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Showing posts from January, 2009

Understanding Natal Charts

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I didn’t mention this in the first lesson, because no one ever pays attention to this part of the lesson, and snores if this is taught in the first class; so I gave a somewhat juicier tidbit for the first couple blog posts. It’s easier to learn what this circle is, if we start with a chart for normal 24 hour day and NOT your personal chart just yet. In the center of this precious circle is the Earth (see image), and you are standing on it. From where you are standing, it will appear as if the Sun moves around the Earth. Well, as we said in the previous blog post, “That circle is a snapshot of our consensus reality as viewed from EARTH, and not just the entire Earth, but it is a snapshot of how everything appeared (in our 3D consensus reality) from the exact point on Earth the moment you were born.” For our example here, we are waking up at Sunrise. The horizontal line in this circle actually represents… (look at the word for a clue)… the horizon, from where you are standing on the Eart...

About the Zoom Feature in an Astrology Chart

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There really is no starting place for teaching astrology. Most of my students came into their first class, clutching their astrology charts to their chests. They already knew about their Saturn returns and had read a dozen computerized reports. They knew the lingo and had done the Synastry charts for their newest loves and the loves; they lost. Most of them didn’t have any idea what that circle on that white piece of paper represented. Most skipped over the cosmology in the text books and got to the juicy parts where the cookbook secrets of a dash of Moon mixed with a dash of Venus and a pinch of Mars, meant they were hot stuff! I would suggest though, that the beginner keep in mind that, (like in Google Earth), you can zoom in and out of that circle. That circle is a snapshot of our consensus reality as viewed from EARTH, and not just the entire Earth, but it is a snapshot of how everything appeared (in our 3D consensus reality) from the exact point on Earth the moment you were born. ...

How Mercury Made Astrology Famous

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Well, actually the title should be, “How Mercury Retrograde Made Astrology Famous!” I guess if any planet were to make astrology, mainstream again, it would be Mercury. He is the most versatile and tricky of all Planetary Beings and the one we take most notice of in our information age (since He rules over everything connected to it). Though snippets of Mercury’s retrograding mischievous fame (funny how fame always comes in the wake of wicked deeds), was already swirling through waves of the www and a few books on his retrograde antics had already been published for the astro-professional crowd; it was one particular day, in the late ‘90’s, while I was waiting in line at a bank (in a somewhat backward foreign country), that I was sure He (Mercury) had become a worldwide Superstar. In this specific country, waiting in lines out the bank door was a normal occurrence; this though, was the first time I ever heard a bank teller, yell out, “Our computers are offline, it must be because Merc...

Threshold Guardian One: The Seductive Power of Knowledge

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When I was a student of Astrology, my companions and I would take secret pleasure in our abilities to unravel people’s character. The rush of power given to us by our studies, by being privy to the secret maps of people’s destinies or designs, puffed up our Egos up like overinflated balloons. Some of my companions never recovered from this. Astrology is so very seductive (and we worked so incredibly hard to unravel Her secrets). Finally, after being able to read the blueprints, (like a contractor, an architect’s designs) it was only natural we would revel in our discoveries, like finding the “Treasures of the Lost Ark.” But, as Time passed, the ability to decipher designs (read blueprints), and the shallow Beauty, the bogus Power it endowed, became more like watching reruns on television, or identifying through the accomplishments of your favorite athlete. The entire experience became two-dimensional and an almost self-fulfilling static, homogenous stamp; instead of a multidimensional,...

Know the Playing Field: Part 2

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Even though this is very basic information about the core of the Chart; before discovering unknown terrain, an explorer always maps out the basic “area” that will navigated, and later checks his compass for direction. For the second part of this discussion, we will cut our “Field” into two more sections, this time the left and right halves of the basic Chart circle. The left side ( purple ) of the circle represents one’s Individual Self, one’s personal treasures. Planets, points and Stars in this area are part of the person’s Selfhood, and hopefully the person knows of their dowry. But, as we mentioned our explorer above, this “bounty” may be locked away in treasure chests deep down in the hull of his ship or just like a fish which isn’t aware of the water surrounding it; a person may be unaware of these personal influences. Part of your job as an astrologer is to help your client discern the elements of this personal space and maybe even help them discover their hidden treasures. The ...

Talk About the Moon

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I always tell my students to learn the symbolism of the Moon very well. They look at me attentively thinking I’m going to tell them some great secret. All I can say is: I think Gurdjieff was right when he said cleverly, “we are all food for the Moon.” Gurdjieff, I guess was trying to make a point about the mechanical nature of Man. I sometimes wonder if we have any part of us that doesn’t function mechanically. Sometimes, I even wonder why as Astrologers, we vainly believe we should even look at the other planets in our Charts; since 99% of the time we function only through our Moons. Don’t get upset with me for saying this, because it is probably true in some way. I think, the reason we believe we function beyond our Moon is: because we can override its influence temporarily. We sublimate it until the next Full Moon, Eclipse or daily Transit; then and only then, we perceive its influence. It’s always functioning below the surface and it really is an honest and brave soul that can “own...

Know the Playing Field

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We tend to forget the 360° circle we call a Chart is actually a representation of a “field of activity” in this 3D reality. It’s just one field of many, but it is “the field” most Astrologers focus on. This is the "stage" we agreed to embody in when we are in physical incarnation "default mode." What is the basic outlay of this field? What is the consensus reality agreement according to most astrologers? Well, this pizza pie space and time field is first cut up into two sections: We agree that if a person is born with a lot of planets and activity going on, on the top half ( Blue ); their souls want to express in the outer world more than concentrate on inner work. You are going to advise them on how to be more effective in the outer world with whatever amount of realization or not they have about themselves. Specifically, "whatever they came in with;" they should live out to the nth degree in the outer world. If the person has a lot of activity and planet...