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Building
a Basic Astrological
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with
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The
three skill levels of interpretation.
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These are the books recommended for basic learning astrology.
I haven't read either of these books but I wanted to recommend something for the beginner. Anything will do, really, for the basics. These are both workbooks and there were no graphics available.
Let's
Learn Astrology Workbooks by P. G. Crossley
Your
Life Purpose through Astrology Workbook
by Bettye B. Binder
I like the title of this workbook because astrology is the best way to
find out for sure what it is you came here to do. MOST of my readings
are around this question for people. It is very hard to be sure you are
doing the right thing when you first set off on your spiritual path.
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My First Astrology Book The first real astrology book I read, as I say elsewhere, was Relating by Liz Greene. I was taking
a weekend visit to a health spa in the mountains around here. They
had a small library in the lobby of the dining room. I bought a
copy of the I Ching, which a friend had been teaching me,
and Liz Greene's book. I guess you would say that was an auspicious
day! I didn't really understand enough astrology to know some of the things she was talking about but I knew one thing for sure ... I was going to go learn some! I thought the ideas and concepts were so exciting and made so much sense.! When I got back home, I looked all over for an astrology class. Now, you know as well as I do that they are all over town. But for some mysterious reason I couldn't find one, so I began to teach myself. You'd be surprised how often this happens. It seems that astrologers are inclined to this sort of thing, being free thinkers. |
Transits (and Aspects)
These are the books recommended for learning about transits and aspects, which is the area of concentration during the middle learning period.
Great "Cookbooks"; The Planet Series
Planets
in Aspect (Understanding
Your Inner Dynamics) by Robert Pelletier
You can look up any planet in aspect to any other and get a short paragraph
description of what it means as far as the person's inner dynamics. It's
a wonderful way to learn to do this for yourself.
Planets
in Transit by Robert Hand
This is the most basic book you can get for intermediate skills. You
can look up any planet transiting to any other or being transited to by
any other and get a terrific description of what's going to be going on
in the person's life. Robert Hand is not noted for his great psychic ability
or his interest in the psychological. He is philosophical and intellectual
in approach. But some of the descriptions are just uncanny!
Planets
in Love: Exploring Your Sexual and Relationship Needs by John
Townley (sorry no book cover available)
I did for reports all my friends out of this book for free when I was
just starting out!! It was way fun. You can find out a lot about a person's
sexual and romantic needs, strengths and shortcomings.
Planets
in Youth (Planets
in Early Development) by Robert Hand
This book is actually very helpful for ideas on how to read for adults
as well. The examples can easily be applied to adult life and it's
fun to read the descriptions.
Planets in Composite by John Townley
I wouldn't start a relationship myself without checking it out and
I use the composite chart as well as the chart comparison for the most
information. Until you learn how to do this interpretation in your head,
the book will help you put it all together. Composites are based on midpoints.
This is a great series to keep handy when you're starting out. It helps you build those Level #2 skills -- aspects and transits. When I was first starting, I looked almost everything up in these books, made notes and then read from them to the client, who understood that I was just learning and was letting me practice!.
The Rising
Sign, Your Astrological Mask by Jeanne Avery
Jeanne Avery wrote some really wonderful books, most of which are out
of print right now. I find her examples vivid and unforgettable as they
are drawn from real life. This book has a drawback in that it doesn't
allow for or even mention the existence of interceptions which changes
the house rulerships but if you know what you're doing, you can compensate
for that.
Astrological Aspects (Your Inner Dialogues) by Jeanne Avery
It's too bad this is out of print but you can usually order a used copy
off the amazon.com site by clicking the link.
It is probably the best book I read for the nitty gritty interpreting
of aspects. I didn't really understand how Uranus acted in aspect to other
planets until I read the examples in her book (sugar addiction, jumping
out of your own body, etc.) She also does a great job with Pluto aspects.
The Ascendant
(Your Karmic Doorway) by Martin Schulman
This book describes the function of the Rising Sign with great insight
and understanding.
Relating
(An Astrological Guide to Living with Others on a Small Planet) by
Liz Greene
This was the first astrology book I read. I found it in the bookcase of
a retreat where I was staying in the early 80s. It describes each of the
four elements (fire, earth, air and water) and how they relate to one
another.
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My First Official Client My first official client was a young gay man who worked in the boutique where I bought many unusual items for my home during my lunch hour at work, due mostly to his excellent salesmanship. I didn't tell him he was my first. At that time I wore a beautiful art nouveau watch with astrological charms and the sun and moon on it. He complimented the watch and that led to our discussion. When you are first starting out, wearing a small (subtle) piece of jewelry that indicates your other interests is helpful. If it's a necklace, you can always tuck it inside your blouse should you find yourself suddenly in hostile territory! |
These are the books recommended for learning how to interpret life purpose and orchestrating the rest of the things in the chart to support it.
Karmic
Relationships by Martin Schulman
The difference between this and Townley's book is a quality of soul. This
book will give you a perspective on your own and anyone else's relationship
that you just won't get anywhere else. It will explain to you why two
people have come together and how they can make the most out of the necessity
or opportunity. Schulman's books are unique in the astrological field.
I have all of them. They are small books and invaluable.
Karmic
Astrology: The Moon's Nodes and Reincarnation by Martin Schulman
This book more than
any other will help you identify and support a person's spiritual life
path. When you understand the information Schulman is conveying for each
of the signs and houses, the next problem is to convey this information
to someone without disrupting their ego to the point that they can't hear
what you're saying. The truth is these descriptions is so "core"
that some of my clients have been unable to accept it into their forcefield.
This is their loss.
Spiritual
Astrology by Jan Spiller
This is also a good book to help you identify life purpose for your client.
Jan has a way of explaining things that is unforgettable. Nothing else
in the chart works or matters, until you have the reason for incarnation
pinned down. This book works primarily with the prenatal eclipses.
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My First Official Talk (Class) I gave a talk on the first four Tarot cards to a small group of people gathered at a local metaphysical bookstore (the Inner Journey formerly in El Cajon). There were 6 people there, to be exact. My friend Barbara accompanied me. We had taken a Voyager Tarot Class together several years before. I was very disappointed with the turn out and I felt that my talk went over their heads. Then I remembered the words, "Whoever comes, God sent" and I was happy. That's the way it's been ever since. God brought you to this webpage. I'm happy you came. Please email me if you have any questions about building your reference library. |
Everyone needs an Ephemeris for the 20th and 21st centuries. That's about all you need because you can get free charts on the internet (see below) or buy software. I myself have never learned how to cast a chart since I figured a computer would always be more accurate.
Tables for
1900s and 2000s
A working astrologer has to have these around! These are the Bible.
Editorial Review: "No astrologer's library can be complete without
the ephemeris with the latest data from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The American Ephemeris by ACS is the most accurate ephemeris in the world
today. In addition to planetary positions for every day from 2000 through
2050, it includes a wealth of data - solar and lunar eclipses, aspectarian
of Jupiter though Pluto, Chiron, Synetic Vernal Point, Moon phases and
more."
You can get
charts free, instantly, online at:
www.astro.com
www.chaosastrology.com
and others
These are the books I recommend for learning about the planets in depth.
Saturn,
a New Look at an Old Devil by Liz Greene
In my opinion, Greene
is the best writer in the field. These books that I give you here are
a must, as far as I'm concerned. A must to have, a must to read and a
must to understand.
Neptune
and the Quest for Redemption by Liz Greene
Understand Neptune better from the astrological perspective.
The
Astrology of Fate by Liz Greene
This
is the best book on the planet Pluto.
We are wondering when Liz Greene will do one on Uranus.
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My First Reading My first official, fully paid for reading for a stranger!?! Well, I thought the outfit was really important so I wore an exotic looking pink dress with sequins that I would think was pretty even today. I had meditated pretty much all week in preparing for the reading!! I decided to read in a side bedroom of my house with both of us on a daybed but at least there was privacy. I basically read off my notes that I was holding in my hand. I had listened to a Richard Idemon taped that warned you about ENDING. You can't just keep saying, What else do you want to know? because someone will feel obligated to keep going and going and going until you are both exhausted. I kept it to about an hour. I was just thrilled when it was over and I knew this was what I had always wanted to do!! He was an Aquarian with his Sun in the 4th house. Can you imagine anything more perfect? |
Historic
Astrology,
A Cosmic Science by Isabel M. Hickey
The Grand Dame of Astrology, Hickey taught in New York City in the early
part of the 19th century. Click here to visit the memorial to her. She
revolutionized astrology during her lifetime. She made it include the
spiritual.
The other great early astrologer, Ivy Goldstein-Jacobson, self published.
A
History of Western Astrology by Jim Tester
There are only a few histories. Needless to say, this is very interesting.
Essential
Dignities by J. Lee Lehman, Ph.D.
Dr. Lehman has done some wonderful work in going back to the ancient astrology
and filling in some blanks. By the author: "This is the first astrology
book to focus specifically on the meanings of the five classical essential
dignities: by sign, exaltation, triplicity, term and face. Charts are
delineated to demonstrate the meaning of these rulerships. There are also
comparisons of modern concepts of rulership with classical ones."