What more relevant topic for students of
astrology than the legacy left to us by our friend Mary Alice "Linda" Goodman,
the woman who turned millions of people on to astrology, and the woman who
is singlehandedly responsible for the very existence of more practicing
astrologers today than anyone ever was?  Mary Alice, as Linda Goodman was known to all of her close friends and family, gave us a deeper understanding of astrology, numerology, and lexigrams,
and of the metaphysical intersection of the three. Arguably, Linda's work was
far more thoughtful and synergystic than that of other modern astrologers. A
brief glance at Linda's recommended reading list in Love Signs will
reveal the emphasis which she placed on variety, as well as on classical study.
Fortunately, some of us have had the opportunity to collect some of her
recommended sources, yet for those of us who have not, allow me to create a
short list of those authors and resources which I also suggest, along with
Linda's recommendation of their work. It may sometimes be overlooked, yet let me
remind that Linda should also be given a ton of credit for leaving us all one
absolutely amazing bibliography. Margaret Hone was a favorite author of Linda, who recommended all of her works. Ms. Hone was an astrologer who emphasized structured study for students of astrology, and who presented her material clearly, and in a course of study format that one would expect from a formal degree program. For the first time ever, an actual college of astrology is now open in the United States, offering a bachelor's degree in astrological science. I thought that I was fortunate to have taken two semesters of astronomy as an undergraduate, yet the potential for a more complete astrology education has finally materialized in the creation of this college, and it is just thrilling.. To the fledgling faculty, I would recommend Ms. Hone's works, as they are complete, varied, and present an explanation of essential astrological foundations more commonly found in a whole pile of books. One can actually feel oneself sitting up extra straight when reading Ms. Hone's work...it is almost as if she is looking over your shoulder, hands on her waist, hair in a bun, lips pursed, making sure you do not skip anything. This type of textbook-style writing is essential for students, and from no other author yet have I felt a requirement to pay such strict attention, as if I were in a classroom. I believe that Linda admired Ms. Hone's approach because of its emphasis on structure. Ms. Hone's books are all out of print, yet they can be found, with a little effort. Linda also recommended two books by Grant Lewi, considered by many to be the father of modern astrology. In the 1930s, the first editions of two of Lewi's most popular books were published. They are called Astrology for the Millions and Heaven Knows What; the latter was the first astrology book to actually become a best-seller, selling over half a million copies. Revised and expanded, updated and extended, these two books continue their unique function, which is more than the popularization of astrology. What Lewi had hoped to achieve, and he accomplished it, was the means to make astrology accessible to the millions. These are real "do it yourself" and "learn by doing" guides with which anyone who can read and do simple calculations can quickly start drawing and interpreting accurate-to-the-day horoscopes within 15 minutes, and learn to project them back into the past to see astrological cycles at work for greater self-understanding, and then into the future for personal guidance and the ability to far better manage personal responses to the opportunities and challenges that these cycles bring. Grant Lewi wrote: If the reader can choose to own only one of these books, I suggest Astrology for the Millions first. It is designed to enable you to apply astrology on a day-to-day basis. You need no other book or resource, although all further study will certainly enhance your understanding and ability. Today astrology truly is for the millions...it is for everyone. It's no longer limited to a select few - to the priests and kings - as it was in ancient times. It's no longer confined to the professionals, for it is no longer dependent upon the mastery of the technology of chart-casting. With this one book, the entire practice of astrology is opened up to the ordinary person, as a real person-centered, life-fulfilling, consciousness-expanding science in which knowledge is applied to living and becomes wisdom.  Linda recommended anything by the prolific author Manly Palmer Hall. While his works are somewhat esoteric to read, they are important, and I suggest them to whoever can find them. Hall was an important occult teacher who first made his impact in the 1920s. He emerged as a young occult scholar and in the Twenties became head of the Church of the People in Los Angeles. As a total occultist, Hall's interests ranged from Eastern mysticism to magic and astrology, and he made significant contributions to the occult world in each area. Hall wrote at an unusually high level for an occult writer; his educational background placed his contributions above most of his comtemporaries' reach. Hall also created a large occult library, currently housed at the Philosophical Research Society (PRS) in Los Angeles, which, in 1934, succeeded the Church of the People. The PRC reprints Hall's work from time to time, and decent occult bookstores will often carry these reprints, which have been condensed by the PRS, and retail in booklet form, usually for between three and five dollars per copy. Linda was also a big fan of metaphysical thinker and writer Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). During the last two decades of the nineteenth century, the Austrian-born Steiner became a respected and well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, particularly known for his work on Goethe's scientific writings. After the turn of the century, he began to develop his earlier philosophical principles into an approach to methodical research of psychological and spiritual phenomena. His multi-faceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in medicine, science, education (Waldorf schools), special education, philosophy, religion, economics, agriculture (Bio-Dynamic method), architecture, drama, the art of eurythmy, and other fields. In 1924, he founded the General Anthroposophical Society which has branches throughout the world. Steiner's work on the essence of metaphysics, and the soul's journey through lifetimes, was widely considered to be groundbreaking in its day. Steiner spoke from his own heart, not comfortable with following the ideas of others without confirming their research, and this certainly must have impressed Linda Goodman. Linda always emphasized the relevance of testing one's sources, as Steiner did, and this idea is alive and well, albeit sparsely applied, in astrology today. Modern astrologers may sometimes appear to pay only lip service to the importance of research, yet its ongoing necessity in the field of astrology cannot be overstated. More research is required, and while it may not be financially prudent for the average student to undertake, no student should forget her incumbent mandate to contribute to research at some point in her career as an astrologer, nor at least to test her own hypotheses along the way. Linda's insight into the blending of the elements is brilliant.   
Linda would likely have also been impressed with
the great increase in the quantity, and in the specialized focus of astrological
publications today. As astrology continues to gain increasing respect these
days, and in the coming millenium, students and astrologers alike will gain even
greater insights into this study. Indeed, a renaissance of astrological
publishing is underway as we speak. Books focusing on specific planets abound
today, and seem to indicate a trend toward a far more specialized understanding
of astrology. So many astrology websites exist today, and the Internet has caused a proliferation of new interest in Astrology like never before. Now, one can check one's horoscopes daily, or have it emailed to you, from any number of decent sites and mail lists. Many sites, like astrology-world.com and panplanet.com, contain fabulous articles from popular modern astrologers, enrollment in on-line schools that award certificates after completion of a course of study by email, and links to large astrological organizations where one can sign up for astrology conferences worldwide, all from the privacy of one's home. Perhaps dear Linda never contemplated the relative ease with which we can now "plug in" to astrological learning, yet maybe she did see the writing on the wall. After all, the word Internet contains the phrase "I trine it", possibly suggesting the smoothness through which we can now achieve a broader astrological education. Whichever the case, an Ultra-new Age of astrological awareness is upon us, and while nothing can truly take the place of a library stacked with the works of famous and thoughtful astrologers and metaphysical authors - many of which Linda herself recommended - the ability to "get there" one way or the other is certainly increasing at an exponential rate. Linda did say that books are the shortcuts to enlightenment. Perhaps if she were alive today, she would even add a few URLs to her bibliography. Dear Aries Linda would have had such a fit trying to figure out which of the numerous excellent astrology websites that exist today to make her own homepage! Best of fortune and love to you in understanding astrology, numerology, and lexigrams, and in learning from the metaphysical masters, both classical and modern, via book or via web. Be peaceful, and do shine (and do research)! Bright Blessings, Carlo Ravin   Back to: The Astrologers' Memorial Linda Goodman's Sun Signs Linda Goodman's Star Notes The Brilliance of Lexigram's Connecting With Your Opposite 
|