I often get emails and messages asking for book recommendations so what follows below is my great big astrology book list! Much of it is made up of the books I own along with others that are on my ‘wanted’ list. There are clearly many more books on astrology than these and I’m sure I have probably missed off some that should be here. The list is a work in progress.
I have split the list up into sections to make it easier for you to focus on your area of interest. There are however, some areas of astrology that I don’t practice such as children’s astrology, medical astrology and the fixed stars (although I do have a couple of books listed here) so if you are knowledgeable in those areas and have book suggestions, let me know.
If you are still learning about bringing keywords together, I also recommend ebooks by Michelle Falis on Astrofix as well. These are basically brainstorm lists combining influences so for example: The North Node in Pisces in the 5th House’. These are very handy for generating ideas. If you are a serious student or advanced practitioner, I highly recommend a visit to Astrolearn. Collector and archivist Philip Graves has released digital downloads of many rare books for purchase.
There are also some free books online if your wallet is suffering from a binge buying astrology books. Check out Michael Erlewine’s site Dharma Grooves and The Internet Sacred Text Archive Astrology Section.
If you are an absolute beginner, when you’re just starting out on your journey to learn astrology, you need to understand the main principles first and foremost – the planets, houses, major aspects, elements and the signs. Once you have a basic idea of what these are, then you can start to branch out – transits and progressions next followed by perhaps solar arcs if you’re interested. Then you might want to start reading about return charts, eclipses, the Nodes and synastry. From there on, you might want to look at Sabian Symbols, asteroids, fixed stars and from there the sky’s the limit.
My main advice to anyone eager to start this journey is buy a bigger bookshelf 🙂
BEGINNERS ASTROLOGY
The Essential Guide to Practical Astrology – April Elliott Kent
Read my review of the Essential Guide to Practical Astrology
Parker’s Astrology – Julia and Derek Parker
The Inner Sky: How to Make Wiser Choices for a More Fulfilling Life – Steven Forrest
Astrology For Dummies – Rae Orion
Alan Oken’s Complete Astrology: The Classic Guide to Modern Astrology – Alan Oken
The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need – Johanna Wolfolk
(Awful title but quite good for the beginner!)
Modern Astrology: Harness the Stars to Discover Your Soul’s True Purpose – Louise Edington
GENERAL ASTROLOGY
Postcards to the Future: Mercurial Musings 1995-2021 – Anne Whitaker
Astrology – Jeff Mayo
The Art of Chart Interpretation – Tracy Marks
Chart Interpretation Handbook – Stephen Arroyo
How to Write and Astrological Synthesis: A Guide for Students – Terry Dwyer
Tetrabiblos – Claudius Ptolemy
The Only Way to Learn About Astrology, Volume 2 – Marion D. March and Joan McEvers
The Case for Astrology – John Anthony West
A Handbook for the Humanistic Astrologer – Michael R. Meyer
Mapping the Psyche: Volumes 1, 2, 3 – Clare Martin
The Contemporary Astrologer’s Handbook – Sue Tompkins
Horoscope Symbols – Robert Hand
Astrology & Consciousness, The Wheel of Light – by Rio Olesky
Secrets from a Stargazer’s Notebook – Debbi Kempton-Smith
Through the Looking Glass Paperback – Richard Idemon
Interpreting Astrology: New Techniques and Perspectives – Richard Nolle
The Astrologer’s Handbook – Frances Sakoian and Louis S. Acker
The Encyclopedia of Heavenly Influences – James R. Lewis
ASPECTS IN ASTROLOGY
The Astrological Aspects – C.E.O Carter
The Yod Book – Karen Hanmaker-Zondag
Aspects in Astrology – Sue Tompkins
Stellium Handbook – Donna Cunningham
Read my review of The Stellium Handbook
Dynamics of Aspect Analysis: New Perceptions in Astrology – Bill Tierney
Planets in Aspect: Understanding Your Inner Dynamics – Robert Pelletier
THE PLANETS
The Luminaries – by Liz Greene and Howard Sasportas
Astrology of the Moon: An Illuminating Journey Through the Signs and Houses – Amy Herring
The Lunation Cycle: Key to the Understanding of Personality – Dane Rudhyar
Apollo’s Chariot: The Meaning of the Astrological Sun – Liz Greene
Venus, Her cycles, symbols & myths – Anne Massey
The Mars Quartet: Four Seminars on the Astrology of the Red Planet – Liz Green, Lynn Bell, Darby Costello, Melanie Reinhart
Exploring Jupiter: Astrological Key to Progress, Prosperity and Potential – Stephen Arroyo
Saturn, A New Look at the Old Devil – Liz Green
Saturn in Scorpio: Your Guide Through The Dark – Mandi Lockley
The Twelve Faces of Saturn – Bil Tierney
The Art of Stealing Fire: Uranus in the Horoscope – Liz Greene
Prometheus the Awakener: Essay on the Archetypal Meaning of the Planet Uranus – Richard Tarnas
Alive and Well with Uranus – Bil Tierney
Alive and Well with Neptune: Transits of Heart and Soul – Bil Tierney
Astrological Neptune and the Quest for Redemption – Liz Greene
The Book of Neptune – Steven Forrest
Healing Pluto Problems – Donna Cunningham
Alive and Well With Pluto – Bil Tierney
Chiron: Rainbow Bridge Between the Inner & Outer Planets – Barbara Hand Clow
Chiron and the Healing Journey – Melanie Reinhart
RETROGRADES
Retrograde Planets: Traversing the Inner Landscape – Erin Sullivan
Understanding Retrogrades – Helen J. Adams
THE HOUSES
The Twelve Houses – Howard Sasportas
The Elements of House Division – Ralpth William Holden
Houses: Which and When – Emma Delle Donath
The Ascendant: Your Rising Sign – Jodie Forrest
The Houses: Temples of the Sky – Deborah Houlding
THE ELEMENTS
Astrology, Psychology and the Four Elements – Stephen Arroyo
Earth and Air – Darby Costello
Water and Fire – Darby Costello
PREDICTIVE ASTROLOGY
Planets in Transit – Robert Hand
Predicting Events with Astrology – Celeste Teal
Jupiter Meets Uranus: From Exotic Bathing to Star Gazing – Anne Whitaker
Read my review of Jupiter Meets Uranus
Saturn in Transit: Boundaries of Mind, Body and Soul – Erin Sullivan
Eclipses – Celeste Teal
Predictive Astrology: The Eagles and the Lark – Bernadette Brady
The Art of Predictive Astrology – Carol Rushman
The Gods of Change: Pain Crisis and the Transits of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto – Howard Sasportas
Astrology, a Language of Life Volume V: Holographic Transits – Robert Blaschke
The Changing Sky – Steven Forrest
New Moon Astrology – Jan Spiller
The Only Way to Learn About Tomorrow – Marion D. March and Joan McEvers
The Transiting Planets – Frances Sakoian and Louis Acker
Modern Transits – Lois Rodden
PROGRESSIONS
Astrology, A Language of Life Volume 1: Progressions – Robert Blaschke
The Progressed Horoscope – Alan Leo
Delineation of Progressions – Sophia Mason
RETURN CHARTS
Planets in Solar Returns – Mary Fortier Shea
Lunar Returns – John Townley
The Art of Forecasting Using Solar Returns – Anthony Louis
SOLAR ARCS
Solar Arcs – Noel Tyl
Solar Arc Directions – Frank C Clifford
Solar Arc Directions – Carole Devine
MIDPOINTS
The Combination of Stellar Influences – Reinhold Ebertin
RELATIONSHIP ASTROLOGY
Synastry: Understanding Human relations through Astrology – Ronald Davison
When Stars Collide – Paul Westran
Planets in Synastry – E.W. Neville
Skymates: Love, Sex and Evolutionary Astrology – Steven Forrest, Jodie Forrest
Astrology: A Language of Life, Volume IV – Relationship Analysis – Robert P Blaschke
Planets in Composite – Robert Hand
The Only Way to Learn About Relationships – Marion D. March and Joan McEvers
The Astrology of Family Dynamics – Erin Sullivan
CAREER ASTROLOGY
In Search of a Fulfilling Career – Joanne Wickenburg
SABIAN SYMBOLS
Astrology, a Language of Life Volume II – Sabian Aspect Orbs – Robert Blaschke
The Wheel of Significance: The Origin, Structure and Power of the Sabian Symbols – Dane Rudhyar
Sabian Symbols in Astrology – Dr. Marc Edmund Jones
360 Degrees of Wisdom – Lynda Hill
THE NODES, PAST LIVES AND KARMA
Pluto: The Evolutionary Journey of the Soul – Jeffrey Wolf Green
Yesterday’s Sky: Astrology and Reincarnation – Steven Forrest
Healing the Soul: Pluto, Uranus and the Lunar Nodes – Mark Jones
Lunar Nodes: Discover Your Soul’s Karmic Mission – Celeste Teal
Astrology for the Soul – Jan Spiller
Karmic Dates and Momentary Mates – Jessica Shepherd
Read my review of Karmic Dates and Momentary Mates
The Forces of Destiny: Reincarnation, Karma and Astrology – Penny Thornton
Astrology, Karma and Transformation – Stephen Arroyo
Past Life Astrology – Judy Hall
North Node Astrology: Rediscovering Your Life Direction and Soul Purpose – Elizabeth Spring
Symbols of the Soul: Discovering Your Life Purpose and Karma Through Astrology – Gina Lake
Incarnation: The Four Angles and the Moon’s Nodes – Melanie Reinhart
Astrology for the Soul – Jan Spiller
ASTEROIDS AND BLACK MOON LILITH
We are All Vessels: Vesta in the Natal Chart – Julie Demboski
Juno in the Natal Chart – Julie Demboski
Dictionary of Minor Planet Names (not astrology but very useful) – Lutz Schmadel
Asteroid Goddesses – Demetra George
There Must Be A Person Under Those Asteroids Somewhere – Zane Stein
Mechanics of the Future: Asteroids – Martha Lang-Wescott
Living Lilith: Four Dimensions of the Cosmic Feminine – Kelley Hunter
Lilith: Healing the Wild – Tom Jacobs
Mysteries of the Dark Moon: Healing Power of the Dark – Demetra George
Sedna Consciousness: The Soul’s Path of Destiny – Alan Clay
MUNDANE ASTROLOGY
Mundane Astrology – Michael Baigent, Nicholas Campion and Charles Harvey
Cosmos and Psyche – Richard Tarnas
Book of World Horoscopes – Nicholas Campion, Wessex Astrologer
HORARY ASTROLOGY
Horary Astrology – Anthony Louis
The Only Way to Learn About Horary and Electional Astrology – Marion D. March and Joan McEvers
ASTROCARTOGRAPHY
The Psychology of Astrocartography – Jim Lewis and Kenneth Irving
Finding Your Best Places: Using Astrocartography to Navigate Your Life – Dan Furst
ELECTIONAL ASTROLOGY
Electional Astrology: The Art of Timing – Joann Hamper
Perfect Timing: The Art of Electional Astrology – Gregory Szänto
Timing of Events Electional Astrology – Bruce Scofield (Author)
ASTROLOGY AND MYTHOLOGY/BELIEF
The Starlore Handbook – Geoffrey Cornelius
Starwalking: Shamanic Practices for Travelling Into the Night Sky – Page Bryant
Making the Gods Work for You: The Astrological Language of the Psyche – Carolyne Casey
Read my review of Making the Gods Work for You
Calenders and Constellations of the Ancient World – Emmeline Plunket
Understanding the Planetary Myths – Lisa Tenzin-Dolma
FIXED STARS
Your Horoscope and the Fixed Stars – W.J. Tucker
Brady’s Book of Fixed Stars – Bernadette Brady
Fixed Stars & Constellations in Astrology – Vivian Robson
PROFESSIONAL ASTROLOGY AND PRACTICE
Astrology: A Language of Life Volume III – A handbook for the Self-Employed Astrology – Robert P Blaschke
The Creative Astrologer: Effective Single Session Counselling – Noel Tyl
The Professional Astrologer: Building a Successful Astrology Practice – Organization for Professional Astrology – OPA
The Soul Speaks: The Therapeutic Potential of Astrology – Mark Jones
The Consultation Chart: A Guide to What It Is and How to Use It – Wanda Sellar
It’s a never-ending, always growing, fascinating list I’m not sure any of us will ever say has been fully covered. As I read through yours, I was struck by an awareness of the vastly different list of books in the Astrology category apparently on each of our bookshelves. While we share many, we still have so many others that mentioned here. I sent you a few suggestions I think should be absolutes for your list; but between the two of us, it seems even then neither has what could be called the complete list.
Amazing, isn’t it? But then I know neither of us are surprised at that. For that matter, I’m what you call “gobsmacked.”
As for the sub-category sections you did, I can only say WOW!!! Fabulous job!
Your an angel and the timing is extraordinary. Having been an esoteric bookseller I know some of these books and once owned a few too. My renewed interest has seen me sourcing some that I may have read once but I have been wondering how to go about anything more. This is perfect and a wonderful gift. Thank you so much. I agree with Michelle. Fabulous job!
Thank you Helen 🙂
Fabulous list, Leah–I love so many of these books–and I must thank you for the mentions–it’s an honor to be listed alongside so many of my idols! xo
You’re very welcome Julie – your writing is fabulous <3
this is an excellent list! thanks so much for sharing. i love a lot of these and now plan to add many to my wishlist. another favorite of mine is “the astrology of family dynamics” by erin sullivan. one of the most insightful books i’ve ever read.
Hi Kate – You’re welcome and thank you for the Erin Sullivan suggestion. I have added that in (as well as adding it to my own wish list!). I’ve also added in her transiting Saturn book which I also missed.
oh yes the saturn in transit book is great too! i should revisit that one soon. i also really loved “relating” and “saturn: a new look at an old devil” by liz greene. 🙂 i’ll have to read her uranus book, i hadn’t heard about it.
Yes! thank-you for this. While I have a mounting stack of books to read, I’m always on the hunt for more to add to it. You are a blessing.
Thank for for putting this wonderful list together! I very much appreciate how generous you are with your time. And I’m especially delighted to see Demetria George’s books on your list. I was lucky enough to participate in a weekend retreat here in the States with her and Vicki Noble (Motherpeace Tarot) many years ago. It was such an illuminating and empowering experience, and she was so lovely and welcoming. Her Mysteries of the Dark Moon book helped me get through post partum depression years before I met her at the retreat.
And you know I’m going to straight away read those books about Dark Moon Lilith, seeing how she so prominently figures in my chart.
Cheers to you from across the pond!
xx