Christian Astrology, Books 1 & 2 Paperback – March 20, 2005

If you want to learn Horary Astrology, and I think even if you prefer a modern approach to the Art, you will need this book! This is the Bible on the subject, and it is pithy and dense -- for those of us who love a systematic and in depth approach to anything, it's delicious, something to savor, and we are really so fortunate to have this magnificent work available to study. Lilly presents the basics of the Art in the first 128 pages, and then uses the rest of the book to teach how to analyze questions having to do with each of the 12 houses, giving examples for each house. I've been a student of Horary Astrology for a couple years, and I am still working my way through this book and others.The text can be a bit difficult since it was written in 1647, and requires more of beginners than we tend to demand now. I admit to finding much of Lilly's writing style charming, quaint, and soulful, and the hand-drawn horary charts expressive and attractive, and if you are a romantic at heart as well as a scholar you will appreciate these elements of the Old World. Yet, if you are a beginner wanting to study astrology, it will be best if you can find a teacher or a guide to help you at least get familiar with the basics, because taking on William Lilly's book without any familiarity with astrology, and without help, could be daunting. You might want to study online with a Master Astrologer, such as Christopher Warnock who has also written a review of this book here (look for his books on Astrology also) or you might want to find an online astrology forum to interact with. Another way to begin would be to get a simpler book on Horary, by a contemporary Astrologer, such as "Horary Astrology Plain and Simple" by Anthony Louis, or Derek Appleby's "Horary Astrology: The Art of Astrological Divination", or John Frawley's "The Horary Textbook." These present Horary Astrology in a simpler way, though they may deviate from the Traditional Horary teachings of Lilly and others.In my view, the best overall book on Traditional Horary Astrology by a contemporary is Barbara Dunn's "Horary Astrology Re-Examined", in which she compiles the teachings of WIlliam Lilly as well as many of the older Arab Astrologers.

I want to learn about Astrology and thought who better to learn from then William Lilly. I like how the books teach you his ways which are unlike the ways of today where the New Age movement has seemed to take Astrology into a new direction. These books are very time consuming and will take me awhile to get through, but I am off to a very good start. I liked learning how the Moon is really called "Luna" and the Sun is called "Sol" in William Lilly's teachings. I wish these books were in eBook format, but currently they are not. I definitely recommend his teachings.

This book is a great place to start if you are serious about learning astrology. It starts at the very basics and builds from there. In books 1 & 2, is contained information on the planets, aspects, houses, and horary. I would recommend that this should be followed with book 3 because that is the book that contains information on doing natal astrology. Excellent book for a beginner!

Indispensable resource.

I've only spot-read so far, but I am psyched. I'm reading as research for my own sixteenth century comic novel, in progress. This is so full of wonderful zany information, it is priceless. I recommend to read it as a piece of period humor. Endlessly amusing!

It does not take long to get into the archaic language. You can sense the honesty in which he wants to teach an old art.

It's all about the stars and planets. This is every traditional horary astrologer's handbook.

This book is a must for students of traditional astrology.