What inspired me to write All Around the Zodiac was the realization that, while Sun-sign paperbacks are easily available, it’s nearly impossible to find detailed books about the twelve signs themselves. That's too bad, because the insight that the zodiac provides is vital to our understanding of those dynamic themes that fuel our lives, even from a karmic point of view.

Perhaps it's no wonder that readers often develop a better grasp of the other components of natal astrology (the planets, houses, aspects—even forecasting techniques). They may feel less informed about the character-shaping power of the signs and most so when such signs are labeled as "incompatible." How can such contrasting forces ever become successfully integrated? My book gives readers a few helpful hints along these lines.

More Than Key Words
Learning about the signs takes more than memorizing key words. After all, the zodiac symbolizes the gamut of experience that motivates us to evolve in self-awareness. It progresses from Aries to Pisces in an intelligent, meaningful way. Plus, we have each signs—even the ones we claim not to like—operating somewhere in our chart, calling for our attention and full cooperation.

All Around the Zodiac thus explores the various human urges related to these signs—meaning, those personal needs that we'll seek to fulfill in a lifetime if inner growth is our goal. If you want to find the greater happiness that can occur once you consciously make better use of what you're all about (psychologically and spiritually), you'll need to plug into how each sign's energy can creatively unfold for you. This book will supportively point you in the right direction. As the various signs highlighted in your birth chart reveal an unbeatable life strategy, it's best to work constructively with these energies rather than unconsciously struggle against them.

What You Must Know About Each Sign
In the opening chapters of Part One, I explore the richness of each sign's nature by first explaining the mode (cardinal, fixed, or mutable) and the element (fire, earth, air, or water) that together define why each astrological sign behaves the way it does. Every sign is a special combination of these modes and elements; thus, knowing these inherent factors in each sign is a must.

For example, Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign—mutable signs like to distribute information, while fire is about soaring inspiration and trust in self. Thus, it's no surprise that Sagittarius is well-equipped to teach and preach its broad understanding of uplifting concepts and high-minded ideals to the world; it places great faith in its ability to inspire the minds of others.

Sixty-six Sign Combinations!
This is no rehash of anything you may have already read. Perhaps the best reason to explore my book is that it provides a rare look at the sixty-six possible sign combinations available (which becomes the entire theme of Part Two). Signs form specific relationships with one another, and the material in this section thoughtfully analyzes those sign-to-sign interplays.

For example: if your Sun is in Libra, but your Moon is in Pisces, what can you expect from such a mix? (Read all about it on pages 345-348.) Such information should help you figure out the relationship between any two planets or sensitive points in your chart, and even give you tips on how to pull such energies together to make them work for you. This material may even come in handy when you find yourself intimately involved with somebody of a different Sun sign. You will not easily find such valuable sign-sign information in other books. These detailed descriptions alone make All Around the Zodiac a special astrological tool that you’ll want to refer to, again and again.

On the Cusp
What about the signs on the cusps of the houses of your chart? Do you wonder what Taurus means when found on one house cusp while Libra is placed on another? And what does it mean to have various birth planets in these signs? Part Three covers all this, which should be very helpful to beginners who need to have some idea of what is means to have Venus in Pisces or Moon in Virgo.