Breakthrough Astrology: Transform Yourself And Your World [Paperback]

Joyce Levine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 20, 2006

Breakthrough Astrology teaches readers to look at astrology from a psychological perspective, a process that offers tools for self-empowerment and self-improvement. In this useful introduction to psychological astrology, Joyce Levine teaches a process that is a bit like an esoteric version of the Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator, but one based on thousands of years of research, not mere decades. Unlike hardcore advanced psychological astrology books, many of them based on one system and accessible only to those with years of astrological practice, Levine offers a comprehensive overview and then gets down to the nitty-gritty information individuals need to begin using information on their strengths and weaknesses and how to use these to an advantage. Breakthrough Astrology offers step-by-step guidance on how to get a chart and how to glean information useful to everyday living from each of the twelve houses.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Why We Are The Way We Are "Astrology is such a useful tool for creating a healthy life. Breakthrough Astrology provides the reader with a practical, insightful guide to uncover their innate strengths and weaknesses."

—Christiane Northrup, M.D., author of Mother-Daughter Wisdom, The Wisdom of Menopause, and Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom Tired of complex, obscure astrological systems or empty, fortune cookie horoscope wisdom? All those looking for a relevant, real world take on astrology for modern life need look no further. Breakthrough Astrology teaches you to see astrology, and yourself, from a psychological perspective, a process that offers tools for self-empowerment and self-improvement. In this groundbreaking book, Joyce Levine offers the gift of self-understanding through the lens of astrology. Learn how your love life can be vastly improved by knowing your Venus placement, how your Mars sign drives your career choices and working life, and how you can mark your moods by the Moon. Levine offers a comprehensive overview and then gets down to the nitty-gritty information we all need to begin building on their strengths and weaknesses. Breakthrough Astrology offers step-by-step guidance on how you can obtain a chart and how you can glean information useful to your everyday life from each of the twelve houses. There are parts of the psyche that usually don't change much over time, such as our level of introversion and extroversion. Then there are the exciting parts of us—the ones that we can mold and develop and transform. And it's often difficult to find astrology books that even mention those evolutionary possibilities. Joyce Levine’s Breakthrough Astrology covers both bases in a sharp, telegraphic style. It leaves you encouraged, challenged and inspired—not just "described." I recommend it wholeheartedly."

—Steven Forrest, author of The Inner Sky and The Book of Pluto "An exceptionally lucid guide in clear accessible language for understanding the dynamics of personality based upon the principles of modern psychological astrology. An excellent entry book for those who appreciate insights "straight -up."

–Demetra George, author of Asteroid Goddesses "An excellent gateway into the real astrology that lies beyond the sun-sign columns of magazines and newspapers. This is an opportunity for every reader to find what an astrological chart might have to say, and, in doing so, discover that astrology is not mere entertainment. It is a revealer of the true self that lies within each of us." –Rob Hand, author of Planet in Transit

About the Author

Joyce Levine has been a professional astrologer for more than thirty years. She is a member of the NCGR Executive Committee and has been a board member for the United Astrology Conference. She speaks and teaches regularly and has contributed to many astrological publications such as Dell Horoscope, Horoscope Guide, American Astrology, and many journals. Joyce's work has appeared in many local papers, such as the Boston Herald, The Boston Globe, and The Boston Phoenix. Nationally, her work has been printed in World Paper Online and Dell Horoscope among other journals. She's been interviewed on The Unexplained (A&E Cable Network) and has made numerous radio appearances.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books (June 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578633575
• ISBN-13: 978-1578633579
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #199,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting!, August 12, 2006

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breakthrough Astrology: Transform Yourself And Your World (Paperback)

Astrology, for the novices among us (including me), is made up of four factors:

1. Planets represent the energy of life--what drives our nature (the actors)

2. Signs show how that energy or force manifests itself (roles we play)

3. House shows where the action takes place (stage setting)

4. Aspects identify the inter-relationships among the planets (interaction)

It makes more sense when you realize that the ten planets each play a role:

1. Sun (celestial body) represents the sense of identity

2. Moon (celestial body) represents our emotions

3. Mercury--the way we think

4. Venus--our love nature

5. Mars--how we assert ourselves

6. Jupiter--values and abundance

7. Saturn--duty and responsibility

8. Uranus--freedom urges and independence

9. Neptune--spirituality and creativity

10. Pluto--internal drive

Now given that information, you can see what people are talking about when they say "your ruling planet." The combination of this ruling planet and your Zodiac sign give you the characteristics we all have. For example, I am a Virgo. Planets in Virgo show practicality and discrimination. the horoscope also has "houses" that bring the chart down to earth. This is affected by the time and place of birth--including latitude and longitude. They also reflect different lays of our life.

As a newbie, knowing nothing about astrology (except reading my horoscope), I found Levine's explanations very clear and easy to understand. She has been a professional astrologer for over 30 years--yet left out any "astro-babble."

When you delve into the different sections, you will see where your innate strengths and weaknesses come from--it defines the dynamics of our personality.

As Dr. Christiane Northrup, MD says..."You can learn how your love life can be vastly improved by knowing your Venus placement, learn how your Mars sign drives your career choices and work life; learn how your Mars sign drivesyour moods.

Armchair Interviews says: This book is for the beginner who wants to learn more about astrology and how it affects their life.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent do-it-yourself guide to understanding star signs and what they say about us, August 5, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breakthrough Astrology: Transform Yourself And Your World (Paperback)

Written by a professional "astrologer's astrologer" of more than thirty years' experience, Breakthrough Astrology: Transform Yourself And Your World is a solid introduction to psychological astrology. Based on thousands of years' worth of tradition and research, Breakthrough Astrology presents processes resembling the Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator, describing at length what each of the planets' influence represents in a person's character: for example, Venus represents "Love Nature" while Saturn influences "Work Ethic". An excellent do-it-yourself guide to understanding star signs and what they say about us.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars No breakthroughs here, July 28, 2006

By 

Theresa Reed "The Tarot Lady" (MILWAUKEE, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Breakthrough Astrology: Transform Yourself And Your World (Paperback)

"Breakthrough Astrology" is a deceptive title - I thought that this book would have some "new" information that would be empowering. Nothing here is new or fresh - this is a simple, basic book for interpreting your natal chart.

Levine's gimmick is to present "advice" to transform your chart/life (ex: Mars in Aries - Exercise control over your temper and impulsiveness.). While she may consider this a way to "breakthrough" challenging elements in

a chart, this is too simplistic to be relevant or useful. None of the advice is really deep - this is superficial knowledge at best.

Although this may sound like a harsh critique, I would actually recommend this book to a very novice astrologer. The good points: the book is laid out well, easy to read, there is a lack of complex 'astrobabble' which makes it accessible for those who are new to astrology or wanting an easy to follow format. Other than that, this book will be a disappointment to a seasoned astrologer.