An Astrology Textbook

[Kjell Pettersson]

I came upon this website, where the astrologer Bob Marks has put up
articles as if they were part of a book teaching astrology.

http://www.bobmarksastrologer.com/TOClessons.htm

The thought that came into my mind when I saw this was, what would I
myself want to be included in a book teaching astrology? (Not
necessarily a book for beginners.)

I'll return with my own thoughts, but I thought I'd throw this out
first, without colouring the post with my own ideas. What would you
want a book teaching astrology to be like? What characteristics and
what kind of content would make it REALLY good?

[Sharon]

Post by Kjell Pettersson
I came upon this website, where the astrologer Bob Marks has put up
articles as if they were part of a book teaching astrology.
http://www.bobmarksastrologer.com/TOClessons.htm
The thought that came into my mind when I saw this was, what would I
myself want to be included in a book teaching astrology? (Not
necessarily a book for beginners.)
I'll return with my own thoughts, but I thought I'd throw this out
first, without colouring the post with my own ideas. What would you
want a book teaching astrology to be like? What characteristics and
what kind of content would make it REALLY good?

I loved Planets In Transit by Rob Hand as a sort of beginners primer
on transits, I loved Donna Cunninghams Pluto book, I love Anthony
Louis Horary Plain and Simple (I used that one a LOT) as an example of
just a few. Believe it or not, the first couple books I read years ago
were Jess Stearn and Linda Goodman for the very basics, and that got
me started. I like clear examples, good information and inclusion of
the history behind the astrology as well.

I looked at some of the chapters in the link and it's not a bad start.
Lots of information, but maybe a little simplistic. For example, in
Saturn transits through the 1st house, he mentions nothing at all
about physical difficulties, illness and that type of thing. But like
I said, a good start.

S

[Kjell Pettersson]

Post by Sharon
I looked at some of the chapters in the link and it's not a bad start.
Lots of information, but maybe a little simplistic. For example, in
Saturn transits through the 1st house, he mentions nothing at all
about physical difficulties, illness and that type of thing. But like
I said, a good start.

Close to what I thought myself, and why I added that one would not
necessarily have to think of a beginner's book. But there was one part
I appreciated as not so simplistic:

http://www.bobmarksastrologer.com/Intercepted_signs.htm

I find things are getting better, but often when reading textbook-like
astrology books, they are void of all those little things that stumps
you. As, for instance, how to interpret intercepted signs. Being from
Sweden, which is a fairly northern country, I come across intercepted
signs all the time.

A couple of decades ago the lunar nodes usually got the same
treatment, but I think they are getting more attention now. Yet
another example used to be the Part of Fortune. I guess it partly has
to do with our knowledge of traditional practices are increasing with
all good translation work.

All these examples have something "technical" about them, which is
perhaps what I am trying to express. I mean technical as opposed to
"cultural", which could be things like understanding the associations
and keywords of Venus or Mars. To some extent we all have that part
for free, living in a society where this imagery still lives.

Hm. So I seem to want more technical textbooks. Who would have
thought? :-)

[Sharon]

Post by Kjell Pettersson

Post by Sharon
I looked at some of the chapters in the link and it's not a bad start.
Lots of information, but maybe a little simplistic. For example, in
Saturn transits through the 1st house, he mentions nothing at all
about physical difficulties, illness and that type of thing. But like
I said, a good start.

Close to what I thought myself, and why I added that one would not
necessarily have to think of a beginner's book. But there was one part
http://www.bobmarksastrologer.com/Intercepted_signs.htm

Very interesting. I wonder if this astrologer has, like you, had to
deal with many charts with intercepted signs. Sometimes I can't help
but wonder if the astrologes who write the textbooks write out of real
experience or if they just kind of dream it up. Not to say that's true
of this one, just wondering. Does it seem to fit with your experience?
That's what I really want to know.

Post by Kjell Pettersson
I find things are getting better, but often when reading textbook-like
astrology books, they are void of all those little things that stumps
you. As, for instance, how to interpret intercepted signs. Being from
Sweden, which is a fairly northern country, I come across intercepted
signs all the time.
A couple of decades ago the lunar nodes usually got the same
treatment, but I think they are getting more attention now. Yet
another example used to be the Part of Fortune. I guess it partly has
to do with our knowledge of traditional practices are increasing with
all good translation work.

And thank God or that. I've felt for a long time that "modern"
astrologers had thrown the baby out with the bath water, so to speak.
They would sometimes use a traditional idea here or there, but never
say where it came from. I really believe that learning traditional
techniques as a foundation is a must before moving on to the more
psychological type of astrology. I know horary and event astrologers
use it all the time, but it's very important to natal astrology as
well.

Post by Kjell Pettersson
All these examples have something "technical" about them, which is
perhaps what I am trying to express. I mean technical as opposed to
"cultural", which could be things like understanding the associations
and keywords of Venus or Mars. To some extent we all have that part
for free, living in a society where this imagery still lives.
Hm. So I seem to want more technical textbooks. Who would have
thought? :-)

I'm with you. ;-)

S

[dklugmann]

I found the best book on Astrology was called The Astrologers Handbook by Sakoian. It has everything you need. Planets through the signs and planets through the houses and aspects. You can find it on Amazon. I use that as my bible.

http://www.myastrologycharts.com

[unknown]

Post by dklugmann
I found the best book on Astrology was called The Astrologers
Handbook by Sakoian. It has everything you need. Planets
through the signs and planets through the houses and aspects.
You can find it on Amazon. I use that as my bible.

That's one of my favourites too. One unusual thing it has is readings for
each rising sign in terms of what sign that puts on the cusp of each house.
Oddly enough, this actually makes more sense for me than it does for them,
because they don't use equal houses so for them the house cusps wouldn't
always be where they say they are!