26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent starting point for oracles in training -, May 24, 2006
This review is from: The Sabian Symbols: A Screen of Prophecy (Paperback)
I was introduced to the Sabian Symbols many years ago, and have always been particularly interested in the various sets of degree symbols that are available. I've studied several, including the Hindu Shastiamsas (which are actually 1/2 degree) in the effort to refine my divinatory skills.
As I am doing some writing on the symbols myself, I have several books on the subject in my library, but this one usually sits on my desk. I constantly refer to this book, and may need to order a second copy before the summer is out, simply because of the amount of use it gets. For me, that is a five star review in itself.
I also like Linda Hill's book, but her online divination system makes owning the book a moot point, and she does tend to re-word the original image-names here and there, which to me, changes the divinatory essence (which is OK, really). Rudhyar makes something simple a lot more complicated, as if the Symbols (and everything else he wrote about) were a system of divination unto themselves rather than "another bone in the circle" - something to be added to the method of astrology in use. Most other authors tend to take this approach, and a few even imitate Jones' annoyingly dense and ponderous writing style.
Degree symbols don't replace the basic information given by the dignity, aspects and dynamic attributes of an astrological body (planet, node, lot etc.) but they add a new layer of interpretation to the horoscope. They are usually divined by mediumship or scrying, as these were. There are several other sets, such as those by Charubel, Corelli, Kozminsky (appropriated by Kattakar) and others, but the Sabian Symbols of Mark Edmund Jones and Elsie Wheeler are the most prevalent in today's astrological literature.
There have been several books on the Sabians, and this one is by far my favorite. It is the only one that includes actual photocopies of the handwritten notes that Jones took while working with Ms Wheeler to acquire the symbols.
While most authors spend a lot of time working these symbols through their own philosophical motifs, Ms. Roche, being a key Sabian Assembly devotee, expresses her metaphysical roots so clearly and succinctly, that not only do her interpretations seem to be personal opinion, but agenda free.
She makes it easy for the reader to disagree with her view of a symbol and find their own consistent, yet individual interpretation, which is an important premise of the philosophy of divination - the symbol can mean anything or nothing; it is the interpretation of the moment that counts. This freedom and flexibility is certainly present in the spirit of the writing: it is a really enjoyable text.
The section in the beginning that discusses various methods by which the symbols may be employed is excellent, far outstripping the reductionist approach of Rudhyar. It does this because it tends to pin the divination to the major astronomical phenomena people notice, not the geometrical subtext that is, in itself, another layer of interpretation and meaning.
The language in which she writes is far less dense than that of Jones or Rudhyar, and full of common-sense insight. Although there are many places where I can see Dr. Jones' influence in the way she uses her interpretive faculty, it never gets in the way of making this a very enjoyable astrology text of tremendous utility. I wish there were more astrology texts of this quality on the market: good field manuals in the craft are hard to come by.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exactly On The Mark, December 3, 2008
This review is from: The Sabian Symbols: A Screen of Prophecy (Paperback)
I was introduced to Sabian Symbols a long time ago and when I finally set out to get a book on them, I reviewed every available choice and opted for this one. It is everything you need to KNOW what they mean and I apply them to locational astrology as well as to the natal chart. It all seems to work!
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