Customer Reviews

North Node Astrology: Rediscovering Your Life Direction and Soul Purpose

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A couple of years back, I happened onto a blog created by astrologer and Jungian therapist, Elizabeth Spring. I was so taken by her wise, insightful, and heartfelt writing that I sent her a fan letter and have followed the evolution of her work since. She has recently published an excellent book, North Node Astrology: Rediscovering your Life Direction and Soul Purpose. It's clear, readable, and personable for students at any level of astrology. Donna Cunningham, MSW

There are a lot of things about this book that I like. She maintains a good pace and answers back to astrological debunkers, but the main thing that is appealing is her extremely clear presentation of the material. She is able to present astrology in a way that clearly reflects the subjects deep philosophical roots. Her inclusion of Jung is exactly what karmic astrology needs because it reflects the amount of thought that does go into esoteric astrology.

The title of this book is a little misleading. The actual descriptions of the nodes does not begin until page 165. Chapters 4-9 are actually entirely on the outer planets. The chapters, in my opinion, are worth reading, but they don't actually talk entirely about the nodes. You basically have to figure out what happens if one of the outer planets conjuncts or aspects a node because this book doesn't explain that in any detail. I agree with one of the other comments; the book is slightly off topic at times.

My orignal review was that the book was fair. I have since changed my opinion after reflecting on my north node for several months. I was uncomfortable with this type of astrology because it seemed damaging to tell people to avoid certain behaviors. After much consideration, I have found that I actually have much more affinity with my North Node than I do with my South Node. I would honestly say that of all astrology books, this book in the long run changed my life the most. I stopped doing my South Node and it wasn't painful once I recognized that I didn't want the behaviors in the first place. This is a great author. She has a lot to contribute.

It's rare to find a book that evolves the existing knowledge of the Nodes. Elizabeth Spring has done this and done it brilliantly. She has a profound understanding of the Nodes by house and sign placement and how they influence destiny, karma and family dynamics. To explain her ideas she draws on her extensive experience as a Jungian therapist who integrates astrology into her practice. She is a gifted writer who makes the information easy to access. It's rare to find a book on the Nodes that is profound and groundbreaking. Elizabeth Spring has done this and done it well.

The book wasn't as informational as I had hoped. And it would have benefited from a much tighter focus on the title subject. My expectation was to have a resource for supporting my application of the North nodes in guiding both my self and my friends on their soul journeys. Instead I found out a whole lot about Elizabeth's journey and very little else. Her blog is well written and focused, so I expected that her book would be of the same caliber. Instead it came across as a compilation of disparate essays that had been composed from personal journals and memoirs.

Perhaps I assumed too much based on her strong connection in her online material between the mythology and symbology of Jungian archetypes and the astrological worlds? She makes passing notes on these much stronger stories and then segues back into her personal views.

This book might be helpful to people who are just approaching the topic and her personal revelations may help others to understand their own. I appreciated the brief tour of the outer planets and thought that her conceptualizations were strong, but I was surprised as the title and cover didn't mention these other influences.

Maybe the title was misleading and should have stated something closer to "A brief introduction to astrology and patterns of human development", although that also promises something that might be broader and well researched.

By note, I've found the works of Jan Spiller on the North Nodes to be much more information packed and useful as reference books.

Elizabeth Spring brings her wisdom as a Jungian therapist but also her poetry, figuratively and literally! This book has a different approach than a typical 'how to' book. While there is an extensive 'cookbook' section and theory and philosophy are discussed, Elizabeth introduces the book with poetry and heart, and some parts of it even read as a novel. I was interested right away and read more in one sitting than I'd planned! As a practicing evolutionary astrologer, the nodes are a big part of understanding your purpose. This book will help you do just that.

Elizabeth Spring's book is unlike any other `introductory' astrology book I've read. She empowers the reader to become their own astrologer, going deeply into the effects of the four planets whose transits profoundly impact our personal lives and then illuminating the twelve nodal patterns as she draws the reader into a greater understanding of their particular life purpose. Someone curious about astrology can come to this book, deepen their understanding of themselves and their life path and come away inspired to learn more. There is enough information here to intrigue the reader with an experience of how astrology works in their own lives without being so much that a beginning reader would find it overwhelming. Spring penetrates to the heart of the chart in a deeply personal, engaging and accessible way. She allows the reader to make sense of their most difficult life experiences without blaming themselves, one of the great blessings of astrology. Using herself and her life to illustrate the way astrology has informed her personal journey is not just courageous, in this context it is a gift.

Elizabeth Spring is one of my favorite astrological writers. Her elegant prose is practical and inspirational, witty and wise. She seamlessly integrates spiritual and Jungian psychological principles into her innovative work on the planets and the Moon's nodes. I enjoy Elizabeth's relaxed, conversational style, her focused, purposeful instruction, her soulful personal accounts, and her instructive case examples. I recommend her book, North Node Astrology.

As a newcomer to astrology I appreciated the careful and thoughtful way that Elizabeth Spring led me into a foreign world and there to reconnect me with what has been lost largely today: our connection to the planets, to the cosmos and to the ancient rhythm of the motions of the spheres.
Dante gave us an entire cosmology in the 14th. century; now Elizabeth retrieves for the modern soul that sense of cosmogonic relationships that dissolve some of our feelings of alienation and recovers the self as part of the cosmos.
Anyone looking for a primer to the planets will enjoy her warm, engaging style and will, I sense, become part of what she cites as America's purchase of "approximately 20 million books on astrology" despite its provability. The proof, rather, is in the purchase. Buy her book and enter the cosmos with a superb guide: Elizabeth!
Dennis Patrick Slattery, New Braunfels Texas

Elizabeth is an experienced astrologer who has put her wisdom into this book. As advertised, you'll find a thorough description of the Lunar Nodes with an emphasis on issues of spiritual direction indicative of the North Node. Elizabeth has succeeded in integrating her Jungian background with an evolutionary approach to spiritual growth. There is a lot more, including chapters on many of the planets. All of this is worth reading, but what makes this book different is the personal touch. I particularly enjoyed, "Cocktails and Karma; Reincarnation Anyone?" This essay stems from her experience as an astrologer discussing philosophical/religious questions with a minister. Other essays address issues of divorce, life cycle passages or managing outer planet transits. In all of these chapters it is clear that Elizabeth has addressed her own life lessons. As a therapist, and clearly someone self-reflective, she is uniquely positioned to relate what happens in real life with the amazing system of astrology. Not many astrology books have literary value...this is certainly one. You'll also advance your understanding of how astrology pertains to spiritual growth. Enjoy.

Elizabeth Spring allows us an intimate look into how as an astrologer she integrates her understanding of astrological truths and transits into her own life's journey. As a Jungian analyst interested in astrology's patterns and images, I found this book rich and engaging. The weaving of principals of Jungian psychology (with many apt quotes from Jung) into this astrological tapestry, speaks convincingly to the author's quest for meaning and soul purpose, inviting a more conscious, more courageous, and more compassionate life. Written with whimsy and kitchen table wisdom, this is a book for psychologically and astrologically minded individuals who strive to hold the opposites, theory and story, personal and archetypal.