"Written in the stars" has a reason. Astrology is an ancient system of philosophy and wisdom that's also a big part of our culture. It's likely that you know your sun sign, and maybe you know a little about the zodiac. Zodiac signs are often linked to things like the colors you like best, the people you like the most, or the books you like to read. But where do these meanings come from, and how did they start? A lot of people like astrology because it describes and gives insights into what it means to be a person. It's a huge subject with a lot of different layers and techniques. It also has a long history that goes back thousands of years. A book about astrology can help you talk about the subject in a way that might seem easy.

Chris Brennan, the host of the popular The Astrology Podcast and the author of Hellenistic Astrology, told us which astrology books he thinks are the best. We also talked to professional astrologer djenneba drammeh, who has a lowercase name. She is the co-editor of the upcoming astrology anthology Mercury's Brood. It was with their help that we came up with a list of the best astrology books for anyone who wants to learn more about the subject. If you're completely new to astrology, we've got some great suggestions for simple introductions to the subject that you can learn about. You can start by learning about the most important parts of your full natal chart, then move on to more complicated things. So many people get hooked when they dive into the stars and want to know more. You might, too. If that's the case, we have the best astrology books to give you a sense of the history of astrology, the different types of astrology, and how you can read your own birth chart and more.

If you like reading, check out the best astrology books below to get a good start on the subject. Besides, here are some of the best books ever written, as well as the best self-help books, best nonfiction books, and best books written by women for bibliophiles and history lovers. If that's you, astrology might be your new favorite thing to learn about next.

Beginner books for the astro-curious

Astrology: Using the Wisdom of the Stars in Your Everyday Life by Carole Taylor

An illustrated look at astrology.

Brennan likes to give this book to people who are new to astrology. He says it's a "brilliant, comprehensive introduction to astrology book that's very well-illustrated." If you're just starting to learn about astrology, this is a book that won't scare you off. It's easy to use and fun to read, so it's a good choice. In this book, there are easy-to-understand infographics to help people learn about astrology. Astrology is a language, and this introduction gives you the tools you need to understand it. It also makes it easier for you to put those tools to use, so you can learn more about it. A four-part system, Brennan says, includes the planets, the zodiac signs, their aspects and the 12 houses. Brennan likes this system because it gives a clear picture. A quick look at the zodiac elements and how they work with your sign is below.

You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance by Chani Nicholas

The sun, moon, and rising sign are your "big three."

Brennan likes this new best seller because it focuses on a very important part of the natal chart: the sun, moon, and rising sign. As a whole, your birth or natal chart is made up of these three "big three" placements, which the book looks at as "keys." Brennan thinks this book is important because people are realizing that astrology isn't just one sign or one zodiac sign, but is made up of a lot of different planets. This isn't the only thing Chani Nicholas does. She also has an app called CHANI that calculates your birth chart and gives advice every day.

The Astrology Journal: A Celestial Guide to Recording your Cosmic Journey by Mecca Woods

In your daily life, you can use astrology.

The next step after you learn about your natal chart is to think about how astrology works in real life. Mecca Woods, an astrologer, gives a quick overview of some of the tools and components of astrology in this book about the zodiac signs. It's also good for keeping track of things. If you want to write down what happens every day, this is the book for you. Each day has a two-page spread where you can write down things like the lunar cycle, retrogrades, or other things that happen in the sky. Keep track of what has happened in your life and how you feel that day. The format makes you think about how these small things connect to bigger changes. You can start by doing something every day that helps you notice patterns and see if astrology can help make sense of the world around you.

Intermediate books when you’ve got the basics down

On the Heavenly Spheres: A Treatise on Traditional Astrology by Helena Avelar and Luis Ribeiro

This is an introduction to traditional astrology.

Brennan says this book has been a favorite for a long time because it gives a good overview of what's called traditional, or Western, astrology. There are a lot of complicated and in-depth topics covered in this book, even though it is an introduction. Brennan says that even though it's an introduction, it's at an intermediate level because it talks about a lot of different types of astrology, such as horary, mundane, and electional (finding specific auspicious times in the future). You'll find this to be one of the best astrology books if you want a broad, detailed look at the subject. It includes history and information on specific topics, as well as great visuals. A lot more than just birth charts: Brennan says you'll learn about "the full technical apparatus of astrology that is not just about birth charts." Djenneba drammeh, an astrologer, says this book is very practical. It has great descriptions of the meanings of planets that you can easily apply to your daily life.

Astrology and the Authentic Self: Integrating Traditional and Modern Astrology to Uncover the Essence of the Birth Chart by Demetra George

An easy-to-understand mix of traditional and modern astrology.

You should read this book when you want to learn more. Brennan thinks this book is "truly successful" at taking some ancient ideas and combining them with modern ideas in a way that's both interesting and practical. Demetra George is one of the most important people in the field of astrology. She used to be a translator of ancient astrology texts, and her work is great for people who want to learn more about these subjects. She has a lot of experience with this kind of work. When Brennan talks about George, he says that he has a natural talent for teaching and a good way of passing on wisdom to other people.

Ancient Astrology in Theory and Practice: A Manual of Traditional Techniques, Volume 1: Assessing Planetary Condition by Demetra George

A book about astrology that will help you get a solid start.

Ancient Astrology is a great book to read with Astrology and the Authentic Self. It is also a good intermediate text because it builds on and adds to a foundation. "It talks about how things work and why they work." Though it has a lot of math and science in it, it has a way of making complicated parts of astrology easier to understand and understand. If this sounds difficult, don't be afraid. George's work is great for you if you want to learn more.

Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living by Robert Hand

A great way to quickly figure out where things are on a chart.

Astrologers call this their "Holy Grail." It's also used as a source of information for people who want to learn more about the stars. In their words: This is a great resource to have right at your finger tips: "Planets in Transit breaks down every possible transit into small, easy-to-read chunks," says the author. You should read this if you have a question about, for example, what it means if the moon is in your 11th house. You can learn about the meanings of specific parts of your chart in a way that is simple and doesn't make you feel overwhelmed. This book does that. You'll find it simple and easy to understand. Other than that, it has information on both the modern planets (Pluto and Uranus, and Neptune) and the traditional planets.

Post-Colonial Astrology: Reading the Planets through Capital, Power, and Labor by Alice Sparkly Kat

A better understanding of the meanings of the planets

She looks at the "etymologies," or larger historical and cultural meanings, of the traditional planets in Western history in this book. Sparkly Kat asks in the book's introduction how to be more responsible with astrology, and the book gives ways to think about the meanings in a different way. The book uses a strategy that is both queer and inclusive when it looks at how astrology is linked to politics and power. Sparkly Kat thinks that astrology can be used to help people and build community, but to do so, people need to know its history and how it works so it can be used when it's not needed. In this book, you can get a very in-depth look at what planets mean. Take a look at this to learn more about the sun and moon, as well as the five traditional planets: Saturn, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury.

Advanced books when you’re ready for more

Cosmos and Psyche: Intimations of a New World View by Richard Tarnas

A way of thinking about astrology as a real thing

Darmah, who is learning how to be an astrologer, says that Cosmos and Psyche is a good book for new astrologers because it's a beautiful book that's also "very heady and philosophical." A look at how planet archetypes show up on the world stage. Brennan says this book is an argument for "astrology as a real thing." For both people who are interested in astrology and people who are not, this book shows how astrological concepts can be used to explain big cultural changes over time. Keep in mind that it's a lot of text. It's about 500 pages of rich, philosophical wonder. It's called "archetypal" astrology because Richard Tarnas' work helped make it popular. You can find a related website called Archetypal Explorer. It's like a horoscope book in that it has an interactive interface that helps you learn about your own chart and the world around you.

Hellenistic Astrology: The Study of Fate and Fortune by Chris Brennan

A basic introduction to texts and techniques from the past.

"Hellenistic Astrology was my first book," says drammeh about this nearly 700-page masterwork. It's a must-read for advanced astrologers and anyone else who wants to learn more about the subject. drammeh says that this book should be read quickly and not be "overwhelmed by the total number of pages." People who are advanced beginners can still read the book even though it is very dense and hard to get through. When Brennan worked on a project called Project Hindsight, he learned Greek so that he could translate ancient astrology works. This book took him ten years to write. Hellenistic Astrology didn't have a good guide to ancient astrology before it came out. They were so important to translate because they had techniques like whole sign houses, the idea of sects, and timing techniques like profections and zodiacal releasing that were important to know. These ancient ideas are interesting and becoming more popular. To find out more about the history and use of astrology, try this one out.

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