What is Shamanic Astrology?

Shamanic Astrology is an evolving system developed by Daniel Giamario, that has emerged from the direct experience of Daniel and others in their relationship to the unfolding mysteries. The following is an in depth description by Daniel of the current understanding of these mysteries.

Since a Mt. Shasta vision quest experience in August of 1981, I have been involved with an approach to astrology called Shamanic Astrology. One definition of shamanism describes it as the process of "death by intent." This is not accidental death, where one then returns to their body, but is a conscious choice to die and be reborn into the same body, many times. This "death" might be experienced as emotional, psychic, spiritual, or a literal physical death and rebirth.

I do not consider myself a shaman. I am neither of blood lineage nor on a formal path of shamanic initiation. However, the basic tenants of Shamanic Astrology have come from the direct experience of myself and colleagues and apprentices to this approach. The following principles are the basic foundation of this system.

1.The foundational philosophical truth of Shamanic Astrology (and arguably of everything) is from the opening lines of the Emerald Tablets of Hermes, "As Above, So Below, As Without, So Within." *¹ This is considered to be literal, kinesthetic, organic reality, not an intellectual or spiritual abstraction. The patterns of the constellations and the cycles of the Sun, Moon and planets are the same as the patterns and cycles of the human psyche and the seasons of our lives. The relationship is not cause and effect. The practitioner of Shamanic Astrology is at home with this magical and geomantic intuition.

2.Shamanic Astrology is experiential and earth-centered. The sky that can be directly experienced without telescopic or cybernetic enhancement has the greatest importance and power. Therefore, Shamanic Astrology would be as effective in a non-technological age. This view can be termed Neo-Ptolemaic, an astrology for terrestrial humans experiencing the sky, perceivable with unaided vision without light pollution.*² The modern scientific reality of the heliocentric, Copernican worldview is essentially irrelevant to this approach. The practitioner of Shamanic Astrology is trained in the unaided eye knowledge and experience of the night sky, and the sacred rhythms and cycles and motions of the cosmos.

3.Shamanic Astrology is ceremonial and participatory, and operates from a mythic perspective. Jade Wah'oo Gregory, an American Shaman, states "All true shamanic ceremonies are the mythic re-enactment of cosmological phenomena. The underlying principle of mythic expression is the dramatic re-enactment of cosmological phenomena."*³ Over time, the cultural ceremonies and mythic stories created by the various civilizations are draped onto the actual physically observed cycles of the planets and patterns of the constellations. The practitioner of Shamanic Astrology actively participates ceremonially with as many cosmological cycles as possible, which rejuvenates and reanimates the ability to source and co-create with the emerging mythos of a new epoch.

4.The death and rebirth motif of shamanism inspires Shamanic Astrology in two basic ways:

1) The understanding and experience of the natural rhythm and cycles of the planetary bodies are linked to the initiatory process in human beings. The universe is supportive of, and power is accessed by, human beings who consciously participate with the initiation cycles.

2) Planets (especially Venus, Mercury, and Mars) disappearing below the horizon, are seen as entering the underworld, dying and later being reborn when they rise above the horizon.

The practitioner of shamanic astrology is trained to track and understand the planetary cycles and their relationship to the process of initiation.

5.Shamanic Astrology links to modern psychology through the use of archetypes. An ancient shamanism using gods, goddesses, spirits and animal essences, can now be expressed through a comprehensive, cross cultural, full spectrum approach to archetypes, inspired by astrologers like Rudhyar, and archetypal psychologists from Jung, to Ponce, Perera, and Bolen. The practioner of Shamanic Astrology is trained with the thorough and comprehensive non-hierarchical view of archetypal possibilities.

For more information on Shamanic Astrology try the Shamanic Astrology Articles section and Introduction To Shamanic Astrology and Preparation for Personal Readings an article designed to familiarize a person with the prinicples of Shamanic Astrology as taught by Daniel Giamairo and how these principles apply to a first time chart reading. This is also a good introduction for a person considering a reading, or for anyone who would like to refresh this information before an updated reading.

Notes

1. From the rendition favored by Val Valerian and The Leading Edge publication.

2. A phrase frequently used by astrological astrophosy, a form of stellar science inspired by Rudolph Steiner, and elucidated through the works of Willi Suker, Norman Davidson who wrote, Astronomy And The Imagination and Sky Phenomena, and Joachim Schultz who wrote, Movement And Rhythms Of The Stars.

3. This quote from Jade Wah'oo Gregory also appears in The Shamanic Astrology Handbook, by Daniel Giamario and Carolyn Brent

"Synchronicity can become a master key for opening the door to teachings regarding the nature of human destiny that have heretofore been closed to us." ---Carl Jung