Planetary Strength - a commentary on Morinus is an intermediate level textbook on natal horoscope interpretation. Taking as its point of departure Astrologia Gallica by Jean Baptiste Morin de Villefranche (1583 - 1656), Planetary Strength explains the differences between the strengths conferred upon planets by virtue of their sign placements (celestial state), house placements (terrestrial state) and aspects (aspectual state). A detailed system of keywords is augmented by insightful "cookbook" interpretations for each and every planetary combination. The depth and quality of the analysis - as well as the hundreds of practical examples and tips - make Planetary Strength an essential reference work which both neophyte and experienced practitioners will consult every time they read a horoscope.

The Planetary Hours are an ancient astrological system for selecting favorable times to act (and avoiding unfavorable times), by assigning planetary rulers to the twenty-four hours of the day. This book has easy-to-follow instructions for finding your birthday and birth hour rulers, and clearly explains how these determine your personality and your luck. A chapter on electional astrology explains how to use the Planetary Hours to find lucky times to act (to ask for money; to ask someone on a date or to marry; to go on a journey; to begin a new business). The chapter on How to Cast Spells gives the low-down on how to make magical spells (and prayers) really work, using simple astrological techniques. The use of the Firdaria, an ancient astrological prediction system which indicates positive and negative periods during a lifetime, is illustrated with a detailed analysis of events in the life of Theodore Roosevelt. Complete Tables of Planetary Hours at the end of the book allow you to find favorable times to initiate activities for any day of the year, and for anywhere on earth from the Equator to 58 North and South latitudes. Ideal for any level of astrologer.

Planetary Combination picks up where Planetary Strength left off, explaining how the planetary influences combine in aspects and configurations to paint a picture of a person and his or her life. Descriptions of planetary configurations such as grand trines, grand squares, T-squares, wedges, fans, rectangles, kites, and trapezoids provide overall schematics of people's psychological dynamics. Then, detailed interpretations for the conjunctions, sextiles/trines, squares, oppositions, parallels/contraparallels, and mutual receptions between the individual planets enable the practitioner to see clearly how these dynamics work out in a particular horoscope. An illuminating chapter on planetary conjunctions with the Moon's nodes reveals the underlying karmic influences at work. An indispensable reference you'll consult every time you read a chart. "Planetary Combination is an excellent and comprehensive summary of all the relevant chart factors...One has to search hard to find such material! But this is all presented, as is all of Makransky's work, with vigour, wisdom and accessibility...Much of the book is taken up - as we might expect - with a very generous coverage of the astrological aspects. I looked up a few of my own and they were spot on...Planetary Combination fills a gap in the current state of astrological literature. It manages to retain both a sense of firm tradition whilst feeling utterly new and fresh." James Lynn Page, author of Everyday Tarot, Celtic Magic, The Christ Enigma and The New Positive Thinking.