The Rules of Chart Interpretation

by Rod Suskin

Students of astrology are often stymied by the daunting task of interpretation. It appears as if lots of experience and intuition are required, let alone the need for special counseling skills.Rod Suskin has produced a guide for students that removes the mystery and confusion. Based on the work of Bonatti, Morin, Lilly and Zoller, the 43 rules offer a method that distils the essence of chart interpretation. With no need for cookbooks and based firmly in the traditional principles of astrology, the rules will steer the student through a process of discerning, understanding and selecting the appropriate meanings of the planets for clear and accurate interpretation.

Genres: Astrology

78 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2011

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his preface, the author says that this is the textbook he has his students use. I wish all the textbooks I've ever had to use had been this succinct. Drawing mainly from Lilly, Morin, Bonatti, and Zoller, Suskin has boiled their methods down to 43 rules, explaining them in the space of 68 pages. He also provides a basic interpretation of Marilyn Monroe's chart to help students develop a method of delineation and interpretation. Suskin assumes the reader is already familiar with the basics of traditional astrology, not only the meanings of signs, planets, houses, and aspects, but also the essential and accidental dignities. Although there are tables in the appendices, he doesn't explain their use, and because of this, this book would not be suitable for an absolute beginner. But for a more experienced student who wants to make the leap from knowing all the chart factors to being able to pull them together into a coherent interpretation, I believe this guide will be valuable.

[Jennifer Zahrt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another indispensable tool for the budding astrologer. It's nearly a crime not to have this book on your reference shelf.

[Paris · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author presents his book as a “bible” or manual for continued consultation but, strangely, it's too short and concise. Therefore, it's a powerful work guide that require a lot of previous knowledge: it's not a conventional book, but rather only contains the useful rules and a scoring system for essential and accidental dignities. The Rules are based on traditional astrology (medieval, renaissance) but not on ancient astrology (hellenistic). If you are interested on traditional astrology and you are looking for a working method: this book can greatly help you.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I should ever have to clear my shelves of all but one astrology book, this would be the one I'd grab. The language is clear and the information really comprehensible and accessible. Vast knowledge of the subject is obviously required to have produced this excellent work.