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The Astrology of Personality: A Re-Formulation of Astrological Concepts and Ideals, in Terms of Contemporary Psychology and Philosophy
Integrates modern concepts of psychology with elements of both Western and Oriental philosophies. This book presents Astrology as a symbolic language by reformulating its basic concepts and focusing on viewing the chart as a whole.
429 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1936
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587 people want to read
About the author
Dane Rudhyar
167 books83 followersFrench-American astrologer, one of the most noted and respected astrologers of the 20th century.
He was called a modern renaissance man for his ability to express himself in many fields; music, painting, poetry, philosophy and metaphysics.
He wrote for national magazines since the '30s and was the author of many books.
He was called a modern renaissance man for his ability to express himself in many fields; music, painting, poetry, philosophy and metaphysics.
He wrote for national magazines since the '30s and was the author of many books.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 15, 2012
Since I have a background in Jungian psychology and have read various philosophies I found this book a little uninspiring. For someone without a knowledge of sociology, comparative mythology/religion it is probably good. I find Rudhyar difficult to read. He doesn't flow for me.
September 30, 2020
Marc Lerner recommends these Dane Rudhyar books:
1 Astrological Signs
2 The Astrology of Personality
3 The Astrological Houses
4 The Lunation Cycle
5 Astrological Mandalas
6 An Astrological Study of Psychological Complexes (Advanced)
7 Triptych (Advanced)
January 30, 2025
We live in a time where only a few people are considered artists. Being creative and an artist has a lot of connotations and self-expression is hindered in so many ways. And it is a constant issue to think about how does one make money out of art, which makes it such a competitive realm. What I love about this book is it suggests that through the astrology chart anyone can be an artist in their life. And the work of art is an expression of personality.
In the spirit of artistry Rudhyar quotes Goethe- “colors are the sufferings and the joys of the light” (p.319) He includes this quote to refer to the planets as sufferings and joys of the activity in the astrology chart. Everyone has all the planets but in different configurations.
The Astrology Chart is a palette to paint and compose in time the art of a creative personality. This process is both artistic and transformative. This is where alchemy comes in as the function of creating the personality, and everyone has a palette.
Rudhyar writes “ The goal of astrology is the alchemy of personality. It is to transform chaos into cosmos, collective human nature into individual and creative personality” (p. xiv)
And in our modern world there is so much chaos- the astrology chart can be such an important raft of structural understanding that can digest and filter all that is happening. The task is to see the chaos as alchemical material to digest and transform.
The freedom of the artist is the ability to make DECISIONS about and discernment of the painting from the palette. The discernment of decision making can be guided, but in the end the artist has the freedom to make the decisions. This is an individual and human right. We are given the cards, but we get to choose which ones to play. When we act in accordance to our chart we are fundamentally creative.
This creative decision making process is natural. My piano teacher in undergrad always told me that my job was to release the sound, rather than to force it. Part of what we can do in creating through the chart is releasing the music of our chart. The decision is conscious and intuitive.
I really appreciate Rudhyar’s discussion on progressions as a mechanism to help this transformation. Rudhyar writes “Progressed planets indicate how the types of activity which they represent cooperate in the general solar process of fulfillment” (p. 357). This an operative technique of how we paint our work in tune with the cosmic unfolding, how to bring the instruments in creative harmony with the current moment.
This is such an important factor for a reconciliation between individual and collective, and how the individual can be free in a way that is also freeing for the collective in fulfillment. Even just searching for a way to be oneself and to make a living can be a creative process as a negotiation between individual and collective.
This is important as there could be overemphasis of a certain part of the chart, but one can then adapt and reconcile this through the unfolding with progressions as a guide. The reconciliation between individual and collective is creative as “ in the true ‘creative act’ individual and collective join hands”(p. 405)
Every single component of the chart can give meaning. Planets, signs, houses, degrees, aspects. The point is to bring them all together in wholeness, as an artist does with all the colors and conductor does with the orchestra. This brings life to the alchemy of living. The astrologer can “read” this as a reader then strings words together and can imagine the meaning of a story.
This is such an imaginal, creative, freeing way of metaphorically painting one’s expression through everyday life. So embrace these energies that are abundant. Wholeness is for each of us to find in our own way. Harmonize the aspects within- that is our responsibility for our work of art. The structure of the musical score leads to the function of the music in time. We can integrate ourselves so we can continually birth ourselves in time in creative personality.
When we fulfill ourselves we fulfill the whole. Everyone has a color palette and can be an artist through the astrology of personality. “Living civilization is the creative principle operative through the human race as a whole” (p. 419).
This is the freedom of collective and individual fulfillment, allowing us all to be true to ourselves. Through the astrology of personality, everyone is free to be an artist to resonate with the orchestra of the whole.
In the spirit of artistry Rudhyar quotes Goethe- “colors are the sufferings and the joys of the light” (p.319) He includes this quote to refer to the planets as sufferings and joys of the activity in the astrology chart. Everyone has all the planets but in different configurations.
The Astrology Chart is a palette to paint and compose in time the art of a creative personality. This process is both artistic and transformative. This is where alchemy comes in as the function of creating the personality, and everyone has a palette.
Rudhyar writes “ The goal of astrology is the alchemy of personality. It is to transform chaos into cosmos, collective human nature into individual and creative personality” (p. xiv)
And in our modern world there is so much chaos- the astrology chart can be such an important raft of structural understanding that can digest and filter all that is happening. The task is to see the chaos as alchemical material to digest and transform.
The freedom of the artist is the ability to make DECISIONS about and discernment of the painting from the palette. The discernment of decision making can be guided, but in the end the artist has the freedom to make the decisions. This is an individual and human right. We are given the cards, but we get to choose which ones to play. When we act in accordance to our chart we are fundamentally creative.
This creative decision making process is natural. My piano teacher in undergrad always told me that my job was to release the sound, rather than to force it. Part of what we can do in creating through the chart is releasing the music of our chart. The decision is conscious and intuitive.
I really appreciate Rudhyar’s discussion on progressions as a mechanism to help this transformation. Rudhyar writes “Progressed planets indicate how the types of activity which they represent cooperate in the general solar process of fulfillment” (p. 357). This an operative technique of how we paint our work in tune with the cosmic unfolding, how to bring the instruments in creative harmony with the current moment.
This is such an important factor for a reconciliation between individual and collective, and how the individual can be free in a way that is also freeing for the collective in fulfillment. Even just searching for a way to be oneself and to make a living can be a creative process as a negotiation between individual and collective.
This is important as there could be overemphasis of a certain part of the chart, but one can then adapt and reconcile this through the unfolding with progressions as a guide. The reconciliation between individual and collective is creative as “ in the true ‘creative act’ individual and collective join hands”(p. 405)
Every single component of the chart can give meaning. Planets, signs, houses, degrees, aspects. The point is to bring them all together in wholeness, as an artist does with all the colors and conductor does with the orchestra. This brings life to the alchemy of living. The astrologer can “read” this as a reader then strings words together and can imagine the meaning of a story.
This is such an imaginal, creative, freeing way of metaphorically painting one’s expression through everyday life. So embrace these energies that are abundant. Wholeness is for each of us to find in our own way. Harmonize the aspects within- that is our responsibility for our work of art. The structure of the musical score leads to the function of the music in time. We can integrate ourselves so we can continually birth ourselves in time in creative personality.
When we fulfill ourselves we fulfill the whole. Everyone has a color palette and can be an artist through the astrology of personality. “Living civilization is the creative principle operative through the human race as a whole” (p. 419).
This is the freedom of collective and individual fulfillment, allowing us all to be true to ourselves. Through the astrology of personality, everyone is free to be an artist to resonate with the orchestra of the whole.
December 28, 2008
still working my way through, this meaty book has an incredible amount of information on every page. 2-3 pages a day is enough to keep you thinking about things. I especially like his explanations of nodes and the poetic sabian symbols.
November 7, 2024
Not an easy read as Rudhyar is deep. Lots of gems in this read.
April 10, 2010
picked this one up again to brush up
January 7, 2011
You can't fail with Rudhyar, all worth reading and re-reading
Read
November 10, 2016its a nice and thoughtful book of which you can learn a lot if youre up for it
Read
August 29, 2018Genius!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews