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SOLUNAR RETURNS - Anne N. Vick, edited by Nelda Louise Tanner, $18.95

Contents:

Forward, by Dietrech Pessin

Introduction: About the author, Introduction to solunar returns, setting up the solunar chart, interpreting the solunar chart, using solunars for timing

9/11 terrorist attack
Christopher Reeve
Michael Jackson
Pope John Paul
Pope Benedict
Sandra Day O'Connor
Terry Schiavo
A family member
Husband of student
Daughter and granddaughter
Anne N. Vick
Enrose House
Solunar chart workshop: Michael Jackson's death
Anne's final solunar return

Closing notes: Prediction vs: forecasting, learning to read solunar charts, inner and outer wheels, personal new moon, distance between sun & moon, solunar worksheet notes

Solunar worksheet

Comment:

This book is based on a presentation made in August, 2005, which, after Anne Vick's death in December, 2008, her friend Nelda Louise Tanner turned into a book.

A solunar return is when the monthly moon conjuncts your natal sun. Since the solar return is the transiting sun conjunct the natal sun, lunar conjunctions to the natal sun can be seen as subsets of the year's solar return. Solunars are valid for one lunar month, there are approximately thirteen per year. Vick suggests using the solunar chart in conjunction with the natal & progressed charts

Solunar charts are read the same as any other return chart: Calculate the chart for the exact natal sun position. The house the moon falls in is the area of life that will be highlighted for the month. The sign on the ascendant is the means, as expressed by the ruler. When the solunar return has the same cusps as your natal chart, it's a significant month. Note any solunar planets making exact aspects to natal planets, etc. In particular, note any exact aspects to the solunar moon itself, since, by definition, these aspects also affect the natal sun & are amplified by the solunar moon. Vick also notes the nodes, eclipses, vertex, antiscica, which are derived from solstice points (ie, 0 degrees of Cancer/Capricorn), critical degrees, chart turning & more. As should be clear, the solunar chart is a means of timing slower moving aspects.

After the introduction, the remainder of the book is case studies. Vick gives the natal chart, takes us to a significant event in the life, gives us the progressed chart and then the solunar which timed the event, and shows the aspects in play at the time. The delineation is cursory, you are expected to know that Neptune on the ascendant means (in the case of Sandra Day O'Connor) that her husband has Alzheimers, but there is no astrological working-out of Vick's observation.

Vick worked extensively with the vertex, which is rare.

Nelda Louise Tanner, the editor/publisher, once published lovely 90 degree graphic ephemerides for the year. Easily the nicest graphic ephemerides I ever saw. But neither she nor I could sell them, and they are no more.

Vick uses standard Tropical, non-precessed charts. In other words, if your Sun is at 15 degrees of Aries in the Tropical zodiac, solunar returns will be calculated based on 15 degrees of Aries in the Tropical zodiac.

RightLeft Graphics, 110 pages.


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THE ASTROLOGER'S FORECASTING WORKBOOK - Lloyd Cope, $33.00

Contents:

Dedication
Acknowledgments
About the author
Introduction, by Doris Kaye
Preface to this edition
Foreword

1. Three basic rules
2. Signs & cosmic state
3. Planets
4. Houses
5. Adjusted calculation date
6. Progressions
7. Transits (mid-date theory)
8. Aspects
9. Numerology
10. Procedure
11. Example charts
12. Love songs & Cupid's arrow
13. Fate & free will
14. Computers & astrology
15. Astrology and you

Afterword
Reminiscences
Tests
Glossary
Test answers
Blank charts

Comment:

First published in 1982. The basic rules for working with transits, & extensive notes on progressions: How to calculate the Adjusted Calculation Date (ACD) & the likely impact of progressed inner planets & angles to the rest of the chart. Includes section on numerology & forecasting. The author's goal is to free the serious astrologer from dependency on canned predictive interpretation, enabling her/him to see clearly with her/his own mind.

AFA, 172 pages, oversize.


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THE GODS OF CHANGE: Pain, crisis & the transits of Uranus, Neptune & Pluto - Howard Sasportas, $38.00

Contents:

Acknowledgements
Introduction

Part 1: The collaboration with the inevitable:
1. The search for meaning
2. Breaking down to break through
3. Interpreting transits: some practical guidelines

Part 2: Uranus transits:
4. Uranian crisis
5. The transits of Uranus to the planets & through the houses

Part 3: Neptune transits:
6. Neptunian crisis
7. The transits of Neptune to the planets & through the houses

Part 4: Pluto transits:
8. Plutonian crisis
9. The transits of Pluto to the planets & through the houses

Part 5: The light at the end of the tunnel:
10. Three case histories

Suggested reading

Comment: This book was initially published by Penguin in 1989 & I confess that although I stocked it until it went out of print in 2004, I never seriously looked at it.

So the book has now been reprinted by Margaret Cahill at the Wessex Astrologer & it's time to take a good look at it. When I do, when I review the various Uranus/Neptune/Pluto transits in my own life, when I read Sasportas's text, I thought to compare to Rob Hand's Planets In Transit. Reading Hand & Sasportas, side by side, Hand wins, "hands down" as it were. Hand is better organized & has a better grasp of his materials. Despite the title, The Gods of Change, this is, essentially, a book about the transits of Uranus, Neptune & Pluto to the natal chart & as such can be compared to any other transit book.

Here is an example. Uranus transiting Venus:

The conjunction, square, or opposition of transiting Uranus to Venus can be just as exciting as the trine or sextile, but they also tend to be more disruptive, jarring or challenging. If we have been sitting on feelings of restlessness & frustration within an existing relationship, and have done little or nothing to improve the situation, the difficult transits could signify a separation or parting of the ways [the opposition?]. As the transit takes effect, pressure builds up to such a point that we finally voice or act on our growing frustration. If we don't do something to change the situation, external circumstances probably will do the job for us,and it may be our partner who disrupts or ends the relationship. (page 51)
Let's take a moment to analyze. Uranus = disruption, Venus = relationship. Uranus has other meanings (new associations? New ideas?), Venus has many other meanings. Of transiting Uranus conjunct natal Venus, Hand says, Make no permanent plans in such a relationship until after this transit is over. (Planet in Transit, pg. 392) Of course, it doesn't help that Sasportas quotes Hand whenever it suits.

What's surprising - or maybe not - is how undeveloped Sasportas's ideas are. He is essentially writing boilerplate. If you've never seen that, if astrology is new to you, then you may find this helpful. Boilerplate has its uses, after all. If you want more than a statement of the obvious, you must look further.

A PS: Howard Sasportas lived from 1948 to 1992. I regret the book has no biographical notes about the author.

Wessex Astrologer, 321 pages.


PREDICTIVE ASTROLOGY, A Practical Guide - Christine Shaw, $14.95

Contents:

Acknowledgments
Preface

In the beginning
Progressions
Planetary progressions to the ascendant & midheaven
Planetary progressions - the inner planets
The outer planetary progressed aspects
Counseling

Appendix: A case study
Bibliogrphy
Index

Comment:

From the back cover, Predictive Astrology is your complete, no-frills guide to using progressions. It is jammed full of immediately relevant instructions, designed to get you on the fast track to accurate astrological predictions.

Includes: secondary, solar arc & converse progressions, progressed planetary aspects & contacts, transits with progressions, progressed house cusps (includes ascendant & MC), retrogrades & stations, how to avoid common pitfalls. Includes an interesting case study, from Australia.

Llewellyn, 224 pages.


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Llewellyn, 224 pages, paper.


CYCLES OF BECOMING: The Planetary Pattern of Growth - Alexander Ruperti, $25.95
Contents: Introduction.
1. The Humanistic Approach

2. The Age Factor: The waxing hemicycle; The waning hemicycle; The individual years; Applying the age factor

3. The Sun-Moon Cycles: The cycles of the moon's nodes; The eclipse cycles; Solar & lunar cycles

4. The Personal Planets: Mercury, Venus & Mars: The Venus-Mars cycle; The sun-Venus cycle; The sun-Mars cycle; The Mercury cycle

5. The Jupiter Cycle

6. The Saturn Cycle: The generic cycle; The individual cycle

7. The Jupiter-Saturn Cycle: The development of a social destiny

8. The Uranus Cycle: The Saturn-Uranus cycle; The Jupiter-Uranus cycle

9. The Neptune Cycle: The Neptune generations; The personal cycle of Neptune; The Uranus-Neptune cycle; The Saturn-Neptune cycle; The Jupiter-Neptune cycle

10. The Pluto Cycle: The Pluto generations; The personal cycle of Pluto

11. The Retrograde Movement of the Outer Planets
Conclusion.

Comment: The classic book on cycles, back in print due to the fine efforts of Robert Blaschke, who promises more such reprints in future. I find Ruperti highly theoretical, and, in chapter 2, The Age Factor, strongly masculine, for better or worse.

Influenced by Rudhyar & others, one can learn a many surprising things from this book.

Earthwalk School of Astrology, 272 pages.


FORECASTING WITH NEW, FULL & QUARTER MOONS - Sophia Mason, $14.00
Contents: Lunations & eclipses; Orb & length of influence; Transits; Progressions; Quarter moons; Inceptions;

For each of the twelve houses, Mason delineates the new moon in the house, the houses it sextiles (for the first house, sextiles are 11 & 3), also the houses square, trine, inconjunct & opposed. She then does full moon & quarter moon in the house.

Comment: Lunations are the monthly new moon. When it conjuncts or makes a close aspect to a sensitive point in a chart, the effects can be pronounced. Mason's writing is brief & to the point. As with her classic book on Progressions, the delineations can be a bit larger than life, but on the other hand, you wouldn't want them sugarcoated. For example, the delineation for a ninth house lunation squaring the 12th house cusp include:

Possible interruptions in higher education, whether a student or instructor, due to a hospital stay or convalescence from an illness.

Hidden problems with in-laws, family members or others, the same people may enter the hospital.

Trouble through travel due to confusing elements. Directions may be misunderstood, or the native may become lost because of a road detour.

Not a month for making major decisions. Judgement may be faulty or careless, or there may be unsound advice from others, who turn out to be secret enemies. (pg. 84)

The full delineation for ninth house square twelfth house is twice this long.

December, 2006: This book has sat on my shelves for years. I thought I had it on-line, but was mistaken. It is a useful book.

AFA, 125 pages.


TRANSIT OF SATURN: Critical Ages in Adult Life - Marc Robertson, $14.00
Contents:

What you'll find inside
About the text

What a transit is
Saturn in the signs
Growth set by quadrant
Saturn in the quadrants
Your growth in cyclic pattern
Saturn in its main cycle
The vital Sun cycle
The personality cycles

Comment:

In this book, delineations of transiting Saturn through the signs (which are the same for everybody), transiting Saturn by quadrant, transiting Saturn by house, Saturn in its own (main) cycle, Saturn transiting the Sun, Moon & planets, transiting Saturn retrograde.

Robertson's books are poorly laid out & hard to read, but are worth the study.

AFA, 72 pages, oversize.


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HOW TO PREDICT YOUR FUTURE: Secrets of Eastern & Western Astrology - James Braha, $24.95
(Formerly Transits of the West, Dasas of the East)

Contents:

Introduction

Part 1: Predicting your future with western transits:
How to use this book
Three misunderstood houses
Transits & dasas
Jupiter transits through the houses
Saturn transits through the houses
Uranus transits through the houses
Neptune transits through the houses
Pluto transits through the houses
Jupiter transits
Saturn transits
Uranus transits
Neptune transits
Pluto transits

Part 2: Predicting your future with Hindu dasas:
The purpose of part 2
Dasas & bhuktis
The two zodiacs
The chakra - the birthchart
Dasa - bhukti fundamentals
Rulerships
Benefics or malefics by virtue of house rulerships
Planetary aspects
Exhaltations & falls
Gemstones, mantras & yagyas
Example horoscopes: Jodie Foster, Marlon Brando, Al Gore, John Denver
A lifetime of dasas
Special Hindu astrology considerations

Appendix
Reading list

Comment:

Combines Western & Hindu predictive methods: Western transits are the primary focus of this book, comprising 2/3rds of it. Hindu dasas are explained, though not given in any detail (wish there was more). The other Hindu chapters are informative & well-written.

Hermetician, oversize paper, 354 pages.


TRANSITS: What Days Favor You? - Reinhold Ebertin, $15.00
Contents:

Preface

1. The cosmogram
2. Aspects in the cosmogram
3. What is a transit?
4. How to read the ephemeris
5. Determining the transits
6. The parallels
7. Mundane aspects
8. Evaluating the transits
9. The character of the stellar bodies
10. The interpretation of the monthly prognostication
11. Sensitive points & half-sums
12. Paying attention to Medium Coli (MC) and ascendant
13. Which is the best day to realize plans?
14. Basic interpretation - the Sun
15. Basic interpretation - the Moon
16. Basic interpretation - Mercury
17. Basic interpretation - Venus
18. Basic interpretation - Mars
19. Basic interpretation - Jupiter
20. Basic interpretation - Saturn
21. Basic interpretation - Uranus
22. Basic interpretation - Neptune
23. Basic interpretation - Pluto
24. Basic interpretation - Moon's node
25. Appendix

Comment: A classic on the transiting planets, back in print. Interpretations are short and to the point, plus & minus. Here is Sun to Mars:

5. Sun to Mars
+ Energy, resoluteness, creative power, instinct, courage, ambition, striving for power, chances for success.

- (C) Rashness, irritation, obstinacy, impulsiveness, quarrelsomeness, inclination to illness and mishap. In case of illness, high temperature. Extravagant demands, overstrain. (pg. 40)

"C" indicates conjunction. The Appendix gives examples using the Contact Cosmogram (90 degree dial) and the 45 degree graphic ephemeris. I wish the illustrations were better.

AFA, 106 pages, paper.


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PROGRESSIONS AND DIRECTIONS - Charles A. Jayne, $14.95

Contents:

Progressions
New directions in astrology
primary directions
Symbolic directions
Examples.

Appendices:
Single, double and triple interpolations
Use of right ascension tables
To find the ascensional difference
From the oblique ascension or descension to find to ecliptic longitude.

Comment:

Newly reset. From the Foreword:
The first part of this book describes progressions: secondary or major, minor, and tertiary. The second part is a full description of certain new directions in astrology

The third part is a discussion of the knotty problem of the valuable but neglected primary directions. First the usual ones are described, including directions under a body's own polar elevation, the latter improperly calculated by Zadkiel, Sepharial, DeLuce, Kuehr and others, as Fagan noted. Mention is made of primaries in zodiaco under the body's polar elevation which results in the vertical and horizontal longitude positions. Then a description is given of the primaries so successfully used by Johndro. No attempt is made to deal with these various techniques at length except for the new directions, which are primaries in zodiaco sine (celestial) latitude. They are easy to do when compared with other forms of primary direction.

A fourth section focuses on symbolic directions. There is one useful tool out of a number of invalid modes of symbolic direction.

This publication covers all forms of progressions and direction in an attempt to point out the valid ones. There is unfortunately no book that adequately deals with all methods.

A fifth section gives examples of what has been discussed with special reference to the little understood primary directions. By following these examples any student should be able to use all of the methods described. In the last part of the section on primary directions are two pages of diagrams. Very often a visual example of something makes it a lot clearer. Indeed, it would be advisable to draw small rough diagrams of the celestial sphere for yourself as a crosscheck on your calculations. Too few astrologers actually visualize the space about them in which the celestial bodies live and move and have their being!

Double interpolation, which is often required to find the exact degree and minutes of arc on an Ascendant from an accurate Midheaven, is explained in the Appendix. Triple interpolation is also explained, but merely means carrying double interpolation one step further.

The Appendix also has a table for finding right ascension (RAMC) from the longitude and latitde (celestial). This makes it possible to work with those primary directions that involve aspects to or by the Midheaven. (pgs. vii-viii)

AFA, 101 pages.


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PROGRESSIONS & DIRECTIONS - Charles Jayne, $11.00
Contents:

Progressions
New directions in astrology
primary directions
Symbolic directions
Examples.

Appendices:
Single, double and triple interpolations
Use of right ascension tables
To find the ascensional difference
From the oblique ascension or descension to find to ecliptic longitude.

Comment:

Photocopied typewriter, from the 1970's. This is a book of calculation, of math and Right Ascension and tables.

This is the last copy of this printing, in its oversize format.

Astrological Bureau, 55 pages, oversize, comb bound.


Forecasting Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6



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