Joseph C. Crane, M.A., is an astrologer, psychotherapist and lecturer in Waltham,  Massachusetts near Boston.  Joseph's current focus is on reformulating modern psychological astrology by using methods from astrology's traditions.  In A Practical Guide to Traditional Astrology, Crane writes to modern astrologers about ideas and techniques from the past. and now his new book is entitled Astrological Roots: The Hellenistic Tradition.

A gifted teacher, he conveys difficult material from the late Hellenistic and medieval periods in a manner that is easy to read and apply to your own charts. 

The new book will be available very soon -- it's being trucked here! it will be available on amazon.com, or you can order from your favorite bookstore, or directly from Joseph.

Astrological Roots: The Hellenistic Legacy by Joseph Crane

Astrological Roots: The Hellenistic Legacy, by Joseph Crane, The Wessex Astrologer Ltd, 4A Woodside Road, Bournemouth, BH5 2AZ, England, 2007. Softcover—314 pp.—$42 (£22.50) (ISBN 978-1-902405-24-7). Available from: www.wessexastrologer.com and many other Web sites

A study of what remains of the ancient origins of Western astrology, herein referred to as “Hellenistic astrology,” takes a modern astrologer into a vastly different world. Although not an unbroken written tradition, the astrology of this earlier world is generally agreed to have centered in Egypt and what we now call the Middle East; it flourished from the first or second century B.C.E. until around 400 C.E. This was an intricate and sophisticated astrological system, and most of it was lost to modern astrologers until recently. For the past 15 years or so, some dedicated astrologers — including Robert Hand, Robert Schmidt, and others — have gone back to the primary sources (mostly Greek and some Latin) and translated them, to our great benefit. Joseph Crane’s Astrological Roots: The Hellenistic Legacy is the first extensive compilation of the techniques from this earliest chapter in Western astrological tradition.

To begin to understand the gulf between ancient and modern astrological practice, it is important to recognize that early Western astrology “was embedded in contemporary philosophical traditions — Platonic and neo-Platonic, Aristotelian, Stoic and Hermetic.” Astrology was part of the rich tapestry of meaning and cosmology of the ancient world, and that integration produced many evocative ideas. Consider, for example, an astrology that offers formulas for determining “the qualities of soul in a natal chart” (as in Ptolemy’s system).

Joseph Crane teaches many methods from various sources. He relies primarily on Dorotheus of Sidon, Manilius, Vettius Valens, Ptolemy, Firmicus Maternus, and 9th-century Arabic astrologer Abu Mashar. His emphasis is practical, and his intent is to offer suggestions for modern astrologers to try for themselves.

In this very impressive book, the author contrasts ancient and modern practice and describes much of what is known of Hellenistic astrology. He extensively covers “bound” rulers (later known as “terms”), sect, the planets, triplicities, the signs (here called the “zoidia”), the lots (also known as Arabic Parts), and fixed stars (including ecliptical positions, paranatella, and parallels of declination) in natal interpretation. He also explains some predictive methods, such as planetary time lords, ascensions, and directions.

At the beginning of the book, Crane describes sect (the distinction between a day and a night birth), and thus he establishes how important it is for contemporary astrologers to look at the night sky. Observing the sky and understanding the planets’ movements are recurring themes in the book. Crane also clearly explains how the horoscope is actually constructed — how the movements of planets in the sky are depicted in the chart. This basic information, which is often overlooked or misunderstood by modern astrologers, is invaluable. Even readers who aren’t particularly drawn to ancient methods can learn a lot from this book. And readers who have an interest in the history of astrological technique will certainly be enthralled.

The book also offers indices of Names and Topics, a bibliography (of Primary Texts and Secondary Sources), and many chart wheels and examples.

Although the author writes well, he offers a prodigious amount of information, and I think it could have been better organized. As I mentioned previously, Astrological Roots: The Hellenistic Legacy takes the modern astrologer into a new world with distinctly different ideas. The book is not easy to follow, but it is a treasure trove of astrology that will be a resource for the serious student’s continued deepening study.

— reviewed by Mary Plumb

Astrological Roots: The Hellenistic Legacy by Joseph Crane

© 2007  The Wessex Astrologer, Ltd.

314  pages  $43.00 USD new; available through www.amazon.com and publisher (www.wessexastrologer.com).

If  you are eager to understand some of the arguments against astrology in general and between  modern and traditional  astrology in particular, this book is a great place to start.

With his quick-minded teaching style,  Joseph Crane, who is schooled in both modern and traditional methods, lays out some criticisms of modern practice,  and cautions against the tendency of imposing bias or personal ideologies on the interpretation of astrological symbolism. 

He describes the recent revitalization of  traditional (classical) techniques,  as important to understanding the origins of  western astrology.  His short synopsis of the Hellenistic era roots  his view that “...ancient tradition solves many of the problems of modern astrology and provides a model for a consistent approach that we can use successfully.” (p. 149) on firm ground. 

There is a fine introductory chapter to get you up to speed, if you are unfamiliar with the subject matter.   Crane  uses simple diagrams to accompany the text that describes sect, qualities, and seasons. He takes it a bit deeper by explaining visibility of planets, angles and quadrants, and motions within the horoscope.  He makes a case for using Whole Sign Houses, and moves gently into areas unique to Hellenistic astrology that expand the view:  a review of the planets as malefic/benefics; their  kinship, including bounds and terms; triplicities; lords and soul;  lots;  place or joy;  aspects, and the use of fixed stars.   Crane includes another important reminder, that of looking at the sky  and understanding phases of the planets as well as of the Moon. 

When reading some of the words unique to this approach, such as  zoidion, oikos, oikodespotes, almuten, spear bearer, or place, I got the feeling Crane delights in the intellectual exercise of explaining the nuance of meaning they offer.  There is no glossary, which I found myself looking for occasionally, but there are some side-bar boxes with commentary to explain points further. 

The focus of this book is natal astrology, as used to make judgments related to  happiness, fame, wealth, character,  parents, love, and marriage.  Techniques for prediction are included as well.   Crane’s  coverage of this material goes beyond the theoretical; he uses  many examples from the lives of prominent names and faces to demonstrate the practical application of Hellenistic techniques.  Additionally, he references the source of the technique, and includes a bibliography of primary texts and secondary sources, for further investigation.

Aside from being instructive, this is a  thoughtful book that will encourage a shift in  some assumptions. As one who appreciates the thought process, Crane encourages readers to look at the philosophical underpinnings of the Hellenistic tradition.  Without being didactic, he encourages  readers to become familiar with the arguments, not only to anticipate  critique,  but also to think through the ideas and to develop a cogent point of view, which in the end makes for better astrologers.

© 2007  Paula R. Gassmann
All Rights Reserved

Paula R. Gassmann is an astrologer with a practice in the Boston area. She is the author of a number of books of poetry, and writes articles and reviews on many esoteric subjects.  She is the Publications Director of NCGR, served as co-editor of the Boston Chapter’s The Astrologers’ Newsletter, and as moderator for ADB’s Newsmaker Forum.  She can be reached at 781-862-5104, prgassmann@comcast.net, or through www.invisibledynamics.com.

From NCGR Memberletter, 2007

Astrological Roots: The Hellenistic Legacy, by Joseph Crane, The Wessex Astrologer, 4A Woodside Road, Bournemouth BH5 2AZ England, www.wessex astrologer.com, 2007. Paper. 314 pp.

£22.50 Br.

I f you’re looking for a clear, well- organized textbook on the basics of

Hellenistic astrology, this could be just what you’re looking for. Crane covers all the bases, beginning with a brief overview of the Hellenistic era, and moving along to objections to astrology, the concepts of fate and free will in astrology, and how natal and predictive astrology were used—then and now—and ending with a discussion of ascensions and directions and how they differ from progressions and directions as used today.

         The techniques described are applied to a great many charts including Muhammed Ali, Queen Elizabeth II, Martha Stewart, and more. All data is rated and the vast majority is “A” or “AA” data. Only Thomas Jefferson and Mother Teresa fall into the realm of dirty data.

         The author assumes some prior know- ledge of basic astrology but no prior knowledge of Hellenistic astrology. He also stresses that his purpose is not to replace modern astrology but rather to show how Hellenistic astrology can be relevant and useful to the modern astrologer. He does not claim that this is a better astrology; nor does he suggest that this is the only way to learn astrology or the only book you’ll ever need. He leaves that for the reader and student to decide and merely shows you how Hellenistic has worked for him and how it has enhanced his practice.

         Pretty much everything you might want to assess is covered—determination of soul, love, parents, fame, and more. The lots are fully covered, as are various planetary time lord systems and how to use them. Sect, triplicity, bounds (terms), faces, and more are clearly explained and, where applicable, different systems are discussed.

         Clear diagrams and text boxes throughout highlight important information. There is a thorough index as well as a useful bibliography. I would have liked a glossary, since this book introduces a lot of new terms. Otherwise, I found the text both readable and easy to follow.

         In his introduction Crane says that the experienced astrologer may find some of this material difficult to adapt to. I didn’t find this the case at all. Certainly it’s different from modern astrology, but Crane is obviously a teacher. So rather than this being some indecipherable and irrelevant new system, he brings it to life and encourages you to try these techniques on your own file of charts.

         Even when he is discussing different ways of calculating planetary time lord systems or directing the chart, he is thorough without creating confusion.

         This would be a useful book for anyone wanting to know more about Hellenistic astrology or anyone wanting a good guide for self-study. It’s also a good general reference for anyone wanting a solid book on Hellenistic techniques. I recommend it highly, and think it could very easily become a standard textbook— and a classic—in terms of Hellenistic astrology for the modern astrologer.

reviewed by Donna Van Toen

DONNA VAN TOEN  is an astrological consultant, teacher, and author of “The Astrologer’s Node Book”  and “The Mars Book.”  She is AFAN’s Presiding Officer, UAC Board Director, and serves on NCGR’s Advisory Board. Donna coordinates the State of the Art (SOTA) Conference, and speaks for groups and  conferences throughout the world. She can be reached at 91 Bowmore Road, Toronto, Ontario

M4L 3J1 CANADA, cvantoe@
attglobal.net, 416-466-2258,
www.donnavantoen.com