Amazon.ca:Customer reviews: Aspects in Astrology: A Guide to Understanding Planetary Relationships in the Horoscope

Top positive review

Fantastic Book

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on March 23, 2019

This book is amazing. I first found it on Scribd and after 5 months of consistently coming back to it, I decided to go ahead and purchase the hard copy.

Sue Tompkins takes a grounded approach to explaining the planets and aspects, which I really appreciate. Sometimes astrologers can be too flowery with their language which is lovely but not really down-to-earth. What I love about this book is that Sue addresses and decodes some of those common elusive terms you hear (e.g., “creative self-expression” when talking about the sun) and offers practical information and interpretations throughout the entire book.

If you’re interested in learning more about the relationships between the planets in your natal chart, this is the book for you.

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Toasan

Read it but don't take it too seriously...

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on August 26, 2020

Well, this seems to be a "classic" book of aspect for many modern astrologers and there is definitely some good information in there but it is not written in a coherent right to the point way. She goes all over the map with things, and at times I some times feel she is making up stuff. Her arguments are subjective and anecdotal, for instance, she makes a rule based on two examples she had come across among 1000 charts (not unusual for modern Western astrologrrs though).
In terms of techniques and nuances (for instance, which planet/sign is stronger in a given aspect) the book has zero value (again, modern western astrology for you).

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Fabulous!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 12, 2022

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Amazing writer and extremely knowledgable. A must read for anyone following astrology.

Keeping It Real

Seriously??

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 11, 2011

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I'm very surprised that this book has been out for so long and has never received less than 4-stars. I was extremely displeased with the book and here are the reasons why:

1) Almost all of the book, more than 2/3 I would say, is a cookbook. Normally, I don't have a big problem with cookbooks. In this case, however, I take major issue. The cookbook gives about 3-pages worth on the connections between each of the planets. For example, 3-pages will be dedicated to sun/Saturn connections, 3-pages for sun/Jupiter connections, etc, until all combinations of all planets have been accounted for. The problem is that it doesn't differentiate between the ASPECTS that these planets have. There is only ONE description of sun/Saturn connections even though there are about 7-different aspects, or types of "relationship" that the sun and Saturn could have. In other words, it would have students interpret a sun/Saturn trine the same way as a sun/Saturn opposition or square. One description fits all in this book, but not so in real life.

2) Only 21 pages of the book actually go into detail describing the meanings of each aspect. And two of those descriptions are questionable. Here are the two that I take issue with and the reasons why:

THE QUINCUNX
At the beginning of this description, the author says, "Signs in quincunx [...] are coming from such completely different places and heading in such different directions that they don't even see each other, rather like two planes on unrelated flight-paths." This is in agreement with all respectable accounts of this aspect that I've run across. Other sources have demonstrated that this is not an aspect between planets that are working with or against each other. Its just that when one planet is working, the other is taking a break. They are never working the same shift. Yet this author goes on to describe the aspect as one of FRICTION between the two planets. How can you have friction between things that never meet?

She also says that the quincunx is a major aspect found in synastry charts, though she adds that it is mostly by whole sign, rather than actual 150 degree aspect. Her logic was that they have so little in common that they benefit each other. This made no sense. We all know that relationships don't work well between people that have nothing in common. Studies have proven this. So I did a study of my own. I collected a list of strong couples and studied their synastry aspects. The opposition and quincunx aspects are almost always the least found aspects in all synastry grids - bottom two. Trines and conjunctions are almost always the top two.

Although I didn't look for the quincunx aspect from a whole sign perspective, it should be remembered that the perfect world of "whole sign aspects" doesn't really exist. Bi-quintile and sesquiquadrate aspects can also fall in the same whole sign combinations as the otherwise perfect, whole-sign quincunx defines.

THE SEMI-SQUARE AND SESQUIQUADRATE
She acknowledges that she doesn't know the difference between these two aspects. (If you want a description from someone that does, check out "Predictive Astrolgy: The Eagle and the Lark"). She "suggests" that these aspects are the same as squares and are common in accidents (even though she also says she doesn't commonly find squares in accidents). For those reluctant to accept her theory, she gives an example intended to "banish any such doubts forever." Unfortunately, her example falls seriously short. She uses the example of a passenger ship that sank in 1987, but she only describes the transits that were happening in the sky at that moment. She doesn't compare it with the chart of the ship, which makes it too generalized to apply to anything or anyone specific. She does acknowldge that that same transiting chart will apply the world over at different times of the day. So she mentions the chart of the ships COMPANY at the top of page 59 but she neglects to meaningfully tie that chart in with the events of the day and her reasoning becomes muddled. The contacts between the important transiting planets and the angles of the company chart are not semi-square's or sesquiquadrates and the orbs she's using are very large. We're talking about an 8-degree orb for transiting Pluto. She definitely did not banish my doubts of her theories.

These are the things I would have wanted to know before buying this book - and I probably would've passed it up.

101 people found this helpful

Regina Chouza

One of my Favorites

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 12, 2022

Verified Purchase

love love love this book. The descriptions for the planets are the best (most descriptive) I’ve seen. The specific aspect chapters are also so helpful, I turn to this book in every reading. Wonderful as a journaling prompt too: so many of the insights are great spring boards for healing and personal growth 💖

K. Karwacki

Just Read It!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 4, 2011

Verified Purchase

When I started learning about astrology, I began to understand why I was the way I am, as well as what it is that makes other people tick. Once you know what to look for in a person, (be it yourself or someone whose chart you put together), the sign characteristics in people will no doubt show themselves with stunning accuracy.
I'm of average intelligence. The people I hung with in my 'intiatory period' of astrology were well educated. They seemed to easily grasp not just the traits of the astrological signs, but also the way planetary aspects in the birthchart affect those signs. (I lived with an Egyptologist who taught classes on astrology. I attended one or two, then became so intimidated, I went home, dejected.)
Since, I have put more energy into astrology primers like Planets and Possibilities (Susan Miller), an astrology workbook, and some books on popular aspects and the effects of Saturn (Liz Greene) and Jupiter's placement in your chart. However, every day people are pushed and pulled by the magnetic force of the planets that fill our sky and solar system, whether or not we believe it's so. If you want to know why you experience what you do on a daily basis, (as well as how to interpret your own birthchart), you must learn to think. This requires mastering all the astrological aspects, not just reading a list of traits or what another person says is going to happen if Saturn winds up in your 7th house.
This book is very thorough, taking the reader through every astrological aspect and concisely, clearly and masterfully interpreting the effects of these interactions. For the depth of the material, you couldn't ask for a better presentation. Reading this or any good astrology book helps make the irrational rational, bringing more understanding and awareness into dealings with others.

7 people found this helpful

Austen

Excelente contenido, pésima edición.

Reviewed in Spain 🇪🇸 on August 26, 2021

Verified Purchase

La autora es una astróloga excelente y el libro es de los mejores que he visto sobre aspectos. Su libro merece 5 estrellas. La edición 1 estrella.
El problema es que lo he tenido que devolver porque la edición es pésima y la tinta del texto es bajísima (las letras no quedan definidas como deberían), lo que hace incómoda la lectura. Una lástima que la editorial haya regateado en la edición de este fantástico libro.

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John K.

Strong Reference Book - Difficult Language

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 14, 2017

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For me, this is another one of those books they recommend when taking a professional course where a teacher/professor can expound on the information given. It's a book that will take me three or four times of reading through before I fully catch what the author is laying down. It's almost as if these authors have spent an entire lifetime doing this and then they surround themselves with people just themselves....and it their vernacular becomes accustomed to speaking this way. I was reading an article in this month's Mountain Astrologer about this very thing. Sue Tompkins is no doubt at the top of her field - but it's not written for the normal Joe. I'm glad I have it. I'll continue using it as a reference and reading pages here and there as I go, but for a normal Joe kind of speaker - it is a challenge.

42 people found this helpful

Alfred Schwenk

empfehlenswert

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on July 26, 2018

Verified Purchase

Guter Überblick über die Aspekte mit psychologisch eingehenden Schilderungen der entsprechenden Charaktertypen.
Tiefe Einsichten in die Wirkungen der Merkmale der Planeten und Aspekte

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silvias

useful and insightful

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 3, 2011

Verified Purchase

I loved this book, I think this is a must, something that it's worth buying and reading. In particular it suits the needs of those who have already a basic understanding of astrology and want to improve their interpreting skills. Though the author not always points out the difference between soft and hard aspects, the book is nonetheless very useful because it highlights the nature of the aspect itself. I mean, if you have a Moon Uranus trine, but your Moon is in Cancer or Taurus, the effect might well be like a square..(provided no other factor in the chart points to sudden change and restlessness). And this is the reason why I said the book should be addressed to those who already have a certain knowledge of the matter. Besides, I would not focus on the minor aspects, since if you know the major ones well and if you're good at making a synthesis of the details, with the support of this book you will be able to carry out a sound and thorough description of the person's dynamics.

2 people found this helpful

E. Charles German

EXCELLENT! BRILLIANT! INCREDIBLE!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 19, 2011

Verified Purchase

I really can't say enough about how GREAT "Aspects in Astrology" is. But as the owner of 40+ astrology books this one is the BEST. Sue Tompkins' insights are so accurate and helpful. And her book is a hell of a lot cheaper than spending 10+ years in therapy playing cat and mouse with a sounding board therapist while being doped up on anti-depressants making the pharmaceuticals richer. But money does make the world go round, doesn't it? Note: I only spent 6 months in therapy back in the late 90's. But now I'll get back to this great book. Having a natal Mars/Pluto conjunction in Virgo, I read Sue's insights on this combination and it was like she was looking into my psyche and childhood- which she was! And all her insights on the rest of my natal chart planetary pairings were excellent. If you can handle diving inside yourself and sorting through all the wonderful and not so wonderful things that are in there, you can ONLY benefit from Sue Tompkins' brilliant book.

3 people found this helpful

Abhinav

Nice

Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on March 5, 2020

Verified Purchase

The book is good and quite helpful even for an advanced astrologer.

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