I wasn’t sure what to make of this particular volume at first… but then I found myself going back to it after purchasing a copy. I’ve referenced it a number of times over the last few months and every time I find something new jumping out at me.

I like how this book teaches you how to deal with crossroads when they come.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

As soon as I started reading this book I knew that it would make a great selection for the Metaphysical Book Club that I'm part of. I purchased a copy and we read it as our selection for March. I had previous awareness of the Saturn Return but I wasn't aware of the Midlife Transits. I found this to be really interesting as I've already experienced my Pluto Square, and my Neptune Square started on March 10th. I can see how the previous transits played out in my life. I love that Danielle Blackwood gave a description of what the transit meant in general, along with what the various planets mean. She discusses things that can occur during these transits as well as ways to make the transits easier and to reflect on what they are bringing into your life. I particularly like the journal prompts. I plan to keep this book to refer back to when I experience the rest of my Midlife transits. I recommend this to anyone that wants to do a deeper dive into astrology or anyone entering their midlife transits.

A Lantern in the Dark by Danielle Blackwood is a great book that teaches about advanced astrological occurrences. This book touches upon the birth chart and how the planets will affect you during different parts of your life. It explains the Saturn return and cultivating authenticity and how Pluto, Neptune and Uranus will impact your life and how to deal with these challenges. I recommend this book for anyone who loves astrology and wants to get deeper knowledge on the subject.

Facing a midlife crisis and not sure what to do about it? Generally, one recognizes that astrology has an impact on life events, but the overall astrology of the birth chart can impact various age ranges in one's life. This was an unexpected read, but the author was pretty spot on about the changes around various ages that we go through. I am not familiar with my birth chart, but I did find much in this book to comfort me as I face my own challenges in the ranges she suggests. Overall, a fantastic and intriguing read! Plan to purchase for personal collection to work on exercises included.

A good look at different phases/time periods in life where for a number of people changes happen. It gives information about the planet placements and how we can use them in these moments.

Like many readers, I’ve always found a haven in the stories I read. I have had a fascination with mythology and the mirrors they hold up to our lives. Many years ago, in what I would refer to as the winter of my life, I found my love for astrology and how the natal chart, or the placement of the planets at the moment of your birth, can collate with your personality and challenges that you will face in your life. This also roots into psychology and works of Carl G Jung. ⁣
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A Lantern In The Dark by Danielle Blackwood is absolutely enthralling! This book walks you through several big transits in your life. ⁣
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“A transit is essentially when a planet moving through the heavens makes contact by degree and angle to a planet in your birth chart. . . Some transits indicate a time of opportunity, flow, growth and abundance in your life, while others suggest key life lessons, a major developmental shift, or a crossroads.” ⁣
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These rites of passage include the following:⁣
The First Saturn Return: Age 29–30 ⁣
The Midlife Transits ⁣
Pluto Square: Age 36–48⁣
Neptune Square: 39–42⁣
Uranus Opposition: Age: 41–45⁣
Saturn Opposition: Age: 44–45⁣
The Second Saturn Return: Age 58–60⁣
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Think back to this time of your life. What was happening? I’m in my first Saturn return now and it’s a time of big changes and navigating my objective and goals in life and questioning what in world am I doing?⁣
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This book provides a wealth of insight, journal prompts, rituals, and other tools to help you navigate these crossroads. It does so by weaving in the lessons and archetypes from myths which make this even more fascinating to me.

A lantern in the dark is a timely book during these difficult times. I began this book not knowing much about astrology and I now want to dive deeper! We all face crossroads and it helps to know how to deal with them when they come.

Crossroads in life are always hard, no matter what age you are. It can be a dark place if you don't understand or cannot accept that things have changed or are changing. This book gives you insights and help to understand the transits you may go thru. I received this book from Net Galley and Llewellyn Worldwide for a honest review.

We all face crossroads in our lives. How we deal with them is what makes the difference. Ms Blackwood provides an approach to approaching these crossroads and how to traverse them to come out on the other side a stronger and more magickal being. Maiden, Mother, Crone…they are all stages in life, and this book offers some guidance on how to deal with the challenges and journey along the way.

An excellent read and a wonderful approach to aging and making the best of life.

This is a very thorough and well written story. It tells the authors reasons for using narrative to heal and incorporating astrology into the framework. The major events of life are covered as well as when they may occur. The interesting part of this whole approach is that using story to heal is not new! Its been around for many generations and is the basis for many myths that have survived. I love this book as it is meant to be used and gives the reader a structured place to start as well as ideas for the journey as well as the journal. Doing this work is time well spent and many rewards have come to my understanding from using the techniques and methods taught by Ms Blackwood. Excellent option for reframing a life.

A Lantern in The Dark by Danielle Blackwood is a guide on how to navigate astrological crossroads commonly known as the mid-life transits. Transitions can be painful but they are also initiations into greater wisdom and authenticity which Blackwood carefully and compassionately explains. Comparing these crossroads to myths helps shed light on the underlying archetypes and stories that give context to the challenges, but also offer opportunities for growth. Each mid-life transit chapter is accompanied by a magical toolkit that readers can use as they go through these life changes. I loved how the author explained that crossroads are sacred pitstops that can allow you to re-enchant your life and find the magic in the dark. Aging magically is not something that is often discussed, but it would be a game changer if we viewed getting older as the time when we gain or upgrade our powers.

My only critique is that not everyone experiences a crisis at these junctures. What about those who have had beautiful saturn returns? What would be the meaning behind that?

5/5