Author: Alison Price   –   Published: January 2025

25 Tips to Polish Your Readings

Lean In

As a boost for the New Year, I’m providing you with 25 ways that you can get better at astrology this year. You don’t have to do them all but you will be a far better astrologer if you do. For each of my 25 points. I’ve provided either a link through to a book about the subject or to a website that goes into the topic deeper.

Encouragement

I want to encourage you that as soon as you get past the four cornerstones of astrology, which are signs, planets, houses and aspects that as you start to develop a better understanding of how to read a chart. I would also encourage you to get some other literature surrounding astrology which you can lean on. I love astrology books.

When I was a beginner astrologer, I bought every book that was available at the time. All my spare cash went into astrology books and of course this was before the internet. But even today, my bookshelves sag under the weight of all the astrology books I have.

Within my astrology library I probably have 400 books. I’ve read every single word in every single book, and some of the books more often than others. I’ve segmented my astrology bookshelves into three – cold, warm and hot.

• My cold astrology books, which are books that I’ve read once and thought ho hum.
• My warm astrology bookshelf where there are books that I would look for every now and perhaps once a month or so.
• My hot astrology bookshelf contains the books that I reach for at least once a week if not every day.

Cold Bookshelf

My cold bookshelf, in the back room, contains all the astrology books which I have purchased, read once and thought ho hum. This bookshelf also has the books that I feel do not interest me, even if they may be well written and of value to others. 

Books on my cold bookshelf are what I call thin volumes, repetitive concepts with no new ideas type of books. Additionally on the cold shelf are the astrology practices which I no longer do, which are rectification, Uranian and health related chart readings.

Warm Bookshelf

On my warm bookshelf, which is in the other room, are the books which I reach for less frequently and perhaps once a month. These are ones on interesting topics like secondary progression solar arc directions, the planet specific books, (Pluto, Neptune Mercury etc.) the sign and houses specific books. 

Additionally, anything that I feel it was valuable when I bought it and which I constantly refer back to.

Hot Bookshelf

The type of books that are on my hot bookshelf are multiple ephemerides (noon and midnight), Tables of Houses, both Placidus and Koch. There are all my own astrology books which I’ve written, obviously. 

I have the copies of all the physical magazine editions and journals in which I had an astrology article printed. I also have copy of Ptolemy’s Tetrabiblos and Sue Tompkins’s The Contemporary Astrologer’s Handbook.

3rd and 9th House

The point really is that you don’t know if an astrology book is going to appeal to you until you read it yourself because your chart is different to my chart and what I find interesting, you may not. However, if you have the time and the resources, I urge you to broaden your bookshelf. Build your astrology bookshelf from whatever it is today.

So say you’ve got 10 books on your astrology bookshelf, so by the end of the year, I’d like you to have 20 books on that bookshelf, at least. Another way of looking at this is to say to yourself that if you bought one astrology book a month, that would be 12 books for the year. 

Then you will have purchased, read and either loved or thought ho hum. But if you’ve loved them, they end up on your nightstand and you read them at bedtime. Because let me tell you, even after thirty years of doing astrology, I still have an astrology book on my bedside which I dip into at night. 

What I’m Reading

My current book that I’m reading is A History of Western Astrology, volume 2 by Nicholas Campion. And to be quite clear, this is not the first time I’ve read this book. I purchased it two years ago and I read it then. Now I’m rereading it because I’m trying to take notes from the book specifically about the chapters in it which interest me and that I wish to explore further.

My Wishes for You This Year

As a valued reader I wish for you:

• That you will find one or two books that you find interesting, and you need to read again.
• That these books would be ones that, after you’ve read them, you’re thinking about the topic constantly when you’re driving, when you’re on the bus, in the doctor’s waiting room and you think, “I need to go back and explore this part of astrology further.”
• That you get inspired to dig deeper into this fascinating subject.
• That by doing reading more, you improve your astrology interpretations for your clients.
• That you make meaningful contributions in your client’s lives through your greater knowledge.

Here are my 25 Tips for You

Chart Precision

Software

You need to be able to cast charts correctly and this is done through professional programs like Solar Fire and apps like Astrogold. If you use something else, you need software that offers real-time chart calculation. In 2025, technology has made chart construction more accessible and precise than ever before.

• Solar Fire
• Astrogold

Hypotheticals

Inform yourself about Uranian astrology and the energy points which uses hypothetical planets like Hades, Cupido and Apollon.

• The Language of Uranian Astrology by Roger A. Jacobson

Multicultural

This year expand your understanding beyond Western astrology by studying other astrological traditions. Suggestions are Vedic, Chinese and Indigenous astrological systems to create more holistic readings.

• The New Chinese Astrology by Suzanne White
• Day Signs: Native American Astrology by Bruce Scofield

Archetypes

Emphasize Psychological Archetypes

Move beyond surface-level planetary positions and explore psychological archetypes represented in each planetary combination, transit and aspect.

• Study Guide of the Archetypes by Renn Butler

Intuition

Cultivate a balanced emotional state during your readings. Allow intuitive insights to flow without personal bias or preconceived notions interfering with your interpretations.

• Intuitive Astrology by Elizabeth Rose Campbell

Self-Awareness

Train yourself to recognize spiritual and transformative potentials within chart configurations and not just predictive elements.

• An Astrological Guide to Self-awareness by Donna Cunningham

Technical Skill Enhancement

Master Advanced Aspects

Go beyond standard aspects of longitude like the conjunctions, squares and trines. Learn to read more nuanced aspects like the parallels and contra-parallels.

• Declination: The Other Dimension by Kt Boehrer

Midpoints

Incorporate midpoint techniques to uncover hidden dynamics and subtle interactions between planetary energies that might not be immediately apparent.

• Working with Midpoints: Your key to predictive precision and astrological insights by Kathy Allen

Forecasting

Eclipses

Make sure you know how to combine transits and secondary progressions with the direct forecasting methods and eclipses. Understand Saros charts.

• Predictive Astrology by Bernadette Brady

Solar Return Techniques

Develop your methods for interpreting solar return charts and dig into a 12-year forecast. Look for intricate life pattern developments over subsequent solar returns.

• Planets in Solar Returns by Mary Fortier Shea

Broaden

Evolutionary

Why not shift from general predictive models to evolutionary perspectives which focus on soul growth, karmic lessons and personal transformation? This branch of astrology will stretch your thinking.

• Measuring the Night: Evolutionary Astrology by Steven Forest

Generational

Look at the bigger picture and analyze how generational planetary placements (like outer planet transits) create collective consciousness shifts and individual life trajectories.

• The Hermit, the Minotaur, and the Shadow of Evil: Generational Influences Over the Next Three Decades and Beyond by Claudia McLaren Lainson

Global Trends

Learn to read your client’s individual charts against a broader societal and global astrological pattern. Aim to understand your client’s personal journeys within larger national and international perspectives.

• Book of World Horoscopes by Nicholas Campion

Technological and Research Integration

Research Communities

Participate in online and offline research groups that push the boundaries of astrological understanding and methodological rigor. Your own astrological research can make a difference. Join the top astrological research community – the NCGR.

• National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR)

Organization

Maintain detailed records of your readings and track accuracy. Keep good astrology chart archives and have happy clients.

• Managing Client Expectations by Standolyn Robertson

Deeper and Better

Psychology

Design readings that focus on your client’s potential and growth rather than deterministic predictions. Help your clients to understand their agency and co-creative potential and avoid being a part of the co-dependency problem.

• The Psychology of Executive Coaching by Bruce Peltier

Develop Cultural Sensitivity

Recognize and respect diverse cultural backgrounds when interpreting charts. Avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach through the lens of your own world view.

• Cultural Sensitivity Training by Susann Kowalski

Business

Create a clear business plan for your thriving astrology practice. Make sure to align your astrology passion with profit.

• Astrology as Business by Charles Johnson

Relationships

Synastry

Make sure you know about reading relationship dynamics through composite midpoint, Davison relationship charts and synastry techniques.

• Synastry by Rod Suskin

Heliocentric and Selenocentric Perspectives

Stretch your mind with heliocentric (solar based) and selenocentric (lunar based) chart interpretations. Gain additional insights beyond traditional geocentric (Earth based) models.

• Sparks of Olympus: A New Heliocentric Model of Astrology by Tony Whitman

Understand Astronomical Nuances

Stay updated with this year’s astronomical discoveries and their potential astrological implications. Bridge scientific and metaphysical understanding to make you a more rounded astrologer.

• NASA News

Professional Development

Commit to Continuous Learning

Attend astrology workshops, webinars and conferences which challenge and expand your astrological knowledge base. To my mind, the Faculty’s Summer School is the pinnacle of astrological conferences. I have attended twice and the experience changed the trajectory of my life.

• Faculty of Astrological Studies Summer School – Oxford, UK in August 2025

Self-Reflection

Regularly analyze your own chart to understand your personal biases and growth areas in your astrological practice. Make self-reflection a part of your day (6th house).

• Soul Therapy: A 365 day journal for self-exploration by Positive Soul

Develop Interdisciplinary Knowledge

Study psychology, planet mythology, numerology and other related fields to enrich your astrological interpretations.

• The Stories Behind Astrology: Discover the mythology of the zodiac and stars by Alison Davies

Solar System

Asteroids

Educate yourself on the mythical goddesses buried in the asteroid archetypes. Learn about Jupiter’s female family and its importance in our gender blended world.

• Asteroid Goddesses by Demetra George

Luminaries

Try to create a harmonious approach that equally values both personal research and intuitive insights in your astrological practice. Thoroughly lean into your luminaries’ placements in your chart.

• The Luminaries by Liz Greene and Howard Sasportas

Overarch

Remember, astrology is a journey of continuous learning and personal evolution. These tips are guides to help you develop a more nuanced, compassionate and sophisticated approach to chart reading in 2025 and beyond.

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Author Bio

Alison Price: Professional Astrologer

Alison helps you uncover your individual creativity and lead a fulfilling life using your own astrology. She shares her wisdom from the heart with a touch of humor. She offers Consultations for everyone and Coaching for Aspiring Astrologers.

If you’d like to get in touch with Alison, you can reach out to her via email at starzology@gmail.com.

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