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Postcolonial Astrology: Reading the Planets through Capital, Power, and Labor
Tapping into the political power of magic and astrology for social, community, and personal transformation.
In a cross-cultural approach to understanding astrology as a magical language, Alice Sparkly Kat unmasks the political power of astrology, showing how it can be channeled as a force for collective healing and liberation.
Too often, magic and astrology are divorced from their potency and cultural contexts: co-opted by neoliberalism, used as a force of oppression, or distilled beyond recognition into applications that belie their individual and collective power. By looking at the symbolic and etymological histories of the sun, moon, Saturn, Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter, we can trace and understand the politics of magic–and challenge our own practices, interrogate our truths, and reshape our institutions to build better frameworks for communities of care.
Fearless, radical, and fresh, Sparkly Kat’s Postcolonial Astrology ushers in a new wave of astrology revival, refusing to apologize for its magickism and connecting its power to the spirituality and politics we need now. Intersectional, inclusive, and geared towards queer and POC communities, it uses our historical and collective constructs of the planets, sun, and moon to re-chart our subconscious history, redefine the body in the world, and assert our politics of the personal, in astrology and all things.
In a cross-cultural approach to understanding astrology as a magical language, Alice Sparkly Kat unmasks the political power of astrology, showing how it can be channeled as a force for collective healing and liberation.
Too often, magic and astrology are divorced from their potency and cultural contexts: co-opted by neoliberalism, used as a force of oppression, or distilled beyond recognition into applications that belie their individual and collective power. By looking at the symbolic and etymological histories of the sun, moon, Saturn, Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter, we can trace and understand the politics of magic–and challenge our own practices, interrogate our truths, and reshape our institutions to build better frameworks for communities of care.
Fearless, radical, and fresh, Sparkly Kat’s Postcolonial Astrology ushers in a new wave of astrology revival, refusing to apologize for its magickism and connecting its power to the spirituality and politics we need now. Intersectional, inclusive, and geared towards queer and POC communities, it uses our historical and collective constructs of the planets, sun, and moon to re-chart our subconscious history, redefine the body in the world, and assert our politics of the personal, in astrology and all things.
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 18, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
June 28, 2021
If I had the option, I would give this a 2.5/5, but since I can't, I'm giving it 3/5.
I wanted to love this book so much and there were a lot of parts I enjoyed tremendously. The way that Sparkly Kat pulls from history, philosophy, sociology, etc. is impressive and really drew me in. I really enjoyed reading a perspective that I hadn't considered before (namely: astrology) to look at society and history and colonialism. A not insignificant portion of the book has been highlighted with notes and things to think about afterwards.
However, that being said, I found that the book could have been written a lot more clearly. There were a lot of instances where things were repeated three or more times in the same paragraph and while I understand it as a helpful technique from time to time, it was employed way too often (for me) in this book and I just ended up feeling confused.
The book also has about nine pages' worth of works cited, which was great and I love me a book that shows its research, an author who shows a reader how they were guided, etc. Unfortunately, some of those citations in the book were done confusingly. Sometimes the authors were introduced (as in: name, occupation, and work being cited) around the cited texts, but more often than not, they weren't. Which meant that I wasn't sure why this author was being cited (just because you're citing something doesn't mean it holds any relevance to the text itself) or which of the several works was being cited in a particular instance. I understand this wasn't meant to be an academic text, but if an author is making the decision to cite something, doing so in a way that clearly lets the reader know who and why this information is applicable makes for a much smoother read and clearer understanding.
Sparkly Kat also links several individual mythical beings (Zeus and Jupiter, Venus and Inanna, Hermes and Mercury, etc.), which was really interesting and I enjoyed learning about mythical deities from outside the Greek/Roman canon, their influence ON the Greek and Roman gods, etc. There was a lot I didn't know and I appreciated Sparkly Kat including that in this book. That being said, although Zeus and Jupiter and Venus and Inanna may share similarities as deities, they still are not the same gods or goddesses. They each hold their own mythos and have their stories, traditions, and histories. They can symbolize many of the same things, but they are still individual in their own right. Regularly, Sparkly Kat would write Jupiter when they were talking about Zeus's struggle with his parents, or about Venus when referencing the story of Inanna. Although I understand the purpose of linking these beings together and what that means, etc., I found it frustrating and confusing when their names were simply traded as if it was a 1:1 swap, when that can't be true because, again: despite their similarities, they don't have the same stories and to project that simply to get a point across was frustrating.
There was a lot of really good information here and I am planning on going through some of the works cited and exploring the information through those avenues, but as a book, Postcolonial Astrology felt more complicated and dense than it needed to be.
I wanted to love this book so much and there were a lot of parts I enjoyed tremendously. The way that Sparkly Kat pulls from history, philosophy, sociology, etc. is impressive and really drew me in. I really enjoyed reading a perspective that I hadn't considered before (namely: astrology) to look at society and history and colonialism. A not insignificant portion of the book has been highlighted with notes and things to think about afterwards.
However, that being said, I found that the book could have been written a lot more clearly. There were a lot of instances where things were repeated three or more times in the same paragraph and while I understand it as a helpful technique from time to time, it was employed way too often (for me) in this book and I just ended up feeling confused.
The book also has about nine pages' worth of works cited, which was great and I love me a book that shows its research, an author who shows a reader how they were guided, etc. Unfortunately, some of those citations in the book were done confusingly. Sometimes the authors were introduced (as in: name, occupation, and work being cited) around the cited texts, but more often than not, they weren't. Which meant that I wasn't sure why this author was being cited (just because you're citing something doesn't mean it holds any relevance to the text itself) or which of the several works was being cited in a particular instance. I understand this wasn't meant to be an academic text, but if an author is making the decision to cite something, doing so in a way that clearly lets the reader know who and why this information is applicable makes for a much smoother read and clearer understanding.
Sparkly Kat also links several individual mythical beings (Zeus and Jupiter, Venus and Inanna, Hermes and Mercury, etc.), which was really interesting and I enjoyed learning about mythical deities from outside the Greek/Roman canon, their influence ON the Greek and Roman gods, etc. There was a lot I didn't know and I appreciated Sparkly Kat including that in this book. That being said, although Zeus and Jupiter and Venus and Inanna may share similarities as deities, they still are not the same gods or goddesses. They each hold their own mythos and have their stories, traditions, and histories. They can symbolize many of the same things, but they are still individual in their own right. Regularly, Sparkly Kat would write Jupiter when they were talking about Zeus's struggle with his parents, or about Venus when referencing the story of Inanna. Although I understand the purpose of linking these beings together and what that means, etc., I found it frustrating and confusing when their names were simply traded as if it was a 1:1 swap, when that can't be true because, again: despite their similarities, they don't have the same stories and to project that simply to get a point across was frustrating.
There was a lot of really good information here and I am planning on going through some of the works cited and exploring the information through those avenues, but as a book, Postcolonial Astrology felt more complicated and dense than it needed to be.
March 16, 2022
important disclaimer: i'm an astrologer. i'm very skeptical of the ways in which we practice astrology because duh, I live in the global south. I see how the global north could make pro-eugenics arguments out of the teletubbies so I know you guys need defanged declawed baby-proofed tools to wave around or you throw them at us.
gonna be revisting and rereading because wow, that was a LOT of information on astrology and leftist theory at the same time. this is the study of how astrological symbols can be found in systems of power such as imperialism, colonialism, etc. e.g. mercury can be associated with tech today because tech is rooted in sciences founded under mercury's domain and in his name. please don't read it as a cookbook or a primer on astrology. this is a thoughtful critique of traditional Greco-Roman astrology and the legacies that fall under it. many of the negative/disappointed reviews are from people who think it's reasonable to dock stars for false marketing (which is not the author's fault if you knew anything about how publishing works). sorry that many things are mis-marketed? just go along with the ride and let it pleasantly surprise you or DNF instead of rating something poorly not for being bad but for your faulty assumptions (which could have been resolved if you had actually read the full title instead of just jumping at the 'astrology' bit)???
I really wish the citations had been more sound though, because you can't take analysis at face value without page numbers, footnotes briefly explaining the source material, etc. I've seen some people say that the information provided isn't sound, but none of the people saying that had any qualifications in either astrology or post-colonial studies. none of them were people of color and I've had enough experience with post-colonial studies to know that criticism gets imperialists really bothered and enough experience with astrology to know that it attracts some real new age wellness wine mom types who get flustered when you point out problems.
everyone in academia is so critical of postmodernist analysis (for some good reasons) that you think it's an epidemic and then you talk to people and realize absolutely no one is questioning their own meta-narratives. they're only accusing each other of conspiracies. this is a book to help astrologers to question their own meta-narratives for once, and man, you guys do not deserve this level of introspection, honesty and analysis.
the only way to confidently ascertain if a claim was correct or not would involve familiarity with the cited texts, which I don't have. I may come back decades down the line and change my rating (once I have finished going through the major sources, ameen summa ameen).
this book is more for those who are familiar with literary theory-esque writing so they know how to flow from symbol to symbol. again, you only realize different disciplines approach analysis differently if you actually read them. psychology will never sound like history, because it is geared towards another audience. public policy is in a separate league, because it has separate aims. but historiography and literature frequently sound very similar, because they engage directly with the text and use the analyst's own ideas, instead of always making empirical contextual arguments focused on dissecting the milieu. they realize that tracing the impact of an idea is not like tracing the impact of an advertising campaign. the idea went beyond you the second you released it, shape-shifting into new forms. literature does not ask 'what are you trying to prove?'. it asks 'what do YOU think this means? what do YOU think this symbol stands for us? what do you hear it say to you?'.
Ace is writing this as a storyteller, not as a sociologist, which means they will use different techniques to analyze and argue. every day, I thank fate that I wasn't trained only as a dummy sociologist baby who thinks an argument sounding unconvincing to me means it wasn't good, and not that I have blinders on and can't understand where others are coming from. I am so unbelievably grateful that I trained in other techniques that made me critical, self-reflexive and aware. this is not an 'A leads to B' argument that people like calling concrete because it's the only one they know how to grasp. this is very much a 'post-colonial literature class' argument.
if you wanna be spoonfed, opt out. you have to keep up with Ace's speed. it's always exciting for me to chase so I liked the rush. of course, there's always an advantage to taking things slow but then every chapter in this book would have been an individual book in its own right. a fairytale deliberately leaves half the story untold to prompt you into telling it yourself. that's why it spawns into so many different versions - everyone chips in and makes it a communal activity. the emptiness is a choice. it's to make you plug the holes.
(I wanna cry when I'm reminded of the Disney monopolization and rampant media illiteracy facing artists today, where everyone is a critic without knowing the alif bey pey of how YOU CAN ONLY CRITIQUE SOMETHING IF YOU UNDERSTAND ITS CONVENTIONS AND THE FACT THAT CONVENTIONS CHANGE ACROSS TIME AND SPACE. BUT NOBODY UNDERSTANDS HOW WORKS RELATE TO THEIR CONVENTIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO LOOK PAST THEIR SELF-OBSESSED 'MAKE IT RELATABLE, PALATABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO MEEEEE' POP CRITICISM.)
Ace is engaging with astrology's conventions, i.e. the unquestioned desire to accept Western astrological symbols as universal, divinely ordained and perfect that 'just make sense', when these symbols are a reflection of Western values and ideas. the convention in astrology is not ask where these symbols came from, not to study the historical formation from a leftist perspective. it is an apolitical 1+1 kind of acceptance. people do not ask 'what does it say about systems and authority that Saturn falls in Aries?'. they only say 'Saturn falls in Aries because xyz', instead of realizing that argument can be challenged.
this is just like in film studies, where one convention is to portray good characters as blond, light-skinned and blue-eyed, while bad characters are swarthy and visibly racialized as Other. sure, we can argue that good is light and bad is dark, so this is a visual symbol for that. but a smarter and sounder argument will ask 'why is good light? why is bad dark? why are we specifically using the body to depict that visually, instead of the wardrobe?'. it will realize conventions are created by the powerful.
(I wish more of you realized just how deeply right-wing your ideas actually are so you were honest about where your reactivity comes from)
(it kills me to see how profoundly limited our imaginations really are - so limited that we can't even sense the limits in place)
tl;dr: this is not a crash course in either astrology or post-colonial studies. this is deconstructing the hidden stories astrology is spinning from a critical leftist lens because like everything, astrology points to the power that created it and that endowed it with its own ideas and conventions. the sun being exalted in aries says more about us as a society and our views of violence, our views of desirability and kingship, than of the sun itself.
gonna be revisting and rereading because wow, that was a LOT of information on astrology and leftist theory at the same time. this is the study of how astrological symbols can be found in systems of power such as imperialism, colonialism, etc. e.g. mercury can be associated with tech today because tech is rooted in sciences founded under mercury's domain and in his name. please don't read it as a cookbook or a primer on astrology. this is a thoughtful critique of traditional Greco-Roman astrology and the legacies that fall under it. many of the negative/disappointed reviews are from people who think it's reasonable to dock stars for false marketing (which is not the author's fault if you knew anything about how publishing works). sorry that many things are mis-marketed? just go along with the ride and let it pleasantly surprise you or DNF instead of rating something poorly not for being bad but for your faulty assumptions (which could have been resolved if you had actually read the full title instead of just jumping at the 'astrology' bit)???
I really wish the citations had been more sound though, because you can't take analysis at face value without page numbers, footnotes briefly explaining the source material, etc. I've seen some people say that the information provided isn't sound, but none of the people saying that had any qualifications in either astrology or post-colonial studies. none of them were people of color and I've had enough experience with post-colonial studies to know that criticism gets imperialists really bothered and enough experience with astrology to know that it attracts some real new age wellness wine mom types who get flustered when you point out problems.
everyone in academia is so critical of postmodernist analysis (for some good reasons) that you think it's an epidemic and then you talk to people and realize absolutely no one is questioning their own meta-narratives. they're only accusing each other of conspiracies. this is a book to help astrologers to question their own meta-narratives for once, and man, you guys do not deserve this level of introspection, honesty and analysis.
the only way to confidently ascertain if a claim was correct or not would involve familiarity with the cited texts, which I don't have. I may come back decades down the line and change my rating (once I have finished going through the major sources, ameen summa ameen).
this book is more for those who are familiar with literary theory-esque writing so they know how to flow from symbol to symbol. again, you only realize different disciplines approach analysis differently if you actually read them. psychology will never sound like history, because it is geared towards another audience. public policy is in a separate league, because it has separate aims. but historiography and literature frequently sound very similar, because they engage directly with the text and use the analyst's own ideas, instead of always making empirical contextual arguments focused on dissecting the milieu. they realize that tracing the impact of an idea is not like tracing the impact of an advertising campaign. the idea went beyond you the second you released it, shape-shifting into new forms. literature does not ask 'what are you trying to prove?'. it asks 'what do YOU think this means? what do YOU think this symbol stands for us? what do you hear it say to you?'.
Ace is writing this as a storyteller, not as a sociologist, which means they will use different techniques to analyze and argue. every day, I thank fate that I wasn't trained only as a dummy sociologist baby who thinks an argument sounding unconvincing to me means it wasn't good, and not that I have blinders on and can't understand where others are coming from. I am so unbelievably grateful that I trained in other techniques that made me critical, self-reflexive and aware. this is not an 'A leads to B' argument that people like calling concrete because it's the only one they know how to grasp. this is very much a 'post-colonial literature class' argument.
if you wanna be spoonfed, opt out. you have to keep up with Ace's speed. it's always exciting for me to chase so I liked the rush. of course, there's always an advantage to taking things slow but then every chapter in this book would have been an individual book in its own right. a fairytale deliberately leaves half the story untold to prompt you into telling it yourself. that's why it spawns into so many different versions - everyone chips in and makes it a communal activity. the emptiness is a choice. it's to make you plug the holes.
(I wanna cry when I'm reminded of the Disney monopolization and rampant media illiteracy facing artists today, where everyone is a critic without knowing the alif bey pey of how YOU CAN ONLY CRITIQUE SOMETHING IF YOU UNDERSTAND ITS CONVENTIONS AND THE FACT THAT CONVENTIONS CHANGE ACROSS TIME AND SPACE. BUT NOBODY UNDERSTANDS HOW WORKS RELATE TO THEIR CONVENTIONS BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO LOOK PAST THEIR SELF-OBSESSED 'MAKE IT RELATABLE, PALATABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO MEEEEE' POP CRITICISM.)
Ace is engaging with astrology's conventions, i.e. the unquestioned desire to accept Western astrological symbols as universal, divinely ordained and perfect that 'just make sense', when these symbols are a reflection of Western values and ideas. the convention in astrology is not ask where these symbols came from, not to study the historical formation from a leftist perspective. it is an apolitical 1+1 kind of acceptance. people do not ask 'what does it say about systems and authority that Saturn falls in Aries?'. they only say 'Saturn falls in Aries because xyz', instead of realizing that argument can be challenged.
this is just like in film studies, where one convention is to portray good characters as blond, light-skinned and blue-eyed, while bad characters are swarthy and visibly racialized as Other. sure, we can argue that good is light and bad is dark, so this is a visual symbol for that. but a smarter and sounder argument will ask 'why is good light? why is bad dark? why are we specifically using the body to depict that visually, instead of the wardrobe?'. it will realize conventions are created by the powerful.
(I wish more of you realized just how deeply right-wing your ideas actually are so you were honest about where your reactivity comes from)
(it kills me to see how profoundly limited our imaginations really are - so limited that we can't even sense the limits in place)
tl;dr: this is not a crash course in either astrology or post-colonial studies. this is deconstructing the hidden stories astrology is spinning from a critical leftist lens because like everything, astrology points to the power that created it and that endowed it with its own ideas and conventions. the sun being exalted in aries says more about us as a society and our views of violence, our views of desirability and kingship, than of the sun itself.
July 25, 2021
Wow, what a slog. This took me almost a month to finish because reading it felt like such a chore to read. This book oscillates wildly between some sharp and novel analysis and insights and completely nonsensical, unverifiable, and poorly thought out claims. It contains a list of references but Sparkly Kat doesn’t cite their sources throughout, so many things are stated as facts without any evidence to back them up. I don’t think this book would stand up to any sort of rigorous fact checking. It’s also extremely tautological-a good editor could have cut this in half.
If you’re a practicing astrologer, I don’t think you will find much in here that’s useful for applying to your practice. I also think that Sparkly Kat’s understanding and analysis of colonization as a historical phenomenon and ongoing process is deeply flawed and overly simplistic. I was really excited to read this book and ended up extremely disappointed.
If you’re a practicing astrologer, I don’t think you will find much in here that’s useful for applying to your practice. I also think that Sparkly Kat’s understanding and analysis of colonization as a historical phenomenon and ongoing process is deeply flawed and overly simplistic. I was really excited to read this book and ended up extremely disappointed.
December 23, 2021
I had really high hopes for this book and found it a bit disappointing. It's trying to do way too much and could have really benefited from a better editor. It's unclear who the audience is for this book - is it for practicing astrologers? those interested in social justice issues? it doesn't really fit either or any. Although the author acknowledges how they are using the word "post-colonial" - it doesn't make sense to use a term that already has a whole body of knowledge and then to just ignore that. The book presents a lot of things as fact that are actually speculation. And chapter to chapter certain things become very contradictory (again could have used more editing) - and there is a failure to synthesize a lot of different concepts and many terms are not clearly defined or are defined after their first use (which is unhelpful for any readers unfamiliar with the various theories that are brought up). There are no citations through the text and yet there is a "works cited" list at the end of the book - it's unclear if this book is trying to be academic or not, but if you're going to cite so much material you should actually include in text citations.
The author arbitrarily uses "trigger warnings" throughout the text for some issues but does not for others - when a general blanket trigger warning for the issues that come up in the book could have just been added to the introduction. The author uses the term "3rd world" over and over again despite claiming a bent toward "decolonization" - when the word has been outmoded in these fields for at least the last 20 years if not longer. The author also uses ableist slurs as well as the word slave (instead of enslaved person) as well as the word "cisnormal" (which is not a term - and does in fact the opposite of what cis does once normal is added) - it just seems that with the intent of this book that the author would have been more aware of the language used. The book also seems to classistly ignore the existence of poor white people.
Just really so many things that disappointed me about a book that showed so much promise - I just really think it was trying to do way too much. I really like the astrologer's blogs and other online writings - and I think had they just synthesized and expanded some of that work into a similar text this would have been really fantastic.
The author arbitrarily uses "trigger warnings" throughout the text for some issues but does not for others - when a general blanket trigger warning for the issues that come up in the book could have just been added to the introduction. The author uses the term "3rd world" over and over again despite claiming a bent toward "decolonization" - when the word has been outmoded in these fields for at least the last 20 years if not longer. The author also uses ableist slurs as well as the word slave (instead of enslaved person) as well as the word "cisnormal" (which is not a term - and does in fact the opposite of what cis does once normal is added) - it just seems that with the intent of this book that the author would have been more aware of the language used. The book also seems to classistly ignore the existence of poor white people.
Just really so many things that disappointed me about a book that showed so much promise - I just really think it was trying to do way too much. I really like the astrologer's blogs and other online writings - and I think had they just synthesized and expanded some of that work into a similar text this would have been really fantastic.
September 8, 2021
A well-researched but super dense look at the planets through mythology and dissecting the connections of those myths to capital, power, labor, gender, patriarchy, racism, etc.
To start, I feel as though this went a bit askew in its title and marketing. The opening and closing sections discussed astrology, but the meat of the book is in relation to the mythology behind the gods and the planets, and doesn't exactly connect any of that to the modern western astrology interpretation of the meaning of those planets. What each planet represents in a chart has evolved considerably since the planets' naming and connection to the gods - and several of the planets we use in modern western astrology weren't discovered or recognized until more recently, so it also doesn't cover all of them. In this sense it feels more like a book about mythology than astrology. It's helpful to know all of this in the broad picture of astrology but I don't know that I would call this a purely astrology book. I read it with a group and basically all of us were expecting a different kind of book, which I don't think is a failure of the book, but a failure of how it has been marketed.
The writing is a bit all over - for each valuable insight there's also a fair amount of assumption or jumping to points or conclusions. For example, the term neoliberal is thrown around a lot, but as anyone who has gone through the last two election cycles knows, that term has evolved from what the original meaning was to now being lobbed as an insult with some detachment from the original meaning. At no point does she put forth the context in which she is using the word. There are occasionally pages-long retelling or summaries of various artistic works and pop culture references, and it can really take the steam out of the engine at times, when much shorter summaries of the referenced works would have done the job. At some point I just started skipping over these to get to the point she was using them to make. All this to say, there's clearly so much research here, but it's not always referenced in a way that does that research justice.
The Venus and Mars sections were the most impactful for me, admittedly probably because sexism and gender is something I have lived experience of and spend a lot of time thinking about. At one point in these chapters, she breaks down Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey in stunning fashion. I also appreciated how often she reframed different human struggle - from the myriad ways humans are pitted against each other in order to distract from class war, or how the military industrial complex is actually an opposition to citizens. Those are the pieces of the book that I can see myself coming back to, and that will live with me for quite some time.
Definitely a worthwhile read, but again, I'd adjust expectations going in. If you're looking for something a bit more strictly astrological focused, or more modernized astrologically focused, I'd check out Alice Sparkly Kat on twitter - or her website (and I believe she has a Patreon, too!)
To start, I feel as though this went a bit askew in its title and marketing. The opening and closing sections discussed astrology, but the meat of the book is in relation to the mythology behind the gods and the planets, and doesn't exactly connect any of that to the modern western astrology interpretation of the meaning of those planets. What each planet represents in a chart has evolved considerably since the planets' naming and connection to the gods - and several of the planets we use in modern western astrology weren't discovered or recognized until more recently, so it also doesn't cover all of them. In this sense it feels more like a book about mythology than astrology. It's helpful to know all of this in the broad picture of astrology but I don't know that I would call this a purely astrology book. I read it with a group and basically all of us were expecting a different kind of book, which I don't think is a failure of the book, but a failure of how it has been marketed.
The writing is a bit all over - for each valuable insight there's also a fair amount of assumption or jumping to points or conclusions. For example, the term neoliberal is thrown around a lot, but as anyone who has gone through the last two election cycles knows, that term has evolved from what the original meaning was to now being lobbed as an insult with some detachment from the original meaning. At no point does she put forth the context in which she is using the word. There are occasionally pages-long retelling or summaries of various artistic works and pop culture references, and it can really take the steam out of the engine at times, when much shorter summaries of the referenced works would have done the job. At some point I just started skipping over these to get to the point she was using them to make. All this to say, there's clearly so much research here, but it's not always referenced in a way that does that research justice.
The Venus and Mars sections were the most impactful for me, admittedly probably because sexism and gender is something I have lived experience of and spend a lot of time thinking about. At one point in these chapters, she breaks down Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey in stunning fashion. I also appreciated how often she reframed different human struggle - from the myriad ways humans are pitted against each other in order to distract from class war, or how the military industrial complex is actually an opposition to citizens. Those are the pieces of the book that I can see myself coming back to, and that will live with me for quite some time.
Definitely a worthwhile read, but again, I'd adjust expectations going in. If you're looking for something a bit more strictly astrological focused, or more modernized astrologically focused, I'd check out Alice Sparkly Kat on twitter - or her website (and I believe she has a Patreon, too!)
January 18, 2022
Okay — first off DAMN HELL YEAH — now second: the reason I’m docking this a star is that one of its greatest strengths is also one of its greatest weaknesses (in my opinion). A lot of the author’s analysis feels gestural and association-based more than concrete. It reads both incredibly poetic and analytic which i think at some times feels magical and at others can be disorienting like “oh okay we’re doing this now, cool.” I personally love the journey I was taken on, but I can see how if someone wanted to approach these histories with a clearer thread from point A to B to C it would feel lacking.
If you’re looking for a book to teach you how to better read your chart or others’ charts through a more revolutionary frame — this is not that.
If you’re looking for a meticulously researched and fascinating history of colonialism, labor, and power as told through many cultural histories both ancient and modern of various planets — read this.
Honestly just read this! You will learn so much and go wow! and also love! and also Hate!!
If you’re looking for a book to teach you how to better read your chart or others’ charts through a more revolutionary frame — this is not that.
If you’re looking for a meticulously researched and fascinating history of colonialism, labor, and power as told through many cultural histories both ancient and modern of various planets — read this.
Honestly just read this! You will learn so much and go wow! and also love! and also Hate!!
Read
February 5, 2022This book discusses Twilight and Fifty Shades of Gray for an entire chapter in a way that allowed me to heal from my colonial relationship with the Imperial U.S. so idk you tell me if it was good or not
March 28, 2024
TLDR: this book has interesting arguments and might give you a deeper understanding of the planets in Western astrology through a critical/post-colonial lens, but it desperately needed a better editor. This book ONLY addresses the traditional luminaries and planets, it does not talk about the zodiac signs…
Okaaaaay. I’m giving this book a three because it had many compelling interpretations and critiques of Western astrology through a post-colonial lens. Also, Sparkly Kat is one of my favourite astrologers. Before I list some of my grievances with this book let’s start off with my highlights:
- Sparkly Kat argues that the Sun, the daytime luminary, rules capital and the hyperrealism that is finance (which in neoliberal/capitalist society is seen as more real than labour).
- Labour and racialized exploitation (aka the dark side of capital) is ruled by the nighttime luminary, the Moon.
- Mars is traditionally associated with masculinity and war, but Sparkly Kat reframes this association to represent the violent masculinity that is produced by humiliation rituals in institutions like the military and being on the losing side of a war. Mars also rules the border or “states of exception” where things that aren’t typically permissed are allowed. Sparkly Kat references prisons, police brutality and violence against Black men, and the treatment of foreigners in western society as examples of the Martian border.
- They compare the gendered dynamic of Venus and Mars to the relationships depicted in Fifty Shades of Grey and Twilight - hilarious and effective.
Admittedly, I know very little about Greek and Roman mythology which both greatly inform Western astrology (AND tarot), and this book filled in some of those gaps for me before subverting those myths and drawing connections to capitalist, patriarchal, and white supremacist power dynamics.
However, this book was incredibly dense and difficult to get through. It reads VERY academic. There were so many great ideas that were bogged down by wordy and needlessly complex writing, quick jumps from idea to idea, and drive-by explanations of complex theories and historical events. This made it incredibly difficult to follow what it is they were arguing and how these theories and events relate to astrology/the planets.
Frankly, as a reader, I struggled to grasp what was being said a lot of the time - the ideas felt incredibly inaccessible. I took notes throughout to try and pin down some of their ideas but I feel that I would have to read this all over again to comprehend what was being said and I simply do not have the stamina for that lol.
I think this book could have been incredible with some major edits for clarity and conciseness. I learned a lot but I’m also happy to finally be done reading this.
Okaaaaay. I’m giving this book a three because it had many compelling interpretations and critiques of Western astrology through a post-colonial lens. Also, Sparkly Kat is one of my favourite astrologers. Before I list some of my grievances with this book let’s start off with my highlights:
- Sparkly Kat argues that the Sun, the daytime luminary, rules capital and the hyperrealism that is finance (which in neoliberal/capitalist society is seen as more real than labour).
- Labour and racialized exploitation (aka the dark side of capital) is ruled by the nighttime luminary, the Moon.
- Mars is traditionally associated with masculinity and war, but Sparkly Kat reframes this association to represent the violent masculinity that is produced by humiliation rituals in institutions like the military and being on the losing side of a war. Mars also rules the border or “states of exception” where things that aren’t typically permissed are allowed. Sparkly Kat references prisons, police brutality and violence against Black men, and the treatment of foreigners in western society as examples of the Martian border.
- They compare the gendered dynamic of Venus and Mars to the relationships depicted in Fifty Shades of Grey and Twilight - hilarious and effective.
Admittedly, I know very little about Greek and Roman mythology which both greatly inform Western astrology (AND tarot), and this book filled in some of those gaps for me before subverting those myths and drawing connections to capitalist, patriarchal, and white supremacist power dynamics.
However, this book was incredibly dense and difficult to get through. It reads VERY academic. There were so many great ideas that were bogged down by wordy and needlessly complex writing, quick jumps from idea to idea, and drive-by explanations of complex theories and historical events. This made it incredibly difficult to follow what it is they were arguing and how these theories and events relate to astrology/the planets.
Frankly, as a reader, I struggled to grasp what was being said a lot of the time - the ideas felt incredibly inaccessible. I took notes throughout to try and pin down some of their ideas but I feel that I would have to read this all over again to comprehend what was being said and I simply do not have the stamina for that lol.
I think this book could have been incredible with some major edits for clarity and conciseness. I learned a lot but I’m also happy to finally be done reading this.
October 8, 2021
“You are the thing that animates heaven.”
A wonderful reminder of the other part of the adage - "as above, so below" - but hey, "as below, so above," therefore, we, too, can control our own fate and will the skies.
Let me preface with the fact that I am a huge admirer of Alice Sparkly Kat and their astrology work. I’m so obsessed with everything they write—their website is truly a wonderful place, full of astrological insight. They were one of the first BIPOC astrologers that I followed and one of the first that I encountered who discussed colonialism/decolonization in their work. I’ve been studying astrology for a little over three years now, but—this book. THIS BOOK. I was so excited for its release.
This is such a difficult review for me to write because this book just is teeming with so much knowledge and analysis that sinks heavily into me. It took me a very long time to read this as a result—it’s at times, very dense, but sharp and cutting. I want to re-read this over and over, to make sure that I’m fully understanding everything. They reference many different post-colonial writers—Franz Fanon, Foucault, Spivak, and many modern-day writers as well—Byung-Chul Han, Seoyoung Chu, Sylvia Wynter. I love the idea of astrology as a language—and as such, it means that it’s going to be political. It means that power plays a role within how we speak and communicate.
If I’ve learned anything, Alice Sparkly Kat is not suggesting that we move away from Western astrology or that we try to more spaces for the marginalized—it’s that we must move away from whiteness and the systems/ideas that reinforce white supremacy (& neoliberalist capitalism) within our astrology. We must make our own language, we must have love and healing within astrology. We must be aware of the etymology of the planets too, since Roman mythology/planets/law has influenced the ways in which we reinforce white power & supremacy.
The discussions of Sun, Moon, Saturn challenged me the most. I was so surprised to learn that the Moon had ties to the market. I loved the discussions of Sun and its visibility. Especially the part about the Sun not being able to see its own self & visibility--especially since the Sun is our identity, and sometimes, it's not easy to see who are trying to become. The discussion of Venus & Mars was by far the most compelling for me. Venus is often seen to be soft and squishy, but she is also a war goddess & heavily assoicated with justice; she is not to be taken lightly! I found Mars & alienation to be fascinating and just the ties back into xenophobia & white supremacy & Othering... wow. I also really enjoyed Jupiter + Mercury, too.
This book definitely leaves you with more questions but they’re the best kind. If you’re at all into astrology, I highly highly recommend this. I’ll leave this review with one of my favourite quotes from my favourite passages from this—“Love is the only thing that can cut deeply into patriarchal, racial capitalism… Love that cuts into capitalism can make you whole again. This love is also work. It takes an immensity out of you. It moves you and it moves with you.”
A wonderful reminder of the other part of the adage - "as above, so below" - but hey, "as below, so above," therefore, we, too, can control our own fate and will the skies.
Let me preface with the fact that I am a huge admirer of Alice Sparkly Kat and their astrology work. I’m so obsessed with everything they write—their website is truly a wonderful place, full of astrological insight. They were one of the first BIPOC astrologers that I followed and one of the first that I encountered who discussed colonialism/decolonization in their work. I’ve been studying astrology for a little over three years now, but—this book. THIS BOOK. I was so excited for its release.
This is such a difficult review for me to write because this book just is teeming with so much knowledge and analysis that sinks heavily into me. It took me a very long time to read this as a result—it’s at times, very dense, but sharp and cutting. I want to re-read this over and over, to make sure that I’m fully understanding everything. They reference many different post-colonial writers—Franz Fanon, Foucault, Spivak, and many modern-day writers as well—Byung-Chul Han, Seoyoung Chu, Sylvia Wynter. I love the idea of astrology as a language—and as such, it means that it’s going to be political. It means that power plays a role within how we speak and communicate.
If I’ve learned anything, Alice Sparkly Kat is not suggesting that we move away from Western astrology or that we try to more spaces for the marginalized—it’s that we must move away from whiteness and the systems/ideas that reinforce white supremacy (& neoliberalist capitalism) within our astrology. We must make our own language, we must have love and healing within astrology. We must be aware of the etymology of the planets too, since Roman mythology/planets/law has influenced the ways in which we reinforce white power & supremacy.
The discussions of Sun, Moon, Saturn challenged me the most. I was so surprised to learn that the Moon had ties to the market. I loved the discussions of Sun and its visibility. Especially the part about the Sun not being able to see its own self & visibility--especially since the Sun is our identity, and sometimes, it's not easy to see who are trying to become. The discussion of Venus & Mars was by far the most compelling for me. Venus is often seen to be soft and squishy, but she is also a war goddess & heavily assoicated with justice; she is not to be taken lightly! I found Mars & alienation to be fascinating and just the ties back into xenophobia & white supremacy & Othering... wow. I also really enjoyed Jupiter + Mercury, too.
This book definitely leaves you with more questions but they’re the best kind. If you’re at all into astrology, I highly highly recommend this. I’ll leave this review with one of my favourite quotes from my favourite passages from this—“Love is the only thing that can cut deeply into patriarchal, racial capitalism… Love that cuts into capitalism can make you whole again. This love is also work. It takes an immensity out of you. It moves you and it moves with you.”
June 6, 2021
okay, this book is INCREDIBLE. it is dense, i learned something new with every sentence. there are entire pages i highlighted!! it does require a little bit of background knowledge- if you're going in thinking this will be relatable as your sun sign, that's not what the book is about. this book is about etymology of planets, with an analysis of power, rome/western (capital)ist empire, and labor. each planet gets a chapter devoted to themselves as well as one in conjunction with other aspects. post colonial astrology pushes us to view astrology for what it is: a "cosmology that has accumulated meaning through the histories of the west." she says, "good astrologists are storytellers. good astrology acknowledges and resists capital, power, and labor. good astrology shrinks the west. there is no one way to practice good astrology.
April 14, 2023
idk anythjng abt astrology but this was fun
April 12, 2024
Representation is the politics of what stories you want told to you. Storytelling is about taking matters into your own hands.
December 7, 2022
essential reading for anyone learning astrology
June 24, 2025
absolutely phenomenal. and surprisingly a very good and comprehensive introduction to lots of different social theories. they really uses how applicable astrology is to all sects of life to also find a way to start viewing things critically, politically, and deeply. filled with amazing academic references too! literally such a good book. didn't learn much about astrology but learned lots about the history of the planetary symbolism and Roman and Greek mythology. 10/10 would recommend. in fact, 10/10 would assign to a friend.
November 27, 2023
I really wanted to like this book, but after a few months of trudging through it, I had to give up halfway through.
My issue with the book is the author’s correlations of ideas through logical fallacies, often in the form: “A is related to B. B is related to C. Therefore A is the same thing as C.” Here is an example copied directly from the book, page 63-
“Plotemy describes the Moon as a sinister planet. The word sinister means left-handed. On a natal chart, which is the way most early civilizations oriented themselves, left is east. Another word for "eastern" is Oriental. If the Moon is sinister, then it is also Oriental. Silver, as the Moon's metal, became associated with the global market but also with the Orient. If Orientalism is not only an institutional orientation but also an economic one, then the Orient stands for the global market for the European imagination, and silver becomes its mediator.”
So moon= sinister = left handed= eastern = Oriental, so moon= Oriental, specifically Oriental as the global market for Europeans?
If this was an occasional jump between symbolic ideas I could get past it, but it’s how the majority of the book is constructed. It reads more like a freeform word association than a discourse, and it makes all of the points harder to accept as valid. And unless they’re tucked away at the end of the book, there are no actionable steps to actually decolonizing these ideas as indicated by the description.
Astrology is a symbolic language, and doesn’t necessarily have to be logically sound. If this sort of connection of ideas supports your understanding, you might enjoy the book. But if you aren’t prepared for ~300 pages similar to the excerpt above, this is probably not the book for you.
Don’t believe me yet? Here is another excerpt from the book just a few pages before the last example. It is preceded by some disturbing descriptions of human cannibalism of black slaves.
Pages 60-61
“In many modern astrology books, the Moon is linked to hunger, needs, and consumption. However, consumption that is associated with the Moon is not an apolitical eating but the consumption of the social other. It is ethnic consumption—what Maria Thereza Alves and other postmodern scholars call the anthropological feast.”
So the moon = white cannibalism of black slaves? Seriously? I can’t get past this.
It’s really unfortunate. Some of the ideas within the book are brilliant and gave me new insights on astrological concepts. With some more editing and restructuring it could have been one of those rare paradigm-shifting books. But I can’t wade through the muck of messy arguments and falsehoods for the few gems of insight.
My issue with the book is the author’s correlations of ideas through logical fallacies, often in the form: “A is related to B. B is related to C. Therefore A is the same thing as C.” Here is an example copied directly from the book, page 63-
“Plotemy describes the Moon as a sinister planet. The word sinister means left-handed. On a natal chart, which is the way most early civilizations oriented themselves, left is east. Another word for "eastern" is Oriental. If the Moon is sinister, then it is also Oriental. Silver, as the Moon's metal, became associated with the global market but also with the Orient. If Orientalism is not only an institutional orientation but also an economic one, then the Orient stands for the global market for the European imagination, and silver becomes its mediator.”
So moon= sinister = left handed= eastern = Oriental, so moon= Oriental, specifically Oriental as the global market for Europeans?
If this was an occasional jump between symbolic ideas I could get past it, but it’s how the majority of the book is constructed. It reads more like a freeform word association than a discourse, and it makes all of the points harder to accept as valid. And unless they’re tucked away at the end of the book, there are no actionable steps to actually decolonizing these ideas as indicated by the description.
Astrology is a symbolic language, and doesn’t necessarily have to be logically sound. If this sort of connection of ideas supports your understanding, you might enjoy the book. But if you aren’t prepared for ~300 pages similar to the excerpt above, this is probably not the book for you.
Don’t believe me yet? Here is another excerpt from the book just a few pages before the last example. It is preceded by some disturbing descriptions of human cannibalism of black slaves.
Pages 60-61
“In many modern astrology books, the Moon is linked to hunger, needs, and consumption. However, consumption that is associated with the Moon is not an apolitical eating but the consumption of the social other. It is ethnic consumption—what Maria Thereza Alves and other postmodern scholars call the anthropological feast.”
So the moon = white cannibalism of black slaves? Seriously? I can’t get past this.
It’s really unfortunate. Some of the ideas within the book are brilliant and gave me new insights on astrological concepts. With some more editing and restructuring it could have been one of those rare paradigm-shifting books. But I can’t wade through the muck of messy arguments and falsehoods for the few gems of insight.
Read
August 22, 2022i have carried this book around with me for the past four months while i have found it hard to read anything substantive. it's a bit ruined now (physically) but i am very grateful for it because it kept my mind company on many a commute, a bus stop waiting period, a quiet 5 minutes.
the book itself is not at all what i expected (a step by step guide on how to read astrology but from a postcolonial POV) but what it does do is articulate the idea that astrology is as real as race–both in the sense of ''deconstructing'' (kind of) race and in the sense that there is a very real political reality underlying the signifiers of astrology. the prose is often tangential but also provided some of the most helpful syntheses of theorists i've struggled with before. all in all very cool so many ideas to grow and expand on in the future.
the book itself is not at all what i expected (a step by step guide on how to read astrology but from a postcolonial POV) but what it does do is articulate the idea that astrology is as real as race–both in the sense of ''deconstructing'' (kind of) race and in the sense that there is a very real political reality underlying the signifiers of astrology. the prose is often tangential but also provided some of the most helpful syntheses of theorists i've struggled with before. all in all very cool so many ideas to grow and expand on in the future.
Read
February 9, 2022This book is a bit of a mess, but there are definitely valuable ideas/stories in here. Like many others, I think a good editor could have ironed out the majority of the issues within. It comes across as a frantic first draft, for the most part.
Can’t recommend it, can’t tell you to avoid it, have no clue how to star-score it.
Can’t recommend it, can’t tell you to avoid it, have no clue how to star-score it.
March 14, 2023
I loved, loved this book. I read it via audiobook for the last two weeks. It wasn’t what I was expecting. It was so much better—the cultural, historical, and literary deconstructions of the symbols we use for astrology was so impressive. The conclusion was incredible. I need to buy a physical copy and re-read it to write a more useful review.
September 25, 2021
I liked it! Some great hot-takes + really interesting historical critical analyses. Felt like a series of academic essays at times, loved the moment where she interrogated the Edward / Bella relationship....LOL. The sheer amount of material to be covered in a book like this is Vast so I was often left feeling like I wanted so much more elaboration on a certain position, for example. Also, though in retrospect the title makes this clear, I was expecting more discussion throughout as to how to bring these interpretations + thinking approaches into a personal reading for oneself or another - as I know many contemporary astrologers are discussing such things. Densely informative so would probably want to read again tbh!
July 31, 2024
The first time I tried to read this I was not up for it but the second time i decided it goes hard as hell actually. There are so many ideas going on in here and I think I need to buy a copy to return to some of them. Great book for extremely niche questions that I previously thought no one would ever address in writing
February 23, 2025
Reading this book made me feel like I was in grad school again in all the best ways. And then I was like, should I get a PhD? Which was definitely not the point of the book, so don’t worry I’m not.
A primer on the symbols of astrological planets as they have been interpreted through a Western and Capitalist lens the. reimagining them in a Post Colonial lens. Obsessed.
A primer on the symbols of astrological planets as they have been interpreted through a Western and Capitalist lens the. reimagining them in a Post Colonial lens. Obsessed.
Read
December 30, 2021“The meaning of the sky comes directly from us. You are the thing that animates heaven.”
I did it! It took me months to finish this book. It’s dense and challenging but in the best ways. I don’t know what rating to give it because I’m not sure I even understood it all. I do know that I’ll return to its richness and layers over and over again for years to come. I appreciate the challenge.
I did it! It took me months to finish this book. It’s dense and challenging but in the best ways. I don’t know what rating to give it because I’m not sure I even understood it all. I do know that I’ll return to its richness and layers over and over again for years to come. I appreciate the challenge.
January 24, 2025
I really, really wanted to like this book, but I honestly couldn’t finish it, it wasn’t super consistent in its prose, and even in the beginning it was already kind of redundant. I couldn’t make it through, very unfortunate.
January 4, 2023
Leaving my first and only review to say that this book is so smart and loving and is absolutely required reading. It means everything to me as a Mexican an herbalist who is living in the U.S. empire, and benefitting institutionally and economically from the destruction of my homelands, culture, and communities. Using astrology as a storytelling device to talk about empire, capital, and power, Alice Sparkly Kat reveals the devastating cost of the West’s humanist projects of colonialism, nationalism, and modernity. It implicates astrology in this, as the history of astrology is also the history of empire, and the history of white people (whose history is made by brown people).
It’s definitely dense, but I was screaming with every single chapter because she was as citing all the writers that have been most influential to my healing and art practice. It’s truly a beautiful offering done with great love for this earth, our ancestors, and those in struggle against the empire(s).
In response to all the white astrologers being silly and and proving her entire point on here, if you’re a practicing astrologer then the topics in this book are the most important thing you need to know about what you do. Anyways, as Khalil Gibran said, “never argue with the once born”.
It’s definitely dense, but I was screaming with every single chapter because she was as citing all the writers that have been most influential to my healing and art practice. It’s truly a beautiful offering done with great love for this earth, our ancestors, and those in struggle against the empire(s).
In response to all the white astrologers being silly and and proving her entire point on here, if you’re a practicing astrologer then the topics in this book are the most important thing you need to know about what you do. Anyways, as Khalil Gibran said, “never argue with the once born”.
October 28, 2022
Putting this book on Hiatus. The guilt is real, but I just can't pull myself to finish this.
This has been rough to get through; near a year later and I'm still sloshing my way to the end.
Kat makes powerful points through this book, but a lot of them fall flat and hit the ground hard. There's obviously a lot of research pulled in but some of it feels stretched thin to fit an idea that just doesn't work. It's written like a college paper, in the worst way.
The potential in this is substantial, but is eclipsed by it's sheer density and lack of adherence to the title. I got more Greek mythology than I did of reading about astrology through a western lens.
There are definitely parts of this book worth reading, but I can't recommend it because I can't say wholeheartedly they're worth the work this book will put you through to find them.
This has been rough to get through; near a year later and I'm still sloshing my way to the end.
Kat makes powerful points through this book, but a lot of them fall flat and hit the ground hard. There's obviously a lot of research pulled in but some of it feels stretched thin to fit an idea that just doesn't work. It's written like a college paper, in the worst way.
The potential in this is substantial, but is eclipsed by it's sheer density and lack of adherence to the title. I got more Greek mythology than I did of reading about astrology through a western lens.
There are definitely parts of this book worth reading, but I can't recommend it because I can't say wholeheartedly they're worth the work this book will put you through to find them.
April 21, 2024
In "Postcolonial Astrology: Reading the Planets through Capital, Power, and Labor," Alice Sparkly Kat embarks on an illuminating journey through the celestial realm, intertwining the cosmic with the political, the mystical with the tangible. Grounded in the acknowledgment of subjectivity and the fallacy of objective truths, Kat's work challenges conventional notions of astrology, urging readers to recognize the inherent biases embedded within systems of classification and categorization.
Kat's prose resonates with a deep-seated understanding of the complexities of identity and power dynamics. They skillfully weave together personal anecdotes, reflective language, and insightful analysis to craft a narrative that is both introspective and emotive. As a reader, I found myself drawn into Kat's world, captivated by their ability to navigate the intricate intersections of astrology, politics, and social justice.
At the heart of "Postcolonial Astrology" lies a powerful critique of the ways in which colonialism and capitalism have shaped our understanding of the cosmos. Kat deftly exposes the ways in which astrology, often dismissed as frivolous or superficial, is intertwined with systems of oppression and control. They challenge readers to interrogate the socio-political implications of astrological practices, urging us to consider the ways in which our beliefs and interpretations are influenced by broader power structures.
One of the book's most compelling aspects is Kat's exploration of the relationship between astrology and liberation. Drawing on themes of solidarity, responsibility, and collective action, they illuminate the transformative potential of astrological practices in challenging dominant narratives and fostering community resilience. Through their incisive analysis, Kat invites readers to reimagine astrology as a tool for political resistance and social change.
Throughout the book, Kat's commitment to inclusivity and representation shines through. They foreground the voices and experiences of marginalized communities, highlighting the ways in which astrology can serve as a vehicle for amplifying underrepresented narratives. By centering the perspectives of those often sidelined in mainstream discourse, Kat challenges readers to confront their own biases and assumptions, fostering a more inclusive and equitable astrological practice.
Kat's writing remains consistently engaging and thought-provoking throughout their debut book. From their reflections on the commodification of spirituality to their critique of liberal individualism, each chapter offers valuable insights into the complexities of contemporary society. By examining the ways in which capitalism, colonialism, and patriarchy intersect with astrological symbolism, Kat encourages readers to critically engage with the world around them, challenging us to imagine new possibilities for collective liberation.
In conclusion, "Postcolonial Astrology" is a timely and essential read for anyone interested in exploring the intersection of astrology and social justice. Through their lyrical prose and incisive analysis, Alice Sparkly Kat offers a compelling vision of astrology as a tool for political resistance and collective empowerment. Whether you're a seasoned astrologer or a newcomer to the practice, this book will inspire you to reimagine the cosmos through a lens of liberation and solidarity.
Kat's prose resonates with a deep-seated understanding of the complexities of identity and power dynamics. They skillfully weave together personal anecdotes, reflective language, and insightful analysis to craft a narrative that is both introspective and emotive. As a reader, I found myself drawn into Kat's world, captivated by their ability to navigate the intricate intersections of astrology, politics, and social justice.
At the heart of "Postcolonial Astrology" lies a powerful critique of the ways in which colonialism and capitalism have shaped our understanding of the cosmos. Kat deftly exposes the ways in which astrology, often dismissed as frivolous or superficial, is intertwined with systems of oppression and control. They challenge readers to interrogate the socio-political implications of astrological practices, urging us to consider the ways in which our beliefs and interpretations are influenced by broader power structures.
One of the book's most compelling aspects is Kat's exploration of the relationship between astrology and liberation. Drawing on themes of solidarity, responsibility, and collective action, they illuminate the transformative potential of astrological practices in challenging dominant narratives and fostering community resilience. Through their incisive analysis, Kat invites readers to reimagine astrology as a tool for political resistance and social change.
Throughout the book, Kat's commitment to inclusivity and representation shines through. They foreground the voices and experiences of marginalized communities, highlighting the ways in which astrology can serve as a vehicle for amplifying underrepresented narratives. By centering the perspectives of those often sidelined in mainstream discourse, Kat challenges readers to confront their own biases and assumptions, fostering a more inclusive and equitable astrological practice.
Kat's writing remains consistently engaging and thought-provoking throughout their debut book. From their reflections on the commodification of spirituality to their critique of liberal individualism, each chapter offers valuable insights into the complexities of contemporary society. By examining the ways in which capitalism, colonialism, and patriarchy intersect with astrological symbolism, Kat encourages readers to critically engage with the world around them, challenging us to imagine new possibilities for collective liberation.
In conclusion, "Postcolonial Astrology" is a timely and essential read for anyone interested in exploring the intersection of astrology and social justice. Through their lyrical prose and incisive analysis, Alice Sparkly Kat offers a compelling vision of astrology as a tool for political resistance and collective empowerment. Whether you're a seasoned astrologer or a newcomer to the practice, this book will inspire you to reimagine the cosmos through a lens of liberation and solidarity.
January 23, 2025
This book is absolutely rubbish. Please, please divert your attention to more informative, well researched books and resources instead of this book.
Now, I’m unsure if it’s rubbish to me or if others too have picked up on absurd lack of referencing, research and editing errors in this book, but I wish I could give this book a 0.5/5.
I want to give this book more credit where it might be due, I generally like Alice’s website (especially her analysis on the nodes) and her writing style. We astrologers and astrology-adjacent people have been absolutely spoiled rotten by astrological knowledge in the past 20 years or so — there has never been a better time TO be an astrologer, so long as you know your stuff and survive your Saturn return. Various translation projects, social media and a revival in the ‘occult’ during a pandemic has boosted astrology — true astrology — into the mainstream. Given that, it makes sense that such a book has come out. I don’t want to punch down towards Alice for writing a book that truly tries to be daringly intersectional in an age where new foundations of astrology knowledge is appreciated, but also can come under scorn — but it all falls flat. I think Alice should stick to her website blog posts, where she doesn’t actually have to back up what she’s saying. I hope for her next book she does her research and hires a good editor. Going forward, I can only hope that once Gen Z fully traverses their Saturn return might we see true, pragmatic and well developed astrological knowledge that picks up where Postcolonial Astrology failed.
December 14, 2022
There are some good bones here, but a lot of this text is a slog. Some of the slog is due to an unnecessary and inexpertly applied academic affect (big “undergrad research paper” vibes throughout), but some is simply because this book needed a much better editor. The subject matter jumps abruptly from paragraph to paragraph, and sometimes is only “wrapped up” by a single sentence at the end of a section which feebly attempts to restate some previous thesis that was in no way successfully argued.
There are some provocative ideas in the text, and so I continued to read it, but I read in fits and starts because it was too frustrating/distracting to hold my attention for long. My kingdom for a footnote, or an endnote, or even an attempt to introduce whatever random scholar the author is about to quote. Ideas just pop up on the page without preamble, and then suddenly we’re on to something else without transition.
Also, where’s the actual astrology? This is a book about the planets. Of course they are integral parts of astrology, but so is the Zodiac. The book’s subtitle is much more apt than its actual title.
Despite my criticisms, I did appreciate the author’s ability to challenge the assumptions we make/take as fact about the planets, and to tease apart the history (and accompanying political narratives) that inform(s) those assumptions. It’s there that this book has great value, I only wish it were more clearly shared with the reader.
There are some provocative ideas in the text, and so I continued to read it, but I read in fits and starts because it was too frustrating/distracting to hold my attention for long. My kingdom for a footnote, or an endnote, or even an attempt to introduce whatever random scholar the author is about to quote. Ideas just pop up on the page without preamble, and then suddenly we’re on to something else without transition.
Also, where’s the actual astrology? This is a book about the planets. Of course they are integral parts of astrology, but so is the Zodiac. The book’s subtitle is much more apt than its actual title.
Despite my criticisms, I did appreciate the author’s ability to challenge the assumptions we make/take as fact about the planets, and to tease apart the history (and accompanying political narratives) that inform(s) those assumptions. It’s there that this book has great value, I only wish it were more clearly shared with the reader.
October 16, 2024
This would have been a better book if one of two things happened: the editing was tighter to make the connections between the astrological symbolism and the source of those symbols in the modern western colonization game plan was more straight forward. Or this was strictly a book on analyzing western capitalist politics. If you remove all the astrology this becomes a very good "Introduction to Decolonizing Your Mind" kind of book (would have been 4/5 stars if it was just that in my opinion, it makes solid points and put other leftist capitalist critical books on my TBR list). But the attempt to mix the astrology with the politics wasn't always a clean and clear execution.
The chapters on The Sun, Venus, and Mars did really well on conveying the influences and relationship between the astrology and the politics with a clear and present through line from one to the other. The rest of the book took more of a long and not always focused walk to connect one astrological concept to its political source influence. I would still recommend it as a read just for what it does accomplish in thinking a little differently about Esoteric notions under a western gaze or just Western culture in general. But know that it might not exactly meet the expectations of astrology specifically you may have from the title or back of book description.
The chapters on The Sun, Venus, and Mars did really well on conveying the influences and relationship between the astrology and the politics with a clear and present through line from one to the other. The rest of the book took more of a long and not always focused walk to connect one astrological concept to its political source influence. I would still recommend it as a read just for what it does accomplish in thinking a little differently about Esoteric notions under a western gaze or just Western culture in general. But know that it might not exactly meet the expectations of astrology specifically you may have from the title or back of book description.
May 12, 2024
After I heard an interview with Alice on The Astrology Podcast (Chris Brennan) I was impressed by the depth of conversation Alice brought into their dialogue. My personal politics are non-conforming, which is to say that I’m neither liberal nor conservative, and ‘moderate’ doesn’t quite fit either. I’m alienated by the marketplace of ideology concealed in shaming, emotional appeals made by all sides. I don’t honestly fit any doctrine’s ideal and I navigate cultural critique on a theme-by-theme basis. I’m spelling this out because I was trepidatious about whether I would grasp this book. I enjoy working within Western European, Greco-Roman normative astrology. I’m a vestigial product of Empire, some of my ancestors doing quite well with it and perhaps others struggling or even totally left unaccounted for in its wake. Colonialism matters to me and I think it’s an underrated context. Alice (I think) presents a very reasoned approach. Alice does not ask us to set aside Eurocentric astrology, just to place it where it belongs: valid, but within the much more enriching (and mutually validating!) reality of global divinatory relationship to the Night’s Sky. Yes. We can and must do this. Thank you Alice.
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