The Sabian Symbols
All Levels Divinatory, Interperative This isn't exactly about the machanics of astrology, but on the periphery and still very, very cool. Sabian Symbols were created in 1925 in a single day in a park in San Diego in which an astrologer presented each degree of the zodiac, one by one, to a clairvoyant who then described an image she saw. You can look up the degree of every placement in your chart to paint a full, psychedelic picture of your personality. You can also look up the degrees of New and Full Moons or other transits to get another perspective on what they might mean. They're a divination tool like tarot cards, and can bring a much-needed poetic immediacy when astrology feels a little too math-y.
Renn Butler - The Archetypal Universe: Astrological Patterns in Human Culture, Thought, Emotion and Dreams
All Levels Archetypal, Mythological One of my top 3 favorite astrology books. It reads like a beautiful, poetic index. If you've ever wondered what it means to have your moon square Mars, or what all the astrologers mean when they talk at length about the Jupiter-Venus conjunction, this is where to go for the full picture. It's a well-organized breakdown of every planetary combination by their principles, character & themes, shadow qualities, archetypes & spirituality, nature & the arts, dream images & themes, and themes in deep self-exploration. It will take you so far beyond the cliché keywords into descriptive worlds that plant deep into your understanding of astrology as a whole.
Visionary Activist Astrology
All Levels Archetypal, Mythological This is probably my favorite astroogy "book" (it actually only exists as an audiobook) of all time. I had been teaching myself astrology for a long time before listening to this, but this changed my perspective altogether. I re-listen to it regularly. The premise is very simple: Caroline Casey is an eccentric, but very intelligent Boomer and lifelong student. In this, she essentially goes through each planet and tells stories. Some are scientific, a lot are mythological, some personal, and you will come out understanding these planets in what they mean, how their transits feel, and what to do -- in a way no other book I know does. Highly, highly recommend.
Cosmos and Psyche: Intimations of a New World View
Intermediate to Advanced Historical, Transpersonal This is canon for astrology nerds everywhere. Richard Tarnas was really the first to correlate astrological transits with big, societal shifts, in the modern world specifically. It also blends history, philosophy, and the psychology of human consciousness to flesh out the full archetypal picture of our transpersonal experiences.
