The Real Astrology [Paperback]

John Frawley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2001

Spica Award: International Book of the Year, 2001. The astrology that is ubiquitous today is quite different from astrology as practised throughout almost all of its long history. The dilute and distorted version with which we are so familiar is not the study that has fascinated so many of the finest minds in our culture with its intellectual depth and practical precision. John Frawley provides a searching - and often hilarious - critique of modern astrology, and a detailed introduction to all the main branches of the traditional craft. Accessible to those with no prior knowledge of the subject, yet sufficiently through to serve as a vade mecum for the student or practitioner.

Product Details

• Paperback: 210 pages
• Publisher: Apprentice Books (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0953977404
• ISBN-13: 978-0953977406
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #935,222 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introduction to Traditional Horary Astrology, February 22, 2006

By 

Christopher Warnock (Iowa City, IA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Real Astrology (Paperback)

John Frawley's the Real Astrology gives a clear and accomplished introduction to the art of horary astrology as actually practiced in 17th century England, particularly by the illustrious William Lilly. Horary astrology looks at the chart of the birth of a question, rather than a chart of the birth of a person. Horary allows for incredibly precise and accurate concrete predictions of actual events. Frawley explains the techniques of horary astrology clearly and concisely and the Real Astrology is vital for anyone interesting in learning or mastering horary astrology.

Other reviewers have apparently found Frawley's relentless assertion of the superiority of traditional astrology not to their taste. All I can say is that many traditional astrologers have left modern for traditional, but I am not aware of any traditional astrologers who have forsaken it for modern. The ability of traditional horary to make such amazingly accurate predictions is supremely seductive. Don't be put off by other reviews, take it from a practicing traditional astrologer, Frawley's Real Astrology is the real deal!

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cows With Guns., January 27, 2004

By 

"earth_elephant" (Queensland, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Real Astrology (Paperback)

This astrology book fires the loudest, if not the first shots in the war of traditional astrology vs modern psychological astrology. There are many who believe that the time has come for such a strong stance. With modern techniques becoming more and more inclusive of points to deliniate, as well as assuming a gauzy new-age mindset, the practice of pure predictive astrology has come dangerously close to losing its original direction. In this regard Frawley pulls no punches. He points out where (in his opinion) modern astrology fails in being truly useful, and how the study of William Lilly's classic "Christian Astrology" contains much that astrologers need to accurately assess any chart. It is an inspiring read for those who are ready for its message, offering many laugh-out-loud moments as Taurean Frawley skewers yet another sacred astrological cow. But aside from the snarkiness, there is great depth to his ideas, and it is obvious that Frawley has spent significant time contemplating some profound philosophical concepts. He seeks to tie many of them together to form a foundation of meaningfulness to astrology which has, so far, been dominated by the very recent beliefs of the Theosophists. I give it 4 out of 5, because I would have liked to have seen far more explanation of his ideas, and less vitriol. For more on his techniques, we must look to "Real Astrology Applied," the follow-up to "Real Astrology."

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exquisite book, May 28, 2007

By 

Manuel Monasterio (Argentina) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Real Astrology (Paperback)

I am a licensed psychologist with a fulltime practice as a more or less "modern astrologer" according to Frawley's dismissive description. But this is absolutely irrelevant, because Frawley's book represents the most delicious reading! Is Frawley arrogant, as other reader says? Anyone that charges for his personal courses as he does -they must be the more expensive available in the world-would certainly not be categorized as "modest"! And so what? The Real Astrology is very well written, highly amenable, and from Frawley's perspective as a Traditionalist, he is absolutely right. The Astrology that he and others like him practice is the Real Astrology from the perspective of the Tradition.Anyone with some kind of first hand experience in the Western Esoteric Tradition must know that Frawley is right in his disapproval of the modern-psychological approach. Is he vitriolic? Indeed! Again, from the point of view of Tradition, in its deepest Spiritual meaning, the slaughtering that "modernism" has done with Classic Astrology fully deserves a strong reprimand. Traditions looks at Astrology as a Sacred Art inmersed into a hierarchical Universe. Psychoanalysis -to name just one of the many "traditional" deviations- in all its forms is the precise counterpart of this Approach. Frawley does a lot for inviting the posmodern reader to come again and restore the forgotten World of the Soul, in a society that has sorely lost its Way for the pursuit of empty lights and technocratic games. A highly recommended and exquisite book!