Mautic automation *without* forms, please, question

All of the tutorials dealing with automation are specific to first creating a form that takes in details and updating records or triggering actions based on the form information flowing through to Mautic and triggering actions.

I cannot find one tutorial or information on triggering actions on a simple action like someone opening an email for the first time.

Can this even be done and if so can someone direct me to a resource on how to do that?

Remember, I am not interested in using forms right now.

Thank you.