Astrology is the interpretation of the positions and movements of planets in the sky to derive information about a person's life and/or events.

Through the ages, astrologers before us have studied and put together the movements of the planets along with the events that take place on Earth. After a sufficient amount of "data-collection", they dug through the "data" and identified patterns, or correlations, between the two. An example of such a correlation is, "if planet A is in position B in the sky, then we can expect X to happen". These correlations are what we, as astrologers today, study and apply them in a way that is useful for our clients.

When a client come to us for a reading, one of the first things we do is to draw up the client's birth chart. The birth chart shows the positions of the planets in the sky at the time of their birth. By studying the birth chart, we identify correlations that tell us about the client's life, and we share them in a way that is useful and supportive for the client.

On the most fundamental level, information from the birth chart can help create greater awareness for the client around his behavioural tendencies, and his fortune and circumstances in the various areas of life. But astrology is not just about creating awareness. On a practical level, astrology is about helping a client solve a problem, make a decision or take an action.

For example, we may have a client that comes along, and we know from the birth chart that he is gentle and easy-going in nature. This information itself is helpful in confirming that he is a nice person and that's about it. However, if this client is offered managerial position in a role that is fast-paced and where he is required to drive key initiatives, then we can advise him to think twice about taking that role, as it requires him to show up in a way (e.g. firm, direct, strict) that is contrary to his easy-going nature, which can take a toll psychologically if it goes on for an extended period of time. It is not necessarily saying that he shouldn't take up the role, but if this client does choose to take up the role, then we start a conversation around what kinds of support he needs to be more effective in his role without being burnout.

Beyond the practical level and on a more spiritual level, astrology can offer the first of several stepping stones towards accepting and coming to terms with our life circumstances. Particularly the difficult ones, since no one ever needs to come to terms with "too much money" or "too much luck" (interesting isn't it?).

Suppose a client comes along that really wanted to be in a long-term stable relationship (marriage) and asks about this area of life, but unfortunately, the birth chart does not indicate such blessing. This information can be very difficult to accept, and needs to be delivered very delicately by the astrologer. Yet, this same information can be the first step towards freeing himself from this karma. By accepting that long-term relationships is unlikely to fructify, the client may perhaps start to actually enjoy being in a relationship as he no longer needs to pretend to be someone he thinks he needs to be (and not be himself), in hopes that the relationship lasts. Or he may choose to direct his energies, that had been spent on relationships, into something else that is also fulfilling and brings aliveness.

Coming to terms with such a difficult karma can take a long time, but it needs to start somewhere. For some of us, astrology is the place where it starts.

Step 1 - Fill up intake form

The first step is filling up an intake form, which asks for (i) your birth time, birth date and birth location, and (ii) what you wish to know through the reading.

Your birth details are used to calculate the positions of the planets in the sky at the time of your birth, relative to where you are, which gives us your "birth chart" or "natal chart". The time of birth needs to be as precise as possible, as in some cases, the difference of a few minutes can change the birth chart completely. In the ideal case, our birth times would be recorded on a document such as the birth certificate. Otherwise, we have to rely on the memories of our parents or relatives who were present during our birth, which may sometimes be inaccurate.

When filling up the section on "what you wish to know through the reading", you can choose to indicate a broad area of life, such as "I want to know more about career and relationships". It may also be more fruitful for you if you take some time to reflect on this area of life and ask about relationships in a more specific way. For example, "there is someone I am somewhat interested in but my career is taking off and there might be opportunities to work overseas. Should I pursue this relationship?" Such specificity allows the astrologer to weave in details not just about relationship, but also career and timing (is this time period more suitable for career, relationships or both?) in a way that can support you in making a decision.

Step 2 - Chart Rectification

The next step is verifying that the birth chart on hand is correct. This typically involves the astrologer asking the client several questions about their life, and then checking if the birth chart matches the client's life experiences. The reading should only proceed further if they both match. If not, then the birth time, and hence the birth chart is incorrect, and the astrologer needs to adjust the birth time until the birth chart matching the life experiences is found. This process is known as chart rectification.

Rectification should be done in all cases, even if the birth time is obtained from the birth certificate. This is similar to a pharmacist verifying your identity and any drug allergies before dispensing medication to you.

If you do not know your birth time, and only know the approximate time of day (e.g. in the morning) when you were born, then rectification can take a much longer time. You may also be asked to provide the dates of significant life events and the corresponding experiences to support the rectification process.

Step 3 - The reading itself

Once we have the right birth chart, the astrologer will proceed with interpreting the chart to answer what the client wishes to know based on the intake form.

I find that the reading gets more fruitful for the client when they are specific with what they wish to know. There is so much information that the birth chart can offer us, and being specific in what you want to know helps the astrologer zero in and extract what's relevant from the chart for you.

That said, it is perfectly alright to simply indicate the area of life that you wish to learn about, e.g. "career", "relationships". This is quite common among those getting a reading for the first time, as they are not sure what they can actually get from a reading. However, if you feel that the reading isn't going in the direction that is fruitful for you, you should always ask the astrologer to look at something more specific instead.

Both the astrologer and the client need to be "co-drivers" for the reading to be fruitful, i.e. both need to take ownership to drive the reading. The astrologer has the responsibility to talk about what he sees as critical to address from the chart and the client also needs to make sure that their concerns at the moment in time gets addressed.

Another important point, if you wish to have a recording of the reading, do ask for it at the start of the session.

Step 4 - Closing

As the reading comes to a close, the astrologer may take the last few minutes to give you "homework" - things to do and practice that can provide support in dealing with your current situation. These may include meditation, mantra recitation, journalling, suggested books to read etc.

The astrologer may also ask, "What are you taking away from this session?", to help you crystallize the main takeaways from the reading.

You may also wish to ask when's a good time for a follow-up reading. Typically, it is good to have a follow-up reading close to your birthday or when there is a change in the time period that you will be in. These follow-ups can then focus on upcoming changes, somewhat like a weather forecast, so we can be better prepared to meet the changes. Of course, if something critical comes up and you feel the need to check in with yor astrologer, you can always reach out to arrange for a session. Depending on the flexibility of the astrologer, such follow-up sessions can be shorter in duration.

In general, it is useful to get a reading whenever you feel that you need more clarity and/or another perspective when making a decision or taking an action.

If you never had a reading before, then anytime is good to have an initial reading. You can direct the initial reading to be a broad overview reading, touching on the main areas of life, e.g. self, health, career, relationship, children etc. Of course, if there is a specific issue that needs to be addressed, then it should be brought up instead.

The first ever reading can offer quite a lot of new information and perspectives for you to take in. Ideally, you can carve out some time and space after the reading to digest and integrate what you got from the session.

Once you have this general understanding, then subsequent follow-up readings can be driven by a more specific need or issue that you need to get addressed. The astrologer can then build on what was said previously and dive deeper into the chart, and also tailor the interpretation to better make sense and tackle the specific issue you are facing. This is like seeing the doctor when something is bothering you health-wise. In this case, you can schedule a reading whenever an issue arises where you would like more clarity and perspective.

If you happen to be running a fortunate and auspicious time period, where everything is going fine and well, then you may wish to schedule your follow-up reading close to your next birthday, or ask your astrologer when's the next big change in time period that you should know about. You can see this similar to an annual health check-up at the doctor's.

No, although having an accurate birth time is most ideal.

If you only know your approximate birth time (e.g. between 10am - 12pm, or in the morning after sunrise), your astrologer will need you to provide a list of significant life events and their dates. These will be used to identify which birth chart correctly matches your life experiences, and by doing so, narrow down your birth time. This process is known as chart rectification.

However, if you do not have even the approximate birth time, and only the birth day itself, then rectification can be very tedious and take up an entire reading (and maybe more, depending on the specific case).

For the purposes of confidentiality, I do not read the chart of someone who is not present in the session itself.

What we think is ok to talk about with others in public may be considered as very private and confidential to another person. If you think a reading would be helpful to someone, and wish to sponsor a reading as a gift, it is better if you have a chat with them about it first, but let them decide if they actually wish to have a reading. If they do, they can then reach out to the astrologer directly. This gives them the option of having the reading in private, then choosing what to share with you after the reading. Of course, if the other person is comfortable, then both of you can be present during the reading.

The only time I make an exception is if a parent is wanting to read the chart of their child, provided the child has not yet come of age. In fact, I highly encourage parents to do this, as such a reading can support them in better understanding their child - how they think, their preferences, behavioural tendencies, skills, why the child frustrate them a certain way 😅. With this understanding, parents can then know how to adjust the way they communicate with their child and build a stronger relationship, and also better support the child in developing into who they are rather than getting them to be who they are not. From the child's perspective, the parents become closer, more patient and accepting of who they are.

My guru says that everything about our lives can be seen from the birth chart - personality for sure, and also relationship, career, health, parents, children, finances etc. Of course the level of details seen will depend on the skill of the astrologer.

However, astrology is more than just knowing our karma in the various areas of our lives. It is also about solving a problem, addressing a concern or making an important decision. Knowledge of our karmas can be a wonderful support for us to come to terms with our life experiences, but this knowledge should be taken further and be used help us make decisions and take actions.

If you are going to have an astrology reading for the first time and would like to have a broad overview of what the birth chart indicates, then you can choose indicate something broad and open it in your intake form for the reading. For example, "I want to know what my chart says about my relationships."

However, it can be more fruitful, even on the first reading, if you take some time to reflect on this area of life and ask about relationships in a more specific way. For example, "there is someone I am somewhat interested in but my career is taking off and there might be opportunities to work overseas. Should I pursue this relationship?" Such specificity allows the astrologer to weave in details not just about relationship, but also career and timing (is this time period more suitable for career, relationships or both?) in a way that can support you in making a decision.

Below are some questions that may help you get more out of your reading:

• What's an area of life that is not going so well for me, or that worries me or make me anxious? Or perhaps an area of life that is confusing and I am not able to make sense of, and would like some clarity on?

• What's a decision (or action) that I need to make, but have difficulty doing so? What sort of information would help me make this decision?