1. Best Astrology Book Ever

So, really, what’s the deal with astrology? Understanding its modern relevance is complex, requiring the genuinely curious investigator to suspend judgment before arriving at a nuanced conclusion. How else could we explain how such a seemingly practice could remain so relevant today?

Astrology began as a way of tracking lunar cycles in ancient Babylonia between 3000 and 2000 B.C.E, although an organized system didn't emerge until the 4th century B.C.E. Eventually, astrology migrated into Greece, where it was studied as a legitimate science by some of the foremost scholars of the time.

Even Aristotle, the grandfather of science, had a on contemporary conceptions of astrology. The Romans brought the Greeks' Hellenistic strain of astrology to the rest of Western Europe. It flourished for a short time, but was soon suppressed by the Catholic Church because it threatened the standing social order. As its flame was squashed in Europe, astrology picked up in the Arabic world.

International trade routes soon opened as a result of the Crusades, leading to cultural exchanges between disparate peoples. Thanks to this, astrology was slowly reintroduced to Europe, this time with an Arabic touch. The 17th century was host to the birth of scientific empiricism. The ensuing spirit of skepticism fundamentally altered Europeans' beliefs about supernatural and mystical happenings.

Again, astrology began to wane in Europe. However, in the early 20th century, a renewed interest in esotericism and the occult ignited the imagination of Europe and the adolescent United States. Astrology again became part of the consciousness of the era, this time heavily influenced by eastern mysticism.

Coupled with the psychoanalytic ideas of thinkers like Carl Jung, astrology marched into the modern age with a new vitality. It continued strong into the 1960s, as many hailed the coming of the Age of Aquarius. Since then, astrology has integrated historical traditions with new psychoanalytic insights to offer the 21st century person a unique lens through which to view the world. Science Usurping God Friedrich Nietzsche’s infamous quote — ”God is dead.” — is often misconstrued in its modern appropriations.

Best Astrology Book Ever

Lacking context, many interpret the maxim as that of a defiant atheist philosopher sounding the war-horn against theism. What Nietzsche was actually predicting was that as scientific materialism and the other instruments of rationalism slowly eroded old religious beliefs, the social order of the old world would slowly disintegrate.

He believed that without cohesive narratives to unify people in a common set of beliefs, society would fracture, eventually sliding into chaos and nihilism. While he didn't necessarily lament the death of religious indoctrination, he certainly feared what would be left in its wake. Where would we find our new sources of meaning? Clearly, something about astrology is appealing to a growing number of Westerners. Perhaps the recent resurgence of astrology is one example of modern culture’s attempt to answer to that question. It's true that in places like the United States and Europe, religious belief is on the decline.

But the statistics tell another story, too. In 2005, a showed that roughly 25 percent of participants from the US, Canada, and the UK believed in astrology. Seven years later, a showed that fewer Americans rejected astrology than in any time in the past three decades. Clearly, something about astrology is appealing to a growing number of Westerners.

Perhaps there's something — whether we call it spirituality, religious sentiment, or transcendent yearning — intrinsic to the human psyche that cannot be reduced to mere mathematics or rationality. Freud dismissively referred to this as humanity's, a quite beautiful term for what he saw as a regressive, infantile instinct.

Whether or not we'll ever know whether science or religion is a better vehicle for our investigations into universal truth is uncertain. As the saying goes, the more you know, the more you know you don’t know. This isn't to say that we should do away with skepticism or critical thinking; rather, we should use our capacities for critical thinking to consider possibilities that we have overlooked thus far. How to Use Astrology Books So, here's what you'll need to do if you're just starting to explore astrology: First, you'll want to obtain your. There are resources online that'll generate your chart, but some of these are less reliable than others. You may want to turn to a more reputed print source — like one of the books from our list — that's explicitly written to help you create and interpret your natal chart. The location of the moon and other planets at the exact time of your birth will add additional color to your natal chart.

From here, you'll want to school yourself on the various signs. Also known as your sun sign, this fundamental piece of your astrological personality is derived from your date of birth. Your natal chart will have already told you which sign you belong to, but this won't mean much to you until you understand the archetypal characteristics associated with each sign. Your sun sign won't give you the entire picture, though.

The location of the moon and other planets at the exact time of your birth will add additional color to your natal chart. Understanding these requires more in-depth study, for which serious resources are highly recommended. Although the internet does have decent information on this matter, print sources tend to contain less pop-astrology than their online brethren. As you learn more about the zodiac signs and their interplay, you'll want to determine whether you're more interested in using astrology to enrich your daily life, or if you want to approach it in a more academic manner.

Either way, there are plenty of books to guide you. A final note: sometimes astrology offers up seeming contradictions.

Rather than immediately dismissing it for its inconsistencies, recognize that there may be layers of complexity in these contradictions that reveal a deeper, unintelligible nature. Or, maybe not. It's up to you to decide.

Walt Whitman may or may not have once said, 'Does my natal chart contradict itself? Very well then, my natal chart contradicts itself. It contains multitudes.' Thanks for reading the fine print. About the Wiki: We don't accept sponsorships, free goods, samples, promotional products, or other benefits from any of the product brands featured on this page, except in cases where those brands are manufactured by the retailer to which we are linking.

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Have you become interested in astrology? Are you curious to figure out your birth chart?

Maybe you want to become an astrologer, and need to add to your chart reading skills. Then my beginner and chart interpretation series of online astrology classes is for you. Over the years, I’ve built up a variety of classes and one off lectures, and I wanted to put together a list of recommended courses, including the best order to take them in, in case you’re wondering where to start. Here’s the list of recommended courses, with additional special-topic lectures that will enhance your studies. Brand New to Astrology?

Getting Started with Chart Interpretation After my beginner course, you can move into the Chart Interpretation Series of online astrology classes. This consists of 3 complete courses in chart interpretation that will introduce you to the core techniques I use in my own successful astrology consulting practice. Birth Chart Interpretation Series: Online Astrology Courses Next you’re ready to learn about Planets, Aspects and Special Chart signatures. There are three different 4 week classes in this section so here’s the best order to take them in. Each level includes four 90min video classes, reading and homework exercises.

Additional Resources for Learning Chart Interpretation If you’re after extra lectures on chart interpretation, here are some special topic webinars that take these ideas further. These downloadable astrology lectures range in price from $15 – $30 and include the audio recording and PDF presentation. Many include the video of the lecture too. (live workshop recording).

(live conference lecture recording). Learning Timing Techniques Once you’ve mastered the birth or natal chart, and feel confident to interpret a chart, then next step is to develop some skills with timing and predictive astrology. The first I recommend for learning astrological timing is ‘Cycles of Success: Introduction to Timing with Transits’.

Additional Classes for Learning About Planetary Timing. Predicting with Progressions Online Astrology Webinars. Learning Relationship Astrology Relationship and Compatibility Astrology Online Webinars.

As the ancient god of agriculture, Saturn symbolises the harvest. The essence of Saturn is reflected in the concept that effort equals reward; that you reap what you sow. This creates an often overlooked yet empowering side to Saturn. You get to choose what you do, how you do it and to what standard. Your choices ultimately create your future as they become the foundation upon which you build your life.

In this way Saturn shows how your choices, like the things you take responsibility for, can pave the way for success.