'Growing Pains' is not only a classic in astrology but one of the most important astrology books in the last decade. Armand Diaz. This book is dedicated to the astrology of adolescence. It answers questions for educators and parents how to best support children during school years. 'Growing Pains' addresses issues of learning style, communication and discipline through the lens of the social planets, Jupiter and Saturn. The author asserts throughout the book how valuable understanding astrology can be for supporting a child's growth and development. What drives these children? How do pupils learn when they have specific planet patterns? There is a focus on transits, viewing Jupiter cycles as opportunity for growth with reminders how Saturn then supports discipline and refinement. 'Growing Pains' is neatly structured so the reader knows what to expect. Kathryn Andren, (Organisation for Professional Astrologers) Parents are likely to focus on the many individual differences among their children, or between their own children and others'. Educators are perhaps more likely to note that this year's class is somehow different from last year's class, and in fact as college professor I have not only noted this but have heard other professors making similar observations. Beyond the curious inconsistency, most teachers don't know what to make of the differences between one class and another. 'Growing Pains' provides an excellent framework for understanding the subtle but real differences between one year's cohort and the next, based primarily on the astrological signs in which Saturn and Jupiter are found. 'Growing Pains' is written to educators, but it is a valuable tool for parents and other interested people as well. Because it focuses on two planets that are not considered personal in nature (after all, they remain in the same sign for a year or more), the book is not a comprehensive guide to personality via astrology. Yet learning strategies and becoming part of one's culture are critical for children, and a greater understanding of these processes could be helpful from preschool through adolescence and into college. Challenging the notion that there is a single best practice in education, 'Growing Pains' adds an extra dimension to debates about how we educate children and what we expect as the outcome of the process. It is also very helpful for getting a sense of the social milieu in which children are living. While the book can be read from start to finish, most people will probably want to dive into a relevant chapter and read about themselves, their children, or their current crop of students. Starting with some background on Saturn and Jupiter provided at the beginning of each of the two main sections of the book, it is easy for someone who has no previous astrological knowledge to read through 'Growing Pains' in any order. The use of astrology as a regular facet of education may be a way off, but there's no reason that interested parents and educators can't begin using it now, and Growing Pains is an excellent start. It is clearly written and easy to use, offering insight into the joyous but turbulent process of growing up. (Armand Diaz - Astrology New Service)
