Customer Reviews

The Degrees of the Zodiac Symbolized

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I bought a very small hardcover book containing the degrees of the zodiac symbolized by Charubel and Sepharial decades ago, back in about 1970. I was very impressed with the symbols, particularly with Sepharial's.

Recently I have been comparing the symbols of Charubel and Sepharial with the Sabian symbols of Elsie Wheeler. It's a very interesting study. I may write a book about it.

The Sabian symbols are the most famous degree symbols, but my introduction to this subject was the book you are thinking of buying right now, the Charubel and Sepharial symbols. Of the three sets, I'd have to say that the Sepharial symbols are the clearest. You don't miss what he's driving at. It isn't too vague, as Charubel sometimes is, and as Wheeler occasionally is. Sepharial puts the meaning of the degree right out there where you can't miss it, and usually has a human protagonist in his symbols to make it even clearer, as opposed to some sort of geometric shape or other.

Sepharial claimed to have gotten his symbols from a publication called La Volasfera, but I understand that nobody has ever seen La Volasfera, and at least one writer suspects that Sepharial made them up himself. What is La Volasfera anyway?

Astrology is such a complicated subject, with so many planets to keep track of, their positions in signs and houses, their aspects to each other, and also their decans and degrees. Complicated as it is, I think the study of individual degrees of the zodiac is worth adding to the list, because the readings are interesting and accurate.

I work extensively with many of the systems that exist for the degrees of astrology. For novices, there are 360 degrees in the zodiac, and each one is assigned a pictorial image in a wide variety of degree systems. While the Sabian Symbols are the best known, the sets by Charubel and Sepharial are also useful. This book is the first to put them together in one volume, and astrologers owe a debt to Astrology Classics for so doing. I work extensively with the degree systems, and find Charubel and Sepharial's interpretations to be useful.

One can use this book by taking one's own natal planetary degrees and seeing how the interpretations "fit". You can also use it to get insight on progressed degrees. I currently have a secondary progressed Ascendant of 8 Cancer. The Charubel symbol is "A man pulling at a rope attached to a bell which is suspended near the top of a high tree." The interpretation Charubel gives it is "A person who will take delight in publishing what he knows about everybody.." As it turns out, I'm co-writing a family memoir!

This is a valuable reference book for every astrologer, and I recommend it.

This book could be the 'missing link' for those working with astrology. The symbols and their written interpretations can be used with stunning results in both natal and forecasting work. Which set of symbols? I find I have to use both, one dominating at certain times, the other at other times. Warning: make sure you realize that 0 Libra in your printed chart is Libra 1 in these symbolic readings, and so on; 11 Sagittarius in a chart is Sagittarius 12 when you look for the symbol. It is truly amazing that these seers from the 19th century were able to perceive, or create, symbols which are persistently accurate and effective in the 21st. You will explore and find for yourself how to use them, if you get in the spirit of astrological discovery.

I got the book out of curiosity. I was somewhat familiar with Sabian Symbols but had not heard of similar work by "Charubel" and "Sepharial", until an acquaintance mentioned Charubel. I googled around and found this book -- with a bonus! two unrelated Symbol Sets in one book!

So far I haven't found "sufficient evidence of value in these symbolisations" (quote from page ix in the Preface), but it's interesting reading. Partly because the text is over 100 years old; it's a blast from the past. Would I recommend to someone else? My answer quotes the last sentence on page 47: "At all events there can be no harm in adding this new (sic) series to the literature of the subject, and in the belief that it may be of some service in the cause of truth, I commend it to the notice of my fellow-students."

i liked the idea,very lyric,but not very practical