The General Principles of Astrology [Hardcover]

Aleister Crowley (Author), Hymenaeus Beta (Editor), Evangeline Adams (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2002

This first full-scale reconstruction of his essential text has waited 85 years to appear as he originally intended it. Long before there was Linda Goodman, long before astrology bestsellers turned up in supermarkets, there was Aleister Crowley, the most important astrological scholar and authority of the early 20th century. Ghostwriting for Evangeline Adams, it was Crowley who wrote the vast majority of her classic textbooks, Astrology: Your Place in the Sun (1927) and Astrology: Your Place Among the Stars (1930). General Principles of Astrology finally acknowledges Crowley's authorship. Crowley's goal was to abandon traditional assumptions, so he based his findings on actual charts and how they were expressed in people's lives. In his characteristically clear and elegant prose, Crowley discusses each planet from a scientific and mythological point of view. He provides an exhaustive analysis of astrological types, drawing conclusions for over 180 astrological nativities of well-known artists, poets, musicians, philosophers, politicians, and business leaders from the 18th to the 20th century. This new book is composed of painstakingly gathered work, primarily ghostwritten by Crowley, and published in various early twentieth-century texts. It is published here in one volume for the first time, in an undertaking endorsed by both the Adams and Crowley estates.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) was a magus, poet, sexual athlete, mountaineer, traitor, drug fiend, and Prophet of a New Eon. He has been dubbed "The Wickedest Man in the World." Author of 777, Diary of a Drug Fiend, and Book of Lies, as well as many other books, Crowley, with Freida Harris, also created the bestselling Thoth Tarot Deck.

Evangeline Adams (1868?-1932) was America's premier astrologer in the 20's and 30's, was responsible for the wider social acceptance of astrology in the United States, and is celebrated to this day as the mother of American astrology

Hymenaeus Beta XI° is the Frater Superior of Crowley's mystical order, the Order of Oriental Templars.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 640 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books (September 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877289085
• ISBN-13: 978-0877289081
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,120,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Crowley's Astrology under the guise of Adams, October 12, 2002

By 

rareoopdvds (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The General Principles of Astrology (Hardcover)

This new tome from notorious occultist Crowley was originally two books with Evangeline Adams as its author. According to the introduction by H. Beta, Crowley was in New York for sometime and met with Adams whom they were to write a book on astrology together. Due to unfortunate circumstances, Adams took the material that Crowley wrote, reworked, omitted and added her own material and eventually became an authority on the subject. The two books by Adams, "Your Place in the Sun" and "Your Place Among the Stars" (written 1927 and 1930 respectively) are essentially the works of Aleister Crowley. This edition by Samuel Weiser brings back Crowley's original writings in their original form and in one book. In a similar format as Magick Book 4, 'The General Principles of Astrology' is bound in a nice maroon hardcover cloth book with a sigil embossed on the cloth cover in metallic gold (looks like a modified Mercury symbol). Crowley's writing at many times is elusive even for the most astute occultist, however, as in Magick 4, he is making great efforts to be clear to a larger audience. The text was written in 1915 before the discovery of Pluto, so for some astrologers that may be your only set back.

In my opinion and from what I know of Crowley, the work is largely unfinished, however, what is presented is entirely a workable system. Crowley probably had the least amount of faith in astrology as a science among all the occult arts, but because he was so verse in many subjects, he is not one to let it be unexplored. Astrology seems as vast a subject as Kabbalah, as so much is written about it, that it seems that no one person can legitimately claim authority. My preference is Alan Leo's work even though much of his work is before Pluto as well. Crowley stands as a modern authority on much occult work that this was a book I could trust in giving a clear exposition on the subject.

The book is broken up similarly to the many astrology books out there on the market today. Beginning general aspects of the houses, different signs to be aware of and their meanings and a correspondence with his tarot deck. Then a discourse on the meanings of the planets, rising signs, sun signs with each of their attributes and characteristics. After a large section taken up by each planey in a sign, he ends with 100 or so famous people and their horoscopes. So in my opinion, Crowley could have easily enlarged this already big work (596 pages!). In sum, the book is well presented and will look sharp on any bookshelf, and for any serious astrologer to consider this excellent entry into the large world of the study of the astros.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The General Principles of Astrology by Aleister Crowley and Evangeline adams, September 9, 2007

By 

Michele Oaklander - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The General Principles of Astrology (Hardcover)

An excellent book, though more for the intermediate and advanced astrological student than the beginner. The reason for this is because many of the explanations for basic Astrological information offered here are of a more classical nature than most of the modern "New Age" oriented books. Also of great interest is the collection of natal charts of notable individuals from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. This is because the best way to learn how to read a chart comes from studying charts, and what better way to do that than analyzing the natal map of a famous person whose deeds before the public have revealed much of their personality. The refreshing aspect here is that one will get to see the charts of individuals like Sir Issac Newton, Mozart, and Shelley rather than the likes of Madonna or Britney Spears.

For this reader, a further plus regarding the book is that its author, Aleister Crowley, is revealed not only as the ghost writer for the famous American Astrologer Evangeline Adams, but also for the truly important thinker he was rather than the distorted and dark charlatan he is often portrayed as by those who are ignorant of his serious scholarly work.

All in all I would rate this as an excellent addition to the library of anyone interested in Spirituality, Metaphysics, or the Occult as well as for those who are passionate about Astrology.

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best astrology book, January 4, 2007

By 

Prometheus rising - See all my reviews

This review is from: The General Principles of Astrology (Hardcover)

Astrology was forbidden and therefore neighwell forgotten till late 19th century. It was Crowley who raised astrology from obscurity. And he knows well that which reimplemented into western culture.

A beautiful book which describes -as its title pronounces- the general principles of astrology. No other astrology book I have yet seen that does that so well. All planets and signs are described very basic and yet rich in information. Relievingly absent is the psychologized approach toward astrology that saturates the content of the contemporary books.

There are almost 200 charts of well-known people which he interprets throughout the book. There is additional information where Crowley crosses astrology with other occult knowledge.

Heralded is Weiser who published this book in the fashion it deserves. Beautiful hard cover and rich in figures, tables and illustrations.