the curly buddha bookshelf: your astrological self-knowledge toolkit

The Internet hosts a wealth of incredible information about astrology, let’s be clear about that. But SOMETIMES - sometimes you just want a good old fashioned, worn-between-the-leather, hold-it-in-your-hands book to guide you in the direction of astrological self-knowledge.

The Taurean (and nerd) in me loves a tactile learning experience - there’s just something deeply mystical about the process of reading a book, flipping through its pages, and feeling the depth of knowledge being deposited into your pores.

Not to mention that books provide a degree of learned expertise, which is especially important in the Information Age when information can be so easily accessed - and misrepresented.

Below are some books that have helped me tremendously, along with some key things to be aware of depending on what you’re looking for :). Note that these focus on traditional Hellenistic (Western) astrological practices.

If you just can’t be bothered and technology is more your thing (though I’d strongly suggest trying both approaches and switching it up from time to time), check out my social accounts for plugs to Internet astro-folks I fangirl over (and learn a lot from).

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the basics: beginning your astrological practice

The Power of Birthdays, Stars & Numbers:

The Complete Personology Reference Guide

By Saffi Crawford & Geraldine Sullivan

This is a CLASSIC. I “borrowed” this book from my Mom for the first time when I was in high school - 10+ years later, her copy remains on my living room bookshelf. :)

Crawford & Sullivan break down all 365 calendar days of the year, providing an astro profile of your birthday complete with compatible soul mate dates, your work & vocation identity, your “secret self”, and even a brief numerological profile. They also touch on more intermediate subjects like decans and fixed stars.

Best for:

- Establishing basic knowledge of the 12 signs

- Understanding your own astrological profile

- Parties/social events, sharing easily digestible & fun astrological info with the people in your life

Buy

The Compleat Astrologer

By Derek and Julia Parker

This technicolor science-minded reference book, originally published in 1971, contains “a history of more than 6,000 years, from the astrologer-priests of Babylon to modern interpreters of the Age of Aquarius. Aside from its stunning, psychedelic illustrations, this book covers a wide range of subjects, from planetary progressions to understanding astrology from different locations around the world.

Best for:

- Astronomy & physics enthusiasts (they go in-depth on planetary movements, the solar system, and measuring spatial positions)

- Fans of 70s-era artwork :)

Buy

The Only Astrology Book You’ll Ever Need

By Joanna Martine Woolfolk

This is another classic, and while I’m not sure I’d say this is the only astrology book you’ll ever need, it is an excellent one.

This text keeps it simple with info about your sun, moon, and rising signs, and provides guidance on how to build your own birth chart.

There’s also some cool stuff about astrology through history.

Best for:

- Nailing down the astro basics

- A quick reference guide as you build on concepts

Buy

The Astrologer’s Handbook

By Frances Sakoian & Louis S. Acker

This book does an amazing job of laying out certain topics - like planet exaltations, planetary aspects, and house placements. It has an in-depth glossary where you can find detailed descriptions of aspects between the inner and outer planets. Some of the descriptions use antiquated cultural references & language (the original version was published in 1973), but the overall message remains timely and relevant.

Best for:

- Learning planetary aspects

- Learning about the houses and how the signs function within and as rulers of them

Buy

You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance

By Chani Nicholas

Chani Nicholas is one of modern astrology’s community darlings, and her new book sets a great foundation for understanding astrology on an intuitive level. One thing I love about the way Chani talks about astrology is her emphasis on the ruler of the ascendant as a primary launching point for one’s understanding of their chart. This is a great place to start for a well-rounded astrological practice.

Best for:

- Foundational knowledge of astrology using traditional Hellenistic principles

- Understanding astrology from a holistic perspective

Buy

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Intermediate study: building upon your foundations

Chart Your Own Horoscope: For Beginner & Professional

By Ursula Lewis

Okay, so this book says it’s for beginners and professionals - but it’s a pretty sophisticated text that may be too nuanced for those just beginning their astrological practice.

I tried finding out more about Lewis because this book is really an amazing tapestry of detailed astro info: signs in the houses, chart distribution patterns, house rulership, and more. Apparently she was a German astrologer but was cited in the Astrological Pioneers of America reference text, written in the 80s. There’s not a lot out there about her on the Internet. If you know anything about her, holla at me.

The most impressive thing about this book imo is the STEP-BY-STEP how-to guides on drawing your own chart. These go in depth.

Best for:

- Professional astrologers, purists, aspiring witches or those who simply have an inherent distrust of tech - learn how to literally draw your own birth chart from scratch

- Fans of geometry & analytical problem-solving

- Getting into the nitty-gritty

Buy

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advanced astrological exploration

The Astrology of Personality

By Dane Rudhyar

A quote from the 1991 re-edition of this text speaks loudly: “[this is] the pivotal book that launched humanistic astrology and made it clear that astrology was a subject for intelligent and perceptive minds, not merely for fortunetelling.

Dane Rudhyar is often considered one of the “Godfathers” of astrology; this book solidifies his position as such. Equal parts astrology and philosophy, his insights go deep. Prepare to be amazed.

Best for:

- Marrying philosophical and astrological insights

- Blowing your mind

Buy

Inside Degrees

By Ellias Lonsdale

This is part 2 of a 3-part book series entitled Inside Astrology - maybe I should recommend the first and last titles as well, Inside Planets and Inside Star Vision, because Lonsdale’s writing is just that immersive.

Lonsdale is not merely an astrologer - he is a philosopher with a poet’s spirit, supported by the Chandra and Sabian Symbols. His work is deeply emotional and evocative - honestly, everything he writes makes me cry, in a good way (or maybe that’s just my Cancer Mars talking).

At any rate, this book provides beautiful descriptions of all 30 degrees of each Sun sign. It presents a new way of thinking about astrology, free from cliches and overused phrasing. I highly recommend it.

Best for:

- Leveling up your practice

- Understanding the astrological degrees from a deep soul level

Buy

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honorable mentions & subject-specific texts

Linda Goodman’s Love Signs

By Linda Goodman

This is a fun one. Linda Goodman is arguably one of the most iconic astrologers of the 20th century, and her Love Signs is a celebration of, well, love - she provides witty, easily digestible relationship profiles for all 12 signs and their cis het couplings.

Hopefully one day there will be a revival edition with LGBTQ+ combos.

Best for:

- Coffee table chat

- Quick reference for you and your lover

Buy

Cosmic Weather Report

By Ellias Lonsdale & Mark Borax

Lonsdale and Borax instantly draw you into their narrative regarding the Cult of Normalcy - which sounds menacing (and it is, when you consider the depths they’ve gone to in order to decompose and decolonize the systems of illusion that keep humanity locked in a virtual - and sometimes actual - cage).

Best for:

- Philosophical study

- Attaining personal breakthroughs

Buy

Healing Pluto Problems

By Donna Cunningham

I love this book! If you or someone you love has a particularly Plutonic birth chart (e.g., 1H Pluto, hard aspects between Sun-Pluto [such as the square or opposition], Moon in Scorpio, Pluto conjunct the Ascendant, etc…I should probably make a post on this…) then this book is for you. Control, power struggles, intense emotional responses, abuse, manipulation and other challenging subjects are explored here in detail, with an emphasis on transforming heavier negative energies into opportunities for self-transformation.

Best for:

- Plutonians and the people who love them

- Advanced study

Buy