Book excerpt: In A Spiritual Approach to Astrology, Myrna Lofthus strives to re-awaken the conscious mind to the intentions and meaning of this lifetime of which the higher self was aware before birth. "Thus," she writes, "you are made aware of what you wished to accomplish and in what areas of life you need the most work and understanding." Drawing upon the universal teachings of reincarnation as expressed in Edgar Cayce's work, Myrna Lofthus illuminates the karmic patterns reflected in the birth chart. Dozens of charts and illustrations help the reader to understand the astronomical and the theoretical foundations of the birth chart. The lengthy section on aspects not only explains their karmic meaning but includes interpretations of the 40° ("nonagen" or "novile") and the 150° ("quincunx") aspects, as well as aspects to the Moon's nodes, Part of Fortune, Ascendant, and Midheaven, all of which are rarely found in other books. This comprehensive guide places astrology within a spiritual context and makes it accessible to novice students with no prior knowledge of astrology as well as advanced students seeking specialized information on the subtler implications of astrological configurations. Myrna Lofthus, a lifelong student of world religions and philosophies, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Pacific Lutheran University. Strongly influenced in her search for truth by the philosophy of Edgar Cayce and by the astrological concepts of Isabel Hickey, Myrna Lofthus has come to view astrology as a way an individual can find the main purpose of this incarnation.