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The Art of Chart Interpretation: A Step-by-Step Method for Analyzing, Synthesizing, and Understanding the Birth Chart

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Learn how to determine and interpret the essential personality traits indicated by the birth chart. Interpreting a horoscope effectively and determining an individual's primary qualities, strengths, and weaknesses requires skill in collecting and organizing astrological information. The Art of Chart Interpretation presents a practical system for amateur and professional astrologers confused by the many details of the birth chart. With clarity and insight, Tracy Marks provides a comprehensive method for collecting and evaluating astrological data. Her step-by-step techniques and worksheets aid astrology students in developing their abilities to analyze and synthesize the many facets of the chart and to grasp the essential features of the personality.

212 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2008

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Tracy Marks

20 books37 followers

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5 stars
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18 (17%)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Tracy Marks.
Author 20 books37 followers
April 5, 2017
I wrote this book. What else can I say -- except that it's an old edition and a more recent edition was published around 2013.
Profile Image for Roya.
139 reviews4 followers
August 19, 2022
Not what I was hoping for, but not a bad book at all.

Whether or not you like this book depends on your style of interpretation and your purpose for studying astrology.

I'm not at expert in any shape or form, but I just didn't vibe with this book. I didn't like the style of interpretation used or really agree with the interpretations for many placements.

This book really aims to hold your hand through chart interpretation. The method for doing that is using a big, long list. It comes off as really boring and rigid, and not to mention daunting.

Then there's the issue of how the author interprets charts. They put a huge emphasis on "weighing" the importance of each placement, using the "more important" ones to read a chart. That's fine, but I think that concept is an issue in its self. What stands out in a chart is different for each person, and ultimately, you can focus on different areas of a chart and still wind up with the same conclusion. I also don't like this "weighing" method because you have to constantly ask yourself, "Is this placement more important than that one, and why?" It's just needlessly complicated to me.

Another thing I didn't like is that the topics addressed were advanced, but they were discussed on a surface level. It's not very useful for a beginner.

Don't get me wrong, this book has a lot of good information and I do not doubt the author's knowledge or ability at all. But for me, as a beginner studying astrology for fun, it wasn't very enjoyable or the most useful read.

Conclusion: If you have a similar interpretation style, meaning you like organized lists and weighing different elements in a chart, this might be the astrology book for you. This book could be good for someone who is already at an advanced level and wants to read charts professionally. It's designed to give you a very concrete way to interpret charts. On the other hand, for a beginner like me, who is learning about astrology for fun, this book wasn't the best choice.
Profile Image for Torres Catriel.
11 reviews2 followers
July 25, 2020
No está mal este libro. Es para principiantes que todavía se manejan repitiendo lo que dicen las delineaciones de los libros. Te enseña a hacer una selección, para no marear al consultante.

El problema es que en algún momento te vas a tener que dar cuenta de que hacer eso no funciona mucho. Es lo máximo que se podía hacer dentro de la astrología humanistica.
Profile Image for senseijutsu.
417 reviews213 followers
July 28, 2022
3,5.

Este es un libro con muy buena información para las personas que están empezando a leer cartas natales y necesitan estructura, no saben donde empezar. También brinda muy buena información con respecto a los aspectos sol-luna y las figuras de aspectos. Hay algunos temitas un poco desactualizados que ya no se usan más en la astrología actual, pero recomendadisimo.
Profile Image for Susan.
665 reviews21 followers
August 21, 2020
Half of the book is very good, though has some errors and lots of missing information -- I guess that goes into another book? The second half, the Art of Synthesis, updating Alan Leo, is just filler.
Profile Image for Jenny Yates.
Author 2 books13 followers
July 26, 2016
Tracy Marks’ work is always interesting, clear and focused. In this book, she presents her basic tools, amounting to a comprehensive system for chart synthesis.

It’s a little too mechanical to be useful to me, but I would be very helpful for someone who hasn’t already developed her own system. It’s designed for astrologers just past the beginning stage, those looking for ways to pick out the most important elements in a chart. At the end, there’s a long and well-thought-out section on the counseling process itself.
Profile Image for Katey Nicosia.
6 reviews14 followers
March 21, 2014
A nice guide for systematically synthesizing based on the most important elements in individual charts. Her wholistic approach is refreshing.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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