The number of astrology books, both in and out of print, is staggering—and still growing. Unfortunately, much of it is static noise, which makes finding the best titles a real challenge. Astrology is a complex field, so beginner books that claim to “make it easy” often oversimplify a rich and demanding study. My goal isn’t to review every astrology book ever written, but to highlight the best ones I’ve found through my work as a professional astrologer and lifelong student of the craft.
Choosing the Book
Since buying my first astrology books in 1992, I’ve built a large library. I’ve refined and reduced it at least three times. The last major cull in 2016 cut the collection from hundreds to fewer than a hundred books. Today, only about 20 to 30 remain that I truly reference, use, and recommend in my full-time practice since 2013. Over time, I’ve found that some books hold historical value but little practical use, written by authors bound to their era. Others, however, rise above their time and offer timeless wisdom, free from dated trappings.
For this review process, I am looking three main factors: the knowledge and wisdom of the author, the readability and delivery of the knowledge, and the usefulness of the book – in practice or for building an understanding of the field. Beginner books will be delineated from more advanced techniques from largely philosophical and or theoretical books. Most of the books will fall somewhere between beginner and theoretical, with an eye towards usefulness. When I began, I read as much as I could from past and current authors and explored many different techniques until I finally settled on my particular way of doing astrology, which has become my signature style. I value labels in so much as they help us move forward, but not trap us in groupthink, regardless of the group.
Knowing the Reviewer
I admit it—I’m biased. I lean toward well-thought-out, fully developed ideas and techniques that readers can actually apply in real reading situations, whether personal or professional. Conversely, I push back against astrology writers who master a technique in practice, decide to write a book about it, and then present it carelessly. Unfortunately, I’ve seen this happen far too often, especially in works on Horary astrology. I hold a PhD in English, so I naturally favor books backed by solid research—properly referenced with footnotes, endnotes, tables of contents, glossaries, and bibliographies. Conversely, I resist books that show poor editorial standards: those that borrow ideas without citing sources or make it impossible to locate key concepts by page number, which is especially frustrating in lengthy works spanning hundreds of pages.
How My Astrology Shapes My Reviews
I am an Aries Sun, with Libra Moon, Scorpio Rising, Mercury and Venus in Aries, and Mars in Taurus. Translation – I want the writer to “get to the point”, keep the complexity of the ideas but deliver them in a digestible written explanation, go deep, make it so I can follow the steps of a process or the path of research that lead to the claims in the book, and give me something I can use and build on! My astrology is my lens for, well … everything. So, it is my lens for selecting and recommending books, decks, websites, plumbers, cleaning services, mechanics, and relationships. We all have a point of view we use to interpret information and we really enjoy connecting with others who have similar points of view.
I will be most helpful to you if my point of view and your point of view have significant similarities. If you spend enough time reading music or movie reviews and you explore a number of different reviewers, you probably experience a thrill when you find the reviewer that hits your sweet spot and you can trust him or her to give you a heads up on music or a movie in a way you can trust. When you listen to music or see the movie by “your” reviewer, you know you will not be wasting your time. I want to be “your” reviewer.
The Book This Month – New Moon Astrology by Jan Spiller
The full title of this book is New Moon Astrology: The Secret of Astrological Timing to Make All Your Dreams Come True, with a further tagline, “Get What You Wish for in Love … Happiness … Health … Career … Money … and More! Wow! Either Jan Spiller or the marketing team decided to go all in on this cover and its bold promises. Normally, I’d stop at the cover and put the book back. Fortunately, I had already read one of Spiller’s books; otherwise, this cover—designed to make me grab it, clutch it to my chest, maybe even sleep with it under my pillow—would have only triggered warning bells for my Scorpio Ascendant, which runs on a very healthy dose of skepticism.
Published in 2001, the book offers practical exercises for performing rituals that align intentions with the astrological energy of the New Moon. Moreover, Spiller checks all my boxes when it comes to expertise in the field—she clearly knows her craft, applies astrology in practical ways, and provides clear, step-by-step instructions for performing the rituals she recommends to help readers manifest what they desire. She is fantastically readable and takes her time working through the steps and the nuances of the process. To get a taste of how she wants you to use New Moon astrology visit my other Ask Astrology article on the New Moon this month and in future months.
Clear Guidance and Practical Structure
The book reads smoothly and is well edited. The table of contents also serves as a glossary, though there isn’t one at the end. Jan Spiller writes clearly and explains key ideas like the Moon being “void of course” and how that affects her teachings. She gives examples for each New Moon and the areas each sign rules. In the chapter Maximizing Results (pages 25–33), she includes a “Rules of the Road” list that sums up the main concepts and practices of New Moon wishing.
Recommendation
Get this book and use it. Even if you have little knowledge or, honestly, no knowledge of astrology beyond your Sun sign, you can put this book to use. And truthfully, even if you did not know your Sun sign, you could use this book. All you need is a calendar with the New Moons listed for the year. Figure out which New Moon is for each month; the one on April 5th of 2019 is the Aries New Moon. Read up to the Rules of the Road in the book, go to the Aries New Moon section, and start doing the work. Really, it is that simple.
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