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Orcus
Discovered in 2004, 90482 Orcus is a transneptunian object and Plutino in 2:3 resonance with Neptune, creating a Hadean triumvirate alongside Pluto and Ixion. This groundbreaking work traces the mythological roots of Orcus and extrapolates a rich astrological principle which perfectly encapsulates the emerging spiritual paradigm of our age.
The approaches to Orcus are uncompromising and inescapable, but to balk at his hard-won revelation is to reject all possibility of an authentic and fulfilling life. For the astrologer, the wisdom of Orcus adds a vivid new dimension to the nativity, and for the esoteric student too, the methodologies and tenets of Orcus create a profound organising principle with which to better understand the exigent shift from a life of unsatisfying material striving to a new depth of spiritual freedom.
"Jeremy Neal's masterwork about Orcus is a major contribution to the advancement of astrology. Facing the real significance of these newly-discovered trans-Neptunian bodies is not work for the faint-hearted. This is a courageous book that carries the reader into the heart of darkness. Fortunately, it also carries us out again! Neal faces painful subjects unflinchingly, and yet never loses sight of the higher ground. I enthusiastically welcome his voice to the conversation."
- Steven Forrest, author of The Inner Sky
The approaches to Orcus are uncompromising and inescapable, but to balk at his hard-won revelation is to reject all possibility of an authentic and fulfilling life. For the astrologer, the wisdom of Orcus adds a vivid new dimension to the nativity, and for the esoteric student too, the methodologies and tenets of Orcus create a profound organising principle with which to better understand the exigent shift from a life of unsatisfying material striving to a new depth of spiritual freedom.
"Jeremy Neal's masterwork about Orcus is a major contribution to the advancement of astrology. Facing the real significance of these newly-discovered trans-Neptunian bodies is not work for the faint-hearted. This is a courageous book that carries the reader into the heart of darkness. Fortunately, it also carries us out again! Neal faces painful subjects unflinchingly, and yet never loses sight of the higher ground. I enthusiastically welcome his voice to the conversation."
- Steven Forrest, author of The Inner Sky
- GenresAstrology
254 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2012
3 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 29, 2013
It's taken me several months to be ready to write a review for this superb addition to my astrology library, even though I devoured it when it first appeared, signed by the author (something I treasure). Goodreads requires you to say when you've "finished" a book, which really isn't relevant in this case as I'm constantly revisiting the text and always gleaning further insight. I'll never "finish" it. I often think - how did I miss that when I read it the first time?
The book is meticulously researched and required the author to delve into some truly challenging personalities including, for example, Klaus Barbie, one of Hitler's Gestapo henchmen who became known as "The Butcher of Lyon" for his terrifying interrogation techniques. But there are also stories of extraordinary survival and resilience, for example in the story of Terry Waite, imprisoned in Lebanon for 1,763 days, the vast majority in solitary confinement.
There are clearly many layers to Orcus and he doesn't reveal himself willingly or easily. Hence the time it clearly took to write the book, and the time it has taken me to approach a review. He is, however, well worth the effort. There are chapters on how Orcus manifests in personal charts, in aspect to planetary bodies, with case studies. We also learn how Orcus has manifested in the mundane events of history.
If you want an astrology book which skips lightly over its territory, then this is not for you. If you're looking for a quick astrology "cookbook" where someone else has done the work for you about how a particular body's influence plays in your chart, and where you don't have to think for yourself, forget it. You will have to think, and think deeply. You should expect to discover things about yourself which won't be entirely comfortable. You may, for example, think you have integrity. Do you, really, when your motives are examined in Orcus' cold, clear light? How comfortable are you in your own skin? To quote the author:
"The struggle against Orcus ... can manifest as a great discomfort with solitude, a fear of facing the inner self and a craving for distraction. It is not comfortable to gaze at eternity, after all, but some, a rare few, learn to welcome that exchange, because within it they see their own immortality and their oneness with creation".
Orcus deserves - demands - a book that delves deep into fascinating and hitherto unexplored territory, and forces us into some dark corners of own own psyches. If you can relish that, and welcome the insights he gives you, then you will love this book. Orcus' territory is not for the faint-hearted - there are chapters here on torture and imprisonment, through which a bitter wind blows - but if you can bring yourself to face the clear truths of Orcus, you'll be rewarded with a fascinating and unique astrological journey.
The book is meticulously researched and required the author to delve into some truly challenging personalities including, for example, Klaus Barbie, one of Hitler's Gestapo henchmen who became known as "The Butcher of Lyon" for his terrifying interrogation techniques. But there are also stories of extraordinary survival and resilience, for example in the story of Terry Waite, imprisoned in Lebanon for 1,763 days, the vast majority in solitary confinement.
There are clearly many layers to Orcus and he doesn't reveal himself willingly or easily. Hence the time it clearly took to write the book, and the time it has taken me to approach a review. He is, however, well worth the effort. There are chapters on how Orcus manifests in personal charts, in aspect to planetary bodies, with case studies. We also learn how Orcus has manifested in the mundane events of history.
If you want an astrology book which skips lightly over its territory, then this is not for you. If you're looking for a quick astrology "cookbook" where someone else has done the work for you about how a particular body's influence plays in your chart, and where you don't have to think for yourself, forget it. You will have to think, and think deeply. You should expect to discover things about yourself which won't be entirely comfortable. You may, for example, think you have integrity. Do you, really, when your motives are examined in Orcus' cold, clear light? How comfortable are you in your own skin? To quote the author:
"The struggle against Orcus ... can manifest as a great discomfort with solitude, a fear of facing the inner self and a craving for distraction. It is not comfortable to gaze at eternity, after all, but some, a rare few, learn to welcome that exchange, because within it they see their own immortality and their oneness with creation".
Orcus deserves - demands - a book that delves deep into fascinating and hitherto unexplored territory, and forces us into some dark corners of own own psyches. If you can relish that, and welcome the insights he gives you, then you will love this book. Orcus' territory is not for the faint-hearted - there are chapters here on torture and imprisonment, through which a bitter wind blows - but if you can bring yourself to face the clear truths of Orcus, you'll be rewarded with a fascinating and unique astrological journey.
December 10, 2012
The innovative and intelligent ORCUS, by Jeremy Neal, adds greatly to the increasing wealth of knowledge that astrology brings to the world.
The first section of the book, which discusses the Hadean triumvirate’s influence on a variety of charts, as well as exploring the mythology behind the objects, will be of immense value to both intermediate and professional astrologers.
The second section of the book, which explores the influence of Ixion, Pluto and Orcus on the soul during the so–called “mid-life crisis” is a masterpiece of spiritual wisdom and guidance. The analysis of exactly what spiritual integrity and living an authentic life requires is profound and inspiring, offering insights that will be of value to anyone reading the book, even non-astrologers.
I would have liked a more detailed summary of the house and sign placements of, especially Orcus and Ixion, as I know very little about these objects. On the other hand, generalising these objects and taking them out of the context of an individual’s unique and complex chart would not create an authentic understanding of their powerful influence on our lives.
And it is in its authenticity that ORCUS is at its best: the excellent research, the well-written, easy to read style, the cautious and pragmatic approach to astrology as a tool for spiritual evolution, all these and more speak to the immense value of this book.
A must-buy for anyone interested in astrology and, for the second section alone, a highly recommended buy for anyone who is interested in understanding the power plays and ego-drives that unconsciously motivate us between the years of the first and second Saturn Returns (from +- 29 to +-60 years of age.)
I will be returning to this book many times in the future.
The first section of the book, which discusses the Hadean triumvirate’s influence on a variety of charts, as well as exploring the mythology behind the objects, will be of immense value to both intermediate and professional astrologers.
The second section of the book, which explores the influence of Ixion, Pluto and Orcus on the soul during the so–called “mid-life crisis” is a masterpiece of spiritual wisdom and guidance. The analysis of exactly what spiritual integrity and living an authentic life requires is profound and inspiring, offering insights that will be of value to anyone reading the book, even non-astrologers.
I would have liked a more detailed summary of the house and sign placements of, especially Orcus and Ixion, as I know very little about these objects. On the other hand, generalising these objects and taking them out of the context of an individual’s unique and complex chart would not create an authentic understanding of their powerful influence on our lives.
And it is in its authenticity that ORCUS is at its best: the excellent research, the well-written, easy to read style, the cautious and pragmatic approach to astrology as a tool for spiritual evolution, all these and more speak to the immense value of this book.
A must-buy for anyone interested in astrology and, for the second section alone, a highly recommended buy for anyone who is interested in understanding the power plays and ego-drives that unconsciously motivate us between the years of the first and second Saturn Returns (from +- 29 to +-60 years of age.)
I will be returning to this book many times in the future.
November 2, 2013
Hard to rate this kind of material since to my knowledge no other has written about orcus. I felt excited by the insights while reading it though and the way in Jeremy present ground breaking research in a kind of poetic colorful package make it a five-pointer in my shelf.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews