Astrology for InterMediate STudents
Learn Chart Synthesis
At the intermediate level of study, you have been introduced to the core symbols (planets, signs and houses) and you’re now ready to see how they work together. We call this stage “synthesis” because you’re learning how to blend the symbols together – which is how you’ll see them expressed in a person’s life.
None of us is limited in expression or experience to just one part of our chart, like the Sun or rising sign. Each of us has a unique expression of those energies.
For example, “Sun conjunct Pluto in Leo in the 11th house square Venus in Scorpio in the 2nd house with the Sun ruling the 11th”. That’s a mouthful! And it can be an even bigger mouthful once you take stock of the whole birth chart.
As an intermediate student, you’re learning the primary technique for chart synthesis: Aspects. You’ll also learn planet-sign blending, how to understand a planet in a house, and planetary rulership.
Once you understand aspects, you can also begin to approach the most foundational timing technique: transits.
The courses below explore these topics from a wide range of perspectives and specialties.
Pro tip: It takes a good amount of study to feel comfortable with synthesis and archetype blending. Be patient with yourself. You have to start somewhere. As you listen to one of the courses below, have your own chart handy and apply what you’re learning as you go.
Aspects Courses
These long-form courses provide an overview of how to work with and understand aspects.
- Major Aspects Course with Kelly Surtees, Mark Jones, Jason Holley and Tony Howard
- The Aspect Patterns Course with Tony Howard and Karen Hamaker-Zondag
- Chart Interpretation 2: Aspects with Kelly Surtees
- Beginning Astrology – A Language of Life with Robert Blaschke (includes major and minor aspects and chart patterns)
- An Evolutionary Approach to Aspects with Steven Forrest
Planetary Aspects Webinars
These classes and webinars explore special topics related to specific aspects and aspect dynamics.
- Aspects: The Power of the Circle with Mark Jones
- Unlocking Your Venus Aspects with Kelly Surtees
- Chart Analysis: Major Aspects with Tony Howard
- Mars-Neptune Aspects with Jessica Murray
- Saturn-Neptune Aspects in the Birth Chart with Tony Howard
- Outer Planet Aspects to Venus and Mars with Donna Cunningham
- Neptune in Aspect with Steven Forrest
Planet-Sign Blending
These classes and webinars explore planet-in-a-sign expressions. This includes transiting planets in a sign, which can teach you something about current events, as well as serve as a way of understanding that same energetic in a natal chart.
- Putting a Planet in a Sign and House with Steven Forrest
- Jupiter in Libra with Kelly Surtees
- From Saturn in Libra to Scorpio with Darby Costello
- Unlocking Your Venus Aspects with Kelly Surtees
- Neptune in Pisces: The Big Wave with Lynn Bell
- Neptune in Pisces: Navigating the Invisible with Darby Costello
- Jupiter and Saturn with Robert Blaschke
- Saturn in Capricorn with Steven Forrest
- Saturn in Sagittarius through the 12 Houses with Steven Forrest
Planets in Houses and Signs
- The Houses Course with Kelly Surtees and Tony Howard
- The Archaeology of the Houses course with Brian Clark
- The 12 Houses from Traditional to Modern Perspectives with Demetra George
- Neptune through the 12 Houses with Steven Forrest
- From Saturn in Libra to Scorpio with Darby Costello
- The Moon through the 12 Houses with Lynn Bell
- The 8th House: Vampires, Transformers and Enablers with Lynn Bell
- The Daimons of Houses 11 and 12 with Lynn Bell
- 12th House Planets with Kelly Surtees
Intermediate Level Signs and Planets
These classes explore nuances and expanded dimensions of the expressions of the planets and the signs of the zodiac.
- Leo and the Solar Field with Jason Holley
- Virgo in Myth and Psyche with Jason Holley
- Libra in Myth and Psyche with Jason Holley
- Scorpio in Myth and Psyche with Jason Holley
- Capricorn in Myth and Psyche with Jason Holley
- Pisces in Myth and Psyche with Jason Holley
- Catching a Glimpse of Trickster Mercury with Lynn Bell
- Hermes Guide of Souls with Demetra George
- The Mercury Workshop with Steven Forrest
- The Mysteries of Venus with Steven Forrest (includes timing as well as planetary description)
- Purifying the 3 Poisons: Mercury, Venus and Mars with Steven Forrest
- Saturn Success Stories with Tony Howard
- Neptune, Betrayal and the Myth of Ariadne with Safron Rossi
- The Nature and Function of Pluto with Mark Jones
Timing Technique: Transits
These classes explore nuances and expanded dimensions of the expressions of the planets and the signs of the zodiac.
- Cycles of Success: Timing Your Trends with Transits with Kelly Surtees
- Timing Cycles with Transits with Darby Costello, Kelly Surtees and Tony Howard
- The Transits Workshop with Steven Forrest
- Catching a Glimpse of Trickster Mercury with Lynn Bell
- Hermes Guide of Souls with Demetra George
Recommended Reading
Search for these books at your favorite local book shop or at Amazon or Powell’s online.
- Astrology, Karma and Transformation by Stephen Arroyo
- Astrological Aspects: A Process Oriented Approach by Dane and Layla Rudhyar
- The Changing Sky by Steven Forrest – This timeless classic considers why the symbols are oriented as they are, rather than just describing them.
- Predictive Astrology: The Eagle and the Lark by Bernadette Brady
- Cosmos and Psyche by Richard Tarnas – The most important astrology book of our time. Also a great introduction to planets, as well as transit dynamics.
- The Transiting Planets by Sakoian and Acker – Classic handbook/cookbook for transits. Some description are limited and skewed to the negative, but provide a good starting point.
- Astrology: A Cosmic Science by Isabelle Hickey
- The Astrological Neptune by Liz Greene – The best book on Neptune written, with depth and correlations not mentioned elsewhere.
- Saturn in Transit by Erin Sullivan
- The Gods of Change by Howard Sasportas
- The Outer Planets and Their Cycles by Liz Greene
- The Jupiter/Saturn Conference Lectures by Liz Greene and Stephen Arroyo
- Person Centered Astrology by Dane Rudhyar
- Soul, Symbol and Imagination by Brian Clark