The Bottom Line
This is a different kind of astrology book for beginners. It's an intro to chart reading via the big picture, the cosmic design found in the pattern of the planets on the wheel. Author Joann Hampar, says that unlike most books that try to teach astrology, Astrology for Beginners is first and foremost, an introduction to chart reading.
Pros
- Presents the fundamentals of astrology in a simple, but engaging way.
- Interpretations come from years of helping people see their potential through the chart.
- An objective, stripped-down style written by a highly-trained astrologer.
- The aim to be a practical guide comes through in a subtle, but powerful way.
- Charts and diagrams are easy to real, and not overwhelmed by symbols.
Cons
- Fills a niche, as a companion to other books on astrology on the beginner's shelf.
Description
- A book for smart people that want to learn about the birth chart, but bypass astrology's technical-symbolic language.
- Written in a straight-forward style that gets to the point, and covers the foundational elements.
- Has easy-to-read charts and diagrams that give the reader a visual guide to go along with the text.
Guide Review - Book Review
Take a step back and gaze upon your birth chart. What pattern do see on the wheel? Are your planets bunched together, or all over the place, on the top of the wheel or bottom, left side or right side. How many empty houses do you have? Says Hampar, ”The chart pattern is the first thing I consider when I analyze a horoscope. The seven chart patterns developed by Marc Edmund Jones are often overlooked in chart analysis but they capture the whole view in a nutshell. In the subsequent chapters I do my best to sort out the basics and present them in a way that is easy for the reader to comprehend.”
The seven chart patterns – splash, bundle, locomotive, bowl, bucket, seesaw and splay – show in the broadest terms how you channel your energy. “This pattern has meaning in the broadest sense, defining the way you approach life,” writes Hampar. The books then looks at the hemispheres and quadrants where the planets are located – these show things like whether you’re public or private; self-directed or reactive to others. It’s written in a stipped-to-the-essence form that’s so clearly the distillation of decades of astro-study.
It’s grounded in the basics, and written in a clear, unadorned way. This book has substance, and doesn’t overwhelm the reader with the technical language of astrology. It offers insights about the overall chart, along with interpretations that strive for a universal meaning. What’s offered is down-to-earth and practical. I highly recommend this book as an introduction to interpreting your birth chart, and for practicing astrologers to keep on hand as a solidly written reference.
