Available courses

Basic Astrology is an introductory course for students without any previous knowledge of Astrology. It is designed to help students learn the basics of Astrology. Each lesson builds upon the other preparing the student for advanced studies in IAA’s Professional Training Department, beginning with Natal Studies I. You’ll learn that Astrology is more than your Sun Sign! You’ll also learn that the placements of the planets on the day you were born gives insight into your character and potential.

Instructor, April 2021: Jodie Forrest

This class introduces the basic structure of a horoscope and its components. You will learn the elements and modalities of the signs, the sect and quality of the planets, and the house types and meanings. The dignities of the planets of the planets will be taught including triplicity and its relationship to sect. You will learn both the modern and classical approach to temperament analysis.The course finishes with a comparison of chart analysis using classical and modern methods of interpretation.

This course covers the natural significations of the planets, the mythology of the planets, and the important roles planets play in horoscope analysis. Building upon the techniques learned in NAT-1 this course will deepen the understanding of dignities and sect as additional components of each are introduced. The student will also learn the numerous ways a planet functions in a chart with a focus on a planet in a sign, in a house, and ruling a house.

This course teaches the delineation of the planets, angles and Nodes. Retrogression, synodic cycles and house systems are discussed as well.

In Nat-5 of the Natal Studies Module we focus on helping students perfect their knowledge of the techniques learned throughout these classes. These 10 weeks are devoted to the integration of the material you have learned so far in preparation for this important semester final.

During this semester, students will practice their skills in delineating natal charts. Some weeks will focus on modern delineation, other weeks will focus on classical delineation. Mystery Charts are used in the homework so the student's can discover their biases when looking at a chart. Self-evaluation is a part of each week's homework after the mystery chart is revealed in the following class.

NAT-5 promises to be fun as well as a great learning experience.


The course, included in the Natal Studies Module at the International Academy of Astrology, provides a comprehensive examination of fundamental astronomical principles and their relevance to interpreting astrological charts. Enrollees will study the Earth's movements, celestial coordinate systems, and the connections among asteroids, fixed stars, and various celestial entities. Additionally, the course covers sophisticated methods for chart analysis, such as employing celestial latitude and understanding the importance of planetary nodes. Through this course, participants will deepen their knowledge of astrology and acquire the expertise needed for profound chart interpretations.

The ability to calculate a chart by hand, using the Ephemeris and Book of Tables, is both a vital skill for the working astrologer and an international certification requirement. This course is based on a widely accepted method which is simple, rewarding, and easy to understand. It is a “hands-on” class in which the birth data for up to ten subjects provides opportunity to practice the steps both during class and through homework assignments.

Notice to students: Your instructor will be in touch with you 48 hours before your class begins.


This course is open to anyone familiar with modern astrology that would like to add Classical Astrology techniques to their tool kit.

It is a graduation requirement for all students who are currently registered in or returning to the Natal Studies Module that have taken NAT-1 prior to May 2015 and all students in the Diploma Module that have not taken the prior course "Introduction to Classical Astrology." It is also open to any astrologer who wishes some practice in this field.


This course teaches the delineation of the planets, angles and Nodes. Retrogression, synodic cycles and house systems are discussed as well.

This course covers the natural significations of the planets, the mythology of the planets, and the important roles planets play in horoscope analysis. Building upon the techniques learned in NAT-1 this course will deepen the understanding of dignities and sect as additional components of each are introduced. The student will also learn the numerous ways a planet functions in a chart with a focus on a planet in a sign, in a house, and ruling a house.

This class introduces the basic structure of a horoscope and its components. You will learn the elements and modalities of the signs, the sect and quality of the planets, and the house types and meanings. The dignities of the planets of the planets will be taught including triplicity and its relationship to sect. You will learn both the modern and classical approach to temperament analysis.The course finishes with a comparison of chart analysis using classical and modern methods of interpretation.

This course covers the natural significations of the planets, the mythology of the planets, and the important roles planets play in horoscope analysis. Building upon the techniques learned in NAT-1 this course will deepen the understanding of dignities and sect as additional components of each are introduced. The student will also learn the numerous ways a planet functions in a chart with a focus on a planet in a sign, in a house, and ruling a house.

12 Class Meetings 
Prerequisites: Must have completed the Natal Studies Module. Due to the amount of homework in this class it is not recommended that you take another class with this one.

This course introduces transits and various ways to move the chart in time. Modern and Classical forecasting techniques that hold their influence for 6 months to a year are covered. The student will work with 3 case study events as they build the event theme via the techniques relevant to delivering a modern astrology consultation. The student will use the same three case study events to build the theme via the techniques relevant to delivering a classical astrology consultation. Techniques that are used in both approaches will be covered comparatively in their weeks.

This course explores Modern Astrology's timing techniques using Secondary Progressions, Solar Arcs & Transits and Classical Astrology's timing techniques using Profections & Transits.

By the end of the course students will have the tools necessary to provide yearly client readings. 

Required materials:

The following required materials are available through the IAA online shopping areas:


9 Class Meetings 
Prerequisites: Completion of PSM-1 or knowledge of topics taught therein (Transits, Profections, Secondary Progressions, Solar Arc Directions)


This course explores Modern Astrology's timing techniques using Secondary Progressions, Solar Arcs & Transits and Classical Astrology's timing techniques using Profections & Transits.

Required materials:

The following required materials are available through the IAA online shopping areas:


This course focuses on one of the things clients ask about most - relationships. We begin by exploring the potential relationship themes in the natal chart and then explore synastry between two charts, midpoint composites and Davison time-space composites. We also take a look at family and group dynamics.

Prerequisites: This course is mandatory to graduate in the Diploma Module for the Professional Training Department. All obligatory courses must be completed satisfactorily. 

Ethics and ethical habits are an integral part of any professional practice, including astrology. In fact, we could say that one cannot be a professional without adhering to ethical standards. The two go hand in glove.

This course is geared for astrologers in all phases and types of practice, whether they are students, consult with clients, are research astrologers, astrological writers, administrators, attend conferences, participate in collegial relationships, or talk to the public about astrology.

Every profession has unique situations pertaining to the nature of its business and practice, but there is a basic foundation of ethical adherence that is common to all professions. A complete course in Ethics for astrologers requires critical thinking and a willingness to successfully dismantle complex ethical dilemmas that will inevitably arise in the course of your astrological journey or career.

The course is divided into two main parts:
1. A review of various codes of ethics from some of the major astrological organizations to determine the common denominators among the various codes.
2. Application of ethical practice for astrologers. We will define the core ethical principles and seek to understand the situations and ethical dilemmas that might arise.

Required Class Reference Materials: 

* Two Articles written by Dorothy Oja for The Mountain Astrologerin 1993/1994.

* Various articles (PDF files available through the Moodle website).

* A variety of Ethics Codes (sent to students before classier available on the Moodle website)

* Article for students to order from The Mountain Astrologer


6 Class Meetings
Prerequisites: NAT1 through NAT7, PSM-1, and PSM-2

Are you just starting to offer readings to clients, or would you like to add another tool to your readings toolbox? Perhaps you've heard the term 'therapeutic metaphor,' which is often associated with the work of the psychologist Milton Erickson. Storytelling is an art that could be 500,000 years old, if it began with the Neanderthals, or perhaps 80,000 - 100,000 years old if it began with H. sapiens. Mythology, folklore and fairy tales, some of our oldest forms of storytelling, contain nuggets of psychological wisdom from the collective unconscious and probably number among the oldest forms of therapeutic metaphor. Those ancient tales share some structural features with the work of modern master storytellers such as Stephen King, Úrsula K. LeGuin, Neil Gaiman, J.K. Rowling and your favorite novelists. Learn how basic storytelling and fiction-writing techniques, combined with the archetypal symbols of astrology, can help you create powerful illustrations for natal or dynamic aspects in your clients' charts. No previous fiction writing experience is necessary.

Suggested reading: Bruno Bettelheim. The Uses of Enchantment: The Meaning and Importance of Fairy Tales. 3rd printing. Knopf: New York, 1976. Estes, Clarissa Pinkola. Women Who Run with the Wolves. Reissue. Ballantine: New York, 1996. (Almost anything she’s written is excellent and accessible, but Women Who Run with the Wolves is a good place to start.) LeGuin, Ursula K. The Language of the Night: Essays on Fantasy and Science Fiction. Berkley: New York, 1982. (Steering the Craft is also excellent, but start with The Language of the Night.) Marie-Louise Von Franz and Kendra Crossen. The Interpretation of Fairy Tales. Revised edition. Shambhala: Boulder, 1996.

Course Objectives: 

By the end of this course, students will be able to

Identify the major systems of Chinese Astrology (inc. brief historical known time periods first developed)

Describe natal delineation using Four Pillars by applying: 

  • Wu Xing (5 Elements) and their relationships, 
  • Heavenly Stems Elements 
  • 12 Animals used in Four Pillars Chinese Astrology


Course Objectives: By the end of this course, students will be able to use their knowledge and understanding of Four Pillars (Ba’Zi) system to recognize special case Ba’Zi natal charts, delineate synastry, calculate Ming Shu (Fate Calculation), and incorporate elements of Zi Wei Dou Shu as part of the Ming Shu.”

Classes are held weekly.


This course is one of the electives for Professional Training students to become a graduate. It can be taken in any order after the completion of NAT-7 and is included in the Diploma Module.

The primary content of this first of two 12-week study courses is to present a fundamental and comprehensive introduction to Hellenistic astrological philosophy and techniques. The course is open to everyone: astrology students, hobbyists and professionals.

6 Class Meetings 
Prerequisites: This course is one of the electives for Professional Training students to become a graduate. It can be taken in any order after the completion of NAT-7 and is included in the Diploma Module. If you are not IAA Diploma Program student, you can audit for a lower price.

This course is one of the electives for Professional Training students to become a graduate. It can be taken in any order after the completion of NAT-7 and is included in the Diploma Module. If you are not IAA Diploma Program student, just want to audit the class without having to do a homework and pass an exam, and don't need a credit for this class, register for the same class under Pocket Courses for a lower price.

The primary content of this first of four 6-week study courses is to present a fundamental and comprehensive introduction to Hellenistic astrological philosophy and techniques. The course is open to everyone: astrology students, hobbyists and professionals.


Prerequisites: NAT and PSM modules completed

This class will introduce students to foundations of classical horary astrology. Objectives: 

* Learn basic principles of horary astrology including: considerations against judgment, chart's radicality, planetary archetypes and their expression, dignities and debilities, and basic rules of judgment 

* Get a step-by-step structured approach to understanding charts' symbolism, while learning to make interpretations with clarity, confidence, and accuracy 

* Learn how to make judgments about important spheres of life: relationships, career, health, and financial questions, and searching for missing items/people. 

* Understand more advanced horary techniques such as elemental nature of planets, receptions, and planetary dignities to get fine and specific detail about the horary question, not just a yes or no answer. 

* Get to practice on different charts each weak to strengthen the knowledge received.

Prerequisites: NAT-1 - NAT-7 or knowledge of the natal astrology and DPL-4


The DPL6 Introduction to Vedic Astrology course is a perfect primer for western astrologers who are seeking a traditional opening to understanding the Vedic astrological concepts and foundations in an easy-to-grasp and yet profound manner. You will have the benefit of the depth of hundreds of years of unbroken oral tradition of teachings presented to you, which will give you a rigorous and functional command of the fundamentals.  

The course covers Vedic Cosmology and Scope, the Vedic Sun Sign Archetypes, the Vedic Signs, Planets, and Houses, and ends up with an investigation of the Ascendant and its Ruler - crucial in all matters of chart delineation. By the end of this Introductory Course, you will be able to grasp the main strengths and priorities in the natal chart and provide a broad level of guidance. 

 This course forms the necessary prerequisite to advanced specialist courses where each topic is studied in-depth.   



3 Class Meetings 
Prerequisites: This course is one of the electives for Professional Training students to become a graduate. It can be taken in any order after the completion of NAT-7 and is included in the Diploma Module. If you are not IAA Diploma Program student, you can audit for a lower price.

Explore the magic and practical applications of electional astrology. One of the more ancient forms of astrology, it enables practitioners to finding most optimal times for beginning of any important activity: such as marriage, health, financial or other elections. In this pocket class, students will learn foundational principles of electional astrology, which may be immediately applied to practice. This course assumes familiarity with astrological basics (such as planets, houses, and sign meanings). The course founded on principles of traditional astrology but is open to all students who are open and interested in learning electional astrology.



Rectification of the birth time is the technique to determine the correct birth time based on the astrological events affecting the native's chart that are associated with significant life events in the past. The ability to rectify the birth time is a requirement for certification with NCGR and other astrological organizations and a very helpful tool in consulting work with clients.

5 Class Meetings
Prerequisites: General knowledge of astrology

Astrology is one of the great adventures of human civilization and has contributed greatly to people’s lives and to culture over time. This noble enterprise has spanned different cultures and historical periods and has had times of flowering and being on the fringes, yet over astrology has remained with us, always adapting to new conditions. We’ll explore the continuities and the changes in astrology and astrologers over time. This course will also demonstrate some astrological methods that may not be familiar to you and show the origin of many of the methods of modern astrology. We may find that some astrological technique we take for granted are of relatively recent origin, or that there are other dimensions of technique and interpretation worth exploring. You may also find yourself intrigued by a particular astrologer in the past or you want to know much more about a particular era in its relationship to astrology.

5 Class Meetings
Prerequisites: NAT and PSM modules or equivalent.

Astrology is one of the great adventures of human civilization and has contributed greatly to people’s lives and to culture over time. This noble enterprise has spanned different cultures and historical periods and has had times of flowering and being on the fringes, yet over astrology has remained with us, always adapting to new conditions. We’ll explore the continuities and the changes in astrology and astrologers over time, from middle ages to modern times. This course will also demonstrate some astrological methods that may not be familiar to you and show the origin of many of the methods of modern astrology. We may find that some astrological technique we take for granted are of relatively recent origin, or that there are other dimensions of technique and interpretation worth exploring. You may also find yourself intrigued by a particular astrologer in the past or you want to know much more about a particular era in its relationship to astrology.


6 Class Meetings
Prerequisites: NAT-1 - NAT-7 and PSM-1 in the Professional Studies Module or knowledge of topics taught therein.

Mundane astrology has its origin in antiquity and is generally seen as the birth of Astrology. Rich in cosmological folk lore it draws it principles from the correlation between astronomical sequences and events affecting large groups of people. Today mundane astrology is the study of global and national events, which also embraces the study of Astrocartography and Astro-meteorology. The course focuses on the astronomical events, which effect groups of people – Queens, Kings and Nations, cultures, states and cities.

Requirements: Computer Programs: Students will be expected to generate the following types of charts and printout: ingresses, eclipses, transits, and Astrocartography maps. Programs which would perform these functions include Solar Fire, Kepler, Sirius, and AstroGold (desktop version). Homework: All homework is due 48 hours before the next class. Two-page essays are ideal, but content is more important than length. If you have more to say, go for it. If it’s short, that can be fine, too.


6 Class Meetings
Prerequisites: Mundane Astrology I

These are the last six classes of the 12-week-long course.


Prerequisites: General Knowledge of Astrology

This course is based upon original research into medical astrology. The foundation of the technique is that the root of all illness is 1) based upon the Quadruplicities (Cardinal-Fixed-Mutable) and 2) Repressed Childhood Traumas.

The course will discuss the illnesses connected with the Quadruplicities, health issues connected with the Houses, Sign Combinations, and the Planets.

Chiron, Ceres, Transpluto, Hygeia, Eris and Astarea will be discussed in connection with health issues. The astro-carto-graphy of Chiron will be discussed. This represents a healing area in the life. There will be some discussion of Beginning Planets and Out of Bounds Planets.

The technique for determining childhood trauma periods in the life will be taught in each class. When a trauma is unexpressed, it represents a seed that can manifest in later life as an illness with a similar trauma occurs. The psychological profile of illnesses will be taught, using the charts provided by the students.

Each student will provide the data for a subject with a specific health issue. This will be researched and a profile created. Your instructor will type up the profile but the student is expected to interview the subject and determine the timing of the onset of the illness. The onset period, starting 2 years before the symptoms manifest, will be important in determining the psychological factors involved in the illness.

A student can take the course for credit or audit. For credit, the student will be expected to provide a chart and interview, submit homework and take the final exam. If a student chooses not to do this, this will be an audited course.


Prerequisite: Course Two: Transits and Progressions in Medical Astrology unless otherwise advised by instructor

COURSES III through VI: These courses are based upon diseases associated with the 4 Elements (Fire-Earth-Air-Water) and the 4 Lobes of the Brain, each ruled by one of the elements. In these courses, the students will study diseases associated with the element and lobe of the brain.

  • A Disease Profile will be created with the students for each disease researched.

  • Research for the Brain is from Dr. Eric Braverman’s THE EDGE EFFECT

 

COURSE III: FIRE SIGNS and Its Diseases; FRONTAL LOBE OF THE BRAIN ruling Metabolism and Body Movements

  • Fire signs indicate the energy level of the body such as with Chronic Fatigue

  • Fire signs are associated with Gall Bladder issues & Habba Syndrome; Inflammatory Diseases

  • The Frontal Lobe is associated with diseases connected with body movements such as Restless Leg Syndrome, Parkinson’s Disease, ADD/ADHD plus others


Prerequisite: Course One: Introduction to Medical Astrology unless otherwise advised by instructor

In this course, the students continue to contribute birth data for a Disease that we will research together.

The emphasis will be upon transits and progressions that trigger disease. There will be a discussion of Mars Cycles and signs (by transit), the transits of Saturn-Uranus-Neptune-Pluto and Transpluto. I have many articles that I have written that will be provided for all students.

Progressions will be discussed and I will give interpretations that are not just for medical purposes. I have an extensive article on the Progressed Moon and the Progressed Moon going Out of Bounds.

I will discuss progressed planets changing direction and changing signs. These often portend a crossroad or turning point in the life. Fear can sometimes lead to health issues.

Transits will be discussed in connection with T-Squares, Crosses, Stelliums, the Inconjunct and Interceptions. NOTE: I will give a lengthy webinar for IAA on Interception by Sign and Planet in November 2020.

A brief discussion and handout will be provided on illness hours – that is, the time that an onset occurs can indicate the organ being affected. This is based upon Chinese Medicine.


Level One, Module One, Introduction

Nivel 1, Módulo 1, Introducción

A place for students to interact with each other.


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