This is certainly one of the central issues of astrological interpretation.  Even those of us who have dozens and dozens of astrology books and a cumulative wealth of knowledge often struggle to know where to begin.

We often jump around haphazardly as a particular component of the chart grabs our attention.  More often than not, we lose track of where we're going, where we've been, and the overall concept of what this person is all about.

We may go House by House or Planet by Planet, but these approaches often still prove difficult to integrate, to synthesize everything into a meaningful picture.  Each new piece of this unique and frequently contradictory puzzle seems to cloud and complicate rather than clarify.

If you've ever done this, don't feel alone -- and certainly don't be embarrassed.  It would be surprising if any of us had not had this less-than-rewarding experience at some time in our astrological studies.

This very sense of frustration led me to seek out a teacher who had a proven track record as a reputable practicing astrologer and one that used a structured approach to chart analysis.  As luck (synchronicity?) would have it, just when I was beginning this search, there was an article in The Mountain Astrologer (TMA) comparing correspondence courses offered by various astrologers.

Correspondence courses are inherently attractive to people that, for whatever reasons, need to work at their own pace.  But let me underscore that a high degree of commitment is necessary for this type of self-paced study.  Without specific deadlines, it's all too easy to procrastinate and lose momentum.

But I digress.  The TMA article listed, among many choices, a course by Noel Tyl**.  Noel's promise of a structured approach to horoscope analysis grabbed my attention.  What good is it to have all the technical skill in the world if you cannot assemble a meaningful synthesis of what is suggested by the horoscope?  So, shortly thereafter, I decided that this was what I needed to become more efficient with my astrological skills. 

Noel's methods encourage a specific approach to each horoscope.  The variables are eliminated.  You do it the same each time.  It becomes your routine, and eventually second nature.  Soon you can't even imagine doing it differently. You know exactly what you'll be looking at first, second, etc.  

This may seem overly structured for the stellium-in-Aquarius types out there.  But after you've spent entire days preparing for a session, it may suddenly be quite appealing to have a method that allows you to be much more efficient and complete your preparation in a fraction of the usual time.

To return to our initial question of what to do first, we begin very rationally with the Signs holding the Sun and the Moon.  With only these two pieces of information, we can gain tremendous insight into what this person needs in his life in order to feel fulfilled.

Regardless of what else is going on in the natal chart, if these needs are not met the individual is not content, not complete.  So these simple, yet profound, indicators form the cornerstone of what we see suggested in the horoscope.  No matter what other Planets, Signs, Houses, Aspects, or whatever we look at, we must be determined not lose sight of the importance of these luminaries.

So, now we have a rational starting point for our analysis.  What could be simpler, more logical?  Yet without a consistent approach as we look at each new chart, we run the risk of minimizing the significance of these tremendously important factors. 

The rest of the picture is gradually filled in as we examine other parts of the chart.  Each added part contributes a supportive refinement or adds a new dimension, a new wrinkle to our interpretation.  But now we have a solid basis for our beginning impressions.

**For more information about Noel Tyl's Master's Degree Correspondence Course, please contact Noel at (480) 816-0000, 8:00-16:00 MT, any day.