My Favourite Astrology Books – LightCenter

I’ve made a list of all my favourite astrology books, so far, because the astrology section in bookstores sucks! 🙂

If you are just beginning you will need:

This was the very first book I bought when I started to learn western astrology in 1998 and it is a must have! When you’re away from your computer (and Astrodient’s free chart generating program) this ephemeris will come in handy. It shows the whereabouts of each of the planets from 1900 to 2000 so that you can see that, ahhhhh, you must have had a significant Pluto transit in the past when Pluto was in Scorpio – so you simply flip through the book to see when Pluto was in Scorpio at the degree you’re looking for. Much easier than trying to figure it out on the computer! Plus, it’s a quick and easy way to look up your friend’s and family’s planets. Curious about what someone’s Moon is? Or what their Mercury is? Just pick up your book and it’ll tell you. People will be in awe when they see that you can actually understand this book! It is solely made up of small numbers and symbols. (the symbols are for the planets & signs and the numbers are for the degree of each planet)

You’ll need this ephemeris so you can see what transits are happening right now or for anyone born after 2000. It shows planetary movement from 2000 to 2100. Did you know that the science of Astronomy grew out of Astrology? The ancient Astrologers needed to know the exact placement of the planets in the heavens and so the Astronomer was born! Astrology was taught in Universities too. Aaah the understanding that we would all have of ourselves and our differences if we were taught this in school…!

Astrology does not offer an explanation of the laws of the universe, nor why the universe exists. What it does, to put it in simplest terms, is to show us that there is a rhythm to the universe, and that man’s own life partakes in this rhythm.

Henry Miller

Planets in Transit by Robert Hand. This was the second astrology book that I bought and one that I refer to today all the time. If you get just one astrology book to better understand the energies of each of the planets aspecting each other and the energy of the planets through the houses, it’s gotta be this one! Robert Hand is a Sagittarius with a Sagittarius Venus (same as me!) with an investigative, deep Moon/Mars in Scorpio so I really resonate with his words. This is a smart, psychological look at transits. Armed with an ephemeris and this book you’ll be well on your way to understanding the houses, aspects and the energies associated with each planet. I have even used the book to describe my natal chart – so instead of reading: transiting Neptune conjunct my Mercury – I read: my natal Neptune conjunct my Mercury. Highly recommended. Every single transit is listed in this book ‘cookbook’ style.

Chart Interpretation Handbook by Stephen Arroyo. I don’t own this book because I discovered Stephen Arroyo years after I began learning how to interpret charts but, since Stephen is one of my all-time favourite astrologers I know that this would be the perfect beginner’s book – he is smart and comes at astrology from a psychological, very helpful perspective.

The Inner Sky by Steven Forrest. This book is perfect for a beginner or for an advanced student. Stephen takes you through the significance of the signs, the houses and the planets very carefully. Fantastic evolutionary astrology base. It’s all about your soul’s growth and what the planets are encouraging you to do with the available energies. Free will!

Astrology, Psychology and The Four Elements – An Energy Approach to Astrology & It’s Use in the Counseling Arts by Stephen Arroyo. Excellent book that really describes the Four Elements (Fire, Earth, Air and Water) in depth. You come away from this book really feeeeling what each of the elements feels like and understanding how they interact within one’s chart and in relationship to each other.

I “believe in” astrology for the same reason that you “believe in” the multiplication table….It works.

Grant Lewi

Exploring Jupiter by Stephen Arroyo. I just recently read this book because I thought that a Sagittarius who’s ruler is Jupiter should read it! 🙂 Plus, it is a very life-affirming energy to explore. I found that many of my friends had the same natal Jupiters! Quite a few of my friends had Jupiter in Gemini and quite a few had Jupiter in Virgo. Hmmmm….sitting on my own mutable cross bringing some positivity to it, no doubt!

Yesterday’s Sky by Steven Forrest. Ever wonder what your chart has to say about your past lives? Well, Steven will tell you! Fascinating look at the south and north nodes and any aspects you have to them.

Steven says, “I value psychological astrology very highly – in fact, one could define Evolutionary Astrology as a form of psychological astrology which is integrated with metaphysics. Where a twentieth century psychological astrologer might focus on the dynamics of childhood, the evolutionary astrologer focuses on the childhood of the soul – prior lifetimes, and issues left unresolved from them. It is a sacred psychology, in other words. But it is also a demonstrable one, grounded in observable, present-life realities.”

Through the Looking Glass – A Search for the Self in the Mirror of Relationships by Richard Idemon. I love this astrologer! I only discovered him a few years ago. He never wrote a book in his lifetime (he died in the 80s) so the two books that are authored by him are taken from the recordings of the workshops he did. This makes his books verrrrrry attractive because you feel like you are right there with him – he’s very conversational and funny and takes questions from the audience, too. Highly recommended reading! He is one smart and interesting cookie!

Skymates 2 – The Composite Chart by Steven Forrest & Jodie Forrest. I love this book! This is the best book there is for exploring your composite chart. Steven and Jodie have a great sense of humour and give even traditionally ‘negative’ positions for some composite planets (say, the Sun in the 12th house) a much more positive spin. Not to say that it is overly positive, no! They give the possible issues that may arise with each of the positions, too…but the best part is that they give you tips on what is needed from you both if you want the relationship to fulfill it’s purpose! It’s easy to see, sometimes, that perhaps one individual isn’t up for what it takes….for example if the composite Sun is in Sagittarius conunct Venus in Sagittarius the relationship would need a lot of travel (even if it’s just expanding one’s mind through reading), growth, positivity, goals, adventure, freedom….but perhaps one of the people has no natal planets in Sagittarius, not a strong Jupiter and no planets in the 9th house you’d think that…well, that person is probably not going to be able to give the relationship what it needs. It’s just fascinating. It’s a must if you’re interested in your significant relationships!

Planets in Composite by Robert Hand. This is a great book to learn about the energies of your composite chart with another person, too. Essentially you take your chart and your partners chart and put them together into a ‘composite’ chart. This composite chart becomes the ‘third entity’ – created by your relationship: The Relationship. I have always gotten a lot out of looking at my composite charts with others…you can see the themes of the relationship right away.

Relationships & Life Cycles by Stephen Arroyo. This is a great book for learning more about your relationships. He goes into ‘synastry’ which is different from a composite chart. Synastry is where you look at the two people’s natal charts and make connections between the two of them – say his Sun with your Moon. Or his Mars with your Venus. Great book!

Oh yeah, Carl Jung did a study on couples that were married – he found that the happiest marriages were the ones where the man’s Sun was in the same sign as the woman’s Moon. Interesting!

Astrology would be a large scale example of synchronism, if it had at its disposal thoroughly tested findings. But at least there are some facts adequately tested and fortified with a wealth of statistics which make the astrological problem seem worthy of philosophical investigation. It is assured of recognition from psychology, without further restrictions, because astrology represents the summation of all the psychological knowledge of antiquity.

Carl Jung

Astrology, Karma & Transformation – The Inner Dimensions of the Birth Chart by Stephen Arroyo. This is one of my all-time favourite astrology books! Even a beginner can get something out of it. “This insightful and original book focuses on the understanding and use of astrology as a tool for spiritual and psychological growth.” Transformational aspects within one’s natal chart and transformational transits are discussed in depth. This is a great book for all interested in growth!

The Magic Thread – Astrological Chart Interpretation using Depth Psychology by Richard Idemon. Once again, you can’t go wrong with Richard – he is intelligent, engaging and verrrrrry interesting. I love this book! (although I can’t remember the details of it right now!)

The Development of the Personality by Liz Greene & Howard Sasportas

This four-part book series is taken from lectures that Liz and Howard did in 1987. This is one of my favourite series. They are so intelligent and because the books are taken from transcripts of a seminar they taught, the feel is very conversational and intimate – with questions from the audience and laughter and just so so interesting! Get all four! 🙂

Dynamics of the Unconscious by Liz Greene & Howard Sasportas

Volume 2 of this fabulous series. If astrology fascinates you, these books are a must have!

The Luminaries – The Psychology of the Sun and Moon in the Horoscope by Liz Greene & Howard Sasportas

Volume 3 of this fantastic series.

The Inner Planets – Building Blocks of Personal Reality by Liz Greene & Howard Sasportas

Volume 4 of this fascinating series!

The American Book of Nutrition & Medical Astrology by Eileen Nauman. THIS is an AMAZINGLY HELPFUL book!! Even if you know nothing about astrology the amount of detailed information she has here on allll the vitamins and minerals is astounding! She lists the symptoms of each and every one of the vitamins or minserals in existence ???? if you are deficient, the foods that you can take if you are deficient or if you prefer vitamins, the dosages to get you back up to where you should be. She has a great page on Cell Salts and even a beginner astrologer can figure out by reading the descriptions of the deficiencies and personality traits that each cell salt will aid, which of their planets/signs may be the culprit. It is one of my all-time favourite books ever. She has done a ton of research. Plus there are many case studies of people with real infirmities that she relates to their chart and transits. Fascinating book!

Psychology textbooks of future generations will look back on modern psychologists working without the aid of astrology as being like medieval astronomers working without the aid of the telescope.

Richard Tarnas, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology