How to Practice Mayan Astrology: The Tzolkin Calendar and Your Life Path [Paperback]

Bruce Scofield (Author), Barry C. Orr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 8, 2006

A contemporary and practical guide to Mayan astrological techniques

• Discusses the logic and meaning of the 20 day-signs of the Mayan calendar

• Explains the many cycles of Mayan astrology, such as the 9-day cycle of the Night Lords and the 13-day trecena

• Contains extensive tables of Mayan astrological data, allowing readers to cast their own Mayan horoscopes

How to Practice Mayan Astrology presents a contemporary guide to one of the most sophisticated astrological systems ever developed. Like other ancient peoples, the Maya looked to the cycles of the planets as markers of time and designators of order. The predictable cycles they observed became codified in the Mayan calendar and astrological system as a way of organizing the seeming chaos of human life.

Mayan astrology is based on 20 named days that are cycled 13 times to create a 260-day calendar, the Tzolkin. The authors explain the symbolism, logic, and meaning of the 20 day-signs; how these signs reflect 260 possible personality types; and how they can be used for divination. They also explain the important role of the Four Directions and the planet Venus in one’s personality matrix and life issues. Included are extensive, easy-to-use tables of Mayan astrological data, allowing readers to determine their day-signs, to see how these signs are also influenced by the cycle of the Night Lords and the 13-day trecena, and to cast their own horoscopes.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Everything that you would need to set up your own personal Maya life path chart is included . . . . This is not just another interesting book, it is a work in progress, and a tool that can be used by all who wish to."
(Bonnie Cehovet, Angelfire.com, Dec 2006 )

"Bear Books has once again brought a fine book to the readers. Full of interesting insights and observations, the authors are to be congratulated on a well-written astrology book which covers a subject rarely seen in print. The tables make up a considerable portion of the book and serve as a distinct guide to casting the horoscope.

"Step-by-step, the reader is given a sound and logical explanation of Mayan astrology. The definitions and discussion of the signs is precise. A guide to the culture of the Mayans is given for reference.

"Well-written. Interesting. Enjoyable." (Lee Prosser, Ghostvillage.com, March 2007 )

“Insightful and grounded in the authentic calendar tradition, this much needed book is an ingenious exposition of Mayan astrology. It explains in simple terms, and fully utilizes, many indispensable features that are too often overlooked, providing an unparalleled practical guide and everyday reference.” 
(John Major Jenkins, author of Maya Cosmogenesis 2012 )

"For those who enjoy astrology, history, and culture, I highly recommend How to Practice Mayan Astrology."
(Elder Frank Spirit Wolf La Rusch, Whirling Rainbow, Vol. 20, No. 4 )

From the Back Cover

NEW AGE / ASTROLOGY

“Insightful and grounded in the authentic calendar tradition, this much needed book is an ingenious exposition of Mayan astrology. It explains in simple terms, and fully utilizes, many indispensable features that are too often overlooked, providing an unparalleled practical guide and everyday reference.”
--John Major Jenkins, author of Maya Cosmogenesis 2012

How to Practice Mayan Astrology presents a contemporary guide to one of the most sophisticated astrological systems ever developed. Like other ancient peoples, the Maya looked to the cycles of the planets as markers of time and designators of order. The predictable cycles they observed became codified in the Mayan calendar and astrological system as a way of organizing the seeming chaos of human life.

Mayan astrology is based on 20 named days that are cycled 13 times to create a 260-day calendar, the Tzolkin. The authors explain the symbolism, logic, and meaning of the 20 day-signs; how these signs reflect 260 possible personality types; and how they can be used for divination. They also explain the important role of the Four Directions and the planet Venus in one’s personality matrix and life issues. Included are extensive, easy-to-use tables of Mayan astrological data, allowing readers to determine their day-signs, to see how these signs are also influenced by the cycle of the Night Lords and the 13-day trecena, and to cast their own horoscopes.

BRUCE SCOFIELD is the author of seven books on astrology, including Day-Signs: Native American Astrology from Ancient Mexico and Signs of the Time: An Introduction to Mesoamerican Astrology. He has been a practicing astrologer since 1969 and lives in Amherst, Massachusetts. Barry C. Orr is a software developer who designed some of the early computer programs used by technical astrologers. He is coauthor, with Bruce Scofield, of the Maya-Aztec Astro Report, a software program that identifies personality delineations based on the Mayan calendar. He lives in New Jersey.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bear & Company; First Edition edition (December 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159143064X
• ISBN-13: 978-1591430643
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bruce Scofield (b. 7/21/1948) lives in Western Massachusetts, emigrating from New Jersey in 1989. His writings span several subjects including trails and hiking, astrology, history and science. He began studying astrology in 1967 and in 1980 began a private practice from which he has earned a living as an astrological consultant. In the early 1980's his first hiking and astrology books were published and he also passed astrological certification tests from both the American Federation of Astrologers (AFA) and the National Council for Geocosmic Research (CA-NCGR). During the 1990's he was the national education director for NCGR. He is on the faculty of Kepler College (www.kepler.edu) and often speaks at astrology conferences and meetings and is a frequent writer for the Mountain Astrologer magazine and the Llewellyn Moon and Sun Sign books, and has had articles published in the NCGR Journal, Dell Horoscope, American Astrology and many other astrological magazines and journals. His interest in Mesoamerican astrology has a major online presence (www.onereed.com). Bruce has several other interests including science, hiking, photography, music (myspace.com/brucescofield), history and archaeology and has had articles, books and creative works published in those areas as well. He holds a BA in history from Rutgers University, an MA in social sciences from Montclair University and a PhD in geosciences from the University of Massachusetts where he teaches cosmic evolution and Gaia Theory.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent learning tool for the Mayan method of astrology, and culture., March 5, 2007

By 

Deanna M. Pozesny (Elizabethtown, KY. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Practice Mayan Astrology: The Tzolkin Calendar and Your Life Path (Paperback)

I bought this book for two reasons; I became interested in the ancient Maya, as a project for my Anthropology class in college. The interest stayed with me, so the book was a natural progression. Secondly, I do natal astrology charts and discovered the astrologer, Bruce Scofield, online at "The Mountain Astrologer" website. As I read every article I could find by him, I discovered that he is an authority on the Maya culture.
The Mayan calendar in itself is a challenge...and if you're up to it, I recommend this book as a wonderful teacher. Bruce Scofield presents material that can be difficult to fathom, in a simple, easy to study and understand manner.
Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to Pratice Mayan Astrology The Tzolkin Calendar and Your Path, September 18, 2008

By 

Susan P. Parker "SuzyQ" (Claymont, DE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Practice Mayan Astrology: The Tzolkin Calendar and Your Life Path (Paperback)

This book is very user friendly. After doing some birth calculations on my own I found the authors personality desriptions amazingly accurate. For anyone who has an interest in astrology, I highly recommend Mayan astrology.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable, A Highly Useful & Enlightening Masterpiece, November 20, 2009

By 

Joseph Ross "Psychic Astrologer & Party Reade... (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Practice Mayan Astrology: The Tzolkin Calendar and Your Life Path (Paperback)

As a fulltime psychic astrologer for over 36 years who has studied and used Western, Chinese, Hindu, and Native American Astrology to help over fifty thousand clients from all walks of life, I find this book to be remarkable in every respect. Deep, informative, fun, easy to read, incredibly meaningful, with a terrific one hundred year ephemeris attached that will enable you to "read" all your friends and family with much insight and amazement.

Within hours of reading it, I had much greater insight into the lives of my clients than through any other single source. It makes me think that Mayan astrology is the core astrology of all astrologies, revealing the soul energies of human beings as no other system; yet, as an adjunct to all the other world systems serves as a catalyst that "leavens the whole loaf."

Suffice to say, I am now ordering every book I can on Mayan Astrology with fond anticipation. And I strongly recommend that any astrologer seeking more wisdom, or any human seeing more insight, buy and read this book immediately.

Joseph Ross of [...]