This is an astonishing pair of books. Mythic Astrology explores the relationships of figures from Greek mythology and how those relationships interact with the symbolism of the planets and signs. It also ends each chapter by highlighting the personal impact of the myth for the individual through the placement of the planets and signs and includes a checklist to see how much a mythic figure may be influencing one's life. Mythic Astrology Applied explores the myths, gifts, and challenges of each of the nine planets, and includes an extensive look at the archetypes of Gaia (Earth), Chiron, and the major asteroids Juno, Vesta, Lilith, Ceres, and Pallas Athene. An appendix includes a discussion of many of the minor asteroids, including Psyche and Pan. Together, these books deepen the exploration of the planets archetypal patterns and influence upon the Self.
Based on the belief that we live in a symbolic universe, and there are no coincidences, these books explore the notion that the position of the planets at the moment of birth is a symbolic reflection of the psyche. These books are antidotes to overly simplistic, "cookie-cutter", astrology books as they delve into the deep mythological symbolism. They are one of the few concise, deep accounts of archetypal astrology that I have read. The authors also pull a lot from depth psychology and the work of Carl Jung. They are not books for beginners, if only because they will not teach you to cast a chart. They are for those of us looking for a pathway beyond history and trivia, and into the deeper structures within the astrology chart.
I strongly recommend these books to any serious (and of intermediate-level mastery) student of astrology.
~review by Lisa Mc Sherry
Author: Ariel Guttman and Kenneth Johnson
Llewellyn Worldwide, 2004
$24.95 each
