The
Essential Guide
To
Practical
Astrology
April Elliott Kent
Digital Copyright (c) 2015 by April Elliott Kent
Copyright 2011 by April Elliott Kent
ISBN 978-0-692-69740-5
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Contents presented in this book contain the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering professional services in the book. If the reader requires personal assistance or advice, a competent professional should be consulted.
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Praise for The Essential Guide to Practical Astrology
Theres no fluff, esoteric mumbo jumbo, fringe techniques, or confusing psychobabble. The authors writing style is clear, friendly, and intriguing in the sense that the more you read, the more you want to learn. So bewareif you pick up this book, you will most likely be irrevocably drawn into the world of astrology.Dell Horoscope
A funny, easy-to-understand, and surprisingly thorough beginning astrology text Anyone who wants to take a big, enjoyable step toward understanding (and using) astrology will learn a lot from this book.The Mountain Astrologer magazine
Highly recommended. While this is not the only book a beginning student will ever need, its one of the best introductions Ive seen in a long, long time, and it should serve the beginner well for their first year of study and possibly beyond. Its clear, easy to use, and fun to read. Teachers take note!NCGR Memberletter
A highly readable tour through the astrological fundamentals for beginning and intermediate astrology students.Donna Cunningham, author of Healing Pluto Problems
Dedication
To my grandfather, Georgea man of many interests, from bees to astrology.
(Capricorns can surprise you.)
Introduction
Lets begin by acknowledging the elephant in the room: there are lots of books you can read to learn the essentials of astrology. Why, you might fairly ask, should you read this one?
1. Its funny, and a bit irreverent. Thats how I roll. Astrology and I have kept company for several decades now, and our relationship resembles the kind of loving but contentious rapport found between old married couples. I kid astrology, because I love it.
2. Youre among friends here. Im a fan of every sign, every planet, every asteroid (okay, Im not nuts about Chiron, but Im learning to respect him). Youre not going to read a bunch of insulting stuff about your Sun sign or about how people with your Moon sign are more likely than others to kick their dogs. Theres just no need for that kind of talk.
3. This is a guide to practical astrology. That means its written in plain English, illustrated with real-world examples of astrology in action. Stuff you can use, today, to better understand yourself, other people, and your world.
Practical Astronomy
Once upon a time, astrology and astronomy were one. Astronomers plotted various objects in the sky, and astrologers figured out what they meant to life on earth. Astrology was, in fact, known as practical astronomy. The thinking was presumably something like, Its all good and well to know where Saturn is, but what does that mean for me? After all, life was hard, back when a simple slice of buttered toast represented an impressive amount of workcultivating and milling wheat, chopping firewood to light the oven, baking bread, spending hours bent over a churn to produce one sad little lump of butter. No one would encourage a son or daughter to spend a lifetime studying the movements of the stars and planets unless it was going to benefit the tribe in some practical way. So, astrologers noted that when Saturn was moving through a particular constellation, harvests were meager or money was tight or livestock were sluggish about reproducing. They noticed that crops grew better when they were planted during particular lunar phases or while the Moon was in a particular sign. They warned the village to stockpile pitchforks and lighted torches when Mars rose in the morning sky, and to keep an eye out for war-making overtures from neighboring tribes.
Impractical Astrology
There are still plenty of practical uses for astrology. Astrologers still use the symbolism of the skies to predict wars, anticipate tense moments in animal husbandry, and to monitor the ebb and flow of money and other resources. True, most of us no longer churn our own butter or have to protect our families with a pitchfork. But it can be handy to know the best times to push for a raise or take a vacation
But are there impractical uses for astrology? Its tempting to say yes. There doesnt seem to be anything practical about key chains with the signs of the zodiac on them or the horoscopes in your daily paper. Even the loftier goals of modern astrology, such as self-understanding, seem more of a luxury than a necessity. But whats more practical than a system that helps you choose a job or partner that suits you? Or to appreciate your innate strengths and weaknesses, so that you can capitalize on one and compensate for the other? That just sounds like good sense, to me. Most astrological journeys begin with a single bookone that you find at the right moment of your life, and that speaks to you in your own language. I hope that this will be that book for you, and that our meeting between these pages will mark the beginning of your life-long love affair with astrology. Enjoy it all!
How To Use This Book
This book covers a lot of territory. If youre like most people, you want to understand yourself and a few people close to you, and thats it. And you want it now. I respect that. The book is written and organized in such a way that you can either read it from start to finish or dip into the parts that pertain specifically to fascinating you , and then be on your way.
As you forage through this book, reading about the various features of your birth chart, youll run across contradictions. That doesnt mean astrology doesnt work; it means youre complicated, and astrology is complex enough to reflect that. Sometimes, and in some situations, you behave one way; in other situations, you behave differently. You want different things from different areas of your life. You contain multitudes.
This book is divided into six parts:
Part 1, Astrology as a Second Language, introduces you to the idea of astrology. What is it? Whats it based on? Why is your horoscope always wrong? How can you get a copy of your birth chart? And what is your birth chart? The chapters in Part 1 set the stage for understanding everything else that follows. If you get lost along the way, backtrack to these chapters to find your answer.
