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Venus, Her Cycles, Symbols and Myths by Anne Massey
Book Review October 23, 2006
Sometimes it takes an event like the Autumnal Full Moon that was so startlingly bright it outshone any earthly light to remind us how visible the planets were before electric lights changed our civilized world.
Our lost connection to the stars remains agelessly alive in our cultural myths, dreams, and in the case of Venus as Anne Massey explains in her book, the planet's patterns described by the ancients are repeated in all the forms we call ‘beautiful'. Ancient stories we hold dear, the petals on roses, the divine proportions symmetry of a face that attracts attention, the entwining DNA strand, or the origin of the pentagram which is a very real symbol transcribed by Venus' cycle continuously in our sky.
And, in reality, nothing has changed. Half of our population is female and we adore wealth, make celebrity of beauty, idols of musicians and struggle to return women to their rightful positions as priests, or rather priestesses. We still have pregnancies of a 9-month duration that follows the waxing and waning cycle of Venus.
Today we need charts and ‘tables' to plot the ebb and flow of relationships and thankfully have authors like Anne Massey who diligently and thoughtfully weave together the threads and clues from myths and contemporary concepts of Venus in the ‘Essence of Venus' chapter, to science, ‘The Sacred Geometry of Venus,' in a single fascinating volume.
Anne writes with a highly personal and stimulating style. Venus, Her Cycles, Symbols and Myths, pulls you in like a good novel with gems on every page where you say “Yes! Exactly!” or “I didn't know that!” without missing a beat on the vital math that proves the point. With simple but perfect phrases like, “Venus approaches as the Evening Star, departs as the Morning Star,” we can easily visualize Venus dancing towards us and departing after a long night into the too bright morning light.
Then there is the thought that Venus is about what the heart desires. Yes, indeed. And at retrograde periods we second guess ourselves and ask, “Do we love it?”
To more fully understand what and why we love, Anne Massey includes a chapter entitled ‘Where Does Venus Hold Court' on how your personal Venus placement resides in the houses of a chart and the affects of Venus in the four elements. Even the aspects and declinations are not missed.
Alluring chapters with names like ‘Venus in Love' describe the planets in signs making it easy to see ourselves and amusing to spot certain traits in those with whom we interact. A touching and insightful example is a line from Venus in Capricorn, “In time, I'll learn to accept that others might love me for who I am rather than for what I can do for them.”
Of course, 'Venus in Marriage' is equally enlightening and ‘Other Feminine Archetypes' includes the Moon and four major asteroids, Ceres, Vesta, Pallas Athena and Juno. These poignant models remind us again that if Venus is about that which we desire, Ceres is about that which we need.
Reading Venus, Her Cycles, Symbols and Myths in its entirety is a must as new thoughts reside on every page. Anne Massey gives us detailed real stories of Venus in action with supporting charts. We get to see Venus cycles with appropriate data, complete with a New Venus/Full Venus listing at the end of the book. This New/Full Venus concept is certain to become added to the astrological vocabulary and the standard for understanding the potency of her cycles.
History buffs will appreciate the Timelines on societal change segment and the book's full compliment of figures and charts assist the reader with visuals.
This major work will energize beginning students and provide professional astrologers at every level with a rich source of knowledge and understanding. A compilation of this magnitude belongs in every astrological library and each classroom as a teaching tool.
As we raise a glass in thanks for our bounty, we'll remember Venus. JB
"I enjoyed all your mythological references, and more detail on the Venus cycle than I'd ever studied. I've worked with the pentagram/Venus correspondence before, and written rituals using it, but I'd not done anything with the phases. Therefore, I found your research very interesting, but applying it is going to take more than just my read through...so, when I have more time, it will be fun to look into this more. I quickly noted from your appendix that some very significant turning point years of my life can be related to New Venus within one degree of my natal Mercury, and that the New Venus just prior to my birth and also the last Full Venus to occur in Cancer are both in the same degree as my natal Moon. Exactly what to make of that, I don't know—maybe it's just one more correspondence indicating why Moon Goddess has become so prominent in my work. I'm glad to have met an in-depth Venus through you! — Maria Kay Simms, Astrologer and author of Moon Tides and Soul Passage, Dial Detective, and many more. www.starcraftspublishing.com
Book Review
Anne Massey: Venus-Her Cycles, Symbols and Myths
Special Topics in Astrology Series
Llewellyn Publications 2006
In today's competitive publishing market, the appearance of a book's cover and colour scheme is certainly relevant. To help invite the reader into Anne Massey's book on Venus, the publishers have given the cover a warm and inviting look of soft pastels, as befits its theme and content.
Anne's book is filled with a wealth of valuable information. After reading it, I felt as though I had been bathed in Venusian detail. I was particularly delighted with the background into Venus. The author has addressed the myth base of the planet and found interesting connections to our understanding of beauty.
Sacred geometry has not been forgotten, either, and is presented as an interesting basis for understanding how the reader might interpret the phases. This provides delightful moments when examining personal charts.
Naturally, the Venus book also includes the sign, house and aspect delineations. It's difficult to imagine an astrology book without them. More is derived from the houses than might be expected so, even with these, the reader can expect to broaden his or her understanding. In Venus we have an author who elucidates and paints an interesting imagery with lots of background. The theme of Venus and marriage gets its own chapter, one that will certainly capture your interest. The latter part of the book offers a short introduction to the other feminine archetypes.
Anne presents her material in a warm, supportive and encouraging manner and a certain enthusiasm can be detected in her writing. Her numerous observations are evidence that she has put in significant time and effort to thoroughly explore and present the subject matter. She does not over- or underestimate the proficiency of her reader, making this book suitable for both beginners and seasoned professionals alike.
Illustrations in the book support the text, help to clarify the material and the overall feel of the book is professional.
The hope is that one of these days, Anne's book on Venus will be published in Finnish. Many students of astrology in Finland find it a challenge and a limitation when the texts are only available in English. The material in this book is excellent, and it would be a shame if more people did not have access to its contents.
There aren't many books on Venus. This work fills that gap and is clearly one of those 'MUST' have books, which should be on the shelf of all of those involved in astrology.
Ulla Kivistö
By Stephanie Jean Clement PhD
Finding good textbooks to recommend to students of astrology is a challenge. By the time, we begin to teach we use our favourite books. Some of these are going to be out of print or written in a fashion that does not meet those contemporary requirements. Teaching to a curriculum is even more challenging. I am a member of the Canadian Association of Astrological Education and administer their exam in British Columbia , Canada . One of the tested requirements for level II is the chart patterns. Over the years, I ended up making an extensive handout on the patterns. Marc Edmund Jones and Carl Jansky gave these patterns descriptive names, which lightened the task of teaching them.
Finding the right words for a locomotive was easy. Understanding that the train has an engine and the final 'caboose' was not that challenging. Explaining the pattern in my personal chart—I called it my umbrella—was relatively easy, I lived that life after all. Referring students to additional reading material, however, proved a challenge and a half. The original texts were out of print. I tried to recite from Jones' book and my young students lost the message in the old-fashioned text. I was picking up textbooks in January and saw Dr. Clement's book and thought that it might be worth considering. One of the students in my class agreed to review it for me, good, and one less book I would have to vet. The book was Advanced Topics in Astrology series by Llewellyn. Her comments made me pick it up, I am glad I did.
Naturally, at this point I was wondering if there is anything that I had not taught or considered. I was pleasantly surprised, by the time I had reached page 52 I was hooked. The author introduces every pattern but she also talks about the leading and trailing planet in terms that I had not considered for patterns other than the locomotive. Clement introduced ideas that made me think— I love that in a book. As an astrologer who has a strong preference for the classical rulership scheme the ideas sparked by the author about the leading Uranus in my chart were brand new, and her insights were right on the money I might add.
The student who reviewed the book ordered one to keep as a reference book. I was planning to donate the copy I bought to the library of the local astrological association, but I think I will hold onto it instead.
This book is highly recommended to intermediate students, the level it was written for and it does fit the bill. A beginning student would also benefit from the material and gain fuller appreciation of the ideas during a second read through.
The book is written clearly with a systematic approach and has a section at the end that allows the reader those tools to determine the patterns. The fact that some patterns are challenging is acknowledged by the author, which she analyzed to reflect the owner of the chart. Some of us simply will not be categorized nor fit a neat mould.
I discovered that my chart pattern is more like the fan and the description and insights offered by Dr. Clement gave me new insights into who I am— I thought I had read it all by now. The insights offered in this book are very illuminating; I would also recommend it to other professionals in astrology.
Reviewed by Anne Massey, CAP ISAR
Fort Langley , Canada March 12, 2007
Aspect Patterns
What They Reveal & How They Are Triggered
Stephanie Jean Clement Ph.D.
This is a very in-depth study of chart patterns (bucket, bowl, fan, splash, etc.) and the specific harmonic patterns (conjunctions, squares, trines, oppositions, etc.) each chart pattern contains. Clement's work builds upon that of Marc Edmund Jones and Robert Jansky and their analysis of chart patterns, deriving meaning from the shape of the chart – the pattern created by empty and filled space. This book builds on the premise that chart patterns indicate general personality tendencies and their contained aspect patterns determine how these tendencies unfold in the course of one's life.
Clement presents some interesting concepts. For instance, she asserts that in some types of aspect patterns, energy runs thru a closed circuit of aspected planets which amplifies the energy and motivates behaviour and action. In another type of aspect pattern, energy runs through the core of the individual bringing externals into internal awareness to promote growth. Clement also discusses the concept of leading planets in patterns like the bundle or locomotive. This high focus planet rises first and becomes the initial impulse to action beginning a thought process that consecutive planets follow, ending with the trailing planet which constitutes the final consideration the person gives to the behaviour or action taken. For instance, Venus trailing will look for harmony in outcomes.
From reading the book, I've learned to look at chart patterns and recognize connections more clearly from the detailed information Clement has synthesized thru connecting chart patterns with aspect patterns. The biggest frustration I found in digesting these concepts, however, was, in my opinion, a flaw in the layout of the book. The many examples included of various chart and aspect patterns don't appear on the same page as their description. As the amount of information is fairly ‘concentration intensive', it's easy to get lost in matching information to diagram while flipping around pages. Aside from this frustration, I think this would be a good read for any intermediate level astrologer.
Reviewed by Marnie Jamieson
Houses
A Contemporary Guide
by Gwyneth Bryan
This book is written in a very casual, contemporary manner with its main focus being exclusively on planet placement in the Houses. She prefers the Equal House system and gives a brief overview of other systems. Bryan 's approach explores the karmic implications that planetary energies present as placed specifically in particular Houses. She refers to this as ‘the matters that shape and challenge us and need to be overcome in order for our soul to grow', equating ‘the planetary placements in various houses like the harmonies in a song'.
Specific examples include the IC / cusp of the 4 th House as the compost pile of the horoscope, ‘a not so pretty place wherefrom great growth is possible – hidden treasure even', i.e., the roots we weren't given as children that we are probably painfully aware of so we can cultivate them for ourselves as adults, transcending any early deprivation.
She also discusses the Ascendant – ego energy we use to put ourselves out in the world (our metaphorical car) as opposed to its opposite, the Descendant, which is indicative of the Shadow / undeveloped self or that collection of personality traits we suppress, only being reminded of them when we meet another who reminds us of our disowned / disguised or hidden traits given away by our Ascendant Ego. She describes the process of projection as being either psychological or karmic. What we are repulsed by in another is what we disown in ourselves and what we are attracted to in another is our positive traits that have yet to be developed so we don't even recognize them as part of ourself.
She illuminates this concept by describing the 7 th House / where people learn how to negotiate close relationships, as the place where issues of unconscious attraction or repulsion are played out. The characteristics of the Descendant that we don't show and that disgust us when we see them in other people are our own hidden parts of ourselves / our Shadow that we need to develop more in order to become whole. Thru the 7 th House, we can tell what disowned parts of ourselves will reappear to haunt us as enacted thru the people we meet as rivals or enemies until we recognize and own this part in ourself. Or, conversely, what our own undeveloped positive traits are that one is attracted to and falls in love with in another.
The casual style Bryan has of presenting basic information in this book makes it good for a beginner astrologer to get an overall feel for the structure and meaning behind a chart in terms of planetary House placements. To illustrate these points, Bryan also includes relevant anecdotal information about her personal friends as well as the famous thereby making the material presented much less intimidating than typical encyclopaedic, jargon ridden books. Or, as she says, she gives an ‘updated version (of the material) from the graying generation of astrological texts' that cover the same topic.
Reviewed by Marnie Jamieson
Review by Anne Massey
I devoured Maria's book over a course of two nights, I printed my lunar phases and pondered over my life in light of the progressed lunation phase. Up until now, I have only read Dane Rudhyar's book on the subject, which is a heavy albeit a rewarding read. I exchanged books with Maria while we were both lecturing at the SOTA conference in Toronto . I thought this might be a great book for my students. Maria and I had delightful conversations and both felt the way we thought about concepts in life and with astrology was very similar. So I came home with the book on the Moon and Maria traveled with Venus in hand. I began reading the book on the plane ride home, and felt our conversation simply continued as she spoke to me with her written words.
Maria discusses the Moon in depth through signs, houses and phases offering deep wisdom. I need to point out that I learned something new in this book! Many a book mentions the importance of the prenatal lunation and the importance of prenatal eclipses; however, I have not seen any decent delineation on these concepts that actually resonated with my personal experience and life as an astrologer with my clients until I read Maria's thoughts on these. As I reflected on her thoughts while thinking of the charts and lives of people whose charts are permanently imbedded in my brain, I had many aha moments. Because Maria works so much with the lunar energy, is a practicing Wiccan and has worked as an astrologer for many decades, she also felt it was important to include software which allows you to print progressed lunation phases for a lifetime for as many charts as you wish. This printout gives the dates the lunar phase changed and you can isolate the years when you were working through each of the phases. Remember that in the course of an average life we experience about three complete progressed lunation cycles. My norm is to not ever finish a book, usually I loose interest half way through, I actually finished this one and can see myself pulling it out to review her insights into how to use the lunation cycle energy more effectively in our lives. I think this book belongs on your astrological library as your guide to understanding the Moon in more depth as well as your life in light of the Moon.
The book is written eloquently and flows easily from one concept to the next. It offers and in-depth analysis of the Moon and wonderfully insightful delineations.
Iris Report by Roderick Kidston
April 27, 2007
Reviewed by Anne Massey
The first computerized astrological reports began a wave of introducing natal astrology to the public. By the late 1990s, reports were sold on the web but there were very few new ones. In the last couple of years, this has begun to change. The new reports, however, need to be exceptional in order to entice astrologers to buy them. We have seen so many and don't care for another similar one. Naturally, we also need to pay attention to what our customers might buy. The best sellers for me have been the Child Report and Solar Return Report by Horacio Valsecia, which I bought almost two decades ago, and most recently Pemo Theodore's StarMates composite report and Stephanie Clement's Saturn's Promise. What to add?
A few years back, I met Roderick at a conference in Canada . He spoke about the asteroids with passion with knowledge that surpassed anything I had read or heard on these primarily feminine archetypes. I was hoping he would take the time to write a report or a book on his research and understanding of how these often-ignored elements helped illustrate our lives. The report was released in March; I placed an order for the report writer instantly. The next morning I was reading about my report with delight— instantly fired off copies to my friends via email. It offered insights I knew about myself, but which had not ever emerged using the regular planets and points. After a lifetime spent studying, teaching and writing about astrology and working as a professional astrologer for nearly two decades, this was a pleasant surprise.
The report is well written, the delineations are very perceptive and the report offers great insights into the role of the asteroid archetypes. We get both a lesson in the asteroids and fresh ideas about who we are. Roderick has definitely set the bar high for any report to follow. He writes with the same passion as he speaks. "Iris helps you to understand things at a deep level, and to grow in wisdom. She adds color and depth to the Mercury energies of the chart, and shows another avenue of expression." Roderick writes, before leaping to shed light on Iris in Virgo: "Cool. Calm. Collected. You're something to watch, but usually go about your business so quietly and efficiently that you may not draw notice. That's fine by you, as you don't want fuss, and can blush easily in front of an audience anyway. You want results, and will do whatever it takes to get them, and you know it usually takes hard slog and quiet persistence. This you can do in spades. Not only are you a fantastic worker, you're one clever cookie too. At your best, you're a master of detail and have a recall that could put a high-speed computer to shame. But you're also a worrier, a critic, and can go into a dark obsessive mode, and any or all of these tendencies can spoil the harvest that is rightfully yours. Go a bit easier on yourself, and remember to stop and smell the roses." Well, that was just a lead-on, but he nails my nature in his report. As an aside for those wondering about natal planets in Virgo, alas, I have no planets or angles in an earth sign, yet I know I am more practical and pragmatic than a real Virgo, Taurus or Capricorn. I am adding these asteroids to my charts and using the report as a reference in order to work with the twelve archetypes Roderick has added to the equation.
As you can see his writing is beautiful, lively, and eloquent—I love this report, you should read yours and share it with your clients and friends—congratulations and thank you, Roderick, for shedding such illuminating light on the asteroid goddesses. I'm sure this one will be a top seller as well—how about a book next.
By Jessica Murray
ISBN 1-4259-7125-3
Publisher: Authorhouse 2006
Politics and astrology, made me hesitant to read the book. My back up plan was to give the review task to someone intrigued by politics, as I feared the author's personal views would cloud the issues. The book is about American politics and all astrologers who address the issue make their view blatantly obvious, which distracts the reader. I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading Jessica's analysis and insights. I didn't want put the book down, and devoured the first couple of chapters… Long story short, it became plane reading and travelled to Finland with me. Passengers seated next to me were intrigued about the book; I must have given the title and author's name out a dozen times. The astrology in the book isn't overwhelming yet the insights Jessica shares make it intriguing even for us professionals. Surprisingly, you will also gain insights into natal astrology as you read along.
Jessica's personal political views are not a distraction; she has obviously spent a long time contemplating life, and what America has become and why. I actually suggested that my non-astrologer husband read the book (he hasn't even read mine). I think he'd enjoy it. To be able to recommend an astrological book to someone, who isn't interested in learning the language, happens seldom. Jessica wrote the book for non-astrologers and astrologers alike, and she succeeded in making the book accessible to both.
The writing is fluid; the observations both political and astrological are very candid. It is written from the perspective of a psychological astrologer, which adds to its charm. I enjoyed the book and appreciated the straightforward analysis from an American astrologer about the Soul-Sick Nation, and actually forgot that an American living in America wrote it. So often we fail to remain objective about things in our immediate surroundings, the author of this book did not. I highly recommend it. Suitable for everyone, interest in politics not required.
Reviewed by Anne Massey, Fort Langley , Canada
Anne Massey is the president of the Fraser Valley Astrological Guild, an international VP for the International Society for Astrological Research and author of Venus, her Cycles, Symbols and Myths (Llewellyn 2006)
The Astrology Guild Book Review
Person – to – Person Astrology
By Stephen Arroyo
Frog, Ltd., Berkeley , California 2007
Arroyo describes astrology as ‘cosmic psychology', which, to me, is not only an insightful and encompassing way to view this esoteric interpretation of personal experience but would also make a great astrology book title. Psychology is the study of the mind/mental states, behaviours and processes. The study of astrology expands upon that definition to include even a greater awareness and understanding of the personal psyche through the study of elemental forces which determine our beings and experiences as these forces act upon and interplay with one another. In psychology, the quest is to understand ourselves in terms of feelings and thinking, where and how those processes may be maladapted for either organic or environmental reasons and to apply pharmacological and/or therapeutic strategies to facilitate optimal adaptation. In astrology, the quest is to understand the why of it all and how change and interaction occurs in various situations at various times with various individuals. It shows us the ‘big picture'— how/when/where we may address challenges and opportunities to our own benefit and growth before the elemental forces of the universe bear down upon us enforcing adaptation.
As a preamble to affirm the relevance and credibility of the ancient art of astrology, as once described by Carl Jung as ‘the representative summation of all the psychological knowledge of antiquity' as a ‘unique science', Arroyo gives a brief overview of astrology's evolution as a method for informing personal growth. As a professor, psychologist and writer, he also shares how he once came from a place of uneducated scepticism, but over the years, kept returning to the study of astrology due to the consistent and authentic revelations it revealed in the fields of human psychology and behaviourism. He expounds upon the vast comprehensive ability it provides to cover personality theory by describing ‘various types of consciousness, as well as a vast array of individual differences' as juxtaposed to ‘the modern religion of science'. Dismissive attitudes toward astrology as an ‘obsolete relic of the superstitious past' are challenged by reference to assertions made by Professor Feyerabend of UCLA cautioning against the ‘totalitarian, rigid worldviews of modern science that denigrate any other fields of inquiry, namely astrology and alternative healing methods, that it finds threatening, going on to say that ‘… science has now become as oppressive as the ideologies it once had to fight …' He also cites a challenge from the astrological community to a number of outspoken scientists who openly condemn astrology and alternative healing methods to produce the studies and research that discredit and disprove these fields. Not one submission was made. Further acknowledgements for the legitimacy of astrology are made by quoting from The Sleepwalkers by Arthur Koestler, a history of science, which points out that in the seventeenth century scientific inquiry was referred to as ‘natural philosophy' and how philosopher scientists like Kepler and Galileo wrote about their cosmic quests for comprehending the universe by seeking to ‘understand, not conquer Nature'. To me, ironically, quite an opposite approach to today's current climate of global warming which proves to be a case of too little too late in terms of ‘understanding'/respecting the natural world we live in as we continue to consume at precariously unprecedented rates under the looming shadow of a growing global carbon foot print ready at any time, ala Monty Python, to squash mankind out for good.
For this book, he bases his research data on hundreds of interviews, surveys and questionnaires to ascertain measurable reliability and validity in his anecdotal assertions. Quantifying the intangible through empirical report as a research mechanism will always be doubted by the strict measures of data collection methods employed by traditional scientists, however ill-suited the subject matter of human perception, behaviour, understanding innate values, personality differences, times of intensive growth and challenge, emotional/sexual needs, unconscious motivations and relationship dynamics may present itself to strict scientific method. As well, the unfortunate reputation of astrology which has been tarnished and ridiculed into such degradation and disrepute by multitudes of unskilled mercenary charlatans, is an enormously difficult challenge to overcome, especially in a day and age when people are conditioned and accept being told what to think without ever having to expend any effort or employ any critical thinking skills in a personal inquiry as to their own educated understanding and reflective experience of a subject.
Nonetheless, Arroyo points out, despite the beating astrological perspectives take in mainstream closed minds today, both from within and from without the scientific community, that the astrological interpretation of the endless and complex individual planetary placements and movements as they constantly apply, become partile and separate in one's own chart and, through synastry with another's chart, is vastly eased and grasped more intuitively through the application of elemental metaphor. Presented from the premise that ‘human beings and all living things are a coalescence of energy in a field of energy connected to every other thing … ‘ ( The Field by Lynne McTaggart, Element Books, London, 2003), Arroyo's book delineates how aspecting planets as defined by their elemental energies joust and entwine through close relationship. This ‘language of energy', incorporating the elements of Fire, Earth, Air and Water provides powerful indications, explanations and interpretations for all human experience, as the planets blend their symphonic notes of harmonic resonance with one another on their journeys around the celestial zodiac belt.
Due to Arroyo's outspoken and insightful style with regard to examining the disingenuous presumptions of much psycho-babble and societal myth surrounding the wisdom of intra- and interpersonal connections today, this book was a very engaging read. The elemental approach to chart interpretation proves meaningful, enlightening and fairly intuitive as it resonates with the energies that we are made up of and can be felt in everyday life as played out above in the various planetary aspects constantly being formed. This book helped me a great deal in being more readily able to make mental aspect connections with a fuller, clearer understanding of the kind of energy(ies) involved. Although Arroyo claims this book is written for interested non-astrologers or those at the novice level, I would recommend it as well for those who are more advanced at the intermediate level as it is well written, informative and inspires a more visceral, meaningful understanding of our experience.
The book reviewed by Marnie Jamieson, M. Ed., who is an active member of the Fraser Valley Astrological Guild, a student of astrology and a Counsellor.
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