• Master the fundamental principles of the Art, and be able to clearly distinguish and utilise its core concepts, including but not limited to: celestial/terrestrial; universal/particular; diurnal/nocturnal; primary/secondary motion; benefic/malefic; essential/accidental; dignity/debility; condition/disposition; aspects/reception; oriental/occidental; direct/retrograde; angularity; movement; light; hermetic lots; fixed stars; significator/promittor; visible/invisible planets; commixture; weighing testimony/rendering judgement.
• Appreciate that “cookbooks” are devoid of genuine value or significance, otherwise computers could do a better delineation than a human being. It is only the clear and consistent application of essential principles, concepts, and methods in every particular circumstance and for each unique person that can possibly account for the variety and chaos which life presents to us in every unfolding moment. That’s what makes astrology both wonderful and viable. So permanently erase foolish and simplistic notions of 10 planets x 12 signs x 12 houses x 8 aspects = instant astrology! The quest is for singular description, not broad generalisation.
• Understand that charts are fundamentally meaningless without context.
