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Relating * An Astrological Guide To Living With Others On A Small Planet
Relating * An Astrological Guide To Living With Others On A Small Planet
256 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1977
55 people are currently reading
665 people want to read
About the author
Liz Greene
74 books445 followersLiz Greene is held in high esteem by astrologers all over the world, professional and non-professional alike. She is a prolific author of books and various publications and has been instrumental in shaping modern psychological astrology.
She holds doctorate degrees in psychology and (as of 2010) in history and is a qualified Jungian analyst. She also holds a diploma in counselling from the Centre for Transpersonal Psychology in London, and a diploma from the Faculty of Astrological Studies, of which she is a lifetime Patron.
She holds doctorate degrees in psychology and (as of 2010) in history and is a qualified Jungian analyst. She also holds a diploma in counselling from the Centre for Transpersonal Psychology in London, and a diploma from the Faculty of Astrological Studies, of which she is a lifetime Patron.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 11, 2023
so many thoughts and feelings about this book!
Positives: I found so much of it thrilling and beautiful, full of nuance about human nature and wisdom about how we relate to ourselves and therefore to everyone we know and love (or don't love). Deep astrological wisdom that isn't prescriptive, nothing about her interpretations felt limiting or fatalistic. The Jungian bent that continues to return to the relationship with the shadow self and how it is reflected and comes out in different aspects of our chart/our ability to relate in different areas of our lives, all fantastic.
Negatives: There is a strong emphasis on gender in her interpretations that is uncomfortable, but largely feels silly and outdated and can be brushed past (almost 50 years and very queer later). I ended up skimming through some of the ends of chapters where she laid out a hypothetical chart with a person and situation attached to it to demonstrate what astrological principles were discussed in the chapter, those parts just weren't as interesting to me as the more theoretical interpretations.
Overall, found this a very stimulating read, gave me lots of energy, felt excited to be reading it. And I think the conclusion chapter is a beautiful and poetic summation of Greene's view of humans and human nature that made me emotional. I like her writing a lot, and her simultaneous critique and compassion for us silly little guys.
Positives: I found so much of it thrilling and beautiful, full of nuance about human nature and wisdom about how we relate to ourselves and therefore to everyone we know and love (or don't love). Deep astrological wisdom that isn't prescriptive, nothing about her interpretations felt limiting or fatalistic. The Jungian bent that continues to return to the relationship with the shadow self and how it is reflected and comes out in different aspects of our chart/our ability to relate in different areas of our lives, all fantastic.
Negatives: There is a strong emphasis on gender in her interpretations that is uncomfortable, but largely feels silly and outdated and can be brushed past (almost 50 years and very queer later). I ended up skimming through some of the ends of chapters where she laid out a hypothetical chart with a person and situation attached to it to demonstrate what astrological principles were discussed in the chapter, those parts just weren't as interesting to me as the more theoretical interpretations.
Overall, found this a very stimulating read, gave me lots of energy, felt excited to be reading it. And I think the conclusion chapter is a beautiful and poetic summation of Greene's view of humans and human nature that made me emotional. I like her writing a lot, and her simultaneous critique and compassion for us silly little guys.
November 29, 2012
Out of the handful I've read, this is my favorite astrology book. It doesn't really focus on particular signs all that much, but rather elemental groups (wind, water, fire, earth) and moving astral bodies (Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, etc) that effect us. I found the element characteristics really dead on and they provided a fresh light on a perspective of myself and people close to me. As well, she has an excellent way of intertwining Jungian psychology, fairy tales, and mythology. I would expand upon that, but it's been a few years now since I've read it or even been on here!
July 14, 2020
Not for me... this book was a bit too focused on the heteronormative and cis perspective, which is understandable, but its stiffness in portraying men and woman felt off to me. Also, the paragraphs about gay men (with no mention of lesbians or bi woman) were a bit painful to read.
Other information this book has to offer can be readily found elsewhere so there was truly nothing in here for me. I only enjoyed the first and last chapter somewhat :/ and I can't even remember what those had to offer so that speaks for itself.
Other information this book has to offer can be readily found elsewhere so there was truly nothing in here for me. I only enjoyed the first and last chapter somewhat :/ and I can't even remember what those had to offer so that speaks for itself.
August 23, 2023
Liz Greene’s Relating: An Astrological Guide to Living with Others on a Small Planet is quite simply the best astrology book ever. Is this a wild claim? I don't think so. It is certainly the ultimate text on psychological astrology. This is founded on the insights of C.G. Jung, the brilliant Swiss psychologist, into the complex and often mysterious machinations of the human psyche, whether individual or collective. It's well known that Jung, who did much to illuminate our inner selves, was deeply impressed by astrology. (Keeping it quiet among his academic peers, nevertheless!) If, as astrologer Robert Hand stated, the birth chart is a ‘map of the psyche’, then there ought to be an interface for both modern psychology and astrology to illuminate both subjects. This interface is Liz Greene’s Relating.
If you have ever wondered how the unconscious mind works, or even the ancient art and ‘science’ we call astrology, then Relating is the classic work to have. One that should be in the possession of any self-respecting astrologer. It made a powerful impression on me whilst I was an astrology student back in 1981, and the Jungian psychology-astrology hybrid was a theme I developed for my first book Jungian Birth Charts (Aquarian Press, 1988) and, in fact, I couldn’t have written it without Greene’s superb text. I always think of both astrology and depth psychology as basically the same. The Jungian scheme of typology, his theories about the Collective Unconscious and the phenomenon of Synchronicity – and astrology’s planets and signs (indeed the aspects as archetypes) – are like two sides of the same coin. The same phenomena in a different language.
Also, astrology points to the phenomenon of psychological projection, which Greene likened to ‘an image projected onto a screen’, whereupon we ‘look at the image and respond to it, rather than examining the film or transparency … which is the real source of the image.’ She explains that ‘when a person projects some unconscious quality within himself onto another person he reacts to the projection as though it belonged to the other; it does not occur to him to look within his own psyche for the source of it.’ Significantly, she adds, such a person will ‘treat the projection as though it existed outside him’.
This is the real Law of Attraction – we draw on qualities in others that we’re ignorant of in ourselves. There are indeed hidden elements at work in the greater psyche of humans, ready to trip us up, or flood the ego with emotions it can’t handle, or simply bring out the worst in us when we were trying to be good. The message in both astrology and Jung is also the same: know thyself.
Relating's writing style has a nice, elegant semi-academic flourish. As already stated, it is one of the best astrology books you'll purchase, certainly for its profundity and erudition – you’ll come away much wiser about yourself. It’s accessible for those with only limited knowledge, and there’s nothing here to put off the astrological beginner. The plaudits found on the rear cover of the original paperback are wholly justified; one from Horoscope Magazine reads: 'If you only read one astrology book this year … made it. Even if you plan to read only one book of any kind this year, Relating would still be an excellent choice.’ So get yourself a copy!
If you have ever wondered how the unconscious mind works, or even the ancient art and ‘science’ we call astrology, then Relating is the classic work to have. One that should be in the possession of any self-respecting astrologer. It made a powerful impression on me whilst I was an astrology student back in 1981, and the Jungian psychology-astrology hybrid was a theme I developed for my first book Jungian Birth Charts (Aquarian Press, 1988) and, in fact, I couldn’t have written it without Greene’s superb text. I always think of both astrology and depth psychology as basically the same. The Jungian scheme of typology, his theories about the Collective Unconscious and the phenomenon of Synchronicity – and astrology’s planets and signs (indeed the aspects as archetypes) – are like two sides of the same coin. The same phenomena in a different language.
Also, astrology points to the phenomenon of psychological projection, which Greene likened to ‘an image projected onto a screen’, whereupon we ‘look at the image and respond to it, rather than examining the film or transparency … which is the real source of the image.’ She explains that ‘when a person projects some unconscious quality within himself onto another person he reacts to the projection as though it belonged to the other; it does not occur to him to look within his own psyche for the source of it.’ Significantly, she adds, such a person will ‘treat the projection as though it existed outside him’.
This is the real Law of Attraction – we draw on qualities in others that we’re ignorant of in ourselves. There are indeed hidden elements at work in the greater psyche of humans, ready to trip us up, or flood the ego with emotions it can’t handle, or simply bring out the worst in us when we were trying to be good. The message in both astrology and Jung is also the same: know thyself.
Relating's writing style has a nice, elegant semi-academic flourish. As already stated, it is one of the best astrology books you'll purchase, certainly for its profundity and erudition – you’ll come away much wiser about yourself. It’s accessible for those with only limited knowledge, and there’s nothing here to put off the astrological beginner. The plaudits found on the rear cover of the original paperback are wholly justified; one from Horoscope Magazine reads: 'If you only read one astrology book this year … made it. Even if you plan to read only one book of any kind this year, Relating would still be an excellent choice.’ So get yourself a copy!
February 23, 2024
This is a great astrology book. I wish I had read it earlier. I think because I stumbled upon Liz Greene’s four part series on the planets (with Howard Sasportas), I didn’t think to check for her solo bibliography. This - and *The Astrology of Fate*, which I read earlier this year - are both actual books and not transcriptions of lectures, which feels like an organized respite from the transcribed lectures in her books with Sasportas.
This would be a good second or third read for someone wanting to learn astrology. She doesn’t cover the mechanics of astrology in depth here, so I’d recommend an overview first (such as Chani Nicholas’ book). Really good, integrated explanations of the elements, planets, transits, progressions, etc. Her explanations & examples of psychological projection were also helpful; I think that is one astrological concept that ancient or Hellenistic astrologers tend to gloss over.
I found her chapter on the elements particularly helpful. When I started learning astrology, I bought Darby Costello’s (great) books on the elements, but I wish I had started here. Greene explains the four elements using Jungian terms, and some of the language used clicked in a new way for me. She contrasted Air with Water, and Earth with Fire, and explained how those pairings compliment one another.
Throughout the book, Greene reminds us that compatibility in human relationships is very, very hard to put in quantifiable language. Birth charts can never tell us who will end up with whom, or what kind of relationships we will ABSOLUTELY find ourselves in. They show us symbols and archetypal patterns that can be expressed in our lives in a myriad of ways.
This would be a good second or third read for someone wanting to learn astrology. She doesn’t cover the mechanics of astrology in depth here, so I’d recommend an overview first (such as Chani Nicholas’ book). Really good, integrated explanations of the elements, planets, transits, progressions, etc. Her explanations & examples of psychological projection were also helpful; I think that is one astrological concept that ancient or Hellenistic astrologers tend to gloss over.
I found her chapter on the elements particularly helpful. When I started learning astrology, I bought Darby Costello’s (great) books on the elements, but I wish I had started here. Greene explains the four elements using Jungian terms, and some of the language used clicked in a new way for me. She contrasted Air with Water, and Earth with Fire, and explained how those pairings compliment one another.
Throughout the book, Greene reminds us that compatibility in human relationships is very, very hard to put in quantifiable language. Birth charts can never tell us who will end up with whom, or what kind of relationships we will ABSOLUTELY find ourselves in. They show us symbols and archetypal patterns that can be expressed in our lives in a myriad of ways.
January 19, 2020
Si bien no es un libro puramente introductorio, se deja leer muy bien, ya que de cada tema tiene un apartado "psicológico", otro "astrológico" más técnico y finalmente un ejemplo de caso donde explora ambos temas.
Un libro hermoso, agradable y movilizante, aún si sólo se opta por leer los apartados psicológicos de cada uno de los temas por los que atraviesa (generalidades de conformaciones de carta natal personalidades y elementos, vínculos de pareja, vínculos con padre y madre, sexualidad, ciclo vital)
Un libro hermoso, agradable y movilizante, aún si sólo se opta por leer los apartados psicológicos de cada uno de los temas por los que atraviesa (generalidades de conformaciones de carta natal personalidades y elementos, vínculos de pareja, vínculos con padre y madre, sexualidad, ciclo vital)
December 30, 2016
As a whole, I thought it was okay. There were some portions that resonated with me, the topic of projection for example. This is one of those books I wish I could have meandered through at the library instead of buying it. It gave the same impression as an essay.
September 24, 2024
really fascinated by the intertwinement of Jungian/analytical psychology and astrology. what will stick with me most is the explanation of projection in early chapters and the section on the inner partner.
May 15, 2017
A classic. A great introduction to psychologically based astrology.
September 30, 2020
Liked by Mark Lerner
along with her Saturn Book
August 4, 2025
2.5 stars. This book has not aged well. The heteronormativity rankles, as does the pathologizing of homosexuality. Her later work avoids both.
November 2, 2017
Otro libro más donde se entrecruzan temas de mitología con astrología en un lenguaje muy didáctico y comprensible, incluso para quienes no tienen noción de astrología. Greene además entrega multitud de ejemplos y realiza un análisis de tipos junguianos con respecto a cómo se relacionan con otros de muchísimo interés para todos.
September 2, 2021
My new fav book!
This radically changed my view on relationships, love, and religion.
-“we must all, in short, become alchemists, and the work of transmutation is synonymous with learning how to love” (281)
-rels are between x and y and their respective shadows
-children internalize the unlived lives/sides of their parents
-people are hooks for our projection, we evoke/attract in people/situations our own shadow aka we see people as we are
-animus anima within u inner partner sacred marriage that gives rise to life masc+fem (energy not gender)
-bring anima/animus to consciousness instead of projecting it on a partner and forcing them to live it out
-Unconscious collusion
-Saturn return ex you feel bad in urself and it’s easy to project it as being ur partners problem
-alchemists- life seeks to experience itself thru consciousness,
-age of Aquarius new gods???- taurean earth mother pisces Christ/virgoan shadow
-synchronicity like matter attracts like- psyche and material
-serpent represents choice in the garden of eden, not satan/Eve as weak or naive
-“man is also both God and the instrument of redemption of God, Who, to become conscious of Himself, depends upon man’s voluntary choice to grow in consciousness” (229)
-personal hypothesis that Saturn is part of power and strength hidden by shadow ex Aries fixation lol.
-our projections are emanations of our soul and Self, “that house somewhere the daemon of love” 284 even if misguided/delusional. We can allow ourself to experience love in whatever form it comes to us/through us thru others. Beautiful! Projections aren’t wrong we just got own them and make them conscious.
-what u love is ur destiny- Sappho vibes- parents as kid, then partner, then at the end of ur life what you’ve made of your love (jung) 284
-ego as mediator of psychic totality
-shadow Lucifer friend
-Uranus lifts the veil Prometheus the awakened
This radically changed my view on relationships, love, and religion.
-“we must all, in short, become alchemists, and the work of transmutation is synonymous with learning how to love” (281)
-rels are between x and y and their respective shadows
-children internalize the unlived lives/sides of their parents
-people are hooks for our projection, we evoke/attract in people/situations our own shadow aka we see people as we are
-animus anima within u inner partner sacred marriage that gives rise to life masc+fem (energy not gender)
-bring anima/animus to consciousness instead of projecting it on a partner and forcing them to live it out
-Unconscious collusion
-Saturn return ex you feel bad in urself and it’s easy to project it as being ur partners problem
-alchemists- life seeks to experience itself thru consciousness,
-age of Aquarius new gods???- taurean earth mother pisces Christ/virgoan shadow
-synchronicity like matter attracts like- psyche and material
-serpent represents choice in the garden of eden, not satan/Eve as weak or naive
-“man is also both God and the instrument of redemption of God, Who, to become conscious of Himself, depends upon man’s voluntary choice to grow in consciousness” (229)
-personal hypothesis that Saturn is part of power and strength hidden by shadow ex Aries fixation lol.
-our projections are emanations of our soul and Self, “that house somewhere the daemon of love” 284 even if misguided/delusional. We can allow ourself to experience love in whatever form it comes to us/through us thru others. Beautiful! Projections aren’t wrong we just got own them and make them conscious.
-what u love is ur destiny- Sappho vibes- parents as kid, then partner, then at the end of ur life what you’ve made of your love (jung) 284
-ego as mediator of psychic totality
-shadow Lucifer friend
-Uranus lifts the veil Prometheus the awakened
February 20, 2024
Personally, I'm not a fan of this book. I can appreciate the deep thought that went into the archetypes, and how Astrology presents itself through the eyes of the writer - but I just couldn't get into it. I got a good way through to give it some time to unfold, it just never happened. As a queer woman, I found there to be a lot of heteronormative text with outdated gender roles. I understand the book was written years ago and in a different time, but it just put a bad taste in my mouth.
November 13, 2011
A very different approach to astrological integration. Signs are dealt with by contrast to their opposing polarities; so Earth & Fire are discussed together, as are Air & Water. Not the book to read if you are looking for a basic breakdown of the signs, or even more direct interpretations of placements, but this offers a far richer experience (of course, it's by Liz Greene!) This book is a psychologically deep and resonant exploration of how archetypes function in personal relationships, and how to improve the relationship with the hidden sides of one's own psyche.
October 16, 2022
Consigliato da un caro amico astrologo. Non aspettatevi il solito libro da due lire acchiappa gentechevuolesapereloroscopo. La Greene é un’astrologa di un certo spessore, non è Paolo Fox. Credo che questo libro possa essere letto da quelle persone che senza pregiudizi vogliono saperne di più su uno di quei temi che affascina molti: l’astrologia affrontata da un punto di vista psicologico. Se decidete di imbarcarvi in questo viaggio fantastico, consiglio di informarvi prima sul vostro tema natale e averlo sotto mano, per un’esperienza più completa
December 10, 2011
This is an excellent book. Goes far beyond Astrology into Psychology, Jungian concepts, Philosophy. It's definitely not for people only beginning their astrology readings, but will be a valuable book for medium/advanced students. Fantastic insight into relationships, unconscious patterns, types. It also gives a very general vision over Astrology, explaining some concepts very clearly, for instance the Eras (Pisces, Aquarius etc.)
September 9, 2016
This book of mine is so falling apart. Greene's insights are so nonchalant that they strike you like lightning out of the reading lull. I've literally jumped straight up out of my bed and laughed. She is so right, so many times.
April 10, 2009
Just skimming through a few sections
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews