Psychological Astrology and the Twelve House

Book excerpt: 'Psychological Astrology and the Twelve Houses' will surprise you, whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned professional: Noel Eastwood is an astrologer, tarotist, and has recently retired from his psychology practice. He approaches astrology as an altered state of consciousness. He walks you through the houses of the natal chart like a good travel guide who knows that sightseeing is not enough to make a journey memorable, you need to experience the place for yourself: meet the locals in small cafés, discover hidden fountains and secret gardens. This is a practice-oriented work, Noel takes every opportunity to demonstrate how astrological symbolism translates into the personality of an individual. He picked four well-known figures to illustrate the process of analysis on their charts. What makes this book truly unique, however, is an invitation to meet your astrological archetypes. To show where such an inner journey can take you, Noel shares his personal meditations as if you were reading his private travel diary. Also available as an audiobook. Reviews "Comprehensive and concise with great meditations and stories. Lots of interesting insights. (The author is an) excellent reader." B "I was very excited to read his book because it takes on some intensely personal subject matter from a psychological perspective, which Noel is uniquely qualified to write about, since he is that rare combination (that I wish we had more of in the astrological world), a practicing psychologist and astrologer. His areas of expertise are Jungian and archetypal psychology, astrology, Tarot, and Taoist meditation, so he's well-versed in the realms of the psyche. My first impression, once I got started reading, is that this book is an ideal blend of serious subject matter handled with respect for the reader, with just enough astrologese for the basic-to-medium-advanced astrology student. Noel does not overwhelm you with the level of detail that is automatically off-putting for the beginner. You won't be scared picking up this book, in other words, if you aren't an astrology expert. This is book is for the person who (in my opinion) would be dissatisfied with the superficial or cookbook style astrology book and is looking for something that goes deeper, that explains the pieces of the self we don't usually discuss, even in the astrological world, but most people who want to understand their own (and others') psychology wish could be discussed with some depth and understanding of what's really going on in our psyches as expressed through our natal charts. Speaking as a professional astrologer, I personally got the most out of the very end of the book, where Noel discusses 'houses as psychological defenses.' If you read this book for nothing else, get it for the series of meditations Noel asks you to do; those on their own are very valuable (and I would suggest keeping a journal as you go, to capture your responses). A valuable book for the person looking for psychological self-awareness." AG "I have studied astrology for years and buy a new book every now and then to enhance my understanding. This book is the first in a long time that really had me intrigued and learning (had my highlighter out!!). Eastwood's combination of astrology and psychology knowledge/experience makes the content easier to follow and provides a much deeper foundation on how to interpret the 12 houses, what's in them (and what's NOT) and other key influences. Looking forward to the next two books in this series!" J "This book is exactly what I was looking for! Excellent information presented in an entertaining and logical way. For the serious student only, I would advise. I've been on the metaphysical road pretty much since birth & have studied astrology charts for over 25 years. This book truly helped me synthesize an enormous amount of facts and data that constantly swim around in my head. Noel Eastwood...Thank you, sir, for taking the time and making the effort to help students (like me!) on our sometimes strange and difficult (yet always amazing) personal journeys. For me, healing is the goal, knowledge is the path and application & practice are the keys. This book makes a great contribution and I look forward to more from this author/teacher." AS