Theresa Reed - Astrology for Real Life

Theresa Reed had me at the Introduction. I was immediately won over by her friendly style, enthusiasm, and love of astrology. Learning astrology can seem intimidating to the novice, but Reed makes it fun and totally accessibleno small feat! Her information is excellent, and her writing is clear and engaging. Astrology for Real Life was a pleasure to read, and I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

Virginia Bell, author of Midlife Is Not A Crisis

If you're looking for a fast, down-to-earth way to learn astrology, Theresa Reed's Astrology for Real Life is the perfect starting point. Her no-nonsense approach makes the complex system of the stars crystal clear, and her tips and tricks are the perfect addition to anyone's astrological toolbox. Whether you're a total beginner or an experienced sage, you'll learn something valuable in these pages!

Amelia Quint, astrologer for Bumble and MyDomaine

Theresa Reed never stops inspiring with her honesty, wit, and commitment to making the mystical accessible, and Astrology for Real Life is no different. This book is the missing link for those who are starting on their astrology journey and are overwhelmed with information without knowing where to turn. Reed guides readers by the hand through all the basics and more, empowering them to learn astrology in a way that's exciting, fun, and easy to understand. She is a living, shining example of what it means to live magically, to use astrology as a tool for understanding, growth, and evolution. This book is a gift that can help a new generation understand and embody the message of astrology in a timeless way.

Gabriela Herstik, author of Inner Witch

A thorough and thoroughly entertaining guide to the fascinating language of astrology that is sure to get you hooked. Reed keeps it real, useful, and fun, too! The perfect introduction to astrology book.

Monte Farber and Amy Zerner, authors of Astrology for Wellness,
Sun Sign Secrets, and Karma Cards

In Astrology for Real Life author Theresa Reed does exactly what she promises to do: break down astrology in a friendly, fun way. Packed full of information, illustrations, charts, graphs, and exercisesor astrocises as she calls themthis practical workbook also serves as a journal. What I loved most about Astrology for Real Life, though, is Reed's writing styleshe's witty, engaging, edgy, encouraging, and injects a welcome dose of humor into a serious and complex subject. Every beginning astrologer should own a copy of this bookand many of us seasoned stargazers will want to add it to our collections too.

Skye Alexander, author of Magickal Astrology

For Lollie and Sandie

This edition first published in 2019 by Weiser Books, an imprint of

Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC

With offices at

65 Parker Street, Suite 7

Newburyport, MA 01950

www.redwheelweiser.com

Copyright 2019 by Theresa Reed

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages.

ISBN: 978-1-57863-656-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available upon request.

Cover and text design by Kathryn Sky-Peck

Typeset in Frutiger

Printed in Canada

MAR

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

www.redwheelweiser.com/newsletter

Part One
Before You Begin

Part Two
Fun-damentals

Part Three
The Itty-Bitty Nitty-Gritty

Part Four
Putting It All Together

I 'm going to let you in on a little secret: although I'm known as the Tarot Lady, tarot wasn't my first love. I fell in love with astrology well before I ever laid my paws on a tarot deck. Tarot came to me later, and while I fell head over heels for those seventy-eight paper cards, I never left astrology.

In a way, I've been in a love triangle with both, never able to choose one over the other entirely. Sure, tarot is my main squeeze, but astrology is the perfect side piece. They complement each other like peanut butter and marshmallow fluff... and I find that both make my life quite delicious.

My first introduction to astrology happened many moons ago when I was a typical angsty fifteen-year-old misfit in the middle of an existential crisis. Who am I, and what the heck am I here to do with this so-called life? Why do I do the things I do, and what drives me to think like this?

Enter my best friend Sandie's mother, Lollie.

I met Sandie earlier that year, and we became insta-friends. Like me, she was an oddball, a curious, moccasin-wearing eccentric who moved through the hallways clutching her books as if they were some sort of oxygen tank keeping her alive. She stood out like a strange flamingo in a sea of Izod shirts, which meant that I was drawn to her immediately. Weirdos tend to stick together like that.

Not surprisingly, Sandie's mother was an unusual woman too. Barely five feet tall, she never wanted to be called Mrs. So-and-So like all the other parents. She preferred that I address her by her nickname, Lollie. She was a brilliant psychologist who enjoyed playing mind games for sport. We'd often find her chain-smoking Marlboros and tinkering around on the piano.

She was also really into astrology.

One day, she decided that I needed an astrological consult (I also suspect that she wanted to see if I was trouble). So, she sat me down and drew up a chart. As she scrutinized the strange symbols and markings, she muttered to herself and opened her vintage astrology books to double-check the interpretations. She shook her head a few times, grimaced, and finally told me... all about me.

You've got a difficult chart, but you're quite intelligent. You're also very psychic. You might be highly sexed. Oh, and you're going to have power struggles with friends. A lot. I don't remember much else about that night so long ago, but I do know one thing: I was instantly hooked.

Since that time, I've used astrology in my life for many reasons: to understand myself and my loved ones; plan events (even the birth of my children!); map out business strategies; and help clients choose dates for weddings, launches, and C-sections. Astrology has been a remarkable tool that has allowed me to amp up my strengths and make peace with my challenges. It's made me a better parent, entrepreneur, and person. Seriously.

It's funny, but when I meet astrology-curious people, they are game to have me look at their charts, but they shy away from trying to understand how it works... or how they might be able to rock that chart to their advantage if only they were able to grasp the basics.

It's too hard to understand.

All those symbolsyou have to be a genius to know what they mean.

It's like you're speaking a different language when you're talking astrology.

It's too arcane for my membrane.

Here's the deal: it's like a different language, but you don't need to be a rocket scientist to get it. Once you learn the basics, you can easily navigate the cosmos and make it work