I know a little about astrology. It's only a hobby. 
I use astrology in a way similar to what is described above. I do know the basics. But when I look at a chart, I only read it intuitively and let connections rise up in my mind. So if a friend comes over and I look at a chart, I tell the friend that it must be open-ended as I meander through and could take a couple of hours.
However, I will say that it's useful to know what influences the planets may be having in your particular configuration. For instance, Mars is energy, but can manifest as anger. So if Mars is transiting your first house (self), it is a heads up to know you might be feeling anger at yourself. This doesn't tell you anything per say, but gives you an objective standpoint from which to look at that anger and explore why it might be bubbling up—rather than just reacting to the angry feelings and looking outside of yourself for its source.
There is also something I always look at for a person: The nodes of the moon, called the dragon's head and tail. The south node (dragon's tail) indicates where you have come from and already learned (past lives possibly), and the north node (dragon's head) points to what you need to learn in this lifetime.
The natal chart is the most accurate, which includes the rising sign. A solar chart, based on the birth date alone will give you a lot of information. But the natal chart, which also requires the time of day and place you were born, will give you more information about specific areas of your life (self, relationships, family, hidden things, etc., that derive from the house placements).
I use astrology in a way similar to what is described above. I do know the basics. But when I look at a chart, I only read it intuitively and let connections rise up in my mind. So if a friend comes over and I look at a chart, I tell the friend that it must be open-ended as I meander through and could take a couple of hours.
However, I will say that it's useful to know what influences the planets may be having in your particular configuration. For instance, Mars is energy, but can manifest as anger. So if Mars is transiting your first house (self), it is a heads up to know you might be feeling anger at yourself. This doesn't tell you anything per say, but gives you an objective standpoint from which to look at that anger and explore why it might be bubbling up—rather than just reacting to the angry feelings and looking outside of yourself for its source.
There is also something I always look at for a person: The nodes of the moon, called the dragon's head and tail. The south node (dragon's tail) indicates where you have come from and already learned (past lives possibly), and the north node (dragon's head) points to what you need to learn in this lifetime.
The natal chart is the most accurate, which includes the rising sign. A solar chart, based on the birth date alone will give you a lot of information. But the natal chart, which also requires the time of day and place you were born, will give you more information about specific areas of your life (self, relationships, family, hidden things, etc., that derive from the house placements).
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