What do you think?
Rate this book
Astrology of the Shadow Self: Working with Oppositions in Your Natal Chart
A guide to discovering the shadow wisdom hidden in your birth chart
• Explains how to determine your shadow planets and zodiac signs through the oppositions of your birth chart
• Details the meaning and challenges of each shadow counterpart for every astrological sign and planet that appears in a traditional astrological chart
• Looks at the alchemical nature of the dark side of the human mind and shadow-work methods for bringing the oppositional self into personal awareness
Recently rediscovered by modern psychology, the shadow self was recognized in ancient teachings as an inseparable part of the human being, a vital portion of who we are. The ancient Egyptians regarded working with the shadow as a necessary part of spiritual growth, and shadow work practices are alluded to in the oldest writings.
In this practical guide to shadow astrology, Maja D’Aoust explains how to determine the shadow polarities of your natal chart and explore the hidden wisdom and challenges of the oppositional identity within. She shows how finding your shadow planets is easy—they are the opposite sign of the planets in your birth chart. For example, someone with the sun in Libra will have their shadow sun in Aries. She explains how, just like the traditional planets of astrology, each shadow planet governs a specific area of human Venus shadows speak of tainted love, while Mercury shadows reveal challenges of the mind. Each of these shadow planets presents a specific type of negative challenge that emerges when opposition arises. Providing vivid examples, the author details the meaning of each shadow counterpart for every astrological sign and planet that appears in a traditional astrological chart and explains how to interpret and work with their challenges.
In addition to chart interpretation, the author also explores the history of this astrological method, including its roots in ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and the Western magic tradition. She looks at the alchemical nature and subconscious influences of the dark side of the human mind and the shadow-work methods necessary for bringing the oppositional self into personal awareness.
Revealing how to interpret astrological charts for personal growth and conscious evolution, this guide invites you to explore the darkness within in order to know the totality of your whole self.
• Explains how to determine your shadow planets and zodiac signs through the oppositions of your birth chart
• Details the meaning and challenges of each shadow counterpart for every astrological sign and planet that appears in a traditional astrological chart
• Looks at the alchemical nature of the dark side of the human mind and shadow-work methods for bringing the oppositional self into personal awareness
Recently rediscovered by modern psychology, the shadow self was recognized in ancient teachings as an inseparable part of the human being, a vital portion of who we are. The ancient Egyptians regarded working with the shadow as a necessary part of spiritual growth, and shadow work practices are alluded to in the oldest writings.
In this practical guide to shadow astrology, Maja D’Aoust explains how to determine the shadow polarities of your natal chart and explore the hidden wisdom and challenges of the oppositional identity within. She shows how finding your shadow planets is easy—they are the opposite sign of the planets in your birth chart. For example, someone with the sun in Libra will have their shadow sun in Aries. She explains how, just like the traditional planets of astrology, each shadow planet governs a specific area of human Venus shadows speak of tainted love, while Mercury shadows reveal challenges of the mind. Each of these shadow planets presents a specific type of negative challenge that emerges when opposition arises. Providing vivid examples, the author details the meaning of each shadow counterpart for every astrological sign and planet that appears in a traditional astrological chart and explains how to interpret and work with their challenges.
In addition to chart interpretation, the author also explores the history of this astrological method, including its roots in ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and the Western magic tradition. She looks at the alchemical nature and subconscious influences of the dark side of the human mind and the shadow-work methods necessary for bringing the oppositional self into personal awareness.
Revealing how to interpret astrological charts for personal growth and conscious evolution, this guide invites you to explore the darkness within in order to know the totality of your whole self.
- GenresAstrology
352 pages, Paperback
Published April 9, 2024
9 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 23, 2025
I will admit I DNF’d this book. I REALLY enjoyed the introduction and was highlighting stuff left and right. But when it got to each of the signs, I felt like it was way too intense and extreme. It felt like every placement I read about was being compared to a murderer or some sort of extreme crime. I would’ve appreciated a little more nuance as not every person is going to have desire to do those things. But maybe that was also the point since they were wanting the reader to become more comfortable with the shadow and things society deems bad and wrong.
I also would’ve liked there to be more detail in the placements. Like talking about the range of shadow sides to it instead of immediately just the extreme. For example, when reading about the Taurus Venus shadow aka someone with a Scorpio Venus placement, they were given the archetype of stalker. I agree with this analysis as the guy I’m talking to is a Scorpio Venus and has admitted to stalking my social media. I also can see in general how a Scorpio Venus could have that much devotion and desire to possibly go to that extreme. I didn’t like however how it was automatically the worst aspect of a stalker and how they can do really horrible things to a person. Again I thought the point of the book was to become comfortable with the shadow and integrate it more into your life. So why the automatic “evil”? I would’ve liked there to be more discussion on how to embrace these shadow aspects and execute them in a healthy way instead of just here’s the extreme of what could happen to a person with this aspect so don’t do that thing. I also would’ve assumed that a book about integrating the shadow would have more shadow work prompts? I would’ve liked to have seen prompts at the end of each placement so a person could actually heal and learn to be proud of their shadow instead of being compared to Ted Bundy because they have a Scorpio Venus. All that’s gonna do is make people who are into someone with a Scorpio Venus run away and the person with the placement doubt themselves and fear going in the same direction, especially if they have had desire to stalk someone before or have had intense emotions. Even though it’s an accurate archetype, there was no room for the spectrum of the placement. Only the most extreme version of it with no aftercare or consideration for how to heal. Just here’s a mirror to show all your insecurities. Bye peace out.
In the moon shadow chapter, the author wrote “It is not enough to embody the emotions of your birth moon, you must also feel and accept the emotions of your shadow moon, even though you will not like it one bit. Indeed you will revolt against it. A rash may break out on your skin the first time you permit such emotions to flow through you. But the purpose of such a rash is to clear something that has festered beneath the surface.” It honestly felt like the author was just trying to say the most shocking thing possible for each placement to get that “revulsion” feeling in the reader. Basically saying “if you have this placement, you could end up like this one celebrity who committed suicide.” I read that in multiple placements where it was compared to something so delicate. If you’re going to handle a topic like that, it needs to be done with care, not just shock value. It did make my skin crawl to read this book but not in a way that made me want to grow. It was like damn you really just threw that brick at me with no concern for my mental state. There’s no area to reflect or grow or learn how this shadow side doesn’t have to be so bad. It’s just hey maybe you’re terrible and you should not do that. Okay great. I feel like I really know what to do with this information now. Like not gonna lie, I actually do agree with a lot of the analysis and see where the author was coming from in assigning these archetypes to the signs. But there was just no care or delicacy involved with such sensitive topics. If you’re gonna write about murder, suicide, violence, and rage, you need to do so in a way that will actually help people see it and not just shudder and turn away. These are heavy topics. So I see what the author was trying to do but it was just not it for me.
I also would’ve liked there to be more detail in the placements. Like talking about the range of shadow sides to it instead of immediately just the extreme. For example, when reading about the Taurus Venus shadow aka someone with a Scorpio Venus placement, they were given the archetype of stalker. I agree with this analysis as the guy I’m talking to is a Scorpio Venus and has admitted to stalking my social media. I also can see in general how a Scorpio Venus could have that much devotion and desire to possibly go to that extreme. I didn’t like however how it was automatically the worst aspect of a stalker and how they can do really horrible things to a person. Again I thought the point of the book was to become comfortable with the shadow and integrate it more into your life. So why the automatic “evil”? I would’ve liked there to be more discussion on how to embrace these shadow aspects and execute them in a healthy way instead of just here’s the extreme of what could happen to a person with this aspect so don’t do that thing. I also would’ve assumed that a book about integrating the shadow would have more shadow work prompts? I would’ve liked to have seen prompts at the end of each placement so a person could actually heal and learn to be proud of their shadow instead of being compared to Ted Bundy because they have a Scorpio Venus. All that’s gonna do is make people who are into someone with a Scorpio Venus run away and the person with the placement doubt themselves and fear going in the same direction, especially if they have had desire to stalk someone before or have had intense emotions. Even though it’s an accurate archetype, there was no room for the spectrum of the placement. Only the most extreme version of it with no aftercare or consideration for how to heal. Just here’s a mirror to show all your insecurities. Bye peace out.
In the moon shadow chapter, the author wrote “It is not enough to embody the emotions of your birth moon, you must also feel and accept the emotions of your shadow moon, even though you will not like it one bit. Indeed you will revolt against it. A rash may break out on your skin the first time you permit such emotions to flow through you. But the purpose of such a rash is to clear something that has festered beneath the surface.” It honestly felt like the author was just trying to say the most shocking thing possible for each placement to get that “revulsion” feeling in the reader. Basically saying “if you have this placement, you could end up like this one celebrity who committed suicide.” I read that in multiple placements where it was compared to something so delicate. If you’re going to handle a topic like that, it needs to be done with care, not just shock value. It did make my skin crawl to read this book but not in a way that made me want to grow. It was like damn you really just threw that brick at me with no concern for my mental state. There’s no area to reflect or grow or learn how this shadow side doesn’t have to be so bad. It’s just hey maybe you’re terrible and you should not do that. Okay great. I feel like I really know what to do with this information now. Like not gonna lie, I actually do agree with a lot of the analysis and see where the author was coming from in assigning these archetypes to the signs. But there was just no care or delicacy involved with such sensitive topics. If you’re gonna write about murder, suicide, violence, and rage, you need to do so in a way that will actually help people see it and not just shudder and turn away. These are heavy topics. So I see what the author was trying to do but it was just not it for me.
July 19, 2025
Wasn’t as detailed as I hoped
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews