A version of this story originally appeared on the Strategist U.S.
Though astrology is a very, very old practice, it has seemingly never been quite as popular (or as accessible) as it is right now. Going over a friend’s birth chart has become a mainstay of dinner-party conversation, almost as commonplace as talking about the weather. Co-Star has more than five million registered users, and astrology meme accounts like @trashbag_astrology and @notallgeminis have hundreds of thousands of followers each. To find out what to get the astrology enthusiast in your life, we asked nine professional astrologers about what’s on their personal wish lists. Read on for their picks, which include essential oil diffusers, crystal singing bowls, and the latest astrology books.
Astrologer Jessica Lanyadoo, the host of Ghost of a Podcast and author of the forthcoming Astrology for Real Relationships: Understanding You, Me, and How We All Get Along!, told us that while she has already bought this book by Astro Guide senior astrologer Annabel Gat (twice), her friends keep stealing it when they come over. So, “all I want for Chanukah is for someone to give me a copy that I can keep for my very own,” she told us. The book is broken up into 12 chapters, with each detailing how every Zodiac sign is (or isn’t) compatible with the others. Lanyadoo says it’s a good bet for beginner astrologers — and is inclusive of all identities and sexual preferences, which sets it apart from more traditional astrology tomes.
With Gat’s book on Lanyadoo’s list, it only seems fitting to hear that Gat herself has Lanyadoo’s new book on hers. “It will be released on December 31, so my new year must start with this book in my hands,” Gat says. In addition to romantic relationships, this book tackles familial, professional, and platonic ones, too. And it has a bright, interesting cover you’d be happy to display on a coffee table (making it even more giftable).
“I would love to receive the Archetype Cards by Caroline Myss,” says astrologer Danielle Arias. They “encourage self-reflection” and help you get “in touch with parts of yourself that linger below conscious awareness.” The cards are divided into 80 different Jungian archetypes, which are meant to help you discover the archetypes that are most present in your psyche. At the very least, they will make for a fun party game to break out if things get a little stale at your holiday get-togethers.
Astrologer Rose Theodora has her eye on this candle from Fornasetti, which she says she loves for “the smell, the design, and the story.” While she does note the candle is a splurge, once the wax has been burned away, you are left with an M.C. Escher-esque “art piece” to display in your home. (The ceramic vase features an image of Italian opera singer and Fornasetti muse Lina Cavalieri.) The candle has a woodsy, herby scent with notes of thyme, lavender, cedarwood, incense, birch, and labdanum.
Astrologer Katie Sweetman says she’s “been eyeing these gorgeous, on-brand salad plates from West Elm for a while.” The celestial plates are £12, which means you could buy a set of them without breaking the bank.
“At the top of my holiday wish list is the Amethyst Quartz Crystal Elixir Water Bottle,” says Arias. Amethyst is a healing crystal that naturally alleviates stress, she claims. Plus, the BPA-free glass bottle should keep your water nice and cool all day.
“I love lockets, they’re so cloyingly poetic,” says Gat, who told us she prefers “mushy sentiment with my gifts” when she’s not asking for practical things. This sweet locket, which is fashioned to look like a tiny book, is made by hand by Montreal-based designer Sofia Zakia and can be customized with an interior engraving.
The L.A.-based LOOM is a reproductive and sexual-health center that offers classes on everything from pregnancy and parenting to periods and sex, with a focus on providing support to female-identifying, gender-nonconforming, and LGBTQ+ clients. Lanyadoo says that while she can’t decide if she wants to take their sex or period class, she does know that she wants to learn more from LOOM co-founder and doula Erica Chidi Cohen, so she’s “put a LOOM gift certificate on [her] wishlist this year.” If the astrology fan in your life doesn’t live in Los Angeles, the LOOM does allow people to livestream some of its events for a reduced fee, according to the company.
Astrologer Dena DeCastro is also hoping for a more experiential gift this year — namely, a reading with either a tarot or intuitive reader that she hopes will provide some perspective on the year ahead. “As I’ve learned, we in the oracular arts rarely do well at reading ourselves. Fortunately, I have plenty of readers in my community from which to choose,” like Teresa Reed or Adam Albert. Both do readings over the phone, making them accessible to anyone on your list, wherever they may live.
For a third experiential gift, Allen suggests yoga classes, “to get rid of the stress of daily living and also the exhaustion of sharing psychic energy from giving astrology readings.” She specifically wants to practice with New York City–based teacher Melini Jesudason, “who has a fabulous reputation of being a great Yoga teacher.” You can book a private class via Jesudason’s website, and for those not in New York, Allen notes that she also has her classes on YouTube — which are just as helpful (and free).
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