What configurations are suitable to look at first in the natal chart?

The most common problem for newbies is that they want to explain every symbol as soon as they open the astrolabe. As a result, I read a lot of entries, but I don’t know what the real main line of this disk is. Reading the disk is not about translating the configurations one by one, but first determining which configurations have weight and which ones are just auxiliary information.

A mature disk reading sequence should establish the skeleton first and then fill in the details. The skeleton consists of the triumvirate, the ascendant ruler, the four axes, personal planets, close aspects, and thematic focus points. Asteroids, fixed stars, and Arabian points can be supplemented, but they are not suitable for grabbing the main line at the beginning.

The Sun looks at the direction of self-development, the Moon looks at the emotional security system, and the Ascendant looks at the way into the world. The ruler of the life indicates where the ascendant door ultimately brings the power of life.

It’s not enough to look at the Big Three. It depends on which houses they fall in, whether they are closely aspected, whether they are in angle houses, and whether the lord of the life is strong. For example, if Libra rising is just the entrance, and the ruler of the life, Venus, is in the tenth house and the eighth house, the focus of life will be completely different.

The four axes are ascending, descending, nadir, and zenith. They are like the skeleton of the chart, connecting the self, relationships, family roots, and social position. Planets close to the four axes are usually more conspicuous and easier to manifest into real events and the main line of life.

If a planet is conjunct the zenith, it will strongly affect career and public image; if the conjunct is descending, it will easily manifest through relationships and cooperation; if it is conjunct the ascendant, it will directly affect temperament, physical sense, and the way in which life is initiated. The corner palace configuration should be looked at first.

Personal planets include the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, and Mars. They are closer to everyday personality than outer planets: how to think, how to like, how to act, how to react, how to pursue.

When looking at your personal planets, don't just look at your horoscope. Pay attention to both the house position and the aspect at the same time. For example, if Mercury is in the third house and Mercury is in the twelfth house, the expressions are different; Mars and Saturn are in close aspect, and actions will be affected by realistic pressure or internal braking.

Tight aspects are more powerful than wide aspects. In particular, close aspects involving the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, native ruler, and personal planets can often explain a person's recurring patterns.

First look within three degrees, and then see if the angular houses and important house lords are involved. Don't regard every line in the phase table as the main line, otherwise the reading disk will be out of focus. Aspects that are truly worth writing into the main conclusion should be supported by closeness, core planetary involvement, and realistic scenarios.

Thematic focus points include stars, strong house positions, strong elements, recurring house lord star linkages, and multiple configurations pointing to the same area. For example, a large number of planets are in the tenth house, the ruler of the life is in the tenth house, and Saturn is conjunct the zenith. When these evidences appear together, career and social status are likely to be the main thread.

If the same topic appears only once, it should be used as a reference first; if it appears repeatedly at different levels, it can be upgraded to a core judgment. The depth of reading comes from the convergence of evidence, not the stacking of terms.

Contents such as the North Node and the South Node, Chiron, asteroids, fixed stars, Arabian Points, modulating disks, zodiac releases, etc. can all be valuable, but they are more suitable to be added after the main structure is clear. Otherwise it would be easy to cover the entire plate with one detail.

For example, Juno can complement the theme of relationship commitment, but it cannot replace the Moon, Venus, the seventh house, and its ruler. Fixed stars can suggest special emphasis, but should not enter the main line earlier than the Sun, Moon, Ascendant and Ascendant.

After opening the chart, take notes in this order: the three giants and the ruler of the life; whether there are planets near the four axes; personal planets in houses; close aspects within three degrees; whether there are any stars, strong houses or elemental imbalances; and finally, look at supplementary points.

Every time you write a conclusion, ask yourself: How many pieces of evidence do I have? Do these evidences come from different layers? Is there any contrary evidence that needs to be balanced? If you can answer these three questions, your tape reading will move from "like" to "why".