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The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astrology
Offers insights into the effects of the zodiac on personality, relationships, occupations, and the world.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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258 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 13, 2015
I'd been meddling in astrology for a long time. It takes years to assimilate all this information! My goal was to get off the ground with it; to be able to look at a chart and read it without help, and to understand houses and transits. Done! I've actually been able to help a few folks by shedding light on some difficult things in their charts. Now, soooooo much more to learn!
I have no criticisms for this book. I only wish the Dummy and Idiot's Guide books didn't have such a stigma around them. They're always a wealth of information presented in a way that's easy to understand, and you can jump in no matter your prior experience with the topic. People see someone reading these and pass judgement, like you're Grandma trying to Skype. Funny thing is, I've always come out ahead, so who's got the last laugh, eh? ;) Fuck it, I'm here to learn. Is the idiot the reader or the one watching TV?
I have no criticisms for this book. I only wish the Dummy and Idiot's Guide books didn't have such a stigma around them. They're always a wealth of information presented in a way that's easy to understand, and you can jump in no matter your prior experience with the topic. People see someone reading these and pass judgement, like you're Grandma trying to Skype. Funny thing is, I've always come out ahead, so who's got the last laugh, eh? ;) Fuck it, I'm here to learn. Is the idiot the reader or the one watching TV?
January 17, 2017
Very poorly written.
May 26, 2024
AN INTRODUCTION FOCUSED ON HOW ASTROLOGY APPLIES TO “YOU”
The Introduction to this 1997 book states, “While there are hundreds of astrology books out there… this book is unique because it’s about YOU. It shows you how your planets in their signs and houses can help you understand more about yourself and your life. It explains not only what all those symbols for signs and planets mean, but also how they connect with your everyday life---who you are, who you love (and who you don’t!), why you do what you do, feel like you do, live where you live, and work where you work. Astrology can explain all that? Yes, it can. Signs show HOW these energies behave in your birth chart, and house are WHERE the various areas of your life unfold---from relationships to financial concerns! Curious? Read on and find out more about astrology and you.” (Pg. xxv)
The authors explain, “Astrology is a symbolic system that appears to work via SYNCHRONICITY, sometimes known as meaningful coincidences, and idea first proposed by psychoanalysis pioneer Cal Jung. In terms of astrology, this means that what occurs overhead is merely a reflection of what is happening on Earth. In other words, the two are co-incident with each other, or synchronous.” (Pg. 7)
They state, “‘Natal astrology’ involves the creation of your birth charts based on the position of the planets at the time and place that you were born. It creates a map unique to you and your true self. Your ‘ascendant’ is your rising sign, the sign that was rising over the horizon at the moment of your birth. Your rising sign represents the ‘you’ that the outside world perceives, as well as personality traits and needs, and your physical characteristics. Your ‘descendant’ is the cusp of your seventh house, and represents how you channel your energies through partnerships and relationships.” (Pg. 11) Later, they say, “an ‘astrological chart’ (also called a birth chart or natal chart) is a map of the heavens for the location, date, and time you were born, and its symbols represent the locations of the planets on that map.” (Pg. 25)
They assert, “The first element is FIRE. Fire signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) are energetic, idealistic, self-assertive, courageous, and often visionary… fire signs are very active, stimulating creative expression, and always passionate… The second element is EARTH. Earth signs (taurus Virgo, and Capricorn) are practical and skillful, good at managing physical assets, financial matters… The third element is AIR. Air signs (Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius) represent social and intellectual abilities---ideas, communications, thinking, and social interrelationships… The fourth element is WATER. Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces) are sensitive and emotional; they think with their feelings, intuitively, and are often romantic.” (Pg. 33)
They state, “the Moon is the main model for all the feminine energies and roles. Now in a man’s chart, the Moon represents his feminine side, which he may choose to project through the women in his life---his mother, lover, or wife, for example---if he doesn’t express it directly.” (Pg. 125)
They say, “From the very beginning… astrologers divided life into different categories. It was the Babylonian astrologers who names these areas the ‘houses’---the arenas where the drama of your life unfolds. Because there are 12 signs and 12 houses, learning the symbolism of the signs is a big step toward learning the symbolism of the houses… Whereas signs are psychological processes, houses are experiential, or, as astrologer Steven Forrest puts it, ‘We ARE our signs, and we DO our houses.’ There are specific meanings to which houses your planets are in, and it’s one more step in unlocking the mystery of you.” (Pg. 169)
They caution, “Your midheaven changes degrees at least every four minutes, and, depending on your chart, it could be even more often! Because the interpretation of a chart can’t be more accurate than the information used to calculate it, it’s worth doing some research to get your birth time right---such as sending away for your birth certificate. Otherwise, you may end up with a birth chart that’s not entirely accurate.” (Pg. 219)
They admit, “No one really knows the exact date that the Age of Aquarius starts (or if, in fact, it has already started), and astrologers still debate this both astronomically and astrologically. No matter when it does begin, though, everyone agrees that it takes at least 250 to 300 years to transition to a new age, and the changes that occur during a new age take hundreds and hundreds of years. In other words, we’re not going to wake up one day and just find a completely different world! To get there, EVERYONE’S consciousness has to be raised---and we all have to contribute our talents to the transformation.” (Pg. 349)
This book will be of some interest to those seeking a “Me-focused” introduction to Astrology.
The Introduction to this 1997 book states, “While there are hundreds of astrology books out there… this book is unique because it’s about YOU. It shows you how your planets in their signs and houses can help you understand more about yourself and your life. It explains not only what all those symbols for signs and planets mean, but also how they connect with your everyday life---who you are, who you love (and who you don’t!), why you do what you do, feel like you do, live where you live, and work where you work. Astrology can explain all that? Yes, it can. Signs show HOW these energies behave in your birth chart, and house are WHERE the various areas of your life unfold---from relationships to financial concerns! Curious? Read on and find out more about astrology and you.” (Pg. xxv)
The authors explain, “Astrology is a symbolic system that appears to work via SYNCHRONICITY, sometimes known as meaningful coincidences, and idea first proposed by psychoanalysis pioneer Cal Jung. In terms of astrology, this means that what occurs overhead is merely a reflection of what is happening on Earth. In other words, the two are co-incident with each other, or synchronous.” (Pg. 7)
They state, “‘Natal astrology’ involves the creation of your birth charts based on the position of the planets at the time and place that you were born. It creates a map unique to you and your true self. Your ‘ascendant’ is your rising sign, the sign that was rising over the horizon at the moment of your birth. Your rising sign represents the ‘you’ that the outside world perceives, as well as personality traits and needs, and your physical characteristics. Your ‘descendant’ is the cusp of your seventh house, and represents how you channel your energies through partnerships and relationships.” (Pg. 11) Later, they say, “an ‘astrological chart’ (also called a birth chart or natal chart) is a map of the heavens for the location, date, and time you were born, and its symbols represent the locations of the planets on that map.” (Pg. 25)
They assert, “The first element is FIRE. Fire signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) are energetic, idealistic, self-assertive, courageous, and often visionary… fire signs are very active, stimulating creative expression, and always passionate… The second element is EARTH. Earth signs (taurus Virgo, and Capricorn) are practical and skillful, good at managing physical assets, financial matters… The third element is AIR. Air signs (Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius) represent social and intellectual abilities---ideas, communications, thinking, and social interrelationships… The fourth element is WATER. Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces) are sensitive and emotional; they think with their feelings, intuitively, and are often romantic.” (Pg. 33)
They state, “the Moon is the main model for all the feminine energies and roles. Now in a man’s chart, the Moon represents his feminine side, which he may choose to project through the women in his life---his mother, lover, or wife, for example---if he doesn’t express it directly.” (Pg. 125)
They say, “From the very beginning… astrologers divided life into different categories. It was the Babylonian astrologers who names these areas the ‘houses’---the arenas where the drama of your life unfolds. Because there are 12 signs and 12 houses, learning the symbolism of the signs is a big step toward learning the symbolism of the houses… Whereas signs are psychological processes, houses are experiential, or, as astrologer Steven Forrest puts it, ‘We ARE our signs, and we DO our houses.’ There are specific meanings to which houses your planets are in, and it’s one more step in unlocking the mystery of you.” (Pg. 169)
They caution, “Your midheaven changes degrees at least every four minutes, and, depending on your chart, it could be even more often! Because the interpretation of a chart can’t be more accurate than the information used to calculate it, it’s worth doing some research to get your birth time right---such as sending away for your birth certificate. Otherwise, you may end up with a birth chart that’s not entirely accurate.” (Pg. 219)
They admit, “No one really knows the exact date that the Age of Aquarius starts (or if, in fact, it has already started), and astrologers still debate this both astronomically and astrologically. No matter when it does begin, though, everyone agrees that it takes at least 250 to 300 years to transition to a new age, and the changes that occur during a new age take hundreds and hundreds of years. In other words, we’re not going to wake up one day and just find a completely different world! To get there, EVERYONE’S consciousness has to be raised---and we all have to contribute our talents to the transformation.” (Pg. 349)
This book will be of some interest to those seeking a “Me-focused” introduction to Astrology.
Read
November 1, 2019I've read all three of them: Orion's Astrology for Dummies, Berwick-Brodeur and Lenard's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astrology, and the KISS Guide to Astrology (that's Keep It Simple Stupid, I mean, Series). They're like three coins of equal value but from different countries—same but different—with each one offering something that the others lack. If I had to keep one of them, I would... I think I would first jettison the KISS volume. It is the most comprehensive, but I just can't past the Disneyesque cartoon illustrations that punctuate the text: they tend to diminish the seriousness of the content, signaling something "light" in content (which, we know, astrology is far from light). So, it's between Dummies and Idiots—hmm. I'm going to go with Astrology for Dummies: it's well organized, explains in great detail all aspects of houses, signs, and planets, does a great job laying out various global chart patterns (before diving into the specifics of planetary aspects), and provides an almost step-by-step method for creating and interpreting your natal or birth chart (even including planetary tables in the appendices).
January 2, 2021
Astroloji konusunda okuduğum ilk kitap. Konular kitabın adına uygun bir şekilde, herkesin anlayabileceği basitlikte anlatılmış.
Burçlar, gezegenler, evler, retrolar, vb. tüm konular hakkında bilgi mevcut,
Kitabı okuduktan sonra, doğduğunuz andaki yıldız haritanızı web’den ücretsiz olarak elde edip kitaptan öğrendiklerinizle yorumlayabilirsiniz. Ancak buradaki en önemli mesele doğum saatinizin kesin olarak bilinme ihtiyacı. Eğer doğum saati bilinmiyorsa bu bilgilerin hiç biri bir işe yaramıyor.
Burçlar, gezegenler, evler, retrolar, vb. tüm konular hakkında bilgi mevcut,
Kitabı okuduktan sonra, doğduğunuz andaki yıldız haritanızı web’den ücretsiz olarak elde edip kitaptan öğrendiklerinizle yorumlayabilirsiniz. Ancak buradaki en önemli mesele doğum saatinizin kesin olarak bilinme ihtiyacı. Eğer doğum saati bilinmiyorsa bu bilgilerin hiç biri bir işe yaramıyor.
January 3, 2023
This was the first astrology book i’ve ever read and it did not disappoint. It explained everything in a relatively simple manner and I understand astrology more than I have before although i’ve always been into it. It went into nearly every facet of astrology and even went into numerology, tarot, and palmistry and how it relates to astrology at the end.
June 21, 2025
I loved this book! As someone who has been getting into astrology for a few years now, this book is an excellent reference for me to have. It’s very beginner friendly. I pulled up my chart online and referred to it a lot while reading the chapters about the houses. I love astrology books because there’s so much to learn and you never know when the way someone is presenting the info will click!
March 14, 2021
I found this to be an excellent source for me to begin to understand my natal chart. It more than satisfied my pique to unlock my potential gifts.
October 20, 2019
The first book on astrology I read. Unfortunately there are more readable, informative texts out there. It also irks me that the author tries to mix scientific facts and pseudoscience together. (While I am interested in witchcraft and divination, I am under no illusion that it is supported by science and this should be acknowledged.) An example is the author saying that the moon has an effect on the sea (which is true). Then in the same breath she says that it affects the rate of bleeding and water in our bodies which is not true, but the way she says it implies that it is actual scientific fact.
January 11, 2012
Splendid book with heaps of interesting info
April 1, 2012
This book is an amazing beginner's astrology primer, and even though I've been working with astrology for a while I consult it regularly when I teach astrology classes!
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November 7, 2013$16.95
July 23, 2016
This is an excellent introductory book. It's well-written and easy-to-follow. Those who don't know any astrology will stumble upon its mystery.
December 3, 2008
good intro
December 27, 2010
I read 4th edition '07(different cover). Good book on astrology
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews