The Cosmic Calendar: Using Astrology to Get in Sync with Your Best Life

by Christopher Renstrom

Go from astrology-curious to cosmically empowered with this expert guide to decoding the stars for everyday life

Timing is everything--and astrology is a personalized calendar designed just for you. Go beyond the memes and clichés to discover how to use this ancient system to get in sync with the stars--to become the fully empowered, energized, and happy human you are uniquely meant to be.

With fascinating, funny, and spot-on insights--and without jargon or technical details--popular astrologer and columnist Christopher Renstrom illuminates the "time stamp" the stars gave you when you were born, giving you actionable insights to help you work with the stars, not against them, to live your best life every day. You'll


If you're ready to go beyond the basics--but not into the weeds--level up with The Cosmic Calendar .

Genres: Astrology, Nonfiction, Esoterica, Occult, Tarot, Witchcraft, Reference

304 pages, Paperback

Published October 20, 2020

Reviews

[Robbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spookiest in terms of accuracy that I've read in a while

[kiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t often read astrology books outside of the ‘seminal texts,’ but picked this up for fun. I am glad I did! This book is enjoyable as a coffee table read of takes that you might not find elsewhere because many are subjective, anecdotal interpretations but based on sound reasoning. It includes, straightforward explanations are provided for placements and I enjoyed there were chapters on personal planets (rather than just a focus on sun signs). I liked how many sections included the author’s interpretation of what placements would get along and which ones might not.

That said, the book is not without faults- there were many errors missed in its editing stages (at least in my copy), such as accidental missing page breaks and headers that, without them, suggest aspects that don’t otherwise belong together. These are inconsistently placed without any indication unless you can somehow catch it as someone familiar with astrology. There are some inconsistencies in general, as well.

This book relies heavily on pop astrology’s personification of planets, which is not a bad thing at all, so much as to say that as a practicing astrologer I suggest this book as a fun read but perhaps not something if you are looking to gain a concrete and serious knowledge of your chart. If you’re looking for an Astrology 101 book, I’d still consider Chani Nicolas’s “You Were Born For This” as a really informative dive into astrology without being too overwhelming.

[Karen Christino · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful introduction to astrology, with the author’s writing skill and deep understanding of both history and cycles making this a special book.

Renstrom presents the equinoxes, solstices, elements, modes, day and night horoscopes and more with chart diagrams. These immediately convey the multi-dimensional nature of astrology and provide an excellent introduction to help beginners look at a chart. With perceptive and evocative descriptions, the Sun, Moon and planets in signs are addressed at length, with short interpretations of Sun and planet combinations. Christopher writes with sensitivity, insight and emotional resonance and has created a work that’s refreshing, fun and often funny. Read the full review on my blog: https://karenchristino.com/the-cosmic...

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and easy introduction to astrology and working with natal charts. It almost gives pocket guide. I wouldn’t say that I personally agree with everything as written, but it can be fun to see things from a different perspective. I picked this book up on a whim for a few dollars and read it to help me wind down for bed, so I can’t complain. I do appreciate the depth it has for an introductory book without going overboard. I feel like I see a lot of beginners guides in similar areas of interest that are almost in a blog post format with minimal effort. You can tell that the author has actually done their research and put in the work to make an informative little guide to get someone started.

[Sandy Burkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christopher has an engaging compelling style that opens a curiosity and develops understanding of this expansive topic. His depth of knowledge is substantive and the way he’s formatted the book opens the doorway to a clear foundational tool to embrace astrology in day to day life. After completing it, I have found myself already going back to use it as a reference. He writes in such masterful detail, it brings the subject matter to life.
I’ve already given this as a gift to several of my friends. Enjoy the journey.

[Alexandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid astrological cookbook for beginners. It gave me some great insights to reflect on. I actually liked the first section the most, where typically complex foundational concepts are laid out in a way that’s fun and easy to comprehend.

That said, I was definitely expecting way more detail and specificity on how to actually use astrology to plan your life, but that topic is relegated to a tiny chapter at the end. Disappointing.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and useful if you are into astrology! The author takes you through some astrology basics and how to determine your modes and elements according to your sun sign. Then you learn how to take your sun sign and create a yearly calendar for yourself based on how the sun travels through your signs and planets. Determine when you are at your peak, and when you should lay low and rest.

[Tiffany Saddler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and a fun read. The insight is very interesting and makes sense in so many ways. I highly recommend for anyone looking to enhance the knowledge that is written in our stars, more specifically our planets. It will remain a staple on my night stand as I navigate this life, to make it the best one yet.

[Marilyn Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I only recently got into astrology, but this was a great overview of how it can be used to understand the zodiac throughout the year. It’s what I was looking for and it helped me understand astrology a lot better. I did listen on audio and I ended up purchasing in paperback and I like it a lot better in print.

[Joshua Kamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid Pop Astrology book. It's a unique voice describing signs and placements with some sharp insight, but doesn't really follow through with the subtitle's promise. The calendar sync idea takes up only a few pages. The main bulk of it is the usual trait explanations. Good for a casual reader but not a hardcore astrology student.

[Marianne Mersereau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the lists at the end of this book particularly helpful. The author specifies time periods throughout the year that are auspicious for each sign. He also does a good job of pointing out the positive aspects of all the planets and signs and assures the reader that there are "no bad charts" in astrology.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was informative, easy to understand and follow so you can plug-in information you need to build your birth chart. At least for myself, information given about my sign was spot in. Def going to keep this book handy as now I know how to build charts, I want to build people I knows chart in the near future.

[The Wren's Pen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a delight! Christopher Renstrom writes clearly and beautifully about astrology. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the topic who wants to know more but it's especially wonderful for beginners who don't know where to start. Would make a lovely gift book for anyone curious about the subject.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how this book really sets up how to start understanding and crafting your own year calendar based on your chart, instead of just telling you how to understand who you are, which is basically what every other book I've found tells you. It was nice to learn something new about astrology!

[Lauryn Clemmer]

Good basic introduction to astrology and star charts. I feel like it helped me understand a little bit more. If I wanted to dive deeper, this book wouldn’t be my go-to but it’s a great place to get started.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read on my kindle and I think I need to read this as a BOOK. Just one of those types of books, and missed out on too much as a digital copy. Will do that.

[littlebeesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating and great for those new and seasoned...well thought out takes that make you think, I loved it

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and easy to read. The way all the information is broken down made so much sense!

[Funyun Bun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to understand. Great book for beginners learning to read a natal chart

[Corrie Sherwin]

astrology learning

[Yolanda Orme · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it interesting and informative

[mikaela ciccarello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little synopsis/pocket guide to natal charts and what all of your placements can mean.

[Matty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great description of air element; it rly matches well to Libras I know.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource for beginners who are starting to dissect their chart. Doesn't get too deep or complicated.