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Astrology Text

• Bills, Rex E. The Rulership Book: A Directory of Astrological Correspondences (Richmond Virginia, McCoy, 1971).
  This is an amazingly complete compendium of thousands of suggested rulerships and correspondences of people, places, and things with the signs of the zodiac, and the planets and houses. It is diminished in value only by being almost completly undocumented, that is we are not sure whether a suggested "rulership" is attested to by centuries of tradition, or only some sun-sign column on a dull rainy thursday in the old Boston Transcript.

• Carter, Charles E.O. An Encyclopedia of Psychological Astrology (London, Theosophical Publishing House,1963).
  A basic advanced work on interpretive traditions by a modern master. It is in this book, which is in essence a condensed casebook, that Carter expands the tradition of "signatures" for illnesses, note more illnesses than psychology as the title would seem to suggest. From a condensed casebook to proper statistical methods a la Michel Gauquelin is only a hop, skip and a jump.

• Carter, Charles E.O. An Introduction to Political Astrology: Mundane Astrology ( London, Fowler, 1973) 3rd Edition.
  Carter was probably England's most distinguished Astrologer of the generation that worked during the 2nd World War. In doing this he found himself able to suggest many modifications of traditional methods, which made, and make sense. A most important book. Carter has also written books on various "Specialty" subjects which bridges to the generation of Sepharial and Robson.

• Carter, Charles E.O. The Astrological Aspects 10th Edition (London, Fowler,1969) .
  Another advanced text by the leading english astrologer of his day.

• Carter, Charles E.O. The Astrology of Accidents: Investigations and Research 2nd edition (London, Theosophical Publishing House, 1961)
  A furthur extension of Carter's work in Psychological Astrology into accidents and the like. A continuation of the emphiasis on "signatures".

• Carter, Charles E.O. The Seven Great Problems of Astrology (London,1970).
  An advanced work by Carter. About 1927 he decided to list what he percieved as the greatest problems faced by astrological research in his day. Many of them still remain, and his thoughts on them are still of interest.

• Carter, Charles E.O. The Zodiac and the Soul (London, Theosophical Publishing House, 1968).
  An advanced text by the distinguished modern astrologer, which starts in the rather unlikely place of an analysis of the sun signs, but develops into a mythological and "spiritual" analysis of the elements of astrology.

• Cornell, H.L. Encyclopedia of Medical Astrology 3rd edition (St Paul MINN, and New York, N.Y. 1972).
  This is really a kind of encyclopedia of interpretive materials, with a heavy emphasis on the notion of singular, or carefully limited "siganture" aspects and position which can be associated with diseases and other personality traits in the horoscopes of individuals. The most complete work of its kind.

• Davison, R.C. The Technique of Prediction revised edition (London, Fowler, 1971).
  This is Davison's advanced text. Like Leo he relies very strongly on the secondary system for predictive purposes.

• Davison, Ronald C. Astrology (New York, Bell, 1963).
  An introductory text by an older contemporary.

• Green, H.S. Directions and Directing reprinted (Washington, D.C. AFA, No Date Given).
  A rather superficial discussion of the various methods of directing a chart, which emphasizes secondary (progressions) as was typical of Alan Leo and his school. Leo wrote the introduction to this little manual.

• Green, H.S. Mundane or National Astrology reprinted in Mundane Astrology (North Hollywood, CA, Symbols and Signs 1977).
  This is probably the most appropriate basic traditional text in Mundane Astrology, for supplemental considerations, see Charles E.O.Carter, Political Astrology.

• Holden, Ralph William The Elements of House Division (Southampton, England, 1977).
  A competent discussion of the basis of the various house systems, essentially from the perspective of the post Margaret Hone english school.

• Hone, Margaret E. Applied Astrology: Companion Book to the Modern Text-Book of Astrology (London, Fowler, 1968).
  Continues to lead the student into the use of Astrology to serve clients, and the develop skills neccessary to any possible research.

• Hone, Margaret E. The Modern Text-Book of Astrology (London, Fowler, 1951).
  This is the most widely used textbook for contemporary students. Mrs. Hone shows ways in which to prepare written work products for clients which have been determinative for most contemporary practitioners. She is very solid and thorough in her presentation. She prefers the Equal House system, and this preference may be said to have almost established it in England for a while.

• Jansky, Robert Carl Interpreting the Eclipses (San Diego, CA 1979).
  This work covers some of the same ground as Sepharial's work, Eclipses but Jansky has and uses a more complete modern astronomical understanding of the phenomenon, and can thus get into things like the Saros cycle to help in building a matrix of interpretation for an eclipse event. You need both books for a complete approach. For the Saros cycles see also de Vore, Encyclopedia.

• Leo, Alan The Progressed Horoscope (London, Fowler, 1969).
  This is Leo's most complete advanced text. It contains all of his discussion of predictive tools, and appropriate formulas for various elements of the system. He himself prefers secondary directions, which he calls here, the "Progressed Horoscope". It is the traditional system, reinterpreted for a theosophical clientel.

• Leo, Alan and Green H.S. The Horoscope in Detail (Edinburgh,Scotland, 1953).
  This is a standard text slightly beyond the introductory level, by two leading late 19th century English practitioners.

• Lorenz, Donna Marie Tools of Astrology : Houses (Topanger, CA, 1973).
  An explanation of the bases of the various House Systems, largely from a technical point of view, along with algorithms and tables to set up pretty much any system for any place.

• MacNeice, Astrology (New York, N.Y. Doubleday, 1964).
  There had to be a coffee table book or two. This is one of the best, and most literate, by a distinguished english poet of the generation of W.H. Auden.

• Manilius, Astronomica trans. G.P.Goold (Cambridge MA, 1977)
  This is the preferred english translation, and the preferred commentary on the Latin poetic work on astrology which preceeded C. Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos. It is a very important text. The principle critical edition (without translation) is by A.E.Houseman (yes! The famous poet,"Malt does more than Milton can...") Houseman's notes and commentary are invaluable, as much as an example of stimulating english academic prose, as an introduction to the work. Everyone interested in Manilius should read it. See also the English translation by Thomas Creech.

• Manilius, M. The Five Books: Containing a System of the Ancient Astronomy and Astrology, togeather with the Philosophy of the Stoicks, done into English verse with notes. trans. Thomas Creech (London,1697-Reprinted Washington D.C. 1953)
  This is a 17th Century translation in reprint. The translation is workmanlike, and the notes a serious atrtempt to understand the original. He forces Manilius too often into the strait jacket of Ptolemaic opinions, but worth reading.

• Morin de Villefranche, Jean Baptiste Astrologia Gallica Bk XXI trans. Richard S. Baldwin, (Washington, D.C. AFA, 1974).
  First printed in 1661 this worek is a chapter of Morinus magnum opus. It is important to note that the house cusps in this book, are calculated according to the system of Regiomontanus, and not the system attributed in modern times to Morinus himself. See also the alternate translation of Lucy Little and the paraphrase of Schwikert and Weiss. All things considered this edition may contain a superior translation.

• Morin de Villefranche, Jean Baptiste Astrosynthesis: The Rational System of Horoscope Interpretation according to Morin de Villefranche trans. Lucy Little (New York, N.Y. 1974).
  Morin de Villefranche was a most important renaissance astrologer in France, and like Nostradamus he worked for the Court. During the astrological revival the French patriotically translated his work (The Astrologia Gallica) into French but this portion of the 21st book is the only part of his work which has been translated so far into english. See also the translation of Richard S. Baldwin, and the Schwikert and Weiss paraphrase with examples.

• Pagan, Isabelle M. From Pioneer to Poet or The Twelve Great Gates (London, Theosophical Publishing House, 1969).
  There has to be at least one sun sign book, and this is the great grandmother of them all. Pagan actually does stimulate thought with her turn-of-the-century theosophical pastiche of sometimes muddy mixed mythologies. This tendency of the Theosophical Society, and some of their off-shoots, for example anthroposophy in Germany, turned out indeed to be the first stirrings of what has now become a discipline, if not a science, of comparative mythology, as advocated for example by Joseph Campbell among many others.

• Pearce, Alfred John The Textbook of Astrology 2nd Edition (Washington, D.C. AFA 1970).
  This is a most important general advanced text in early 19th Century "spherical" astrology, and has sections on various specialties, ie elections, mundane etc. It has formulas for primary directions, and a table of Houses etc. Very important reference, in a class with Simmonite and Allen Leo in dealing with advanced technical traditional astrology.

• Ptolemy, Claudius Tetrabiblos trans. F.E.Robbins (Cambridge MA, 1964)
  This is the preferred English Translation of the ancient classic. It is the basis for any furthur work on the astrology of the ancient world, and the most important single source for Medieval, and Modern western astrololgy, and has had in addition a tremendous influence on Arabic, Persian, and Indian Astrology.

• Raphael, Raphael's Mundane Astrology reprinted in Mundane Astrology (North Hollywood, CA, Symbols and Signs, 1977). This is similar to, and supplements the H.S. Green. There is nothing particularly wrong with it, though it is even furthur out of date than the Green in tone, but between the two choose Green. Supplement either with Carles E.O.Carter, Political Astrology.

• Robson, Vivian A Beginner's Guide to Practical Astrology reprint (New York, N.Y. Weiser,1976).
  An introductory text by a late master.

• Robson, Vivian E. A Student's Text-book of Astrology No given date or place of publication.
  A moderately advanced text by a master. Faily complete, supplements his Beginner's Guide. The two together may still be the best texts for a beginning student, if they were only available.

• Robson, Vivian E. Electional Astrology (New York, 1972).
  Simply the most useful work in the field. Robson has many excellent works on "specialty" fields such as this, and they are uniformly fine. This should be used as an adjunct to horary work, and as a guide for such things as selecting wedding dates for friends etc. **** Robson,Vivian E. The Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology (New York and London, 1969) Reprint.
  This is the indespensible work on the fixed stars, useful for natal, mundane, and horary work. Has all formulars needed to insert fixed stars accurately into a horoscope, as well as a review of the best literature on how to interpret them. If you get only one book on fixed stars this should be it.

• Schweikert, Frederick "Sinbad" and Weiss, Adolph Cornerstones of Astrology, Vol I Synthesis edit Jan Meursing (Dallas Texas, 1972)
  This book appears to be an english translation of the book written in german by Schwikert and Weiss which incorporated much of the translated text and all of the substance of chapter 21 of Morin de Villefranche's Astroligia Gallica. The examples given include some of those given by Morinus, but include many additions by Schweikert and Weiss. I have not checked the House system in use in this book, though it appears to be a quadrant system, which Morinus system is really not. For more accurate texts see the translations of Lucy Little and Richard Baldwin listed above.

• Sepharial The Manual of Astrology (London,Foulsham,1962).
  This is Sepharial's advanced astrological text, which also contains an essay on his theory of the pre-natal Epoch, (a theory disproven later by Margaret Hone), and an excellent introduction to Hindu (or Vedic) Astrology. This same Hindu material also appears in Alan Leo's Dictionary of Astrology, as is noted in the entry on that book.

• Sepharial's Astrology (Philadelphia, McKay, No Date Given)
  An introductory text by a turn of the century master.

• Sepharial, Transits and Planetary Periods (New York, N.Y. Weiser, 1969).
  This little book is one of Sepharial's more solid contributions to astrolgical theory and history. See Tester's reference to it about the periods of the planets.

• Sepharial, Directional Astrology (London England, 1921).
  This book is Sepharial's most serious contribution to the discussion of directional systems, and is not as marked as some of his other offerings are by a large number of dubious short cuts that are sometimes the long way home, given the contemporary availability of computers for astrological work.

• Sepharial, Eclipses, (North Hollywood, CA, 1973).
  Another important "Specialty" book, this time by Sepharial who also wrote several. See also Jansky Eclipses. Use particularly with Mundane charts, but watch out for an eclipse place in a natus now and then.

• Serjeant, William C. Eldon ed. The Astrologer's Guide: Anima Astrologie reprint (Mokelumne Hill, CA 1965).
  This is an anthology of two previous collections of astrological aphorisms:
  Henry Coley's translation of 146 choice aphorisms of Guido Bonatus, and
  William Lilly's edition of the choicest aphorisms of Jerom Cardan. There is no doubt that this is a most crucial and important work.

• Simmonite, W.J. The Arcana of Astrology reprinted (Hollywood, CA, 1974).
  This stands on a level with A.J.Pearce as a thorough review of basic traditional astrology, assuming the capacity to do spherical trigonometry. Many examples. Primary Directrions explained, and formulas included. Early 19th century in ambience.

• Townley, John The Composite Chart: The Horoscope of a Relationship (New York,N.Y. Weiser,1974).
  This book constitutes probably the first American publication on this technique, which was widely popularized by Rob Hand's book Planets in Composite. In this pamphlet Townely takes no credit for originating the idea attributing his aquaintance with it to Arlene Plakun, and saying that it had been discussed at an ISAR symposium. He traces it back to Geremany through Edith Wangemann, and eventually attributes it, somewhat tentatively, to Dr Walter Koch, the originator of the "Birthplace" system of House division.

• van Norstrand, Frederic, Precepts in Mundane Astrology, (New York, Macoy, 1962).
  Applies the standard precepts of mundane astrology to USA charts and problems. Less complete or illuminating than Green, or Carter, but still valuable.

• Volguine, Alexandre The Ruler of the Nativity trans Michel Bustros (New York,N.Y. ASI 1973)
  An important and undervalued subject, dealt with by the leading writer that has addressed it.

• Volguine, Alexandre The Technique of Solar Returns trans. John Broglio (New York, N.Y. ASI, 1976).
  The best book on Solar Returns, by one of France's best astrologers. Only Volguine's advanced books are available in english, but this is enough to establish him near the top.

• von Klockler, H. Baron Astrology and Vocational Aptitude (Washington, D.C. AFA, 1974).
  The Baron von Klockler was one of Germany's most distinguished astrological figures in the 20's and 30's of this century. A member of the second generation of German Astrologers, he was active in attempts to reinterpret the tradition and create a "scientific" astrology. To von Klockler this meant leaving out of the tradition elements that seemed irrational, and hard to justify, like rulerships, and sometimes houses. The astrologer who worked with C.G.Jung is reputed to have been of the school of von Klockler. Of all of his works, only this one, a review of vocational astrology, has been translated into English, which is a pity. It is however, an important book for what it can tell us of his methods. In many ways he was a more important figure than the founders of either the Hamburg School, or the Cosmobiology School.

• Zoller, Robert The Lost Key to Prediction: The Arabic Parts in Astrology (New York, N.Y. 1980).
  The most important and complete book in English on the computation and use of the so called "Arabic Parts". It contains among a multitude of other riches, a translation of Guido Bonatti's treatise on the parts. An essential and excellent work.
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