Excellent book for
serious beginning students of astrology,
January 27, 1999
Reviewer:
An Amazon.com Customer
An excellent book by a highly regarded
author, "The Inner Sky" takes
the reader through a gradual, systematic
approach to weaving together the elements
of the birth chart. Though this book is
dense with information, author Steven
Forrest strikes an easy-going and
engaging tone that encourages rather than
overwhelms the reader. Some information
is given on the mechanics of how to cast
a natal (birth) chart, but the primary
focus is on understanding the
characteristics of the houses, signs and
planets, and how they interact with each
other. Major aspects are covered, as well
as the influence of retrograde planets.
Rather than providing lists of rigid
interpretations for each configuration,
"The Inner Sky" teaches the
reader what questions to ask, and where
in the chart to look for the answers. The
author takes the view that an
astrological chart indicates inclination
and opportunity, not irreversible fate.
Most importantly, you will learn to
organize the wealth of information
present in the birth chart in a way that
enables you to give a professional, fluid
and intuitive interpretation without
losing the structure of the chart. After
practicing the methods outlined in the
book, you should be able to do an
"in person" chart
interpretation without having to stop and
consult reference materials. You will
learn to identify the seeds of
opportunity present in whatever chart you
are looking at; you will be able to
articulate, for each individual, the
early warning signs that they are getting
'out of balance' with themselves; and you
will discover what experiences, in which
life arenas, will help them re-connect
with their essential self. If you could
only buy one book to learn natal
astrology and the basics of chart
interpretation, "The Inner Sky"
would serve you well. For those
interested in further reading, "The
Inner Sky" contains an appendix of
books recommended by the author, Steven
Forrest, all of which are reputable and
handily broken into
"beginner's" and
"advanced" categories.
6 of 6
people found the following review
helpful:
This is the book that
taught me how to think astrologically,
October 31, 1998
Reviewer:
A reader from The East
Village
If you want to read just one book
about astrology, this is the book I'd
recommend. It's a simple, straightforward
introduction to astrological symbols; it
presents a vocabulary of planets, signs
and houses and teaches you how to put
them together yourself. Unpretentious,
often humorous and completely
good-natured, this book is rooted in the
idea that humans have free will and that
astrology is a creative art.