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The Book of the Moon: Discovering Astrology's Lost Dimension
Humans have been meditating on the Moon since the beginning of our time on earth. As long as there has been anything we could call astrology, it has been central to all theories of celestial influence. But why do astrologers pay so little attention to its phases? In these pages, Steven Forrest, bestselling author of The Inner Sky, shows how we have been blinded to the lunar phases by a set of cultural attitudes now drifting into extinction. He demonstrates that our Celtic ancestors held the key to understanding lunar phase and he skillfully, clearly, and eloquently turns the key in that lock for us.Along the way, he also presents the latest research on the powerful but little used the Out of Bounds Moon, lunar speed, and lunar parallax. You’ll also find rare descriptions of the progressed lunation cycle, planetary phase angles and nodal phase. Discover the soul of the moon in this lucid explanation of the Moon’s place in modern humanistic astrological counseling.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2010
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379 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 30, 2011
I have learned a great deal from Steven Forrest's books. I love the way that he brings alive the fixed and effective concepts and techniques of traditional astrology with a poetic vision that bursts forth in images that stay in the reader's mind and enrich our understanding of the signs, houses, transits, etc. His book about the Moon's nodes in the context of evolutionary astrology, Yesterday's Sky, was a masterpiece.
But this book is dissapointing, though there were flashes of Forrest's brilliance scattered through it that still makes it worthy of being read. The central flaw here is that Forrest seems to have fallen in love with a theory--a way of interpreting the the 8 phases of the moon based on the analogous Celtic way of breaking the seasons down into 8 points--and jimmied it into classic astrology, a role it isn't up to, and which with it's 8-fold divisions does not mesh well with traditional astrology and chart interpretation.
I applied his scheme, in particular the use of progressed moon phases, to several charts I know very well (of older people who have gone through several progressed moon phase cycles), and simply did not see the techniques described in this book describing the way those lives unfolded or, for that matter, making the charts more meaningful. This was in great contrast to several of his earlier books which had deeply enriched my understanding of those charts.
Forrest argues that the moon is about the inner life--desires, mood, impulses etc,, only to illustrate his description of each phases with external events from the lives of celebrities--people whose inner development is unknown to us. The fact that some rock star put out an album when the progressed phase of the moon was such and such, isn't enough to justify the interpretations Forrest has invented for that phase. We don't know anything what the inner journey of these celebrities are about, and even Forrest isn't suggesting that these phases are useful for predictive work.
In short, nothing Forrest presents here validates what is, when all is said and done, a scheme whose interpretation Forrest himself invented from whole cloth. This is very different from bringing alive the underlying schema of classical astrology that have held up for centuries.
Forrest mentions that other authors' moon phase theories had not worked for him, which when his did not work for me, made me wonder if philosophizing about moon phases is a pitfall for those who are drawn to philosophizing and become tempted to impose structure on an elusive phenomenon.
There is some good stuff in this book. Forrest is eloquent about looking at the sky and getting a feel for the planets from their actual interactions, not just what sortware comes up with. And I came away with an awareness of phases and the role they might play in how planets relate which will stick with me and make me more sensitive to the differences between waxing and waning aspects (i.e. the square between a faster planet approaching a slower one and the square of the same planet leaving the other being different in quality.)
But I came away feeling that imposing the 8-fold phase system that takes up most of this book on charts is probably not a productive use of our astrological time given how much is already there on a chart which performs the same function as the new 8-fold cycles that Forrest imposes on traditional astrology.
Better to think of this book as philosophy, and decouple it from traditional astrology and the reading of charts. This is Forrest philosophizing about the stages of the cycle from emanation to dissolution, from birth to death, a worthy subject, but not really the chart analysis topic he presents it as here.
That said, because Forrest is such an intelligent writer and someone who has thought deeply about life, this book is still worth reading. But if you are looking for astrological techniques that will bring your charts to life and give you more insight that will help you counsel people in how to work through life issues, Forrest's earlier book, Yesterday's Sky, is a much better book.
But this book is dissapointing, though there were flashes of Forrest's brilliance scattered through it that still makes it worthy of being read. The central flaw here is that Forrest seems to have fallen in love with a theory--a way of interpreting the the 8 phases of the moon based on the analogous Celtic way of breaking the seasons down into 8 points--and jimmied it into classic astrology, a role it isn't up to, and which with it's 8-fold divisions does not mesh well with traditional astrology and chart interpretation.
I applied his scheme, in particular the use of progressed moon phases, to several charts I know very well (of older people who have gone through several progressed moon phase cycles), and simply did not see the techniques described in this book describing the way those lives unfolded or, for that matter, making the charts more meaningful. This was in great contrast to several of his earlier books which had deeply enriched my understanding of those charts.
Forrest argues that the moon is about the inner life--desires, mood, impulses etc,, only to illustrate his description of each phases with external events from the lives of celebrities--people whose inner development is unknown to us. The fact that some rock star put out an album when the progressed phase of the moon was such and such, isn't enough to justify the interpretations Forrest has invented for that phase. We don't know anything what the inner journey of these celebrities are about, and even Forrest isn't suggesting that these phases are useful for predictive work.
In short, nothing Forrest presents here validates what is, when all is said and done, a scheme whose interpretation Forrest himself invented from whole cloth. This is very different from bringing alive the underlying schema of classical astrology that have held up for centuries.
Forrest mentions that other authors' moon phase theories had not worked for him, which when his did not work for me, made me wonder if philosophizing about moon phases is a pitfall for those who are drawn to philosophizing and become tempted to impose structure on an elusive phenomenon.
There is some good stuff in this book. Forrest is eloquent about looking at the sky and getting a feel for the planets from their actual interactions, not just what sortware comes up with. And I came away with an awareness of phases and the role they might play in how planets relate which will stick with me and make me more sensitive to the differences between waxing and waning aspects (i.e. the square between a faster planet approaching a slower one and the square of the same planet leaving the other being different in quality.)
But I came away feeling that imposing the 8-fold phase system that takes up most of this book on charts is probably not a productive use of our astrological time given how much is already there on a chart which performs the same function as the new 8-fold cycles that Forrest imposes on traditional astrology.
Better to think of this book as philosophy, and decouple it from traditional astrology and the reading of charts. This is Forrest philosophizing about the stages of the cycle from emanation to dissolution, from birth to death, a worthy subject, but not really the chart analysis topic he presents it as here.
That said, because Forrest is such an intelligent writer and someone who has thought deeply about life, this book is still worth reading. But if you are looking for astrological techniques that will bring your charts to life and give you more insight that will help you counsel people in how to work through life issues, Forrest's earlier book, Yesterday's Sky, is a much better book.
December 24, 2020
I def will have this book sitting in my common reference section with what I’m sure will be well-read, thumbed through pages, especially for the last half of the book. I admit that I got lost during the technical, scientific parts of the first sections but I stuck with it. One day, maybe the lightbulb will kick on in my brain. Steven Forrest’s insight into the moon phases offers an astrology reader in any stage of learning an edge to understanding charts and really the person of that chart. Even if one isn’t an astrologer, understanding the eight phases of the moon feels like a walking stick to help us through life when we need a little more sturdiness to get around this experience we call life.
July 12, 2017
This book really is for those with more than a basic understanding of Astrology. It's densely rich with information and the "math" of the universe. The intent of the author, which he clearly keeps repeating throughout the book, is to give what he presumes to be a knowledgeable practitioner reading the book more information on lunar influences to integrate into either birth chart readings or counseling sessions. Combining moon phases with the Wiccan wheel of holy days, his message is less of a standard "here's why you act this way" and more as he calls it evolutionary astrology "Here's why you act this way and this is the direction you should be working toward with all that". Well worth the read if this is your calling, make sure to have your ephemeris on hand and a calculator to help as you go.
April 20, 2025
This book has truly opened my eyes to a new way of appreciating the moon and its role in our lives. I absolutely loved how it explained what each moon sign means, with both strengths and shadows, as well as the significance of the houses. The explanation of the moon phases is so insightful with how they influence our experiences. One of the most important pieces that I gained from this book was the information about the moon’s void of course role. I played with the dates of this and found that his knowledge resonated perfectly with my own experiences. Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough! I loved it! It’s an amazing resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the moon’s influence in each of our lives.
December 3, 2023
Steven Forrest never disappoints! This book is an excellent jumping-off point for intermediate astrologers aiming to start their journey into lunar astrology. Forrest brilliantly covers a spectrum of topics, including the meaning of the moon in signs and houses, and his 'theory of 8' for lunar phases. He touches on every facet you could think of in lunar astrology, from progressed lunar returns to progressed squares. His eloquent style makes complex concepts approachable, while his extensive references and suggested readings invite readers to dive even deeper into lunar studies. Well done, Steven 👏
May 29, 2021
This book resonated with me moreso than any of his other titles. I think this is because I have a great affinity with the moon, being a Cancer moon myself. I did know of, and have worked with the phases, but this book gives extra depth to them. It makes perfect sense that the eight phases are aligned with the Pagan holidays. If you read it I just know you will learn something new, even if you are a seasoned astrologer.
June 28, 2017
Deep, clear, comforting and sharp. Steve writes like he speaks, warm, supportive and with a scientist clarity and a storyteller's soul. This book opened up an understanding of my own emotional life and for that I am deeply grateful.
April 18, 2025
i cannot recommend this unless you’re a truly insane astrology freak. thankfully, i am
August 24, 2018
I'm not an astrologer but something I read Steven say about the Out of Bounds Moon (I have one!) got my attention and I started this book, tenatively, wondering if I would understand a word of it. Better than that, I haven't been able to put it down and have plunged very deeply into getting to know my own Moon Phase (though I find I already had more than an inkling which one I was born under...) along with that of pretty much everyone I've ever had significant interactions with. In fact, I've become a compulsive moon-geek on the back of this book because its "truths" sing out loud and clear, in ways that have helped me make new and coherent sense of, well, pretty much everything past or present in my life. I would be so thrilled to see so many more innately curious and contemplative people pick up this book and see how it "lands" for them; I already have two people reading it on my recommendation and some very interesting conversations have ensued. The great perfection is that the book has helped me to better-understand the relationship I have with both of those individuals and theirs with me.
In fact, I find I can talk about this material all day long; perhaps beginners enthusiasm, or perhaps because Steven has hit upon one of those deep reservoirs of truth that have been right under our noses, yet largely unseen, all along. I started playing the game that Steven himself played, where I would guess the Moon Phase of people I know based on their traits and then check to see if I was right; and I almost always was, with startling precision! Watching the cascade of close correlations between personality traits and Steven's theories has been astonishing, consistent and perspective altering. I now feel I can navigate my own birth choice...because I do believe that where and when we were born was a choice made for evolutionary purposes (not to mention some of the astrological minutae inherent in that) with ease and a certain amount of mastery and understanding. By spot-lighting the moon's influence, I have got to know something of the "why" behind my life circumstances and most-particular (and persistent) personality traits; not to mention a stock-pile of hidden or under-appreciated gifts that lie waiting for me to make better use of; as we tend to do once we, finally, take ownership of ourselves "just the way we are".
Much of what I have read has been deeply validating of preferences and feelings I have tended to have about how I want my life to be...both now and in the future; allowing me to breathe some confidence into the sails of the ship that is steadily getting me there. My deepest new understanding of key relationships that have played a part in my life has been, perhaps, the biggest gift of all; making so much sense, shedding so much light, allowing so much comsic give-and-take to heal old dynamics. This is evolutionary astrology at its very best and most powerful...offered as a set of tools that we get to use as part of consciously choosing, then navigating, an evolutionary trajectory. Through approaches such as this, we get to use an understanding of our own astrological choices as a super-power rather than a determinist system founded on a belief in "fait accompli", which is such a game-changer. (less)
_____
Footnote on finishing the book - this book is "up there" as one of the most significant non-fiction reads of my life for the way it altered my perception of my many quirks as an OOB moon (a phrase that held next to no meaning for me before finding Steven Forrest's work on the topic) and the way it opened a doorway of exploration of moon traits in myself and others I know well. Like Steven, I began to run charts of people with whom I had had ineractions (of all kinds...) across all of my life and then second-guessing their moon phase before I checked it out. In 99% of the cases, I was nail on the head! I have reconciled so-very much about myself and the deeper purpose of relationships and circumstancial collaborations with "others" through this; and in a way that has made me feel so much more at home in my life!
In fact, I find I can talk about this material all day long; perhaps beginners enthusiasm, or perhaps because Steven has hit upon one of those deep reservoirs of truth that have been right under our noses, yet largely unseen, all along. I started playing the game that Steven himself played, where I would guess the Moon Phase of people I know based on their traits and then check to see if I was right; and I almost always was, with startling precision! Watching the cascade of close correlations between personality traits and Steven's theories has been astonishing, consistent and perspective altering. I now feel I can navigate my own birth choice...because I do believe that where and when we were born was a choice made for evolutionary purposes (not to mention some of the astrological minutae inherent in that) with ease and a certain amount of mastery and understanding. By spot-lighting the moon's influence, I have got to know something of the "why" behind my life circumstances and most-particular (and persistent) personality traits; not to mention a stock-pile of hidden or under-appreciated gifts that lie waiting for me to make better use of; as we tend to do once we, finally, take ownership of ourselves "just the way we are".
Much of what I have read has been deeply validating of preferences and feelings I have tended to have about how I want my life to be...both now and in the future; allowing me to breathe some confidence into the sails of the ship that is steadily getting me there. My deepest new understanding of key relationships that have played a part in my life has been, perhaps, the biggest gift of all; making so much sense, shedding so much light, allowing so much comsic give-and-take to heal old dynamics. This is evolutionary astrology at its very best and most powerful...offered as a set of tools that we get to use as part of consciously choosing, then navigating, an evolutionary trajectory. Through approaches such as this, we get to use an understanding of our own astrological choices as a super-power rather than a determinist system founded on a belief in "fait accompli", which is such a game-changer. (less)
_____
Footnote on finishing the book - this book is "up there" as one of the most significant non-fiction reads of my life for the way it altered my perception of my many quirks as an OOB moon (a phrase that held next to no meaning for me before finding Steven Forrest's work on the topic) and the way it opened a doorway of exploration of moon traits in myself and others I know well. Like Steven, I began to run charts of people with whom I had had ineractions (of all kinds...) across all of my life and then second-guessing their moon phase before I checked it out. In 99% of the cases, I was nail on the head! I have reconciled so-very much about myself and the deeper purpose of relationships and circumstancial collaborations with "others" through this; and in a way that has made me feel so much more at home in my life!
February 4, 2017
Bu isimdeki bir kitabı biraz büyük umutlarla okudum sanıyorum, o yüzden biraz hayal kırıklığı yaşadım. Astroloji kitabı olarak zayıf kalmış, genel kültür kitabı olarak okuyacaksanız da konuyu çok dağıtmış, bazı konuları çok gereksiz uzatmış ve gereksiz tekrarlamış.
Kitabın güzel bir girişi var, ay ile ilgili önemli fenomenler açıklanıyor, "sınırlarının dışındaki ay", "ayın hızlı/yavaş hareketi", "ayın boşlukta olması" gibi. Ama kitabın devamında ay fazları uzatılıyor da uzatılıyor. Ay fazlarından önce değişik bir anoloji yakalamak için Keltik bayramlardan bahsediliyor. (Niye ay fazlarını 8e bölüyoruz da başka bir rakama bölmüyoruz sorusuna cevap ararken).
Keltik bayramlara gelinceye kadar Ay ve astroloji ile ilgili bu kadar iddialı bir kitapta mesela Thoth'a hiç değinilmemesi bir eksiklik gibi geldi bana. Yazarın astroloji tarihinde verdiği en eski referans Dane Rudhyar.
Kitabın son kısmında Güneş-Ay ve fazları ilişkisi diğer gezegenlere de yayılmış. Mars-Venüs, Jüpiter-Satürn, Uranüs-Neptün arasında da ay fazlarında kullanılan teknik yayılmış, yavaş giden Güneş hızlı olan ay yerine konuluyor. Son olarak Güney Ay Düğümü ve Ay arasında faz ilişkisi tanımlanıp karmik geçmiş çözümlemelerinden bahsedilmiş. Bu kısım da bana biraz fazla zorlama geldi. Doğrusu bu kitabı okurken en sıkıldığım astroloji kitabı olarak rafa yerleştirip tekrar açmayı düşünmüyorum.
Kitabın güzel bir girişi var, ay ile ilgili önemli fenomenler açıklanıyor, "sınırlarının dışındaki ay", "ayın hızlı/yavaş hareketi", "ayın boşlukta olması" gibi. Ama kitabın devamında ay fazları uzatılıyor da uzatılıyor. Ay fazlarından önce değişik bir anoloji yakalamak için Keltik bayramlardan bahsediliyor. (Niye ay fazlarını 8e bölüyoruz da başka bir rakama bölmüyoruz sorusuna cevap ararken).
Keltik bayramlara gelinceye kadar Ay ve astroloji ile ilgili bu kadar iddialı bir kitapta mesela Thoth'a hiç değinilmemesi bir eksiklik gibi geldi bana. Yazarın astroloji tarihinde verdiği en eski referans Dane Rudhyar.
Kitabın son kısmında Güneş-Ay ve fazları ilişkisi diğer gezegenlere de yayılmış. Mars-Venüs, Jüpiter-Satürn, Uranüs-Neptün arasında da ay fazlarında kullanılan teknik yayılmış, yavaş giden Güneş hızlı olan ay yerine konuluyor. Son olarak Güney Ay Düğümü ve Ay arasında faz ilişkisi tanımlanıp karmik geçmiş çözümlemelerinden bahsedilmiş. Bu kısım da bana biraz fazla zorlama geldi. Doğrusu bu kitabı okurken en sıkıldığım astroloji kitabı olarak rafa yerleştirip tekrar açmayı düşünmüyorum.
February 11, 2015
Steven Forrest reveals the missing piece of the astrological puzzle. This new information about the moon is not found in the average astrology book. His information about the phases of the moon completed my understanding of my soul's journey as a "new moon" type. Now everything makes sense. Get this book if you want to see the whole picture! Forrest's writing is always insightful and fun.
February 7, 2011
Remarkable groundbreaking work. Riveting!
November 23, 2012
Very interesting and insightful analysis of how and why the phases of the Moon affect our lives.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews