Astrological Writings
Book Review: Astrology In the Era of Uncertainty by Joe Landwehr
“Is astrology a science? An art? A language? A belief system? A religion? A philosophy? A kind of proto-psychology? A branch of metaphysics? A spiritual practice? A socio-cultural phenomenon? Is it some combination of these possibilities? Or is it something else entirely?”
The Lunar Nodes and the Moon: Part One
I wonder whether our current use of the Moon’s nodes don’t have enough of the Moon’s symbolism in it. Also, how might the Lunar Nodes affect the seven visible planets when one or more are conjunct the North or South Node or in square to them?
Astrology, Broader and Deeper
Many of these articles explore the relationships between astrology and its symbol systems and western literature and psychology, traditional and modern. Others critically investigate some features of modern astrology that merit criticism.
Astrology and the Stoics: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Contentment
The development of astrology in the West owes a great debt to the philosophy of the Stoics. Their depictions of human bondage and freedom, their quest for serenity and their emphasis on nobility of character continues to influence astrology’s techniques and astrology’s underlying understanding of the human condition.
Astrology and Family Patterns: Critical but Largely Ignored
How important is an understanding of family culture to interpreting your own astrological chart, or, if you are an astrological consultant, that of your client?
Astrologers Should Study Their History
Beginning Thursday September 17, with the International Academy of Astrology, there’s a course that takes astrology from the Bronze Age to the Islamic Golden Age.
Marsilio Ficino: Renaissance Luminary Revived for the Modern Astrologer
He was one of the pioneers of the early Italian Renaissance and used traditional astrology in surprising and innovative ways, bringing astrology together with a neoplatonic worldview, natural magic, and an emphasis on healthy body and soul. It’s a pleasure to be teaching about him this summer.
Sir Gawain and the Renewal of Light
An ageless tale of trial, redemption, and the New Year from the late fourteenth century. An inspiration for these darker times.
The Past Darkly: Divine Comedy’s Historical Background
What follows is an overview and timeline I wish I had when I first started reading the Divine Comedy. Because the poem relates closely to its cultural, political, and spiritual background, it’s good to have some broad strokes.
Chaucer’s Wife of Bath Needs a New Astrological Chart
The Wife of Bath from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, was, and continues to be, one of Chaucer’s most vivid and enigmatic creations. Lately I have revisited her Prologue and Tale, her character, circumstances, and use of astrology that reflects more of her character and circumstances.
Profiles: Seventeen Exemplary Persons I’d like to meet in Heaven
“In these times when human nature seems darker and weaker than we know it to be, we should remind ourselves of qualities we admire and those people who exemplify them. It seems timely that my profiles now focus on individuals who hold us to a higher standard of decency, who may inspire us.”
Simone Weil (1909-1943): Sublimity and Affliction
Depictions of this women have ranged from the hagiographic to the clinical: to some she was saintly and brilliant and prophetic, to others she was emotionally tortured, self-destructive and made life difficult for those around her. In fact, she possessed all these qualities.
Walt Whitman: America’s Homer
Walt Whitman found in America’s promise a manifestation of human potential, and his age disappointed him as our age disappoints us. I’d like to dine with him in Heaven and he may wear his hat anywhere he likes, inside or out.
Mary Ann Evans (a.k.a. George Eliot) and the Harvest of Experience
This is the first of two presentations of literary masters from the nineteenth century whose bicentennials are this year. Eliot’s work displays moral vision with a keen sense of the drama of ordinary life.
Jackie (and Rachel) Robinson: It Takes a Village
This winter was the hundredth anniversary of Robinson’s birth. We look at made for a civil rights champion seventy years ago.
Pablo Casals: Musician and Activist
Pablo Casals was from an early age a renowned cellist, then a conductor and composer. He is famous for his discovery and performances of Bach’s Unaccompanied Cello Suites. He was from Catalan area of present-day Spain, and he lived during tumultuous times, particularly the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath. He opposed the right-wing campaign and government of Francisco Franco to his dying breath.
Maya Angelou and the Victorious Personality
Maya Angelou encountered adversity early in life, and from adversity developed wisdom, a strong sense of humanity and an unshakable confidence in her own possibilities and those of others. She also helped carry the struggle against racism, sexism, and social inequality. We can gain valuable insight from her astrological chart.
Fred Rogers – 2018’s Favorite Person
This year we have heard and read much about life and work of Fred Rogers, much nostalgically, contrasting his message of kindness and positive regard with our era of toxic politics, policy, and mass media. I add the adjectives “effective” and “significant” to describe him, for his was a positive message that helped make a difference. Many wish for a return to Rogers’ values thought to be in present decline.
Dorothy Day: Untimely Prophet
Many of my readers either have not heard of Dorothy Day, or perhaps confuse her with a movie actress from the 1950’s, or, better, know she was somehow involved in charity and maybe Catholicism. This would be a good start, especially now, during a time when her influence seems to be at a low ebb.
Alan Watts (1915-1973): One World, One Moment
In response to a student who disparaged his former spiritual mentor, Suzuki Roshi responded sharply, “You completely miss the point about Alan Watts! You should notice what he has done. He is a great bodhisattva.”
Book Review: Astrology In the Era of Uncertainty by Joe Landwehr
“Is astrology a science? An art? A language? A belief system? A religion? A philosophy? A kind of proto-psychology? A branch of metaphysics? A spiritual practice? A socio-cultural phenomenon? Is it some combination of these possibilities? Or is it something else entirely?”
Astrology, Deeper and Wider: Eleven Years of Book Reviews
Even astrologers have tribal tendencies, and only talk to people in their own “bubble”. Yet many astrologers have written books that have gone beyond convention into new areas of astrological possibility. I have reviewed many of them over the past decade.
Definitions and Foundations. by Robert Schmidt (2009)
(TARES), (www.projecthindsight.com) Cumberland, MD: Golden Hind Press. (2009) Reviewed by Joseph Crane September, 2009 Most people want a "bottom line" when they read a review. After a preliminary reading and study of Definitions and Foundations, I have found this...
“Moving Forward, Looking Back” NCGR Research Journal 2010
Reviewed by Joseph Crane January, 2011The most recent NCGR Research Journal brings together ten prominent astrologers of traditional and contemporary orientations; six introduce astrology from different historical eras and the remaining four address current...
Chiron-Healer and Wholemaker by Zane Stein
Recent work by Zane Stein, an astrologer who has researched Chiron for a very long time now.
The Fixed Stars: Fate or Transcendence?
A Review of Oscar Hofman, Fixed Stars in the Chart: Constellations, Lunar Mansions, and Mythology
A Brave New Look at Astrology and Numbers
Joe Landwehr's Astrology and the Archetypal Power of Numbers Part I: A Contemporary Reformulation of Pythagorean Number Theory (2010) 271 pages Part II: Arithmology in the Birthchart (2018) 572 pages Mountain View, Missouri: Mountain View Press. Both available at...
Archetypes, Cosmology, Astrology
Visionary and audacious work by Alain Negre: The Archetype of the Number and its Reflections in Contemporary Cosmology: Psychophysical Rhythmic Configurations
Living In Bob Makransky’s World
When evaluating an astrological natal chart, how do we reconcile different criteria for planetary strength, for whether a planet is well or poorly placed in the chart, and how might we interpret this for a client?
Under the Sacred Sky by Ray Grasse
Many of us know Ray Grasse’s work: he’s written two books on astrology and his writings frequently appear in astrology periodicals and in anthologies. Under the Sacred Sky is a compilation of sixteen articles (plus two interviews) over the past twenty years that have...