AstroBookReview: The New Astrology For Women

(I have "The New Astrology" copy, so I will be reviewing that one. Don't ask me why the bookfinder on here won't find the copy I own.)

I thought this one was an interesting take on astrological topics, even though a good portion of it is outdated when you read the book past 2005 (this was published in 1998). In the less-current section, there are charts and trends that go until 2005. Obviously, I kind of ignored those bits. There's also bits about Jupiter and Uranus cycles.

Jessica Adams's basis of analysis is what zodiac signs you have your sun, moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars in. She refers to you as a mix of all of those signs and what traits you are likely to have, as well as what traits men in your life might have. She has a 5-minute match section that I liked, even though I don't think it's a perfect style (as she admits). You compare your planets to his and see if they are cosmic, clicking, clunking (i.e. no particular reaction) or clashing. It also goes into what a guy is looking for in a woman based on his Moon and Venus signs. I have issues with figuring out synastry/compatibility stuff, but this book breaks it down pretty simply and well there.

(Note: she does say for lesbians/bi chicks to look at the Moon and Venus signs in particular for their genders, but it's pretty man-centric in general here because astrology is pretty gendered.)

She talks about rising signs and Saturn Returns and synchronicities that may go on in your life in a brief but mind-blowing fashion. I rather wish she'd talked about them a bit more.

I'm going to quote from the Saturn Return section because I think it's pretty cool and relevant.

"Typically, anything that is meant to be for the long term will be firmed up and set in concrete. You will end up committing yourself, very seriously and in a way that makes you feel like that wonderful thing. A Mature Woman Making A Mature Decision. There may also be parts of your life that you are familiar with, or even that you want very much- but at Saturn Return time, they will go. You may cut away things that aren't right for you deliberately. Or, if you are not aware of how inappropriate things have been for you, it's likely you'll feel quite fearful or anxious about the fact that things are changing.

I have seen enough Saturn Returns in the lives of my clients to know that one piece of advice will always work: go with it. Saturn can feel quite relentless- and end up making you feel thoroughly miserable and depressed- if you hang on to the things it wants you to let go of.

Just as important at this time is the idea of making the Big Decision. Just as you will have to let some things pass, there is also every chance that you will be presented with a chance to seriously commit yourself to something that is right for you. It may well have been on your agenda for years. Saying yes to it in a serious way will make you feel terribly responsible and terribly adult. But the good, constructive things that get firmed up now will be with you for a long time to come.

Characteristically, women go through a chain of events that looks like this:

1. Anxiety over elements of life tha seem to be fading, or disappearing from your life. Difficult losses, and an acknowledgement that some things in your life were never going to be realities.

2. A difficult, but potentially rewarding commitment, to life changes which are going to affect you for years to come. A rather serious feeling that what you do now must take you forward into the future, too. Typically, a conviction that you are getting older and that you now have to get real about life.

3. After a couple of years of feeling terribly mature, sensible- and, let's face it- older, about things, you lighten up. Saturn's influence fades as you move between 30 and 31, and now that you know where you stand in life (you've been building the foundations, after all) you can relax and take risks again."

Another interesting section that I want to quote from is the Rising Sign section, because she has a take on it that I haven't seen before either. Fate will keep bringing situations to you that are related to your Rising Sign. Cancer Rising people will have family and baby issues throughout their life, Aries Rising people will always end up in fighting situations, etc.

As a Scorpio Rising, mine seems pretty uh...disturbing. Quoting again:

"Fate says that part of your journey is going to be quite intense. Scorpio is closely tied to the story of the phoenix, which rose from its own ashes. Surviving crises, and becoming a new woman as a result of them, is part of your life story too.

The Scorpio Rising journey is inevitably associated with death, and some women who have this life path may have to deal with the reality of the death of someone close to them or they may themselves have a brush with death or some life-threatening illness. The deeper meaning of the Scorpio Rising journey, though, is actually death and resurrection.

The kind of crises you encounter are transformative by nature. Scorpio Rising women will commonly describe life-changing events as times of real pain and darkness, but something quite extraordinary happens after the long trawl through the depths: they become new version of their old selves. I think the Scorpio Rising journey is about survival, above all other things. The survival of the spirit after a literal or symbolic death experience is something you may end up appreciating in quite an intense way. For your own part, this tendency to "die" and be reborn may result in quite a lot of physical changes in your lifetime. Scorpio Rising women honor and recognize the times they rise from the ashes by changing their bodies, faces, clothes, or hair."

Pretty fucking eerie...but well, true. Given all the death issues that have been going on forever around me, I can't help but think that at some point I have to "die off" emotionally, maybe around when my dad finally goes. Because things can't change or improve until after that point is finally hit. Hitting bottom, you know.

I kind of can't wait for it to occur in a way (even if um, I don't seem to be ready for it to hit in freaking July), so I can move the hell on already from being Sad Dark Pain Girl With Dying Parent Drama all the damn time.

I have no idea what I might become later, though. It's hard to imagine I would change drastically.