I personally consider astrology a form of divination in that while going through the creation of a chart the complexity and channeling of the planetary energies allows one to experience a different state of mind. When focusing on that state of mind whilst channeling an intent like "I wish to know more about my relationships in context of myself" akin to how one may do a tarot reading, you can receive insights.

My world view shapes the way I approach and practice astrology exactly how you framed your astrological approach as a younger person, the person comes first. The vagueness of astrology combined with cold reading skills can really allow someone to take advantage of another especially when selling services, as you want that grand "a-ha" from the other person to validate one's own sagacity but as you said the person comes first. So when I do natal charts for others I break down each step of the process (moon is capricorn, mercury is scorpio, etc.), (Moon, Sun, Jupiter in 4th house), (Moon, Sun, Jupiter is Conjunct) and go through the interpretation process with them (So the conjunction in 4th house means that a large expression of emotion may be central to how you view yourself as well as your emotional security what do you think about that? Then look at maybe where mercury is since its communication to open up a discussion on if they are being true in regards to how they communicate their emotions.

In a nutshell I view a natal chart as weaving a storytelling tapestry along side the person whose chart I'm writing.

Rather than astrology defining a person shifting it to another means by which someone can define themselves.

I don't really have an answer for less essentialist resources or spaces, since as you said capitalism has done a number on astrology. I've read a good bit of resources that hold those essentialist views and combined them to create something that I feel better about, not to mention the actual natal chart creation in real time with another using this approach is so organic and satisfying as often we get to embark upon an emotional journey of self-reflection and understanding. I've had the same doing in-depth celtic cross readings with my raider-waite which is kinda brutal with it's honestly, my klimt seems to be a bit more kinda but that could just be my own bias being projected.