Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsAfter being immersed in learning Hellenistic Astrology, this modern reference is hard to go back to.
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on May 4, 2022
I appreciate the reputation this book has had on a generation of astrologers. However, after taking up deep immersion into Hellenistic astrology (via Robert Schmidt, Demetra George, Chris Brennan), I honestly had a hard time continuing with the book. The significations of Signs = Houses are conflated throughout - something that's been taken for granted repeatedly in much of modern western astrology (out of ignorance through no fault of anyone). The approach reflected in this book (and many like it) needs to be put into historical context as the conflation of signs and houses reflects a period before the original Hellenistic source texts were recovered through Project Hindsight's efforts. In essence, it reflects a stream of astrology in the west that was recovered based on incomplete information for understanding the distinction of the Signs and Houses and underlying conceptual frameworks that sit behind them.
I'm still on the lookout for books that don't repeat this conflation of Signs = Houses, but so far I'm having tough luck. Stephen Arroyo's books are excellent, but I haven't come across a book solely about Saturn written by him. If anyone reading this can give suggestions, please give me a poke!
