Queer Cosmos: The Astrology of Queer Identities & Relationships

by Colin Bedell

Queer Cosmos is a contemporary, fresh look into astrology, personal insight, and relationships for the LGBTQ+ community! Astrologer Colin Bedell from Cosmopolitan and QueerCosmos.com has brought together 15 years of research, client interviews, and astrological mastery to create a spiritual guide for not only resistance and resilience, but also personal insights and relationship compatibility.

Unpacking complex issues like shame and worthiness, Queer Cosmos explores astrology as an antidote to feelings of hopelessness and provides language for authentic practices of self-expression. Leaving behind gender-normative pronouns and assumptions, Queer Cosmos explores more nuanced patterns of the archetypal energies expressed in queer experiences.

After all, the only way to forge deep, meaningful relationships is to first forge a relationship with yourself. Drawing on research from experts in the field like Dr. Harville Hendrix, Brene Brown, and Esther Perel, Bedell goes deep to provide practical relational theory that can empower listeners to find successful and healthy relationships.

Genres: Astrology, Queer, Spirituality, Nonfiction, LGBT, Esoterica, Occult

358 pages, Paperback

Published November 12, 2019

Reviews

[Billy ⋆｡･☽･⋆* (semi-hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars - meh...
A disappointing read. Possibly 30-40% of the book is gender-neutral, and the other part still brings the binary to the "queer table". It became a disappointing read bc it says right on the title "QUEER" and it brought pretty much nothing new, except more exclusiveness in any astrological book I've read. But I was "promised" a queer cosmos and that did not happened to 100% (only a 40% "queerness" - which is to say: that is a huge step in the field of "common binary astrology"...

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colin has a knack for grounding his work in academic research wherever possible. I'd prefer it to be more queer than gender-neutral, but both intro and outro brought forth some interesting perspectives.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

We’re reviewing this book on my podcast, Wildly Tarot, and we just finished recording a HOUR of gushing about how invaluable and lovely this resource is! Seriously, but it, love it, live it.

[Elliot Techie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little heavy to read sometimes but very inclusive and great to read once you get stuck into it. It’s also very good for reference. I think the interviews at the back were my favourite bit.

[Mx Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading the section about Libras, my first thought was when did I meet Colin? Bedell says that Libras are all about peace - I say this all the time!!!! I even have it tattooed on my arm.

I love this part about me: “...deeply focused on making sure everyone feels seen and invited to have a seat at the table...inclusion, connection, and conversation…(and here is the kicker folks pay attention) you would have no idea they’re concealing an inner anxiety that urges them to focus on justice” (p. 76). Holy sugar, this is me!!!!

I could go on quoting the chapter on me, I mean Libras, but why? (laugh) If you want to know anything about me - read this book. It is so crazy how spot on Bedell is.

For me, the love section would be more fun if I had any prospects on the horizon. It would be cool if there was a party and you could see who would blend better together. Or go to a speed dating event and start with, “What’s your sign?”

I do not know if I will still be alone this summer, the book did not tell me that (laugh). It did give me an idea as to what sign might be fun in bed and who to avoid so I do not have to hear any drama.

Queer Cosmos is a really fun read. If you are dating and live by the stars, I guarantee you will have the love section earmarked for referencing.

I received an ARC of this book from Cleis Press and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

[Maxwell Minka · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could've been much shorter. Mainly because it went through each of the relationships between the signs twice. And many of them were redundant. I understand it was from the perspective of each sign, but I believe this book would benefit from combining everything into 1 section for Aries & Aquarius instanced of doing Aries & Aquarius and then Aquarius & Aries. Throughout these pairings, the "queer" party disappeared. But it was present in the begining and the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed everything else. The beginning and the end (interviews).

[Cara Patel]

This might seem like a weird one for me because I don't really subscribe to the whole "written in the stars" zodiac/fate stuff. But I read a book a few months before called Queer Magic, which wasn’t so much about literal magic, but more of a documentation of queerness and LGBT themes in religious history across the globe. I thought that was really good. Queer Cosmos, on the other hand, leaned way too much into the zodiac stuff, which just isn’t for me. But if that’s your thing, I really think this could work for you.

[Breanna Metcalf · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine, but seemed more focused on flowery, 'mystical' prose than interesting exposition. I didn't read the compatibility sections and I didn't finish the individual sign sections. I ended up flipping through to the signs present in my chart. The natal alignments read more like horoscopes than a queering of placements.

Presents itself as a fresh, queer take but reads like most astrology books I've picked up this far.

[Darth Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Elixcel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice book, but not quite what I was expecting. I was hoping to get into different kinds of queer relationships and it wasn't the case. It was interesting but I wish it was a bit more elaborate on certain aspects.