As we all know, the modern astrological revival in the late 19th/early 20th century was heavily influenced by Theosophy, and introduced concepts borrowed from Indic religions, such as karma and rebirth. Alan Leo was perhaps the most prominent, but by no means the only, author to interpret astrology in this light. I would be very grateful if members could recommend some 'theosophically explicit' writings from the period of (approximately) 1890-1930.

Sri Yukteswars [Pharmahansa Yoganandas' Guru]" The Holy Science' is one book that comes to mind. [Published in the 1890s, as I recall] Although the subject of Astrology is only touched upon, if I recall correctly.
The readings of Edgar Cayce covered many an Astrological query and a good deal of those readings occured in or just after the timeline you have given.
And of course, Dane Rudhyars 'The Astrology of Personality" which was published in the early 1930s is a very profound work, in my and many other Astrologers opinion. Also Rudhyars "An Astrological Mandalla' has a chapter titled 'Binary Relationship of the Signs' that makes many references to Astrology via Yogic Science, that is extremely interesting...although that book was published in the 1970s, Rudhyar, I have no doubt, was beginning his research for that particular book in the timeline you give.

Hi Martin. One of my favorite theosophical astrological writers is E. H. Bailey (1876-1959), author of The Prenatal Epoch (originally published in 1916). I believe that Dave Roell of Astroamerica, who is a member of this forum, has reissued this book.

Martin, there are a few texts you may find interesting over at:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm

...and may I suggest the book "Talismans, Amulets and Zodiacal Gems" by W. Thomas and K. Pravitt that is archieved at that website, for a starter.

Astrology: Its Techniques and Ethics by C. Aq Libra (Roelf Takens)

Astrology and Its Practical Application by Else Parker

Occult Astrology by C. G. M. Adam

Astrology Mundane and Spiritual by S. R. Parchment

Hi again, Martin. Charles E. O. Carter (1887-1968) was the second president, after Alan Leo, of the Astrological Lodge of the Theosophical Society. He was a prolific writer whose many books include The Astrology of Accidents, Symbolic Directions in Modern Astrology, The Zodiac and the Sou and An Encyclopedia of Psychological Astrology. He assumed the presidency of the Astrological Lodge in 1922 and wrote throughout that period, up until his death.

Within the specified timeframe (1890-1930), there were offshoots and schools of thought philosophically aligned with, but distinct from, theosophy as established by H. P. Blavatsky et al. Writings associated with those groups are also "theosophically explicit," in the sense that they carry forward the blend of eastern and western metaphysical ideas embodied most famously in Blavatsky's Theosophical Society.

Are you interested in writers representing those "parallel tracks," or are you focused on writings explicitly associated with Blavatsky's group?

Thanks, Astraea. I am interested in any and all authors around the turn of the last century who explicitly linked astrology with metaphysical concepts borrowed from Hinduism and Buddhism (karma, etc).

Andrew wrote:Astrology: Its Techniques and Ethics by C. Aq Libra (Roelf Takens)

Astrology and Its Practical Application by Else Parker

Occult Astrology by C. G. M. Adam

Astrology Mundane and Spiritual by S. R. Parchment

Thanks, Andrew. I will look these up.

Hi Martin. Shortly after turn of the last century, Rudolf Steiner (who had led the German branch of the Theosophical Society) formed the Anthroposophical Society, which was dedicated to the formulation of what Steiner called "spiritual science." The Anthroposophical Society represented an extension of the Theosophical Society's teachings into realms associated with esoteric Christianity (developed through specifically Rosicrucian themes), at the same time maintaining theosophy's basic tenets regarding spiritual hierachies and the subtle constitution of the world and its kingdoms. Steiner was an indefatigable speaker and teacher whose lectures have been collected in books too numerous to list. Many of these are devoted to studies of spiritual beings expressing through the planets and planes of existence; one of particular relevance to astrology is Spiritual Hierarchies and the Physical World: Zodiac, Planets and Cosmos. Steiner was born in 1861 and died in 1925.

Steiner's trusted colleague, mathematician and astronomer Elizabeth Vreede, lectured and wrote letters to anthroposophical students on the subject of esoteric astronomy, i.e. astronomy as an aspect of spiritual science (Steiner eschewed the materialistic worldview separating the spiritual from the material world). A series of letters written by Vreede on this topic between 1927-1930 have been compiled and published as a book entitled Astronomy and Spiritual Science.

Willi Sucher (1902-1985) was a student and colleague of Elizabeth Vreede who developed anthroposophical ideas about astrology into a body of knowledge called astrosophy. He wrote voluminously; however, most of his published work falls outside the pre-1930 timeframe.

Max Heindel (1865-1919) established a version of the Rosicrucian Society in the United States and wrote several books about astrology from the theosophical perspective, including Message of the Stars (perhaps his best known work).

Alice A. Bailey (1880-1949) was a prominent theosophist who also went her own way, but maintained theosophical principles in her teachings. She was not herself an astrologer, but she wrote widely between the years 1919 and 1949 in conjunction with her mentor, whom she introduced as Master DK (The Tibetan), and most of their books refer in one way or another to the planets and astrology. One of their collaborations (Alice Bailey referred to herself as DK's amanuensis), Esoteric Astrology, is devoted entirely to that topic, in a specifically theosophical framework. Its first printing was in 1951 - outside your timeframe, but it is so pivotal a theosophical presentation of astrology that I thought I should mention it.

One of my favorite theosophical astrological writers is E. H. Bailey (1876-1959), author of The Prenatal Epoch (originally published in 1916).

I don't see how that can be as Bailey was vehemently opposed to theosophy and wrote about how Alan Leo and other theosophical astrologers had ruined his life. His editorials in the BJA are basically diatribes against theosophy.

Hi Kim. E. H. Bailey described the soul's descent through the spheres prior to birth in his work on the prenatal epoch; this ancient idea was certainly not original with him, and as it is an important feature of theosophical (with a small "t") thought, particularly as it relates to astrology, I include him in my list. Bailey's relations with the Theosophical Society and Alan Leo, per se, were not central to my reasoning, but I take your point.