What follows is a short list of books that I recommend
for beginners. Please note that these are my personal choices. All titles are
in paperback except as noted. You should be able to find these books
at your local metaphysical, New Age, or Wiccan bookstore, or at the larger bookstore
chains. Online booksellers (Amazon.com,
Barnes & Noble.com) also carry them. I
especially recommend Sagittarius
Books ([215] 862-9430). The owners are practicing astrologers who can
help you find whatever material you're looking for, and they ship everywhere.
For out of print books, try Abebooks
or Alibris (both online).
If you're having trouble locating any books mentioned
on this page, e-mail
me and I'll do my best to help you track them down.
"Astrology for the Light Side of the Brain",
by Kim Rogers-Gallagher (ACS Publications, 1995; $12.95).
The author covers all the basics in 242 pages -- planets, signs, houses, aspects,
etc. It's good astrology AND fun to read! (Her sequel, "Astrology for
the Light Side of the Future", is a fun and easy-to-understand introduction
to planetary transits.)
"Astrology for Yourself; How to Understand
and Interpret Your Own Birth Chart: A Workbook for Personal Transformation",
by Demetra George and Douglas Bloch (Wingbow Press, 1987; $24.95)
Although I don't own a copy of this book, I've looked at it and can recommend
it. It helps you learn astrology by learning about your own chart first, and
working with the signs, houses, planets, and aspects in it. A great tool for
personal development on many levels.
"Astrologickal Magick", by Estelle
Daniels (Samuel Weiser, 1995; $14.95).
As the blurb on the back cover states, "This is the first book to explain
how people interested in the pagan way, in Wicca, and in magickal practices,
can apply astrological indicators and energies to important timings and rituals."
I know of no other book that covers this material, and I can't recommend it
highly enough. It's also covers the basics of astrology, so it's a great book
for beginners.
"Astrology for the Millions" (Llewellyn,
1990 [reprint]; $14.95) and "Heaven Knows What", by Grant Lewi (Llewellyn,
1995 [reprint]; out of print).
These books deal with planets in Zodiac signs and with planetary aspects and
transits, respectively. Lewi had the gift of making the complex subject of
astrology understandable to everyone. The material is somewhat dated, but
still useful.
"Linda Goodman's Sun Signs", by Linda
Goodman (Bantam, 1985 [reprint]; $7.99).
A basic book on the 12 Sun signs. Goodman's lively writing style and her sense
of what makes each sign tick has kept this book in print since it was first
published in 1968.
"Astrology for Lovers", by Liz Greene
(Samuel Weiser, $18.95)
This book's title is somewhat misleading, because it covers much more about
each Zodiac sign than how it behaves when in a relationship. For each sign,
Ms. Greene discusses its myth, its "shadow" side, its male and female
expressions, and its "lover" aspect. She also discusses the interaction
of the astrological elements (Fire vs. Earth, Air vs. Water) and includes
a basic table of ascendants. Her writing style is lively, with a keen sense
of humor and a deep understanding of human nature.
"The Compleat Astrologer" (1971
[hardback]; out of print) and "Parker's Astrology" (2001 [hardback,
revised edition]; DK Publishing, $40) by Derek and Julia Parker.
"The Compleat Astrologer" was my first astrology book, and one which
I still refer to. It's a bit like an illustrated astrology encyclopedia. The
Parkers cover almost every aspect of astrology, and their method of chart
calculation is very easy to follow. "Parker's Astrology" is similar,
but with more emphasis on interpretation, chart synthesis, and Zodiacal correspondences.
It is lavishly and beautifully illustrated. The only drawback of these books
is that they contain so much information that they can be overwhelming for
an absolute beginner, so if you're new to astrology, you might want to start
with Rogers-Gallagher's book so you can get the basics first.
"The Only Way to Learn Astrology"
[series], by Marion March & Joan McEvers (ACS Publications, $14.95 each).
I learned astrology before this series was published, so I've never used it
and don't own it. Many astrologers recommend it, though, as a way of getting
a thorough grounding in astrological chart calculation and interpretation.
The six books in the series progress from the most basic to the most advanced
astrology topics. It's not "the only way" to learn about astrology,
but it provides a structured approach for those who want it.
Intermediate-Level
Astrology Books
Anything by Liz Greene
Ms. Greene is both a trained Jungian psychotherapist and a practicing astrologer,
and was co-founder (with Howard Sasportas, below) of the Centre for Psychological
Astrology in London. I recommend that you read her work if you've gotten the
basics under your belt and want to study astrology in greater depth. Ms. Greene
is one of the best and most readable astrology writers around (see "Astrology
for Lovers" in the "Getting Started" list, above).
Anything by Howard Sasportas
Like Liz Greene, Mr. Sasportas was both a psychologist and an astrologer.
His work explores astrology from a Jungian, myth-centered viewpoint. I especially
recommend "The Twelve Houses" (out of print) as a comprehensive book on an
aspect of astrology that many beginners have trouble grasping. I also highly
recommend Sasportas and Greene's "Seminars in Psychological Astrology"
series (Samuel Weiser, $14.95-$18.95 each). The five volumes go into great
depth about the Sun, Moon, and inner planets, and how they manifest themselves
in natal charts.
Most titles in the Penguin Arkana "Arkana
Contemporary Astrology" series (late 1980s-early 1990s)
Anything from the "Planet Series" (Schiffer
Publishing)
All titles in this series start with "Planets in ..." They're classic
books on planetary dynamics, originally published in the 1970s. If you're
looking for used copies, they were formerly published by Para Research and
Whitford Press.
"Horoscope Symbols" by Robert Hand (Schiffer
Publishing, $24.95).
I strongly recommend this book because it covers almost everything you'll
find in a birth chart, and delves into the dynamics and underlying principles
behind astrology. (His section on harmonics and planetary aspects is especially
fascinating.) Robert Hand is one of the world's leading astrologers and, like
Liz Greene, writes clearly enough for astrological neophytes to understand
what he's talking about. I also recommend Hand's other books, including "Planets
in Transit" and "Planets in Youth" (both: Schiffer Publishing).
Other
Helpful Astrology Tools
If you're calculating charts by hand:
An ephemeris (table of planetary positions
and sidereal time, calculated for either noon or midnight Greenwich Mean Time)
A table of houses (used to determine house
cusps; popular house systems include Placidus, Koch, and Porphyry)
An atlas or gazetteer with geographical coordinates
(longitude and latitude) for cities, towns, etc.
A calculator, preferably one with scientific
functions like logarithms
If you're using a computer program, you won't need these
because their functions are part of the software. (There are many good astrology
software programs available, from shareware to commercial products.) I recommend,
though, that you learn to calculate charts by hand, so you understand how it's
done, and why the precise birth time and birth coordinates are so important.
A Final
Note
If you haven't already realized it, astrology is
a very complex subject. My advice is to take things slowly and give your new
knowledge time to sink in, so you don't get overwhelmed. It helps, too, to learn
some basic astronomy: the how and why of equinoxes, solstices, lunar phases,
retrograde motion, the physical natures of the planets, and so forth. Happy
learning!