I am often asked to recommend books to better understand astrology and expand its depth and scope. Listed here are titles that I find particularly useful. For your convenience, I will link them to Amazon where you can obtain more details. The list is by no means complete, and I will continue to add books as I come across them.
Introductory Astrology
Parker’s Astrology by Julia and Derek Parker. This is a wonderful and richly illustrated book that gives you all the basics.
Planets in Play by Laurence Hillman. Obviously I think this book is worth having. It can serve as a useful introduction to astrology for the novice.
Learning astrology for the student
The Contemporary Astrologer’s Handbook by Sue Tompkins. My new favorite book for learning astrology. Available in England.
Planets in Play by Laurence Hillman. Again, I think this book is worth reading. It is user friendly and can be used as a desk reference for students of astrology, psychology, and mythology.
The New Way to Learn Astrology by Basil Fearrington. I have used this book for many years as a teaching guide. I find it excellent and also recommend it for self-study. It has been out of print but is worth searching for.
The Only Way to Learn Astrology by Marion March and Joan McEvers. This is a classic three-volume course that many have learned from. These are solid, traditional, and reliable books. Volume one is hard to find.
Prometheus the Awakener by Richard Tarnas. This is a beautiful little book that is sometimes given to “nonbelievers” to introduce them to astrology. This is now a classic. Even though it deals primarily with Uranus, it elegantly illustrates the workings of astrology.
Advanced astrology
Signs of the Times by Ray Grasse. This is the best book I have seen on the dawning of the Age of Aquarius. Remarkable research went into this book and I highly recommend it.
Saturn by Liz Greene. The sub-title is “A New Look at an Old Devil” and that pretty much says it. A fabulous and rich book.
The Story of Astrology by Manly P. Hall. This is a historical and philosophical tour d’horizon of astrology by one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century.
Cosmos and Psyche by Richard Tarnas. This is a masterpiece, a culmination of decades of work by a brilliant astrologer/philosopher. This is a rich and big book that takes dedication to fully grasp. If you choose only one book on this list, choose this one.
Houses
The Twelve Houses by Howard Sasportas. A classic, hugely valuable book for research and learning.
Houses of the Horoscope by Bill Herbst. An excellent book by a brilliant and psychologically skilled astrologer.
Houses of the Horoscope by Alan Oken. A small and handy book for quick referencing. Mostly an introduction.
Marriage & Relationships
Marriage: Dead or Alive by Adolf-Guggenbuhl-Craig. Anybody in ANY kind of relationship should read this book. But especially those who are married. This is not an astrological book.
Relating by Liz Greene. This is an astrological book about relationships written by a Jungian astrologer. It is complex and rich. No quick answers here but a great book for those seeking a deeper understanding of relationships.
Planets in Composite by Robert Hand. This is a standard reference book by one of the great astrological masters of our time.
Relationships & Life Cycles by Stephen Arroyo. Arroyo is one of my favorite astrological writers. This is a very informative book that is also good for continued study.
Transits, Life Cycles
Astrology, Karma & Transformation by Stephen Arroyo. This is a must-have for any serious astrology student. A classic and brilliant book.
The Outer Planets & Their Cycles by Liz Greene. A superb book by one of the best astrologers alive. May be out of print but look for it anyway.
Planets in Transit by Robert Hand. A standard, classic reference work that you will find on most serious astrologers’ bookshelves.
Aspects
Aspects in Astrology by Sue Tompkins. Easily the best book I have come across on aspects. Available in England, click on the link.
Planets in Aspect by Robert Pelletier. A sturdy and reliable classic.
Astrological Aspects by Leyla Rael and Dane Rudhyar. Rudhyar was one of the first astrologers to introduce the psychological and humanistic approach to astrology. He remains one of the greats.
Astrological Aspects by C.E.O. Carter. This is a small must-have volume for the serious astrologer.
General
The Waking Dream by Ray Grasse. This is an extraordinarily rich book that connects several metaphysical systems into one holistic world view.
A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe by Michael Schneider. This is one of my all-time favorite books in my collection. This is a book about sacred geometry.
2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl by Daniel Pinchbeck. This is a masterpiece of integrating various metaphysical ideas and their relation to the end of the Mayan Calendar in 2012.
The Secret Teaching of All Ages by Manly P. Hall. This is the crème de la crème of metaphysical books written by arguably the greatest philosophical mind of the 20th century. Not an easy read but an extraordinarily rich book. Penguin has released a reader’s version that is handy.
The Passion of the Western Mind by Richard Tarnas. A philosophical study of the history of Western thought, it is used frequently as a textbook by philosophy departments around the world. It is beautifully written and a must-read for anyone interested in how and why we think.
Re-Visioning Psychology by James Hillman. This is a groundbreaking book that every psychologist should (and I mean should) read. It deconstructs ingeniously many myths carried on by modern psychologists.
Calling, Life Purpose
Alignments by Laurence Hillman and Donna Spencer. Obviously my favorite on this subject.
Astrology for the Soul by Jan Spiller. An excellent book on the issue of calling. Be sure to read the house position of your North Node before you read the sign position. This is a bit confusing in this book, otherwise it is excellent.
The Soul’s Code by James Hillman. This is a non-astrological book on calling written by my father.
Links
These are links to articles/websites I find useful or that have articles that may help you in your further understanding and study of astrology.
ASTROLOGY RELATED
Fantastic Article on Why (and how) Astrology Works If you read nothing else on this website, do read this! An excellent article by Brad Kochunas.
Astrotheme If you are looking for the chart for someone who is famous then you will likely find it amongst the nearly 70,000 charts listed at this amazing site in France. You can set the language to English if your French is rusty… http://www.astrotheme.com/
The Mountain Astrologer An excellent collection of some of the best educational articles and interviews available. This is the leading astrological magazine out there. An excellent resource. http://www.mountainastrologer.com/
The Digital International Astrology Library This is an extraordinary accumulation of astrological texts online and well worth the visit http://cura.free.fr/DIAL.html
Richard Tarnas on Pluto, Saturn and 9/11 This is the best piece I have seen on the archetypal foundations of 9/11. It was written by my friend and colleague Rick Tarnas and with his permission I am offering it here.
AGE OF AQUARIUS RELATED
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