If, like me, you thought, as you glanced at the title of this book, 'oh synastry - the meeting of two souls and how they integrate' ... Wrong! Not so.

Celeste Teal has been active in Astrology for a good many years, having a teaching website called The Moon Valley Astrologer. She has written two previous books on the predictive side of Astrology - Predicting Events with Astrology (which I have already reviewed) and Identifying Planetary Triggers.

This book is an investigative look at the origins and development of Astrology. A simple enough investigation one might think…but not as obvious as all that; 'The Moment' being the key issue.

This is indeed a monumental tome, having taken the translator/author 40 years of research and compilation.

As an introduction to the subject:

"The I Ching is an oracle. It answers change the way you see things. Your anxieties, fears and desires emerge to be recognized and resolved, and hidden transformative energies are released."

The subtitle says 'Comprehensive' and comprehensive this book certainly is. A quick glance at some of the chapters reveals that nothing has been neglected by Mr. Burk. He covers the history of astrology, each planet in detail, retrogrades, dignities, aspects, aspect patterns, eclipses and detailed chart synthesis.

How good it is to see a new book by a local astrologer incorporating ‘self help principles’ with Astrological Cycles. In addition, the book achieves its aim without the use of an Ephemeris or for that matter, a computer.