Some sort of answer
Well, we start of by constructing a chart by hand (I still do some charts that way) or use a computer-generated chart (I use these most often) and then we look at the chart. What do we see? A circle that represents life's many circumstances, planetary symbols, sign symbols, and aspectual relationships. We may include and consider a variety of other symbol placements as well.
The mind probably doesn't grasp the whole meaning of this visual complexity that the chart presents. We may have some impressions at first, but we most likely (all of us, most of us) have to deliberately pick out specific symbols within the whole symbol-complex and bring forth a picture-fragment -- then more picture-fragments. As we do this, a process of synthesis starts to occur and we weed out somethings from our primary focus and blend in other things.
At this point, I think it is fair to pause and ask, "Are we dealing with symbols or are we dealing with an "assembly process" of discrete (symbolic) meanings?" Do we differentiate between seeing "a symbol" and its associative meanings and seeing many symbols or do we cross a line and assemble the derived set of meanings (from the earlier-perceived symbols) into a large whole.
Does astrology speak in symbolic language? you ask. Perhaps at some stages of the chart analysis process it does. At other points it doesn't seem to. Then we go back and forth between the level where we see and understand the individual symbols and the level where we assemble and then "weigh" the meanings we have taken from those symbols. Its quite a multi-level process. When we later start to consider time-lines, transits and the questions that the querent's raise, I think we may involve a very-complex process that includes far more than "astrology" as we consider implied and actual cultural and enviornmental issues.
There is little of a defined boundary between astrology, ourselves, our world once we start working with the chart. No wonder some call this an art form and not a science. Dave