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Open for Interpretation: A Doctor's Journey into Astrology
As a young doctor working in the middle of the HIV epidemic in the early ’90s, Alicia Blando feels unsure of the effectiveness of the medical profession. To gain insight into her life’s path, she seeks advice in some unconventional places, and lands on astrology as her way forward. Astrology, based in astronomy, has specific rules; it can’t be easily manipulated. The scientist in her can’t help but respond to this idea.
At a pivotal group demonstration, Alicia finds a mentor, Iris, who introduces her to the study of astrology. By learning to read the horoscope, Alicia gains insight into her potential and manifests her ambition to travel and explore healing techniques from indigenous cultures. Eventually, her search for new teachers and past knowledge takes her from Manhattan to the Peruvian Amazon, Belize, and Bolivia, where she discovers ancient ways of healing among people who consider the sky to be a continuation of nature on earth. She connects with the tenets of astrology as the language that describes man’s connection to the sky environment. The horoscopic map gives information that can assist in making better choices in life, Alicia learns; it has the potential to analyze a person’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and health concerns.
Alicia’s journey off the beaten path ultimately leads her to true self-exploration and connection with the world around her, as well as a desire to share her knowledge. In Open for Interpretation, she shares her story of finally finding the map she’s been seeking―and explains how we can all use that map to access our true selves and untapped potential.
At a pivotal group demonstration, Alicia finds a mentor, Iris, who introduces her to the study of astrology. By learning to read the horoscope, Alicia gains insight into her potential and manifests her ambition to travel and explore healing techniques from indigenous cultures. Eventually, her search for new teachers and past knowledge takes her from Manhattan to the Peruvian Amazon, Belize, and Bolivia, where she discovers ancient ways of healing among people who consider the sky to be a continuation of nature on earth. She connects with the tenets of astrology as the language that describes man’s connection to the sky environment. The horoscopic map gives information that can assist in making better choices in life, Alicia learns; it has the potential to analyze a person’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and health concerns.
Alicia’s journey off the beaten path ultimately leads her to true self-exploration and connection with the world around her, as well as a desire to share her knowledge. In Open for Interpretation, she shares her story of finally finding the map she’s been seeking―and explains how we can all use that map to access our true selves and untapped potential.
- GenresAstrology
232 pages, Paperback
Published June 27, 2023
4 people are currently reading
734 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 12, 2023
Full review at: https://readingourshelves.wordpress.c...
I was drawn to this story just from the description, but obviously – if you’re someone who wholeheartedly does not believe in astrology, it might not be for you.
The story does spend a lot of time in Dr. Blando’s early days of training. Her medical training and residencies are a lot of work, which she is mostly ok with… but she keeps questioning whether she’s on the right path.
This leads her to start looking for different ways to find an answer to that question. And she does visit various fortune tellers who use different methods – palmistry, spirit guides, etc. She also investigates shamanism later in the story, and visits South America twice to further her studies on that.
But astrology is where she ends up spending most of her time. The fact that it is actually based on an observable science (astronomy) appeals to her as a doctor. Of course, the interpretations of what the constellations represent are steeped in different traditions and cultural beliefs. But, having been raised Catholic, belief and ritual aren’t unfamiliar to Blando.
Over and over again, through decades of her life, she has intuitives tell her different things that come to pass in her life. She forms friendships or mentorships with a few of them, especially an astrologer named Iris. Going to retreats and classes allows Blando to learn a lot of the tenets of astrology herself, so she doesn’t just have to rely on the words of others. One of the things she learns is that she is a life-long learner, and it’s ok if she pursues that in addition to her “day job.”
This book is a little of a blend, because there are some astrology ideas woven in – but it’s still mostly a memoir of the author’s own journey into learning these ideas.
I was drawn to this story just from the description, but obviously – if you’re someone who wholeheartedly does not believe in astrology, it might not be for you.
The story does spend a lot of time in Dr. Blando’s early days of training. Her medical training and residencies are a lot of work, which she is mostly ok with… but she keeps questioning whether she’s on the right path.
This leads her to start looking for different ways to find an answer to that question. And she does visit various fortune tellers who use different methods – palmistry, spirit guides, etc. She also investigates shamanism later in the story, and visits South America twice to further her studies on that.
But astrology is where she ends up spending most of her time. The fact that it is actually based on an observable science (astronomy) appeals to her as a doctor. Of course, the interpretations of what the constellations represent are steeped in different traditions and cultural beliefs. But, having been raised Catholic, belief and ritual aren’t unfamiliar to Blando.
Over and over again, through decades of her life, she has intuitives tell her different things that come to pass in her life. She forms friendships or mentorships with a few of them, especially an astrologer named Iris. Going to retreats and classes allows Blando to learn a lot of the tenets of astrology herself, so she doesn’t just have to rely on the words of others. One of the things she learns is that she is a life-long learner, and it’s ok if she pursues that in addition to her “day job.”
This book is a little of a blend, because there are some astrology ideas woven in – but it’s still mostly a memoir of the author’s own journey into learning these ideas.
October 28, 2023
Healing wisdom and traditions expand outside the confines of scientific knowledge. With her training in Western medicine, Alicia Blando, M.D., shares her journey in exploring the divination arts to find meaning in her personal life and service to her patients. The physician was a young trainee in New York during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. Blando, who emigrated as a child with her family from the Philippines, discusses her Catholic upbringing and singular focus on academic success in telling the story of using astrology to make sense of one’s past and predicting life circumstances. In addition to astrology, Blando also explored the practices of shamanism, numerology, psychic reading, tarot reading, channeling psychic energies, palmistry, and more.
This memoir is enlightening for anyone curious about a medical doctor’s inquiry about divination practices. Blando relays her triumphs and challenges in clinical care, meaningful serendipitous interactions, and life-changing friendships. In investigating different types of knowledge, Blando applies a rational approach to understanding the psychic or medium’s intuitive skills and offers tangible concepts and rules related to astrology. As a fellow Filipino-American, I appreciated Blando’s candid musings about our shared cultural backgrounds, particularly her discussion about unyielding gender expectations. Her story proves that one can cultivate varied interests while maintaining the integrity of one’s life purpose.
This memoir is enlightening for anyone curious about a medical doctor’s inquiry about divination practices. Blando relays her triumphs and challenges in clinical care, meaningful serendipitous interactions, and life-changing friendships. In investigating different types of knowledge, Blando applies a rational approach to understanding the psychic or medium’s intuitive skills and offers tangible concepts and rules related to astrology. As a fellow Filipino-American, I appreciated Blando’s candid musings about our shared cultural backgrounds, particularly her discussion about unyielding gender expectations. Her story proves that one can cultivate varied interests while maintaining the integrity of one’s life purpose.
June 30, 2023
This was such an interesting memoir read y'all. I really liked hearing about Dr, Alicia's journey and how she was a western medical doctor and she became a interested in Astrology and other types of alternative healing and medicine.
Also in her memoir she dicussses her days as a medical doctor in the beginning of her career in NYC. And anyone who lived near or traveled into the city knows how true her second chapter was with the hustle and bustle of the city.
The other cool part of the book for readers is learning and hearing about the journey she took to Peru and other places in the world to discover alternative medicine. I haven't traveled far and that was interesting to me especially hearing about the other places in the world and how they are/do certain things.
Also in her memoir she dicussses her days as a medical doctor in the beginning of her career in NYC. And anyone who lived near or traveled into the city knows how true her second chapter was with the hustle and bustle of the city.
The other cool part of the book for readers is learning and hearing about the journey she took to Peru and other places in the world to discover alternative medicine. I haven't traveled far and that was interesting to me especially hearing about the other places in the world and how they are/do certain things.
July 10, 2023
My mathematician father raised me to rely on empirical data and to be skeptical of all else. When I allowed myself to consider spiritual and Indigenous and women's ways of knowing (beyond the research labs), I expanded my world considerably, as does Alicia Blando, MD, in her journey as a healer. Trained in Western medicine, Dr. Blando has an empathic and seeking mind, leading her to learn all about astrology. Studying with a woman named Iris, she's reminded, "Astrology is not this chart; it's the interpretation." Dr. Blando learns about herself as she explores astrology, writing about one of her books, "It was the handbook for life that I'd been searching for during medical training." This memoir inspires deeper, wider explorations of who we really are and how we can help one another.
February 21, 2023
I love learning more about holistic wellness and try to integrate it into my life as much as possible. It's so interesting to learn more about how astrology and our relationship with natural elements affects our health. Dr. Blando does a wonderful job reflecting on how astrology and medicine are connected - strongly recommend this read for individuals that want to learn more about alternative medicine methods.
May 1, 2023
The distance covered in this book is remarkable—not just physically (the author travels from Manhattan to Peru, Belize, and Bolivia) but also intellectually and spiritually. Dr. Blando has written a compelling chronicle of how her thinking, initially grounded in empirically based Western medical traditions, expanded to encompass astrology and encouraged her to examine broader, more intuitive, more far-reaching connections. Following her journey was a pleasure, and often, a revelation.
April 1, 2023
Dr. Alice Blando's book on researching astrology alongside learning the conventional teachings of modern medicine is a fascinating exploration of the learned ancient ways of healing. Her book, Open for Interpretation, follows Blando's journey to study the resources of people in the Peruvian Amazon, Belize, and Bolivia, who see nature and healing as an entwined process.
November 12, 2023
I was hoping that this book would explain astrology in depth, but it turned out to be more of this one doctor’s journey in learning about it. It definitely makes me want to go out and be curious and learn more. My only critique is that I wish the book had some images, diagrams or maps to help illustrate what she is explaining. Otherwise, she is a fascinating and descriptive writer!
January 8, 2025
Go on an adventure with a doctor with a passion for astrology. Alicia Brando tells about her life as a MD and how astrology opened her up to more options. This book is full of insight and information. It is interesting and intriguing. It can be somewhat boring in places and I wish it had more of a guide on how to get into astrology but other than that it is a good read.
April 2, 2023
I have a son who is a doctor, and this wasn’t a story I was expecting. Of course that is what makes it all the more fascinating. A woman on the way to becoming a physician uses astrology to overcome her shortcomings and achieve her goals. An unlikely pairing that works!
April 17, 2023
In Open for Interpretation, Dr. Blando presents the fascinating story of how she gained esoteric knowledge from indigenous cultures and astrology. This book offers readers insight into ways to discover their own potential and true calling.
May 15, 2023
A fascinating narrative by a medical doctor from the New York's HIV epidemic to Latin America, in search of a different kind of meaning. This scientist's careful study of the astrology is a must read.
May 18, 2023
A fantastic look at the ways modern medicine can intersect with alternative methods for health and healing. I enjoy reading about these topics in general, and this story was insightful, entertaining and rewarding.
June 4, 2023
Thank you Alica Blando, She Writes Press and Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for a review.
This book was good, but not great. It has good messages of learning and growth, but it's neither particularly in depth, nor does it contain anything to set it apart from other, similar books.
This book was good, but not great. It has good messages of learning and growth, but it's neither particularly in depth, nor does it contain anything to set it apart from other, similar books.
June 25, 2023
Alicia’s story is a thought provoking read. I too believe in the power of the Universe and the ability for nature to heal us — the key is to be as open to the possibilities in the future. Recommend this to anyone who is looking for a fresh perspective on astrology.
March 21, 2023
I love the interpretation of astrology in this book.
March 24, 2023
Fascinating read about the intersection of Western and holistic medecines.
March 30, 2023
The intersection of medicine and astrology, OPEN FOR INTERPRETATION is a thoughtful memoir that causes readers to reflect on their own lives and choices.
April 3, 2023
Dr. Blando guides the reader on a healing journey off the beaten path and to the stars for a different kind of medicine. Interesting and heartfelt read.
June 30, 2023
This book really got my attention. Heartfelt and interesting. A wonderful read.
July 1, 2023
Thank you Books Forward PR for the advance copy of this book. Really enjoyable read. I loved the back and forth perspective of her medical background and her further exploration in to astrology.
December 21, 2023
Interesting perspective and well thought out narrative.
August 20, 2023
Full disclosure: I was given a free advance reader copy of this book by Books Forward in exchange for an honest review.
A good chunk of nonfiction is littered with spiritual memoirs. For those are not familiar, these are titles in which the author expresses unfulfillment in life. Then, something happens, and they are off on a journey to find themselves. The most well known example of this is "Eat, Pray, and Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. However, I found a unique title in this subgenre that I want to share with you today: "Open for Interpretation: A Doctor’s Journey into Astrology" by Alicia Blando, MD. It’s a wonderful book which explores astrology through many capacities with great respect and asks questions about the choices made in life.
To read more of this review, click on this link: https://chick-who-reads-everything.co...
A good chunk of nonfiction is littered with spiritual memoirs. For those are not familiar, these are titles in which the author expresses unfulfillment in life. Then, something happens, and they are off on a journey to find themselves. The most well known example of this is "Eat, Pray, and Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. However, I found a unique title in this subgenre that I want to share with you today: "Open for Interpretation: A Doctor’s Journey into Astrology" by Alicia Blando, MD. It’s a wonderful book which explores astrology through many capacities with great respect and asks questions about the choices made in life.
To read more of this review, click on this link: https://chick-who-reads-everything.co...
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews