Astrology Library: Top Five Astrology Books
One of my favorite things to do is hunt online for vintage astrology books. Etsy is a great source (and where I found Liz Greene’s Relating from a seller in the UK). But when it comes to my top five favorite astrology books, the ones I take notes in, dog-ear, underline and reference after time, three were first published between 2018 and 2020.
I’m sure as I continue my astrological studies this list will evolve, but as of summer 2020, these are my top choices. And I included three recently-published books because I believe that astrology is very much reflective of its time, and some older astrology texts can be super patriarchal, Eurocentric and stiflingly traditional (just look at the descriptions of “masculine” vs “feminine” signs). Chani Nicholas, Vanessa Montgomery and the Astro Poets are just a few examples of astrologers bringing a distinctly 21st century point of view to the art and science that is astrology—a point of view I very much appreciate.
The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need by Joanna Martine Woolfolk
Originally published in 1982 and updated in 1999, Joanna Martine Woolfolk’s book is a must-have resource and comprehensive astrological primer. The title is a bit of a misnomer as it doesn’t cover everything, but no single astrology book possibly could. I reference this book all the time, but do I feel I should point out that Joanna’s interpretations and descriptions can tend toward the traditional. Read with a grain of salt and always remember, astrology is filtered through the lens of the interpreter.
You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance by Chani Nicholas
From Chani Nicholas of Spotify monthly horoscope playlist fame, this is the newest book on this list, published in January 2020. It covers the sun, moon and rising signs in amazing depth, touching on the houses as well as how major aspects affect these placements. Chani uses Whole Sign houses while I favor Placidus, so I found myself reading for both as I worked through the book. And if you’re like, “Placidu-who now?”, don’t worry about it! This book offers a great introduction to the “Big Three” of your birth chart and the Whole House system.
Star Power: A Simple Guide to Astrology for the Modern Mystic by Vanessa Montgomery
Vanessa Montgomery is an Australian astrologer has written a concise-yet-comprehensive guide to interpreting your birth chart in Star Power, covering the planets, signs, houses and more. I love the inclusive way she handles gender and astrology (especially because I always skip the incredibly heteronormative compatibility section of The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need!!!). It’s truly astrology for the twenty-first century.
Astro Poets by Alex Dimitrov and Dorothea Lasky
Not a reference book per se, but I treat it as one. (Because who said poetry can’t be a reference anyway??) From the pair behind the amazing @poetastrologers Twitter account, the book is a lyrical tour through all twelve signs of the zodiac, complete with musings on each sign as a friend and lover and custom playlists. I may disagree with their take on rising signs, but I love any book whose Libra chapter opens with an anecdote about Truman Capote and Marilyn Monroe.
Astrology for the Soul by Jan Spiller
This book is a bit different than the others (and perhaps a bit more “advanced”) in that it deals specifically with the North and South Nodes. Not recommended as an introductory text, but very much recommended if you’d like to dive more into this specific point of your chart and how it can guide your life path and purpose.
