Alpha/Penguin 2011, republished 2016 by Two Moon Publishing
Back in print!
The Essential Guide to Practical Astrology is now available for Kindle and in a bright new paperback format!

For astrology to be useful there’s no need to have a crystal ball, incense, meditation, or faith. Learn the practical language of astrology in this clear, easy-to-understand exploration that goes way beyond daily horoscopes and zodiac. With it, the reader will be able to calculate and read their own and others’ birth charts; tell signs and planets from houses; create daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly planners- even make predictions for the future. With a glossary and further resources, this guide explores:
• Why horoscopes and descriptions of “sun signs” are usually wrong.
• Why many astrologers use the “wrong” zodiac.
• An introduction to planets, signs, and houses.
• The cycles that determine an astrological forecast.
The Author

Praise




(July 2017) I’m proud that my colleague, Chris Brennan (author of Hellenistic Astrology), named The Essential Guide to Practical Astrology his top pick Astrology book for beginners! See his review here:
More kind words
Anyone who wants to take a big, enjoyable step toward understanding (and using) astrology will learn a lot from this book. April Elliott Kent has plenty of new ideas for teaching the venerable art of astrology. Think about this, for instance: Among her answers to the question, ‘Why should you go to the trouble to learn to calculate charts by hand?’ she writes that it will ‘come in handy in the event of some post-apocalyptic, Mad Max future when we’re all wearing tattered clothes and using an abacus for simple math.’ And where else in your astrological education will you find thoughts regarding the True Node versus the Mean Node, such as: ‘The two are usually only a degree or two apart, so it doesn’t matter too much which you use – though why be mean when you can be true?'” ~ Mary Plumb, The Mountain Astrologer magazine
“There’s no fluff, esoteric mumbo jumbo, fringe techniques, or confusing psychobabble. The author’s writing style is clear, friendly, and intriguing in the sense that the more you read, the more you want to learn. So beware – if you pick up this book, you will most likely be irrevocably drawn into the world of astrology.” – Dell Horoscope

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