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  Home › Writing › Top Ten Astrology Books › The Practice of Prediction                                                                               Books::   1  1  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

Top Ten Astrology Books

     Working with Astrology The Combination of Stellar Influences Anima Mundi Hymns to the Ancient Gods Tables of Planetary Phenomena The Practice of Prediction The Magic Thread The Cosmic Loom Navigating by the Stars British Entertainers
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6: The Practice of Prediction.
Nancy Anne Hastings. Red Wheel/Weiser 1990.


This is the masterpiece of a brilliant astrologer I would love to have met, studied with or listened to. Unfortunately she died a couple of years after its publication having ‘only’ written this and another book Secondary Progressions: Time to Remember. I found that book a disappointment. This, however, is one of the very best “cookbook” astrology books there is, and it covers transits, progressions and aspect patterns brilliantly in only 300 pages.

Hastings’ view chart (data: 18th January 1945, 23:20EWT, Attleborough, Massachusetts, 71W17, 41N57 - this information is in the book) is amazing, with an angular cardinal grand cross that tells you something about her incredible potential, realized in this tome. The book is subtitled ‘The Astrologer’s Handbook of Technique’s used to Accurately Forecast the Future’ and it delivers on the promise of this title. The preface contains a great anecdote about Hastings sitting on a panel at an astrology conference in the mid 1970s. The panel included a psychiatrist, someone completing a master’s degree in psychology and a therapist. Hastings managed to stir everything up by confessing she was a predictive astrologer. Prediction was frowned upon by these other professionals. They ‘did their best to make it seem as if I worked from a tent, using a crystal ball, incense and amulets... their attitude was that predicting difficulty was unthinkable (perhaps impossible) and offering support during rough periods unprofessional.’

After this there is a breakdown of the aspects she used - including the much-underused semi-octile series. This is followed by 30 pages of superb illustration of real case studies and then the meat of the book, a cookbook of interpretations of progressed and transit planetary pair combinations. The book contains some of the best writing on planetary combinations in transit and progression you are likely to see, ideas and anecdotes you can use in your reading - if you see a copy - buy it.

Other Reviews:  Astrology, Transformation and Empowerment    Orpheus, Voices in Contemporary Astrology     


  Home › Writing › Top Ten Astrology Books › The Practice of Prediction                                                                               Books::   1  1  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

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