Joanna Martine Woolfolk (1940–2013)

This is a really great book if you're wanting to get beyond the basic checking-your-weekly-horoscope-in-the-newspaper-astrology. Not that there's anything wrong with that kind, but if you're wanting to know about birth charts, love affinity, the placement of your other planets (Moon Sign, Venus Sign, etc) and Rising/Ascendant Sign, this is a great choice. It's fun and interesting to read, very clear and easily understood, and boy do I regret not picking up that copy I saw at the flea market show more (I owned this book for years and re-read it till it fell apart). show less

Not everyone believes in astrology, but almost everyone seems drawn to it at some point in their lives even if only out of curiosity, apart from any spiritual path we may or may not embrace. Most, though, are unable to embrace its intricacies because there is a lot of math, calculation, analysis, and synthesis involved. Therefore, we may settle for scanning a horoscope in a daily paper or monthly magazine and smile when its forecast is favorable or discount it when it is not.

However, that show more would be a mistake. Simply because we do not understand its underpinnings, we should not discount the wisdom ancient people valued and not so ancient luminaries still follow. After all, some biographers said Nancy Reagan regularly consulted her astrologer and was rumored to have shared the findings with her husband, Ronald. Of course, that advice was predicated on complex and detailed understanding of when (down to the time of day) and where (exact longitude and latitude) you were born amongst other factors. Few of us would be able to afford or would even care to have such detailed charts of our destiny drawn and interpreted. We are too poor, too busy, too scared, too enlightened – there are many reasons to decline to look closely at such fine-tuned observations.

That is sad because we miss out on so much by ignoring what has stood the test of time. We might scoff, but we do so at our loss. Life is richer when you learn as much as you can, particularly about yourself. Whether or not you plan your life or daily activities upon astrology, I bet you are drawn to the general characteristics attributed to your Sun sign – the day and month on which you were born. Even the most ardent skeptic can probably tell you whether he or she is a Scorpio, a Taurus, or Capricorn. There is something that draws us in. We pick what we like from the profile and often discard what we don't.

In Joanna Martine Woolfolk's Sun Sign Series, each Sun Sign gets its due. I was fortunate to be granted the right to review my own Sun Sign through Library Thing's Early Reviewer program, and I have to admit I was astounded, truly astounded, at how accurate this slim volume was. I've had an on and off interest in astrological since my teen years. The off phases were primarily due to the fact that I did not understand or have patience for concepts such as decanates and cusps and all the finer points of art. However, thanks to Woolfolk's clear descriptions and definitions, I finally feel comfortable and confident with at least the foundational aspects of astrology.

You don't have to take my word for how accurate her descriptions are. Try an experiment as I did. Write up one that truly reflects what you find for your birth date as Woolfolk delineates it. Then pick one or two that don't relate to you at all. Don't identify the descriptions of you in anyway except general categories such as Personality, Health, Best Career, Love Interests or whatever strikes your fancy. Be fair and accurate; reflect Woolfolk's work honestly. Then give those two or three sheets to people who know you well. Let them select the one they feel most accurately describes you. You may be as stunned as I was. Woolfolk nailed my strengths and weaknesses and those who looked at the different profiles were able to select the one that Woolfolk said was specific to my day and month of birth.

The chapter on Chinese astrology was not only fun it was fascinating. The theory that my spouse and I were compatible partners according to our animal signs did not surprise me, but was pleased that the past forty years bear out the truth of that prediction. Other chapters were equally intriguing: numerology, affinities, et cetera. You will be surprised at how much information is conveyed in this slim volume.

Whether you wish to embrace astrology as your ultimate guide, simply wish to think about the profile it paints of you to see if you can understand yourself better, or just even approach it as a fun way of seeing what is said about you generally, Joanna Martine Woolfolk is a true and steady guide. She writes in a clear, easily understood style, and makes no outlandish claims. She sets forth her findings and allows you to decide for yourself what matters. show less

I give this four stars, not because I read it and thought "Wow! Spot on!" but because it's entertaining, gives a good snapshot across a wide variety of topics (including numerology and the Chinese zodiac), and only occasionally wandered into extreme "airy fairy" territory. I am, by nature, rather cynical (I'm a Capricorn, you surely weren't expecting an optimist, were you?) and very science-oriented, so astrology in general is more amusing than anything else. I wouldn't recommend this as a show more serious resource - frankly, I wouldn't recommend any astrology book as a serious resource - but as a bit of fun, sure, give Mistress Woolfolk's series a try! show less

originally appeared on: Bookshelf Confessions

I’ve always been fond of astrology, especially horoscopes . I know some people don’t believe, I didn’t even really, well, not just so much. I just found it as an art and a little too magical that sometimes it made us see ourselves in a different way or makes us see the traits we’re denying/hiding. Since I am a Virgo, I ask Ms. Woolfolk for a copy of her book and this by no means influence my review.

I find the book, entertaining and very show more easy to read. It’s just like the book personified into a person telling me things about my sign and myself. No old English words or whatsoever, it simply wants to talk to you about YOU. I understand every bit of it and digested the facts and advices accordingly. I actually read the whole book in one sitting.>:D. I think I should credit that to how the author efficiently wrote it.

The book touches every aspect of human life, personality, career, health, ambitions and love. Every chapter contains advices and words of wisdom that made me really think. I mean, like all of it are true and will come true. I find myself nodding in some of the words in it like, “Hey, that’s definitely me you’re talking about”..:D.. and of course it made my thoughts processed more about how this book defines almost all of me without the author knowing me in the first place.

One question pops in my mind though, “Are all Virgo’s like this? Are all Virgo’s like me?”. Fortunately, that was answered at the latter part of the book. So you see, each person/Virgo can be classified into their day of birth, their birth year is even considered.

What I had more time reading was of course when it comes to career and love. I won’t spoil that much for you.:) But you should buy this book to know if you and your partner are compatible, but of course you shouldn’t ditch him/her if not.lol. since the books comes with explanations on your relationships with other signs as well. As of mine, I’m more inclined to Pisceans.;) I’m even tempted to read the other signs too, maybe it could help understand people a lot more easier..:D

Joanna Martine Woolfolk’s Sun Sign Series is a legacy that anyone would surely enjoy. Complete with insights into your power, potentials and weaknesses, qualities, issues, advices about relationships and love, inclinations toward other signs, guidance, health diet, you have one book which contains every information you would need.

The book is so little yet it contains a lot. I couldn’t possibly tell you everything it taught me, but if all of the books in the sun sign series is this good, then I would recommend for everyone of you to have this, maybe not as a fan of horoscopes, but if you’re looking for insights where you couldn’t put your finger into, you should probably grab this book.:) Highly Recommended! show less