How to Read Your Astrological Chart: Aspects of the Cosmic Puzzle (Paperback)

~ (Author) "After studying astrology for a while-ten months for some, ten years for others-you decided it's time to stop reading books and start reading charts..." (more)
Key Phrases: keynote planets, natal planet, tropical zodiac, Read Your Astrological Chart, Grand Trine, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Astrology has no dearth of information about the myriad facets of the astrological chart and bewildering array of techniques used to interpret them, but students saturated with details still struggle to put the pieces together. Backed by nearly 30 years of observing humanity through the lens of the horoscope, Donna Cunningham lays out a workable system for reading charts in this latest of her twelve published volumes. It isn't a cookbook, but more of a driver's manual, as she offers her unique spin on the favorite question asked of conference speakers: 'How do you interpret a chart?' Here, Donna teaches the reader to zero in on the most important features of the chart and transits and to synthesize the apparent contradictions. The book offers fresh and often pungent insights into planetary types, missing or weak features, and other facets of the horoscope that shape our character and actions. Donna pays particular attention to the role of aspects, which she believes are the key to understanding not only the birth chart, but also transits and chart comparison.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: RedWheel / Weiser (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578631149
• ISBN-13: 978-1578631148
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #360,082 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

114 of 115 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant book when you're ready to integrate, November 2, 1999

By	Mark McDonough (Manchester, MA) - See all my reviews

I was reluctant to buy Donna's book. My bookshelves are already overflowing with astrology books - many of them unread. But I was captured by her premise. "If you have been practicing for a year and don't feel comfortable reading an actual horoscope, then this is the book you need!" I still get the stunned deer look when confronting a chart for the first time. I start trying to dig through remembrances of past cookbooks I have read. Donna's anti-cookbook approach teaches you how to reason astrologically so you can deduce the delineations yourself. It is not a primer. You need to have the basics firmly in hand that you learned in the cookbooks. What she does is show you how to cut through the clutter, find and read the essential themes in the chart. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has studied astrology for a while and is ready to consolidate their book learning into more easy, flowing interpretations.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best How-To Book on Reading Charts, January 5, 2001

By	"supertechie" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

I've been reading charts since the 1960s and still found much to savor in this book. Cunningham is a master of sorting out the important from the background noise.

The more we learn and the more astrological factors we know about, the more complex it can become to read a chart. Cunningham takes us back to the basics in a way that brings new richness to every chart you will read.

Thanks Donna!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to think like an astrologer, July 4, 2004

By	Anthony Louis (USA) - See all my reviews

Donna Cunningham has written a brief and thoughful book about how astrologers think. She set out to avoid the typical "cookbook" approach and instead focuses on how astrologers combine key factors to interpret a chart. She has succeeded at her task. Donna gives step by step examples of how she arrives at a delineation so that the reader can follow her example when confronting a new chart. This text reminds me of a book I once read about how to learn a new language. It does not teach the language but rather gives helpful advice on how to structure your studies for maximal effect. My only regret is that Donna did not include more examples so that we could see more of her method in action. I would highly recommend this book to astrologers at any level of expertise.