Book Reviews

Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eye &
Strengthen the Soul
by Shakti Navran
Llewellyn (Sept 2008)
$16.95 paperback ISBN 978 0 7387 1443 1

Review by Mary Simpson

Have you ever fallen in love with a ring or necklace? Perhaps there's a reason! Gems and crystals have metaphysical and healing qualities that can support you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This innovative guide will help you choose a piece of jewelry ideal for your unique life path. (Amazon)

JEWELRY & GEMS FOR SELF-DISCOVERY provides a different focus on jewelry, discussing 'soul jewelry' and using the author's thirty plus years of experience in both jewelry design and astrology to fine purpose. This discussion of the metaphysical properties of over sixty precious stones makes for an outstanding guide perfect for new age libraries. (Diane C. Donovan, California Bookwatch)

The Soul’s Journey I: Astrology, Reincarnation and Karma
by Tom Jacobs
CreateSpace Publications
$19.95 paperback ISBN 978 –1- 4515-2899-2

Review by Margaret Gray MSW D. Psych. Astrology
Originally published in the ISAR Journal

The Soul's Journey I is one of the clearest, most concise and soulful publications on astrology as a tool to the soul’s journey that I have ever had the privilege to read. Tom skillfully combines astrological knowledge with channeled information from ascended masters and discarnate spirits, producing a book that offers insightful practical tools to assist both astrologers and non-astrologers during this time of immense change.

Elements & Evolution
Eric Meyers.
Astrology Sight Publishing (July 22, 2010)
$19.95 paper (312p) ISBN 0974776645

Many books seek out new branches on the tree of astrology. Eric Meyers works the roots. Elements & Evolution marks a major step forward in examining the core symbolism of astrology. Eric proposes a simple but powerful reframing of our understanding of the elements, attaches it to evolutionary astrology, and opens a door of awareness that will enrich anyone's comprehension of the subject. The superb writing, originality and utility of the ideas, and Eric's mastery of astrology's language are invaluable gifts for the spirit and the mind. ----Jeff Jawer

This groundbreaking, innovative book explores how the 4 elements structure and catalyze spiritual evolution from a number of angles. It explores Cyclical Evolution (the great cycle through the zodiac), and Progressive Evolution (the development of consciousness), and offers commentary on the evolutionary purpose of every facet of astrology.

Saturn in Transit: Boundaries of Mind, Body, and Soul
Erin Sullivan.
Red Wheel/Weiser; 2nd edition (October 1, 2000)
$21.95 paper (337p) ISBN 1578631815

Erin Sullivan gives a thorough account of the astrology, mythology and psychology of Saturn's role as the source of divine discontent and longing for the ideal, out of which is born our greatest work. She draws on her Classical Myth background, the work of CJ Jung, and Joseph Campbell's monomyth and reveals Saturn's useful and developmental influence in our lives. Saturn assists the modern hero and heroine, during its transit around the zodiac, by destroying the old and outmoded within, and throwing us periodically into chaos, which invariably generates a creative transformation of purpose in our lives. Sullivan's contribution is an elegant guide to working with Saturn energy in your life.

A Love Alchemist's Notebook: Magical Secrets for Drawing Your True Love into Your Life
Jessica Shepherd. Llewellyn, $17.95 paper (312p) ISBN 9780738719641
Astrologist-blogger Shepherd (of Astrology.com’s Venus and Beyond: Love on the Outer Planets) offers a welcome oasis for those who feel stranded by lower-your-expectations dating guides. Rather than focus on pitfalls, Shepherd prescribes a “cosmic love adventure” utilizing the principle of “magnetic desire,” along with a bit of magic and meditation, to conjure up one’s sought-after mate. Channeling the goddess of love, Shepherd provides a range of analysis and advice, including the ways that Venus influences your astrological sign, how to develop a magical tool kit, and what’s important about moon-watching. Each chapter is rich with less-than-common exercises, meditations, affirmations, love spells and rituals, along with helpful quick tips.

Dancing on the Brink of the World - A Star Waltz in the Keys of Canvas, Music, and Myth Contributors: Sven Eberlein (Author), Chemystry Set - Music, Steven Forrest - Astrological Interludes, Evelyn Terranova (Illustrator).
Tuber Creations Publishing; 1st edition (December 19, 2008)
$25.00 paper (128p) ISBN 097945980X

This multi-media package is an astrological mix of art, fiction, astrology writing, and music synthesized as a walk through each of the twelve zodiac signs. The book includes short stories by Sven Eberlein, star gate paintings by astrologer Evelyn Terranova, cosmic evolutionary astrology by Steven Forrest, and alchemical songs composed and recorded by Chemystry Set.

The Astrology of Family Dynamics
by Erin Sullivan
400 pages/diagrams/charts

The only astrology book that explains the complexities of the family as an organic whole, and how it shapes the self, the community and its larger whole. Depth analysis of family patterns, parents, children, ultimately how it shapes our world-view and adult life. There are many case studies along with specific aspects of family "types", family transitions and changes. How we "import" new family members to enliven it, and how if it is familiar, it is familial! We form our "groups" and "tribes" in accord with our family lineage and position.

Judith Hill is an award-winning author and talented astrologer from Portland, OR. Her work in medical astrology is foundational and continues to inspire students of astrology around the world. Judith's lifetime of astrological research has provided the foundation for books with a wide breadth of knowledge, and each book includes material suitable for beginners as well as advanced astrologers.