Astrology For Dummies

by Rae Orion

What can the starry skies tell you about yourself and others? More than you might imagine.   For over four thousand years, people have watched the skies, correlating the movements of the Sun, the Moon, and the planets with human affairs. Astrology for Dummies shows the reader how to use that accumulated wisdom to identify strengths and weaknesses, discover creative abilities, understand relationships, and make the most of the times in which we live. Using an abundance of real-life examples, author Rae Orion offers an incisive account of each sign and planet, taking the reader far beyond the daily horoscope and illuminating the birth chart in all its individuality and complexity. Astrology for Dummies examines the time-honored ways astrology helps us understand ourselves and others. From how to map and interpret individual horoscopes to building and reading birth charts, Astrology For Dummies provides you with the tools to apply the art of astrology to your everyday life. Astrology hasn’t been around for millennia for nothing. It’s a practical tool, a symbolic language, a way to expand awareness, a means to increase empathy, and an exploration that touches the soul.  Whether you want to learn about yourself, understand others, or glimpse the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, the answers are here ― and in the stars!

Genres: Astrology, Nonfiction, Occult, Spirituality, Witchcraft, Ebooks, Science

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Meike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rae Orion? I also want a planetary name, like Meike Saturn-Uranus. Love that for me! ;-) Sure, astrology is not a science, but an ancient cultural technique practiced for thousands of years all over the world, which, to me, renders it interesting. Why have people been looking at the stars to see themselves? This 400+-page tome is certainly an introduction for beginners, and because I'm fairly ignorant about astrology, I was astounded to read about the many angles and rules that are deemed, well, basic. I have no idea how people find the time to analyze the stars in relation to their birth chart and plan their lives accordingly, but I certainly see the fascination that astrology exudes: The book does refer to ancient cultures and how they searched for destiny in the stars, and also more contemporary figures that consulted astrologists. And sure, the texts explain the signs, planets, houses, aspects etc. pp.

Recently, I've seen two videos related to astrology: German satirist Jan Böhmermann (who is kind of like John Oliver) did a bit called "Star Sign Bullshit" which, well, you can guess where he stands. Then, German actress Heike Makatsch did a "In the bag" for Vogue, and that bag contained ... Palo Santo and tarot cards?! Asked about this, she explained that the cards show archetypes that help people ponder their truths, that doing tarot together is fun and connects people by prompting them to talk about themselves - and I think Heike is right, tarot and astrology give frameworks to ponder character and talk about intuition and personal disposition, occupying a void where science can't answer our questions either (try asking chemistry who you are and why - good luck with that; you can only try to answer such a question yourself, but you need the language for that).

So maybe the partly aggressive fight against astrology is only justified when practitioners dangerously abuse it (think telling cancer patients not to do the surgery because, I don't know, Mercury is in retrograde or something; or financially exploiting people in personal trouble). In other cases, it's not that serious, it can be fun and even help to find a language to talk about the inner worlds with others.

4 stars for the fun factor. Also, I'm such an Aquarius! (I will from now on use that sentence to explain my flaws, and see whether I can get away with it :-) :-) :-))

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today, you're better off to start with a batch of these, if not all of em:

Alan Oken's Complete Astrology - Alan Oken
Astrology: A Cosmic Science - Isabel Hickey
The Astrologer's Handbook - Sakoian/Acker

A Beginner's Guide to Practical Astrology - Vivian Robson
Astrology for Dummies - Rae Orion
Llewellyn's Complete Book of Astrology: The Easy Way to Learn Astrology - Kris Brandt Riske

Astrology: Classic Guide To Understanding Your Horoscope - Ronald Davison
Secrets From a Stargazer's Notebook - Debbi Kempton-Smith
Astrology, A Comprehensive Guide to Classical Interpretation - Kevin Burke

and

Only Way to Learn Astrology - Volume I - Basic Principles - March/McEvers
Only Way To Learn Astrology - Volume II - Math and Interpretation Techniquess - March/McEvers
Only Way to Learn Astrology - Volume III - Horoscope Analysis - March/McEvers
Only Way to Learn About Tomorrow - Volume IV - March/McEvers

---

I got a soft spot for March-Hickey-Sakoian-Oken
as the absolute must haves....

[Stormy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been studying Astrology on and off for over twenty years. I have a solid functioning knowledge of Western Astrology but as with anything I am no expert.

I love the 'For Dummies' series because the titles offer information for anyone including a person well versed on a particular subject.

The book reads well, moves fluidly through the process of Western Astrology, explains in layman's terms the basic concepts and dictates of Western Astrology and will have you casting charts and interpreting them in no time.

The book is not designed to give the reader an in depth look at any particular Astrology system, but does provide enough information to get the student well under way in a very short time. For the seasoned astrology there may not be a lot to gain from reading this book, but it does serve as an excellent refresher course, however basic.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone just starting out in Astrology who wants to jump in right away casting and interpreting charts.

[Kellyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty solid primer for those who don't know much about astrology. It taught me quite a lot, even though this is not my first astrological read. The jargon can get repetitious at times, but I think that benefits the newbie because it helps form associations between the planets/signs and their corresponding energies. I certainly don't think this is the be-all-end-all of astrology books. It's a pretty good starting point, but there's a LOT out there that goes a bit deeper than Orion does.

[Haze · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great for beginners. Explains things in a clear and simple way.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good info. I liked the moon section, but a lot of the real life horoscope readings were confusing and obscure. “How can you get more sexy than that?” Idk??? Where are you getting that?

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

I had skimmed Astrology For Dummies once before, but since I've been really into the topic lately, I gave it a closer look. The whole "For Dummies" series has a really nice, easily-digestible format that I enjoy and breaks things down as simply as the title promises (in a good way). This book covered everything, from sun signs to houses, to more complex stuff like planetary aspects. The part of tens was informative as it gave information on what to look for in a chart for various indicators of success (and isn't that what most people want to know when it comes to their charts?) To be honest, I didn't read every word and only read the information that applied to me (which was still a lot), but it's a great reference to have on hand, say, if you meet a new love interest and are trying to figure out certain aspects of his personality. I feel like reading this book enhanced my astrological knowledge, and it was a quick, easy read.

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astrology is one of my 'guilty pleasures', I must admit. I'm a very down-to-earth person usually, but I like reading about star signs, finding out about horoscopes etc. This is a fun reading, but in fact, on the Internet there's almost everything you can find here.

[Elizabeth Aguilar · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Mikki Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good description of astrology and all the houses and science behind it all.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am writing this as someone who does not believe in astrology at all, not even a little. If you do, that's none of my business, you just keep being you. But I'm reviewing this book from that perspective. Also, I am counting this as "read" but not putting it towards my 2019 goal, because I really just skimmed most of it.

The book begins with the basics and then gradually drills down deeper and deeper into some really complicated details. There's a surprising amount of geometry (I suppose it shouldn't be surprising, but I was surprised). As someone who just wanted to know how it is supposed to "work" and what all those terms like ascendant and retrograde mean, parts of this book are really great. But it's also a reference guide for people who want to start actually making and interpreting charts themselves, and those are the parts I skipped over. Basically, I read everything applicable to me and skipped the rest. There's also a lot of celebrity analysis which I was completely uninterested in.

So, as someone who just wanted an introduction, I'm wavering between 2 and 3 stars. 3, because I did get that to my satisfaction. 2, because there was a lot more in there that I wasn't interested in. Someone who actually wants to use the book as a reference might give it a different rating.

[Steven H · Rating 1 out of 5]

A USEFUL INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW OF ASTROLOGY

Rae Orion is a professional astrologer who has written the astrology column for ‘New Woman’ magazine. She wrote in the Introduction to this 1999 book, “Astrology illuminates the secret corners of the self, provides a key to understanding others, contributes a useful method for scrutinizing relationships, and even offers a glimpse into the future. Beyond that… astrology has the power to alter perception. Once you know something about astrology, you never see the world in the same way again…. Some people think that astrology divides all human beings into 12 groups. How wrong they are! Astrology teaches that all human beings are subject to universal needs and desires---and that every individual is entirely and splendidly unique.”

In the first chapter, she states, “I don’t know why astrology works, any more than Sir Isaac [Newton] did. But I can assure you that it does work. The pattern that the planets made at the moment of your birth---that is, your BIRTH CHART or HOROSCOPE---describes your tendencies, abilities, challenges, and potential. It does NOT describe your fate, though it does make some fates more easily achievable than others. The exact shape of your destiny, I believe, is up to you.” (Pg. 10)

She explains, “the Sun seems to revolve around the Earth, always staying within the confines of a certain path. That path… circles the Earth like a giant hoop. Because eclipses always take place there, it is called the ecliptic… Like a circle, the ecliptic is divided into 360 degrees---and each degree is, in turn, divided into 60 minutes. The first 30 degrees of the ecliptic are Aries; the next 30 are Taurus, and so on… Behind the ecliptic… are the stars that form the constellations of the zodiac. Here comes the confusing part. The signs of the zodiac and the constellations that share their names are not the same. The signs are divisions of the ecliptic… The constellations have nothing to do with the signs.” (Pg. 10-12)

She continues, “The sign that the Sun occupied at the moment of your birth is the most basic astrological fact about you. It defines your ego, motivations, needs, and approach to life. But the Sun is not the only planet that affects you… [the eight planets], not to mention the ever-changing Moon, each occupied a sign of the zodiac at your birth, and each affects you in a different way. Each planet represents a distinct type of energy; each sign brings a different style of operation; and therefore, each placement of a planet in a sign affects you in a unique way. That’s why Sun sign astrology falls short. You are far more than your Sun sign. Nevertheless, astrologically speaking, your Sun sign is the most essential fact about you.” (Pg. 12)

She goes on, “In an ideal world, each planet would work well in each sign. But the truth is, some placements are better than others (and no one has a perfect chart). The sign in which a planet seems to feel most comfortable and function most effectively is the sign that is said to RULE. Two thousand years ago... astrologers only had to worry about the Sun, the Moon, and five planets… But after Uranus was discovered… followed by Neptune… and Pluto… astrologers had to modify the system… astrologers have generated plenty of discussion about the asteroids and Chiron, a maverick asteroid (or possibly a comet)… But the jury is still out...” (Pg. 17-18)

In response to the question, ‘What if you don’t know your birth time?’ she replies, “If you have no idea what time you were born, you probably will never know the degree, and possibly even the sign, of your natal Moon, and you’ll never be certain of your rising sun or your house placements. Don’t feel too sorry for yourself, though; your Sun sign, your approximate Moon sign, and your planet positions are enormously revealing…” (Pg. 28)

She suggests, “if you were born at the beginning or end of a sign, you need to be cautious. The dates given for each sign in … (every …astrology book), are deceptive. They indicate when the Sun GENERALLY moves from one sign to the next, but in reality, the exact moment varies. In some years, the Sun swings into its new sign in the morning; other times, it makes its move in the afternoon; occasionally, the shift happens after midnight… So what should you do if you were born on … any of the … days that mark the beginning or ending of a sign? Call an astrologer…” (Pg. 38)

She says, ‘By themselves, the sun and the Moon carry tons of information. But to fully grasp your own horoscope… you need to know where all the planets are… the only planets known to early astronomers, describe aspects of personality and are known as the PERSONAL planets… the OUTER planets, aren’t visible without the aid of a telescope. They also make less impact on personality… but they influence the unconscious, define generations, and determine events in the lives of nations and individuals.” (Pg. 75) Later, she adds, “Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto don’t define personality as much as they define generations. After all, the Sun swings through all 12 signs in a year---but Uranus takes 84 years, Neptune needs 165 years, and tiny Pluto requires almost two and a half centuries to complete their tours of the zodiac. These planets linger for years at a time in a single sign and have a relatively minor effect on day-to-day behavior.” (Pg. 101-102)

She observes, “It’s amazing how many people … practically have panic attacks over the retrograde movement of Mercury. These supposedly sinister periods, during which that little planet appears to travel backwards, arrive regularly three or four times a year. And yes, they do usher in a volley of delays, misunderstandings, irritations, and minor disruptions… [but] Retrograde motion … is not even a cause for alarm… When a planet is retrograde, it appears to be spinning backwards through the zodiac… On a regular schedule, each of the planets appears to slow down, reverse directions, and retrace its path, arcing backwards across the zodiac… Retrograde motion is solely a perception---an illusion caused by the fact that the planets, including Earth, are in motion, tracing arcs across the sky as they loop around the Sun at varying speeds…” (Pg. 227-228)

This book clearly explains its concepts, and is well-illustrated. It is a useful introduction, for those who are believers in astrology (I am not).

[W. Nikola-Lisa]

I've read all three of them: Orion's Astrology for Dummies, Berwick-Brodeur and Lenard's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astrology, and the KISS Guide to Astrology (that's Keep It Simple Stupid, I mean, Series). They're like three coins of equal value but from different countries—same but different—with each one offering something that the others lack. If I had to keep one of them, I would... I think I would first jettison the KISS volume. It is the most comprehensive, but I just can't past the Disneyesque cartoon illustrations that punctuate the text: they tend to diminish the seriousness of the content, signaling something "light" in content (which, we know, astrology is far from light). So, it's between Dummies and Idiots—hmm. I'm going to go with Astrology for Dummies: it's well organized, explains in great detail all aspects of houses, signs, and planets, does a great job laying out various global chart patterns (before diving into the specifics of planetary aspects), and provides an almost step-by-step method for creating and interpreting your natal or birth chart (even including planetary tables in the appendices).

[Mitch Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astrology For Dummies (1999) by Rae Orion is a very interesting book.

It is a really good guide for explaining astrology to a complete beginner. I found it a really intriguing read and enjoyed getting to learn more about astrology through the book. I don’t believe in astrology but I do find it incredibly interesting and fun to read about so I was very entertained by this book. There was lots of romance and life in the book through an astrological lens and the explanations about the information such as planets, houses and what terms meant was very accessible and explained very well.

I think it was very well put together and researched. I felt like there was a lot of passion for the subject from the author which is always great to see in writing. I think when an author loves what they are writing about it really shows and makes readers enjoy the book more too and that is very clear with this author and this book. I think the book is definitely more for beginners than someone who knows a lot about astrology but I think it could be a fun and interesting recap for readers who know more about the topic.

A really great read.

[Csaba Safrany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent astrology book for a beginner! I used it to interpret my birth chart and that of my family members. I especially enjoyed that there are chapters for placement in cookbook style, where you can find it means e.g. to have your Sun in Gemini in the fifth house.

Apart from basic natal astrology where the signs, planets, houses, and aspects are taught, there are chapters on: tips for chart analysis; love astrology between the Sun signs; transits; lunar cycles; retrogade planets and how to survive them; how to spot special talents in a chart; electional astrology (how to find the astrologically best possible time for a certain event).

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

liked a lot, learned much, great audio book person, it was crazy annoying to hear “if you haven’t gotten an accurate birth chart…” every chapter tho lol. the examples were fascinating, the context was great, structure of the book was kinda confusing but overall a good read and i’m tempted to listen again later because it was a ton of info all at once. took some notes wish i took more :)

[iänỳ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for beginners. Really breaks down many basic aspects of astrology.

[Izzie (doublebookedclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really helpful and comprehensive guide for beginners studying astrology! :))

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good, basic overview of Astrology. So perfect for beginners!

[Claire Binkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no hint in this book that Astrology could possibly be a pseudo-science, any more than any of the others. To be honest, I remember when I was younger several of my mother's friends in the past have come and asked her for their fortunes, if they gave her certain precious details about them, such as their dates of birth. This information is very similar to what all the other ones say.

My mother had a smaller guidebook with similar information in it, the current location of which I don't know. So, since I don't know where the other one I had went, this one is bigger and has West Chester University's colourings all over it. I think the first one was smaller. narrower, and thinner.

[Hannah Bigland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astrology is one of those subjects that I am fascinated by. Disregarding whether I think that it's 'real' or 'truth', there is a lot of leg work that goes into it past just your 'sun sign'. And I think that, even if you think the results are absolute *******, it's got some good advice for what to do in certain situations and so I read all of it, not just the parts about my own personal chart.

[Dream of the Archer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun, concise overview of Astrology. I wouldn’t say I’m a believer, but I thoroughly enjoyed putting together my birth chart and reading through the results. It gave me something to think about.

[Sandra Bloom · Rating 3 out of 5]

alle basisprincipes over astrologie in een notedop

[Isis · Rating 4 out of 5]

taught me a lot still a lot to know since i didn’t understand some terms

[shei · Rating 4 out of 5]

La verdad me ayudo bastante a entender la astrologia

[~•verena•~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, however Astrology is not to be taken seriously - it's just fun to get inspired

[Irene Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy completo. Perfecto para principiantes y para Astrólogos avanzados como libro de consulta.

[Kate Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun, easy to understand, and a lot of good information!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

5!

[lucy, she-her · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this because i understand the basics of astrology (like, what all the planets mean) but whenever i hear the words “sextile” or “house” or “midheaven” my brain melts out my ear. if this book is “for dummies” then i don’t know what the fuck i am. this shit feels like i’m taking the 11+ again. why am i spending my friday nights voluntarily doing maths? it did kind of help me out though.
there are some typos, and some weirdly-worded parts that come across… bewildering… in terms of the author’s human rights position.
some information is also missing: for instance, there’s no mention of what it means if your aspect is in its own planet…?