It is often thought that the study of astrology is a simple and expedient one, and that a 6 week course is sufficient to start delving into peoples' psyches. The amount of short courses on offer, and the number of (intuitive, psychic, psychological, esoteric, etc.) astrologers to be found on the internet, testifies to that. Anything that is worthwhile attaining and that is of great value takes time – one of Saturn's major lessons. The study of this ancient celestial craft takes a lifetime – any astrologer worthy of their Saturnine stripes is not the same astrologer this year as they were last year – and there is a formal path of study which needs to be followed as laid down by the ancient authorities.

The student of astrology of The Tradition enters from the bottom and works his way up as his knowledge and understanding of the craft grows. Each of these levels addresses different issues of life and different facets of the people or countries being assessed. Any astrologer who takes his craft seriously and who affords it the respect it deserves should be striving to reach the highest level.

• States and great nations
• Dynasties and families
• Kings and potentates
• Individual nativities
• Elections
• Horary questions

The duration of study for the attainment of (all) the different levels is approximately 5 years, as most students of astrology are mature (in age) and hold down demanding jobs while attending to their studies on a part-time basis. This time frame is equivalent to a university degree, and the content far exceeds some degrees on offer at formal institutions.

The study of astrology of The Tradition changes your life, immaterial of whether you use it to consult with others or simply for your own personal and spiritual growth. Based on this it is imperative that the student sources a credible and experienced tutor as no formal guidelines are legislated in South Africa. It is also equally important that the person consulting with an astrologer enquires after their path and duration of study, as the astrologer can either help them to maximise their potential thereby creating a more fulfilling life (and avoiding any unnecessary Saturnine lessons), or they can plummet them into the depths of confusion while shrouding their technical inadequacies in “gobbledy gook”.