I practise a blend of modern and ancient astrology. This enables me to combine insights from depth psychology (principally Jungian approaches) with reconstructed astrological techniques from millennia ago.
Read this section for a plain language introduction to how I practice astrology. If you are a student or practitioner of astrology, see this page for a more technical explanation of my practice.
Astrology as cosmic connector
The idea of ‘as above, so below’ is a very ancient one that brings a sense of perspective and insight to life in today’s world. Today, we are often quite cut off from the cosmos as many of us rarely see the night sky. In addition, many have turned away from dogmatic religions that don’t accept us, finding comfort instead in reason and pragmatism.
The realisation that we are connected to something far greater than ourselves can be very profound. When we learn that the planets and stars at the moment of our birth have a story to tell about us and our lives – both as we see ourselves and our shadow – something fundamental shifts.
From a Jungian perspective, we might add the maxim ‘as within, so without’. This reflects the notion that our psyche not only runs far deeper than our conscious mind, but also corresponds with the outer world through synchronicity, projection and other mechanisms.
Many of us were taught the existentialist notion that there is no inherent meaning in life, and so we must make our own. On the face of it, this is liberating, but it is also a significant responsibility for us each to bear, considering that we have a finite amount of control over life.
What if, on my own, I’m unsure of my life’s purpose? How do I choose between the theoretically infinite set of possible pathways? What if I get it wrong? If we can do literally anything, be anyone, see the world in the way of our choosing, this is actually a lot of weight for our ego to carry alone.
But what if the cosmos actually had a unique vision for us from the moment of birth? What if I am the way I am for a reason, and I can learn to accept my unique traits because the universe has gifted them to me? What if I could enter into a dialogue with the universe and gain insight into my patterns, so that I can work with them more consciously?
Self-acceptance isn’t about fatalism or resignation. Once we become conscious of who we are, we are as free as a human being can be. Once we know our own patterns, we can subtly transmute them.
We can integrate what we had once externalised onto other people and situations, learn to work productively with our inner contradictions, and focus our energies where there is most scope for growth.
How does a birth chart consultation work?
First, I cast a chart using your birth data (date and place of birth, and exact time if known). The birth chart is essentially a two-dimensional representation of the planets’ positions in their orbits at the time of your birth, and their relationships between each other and with the earth, from the perspective of where you were born.
The ecliptic is the path the Sun appears to make across the sky each year, corresponding roughly to the zodiac, a sector of space which contains constellations (many symbolising animals). The zodiac is divided into twelve segments or ‘signs’, which embody structured symbolic meanings. These may not always correspond to the constellations.
If we we have the time of birth, I can calculate key angles or points of intersection between the earth and ecliptic. These include the Ascendant, which is the point on the eastern horizon where the Sun rises that day, and the Midheaven, the Sun’s highest point in the sky that day.
We use these angles to determine the ‘houses’ – 12 divisions of the sky into areas of life (such as self, body, finances, work, career, relationships, home and family, etc).
I spend some time working with this chart to ‘read’ it – to analyse its meanings. Some key building blocks of meaning are:
- The Sun, Moon and Ascendant/rising as a core portrait of personality
- All planets and their placement by sign and house
- ‘Rulership’ i.e. relationships between planets and other signs and houses
- Aspects, i.e. geometric relationships between planets, points and angles
The key part is the synthesis between all of this: how it fits together, themes, correspondences, changes, contrasts and contradictions.
At our consultation meeting (usually over video call), we explore the meanings of these configurations. This is a two-way conversation in which I will translate all of this into ordinary language and will offer interpretations, and you bring the lived experience of your life.
I can read the chart with a particular question in mind. For example, you might be feeling stuck in your career, or want to better understand how you show up in relationships. Alternatively, I read the chart in a general way. For example, you might wonder what your chart says about you as a person, how recent changes in your life are reflected in the stars, or what the major themes of the upcoming year will be.
I practice psychological astrology, and this style of astrology does not tell you what to do, or predict concrete events. It paints a picture of you and your life, which can bring insight and inspiration. This puts you in touch with your inner guidance and in this way it supports you to make your own choices and face challenges with greater confidence.
Feedback tells me that this can be incredibly affirming because you see yourself reflected in the cosmos., as part of a great pattern, like a unique and beautiful leaf on the tree of life. You can see that your birth carried the seed of your life, and it is now up to you to nurture it and help it grow.
To learn about how others have experienced an astrological consultation with me, read some testimonials I have gathered.
To book a consultation, please find the booking form below:
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