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I am often asked about what books I recommend, so here is the list of astrology books I think are useful at different levels and readily available. Books marked with * are available from Maya Management's Mobile Books. Contact Anne for pricing and cost of shipping.
Bloch and George: Astrology for Yourself
Guttman and Johnson: Mythic Astrology and Mythic Astrology Applied (Llewellyn) the first title is currently out of print, awaiting a reprint.
Joyce Levine: Breakthrough Astrology (Weiser 2006)*
Jeanne Avery: Your Rising Sign (an 'oldie' but a goodie)
Kim Rogers-Gallaghar: The Lighter Side of Astrology (Llewellyn)
Maria Kay Simms: Moon Tides, Soul Passages (Starcraft Publishing)* read review
This category lists wonderful textbooks to be used in class or once you are eager to get a comprehensive book to get you started on astrology in all earnest.
Gail Fairfield: Choice Centered Astrology* (published in 1996)
Gwynneth Bryan: Houses (Llewellyn 2006) * read review
Sue Tompkins: Aspects in Astrology*
Kevin Burk: Understanding your Natal Chart* (Llewellyn, Published in 2004)
Anne Massey: Venus (Llewellyn 2006)* read reviews
Stephanie Clement: Aspect Patterns (Llewellyn 2007)* read reviews (2)
Deborah Houlding: Houses in the Sky (a brilliant book!)
Bernadette Brady: Predictive Astrology (Weiser)*
Huber: Lifeclock (Weiser)
The Martial Art of Horary Astrology (Weiser)
Soul-Sick Nation, An Astrologer's View of America by Jessica Murray -- read review
A Contemporary Guide
by Gwyneth Bryan
This book is written in a very casual, contemporary manner with its main focus being exclusively on planet placement in the Houses. She prefers the Equal House system and gives a brief overview of other systems. Bryan's approach explores the karmic implications that planetary energies present as placed specifically in particular Houses. She refers to this as ‘the matters that shape and challenge us and need to be overcome in order for our soul to grow', equating ‘the planetary placements in various houses like the harmonies in a song'.
Specific examples include the IC / cusp of the 4 th House as the compost pile of the horoscope, ‘a not so pretty place wherefrom great growth is possible – hidden treasure even', i.e., the roots we weren't given as children that we are probably painfully aware of so we can cultivate them for ourselves as adults, transcending any early deprivation.
She also discusses the Ascendant – ego energy we use to put ourselves out in the world (our metaphorical car) as opposed to its opposite, the Descendant, which is indicative of the Shadow / undeveloped self or that collection of personality traits we suppress, only being reminded of them when we meet another who reminds us of our disowned / disguised or hidden traits given away by our Ascendant Ego. She describes the process of projection as being either psychological or karmic. What we are repulsed by in another is what we disown in ourselves and what we are attracted to in another is our positive traits that have yet to be developed so we don't even recognize them as part of ourself.
She illuminates this concept by describing the 7 th House / where people learn how to negotiate close relationships, as the place where issues of unconscious attraction or repulsion are played out. The characteristics of the Descendant that we don't show and that disgust us when we see them in other people are our own hidden parts of ourselves / our Shadow that we need to develop more in order to become whole. Thru the 7 th House, we can tell what disowned parts of ourselves will reappear to haunt us as enacted thru the people we meet as rivals or enemies until we recognize and own this part in ourself. Or, conversely, what our own undeveloped positive traits are that one is attracted to and falls in love with in another.
The casual style Bryan has of presenting basic information in this book makes it good for a beginner astrologer to get an overall feel for the structure and meaning behind a chart in terms of planetary House placements. To illustrate these points, Bryan also includes relevant anecdotal information about her personal friends as well as the famous thereby making the material presented much less intimidating than typical encyclopaedic, jargon ridden books. Or, as she says, she gives an ‘updated version (of the material) from the graying generation of astrological texts' that cover the same topic. Reviewed by M. Jamieson
What They Reveal & How They Are Triggered
Stephanie Jean Clement Ph.D.
This is a very in-depth study of chart patterns (bucket, bowl, fan, splash, etc.) and the specific harmonic patterns (conjunctions, squares, trines, oppositions, etc.) each chart pattern contains. Clement's work builds upon that of Marc Edmund Jones and Robert Jansky and their analysis of chart patterns, deriving meaning from the shape of the chart – the pattern created by empty and filled space. This book builds on the premise that chart patterns indicate general personality tendencies and their contained aspect patterns determine how these tendencies unfold in the course of one's life.
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Clement presents some interesting concepts. For instance, she asserts that in some types of aspect patterns, energy runs thru a closed circuit of aspected planets which amplifies the energy and motivates behaviour and action. In another type of aspect pattern, energy runs through the core of the individual bringing externals into internal awareness to promote growth. Clement also discusses the concept of leading planets in patterns like the bundle or locomotive. This high focus planet rises first and becomes the initial impulse to action beginning a thought process that consecutive planets follow, ending with the trailing planet which constitutes the final consideration the person gives to the behaviour or action taken. For instance, Venus trailing will look for harmony in outcomes.
From reading the book, I've learned to look at chart patterns and recognize connections more clearly from the detailed information Clement has synthesized thru connecting chart patterns with aspect patterns. The biggest frustration I found in digesting these concepts, however, was, in my opinion, a flaw in the layout of the book. The many examples included of various chart and aspect patterns don't appear on the same page as their description. As the amount of information is fairly ‘concentration intensive', it's easy to get lost in matching information to diagram while flipping around pages. Aside from this frustration, I think this would be a good read for any intermediate level astrologer. Reviewed by M. Jamieson
Finding good textbooks to recommend to students of astrology is a challenge. By the time, we begin to teach we use our favourite books. Some of these are going to be out of print or written in a fashion that does not meet those contemporary requirements. Teaching to a curriculum is even more challenging. I am a member of the Canadian Association of Astrological Education and administer their exam in British Columbia , Canada . One of the tested requirements for level II is the chart patterns. Over the years, I ended up making an extensive handout on the patterns. Marc Edmund Jones and Carl Jansky gave these patterns descriptive names, which lightened the task of teaching them.
Finding the right words for a locomotive was easy. Understanding that the train has an engine and the final 'caboose' was not that challenging. Explaining the pattern in my personal chart—I called it my umbrella—was relatively easy, I lived that life after all. Referring students to additional reading material, however, proved a challenge and a half. The original texts were out of print. I tried to recite from Jones' book and my young students lost the message in the old-fashioned text. I was picking up textbooks in January and saw Dr. Clement's book and thought that it might be worth considering. One of the students in my class agreed to review it for me, good, and one less book I would have to vet. The book was Advanced Topics in Astrology series by Llewellyn. Her comments made me pick it up, I am glad I did.
Naturally, at this point I was wondering if there is anything that I had not taught or considered. I was pleasantly surprised, by the time I had reached page 52 I was hooked. The author introduces every pattern but she also talks about the leading and trailing planet in terms that I had not considered for patterns other than the locomotive. Clement introduced ideas that made me think— I love that in a book. As an astrologer who has a strong preference for the classical rulership scheme the ideas sparked by the author about the leading Uranus in my chart were brand new, and her insights were right on the money I might add.
The student who reviewed the book ordered one to keep as a reference book. I was planning to donate the copy I bought to the library of the local astrological association, but I think I will hold onto it instead.
This book is highly recommended to intermediate students, the level it was written for and it does fit the bill. A beginning student would also benefit from the material and gain fuller appreciation of the ideas during a second read through.
The book is written clearly with a systematic approach and has a section at the end that allows the reader those tools to determine the patterns. The fact that some patterns are challenging is acknowledged by the author, which she analyzed to reflect the owner of the chart. Some of us simply will not be categorized nor fit a neat mould.
I discovered that my chart pattern is more like the fan and the description and insights offered by Dr. Clement gave me new insights into who I am— I thought I had read it all by now. The insights offered in this book are very illuminating; I would also recommend it to other professionals in astrology. Reviewed by Anne Massey
Review by Anne Massey
I devoured Maria's book over a course of two nights, I printed my lunar phases and pondered over my life in light of the progressed lunation phase. Up until now, I have only read Dane Rudhyar's book on the subject, which is a heavy albeit a rewarding read. I exchanged books with Maria while we were both lecturing at the SOTA conference in Toronto . I thought this might be a great book for my students. Maria and I had delightful conversations and both felt the way we thought about concepts in life and with astrology was very similar. So I came home with the book on the Moon and Maria traveled with Venus in hand. I began reading the book on the plane ride home, and felt our conversation simply continued as she spoke to me with her written words.
Maria discusses the Moon in depth through signs, houses and phases offering deep wisdom. I need to point out that I learned something new in this book! Many a book mentions the importance of the prenatal lunation and the importance of prenatal eclipses; however, I have not seen any decent delineation on these concepts that actually resonated with my personal experience and life as an astrologer with my clients until I read Maria's thoughts on these. As I reflected on her thoughts while thinking of the charts and lives of people whose charts are permanently imbedded in my brain, I had many aha moments. Because Maria works so much with the lunar energy, is a practicing Wiccan and has worked as an astrologer for many decades, she also felt it was important to include software which allows you to print progressed lunation phases for a lifetime for as many charts as you wish. This printout gives the dates the lunar phase changed and you can isolate the years when you were working through each of the phases. Remember that in the course of an average life we experience about three complete progressed lunation cycles. My norm is to not ever finish a book, usually I loose interest half way through, I actually finished this one and can see myself pulling it out to review her insights into how to use the lunation cycle energy more effectively in our lives. I think this book belongs on your astrological library as your guide to understanding the Moon in more depth as well as your life in light of the Moon. The book is written eloquently and flows easily from one concept to the next. It offers and in-depth analysis of the Moon and wonderfully insightful delineations.
By Jessica Murray
ISBN 1-4259-7125-3
Publisher: Authorhouse 2006
Politics and astrology, made me hesitant to read the book. My back up plan was to give the review task to someone intrigued by politics, as I feared the author's personal views would cloud the issues. The book is about American politics and all astrologers who address the issue make their view blatantly obvious, which distracts the reader. I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading Jessica's analysis and insights. I didn't want put the book down, and devoured the first couple of chapters… Long story short, it became plane reading and travelled to Finland with me. Passengers seated next to me were intrigued about the book; I must have given the title and author's name out a dozen times. The astrology in the book isn't overwhelming yet the insights Jessica shares make it intriguing even for us professionals. Surprisingly, you will also gain insights into natal astrology as you read along.
Jessica's personal political views are not a distraction; she has obviously spent a long time contemplating life, and what America has become and why. I actually suggested that my non-astrologer husband read the book (he hasn't even read mine). I think he'd enjoy it. To be able to recommend an astrological book to someone, who isn't interested in learning the language, happens seldom. Jessica wrote the book for non-astrologers and astrologers alike, and she succeeded in making the book accessible to both.
The writing is fluid; the observations both political and astrological are very candid. It is written from the perspective of a psychological astrologer, which adds to its charm. I enjoyed the book and appreciated the straightforward analysis from an American astrologer about the Soul-Sick Nation, and actually forgot that an American living in America wrote it. So often we fail to remain objective about things in our immediate surroundings, the author of this book did not. I highly recommend it. Suitable for everyone, interest in politics not required.
Anne Massey, Fort Langley , Canada
Anne Massey is the president of the Fraser Valley Astrological Guild, an international VP for the International Society for Astrological Research and author of Venus, her Cycles, Symbols and Myths (Llewellyn 2006)
© Anne Massey 2007
Anne Massey, CAP (ISAR) is a certified professional astrologer. For personal consultations with Anne call her office at 604-888-9552. More details on the services page. Note you can now purchase reports and charts via email or regular mail and pay for personal consultations using your credit card. The pricing and types of readings are listed on the services page.
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