Books published by Raven Dreams Press

This poetic and comprehensive introduction to the elements is the first of two volumes of transcribed lectures astrologer Darby Costello presented for the CPA.Part One: water. We examine the element of water through its expressions in myth, alchemy, philosophy and psychology, and then through the water signs and water houses in the horoscope.Each planet in a water house is described in terms of its meaning and expression; the three water signs on the Ascendant are examined; and planets transiting through the water houses complete a detailed analysis of all the permutations of water in the birth chart.The chart of Marcel Proust is presented as a vivid example of the imaginative power and longing for unity reflected by this most mysterious and most primal of elements.Part Two: fire. We explore the chaotic, inspirational realm of fire, beginning with the ways in which fire is symbolised in myth and philosophy. We then examine Mars, the Sun and Jupiter as planetary rulers of the fire signs. Each fire sign is explored in detail, including planets placed in fire signs and fire houses, the nature of a fire sign on the Ascendant, and the meaning of the outer planets in fire signs in relation to the the generation group to which the individual belongs.The charts of two very different fire temperaments - William Blake and Heinrich Himmler - are presented. We discuss the meaning of a singleton in fire, what lack of fire in a chart suggests, and the experience of fiery people born into generation groups when the outer planets are placed in earth and water. Audience participation enriches this unique journey throughout both seminars, allowing individual experiences to deepen the reader's understanding.

This is the second of two volumes of transcribed lectures Darby Costello presented for the CPA in which she shared a dynamic and imaginative exploration of the four astrological elements. Poetic and comprehensive, this volume is a must-have introduction to the elements. Part One: Earth. Discover the nature and meaning of the earth element beginning with the importance of the earth rituals of archaic cultures. Next, explore the meaning of planetary placements in the three earthy signs, and the qualities of the planetary rulers of those signs. The complexity and subtlety of earth is further revealed through an analysis of the chart of Teilhard de Chardin, the remarkable Christian mystic and scientist who integrated two apparently disparate yet intimately connected dimensions of earth which form the great paradox of this element - its rationality and respect for facts, and its profound sense of the magic and transpersonal mystery inherent in the heart of material reality. Part Two: Air. The air element is often mistakenly thought to be "merely" rational. In this seminar Darby takes us on an expansive flight into the upper regions of the mind, exploring first the meaning and nature of air, and then examining planetary placements in the three airy signs and the attributes and mythology of the airy planetary rulers - which, according to traditional astrology, each govern both an earthy and an airy sign. The fluid and effervescent spirit of air is further revealed through the chart of the great poet W. B. Yeats, whose vision, fertility of ideas, and love of beauty in form and idea portray the essential nature of this most elusive of the astrological elements.

"In this groundbreaking exposition into the nature and impact of the planetary nodes, astrologer and therapist Mark Jones presents a moving and thought-provoking investigation with a compelling case that astrologers elevate the importance of these seldom studied but seemingly potent points.Drawing upon original research including twenty years of observation and study, Jones surveys key moments in recent Western history to illuminate the potential meaning and significance of the planetary nodes from Jupiter to Pluto. He suggests that the planetary nodes can be understood as moments of condensed meaning that contain the essence of the entire planetary cycle. As gateways into the collective unconscious, the planetary nodes reflect the evolution of the planetary archetypes themselves over time, revealing the deep undercurrents that inform and shape our collective experience.In this detailed text compiling the first truly complete thesis of the power of the planetary nodes, defining moments in collective Western history are explored both through event charts and the lives of those individuals who acted as catalysts of collective evolution. This beautifully written landmark study elevates what was once a mysterious addition to the astrological tool box for all but a few as Jones also makes a passionate call to the community for further research, giving weight to the statement of eminent astrologer Carl Payne-Tobey, who once noted, "The planetary nodes are more important than the planets themselves.""--

In this rich transcription of a classic CPA workshop series, Darby Costello shares poetic insights about the astrological Moon. Covering the Moon's placement in signs and houses, phase relationship with the Sun, the progressed Moon, and the interweaving with the Saturn cycle, this is a must-have reference text for any successful astrologer.