Customer Reviews

Book of Instructions in the Elements of the Art of Astrology

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This valuable 1029 C.E. Arabic text was first translated by R. Ramsay Wright and published in 1934. For the most part this text hasn't been available to astrologers since the translation was typewritten and limited to a print run of 100 copies. Only those fortunate enough to find a copy in a university library had access to the translation.

This is all changed with the Astrology Classics edition of Al Biruni. David Roell of Astrology Classics has taken the astrological part of the lengthy translation and typeset it in a modern easy-to-read font with many clearly set tables, and published it in a a very affordable paperback edition.

For astrologers perhaps the most interesting notations in the text are the comparisons between the Arabic and Hindu views of astrological principles. This is invaluable in tracing the movement from Hellenistic astrology to India to the later Arabic writers.

My only complaint about this edition is that the original translation contained some interesting and pertinent information on the lunar mansions which is not included here. The lunar mansion material was located in an astronomical section of the text apart from the core astrological concepts, and perhaps that's why it was missed. Perhaps this material will be included in a later Astrology Classics edition of Al Biruni.

This edition of Al Biruni is a must purchase for any astrologer who wants to have a complete historical picture of the development of astrology up to and through the Arabic period. Plus there are many descriptions of techniques pertinent to modern astrological practice. For the low price there's no reason all astrologers shouldn't have this book in their library.