By Daniel Giamario, December 2017
The Soul Speaks: The Therapeutic Potential of Astrology by Mark Jones, 2015
More than any other contemporary astrologer, I really like and recommend English astrologer Mark Jones. His approach, like mine, is extremely influenced by Dane Rudhyar and is restoring Evolutionary Astrology to its Rudhyarian roots. Mark Jones was one of our presenters for our recent Preparing for 2020 Summit, where he spoke about one of his specialties, the planetary nodes. The Summit is over but can still be purchased for $87 including all 15 presentations and many other bonuses. All proceeds go to support the Shamanic Astrology Mystery School educational non-profit. http://shamanicastrology.com/2020-home
The Soul Speaks has a really fine chapter on Saturn that is very much in harmony with the Shamanic Astrology Paradigm (tm). When I am asked if there are any other astrologers that I recommend, he is one of my first choices.
The Art of Dreaming by Carlos Castaneda, 1993
I recently reread this book, after first reading it back in the late 1990’s. It remains my favorite of all his books. Upon rereading, I was surprised to find just how much it had influenced me. There are remarkable sections about the assemblage point, a concept I have frequently used in describing Uranian initiatory processes. Back in the 1970’s Castaneda was where I first learned about the assemblage point, and how it shifts.
Another truly fabulous thing about this book is his description of lucid dreaming, a great interest of mine as one of my favorite shamanic and spiritual practices. In my opinion, this is the very best book to learn about how to lucid dream. Even if Carlos was a fraud and his books are only works of fiction, his dreaming techniques definitely work.
The Moment of Astrology: Origins in Divination by Geoffrey Cornelius, 2003
This is philosophically one of the most important astrology books ever written. It is certainly not an easy read, and not for everyone. However, if you want the deepest foundational insights as to what astrology is (and isn’t) this book is for you.
It’s from this book, along with classes I’ve taken from Geoffrey, that I deepened my view that prediction is not really possible. The reason is “objective time” not only does not exist, but cannot exist. A good part of the book develops a theory of divination including how astrology is divination. A very heady, yet worthwhile, read that can challenge your basic assumptions about astrology and being an astrologer.
The Psychotropic Mind: The World According to Ayahuasca, Iboga, and Shamanism by anthropologist Jeremy Narby, filmmaker Jan Kounen, and writer Vincent Ravalec, 2009
For those who have read the two other books by Jeremy Narby I have recommended: The Cosmic Serpent and Intelligence in Nature, you will really love this book. It’s also in the category of two other recent recommendations: Heads and The Mysteries of Eleusis.
These three pioneers honestly and personally discuss the nature of shamanism, indigenous cultures, and ethnogens (in particular ayahuasca and Iboga). If you have ever considered exploring any of these subjects, or have been doing that and desire a deeper inquiry, this book is filled with useful insights. The implications as to where the world is at now, and where it’s heading, are enormous.
The Memory Code by Dr. Lynne Kelly, 2017
This book just came out earlier in 2017 and I think it will revolutionize many of my areas of interest: the Neolitihic, Stone Circles, Rock Art, Passage Cairns, pre-hierarchical culture, and oral traditions. 
Her thesis proposes the main function of these stone age sites is to serve as cultural memory, centers for the transmission of knowledge, and community memory devices, explaining how pre-literate cultures had enormous memories being able to recall countless generations, lineages, calendar dates, ceremonial timings, and mythic (historical?) events.
Her book explores Australian aboriginal ways, Chaco Canyon, Stonehenge, Avebury, Newgrange, Easter Island, the Maya, South America and more. I have seldom, if ever, encountered a writer with a greater global and historical perspective of global humanity’s journey to the present time. I believe she has truly seen something that others so far have missed. She even includes her own discovery of how to create a memory code in your own neighborhood. What an amazing additional tool for creating your own hierophany.
Bonus Section Morsels and Tidbits
As described in my last article here are some morsels via quotes that might inspire you.
“Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your art” ~Flaubert
“Thinking is difficult, that is why most people judge” ~Carl Jung
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it” ~Upton Sinclair
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