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Aspects in Astrology - Sue Tompkins
Rider Books
£14.99
www.randomhouse.co.uk
Reviewed by Claire Chandler in Astrology Quarterly Winter 2001
  This
is one of my desert island astrology books.
Sue Tompkins’ modern classic was re-issued by Rider Books, part
of the Random House Group in August of 2001 making it once more available
to delight beginners and experienced astrologers alike.
Such praise may seem an exaggeration, but my opening comments are anything
but. These pages contain gems of astrological wisdom gleaned from many
hours spent with clients, delivered in a clear concise manner which keeps
this book useful and relevant. You can learn something from this book
no matter how much you think you know about astrology.
The book is in three sections; Part One: The Principles of Aspect Interpretation,
Part Two: A Planetary Cookbook and Part Three: The Angles.
The first section takes us through the building blocks that build into
an astrological interpretation. The Planets and Luminaries are considered
in turn, giving both a selection of key words and a thorough explanation
of the principles involved. The nature of Aspects is examined in some
depth, covering how we divide the circle, what the various aspects mean
and how to calculate aspects. All the Ptolemaic aspects are included,
together with the semi-square and sesquiquadrate, quincunx and semi-sextile
and the quintile series.
The section on interpretation in practice is worth the price of the
book on it’s own. The principles stated here will keep you out of
astrological hot water and form the bedrock of most astrological practice,
explaining how to build your own interpretations, weight different chart
factors and deal with the ever puzzling orb factor. Bringing in signs
and elements to expand the material on squares and oppositions (and grand
crosses) and trines (and therefore grand trines) helps you integrate the
information gleamed from the aspect patterns with what you pick up from
sign and house placement.
A Planetary Cookbook lists all combinations of planetary pairs, again
with key words and more in depth text, treating each pair independently
of aspect. Plenty of examples illustrate the interplay between the two
planets, giving you a real hands-on feel to the material. The section
on Moon Pluto is particularly insightful.
The final section explores the meaning and use of the Ascendant and
Midheaven and how planets in aspect to these points can be used in interpretation.
The MC-IC combination are considered with regard to parental significators
with some stunning case material on the silent twins June and Jennifer
Gibbons
Sue’s approach is psychological but it is also eminently practical
and relevant. Where some psychological texts may wear the patience and
leave you wondering how any individual manages to make their way to the
shops let alone through their life, Sue shows respect for the reader’s
intelligence and her client’s case histories. The examples given
illuminate the text and give the material life, leading you into a living
world of astrological symbolism. Points which, when made by other writers
seem build on hot air and hysteria, here seem like common sense.
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