Anne's book, Venus, her Cycles, Symbols and Myths published by Llewellyn in October 2006, is available in bookstores and online, clicking on the isbn will take you to Llewllyn's site. ISBN- 0-7387-0991-3. I have a limited quantity of signed copies for sale. The cost for a copy within Canada with shipping is CAD$23.00 and to the US with shipping CAD$27.
Writing a book is always a work of love. Writing about the planet of love, Venus, is doubly so. As the author I love how the book looks and as a highly critical person I am pleasantly surprised that I still love the content. Yes, I would love to be able to add new thoughts to it, but I guess I would buy this book had I not written it. All the comments on the site about the book are unedited. For the non-astrologers I have posted the Venus tables so that you can look up your Venus sign, it may not be the same as your Sun sign. (Look up your Venus sign. )
"This major work will energize beginning students and provide professional astrologers at every level with a rich source of knowledge and understanding. A compilation of this magnitude belongs in every astrological library and each classroom as a teaching tool." Read all that the reviewer had to say...
"Most astrology books cater to one tradition, however, this book is a definite 'must read' for followers of both Western and Vedic traditions. This book will sit along side the classics!" Read more...
"Astrology book of the year : Wish I had time to read more books, but there's been precious little time this year. I'm still trying to catch up with books from several centuries ago. However, my favorite book this year (even though it was published last year) was Venus: Her Cycles, Symbols, and Myths , by Anne Massey. Venus seemed due for a major makeover and Anne Massey masterfully brings her into the 21st Century—yet Venus still maintains an ageless symmetry. A real eye-opener. " Lynn Hayes at http://astrodynamics.blogspot.com/
"This book brings a unique perspective to the significance of Venus as a natal influence by beautifully interpreting the meaning of her very intricate orbital cycles. I particulary enjoyed the author's interpretations of Venus retrograde. Beautifully written and definitely worth buying."— Meghan Dunlap
Check the reviews by Janice Brown, Maria Kay Simms, Phyllis Chubb, Ulla Kivistö
Comments from readers (note if you want your comments here, send me an email, and I'll post them)
From the backcover: A Closer Look at Lovely Lady Venus
"She is a goddess, a Queen, a siren, a lover—Venus is all these and more, and her cycles provide us with a powerful tool for timing and prediction. Author and astrologer Anne Massey uncovers the many facets of this planet's striking personality, linking the sacred geometry of Venus cycles to the golden mean, the pentagram, and other legendary myths and symbols.
Venus is the first book to explore how the Venus cycle influences the natal chart, and how the 'dance of Venus' has been an instrumental force for societal change. In-depth discussion of the personal impact of Venus through the house and signs, in aspect, in retrograde motion, and in love and marriage facilitate a deeper understanding of how this lovely lady of the heavens influences our loves and our lives."
"Who is an enticing beauty, a bitch goddess, and the queen of every natal chart? Venus, of course! Investigating this heavenly body from all angles, Anne Massey brings new dimension to this undervalued planet. Exploring Venus in mythology, fairy tales, and contemporary archtypes such as Marilyn Monroe, Massey uncovers this planet's striking personality. A close look at her cycles reveals gorgeous symmetry and sacred geometry, linking Venus to the golden mean, the pentagram, and other significant symbols. The author also focuses on this extraordinary planet's aspects and phases, in addition to her impact in the houses and signs, and discusses Venus retrogrades in depth. Lastly, no book on Venus would be complete without examining her dynamic influence on love and marriage."--Publisher's comments.
"Anne Massey's detailed analysis of charts, insightful observations, and careful research combine to make Venus a book that almost anyone, from beginner to professional, will benefit from reading... there are so many gems in this book." —David Cochrane, founder of Cosmic Patterns Software and author of Astrology for the 21st century.
"A monumental work on Venus and its amazing magical cycles that you will not only read but want to study for its finer intricacies. Its cyclic power points add additional interpretive enrichment not usually considered." -- Chris McRae, CERTIFIED ASTROLOGER CAP.ISAR, CA.NCGR, PMAFA
"I loved the book! "This book fills a black hole in the astrological literature which has generally overlooked the Lady of Love. A thorough exploration of planet Venus is certainly overdue. Yet this comprehensive and well-written book by Anne Massey may be particularly timely as it greets the powerful re-emergence of the Feminine. This book has something for everybody. However, as a practicing astrologer, a better understanding of the many layers of this archetype surely enhances my professional work with clients. The Goddess is smiling on this one!” -- Diana Stone astrologer/shaman
Author of The United States Wheel of Destiny
and The Lightbody Activation Manual
"Anne Massey has created a wonderful five-pointed star of a manuscript. A quintet of knowledge about Venus emerges in these pages. Mythological understanding, the mathematical beauty of the Venusian orbit, meaningful delineations, matriarchal wisdom and context, and the metaphysical dimensions of Venus are all presented. This treatise makes a significant contribution to existing astrological literature." — Robert P. Blaschke, Author of the Astrology: A Language of Life series of books.
Reviews of the book will be posted as I receive them. Look for it in October at your bookstore, or request that they order it in for you. Or you can order a signed copy directly from Anne. The cover price in Canada is $21.95 and in the US $17.95. Shipping costs in Canada $3 and $7 to the US. Blessings, Anne
Where is your Venus? I am posting a Venus ephemeris by decades on my site so check out the sign of your Venus. The decades with a link are already up. 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950s, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000.
Janice Brown, Phyllis Chubb, Maria Kay Simms, Ulla Kivistö
Dell Horoscope has review on Venus in the April 2007 issue. AstroLogos has a review in the current issue (February 2007), that text will be posted here shortly.
Anne Massey has presented the astrological world with a book that every student and practitioner of astrologer needs to read. Her work, VENUS Her Cycles, Symbols & Myths offers a comprehensive collection of information regarding the planet we call Venus. The cycles of Venus, as represented here will be new to most people yet obvious once we have been introduced to them.
Most astrology books cater to one tradition, however, this book is a definite ‘must read' for followers of both Western and Vedic traditions. This book will sit along side the classics! Well done Anne!
Phyllis Chubb, MA, www.phyllischubb.com
Venus, Her Cycles, Symbols and Myths by Anne Massey
Sometimes it takes an event like the Autumnal Full Moon that was so startlingly bright it outshone any earthly light to remind us how visible the planets were before electric lights changed our civilized world.
Our lost connection to the stars remains agelessly alive in our cultural myths, dreams, and in the case of Venus as Anne Massey explains in her book, the planet's patterns described by the ancients are repeated in all the forms we call ‘beautiful'. Ancient stories we hold dear, the petals on roses, the divine proportions symmetry of a face that attracts attention, the entwining DNA strand, or the origin of the pentagram which is a very real symbol transcribed by Venus' cycle continuously in our sky.
And, in reality, nothing has changed. Half of our population is female and we adore wealth, make celebrity of beauty, idols of musicians and struggle to return women to their rightful positions as priests, or rather priestesses. We still have pregnancies of a 9-month duration that follows the waxing and waning cycle of Venus.
Today we need charts and 'tables' to plot the ebb and flow of relationships and thankfully have authors like Anne Massey who diligently and thoughtfully weave together the threads and clues from myths and contemporary concepts of Venus in the 'Essence of Venus' chapter, to science, 'The Sacred Geometry of Venus,' in a single fascinating volume.
Anne writes with a highly personal and stimulating style. Venus, Her Cycles, Symbols and Myths, pulls you in like a good novel with gems on every page where you say 'Yes! Exactly!' or "I didn't know that!" without missing a beat on the vital math that proves the point. With simple but perfect phrases like, "Venus approaches as the Evening Star, departs as the Morning Star," we can easily visualize Venus dancing towards us and departing after a long night into the too bright morning light.
Then there is the thought that Venus is about what the heart desires. Yes, indeed. And at retrograde periods we second guess ourselves and ask, "Do we love it?"
To more fully understand what and why we love, Anne Massey includes a chapter entitled "Where Does Venus Hold Court" on how your personal Venus placement resides in the houses of a chart and the affects of Venus in the four elements. Even the aspects and declinations are not missed.
Alluring chapters with names like "Venus in Love" describe the planets in signs making it easy to see ourselves and amusing to spot certain traits in those with whom we interact. A touching and insightful example is a line from Venus in Capricorn, "In time, I'll learn to accept that others might love me for who I am rather than for what I can do for them."
Of course, "Venus in Marriage"is equally enlightening and "Other Feminine Archetypes" includes the Moon and four major asteroids, Ceres, Vesta, Pallas Athena and Juno. These poignant models remind us again that if Venus is about that which we desire, Ceres is about that which we need.
Reading Venus, Her Cycles, Symbols and Myths in its entirety is a must as new thoughts reside on every page. Anne Massey gives us detailed real stories of Venus in action with supporting charts. We get to see Venus cycles with appropriate data, complete with a New Venus/Full Venus listing at the end of the book. This New/Full Venus concept is certain to become added to the astrological vocabulary and the standard for understanding the potency of her cycles.
History buffs will appreciate the Timelines on societal change segment and the book's full compliment of figures and charts assist the reader with visuals.
This major work will energize beginning students and provide professional astrologers at every level with a rich source of knowledge and understanding. A compilation of this magnitude belongs in every astrological library and each classroom as a teaching tool.
As we raise a glass in thanks for our bounty, we'll remember Venus. JB
"I enjoyed all your mythological references, and more detail on the Venus cycle than I'd ever studied. I've worked with the pentagram/Venus correspondence before, and written rituals using it, but I'd not done anything with the phases. Therefore, I found your research very interesting, but applying it is going to take more than just my read through...so, when I have more time, it will be fun to look into this more. I quickly noted from your appendix that some very significant turning point years of my life can be related to New Venus within one degree of my natal Mercury, and that the New Venus just prior to my birth and also the last Full Venus to occur in Cancer are both in the same degree as my natal Moon. Exactly what to make of that, I don't know—maybe it's just one more correspondence indicating why Moon Goddess has become so prominent in my work. I'm glad to have met an in-depth Venus through you! — Maria Kay Simms, Astrologer and author of Moon Tides and Soul Passage, Dial Detective, and many more. www.starcraftspublishing.com
Book Review
Anne Massey: Venus-Her Cycles, Symbols and Myths
Special Topics in Astrology Series
Llewellyn Publications 2006
In today's competitive publishing market, the appearance of a book's cover and colour scheme is certainly relevant. To help invite the reader into Anne Massey's book on Venus, the publishers have given the cover a warm and inviting look of soft pastels, as befits its theme and content.
Anne's book is filled with a wealth of valuable information. After reading it, I felt as though I had been bathed in Venusian detail. I was particularly delighted with the background into Venus. The author has addressed the myth base of the planet and found interesting connections to our understanding of beauty.
Sacred geometry has not been forgotten, either, and is presented as an interesting basis for understanding how the reader might interpret the phases. This provides delightful moments when examining personal charts.
Naturally, the Venus book also includes the sign, house and aspect delineations. It's difficult to imagine an astrology book without them. More is derived from the houses than might be expected so, even with these, the reader can expect to broaden his or her understanding. In Venus we have an author who elucidates and paints an interesting imagery with lots of background. The theme of Venus and marriage gets its own chapter, one that will certainly capture your interest. The latter part of the book offers a short introduction to the other feminine archetypes.
Anne presents her material in a warm, supportive and encouraging manner and a certain enthusiasm can be detected in her writing. Her numerous observations are evidence that she has put in significant time and effort to thoroughly explore and present the subject matter. She does not over- or underestimate the proficiency of her reader, making this book suitable for both beginners and seasoned professionals alike.
Illustrations in the book support the text, help to clarify the material and the overall feel of the book is professional.
The hope is that one of these days, Anne's book on Venus will be published in Finnish. Many students of astrology in Finland find it a challenge and a limitation when the texts are only available in English. The material in this book is excellent, and it would be a shame if more people did not have access to its contents.
There aren't many books on Venus. This work fills that gap and is clearly one of those 'MUST' have books, which should be on the shelf of all of those involved in astrology.
Ulla Kivistö
"I stayed up till midnight last night reading your book. It is VERY GOOD. Congrats!!!!! All the info about the golden section was new to me as well as many of the cyclical associations. I have never seen anything like it in print and I have a pretty big library. I think it has a lot of appeal for a wide audience. I read it end to end. Couldn't put it down." — Julia Purdy
Banner Graphic by, Warwick J. Massey, www.silentw.com
is a certified astrological professional. who has maintained an astrological practise since 1988. To learn more about Anne read her bio and to learn about consultations click here. To book a consultation with Anne call her office at 1.604.888-9552 or send an email.
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Photograph: Ritva Sillanmäki August 2007
Anne is the the founding president of the Fraser Valley Astrological Guild, an International VP for ISAR in Western Canada (International Society for Astrological Research), a member of the Finnish Astrological Association, and a member of the Canadian Association for Astrological Education and of the National Council for Geocosmic Research
