consciousness and illumination of the dark, whether that is the night sky, the unknown, or our own psychology.

A Brief description of the types of Astrology.

I do not think there are hard definitions for each type of astrology, but the following can be said to be pretty accurate in my estimation, and I welcome corrections in the comment feed.

Modern Astrology.


Modern astrology is based upon the revival of astrology that occurred in the 30’s. It has roots in spiritualism and psychology and focuses primarily on astrology as an inner journey of self knowing. Psychological, Evolutionary, and Draconic astrology are offshoots of it as well as Uranian astrology. It is not based on precise predictive work but is based on helping one discover and unwrap one’s psychology to become a healthier and whole human being. This practice relies upon the traditional planets as well as newly discovered outer planets such as Uranus through Pluto as well as asteroids and centaurs to arrive at its delineations. This form of astrology tends to encourage thinking that astrology is an exercise of free will. To read more here is the definition in wikiastrology.

Traditional Astrology.


Using a variety of techniques that grew out of Greek astrology and Roman era astrology. This form of astrology took predictive models from the classic era and combined them with Arabic techniques Abu Mashar and Saul and was then built upon by the renaissance astrologers from Guido Bonatti onwards through William Lilly. This form of astrology has been popular recently with a number of authors reviving the tradition through translations of Arabic, Latin, French, and Old English astrologers and their works. This form of astrology is more fatalistic as it sees the role of humans as an emissary and result of divine Neoplatonic functions rather than as individuals with self determined agency over fate. From this grew out the traditions of Electional astrology, Horary astrology, Talismanic astrology, and Theurgic astrology as is practiced today. You can read more here from the definition in wikiastrology.

Horary astrology is a method of perceiving the answer to a question from the chart drawn up during the exact time the astrologer understands the question. It can be surprisingly accurate and predictive, although most people practicing this form of astrology tend to only post their wins. I am guilty of that too.

Electional astrology is a method of predicting or determining the outcome of an action or inception by the chart drawn up for that inception. It is widely used to practice changing fate by making sure the predicted outcome is favorable by the location of the planets at the start of the endeavor.

Talismanic astrology believes that you can capture the rays or spirit of this moment and imbibe through astrology into an object or intention. Then it is believed that will bind that moment into working or emanating the magick of that astrological moment for as long as the object exists.

Hellenistic astrology.

Greek and Classical astrology is a form of astrology that is very precise and technical and predictive. It was practiced from 300 BC to 500 AD and included great minds such as Vetius Vallens, Ptolemy, Rhetorious the Egyptian, and numerous others. This form of astrology was revitalized by the work of Project Hindsight as well as Chris Brennan and Demetra George. Most of what we are familiar with in astrology have at least some roots in the methods and practices of Hellenistic Astrology. To read more about Hellenistic Astrology here is the wikiastrology article on it. Hellenistic Astrology may have been the source of Jyotish astrology, although this subject is hotly debated by Jyotish astrologers. The linguistic evidence weighs in on this being true though.

Jyotish and Chinese astrology.

This has been a way to brief summary and has missed a lot of details, but it is good to understand these are all different types of astrology, they are all interrelated and they all work at the hands of a proficient astrologer. In my next post, I will speak about the different styles of astrologers. I practice some of these forms and if you are interested in getting a reading, feel free to reach out. Here are my offerings.

These as well as many developed non-western traditions of astrology are out there in the world and flourishing. They are not commonly the domain of western astrologers because they require a deep immersion into a non-Western worldview to fully understand. There are many sub traditions within Jyotish as well as many sub-traditions within Chinese astrology. Likewise, Japan, Malaysia, Tibet, and Thailand just to name a few have their own distinct traditions. The Jyotish tradition mostly relies on Sidereal astrology interpretation along with the analysis of planetary periods. Chinese astrology employs the 60 period cycle of the 12 animals in union with the 5 elements. They also have a form of astral astrology called Zhi Wei Do Shou. Tibetan Astrology is an exotic mixture of Chinese and Indian astrology with the comprehensive world cosmology of the Kalachakra mixed into it. There is a revival of Native American First Peoples astrology occurring, this is still forming and I personally do not have much experience with its lineages or accuracy. Here is more to read on Jyotish and on Chinese astrology, although the description of Chinese astrology is woefully shallow.

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