Foreword by Robert Tkoch

I began studying astrology in 1970. I quickly learned that the standard, geocentric astrology was only partially accurate. And while the geocentric art produced some very useful information, yet it was still full of errors, and left much to be desired.

In 1980, I cast my first heliocentric chart, and I was amazed by the accuracy of the results. At that moment, I essentially abandoned the geocentric field. And ever since then, I have expanded my research into the heliocentric domain.

Heliocentric is Sun-centered, heart-centered, soul-centered. Geocentric is body-centered, ego-centered, personality-centered. The helio chart shows a clear view of everything, while the geo chart gives merely the illusory perspective of the perishable, ignorant ego. Although it may be useful to know exactly what nonsense the ego thinks, its thinking is always ultimately wrong.

Studying within society's limitations, it may be convenient or useful to look at geocentric astrology first, and then to graduate to the heliocentric. But the quicker path toward real astrological knowledge will be found in pure helio studies.

To anyone who wishes to study astrology, I would say --- the best way, always, is to figure it out for yourself. Learn the basics from some decent and intelligent astrologer (like Mr. Dane Rudhyar, whose books are listed below), cast charts for yourself and your friends, and find out for yourself what is what. Use a good astrological program (like Astrolog, listed below) or acquire a good ephemeris. The program is great, but you can only use it at your computer. The ephemeris, on the other hand, is portable. You can take it wherever you go, and check things out on the spur of the moment.

As far as I know, there are no good books on heliocentric astrology. So you are on your own, and you must learn this art through the classical scientific method, experimenting as you go.

It is really not difficult. Just play with Astrolog or the ephemerides, and in a short while, you will get the hang of it. In time, you may know more than you can tell.

Astrolog is a free astrology program which runs on Windows, DOS, the Mac, or Unix. You can customize it in many ways. It can calculate both heliocentric and geocentric charts for just about any date. You may download it here.

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Ephemerides --- day-by-day listing of planetary positions

The American Heliocentric Ephemeris: 1900-2000 by Niel F. Michelsen $34.95 This excellent helio ephemeris for the twentieth century lists the positions of all inner planets for 0 UT of each day. The outer planets are listed at five-day intervals. These are tropical positions --- all planets are related to the tropical, moving Western Zodiac, projected onto the ecliptic plane.

American Heliocentric Ephemeris: 2001-2050 By Niel F. Michelsen $29.95 This helio ephemeris covers the first half of the twenty-first century. A simple way to glimpse the future, and --- perhaps more importantly --- to understand the future's real meaning.

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The Books of Dane Rudhyar

Dane Rudhyar was a major intellectual of the twentieth century. His books are deep, philosophical, and thought-provoking.

Unlike many modern astrologers, Mr. Rudhyar was a well-educated man who knew how to think independently. He studied many things, not just astrology. Yet his researches into the astrological field have provided real food for thought for later generations.

If you wish to acquire a strong foundation for a serious investigation of astrology, I recommend that you read the books of this deep-thinking man.

The Astrology of Personality $17.56 This was the first book on astrology that I ever read. It covers everything. It will not tell you what every astrological configuration means, but it will tell you how to think clearly on such matters, in order to figure them out for yourself. This book deserves to be read slowly, occasionally reconsidering its concepts from a higher state of mind.