An Abbreviation of the Introduction to Astrology

by Abu Ma'shar, edited & translated by Charles Burnett; ARHAT, 2d Printing Nov. 2000.

The thinness of this book belies its huge importance in Astrology. In our modern printing, it is almost a pocket edition.

Abu Ma'shar was "a prince of Astrologers," if you will. This little edition is this revered Astrologer's distilled wisdom and can be read for its historical value, as well as its astrological. I believe its role is most useful as a reference work for Astrologers already introduced to the traditional science.

His work is worthy of his reputation, a small compendium of rules and rulerships for the logical part of your mind.

If you're looking for a text that will hold your hand and train you in the ancient Astrology, this resource won't cut it. It's a little dry and thin, for that.

If you need a reference tool while you study with a reputable teacher, this book will cut it. It gives clear summations: "The tenth is the place of authority, promotion, the king, renown, fame, skills, actions and mothers" (page 12, ARHAT ed.).

This book is very, very useful and helps us traditionalist practitioners clear cobwebs out of our minds. It's even better as a reference book, or as an expanded syllabus, than as a beginner's book.

In other words, don't pick this up and say, hey, it's thin and to the point . . . I can finally pick up the basics. You can get some keywords and rules, but you will likely miss out how to apply them. It would be like having the alphabet and having no idea how letters work together or with what language. The building blocks may do you no good. So, get the building blocks and let this be a resource to shore up your studies and practice and not your basic textbook and teacher.