Customer Reviews

Astrology, Karma and Transformation: The Inner Dimensions of the Birth Chart

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If I was asked to choose between all my astrology books to pick one and only one to take with me on a desert island, I would pick Mr Arroyo's classic Astrology Karma and Transformation. In fact when I moved to the USA from England with only my backpack this book was with me. Why? It contains the most profound psychologically and spiritually insightful astrology that you can get your hands on. In fact, this book is almost a shame to read, because once you have read it, you will be hard pushed to find a better astrological text...

Arroyo here talks about the chart and particularly about the aspects and transits of Saturn and the outer planets, not with a cookbook approach but with the insight of the very special humanistic alchemy that carachterizes Arroyo's work. Drawing for Jungian concepts, psychology and spirituality Arroyo brings to life the birth chart and its players and weaves meaning into the life experience. And his writing is so beautiful, profound and yet simple, deep but easy to grasp. I love this man, such a jewel of mind and wisdom for us to enjoy...

In the book you will also find lots of stuff about the ascendant, transits, progressions, little bits and pieces of information that, even years after , you will refer to and think about and mull over in your mind. This is one of those books with that magical holographic quality, where every time you read it, it expands and you see stuff you had not seen before...

If I had to reccommend one book for you not to miss, this would be the one. Buy it. You will treasure it for life!

The more I read about astrology the more beautiful and complex it is. There is so much to be assimilated and interpreted: houses, planets, signs, aspects, elements, etc. Stephen Arroyo has taken the subject of karma and really explained how the energies of the planets can affect or reveal how karma is expressed. He's done this in a way that is easy to understand, and breathtaking to read. He gets right to the heart of the matter, with examples to clarify the concepts. The book added to my understanding of transits and progressions. Arroyo's discussion of Edgar Cayce's readings on astrology were illuminating. I loved his discussion of the application of astrology to counseling, and how a deep understanding of astrology helps one to be a better counselor. He also includes a bibliography of books he quoted from in the text, that can only serve as a beacon for more knowledge of astrology. After reading this book I am hungry for more! The insights in this book will make it useful for years to come.

This was the first book in astrology I ever bought, amazing seeming it was over 20 years ago just after it was first published. This book has an energy about it, as obviously from the previous reviews, Stephen Arroyo has IT, he is the consummate humanistic astrologer who can give people the absolute astrological stuff that we need when we need it. Very much in the same area of astrology as Liz Green, yet in my opinion much more easily accessible, for as much as I adore Liz Greene's work, it can be quite intense and needs many readings to take in what she is saying. All of Stephen Arroyo's books are a joy to read, this one being my favourite. If you love astrology you need to do yourself a favour and buy this book.

Many of the other reviewers have said this already, but I must repeat it once more - this is an exceptional book, giving readers a deep insight into what astrology really 'means'. It is not a cook book of how to interpret charts. Instead, Arroyo presented to his readers, the purpose behind astrology and that it is not a static method of foreseeing the future. We are here to learn lessons and our birthchart tells us what our lessons are, what type of energy we possess in the first place, and how, by facing up to the challenges presented to us in life, spiritual growth will ensue. Arroyo describes the birthchart as a 'tool' to guide us through our life. By understanding our basic make up, we can learn to make the most out of our positive points and try to improve on our weakers ones. Many of my astro-skeptic friends are so impressed by this refreshing view that they are seeing astrology in a different light. The book is written in a very easy to understand manner, though an initial understanding of chart interpretation is needed.

This book takes a positive, helpful view of the topic of karma as it can be understood through astrology. There is a particular focus on the outer planets, including a description of their aspects and transits. In each section, Arroyo moves from the general concepts to a more specific cook-book listing of the planets. He discusses karmic relationships through analyzing synastry and progressions, and includes a special chapter on the Ascendant and Midheaven axes. Arroyo refers to Edgar Cayce's view of reincarnation and planetary influences on a particular incarnation. This book provides an exceptionally accessible viewpoint, in the sense that it approaches karma as patterns to be recognized through the astrological counseling process, rather than encouraging specious speculation about specific past lives. A book recommended for astrologers who seek to include an evolutionary spiritual element in their style of interpretation without sounding like Madame Lazonga.

I have owned this book for over 15 years and it is as relevant now as it was then. Arroyo has written a masterpiece, jammed packed with so much information grap your highlighter and expect to learn, regardless of your level. Valuable information on the progressed moon, ascendant and midheaven along with accurate detailed accounts of transits. If you want to read about the heart of astrology, buy this book. You won't regret it.

This is a profound book, and simply the best astrology book I have ever read. It's long & detailed, but not dense. Arroyo's philosophical & humanistic bent is wonderful. This is a very helpful & wide ranging book for the practicing astrologer - not a quickie book, but a serious bit of teaching. It's one of the books I'd take to a desert island!

Different from his other books, his writing style here is rather thick. But, since he is really insightful in terms of interpretation of any astrological phenomenon, I could easily read through this book. (I'm not a native speaker in English.) Especially if you are going through some difficult transition period (for example, trans-saturnian planets are making tight aspects to your natal personal planets), this is surely must-read. I would think that he reveals all he wants to say about astrological interpretation. Other his books is not so insightful as this- they are rather intentionally written for novices.

I have owned a copy of this book for over 10 years and it has continued to provide me with astrological wisdom and insights that no other book can match. The depth of Stephen Arroyo's writing here is extraordinary, with perhaps the only criticism being that so much is packed in to one single book. But this is hardly a complaint!

The outer planets are covered extensively with many examples of aspects and transits to the birth charts of people with relatively "ordinary" lives. This makes a refreshing change from much astrological literature that deals only with famous people, or people with severe problems of one kind or another. The chapter on Saturn is excellent, particularly the journey of Saturn through the twelve houses. Show any 29-year old (with a bit of self-awareness!) the section featuring the Saturn return, and watch their reaction as they read!

This book is not only full of essential contemporary astrology; Arroyo also draws on his considerable experience of other tools for spiritual and psychological growth. He has a background in marriage and family counselling (chapter on "Karma and relationships"), and his many references to various spiritual teachers, eastern religions, western psychology and the Edgar Cayce psychic readings add to the spiritual power of Arroyo's writing. A modern classic.

Catctherine Gallanti is absolutely correct - I've had my copy since around 1980 - the first version - and mine is so full of various bookmarks for the many things that Arroyo discusses that are far beyond any astrological 'predictive' use, but goes into deep personal and collective psychological understanding in an evolutionary way, far before the current "evolutionary focus" yet beyond what any other author (at least that I have read) has laid out since. And he integrates Jungian understanding on a level that speaks to those who want to learn this via a fully-empowering perspective - uniting personal with global evolution. Simply excellent!