Introduction

The poet Robert Burns immortalized himself in the consciousness of Western man when he expressed the yearning for "the gift to see ourselves as others see us". The poet's idea suggests that we are inherently bound by our own limitations as we strive to find ourselves within our universe, and so discover what we might truly become. In general, this idea has been expanded to recognize three states of perceived being: the self as we see ourselves, the self as others see us, and the self as it actually exists.

There are people who find this notion powerfully resonant; people who are dissatisfied with the state of their lives, possibilities, and potential in the world as they see it. These people are seekers after, among other things, the poet's longed-for "gift"; unfortunately, we eventually learn the dubious worth of the "self" as others see us. Instead, we are best advised to seek the third image, an objective self-image generated by our environment, and so not bound by the limitations inherent in the self-image we ourselves, or others, create.

The science and art of Astrology can provide this objective self-image.

The essence of the Astrological self-image is that it is a unique, never-to-be-repeated version of the larger environment. Thus the individual is able to identify with a self that is not just a universe unto itself, but is inherently part of a larger whole. Further, the Astrological self-image is dynamic, changing and unfolding in the context of a changing environment. Astrology allows the observation and analysis of this ongoing process in an orderly and useful manner.

The core of Astrological practice is the construction of a Horoscope, which is a graphical representation of celestial sphere with the relevant heavenly bodies placed therein. This chart is a view (scope) of the heavenly environment at a given time or hour (horo). The Natal Horoscope or birth chart is the foundation of the Astrological image, and subsequent charts can be drawn according to different perspectives and requirements to observe and analyze the ongoing life experience. In addition, there are techniques that make it possible to make choices, to decide between alternatives and to plan for optimal available time and place of future action or response.

There are practical limits to the usefulness of the Astrological process, but they are more a matter of individual appropriateness than of scope of available technique. Indeed, it is the consideration of the individual rather than the representative chart that is the essence of the Astrologer's art. It is this individual consideration that is the purpose of this tutorial.

I believe that the Astrological construct is useful in direct proportion as the user is knowledgeable of Astrology. As an Astrologer, I am required to have a command of the science of Astrology. But I am not the end-user of your Astrological material; you are. It is, therefore, as useful to you as you are knowledgeable, not necessarily of the science but rather the art, of Astrology. For you, this will result in the enhancement of the art of using your objective self-image. This tutorial will introduce to you the basic premises and the primary concepts of Astrology.