New Books List

Theophilus of Edessa (ca. 695 - 785 AD) played a role in the most transformative events of the Middle East between Muhammad and the Crusades. A Christian and chief astrologer for the Caliph al-Mahd¿, Theophilus was a full-time military astrologer, actively advising `Abb¿sid operations and adapting Dorotheus of Sidon to the needs of generals and kings. Much of his life was spent in the field, unlike better-known astrologers like M¿sh¿¿all¿h. This first translation of his astrological works showcases works on military questions and inceptions, mundane ingresses and Lots, weather, everyday elections, and much more, especially his use of Dorotheus and Rhetorius.

Astrology of the World II: Revolutions & History is the second in a trilogy of writings from medieval astrologers, focusing on astrological theories of history, mundane time lords and predictive techniques, Saturn-Jupiter conjunctions, and annual ingresses. Many texts have been translated directly from Arabic, and authors include Masha¿allah, Abu Ma¿shar, Sahl, `Umar al-Tabari and Kankah, al-Qabisi, and al-Rijal (Haly Abenragel).

The astrological poem (Carmen Astrologicum) of Dorotheus of Sidon (1st Century AD) played a key role in later Persian, Arabic, and Latin astrology, forming the basis of many works on nativities, inceptions or elections, and questions (¿horary¿), such as the Book of Aristotle, al-Rij¿l¿s Book of the Skilled, and the books of Sahl b. Bishr. After being translated into Persian in the 3rd Century, it was later put into an Arabic edition by the famous astrologer `Umar al-Tabar¿. This new English translation of al-Tabar¿ explains many special features of Dorotheus¿s work, including chart dating, the use of triplicity lords, transits and profections, ascensional times, and more. With numerous footnotes, extra diagrams, and the Greek prose Excerpts (translated by Eduardo Gramaglia), it supersedes the 1976 edition by Pingree. This essential work for traditional astrologers and will repay close study.

"By focusing on the works and intellectual network of the Timurid historian Sharaf al Din Ali Yazdi (d.1454), this book presents a holistic view of intellectual life in fifteenth century Iran. Ilker Evrim Binbas argues that the intellectuals in this period formed informal networks which transcended political and linguistic boundaries, and spanned an area from the western fringes of the Ottoman State to bustling late medieval metropolises such as Cairo, Shiraz, and Samarkand. The network included an Ottoman revolutionary, a Mamluk prophet, and a Timurid occultist, as well as physicians, astronomers, devotees of the secret sciences, and those political figures who believed that the network was a force to be taken seriously. Also discussing the formation of an early modern Islamicate republic of letters, this book offers fresh insights on the study of intellectual history beyond the limitations imposed by nationalist methodologies, established genres, and recognized literary traditions"--

Introductions to Traditional Astrology (ITA) is a joint translation of two classic introductory works: Abu Ma¿shar¿s Abbreviation of the Introduction to Astrology, and al-Qabisi¿s Introduction to Astrology. It also includes numerous passages from Abu Ma¿shar¿s Great Introduction (never before published in English) and other medieval astrologers on interpretating traditional concepts.

The Book of Aristotle is thought to be a lost work by Masha¿allah, rediscovered by David Pingree and now available after 900 years of neglect. Found deep in the Muslim libraries of medieval Spain and translated into Latin in the 12th Century by Hugo of Santalla, it was immediately forgotten. The only two surviving copies were saved by the astrologer-magician John Dee. Now available in translation for the first time in any modern language, the Book of Aristotle presents a full treatment of nativities drawing extensively on Valens, Rhetorius, Masha¿allah¿s more complete version of Dorotheus, and a lost work by al-Andarzaghar which presents a complete method of annual predictions: solar revolutions, profections, transits, and more. It has previously unknown material from Dorotheus on Lots, friendship, and travel. Masha¿allah¿s carefully organized work breaks the delineation material into digestible chunks. Masha¿allah was a central figure in early Arabic/Medieval astrology. His life and work spanned the Persian, Jewish and Muslim cultures, and he bequeathed important works to the medieval West. The Book of Aristotle is a sophisticated work of Hellenistic-Persian natal astrology, and will be a standard text in the traditional astrologer¿s library for years to come. Learning level: intermediate-advanced.

Beginning with a primer on questions by Benjamin Dykes, Judges opens with introductions by Masha¿allah, `Umar al-Tabari, and Sahl on choosing significators and victors, and identifying modes of perfection. Well-known and lesser-known manuals on questions are then collated by house topic, ranging from matters of wealth, marriage, war, theft, positions of honor and rulership, travel, and horse racing. Notable mundane sections offer methods of predicting weather and prices. Throughout, Benjamin Dykes provides numerous comments, helpful footnotes, and diagrams. Appendices include Sahl¿s Fifty Judgments, advice on questions from Bonatti¿s Book of Astronomy, and helpful instructions from Masha¿allah¿s On Reception. Containing a study guide for astrological basics, a reference table of questions, and the most extensive glossary of traditional astrological terms to date, The Book of the Nine Judges is essential for traditional astrologers.

In this concentrated and detailed look at questions surrounding the act of sacrifice, Dennis King Keenan discusses both the role and the meaning of sacrifice in our lives. Building on recent philosophical discussions on the gift and transcendence, Keenan covers new ground with this exploration of the religious, psychological, and ethical issues that sacrifice entails. According to Keenan, sacrifice is paradoxically called to sacrifice itself. But what does this necessary, yet impossible condition mean for living an ethical life? Along the way to an answer, Keenan considers the views of Hegel, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Bataille, Lacan, Levinas, Blanchot, Irigaray, Derrida, Kristeva, Nancy, and Zizek. This thoughtful and provocative work affords a sophisticated philosophical treatment of the question of sacrifice.

Sahl bin Bishr and Masha¿allah were key early figures in medieval astrology (ca. 750-850 AD) as it transitioned from the Greek and Persian period into the Arabic-Latin period. Much of what we recognize as medieval astrology comes directly from the works translated here! Later astrologers, including Guido Bonatti, were inspired by and liberally borrowed from Sahl¿s and Masha¿allah¿s works on basic principles and judgments, horary, elections, predictive techniques, nativities, and mundane astrology. In this book you will be able to compare the horary methods of Sahl and Masha¿allah, learn elections and mundane astrology from these early medieval masters, study unusual techniques on finding hidden objects or discovering a client¿s intention, learn the relation between detriment and corruption, see connections between Dorotheus and Sahl, and much more. It is a critical text for all students of traditional astrology.