The Book That Changed Astrology - Forever!
A Handbook for the Humanistic Astrologer introduced astrology to a new generation of educated seekers turning to astrology not to know "what will happen and how it can be avoided if it's unpleasant" but to better understand their essential characteristics and to discover their innate potential and life purpose. Readers first exposed to modern astrology through this volume figure largely among today's leading astrologers and astrological writers.
The volume not only changed the way we view astrology and what we expect from it, A Handbook forever changed the look and feel of astrological literature and horoscope graphics. Its concise format and presentation style has been emulated by numerous publications, and the central elements of its entirely original horoscope graphics, first developed by the author during the 1960s, have been copied by countless astrological books, horoscope calculation services, and astrology software developers.
Founded upon the repeatedly affirmed premise that anyone can quickly learn the core principles of astrology and put them to use to improve one's life and relationships, A Handbook for the Humanistic Astrologer intentionally avoids the usual cookbook format in favor of exploring astrology's fundamental concepts and principles.
A Handbook was the first comprehensive guide to natal astrology to expose novices and veterans alike to several key features of contemporary astrology and of modern, psychological interpretation.
The most significant upgrade to the study and practice of astrology the volume promoted was the person-centered, holistic approach introduced by Dane Rudhyar, which went hand-in-hand with restoring cyclicity to astrology. Indeed, A Handbook's mission was to break astrology out of its classical, linear, fatalistic, event-oriented mindset.
A Handbook was the first comprehensive guide to explore planetary midpoints, and work also gives special attention to planetary parts.
A Handbook was also the first comprehensive guide to expose the concept of chart patterns and gestalt, as well as several other little known techniques which figures into the Sabian system of Marc Jones, such as preponderances, focal planets, planetary containments, the meaning of orb degrees, and more.
A Handbook explains chart patterns and gestalt, as well as several other little known techniques which figure into the Sabian system of Marc Jones, such as preponderances, focal planets, planetary containments, the meaning of orb degrees, and more. It is also the first comprehensive work to treat planetary formations, such as the T-Square, Grand Trine, and others. In so doing, the work introduced many "lesser formations." Importantly, A Handbook brought neglected aspects, such as quintiles, septiles and noviles, into general practice, displaying these aspects in the many sample charts illustrating the book. It also stressed the importance of waxing and waning aspects, and the Lunation Cycle. Finally, the volume also brought attention to the planet of oriental appearance, as well as Venus and Mercury as "Morning Stars"
