I realize that it has been a while since I proposed the idea of the book club last summer and we read our first book The Moment of Astrology, but I think that it is time to start this up again and to move on to the next book. I think that someone, maybe Trish (?), proposed a while ago that the next book should be Richard Tarnas' relatively recent book Cosmos and Psyche, and I think that this would be a good one to restart the book club with.

Tarnas first became famous for his book The Passion of the Western Mind, which is a narrative of the development of western thought and philosophy, and it became a standard textbook in many college courses. Cosmos and Psyche was always intended to be his magnum opus though, and in it he is basically presenting the case for astrology by following certain historical figures and developments from an astrological perspective.

The book is important because of Tarnas' reputation in the academic community, as well as the wide reach that he has since he was already an accomplished author prior to the publication of Cosmos and Psyche. In a way Tarnas has become sort of the spokesperson for the astrological community to the rest of the world, and he is making inroads by presenting astrology in a way that is considered to be plausible or even respectable.

While the book is not necessarily written for astrologers per se, there is a lot in it that should prove to be fruitful for discussions. I also think that it is a good choice for the book club because it is so widely available at this point. Amazon has tons of used copies for as low as $5, and you can buy a new copy of the paper back edition at your local Borders or Barnes and Noble bookstore for like $20. There is also a website set up for the book with lots of reviews.

So basically, anyone who wants to participate should get a copy of the book, start reading, and then post you thoughts on the book here.

Who is in?

Fantastic book and choice. I'm about 3/4 complete and extremely impressed with the comprehensive, exhaustive nature of the review. He covers ALOT of ground. In fact, I would love to see a graphical timeline of all the historic events-aspect correlations. This would be a very powerful image. Overall, I really hope this book receives some positive mainstream attention.

(!) I'm going to need to finish this book sooner than thought. I put it down for the last month or so, almost considering starting over again and reading it front to back with as little interruptions as possible. (besides work and eating and..)

Interesting stuff, Robert. Thanks for his chart. Sometimes I wonder about my Moon being conjunct the US Moon, and also Venus and Mars in the same sign but I have so much anger towards this country as of late, maybe I should be more forgiving.. heheh, yeah right. But anyway, I like Tarnas' chart. Not familiar with the term "Sacred Six aspects".. I'll have to check that out. (my boyfriend has Sun trine Uranus, he might be interested about it)

Chris are we gonna wait for more interested parties to acquire a copy of this book before we proceed any further I assume?

Oh and there's a link to an interview between Caroline Casey (Astrologer/Visionary Activist) and Richard Tarnas that is interesting, here

(march 8th and March 22nd shows)

trish wrote:

Chris are we gonna wait for more interested parties to acquire a copy of this book before we proceed any further I assume?

Nah, I think that we can start whenever. I was borrowing a copy last year when I was reading it, and I just ordered a new copy, so I probably won't be able to jump in until later this week. People should feel free to start the discussion whenever they are ready though, and then the rest of us will just catch up. Maybe if some point point out some of the high points of the book, as some of you already have, then it will encourage others to get a copy and to join us.

Robert P. Blaschke wrote:

As Mercury stations direct in two days time in 08 Aquarius 20, conjunct Dr Tarnas' natal Mercury within 06' of arc, it is Divine Synchronicity that Chris has proposed this book as the next in line for HA group discussion.

Thanks for pointing that out Robert. That is some interesting synchronicity.

I've read the book, it's what started me out on astrology (i'm still a bit of a dilettante though).

The only problem I think people people would had with it is the beginning, because its really just one long history/philosophy lesson. I admit I had to grab the dictionary a few times as well.

I think what really grabbed my attention was "Two Suitors: A Parable". After that chapter the book really took off, and I started annotating it like crazy.

Great book suggestion. A friend gave me a somewhat glowing reccomondation that I read "Passion of the Western Mind" mind a while back. I'm just now getting around to finally having the time to do that though my attention is a bit more focused on "Prometheus the Awakener". Has anyone here completed any (or all) of these books?? I'd like to hear some thoughts on it.

Also while checking out reviews of Cosmos and Psyche I ran across this little tidbit: "...In terms of planetary cycles, our present moment in history is most comparable to the period five hundred years agothat era of extraordinary turbulence and creativity, the High Renaissance. Not since Copernicus conceived the heliocentric theory has the human community faced such a profound realignment of the way we think."

I'm not sure if it came directly from the book, or from the book's reviewer. I'm interested in yall's opinions on it and how this plays out astrologically. Any thoughts??

I'm halfway through chapter 3 of Tarnas' book. It's a good read... there's already plenty of material to talk about. How would you like to structure the discussion, Chris? Should we jump into it as we're going, or set a time for us all to finish and start then?

Kevin Uehlinger wrote:
I'm halfway through chapter 3 of Tarnas' book. It's a good read... there's already plenty of material to talk about. How would you like to structure the discussion, Chris? Should we jump into it as we're going, or set a time for us all to finish and start then?

I think that people should jump in and start discussing it as soon as they are ready, or as soon as you find something interesting to discuss. That way it might encourage more people to join the discussion and read the book.

As I read through this book again I am remembering the feeling that I had when I first read it, that it is a really excellent, undiluted exposition of modern 20th century astrology. It is like a snapshot in time of this tradition of astrology right at its very highest level of exposition, and its not influenced by some of the other movements that have been going on in the western tradition over the past 20 years or so such as with the Indian movement, or the Medieval/Lilly movement, or the Hellenistic movement, etc. Its just a more of less pure exposition of a type of modern, psychological, archetypal astrology. I find it interesting from that perspective.

I love Cosmos & Psyche. Interestingly enough, I just finished editing the interviews I did with Tarnas into the Return of the Magi documentary. Let's reread the book and discuss it! Rick is such a noble scientist and humble spiritual Pisces, and I love the way his brain works. The Passion of the Western Mind is blowing my very Eastern mind right now!

Here is a link to Tarnas' Keynote Address at the Baltimore NCGR conference:

Rick Tarnas Keynote

No, not even close, that was two hour or less speech, meant to inspire, the book is a ten year plus work of blood sweat and tears, and give an in-depth archetypal tour through history. Check it out.