Soul, Symbol and Imagination
The Artistry of Astrology

There are few contemporary astrologers who can match Brian Clark’s range and depth of experience as professional consultant and as teacher, and this work is a precious distillation of his life-vocation. This is not a how-to manual, although the innovative use of dream-work is certain to inspire a new generation of teachers, while the case studies are insightful and moving. The light of astrological imagination is traced through thought-provoking allusions and references to myth, archetypes and poetry. Brian Clark plumbs the creative depth of the mystery within the art of astrology, which is the mystery of Symbol and Soul.

– Geoffrey Cornelius, author of The Moment of Astrology

My friend, Brian Clark, has written the best book on astrology that I have ever read. He shows himself a deep master of this quiet and enchanting art. Astrology’s value is hidden to the modern mind, but if you can grant yourself the favor of leaving that hard world behind and open to a realm of love and magic, you will be rewarded beyond imagining by reading this book. It now goes on my special shelf of books to live by.

– Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul

It is deeply meditative, placing his understanding, appreciation and evocation of soul, symbol, and imagination at the very core of his reflections on the teaching and practice of the art of astrology. He nails his colours to the mast early on: “Without the inquiry into soul, astrological symbols remain fixed in literality, facts rather than images, interpretations rather than revelations…”(p. 16)

Its effect on this reader was to slow me down, make me reflective, read the book one topic per day. This allowed the time for thoughts, feelings, experiences, and perspectives on my long relationship with the teaching and practice of astrology to be evoked in response to Brian Clark’s fine writing. He provides many moving examples of his work with both clients and students to illustrate his narrative.

Although it is primarily aimed at astrologers and students of astrology, I would also recommend Soul, Symbol and Imagination to anyone for whom considerations of the soul and the intangible, mysterious, mythical and magical dimensions of life are of nurturing significance in their lives. Reductionism has far too strong a hold on our culture at the present time. Hopefully, though, we are already seeing a younger generation emerging whose minds are more open to the realms into which Brian Clark leads us in this beautiful, soulful book. I will certainly be recommending it highly to my colleagues and students.

– Anne Whitaker, The Astrological Journal, Jan/Feb 2020

Soul, Symbol and Imagination: The Artistry of Astrology is a moving account of the realms he has accessed with clients over many decades. There is barely a mention of technique or measurements, but his deep respect for the “profundity of the art” guides his beautiful narrative so that “a connection to soul” can be acknowledged and valued in the reader’s own astrological work. The book – laced with the author’s broad knowledge of myth, archetypes, and literature – has chapters on Imagination, Symbol, Time, Metaphor, Night, Creativity, Symptom, Fate, death, Myth, Vocation, Place and Dream.

In discussing the power of symbol, Clark articulates their “poetic, ironic, and ambiguous” qualities: “Being illogical, mysterious and contradictory, symbols are naturally paradoxical”. He talks about engaging the client in the symbolic process and mentions that some of his early experiences in consultations, … “before I had any formal counselling training” were profoundly instructive to his understanding – a clue, I think, to the sincerity of his approach.

– Mary Plumb, The Mountain Astrologer, Feb/March 2020

Each chapter is a treasure trove of insight, bringing this ancient art to light in a way that is accessible to all who yearn for a more meaningful life. Brian’s description of astrology from its earliest beginnings as it emerged from the collective imagination, is both eloquent in its clarity and evocative of its mystery. In his book Brian speaks to this spiritual dimension of astrology as a means to commune with Soul in our journey towards greater awareness of our spiritual essence. Connecting with astrology on this level, one cannot help but be transformed through it.

Soul, Symbol and Imagination: The Artistry of Astrology is an Odyssey deep into the heart of astrology. Anyone who embarks on this journey and trusts where it is leading, will never view astrology in the same light again. It will open doors into the world of the Night, revealing astrology as a language of the soul with the power not only to inform, but to transform. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever gazed up at the night sky and stood in awe at the vast canopy of stars that embrace us, and who wishes to enrich their understanding of astrology as an art bequeathed to us by the stars.

– Jenny Rigos, FAA Journal, June 2020

Astrology University Podcast
On September 2, 2020 Tony Howard from Astrology University interviewed me on Soul, Symbol and Imagination – you can listen to the podcast at:
https://www.astrologyuniversity.com/soul-and-symbol-in-astrology/