Mastering Traditional Astrology – A Depth of Beginning in the Celestial Art, Mychal A. Brian, Oraculos Press
To make things clear from the start, I want to point out that this is not your average beginner’s book! There are literally hundreds of those out there, and, although there certainly is a case to be made for their existence, none of them should be compared to this first volume in the Oraculos Complete Astrology Series.
It may, and should of course, be studied by beginners, but what I find very exciting about Mychal A. Brian’s new book is the fact that he created something entirely unique. He achieved this by revisiting something very old, which he looked at and decided to present it in a new light. He states, in his own words, that:
“This book is a reclamation. In it, I offer my understanding of what the ancients taught. […] This book is a celebration of the very real way in which the wisdom of our ancestors still has the power to amplify our modern experience of living ” (p27)
But let’s start with a look at the appearance of the book before we move on and investigate its content. Mastering Traditional Astrology is a mighty tome, with a page count of more than 600 pages. The layout is pleasant and the hundreds of graphics and tables are beautifully executed. The presentation of the volume is old-style, including epigraphs, ranging from quotations from the Corpus Hermeticum, to those of famous astrologers, ancient and modern. A nice touch is the emblematic use of John Dee’s Monas hieroglyph, as it sets the esoteric tone of the volume.
The book is divided into four parts, comprising 23 chapters. Each chapter is preceded by a summary of its objectives, and at the end there is a page of questions, to test the reader’s understanding of what has been presented. This is ideal for self-study, as any chapter should be thoroughly understood before the student intends to move onto the next chapter. Also included are a bibliography and a detailed index.
Part 1 contains a definition of astrology, a primer in astrological symbolism, and a chapter on the Hermetic philosophy of the pre-cosmos. I have already mentioned that Bryan has gone beyond the scope of the usual book on astrology, and for me, the beauty of his book lies in the fact that it shows how traditional astrology is an integral part of the larger system known as Western esotericism. Throughout the book, the reader is treated to Mychal Brian’s deep esoteric knowledge, won through years of study, which seamlessly integrates traditional astrology into the wider field of esotericism.
Part 2, which comprises the main part of the book, begins with a chapter on the astronomy of astrology. This is another important part of astrology, which is very often neglected. Following are chapters on many important themes of traditional astrology, such as planetary correspondences, essential dignities and debilities, reception, and so forth. Another interesting chapter in this part is called The Zodiac – Temple of the Living Creatures, which I think to be a typical example of how the author’s esoterically trained mind works. He writes:
“On an esoteric level, I consider the living creatures to be a reference to the planets that occupy the signs of the zodiac as their celestial mansions. Therefore, the zodiac becomes a temple for the governors of destiny – the designated homes of the ancient gods.” (p358)
His thoughts on the seasonal integration with the three alchemical principles; sulphur, salt, and mercury, alone are worth buying this book.
Part 3 mainly deals with the 12 houses, and their significations. This is a vital part of astrology, as Bryan states:
“A thorough understanding of the terrestrial houses is one of the most important acquisitions for an aspiring traditional astrologer to attain.” (p436)
Part 4 comprises one chapter, The Practice of Concrete Astrology. Here the reader will find example horary charts and their delineations. This also prepares the reader for the second book in the series, which will exclusively deal with horary astrology.
Much more could be said about this learned, but immensely readable book, but I hope that my review has whetted the appetite of the esoterically inclined reader, as well as the general student of astrology. Mychal A. Brian has to be congratulated to publish such a comprehensive first volume in a series of books, all of which I am looking forward to reading.
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