Re: Moon, to Niplan
First I want to say that Placidus system (not equal house) does not leave out any degrees. They're all in there. Each sign has 30 degrees but each house can have as few as 20 degrees or as many as 40 degrees (approx).
Having the correct house cusps makes it easier to know the correct ruler of the house. Using a solar chart or equal house chart, I believe anyway, reduces your accuracy a little or a lot, depending upon the situation.
You are young. Usually when I say those words the person I am writing to gets very defensive as though there is something wrong with being young. There's nothing wrong with it. However, as you get older and more experienced, you will one day look back and have the same opinion.
Not only are you young, but it's hard for a person more mature to be totally confident in what you are saying, as you haven't been an adult very long. Being mature gives you the ability or at least the potential of being objective. And people won't get "mad" at you very often if you remain objective.
I want you to notice a very interesting aspect in your chart...an interesting aspect and house position. You have the Sun (and Jupiter) on the 8th house cusp, and it squares the moon almost exactly...which is in the 11th.
The MOON rules the "public", andtherefore you are correct in assuming you need to hone your "people skills" before telling people their "fate" which may or may not be as you see it.
You were born with the feeling that your are "right" a lot of the time. Especially about others. This may or may not be correct....or it may be correct in the future. Right now you need to learn humility. Because if you are an astrologer, it is Astrology that is the "star", not the astrologer. You are
"the messenger."
You have humility programmed into your psyche...you have 2 planets in Pisces, the sign of spiritual humility. BUT...bothMars and Saturn square them. You need to study 2 things: first, the conjunction of Mars and Saturn... this is CRUCIAL in your life.
Next you must study the squares: Saturn square Venus, Saturn square Mercury, Mars square Venus, Mars square Mercury.
Of all these, My least favorite aspect is Mars square Venus. It takes a LOT of work to internalize what it means in your own chart, let alone what it could mean for someone you are reading for.
I fear you are putting the cart before the horse. Only read for people who won't get annoyed with you for getting it wrong, until you feel competent.
I know everyone is different, but nevertheless I will tell you about my personal astrological history. I began reading seriously about it for almost 2 years before I found a school that existed only for about 12 years in my area....I always felt this was karmic... that I had the opportunity to learn from these astrologers.
I took all the classes, then took private and semi-private lessons in delineation.
At that time Martin Schulman who has written many excellent books on different areas of astrology was giving group lessons in his home in Queens, NY. I took lessons with him.
For the following 3 years I did the charts of every friend or acquaintance I could find to be my guinea pig, and did not charge a fee. I asked for as much feedback as possible and begged them to call me to let me know what was going on in their lives so that I could follow their transits.
8 years after I began learning astrology, I took my first fee.
I would like to tell you that by that time I felt confident. But I never see a new client without having stagefright. Updates are easier because the client and I already know each other.
The first rule of astrologers should be the first rule of physicians:
First, DO NO HARM.
Astrology is a science and also an art. I began learning astrology with one gal who had my exact chart, except her's was 12 hours different. Same moon, same planets in the signs,just different houses. She taught the math in astrology and studied "hypothetical planets", those same planets today that many astrologers use in their readings.
I asked her if she gave readings and she shuddered...NO...I could never have the nerve to do a reading for someone I don't know. It wasn't that she was not competent, she just wanted to use her talent for research.
The POINT of this is that HER stellium in Leo fell in her 3rd house, while mine falls in my 9th house. SHE was a gatherer or information, I am a disseminator of information. Part of my job as an astrologer is to pass on information like books which will enhance the astrological experience.... usually called "self help" books. This makes the reading more valuable. Of course you can't recommend a book you haven't read, so you need to read a lot of books.
The art of reading "to a stranger" is one that takes a long time to master. You must have unlimited patience with yourself and others.
LIN