Can astrology really help you understand yourself? I was not sure either. Here is what happened when I booked my first psychological astrology reading...
There are moments in life when you are searching for answers that do not seem to fit neatly into one category.
This past year has been one of the hardest of my life. After losing my father, I found myself asking deeper questions about grief, purpose, healing, and who I was becoming. I was not looking for someone to predict my future. I was looking for a better understanding of myself.
That curiosity eventually led me to my very first psychological astrology session with Maddie Robertson, the founder of ATHENE.
To be honest, I was not entirely sure what to expect, although I promised myself I would be open, curious, and vulnerable.
It Was Not What I Thought Astrology Would Be
If your only experience with astrology is reading your horoscope or knowing someone’s zodiac sign, this is something entirely different.
Maddie explained that psychological astrology is not about telling you what is going to happen. Instead, it is a framework for understanding your personality, your patterns, your strengths, your challenges, and the ways you have been shaped throughout your life.
Rather than making predictions, she used my birth chart as a starting point for a conversation about who I am.
What surprised me most was how thoughtful and grounded the entire experience felt.
Feeling Seen In A New Way
Over the course of our session, we explored parts of my personality that felt remarkably familiar.
We talked about my creativity, my desire to help others, my lifelong love of travel and storytelling, and the ways I often carry responsibility for the people I love.
As someone who has spent years studying Traditional Chinese Medicine and understanding the connections between mind and body, I appreciated that this was not presented as fortune-telling. Instead, it invited reflection, self-awareness, and compassion.
Whether you believe astrology has symbolic meaning, psychological value, or simply offers an interesting perspective, I found the experience genuinely life-changing, because it encouraged me to think more deeply about myself. As I sat by the window afterward, journaling with my “Reach for the Stars” notebook beside me, I realized I was not leaving with predictions about my future. I was leaving with a deeper understanding of myself. If there was one lesson I took away from my session with Maddie, it is to understand yourself so deeply that you can continue growing into the person you were always meant to be.
An Unexpected Gift During Grief
One of the most meaningful parts of our conversation centered around grief.
Since my dad passed away earlier this year, I’ve been learning how to carry both sorrow and joy at the same time. My children’s book, Hi, Dad, grew out of those experiences and the quiet moments that continue to remind me of him.
Although, my session was not specifically about grief, I found that many of our conversations naturally led back to healing, identity, and learning to trust myself again.
I left feeling calmer. Not because someone gave me all the answers. But because someone asked thoughtful questions that helped me see myself more clearly.
Who Is ATHENE?
Maddie Robertson is the founder of ATHENE, a psychological astrology practice that blends astrology with psychology and psychosomatic principles.
Originally from Austin, Texas, and now based in New York, Maddie spent years working in advertising and event planning before pursuing certifications in Psychological Astrology and Psychosomatic Practice.
She offers a variety of sessions, including:
- First-Time Natal Chart Discovery
- Returning Client Sessions
- Astrological Forecasts
- Solar Return (“Year Ahead”) Readings
- Relationship Readings
- Three-Session Transformation Bundles
Her approach is warm, thoughtful, and deeply focused on helping clients better understand themselves rather than making dramatic predictions.
Maddie holds two certifications: Psychological Astrology Certification from Lighted House Academy and Psychosomatic Practitioner Certification from Integrative Psych Institute.
You can connect with her on Instagram at @athenerising or email hello@athenerising.com.
Final Thoughts
I know astrology is not for everyone, and that is okay.
But if you are curious about yourself, enjoy personal growth, or simply appreciate meaningful conversations, I found psychological astrology to be an incredibly fascinating experience that I have been telling everyone I know about.
I did not leave believing my future had been written in the stars. I left believing I understood myself a little better.
And sometimes, that is exactly the kind of guidance we need.
One session gave me a deeper understanding of myself, but growth does not end when the reading is over. In Part Two, I will share the insights from my own birth chart that have continued to inspire reflection, healing, and personal growth long after our conversation ended.
