This was the first astrology book recommended to me by my teacher way back in the day. While there are other wonderful introductory astrology books out there, I still recommend this timeless book to my students for understanding basic principles. It’s straightforward and well laid out. The book also includes quincunxes in the aspect delineation section which I really like because not all astrology books have this. The book offers a great understanding of planets, the signs, houses and aspects and can be read from cover to cover or also used as a cookbook. If you’re a visual person, it’s probably not the best book for you because it is very text heavy. To me this is a classic text that should be on every astrologer’s shelf long after they know the basics.
I came to this book probably a bit later than most, but I wish I had read it earlier in my studies. Houlding does such a lovely, clear job illuminating the original associations for each of the twelve houses from a historical perspective. She also describes the houses in terms of horary and mundane astrology considerations. The second half of the book outlines the difficulties of house division and takes a closer look at each of the house systems, and there’s a great glossary of terms at the back.
This book provides a thorough and insightful look into the houses of our chart. Sasportas also outlines some general guidelines for interpreting planets in houses and provides his interpretations of each of the signs on house cusps and planets in the houses. He offers a small section on the Nodes and Chiron through the houses as well as delineations for the Ascendant-Descendant axis. I usually suggest this book as a wonderful follow-up to the March & McEvers book for students to get a deeper understanding of the houses from a more modern perspective.
I love this book! When it comes to recommending a book on aspect delineation for students, this is my go to, hands down. I can honestly say that after reading it years ago, I immediately had a much deeper understanding of how these relationships between planets in our charts can manifest in our lives. The first hundred pages of the book have an excellent treatment of each of the aspect forms and how to interpret them. The bulk of the book deals with each of the planetary aspects, and there is a section at the back on each of the planets aspecting the angles which is wonderful because there aren’t enough astrology books out there talking about planets aspecting the angles.
It’s amazing to think that this incredibly insightful book was written in 1982, particularly because Hamaker-Zondag pays special attention to what some still consider to be a minor aspect—the quincunx (or inconjunct). I absolutely love the attention she gives not only to this important aspect, but the focus she also gives to the angles—the Ascendant and Midheaven. I would say a great majority of books on aspects don’t give what I would consider to be the necessary regard to planets aspecting the Ascendant and the Midheaven, and students of astrology often struggle with these interpretations. This is definitely a favourite book of mine for a very thorough understanding of aspect interpretation.
Recently published (2020), Mitchell’s book is advertised as a comprehensive guide to aspect patterns, and I would have to agree. I find that while many students are able to identify aspect patterns in a birth chart, delineating what they mean to the individual is an entirely different thing. Since reading this book, I’ve been recommending it to my students to help fill in gaps of knowledge when it comes to planetary patterns made famous by Marc Edmund Jones and aspect patterns made famous through Bil Tierney. Mitchell does a great job clearly explaining what each of these patterns means in the birth chart and also has several chapters at the end of the book on unaspected, elevated, retrograde and leading planets as well as interceptions. Note: I don’t agree with his interpretation of interceptions; the language is confusing. But the rest of the book is good.
For the vast majority of my courses, I provide the notes; any books I recommend are suggestions only. For my predictive astrology class on transits, however, this book is a requirement. To me, it is THE go-to guide for learning what to expect when planets transit each of the houses as well as the aspects transiting planets make to natal planets. It’s set up in cook book style which makes it a wonderful as you go learning resource although I require my students to read it pretty much cover to cover.
If you would like to take a closer look at the effects of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto transits, this is your book. After providing general guidelines for interpretation, Sasportas deals with each of the outer planets including their unique mythologies and the types of crises with which their transits may coincide. He also explains the transits of these planets through the houses and aspects to the natal chart. A wonderful read.
This book gives a wonderful treatment of the fundamental planetary cycles that occur throughout our lives. It’s really a must-have book for any astrologer to acquaint themselves with the age factor, Sun-Moon cycles, personal planet cycles (Mercury, Venus and Mars), social planet cycles (Jupiter and Saturn) and outer planet cycles (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto). A student of Dane Rudhyar, Ruperti offers a humanistic approach to these cycles which act as a backdrop in each and every one of our lives. Another must-read!
What can I say about this classic? It is my favourite general book on solar returns especially for students new to the method. It gives you a lot of good information about the solar return chart itself. There isn’t much information about the solar return being read alongside the natal chart, which is absolutely crucial in my humble opinion. But, for information about the solar return chart itself, this is the perfect starting point.
This book is a more advanced take on solar returns; it’s a welcome addition to this subject since so few good books have been written about this amazing forecasting technique. Louis looks at some solar return techniques by Alexander Volguine and Jean-Baptiste Morin, provides some cook book aspects to help with delineation, and then provides awesome delineation techniques mostly courtesy of Morin. (And if you know anything about me as an astrologer, you’ll know I’m a HUGE Morin fan.) Louis provides numerous example charts and he writes in a very clear manner. It’s a book very well done!
This is a great book to have in the library of every student who is learning predictive techniques. Teal takes you through Secondary Progressions, the Returns of Luminaries and Planets (from the Solar, Lunar, Mercury, Venus and Mars returns to Jupiter and Saturn returns). She also rounds out the book with Transits of each planet including the Moon’s Nodes. While the chapters are clearly labelled with a focus on one predictive technique, it’s not meant to be a cookbook guide; you’ll want to sit down and read it cover to cover to get the nuances and chart examples for each technique.
I don’t know how to describe in words the importance of this book to astrology. It is a phenomenal achievement. Tarnas demonstrates the remarkable correspondence between outer planetary alignments and events in human history. This book rose in importance on many people’s bookshelves in 2020 with the conjunction of Saturn and Pluto as Tarnas had predicted much of the mayhem that ensues when these two planets get together. It’s not a light or a necessarily easy read; it’s dense with historical events, facts and figures. You need to take it in slowly and allow the weight of Tarnas’s insights to sink in. If only we could convince everyone to read this book. In fact, you should suggest Cosmos and Psyche to those who criticize astrology as much as those who love it.
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Morin. I was introduced to his methods well over a decade ago now, and his approach to chart delineation has become so much a part of how I approach charts. As far as I know, this is pretty much the only book on Morin’s methods currently. It’s a great read with lots of chart examples. That said, I do feel like if I had no background in Morin and dove into this book, I might struggle a bit. If you pick this up and go through it, drop me a line to let me know how you make out!
Before you hit up any cookbook style books on Relationship Astrology, you need to start with this one. In this gem, Idemon tells us almost everything we need to know about the way we relate to others. He brings in the psychology of relating, projection and hidden agendas we may have. Woven through stories of meaningful mythologies, he breaks down love relationships and parent-child relationships and does a superb job teaching us about the importance of the Moon in particular in connecting with others. When I first read this book, I remember picking up some valuable tips for also delineating a natal chart. Start with this as your gateway into Relationship Astrology, and then you can venture out further into synastry and composite charts, etc.
In a recent lecture I attended with Judith Hill, the well-known author said that she often finishes her lectures a bit early because she gets straight to the point in a very punctuated communication style. My experience with her books is much the same, and frankly, I really appreciate it. She gives you the facts, the keywords to consider or her brief take on certain placements, and she doesn’t go on at length about… well anything to be honest. When preparing to teach a Vocational Astrology course, I found myself coming back to this book repeatedly for those key associations and concepts. While there are at least half a dozen books out there on Vocational Astrology, I feel that this is one of the most valuable not because I necessarily use her exact methods for doing a vocational chart consultation, but rather because it’s an excellent reference book—almost like a dictionary of vocational signatures—that you can consult repeatedly.
This is more thorough, modern take on Vocational Astrology with a strong focus on the vocational houses (or houses of substance) known as fundamental to one’s vocation. I haven’t come across a more detailed or insightful look at these vocational houses, so this is definitely a fantastic book for this. Wickenburg does include other factors such as aspects, moon phases and nodes, interceptions, retrograde planets and more, and how these components may also factor into an individual’s vocational story but they are presented clearly as secondary to the vocational houses. Written more in cookbook style, this book isn’t as clear as Hill’s for outlining a precise approach to finding the vocation in a natal chart, but it certainly offers an abundance of information to consider.
It’s never too early to start working with your ephemeris! This is a must have for predictive astrology, but the sooner you get used to working with it, the better. You will definitely need two of them: this one is for the 21st century.
The Midnight versions are easier to use for manual calculation of charts, so that is what I use. (You will need this if you plan on getting certified one day.) If not, the Noon version can be a bit more helpful when it comes to Moon placements.
Here’s the second ephemeris you’ll want to get; this one is for the 20th century.
As noted above, the Midnight versions are easier to use for manual calculation of charts, so that is what I use. (You will need this if you plan on getting certified one day.) If not, the Noon version can be a bit more helpful when it comes to Moon placements.
I have been using this calendar every single year since I started studying astrology in 2003. I would be lost without it. I don’t consult the forecast at the front anymore, but I certainly did for years as I was learning astrology. I love the simplicity and layout of this calendar—the amount of space given to write in my reminders/events and the detailed listing of planetary aspects made each day which includes quincunxes and void of course Moon timings which I appreciate. Without naming other brands, I have tried a handful of other planners that look sleeker and with more bells and whistles, but I come back to this one time and time again while the other planners just sit in my cupboard.