Prerequisites:

This course is open to the general public. IAA Diploma Program students are required to complete the Natal Studies Module, PSM1 and PSM2 before taking this course. This course is one of the electives for IAA Diploma Program students to graduate.

If you are not an IAA Diploma Program student you need a thorough understanding of natal and predictive 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.

This class meets every week for 6 weeks.

Class Meeting 1: Basics

Introduction to rectification. It’s more time-consuming than difficult. Bonus! Doing rectifications can teach you a lot about astrology. It’s not an exact science. Be frank about that. What rectification has in common with being a lifeguard . . . Helping clients find their birth time if possible. The time frame: the narrower, the better. It’s best if they know the birth time within six hours, with some exceptions. If all they don’t know is whether it was AM or PM. If the Moon changed signs that day, you might be able to go ahead “tie-breaking questions” for Moon signs or Ascendant signs. Using transits, solar arcs, and the progressed Moon: three techniques for cross-checking. Collecting meaningful life events and their dates from the client without “leading the witness.” as accurately as possible.* Asking for photos at as many different ages as possible.* The vital importance of confidentiality!* It’s what’s meaningful to the client, and in what way, not what’s meaningful to you. Drawing the blank degrees-and-modes diagram. Fourth harmonic aspects. Run charts for the time frame’s beginning and end, and for several intervals in between. Working with the client’s list of dates and events. Asking for clarification if necessary. What transiting planets’ positions to notate on their double-spaced list of events.* If the client knows only the year, or season, or month, or week of the event. Color-coding the events by types: at least by Asc/Desc. events, MC/IC events, and geographic moves. Color-coding other types of event is optional. Filling out the degrees and modes diagram (the DAM, for short). Color-coding the events only by Asc-Desc related and MC-IC-related on the DAM.

Class Meeting 2: Ascendant, MC, and Solar Arcs

What events did you include, and why? What needed clarifying? Did you color-code anything but Asc/Desc, MC/IC, and changes of address? We’ll fill out the DAM and color-code it in class. What to write down on the DAM first! Tips for the absent-minded or those who might lose their place on the list or the DAM. Keep everything you do and all client communications with the client’s rectified chart. Look for a relationship between the Ascendant and the MC, not just for the Asc. The MC moves at a certain number of degrees per a certain number of minutes (in most house systems). The Ascendant does not. The importance of the ruler(s) of the Ascendant. Using solar arcs for preliminary fine-tuning.

Class Meeting 3: Progressed Moon

Review what the solar arcs may have shown you. As many as possible should “fit.” Using the progressed Moon for more fine-tuning. The rectified chart should fit as many details as possible.

Class Meeting 4: Solar Arcs

We’ll discuss solar arcs for this chart in class. Q and A.

Class Meeting 5: Practice

We’ll discuss the progressed Moon timing related to this chart. We’ll start another rectification in class, partly to see what you want to review for the final. What would you like to review for the final? Please come to the next class prepared with any questions or comments, or email them to me.

Class Meeting 6: Review and practice

Review, with practice test. Concluding remarks. Any more Q and A.

Required materials:

The following required materials are NOT available through the IAA online shopping areas, but may be available elsewhere: