Taoist Astrology
A Handbook of the Authentic Chinese Tradition
- Pages: 224
- Book Size: 6 x 9
- ISBN-13: 9780892816064
- Imprint: Destiny Books
- On Sale Date: June 1, 1997
- Format: Paperback Book
The ancient Chinese people developed a sophisticated science of astrology that continues to have profound influence in China today. Rooted in the fundamentals of Taoism, it evolved into a system vastly different from Western astrology. Rather than determining personality by the time of the year in which you are born, in Taoist astrology it is the year itself that determines your character. The years form a twelve-year cycle of signs, each named after an animal. Additionally, your personality depends on which of the five traditional Taoist elements you are born under--water, wood, fire, earth, or metal. This makes for a cycle of sixty unique signs. Taoist Astrology includes information for each sign's personality, compatibility, child-parent relations, and rising and falling fortunes during the twelve-year cycle. Discussions of yin and yang, Confucianism and Buddhism, Taoist alchemy, and the connection between Taoist astrology and Western astrology give you all the background you need for understanding one of the oldest systems of divination known to humanity.
Taoist Astrology differs from other books on the subject by grounding its concepts in the ancient traditions from which it originated.
Acknowledgments
Part One: Taoist Astrology
The Way of the Tao
The Twelve Earthly Branches
Your Rising Sign
Five Elements and Ten Heavenly Stems
Taoist Alchemy
Harmonies and Conflicts
Part 2: The Twelve Earthly Branches
Rat
Ox
Tiger
Hare
Dragon
Serpent
Horse
Sheep
Monkey
Phoenix
Dog
Boar
The Lunar Calendar from 1900 to 2020
Seann Xenja, Feng Shui consultant and educator
“A lucid and penetrating foray into the mysteries of Taoist natural science. The material is presented with a dynamic animism that breathes such life into the characters that they virtually leap from the page. Levitt and Tang have clearly created the reference standard for anyone interested in the profound study of Asian astrology, medicine, and psychology.”
--John Mini, Chinese medicine practitioner and licensed acupuncturist
“Clear, thorough, and beautifully written, this book will satisfy anyone from the beginner to the most accomplished scholar.”
--Seann Xenja, Feng Shui consultant and educator
The ancient Chinese people developed a sophisticated science of astrology that continues to have profound influence in China today. Rooted in the fundamentals of Taoism, which sees life as the play of opposing forces and cycles, it evolved into a system vastly different from Western astrology. In Taoist astrology the year in which you are born determines your character. The years form a cycle of sixty unique signs, each with distinct strengths and weaknesses.
Taoist Astrology provides in-depth descriptions of each of the sixty signs and offers important advice for making life decisions. It gives valuable insights into personality, relationships, child–parent dynamics, and rising and falling fortunes. Special sections on yin and yang, Confucianism and Buddhism, and Taoist alchemy return this Chinese tradition to its ancient sources. Explanations of rising signs and of the connection between Taoist astrology and Western astrology give you all the background you need for understanding one of the oldest systems of divination known to mankind.
SUSAN LEVITT is a professional astrologer and Tarot consultant. Her articles have appeared in New Age Journal, Gnosis, and Magical Blend. JEAN TANG, a native of Taiwan, is a lifelong student of Chinese history, literature, and metaphysics. Both authors reside in the San Francisco Bay Area.
