Parkers' Astrology [Paperback]

Julia Parker (Author), Derek Parker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 17, 2009

A new edition of this universally acknowledged practical introduction to astrology for interested amateurs and budding professionals

If you are interested in the zodiac and astrology, let Derek and Julia Parker guide you through the stars and planetary activity.

You'll learn the basics of astrology, discover astrological techniques and join them as they take a look at the planets at work. Includes the latest developments in astrology and explores advanced birth chart techniques using midpoints, harmonics, and the Moon's nodes.

Leave nothing to chance - find out more about your relationships, marriage, career, leisure and health with this definitive guide to astrology.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

With its lavish color illustrations, detailed discussions of astrological techniques, and comprehensive chart building tools, Parkers' Astrology is an outstanding book for any serious student of astrology. The husband and wife team of Julia and Derek Parker reissued this edition that offers many new components, such as the recently discovered comet/asteroid Chiron and its eccentric orbit. (For example, when Chiron is in Aries, the typical Arian could experience considerable restlessness.) It also includes new discussions on eclipses, Relocation Astrology, and Horary Astrology (which focuses on where and when a question is asked, rather than a birth chart). The first half offers rich color graphics and compelling narratives about the 12 sun signs, various chart reading techniques, and how astrology influences sexuality, health, business, and family. The second half delves into the nitty-gritty work of astrology and is downscaled to three-color visuals. It includes a hefty 150- page section on "The Planets at Work" and a 75-page section on astrological tables. The 1994 edition was faulted for being too difficult to build a chart from. Hopefully, astrologers will find this revised edition more accessible and consistent. --Gail Hudson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Seldom has a handsome coffee-table book offered so much detailed information. This assemblage should be an eye-opener to those who think astrology is an easy craft for amateurs. In addition to the plethora of charming illustrations, there are many diagrams. Included are an ephemeris covering the years 1921-2000, sidereal times, houses for Northern latitudes, progressions, aspects, and forms for charts. The authors also collaborated on The Compleat Astrologer (McGraw, 1971). While their book may be useful to large reference collections, it is more practical as a book to own, since it offers much more than the usual popular surveys that attract the library browser.
-Jeanne S. Bagby, formerly with Tucson P.L., Ariz.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; Rev Upd edition (August 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756658500
• ISBN-13: 978-0756658502
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #218,098 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Pros & Cons of Parker's Astrology, January 30, 2004

By 

Sushimimi (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parker's Astrology: The Definitive Guide to Using Astrology in Every Aspect of Your Life (New Edition) (Hardcover)

As a practicing astrologer for many years, I'd like to say that, this book has it's definite pros & cons. When I first got into astrology, I found this book in the public library and it proved a fruitful first step. It presents itself with lots of colored pictures & diagrams, a history of astrology, a look from an astromer's point view, along with cookbook interpretations for both house & sign placement (natal, prog and transits). It also offers a good summary on every sun and ascendant sign, and touches on some basics when looking at synastry, as well as personal life questions like career, health, etc.

If you're looking for information on *how* to draw up a natal chart, this book is flatly too difficult. I was able to draw up my own natal but it took a couple months. Desperation forced me to, as the internet and software programs weren't available at the time. If you want to learn how to do the calculations by hand, I would suggest "March, Marion D. & Joan McEvers: THE ONLY WAY TO LEARN ASTROLOGY, VOLUME 2: MATH AND INTERPRETATION TECHNIQUES" as the starting point. You'll also need:

- an appropriate ephemeris (Midnight GMT preferred)
- a World Atlas containing exact latitudes & longitudes by city
- a Table of Houses (basic Placidus or Koch)
- a book on Time Changes which addresses issues such as Daylight Savings Time, Wartime, etc.

I don't believe there is one single book out there that contains all the above information as it would be bigger than an unabridged dictionary.

Unfortunately, I'm not finding Marion March's Volume 2 book on Amazon.. (how strange), but it's out there and definitely in print. 8)

Other than that, if you're serious about studying astrology, you should be expanding your book collection immensely because by no means will any one book be sufficient. Parker's Astrology is definitely a nice place to start though.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not one of those "quickie" astrology books, August 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Parkers' Astrology: The Essential Guide to Using Astrology in Your Daily Life (Paperback)

This book is not for you if you think of astrology as a casual hobby. This isn't one of those books you buy if you want to read about your best friend's personality and be done with it in an hour. By far more thorough than your average "quickie" astrology book, this one will get those brain cells working as you calculate local sidereal times, correct for longitude and latitude, and figure out the exact positions of planets at the time you were born. It takes a while before you get the hang of calculating charts, but it's definitely worth the trouble, as you can then make distinctions between powerful interplanetary aspects and weaker ones where the angle is 5 degrees off-center. This is a great help when figuring out what everything means. Nearly half the book is devoted to helping you interpret all of the chart influences. Mercury in the 6th house in direct opposition to the Ascendent? You'll find out what that signifies here!

The Parkers also give advice on progressing the birth chart to make predictions about life events, comparing charts of partners to search for rapport or tension, and answering specific questions about health, lifestyle, etc. The book is also beautifully illustrated, though the binding is not very robust. The ephemeris only covers through the year 2000, so you'll soon need a newer one if you want to look at the charts of newborns.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good if you have a basis, June 5, 2000

By 

Steven Wasson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parkers' Astrology: The Essential Guide to Using Astrology in Your Daily Life (Paperback)

Parker's Astrology is a lavishly detailed and gorgeous book that gives not only explanations of signs, houses, and all that good stuff, but also explains in detail how to derive every sort of chart one would expect from a single omnibus book on the subject.

The book has a failing though in interior organization. Items are scattered about without any sense of order I could find. Concepts and procedures would be introduced and then not utilized until dozens of pages later. The writing is a bit colloquial at times, and definitely not the most accessible. Having read through the book twice, I am still not completely sure what a 'progression' is, though I know how to generate one.

Overall, I think this book would be an excellent second book for one with a confirmed interest and background in astrology, but for someone just starting to learn, a different source might be more useful.