Customer Reviews

Power of the Midheaven : The Astrology of Self-Realization

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is firstly, I should state, the only book I have come across that focuses at all on the MC, and for that, Ms. Clement should be praised. I have always found the MC to be highly relevant in an individual's chart and most books barely even touch on its significance.
Ms. Clement seems to apply her own ideas as to what each placement means, and I am not sure at all that some of them are correct. While there are always opportunities for new applications and certainly should not be thwarted or discouraged, I would like to at least be offered her reasoning on some of the interpretations she offered.
The bulk of this book is charts and birth datas for an individual to refer to while learning. I found that to be extremely beneficial, as you can erect the chart and work your way through the learning process.
Midheaven is so much more than just the tenth house cusp and work ethics and so forth, it really is the deeper side of our own individual selves. I think that the reader should use this book to learn more about the MC's importance, but as far as interpretations, if it sounds incorrect, verifiy it with one of the "Planets in" books.

I purchased this book recently, looking for greater insight into my Midheaven. I was happy to find the text, as there are not many books on this subject in print. But I didn't get the insight I was looking for. Clement discusses the Midheaven from more of a spiritual aspect, which left the astrological aspect lacking. I closed the book still feeling hunger for the knowledge I sought. If there's a better book on Midheavens out there, I don't know about it, but I'm definitely looking for it.

Dear California Reader,

I found this book very useful, as it explores a point that has not been discussed much in other books. Here are some thoughts for you about your review:

Ms. Clement uses the Koch house system. The Midheaven is the same for Koch as it is for Placidus, so you can rely on the charts you have as far as this book is concerned.

I would not think the examples of the Sagittarius Midheaven, Ivan the Terrible, Allen Ginsberg and Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, represent conservatism. The Midheaven shows what you know about yourself, according to Ms. Clement, or what you can know. California Reader, you are correct in stating that the inner self is on the other side of the chart - the inner self is the IC. Ms. Clement's work explores one avenue to that inner, less conscious knowledge, and her examples show us people who knew themselves quite well.

Finally, Ms. Clement did characterize Sagittarius as a time of the year when we traditionally need to conserve food and fuel because of the cold (this is a clearly Northern Hemisphere view of the sign). That does not mean that all people with a Sagittarius Midheaven are conservatives - rather, they tend to be careful consumers. I think it is important to follow Ms. Clement's advice: The Midheaven is not the Sun. We can apply broad concepts of the zodiacal signs here, but we cannot expect that the Midheaven in your chart will be just like the Sun in that sign.

The book jacket includes recommendations from such lights of the astrological community as Maria Simms, Bernie Ashman, Gloria Star and Eleonora Kimmel. These folks know a valuable new title when they see one.

As far as I know, this is the only book on the midheaven published. I bought it after flipping through it a couple of times, and I was impressed by the number of birth charts that appear. I love looking at famous people's charts, so that was a big plus. The first problem is that Clement uses the Koch house system, and I am a strict Placidius house user. This, for me, screwed things up, because I don't know my midheaven for the Koch system, so I can't accurately read the info about me. Secondly, I disagree with Ms. Clement's ideas about what the midheaven means. I think it describes your public persona, how you would appear if you were famous (this is because it's the beginning of the 10th house). She thinks that it shows your inner self. I'm not sure where this theory came from; the personal houses are way on the other side of the chart! And lastly, Ms. Clement is way off target about the traits of the sign of Sagittarius. Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, the planet of expansion and risk-taking. So why does she claim that Sagittarians are conservative? That's a Saturnian trait, Jupiter's opposite. I'd give this a lower score, but it's still informative and readable. But if only there were other books on the midheaven out...

The introduction and first two chapters of this book is nothing but annoying, meaningless psychobabble. I say this as someone with a master's degree in clinical psychology. The astrological knowledge about the mid-heaven to be gained by reading these pages of the book could be summed up in a paragraph or two and certainly doesn't need the distracting "in-depth" psychological treatment. Fortunately, the chapters dealing with each sign are much better, but still don't offer any new information that can't be found in dozens of other, better books.

For me this is a book I have to read after I have studied a little more on Astrology in general. However, the introduction and a few other articles in it I could already decipher......it left me eager to learn more and go deeper into the study of Astrology.

Yes, a book about the midheaven , and really great .
It gives an understanding of different ways how people
manifest them selves .So you can enjoy the differences.
Read it and observe the people near to you.
The part in each section about resistance versus space , reminds me of the observer of say for instance krishnamurti , but it is more personalised through signs and aspects and how to work with it.
Written in an easy to read style .really spiritual but in an down to earth way
fr gr cil'(scorpio midheaven!!?!!!)