STEPS

The following is a self help guide through Astrology.

Step One

There is always a place to begin. I believe that an inexpensive but highly informative place can be an Astrological Calendar.

The one I use all the time is Jim Maynard’s Celestial Influences Calendar, published by Quicksilver Productions, P.O. Box 340, Ashland, Oregon 97520 U.S.A.. There are two editions, one for an Eastern Time Zone and a Pacific Time Zone.

It is a textbook of Astrology, an Ephemeris and a Calendar.

The text includes explanations of the Moon through the Signs and Phases, influences of the Planets and Aspects.

There is a lot of information in this Calendar. 

Step Two

For those of you who read Step One and now own an Astrological Calendar you are no doubt realizing that there is a lot to learn about Astrology.

An excellent reference book is an Astrological Encyclopedia the one I use is The Astrology Encyclopedia by James R. Lewis Published 1994 by Visible Ink Press, 835 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit MI 48226-4094. www.amazon.com www.amazon.ca  should have a copy.

Step Three

Well if you have followed Step One and Step Two you have an Astrological Calendar/Ephemeris and an Astrological Encyclopedia.

The next book I suggest is The Circle Book of Charts, compiled by Stephen Erlewine, published by the American Federation of Astrologers. My 1980 edition shows their address at P.O. Box 22040, 6535 Rural Road, Tempe, Arizona, 85285-2040. It is out of print but still available. www.amazon.com www.amazon.ca should have a copy.

The Circle Book of Charts has 1300 calculated charts from 467 BC to 1950.

At five charts to the page this is a very readable book.

Each chart is calculated using Placidus Houses where birth times were known and Equal House Solar Charts where the time was not known.

Step Four

Many people recommend Linda Goodman’s Sun Sign and so do I. For this Fourth Step also get The Pulse of Life by Dane Rudhyar. Read these two books together and blend what each author is saying. www.amazon.com www.amazon.ca should have a copy.

Step Five

The Rulership Book by Rex E. Bills, Macoy Publishing, Richmond, Virginia is a great book. Out of print but try www.amazon.com www.amazon.ca

The third printing 1976 version attaches subject to Signs, Planets, and Houses.

The planet Mars has almost 1000 keywords attached.

Examples of subject that are attached to the influence of Mars are; ability, abrasions, acceleration, accidents, aches, sports, squabbles, squadrons, stamina.

Each Sign, Planet, and House is well represented plus an alphabetical order cross index.

Step Six

It is time to get the "Tools" out. To calculate a Chart you need three things. An Ephemeris, a Longitude and Latitude book and a Time Changes book.

I use the "American Ephemeris" by Neil F. Michelsen, Published by Astro Computing Services and distributed by Para Research Inc. These Ephemeris come in time blocks i.e. 1931 to 1980 or 1991 to 2000. There are other Ephemeris available and the American Ephemeris at least my 1992 edition does not include Chiron and the Asteroids.

"Longitudes and Latitudes Throughout the World" and "Longitudes and Latitudes in the U.S." published by The American Federation of Astrologers are excellent. They also have time variations from Greenwich Mean Time.

"Time Changes in the U.S.A.", Time Changes in Canada and Mexico" and "Time Changes in the World" by Doris Chase Doane published by Quarto Productions, are the classics.

www.amazon.com www.amazon.ca should have a copy.

Step Seven

It is time for Astrology Software but what do you want it to do? Do you want to cast a Natal Chart and Progressions? Do you want House options or Geocentric and Heliocentric options? Do you want to track Transits and see a moving wheel that updates every 30 seconds?

The software program that will give you all of this is WinStar by Matrix.  http://www.astrologysoftware.com It will calculate in many formats with many inclusions along with reports. The feature QuickWheel that is included with the program displays transiting Planets and Asteroids plus a moving aspect pattern viewer in the middle of the chart. I never turn this program off I use it as a screen saver. The only down side to QuickWheel is that it must be reset daily (only three clicks).

SolarSpark by Astrolabe http://www.alabe.com is a stand alone product that also calculates the Transiting Motions but does not have the Aspect Graph but it does not have to be reset daily it just keeps on going.

SolarFire by Astrolabe is the product that I use to calculate charts of all kinds. I also have WinStar but I started first with SolarFire and perhaps that is the only difference. Each product is pure professional level.

The Ephemeris Generator in SolarFire is excellent. WinStar has several daily motion graphs.

There are other excellent programs, one is called Kepler but I have not used it. http://www.astrosoftware.com/KEPLER.HTM 

There is free astrology software available.  http://www.soulhealing.com/freeastrologysoftware.htm

In purchasing you will see often that the Atlas is not included. It is very nice to have the Atlas but you can always do a manual lookup and build your own data base. Time Changes are included with some Atlas but not all.

Step Eight

By this time you are discovering the wonders of the Astrology. An Astronomical understanding is very necessary.

Astronomy for Astrologers by John Filby, Doctor of the Faculty of Astrological Studies and Peter Filbey, Bachelor of Science, Published by Aquarian Press, Wellingborough, Northhamptonshire, England. This book will bring both Astrology and Astronomy into perspective.

The Astronomical Calendar, by Guy Ottewell, published by Universal Workshop, Furman University, Greenville, S.C.  The state of the art booklet will answer all questions about your position in the Night Sky.

The Astronomical text Companion To The Cosmos by John Gribbin, Published by Weidenfeld and Nicholson and in paperback by Phoenix a Division of Orion Books, England. This book is a Classic. www.amazon.com www.amazon.ca should have a copy.

Step Nine

It is now time for the classic, Esoteric Astrology by Alice Bailey, Lucis Publishing Co., New York. This book will take you into the outer dimensions of Astrology, a must for every Astrologer. www.amazon.com www.amazon.ca should have a copy.

Step Ten

Takes us into Quantum and Holographic thinking.

The Holographic Universe, by Michael Talbot, published by Harper Perennial is a fantastic book that never mentions the word Astrology but talks about Astrological Forces at play on a Quantum level.

Step Eleven

Tibetan Astrology by Philippe Cornu. Although this book will give a great insight into Tibetan Astrology to me its most valuable feature comes in the first third of the book where he traces the origins and migration of astrology around the world and explains how the various different types of astrology came about. www.amazon.com www.amazon.ca should have a copy.