I believe that everyone wants to get to the fun part -- readings and interpretation -- as quickly as possible.  Theory is great, and necessary, but applying that knowledge is the entire point of it!  So, we are going to start doing interpretations from the very first class.  By the second or third class, depending on participation and the charts you have, we will start doing readings.

So, you need a chart for class!  I recommend that you begin by using your own natal chart.  This way, you can figure out quickly if the interpretations and readings are accurate...you know yourself, so you'll know!

Searching the internet for "free astrology charts" or "free natal charts" will give you many different websites to generate a natal chart for you.  Many of these places give generic interpretations along with the chart.  You can read through these, but we are going to learn a different method that is more accurate and specific than these computer-generated "interpretations."

If you know of a website that you like for generating charts, please post the link for everyone.  (No commercial or "for pay" websites, please!)

CAUTION:  NEVER EVER put your full name and your birth data anywhere on the internet at the same time, at the same place.  This just gives someone the opportunity to steal this information and use it for identity theft or other bad purposes.  Be careful of this if you use a website (instead of your own software) to generate a natal chart for yourself or anyone else.  Use a make-up name, or a pseudonym, or your handle that you use for this website.  


In the old days, before you could ever begin to learn astrology, the first thing you had to do was learn all the mathematical formulas for the sidereal time, houses, planetary positions, declinations, etc.  We aren't going to go into the math in this class.  However, knowing how to make a chart manually is a good thing to know...if you continue with astrology and want to do it professionally.  If there is enough interest in becoming a professional astrologer, we can hold a separate class for just the mathematics after this class is finished.

Now that there are computers, there are many software programs that you can download to generate your own charts, so you don't need to know all the math.  The best software program that I've seen, at any price, is free.  It's called "What Watch."  
We won't have a lot of time for questions on how to use this software, or any other software program, so if you want to generate your own charts, and use your own software, please become familiar with your software before class.

If you are having any problems with getting your own natal chart in any of the ways I've mentioned, please post or PM me!  If all else fails, I'll email you a chart to use.

here are some sites I came across awhile ago:

http://astro.cafeastrology.com/cgi-bin/astro/natal

http://www.0800-horoscope.com/birthchart.php

http://www.chaosastrology.net/freeastrologyreports.cfm

Just some info!
Have fun!

Thanks, RoseRed!  I haven't had time to find any websites, so the links are GREAT!  

Edit--> to add link

oops can someone fix!
no prob Youdah! so excited!