What is Shamanic Astrology and why would I want to get a reading or begin studying it?
Shamanic Astrology operates through an archetypal and mythical framework that is anchored in the As Above, So Below mysteries meaning this is a ceremonial and participatory approach to astrology designed to create greater awareness for consciously participating with life purpose and Great Mystery. Shamanic Astrology provides a valuable tool for confirming what we already know, or sense, and assists a person in trusting their own inner knowing and inner process through greater understanding of the mysteries they have come to investigate, explore, and help evolve.
The main purpose of Shamanic Astrology is to give a person the understanding of their original intent, empowering them with knowledge of life purpose and the cycles of initiation we all encounter in our lives. It also gives a person a vision of the possibilities they are here to experience so they can make more conscious choices.
The quest for meaning and purpose is the real foundation of what inspires people. Shamanic Astrology offers a context for understanding the meaning and purpose of a person’s life and the cycles of change they will encounter. With this knowledge a person is able to participate with their initiation cycles rather than only feeling at the effect of them. Therefore, Shamanic Astrology is about providing a tool that helps a person take responsibility for their own life.
What is the focus of a Shamanic Astrology reading?
Shamanic Astrology looks at the natal chart as a script with clues about our original intent. A human being always has the freedom to choose if they want to cooperate with their original intent. We are not forced to be a certain way, although people will find that their lives are more fulfilling when they are making choices that are in alignment with their original intent. A Shamanic Astrology reading assists a person in understanding the primary archetypal mysteries they are here to investigate, explore and help evolve so they can make a more conscious choice.
The second aspect of a Shamanic Astrology Reading is understanding what initiation cycles you are in and how best to participate with them. There are cycles and seasons of the year and their are cycles and seasons of a person’s individual life. Knowing what time it is and how to engage that timing for maximum benefit is empowering.
What is an Initiation Cycle?
As Above, So Below suggests that the cycles or patterns of the outer world, correspond with the inner cycles and patterns of our own psyche. These cycles and patterns represent the unfoldment of our own lives. Carl Jung referred to this as ‘synchronicity’, meaning events that happen together in time. Thus, it is acausal (meaning it is NOT cause and effect), meaning the outer cycles don’t cause the inner cycles; they are reflections of each other. Shamanic Astrology takes this idea beyond that, and suggests the outer cycles and the inner cycles are precisely the same thing. The patternings of the constellations are the As Above representation of our So Below great myths and themes rooted in our culture, and therefore, rooted in our consciousness.
Initiation cycles are designed to support the fulfillment of a person’s life purpose. When a person encounters certain cycles and they are not living in alignment with their soul purpose these cycles are often experienced as difficult or challenging producing whatever experiences are necessary to create a shift of awareness. Understanding the cycles therefore helps a person engage the changes their soul is desiring.
How is this different from Sun Sign Astrology?
Shamanic Astrology does NOT emphasize Sun signs. The Sun is one of many factors on the natal chart. It locates a person in the seasonal cycle and describes the kind of fuel or energy available to them to accomplish their life purpose. It is only withing the last 150 years or so that Sun Sign Astrology became popular because almost everyone can know their Sun sign. The Sun is in a sign for thirty days and is only changing signs one day each month. The Moon is changing signs every two and half days and the Rising Sign or Ascendant changes signs approximately every two hours. Therefore, the Sun sign is less of an individual indicator than say the Rising Sign that is determined by the time of birth. It is important to know that Shamanic Astrology recognizes the chart as a whole is important and extracting any one element from it does not adequately describe a person’s intent or their soul’s purpose.
It is also important to know that in this system ALL the archetypes of the signs and planets are equally valid and equally important. No one sign or archetypal expression is greater or better and no one sign or archetypal expression is worse for any of the planets or angles. Shamanic Astrology is a full spectrum approach, presenting the vision and understanding that all archetypal approaches to being human are valid. At this Turning of the Ages it is is time to know and validate the full spectrum of human potential, including all the archetypes, and all the different possibilities available to the male and female principle.
Shamanic Astrology looks at the whole horoscope in a polytheistic way. There are many Gods and Goddesses. One principle, or one planet, does not operate in a healthy way without reference to all the rest of them. The Sun, Moon, Venus, and Mars, and all the of the planets, represent the complexity of the entire script.
Do you offer courses online for those of us who are not able to physically make it to your seminars?
Not yet but we are working on it. However, their are many CDs and DVDs plus the Shamanic Astrology Handbook now available that can help bridge the gap for now and give you a greater understanding of the teachings. See products page for more information.
Also, on average, how long does it take to complete all the requisites prior to becoming a shamanic astrologer?
Currently their are 7 five day intensives or 7 main courses and we do our best to offer them at least once a year. When we get a distance learning course on line it will be broken up into smaller segments so it could take anywhere from one to two years depending on how quickly a person was able to do the classes…we have had some do it in a year or so and others who took several years due to other circumstances.
Will I be learning to interpret charts using the western astrological approach (the twelve houses, 12 star signs, angles, asteroids etc)?
We do use the tropical sign based system (stars and constellations are a big part but they are completely different from the signs…something most astrologers do not understand. You can see article about the difference between signs and constellations)
The signs are seasonal and move through constellations…and yes we do use the 12 houses and angles though we use the Whole Sign House system…the oldest house system known and the least complicated. We primarily use the planets, nodes and Chiron…recognizing that the asteroids basically reconfirm what the main aspects of the chart are. This keeps it simple and potent in doing chart interpretation especially for those just beginning. A great way to find out if this material resonates with you is to get The Shamanic Astrology Handbook and/or DVDs and CDs located on the products page.
For more about the Times we are in collectively see the article on the The Turning of the Age
I studied with Daniel back in the mid-80′s and did another class about 7 years ago. I am wondering if there is any grandfathering on these classes for certification?
We do consider classes taken before the certification requirements were set in place. However, to get certified as a Shamanic Astrologer there are a few requirements. One is to pass an oral exam, give a sample reading for review so we know - you know - the Shamanic Astrology script and Shamanic Timeline and that the readings your are doing are in integrity with the teachings of the Shamanic Astrology Mystery School. Another requirement is to do a graduation project. Also because there has been an evolution in the material those who have had classes years ago might not pass a current test without getting caught up on the updates. However, if a person can meet all these requirements based on the classes they have had classes in the past then they can get certified.
My question has to do with this eternal (and infernal) debate over sidereal vs. tropical astrology. I’ve read the Article about the Difference between Signs and Constellations and it makes total sense to me when speaking of the Sun in a particular sign, but how do you explain the placement of the planets in a particular sign if it’s not related to their movement through the constellation. I don’t have an extremely technical mind, so this has been a confusing topic for me. I appreciate any insight you might have.
This is a confusing topic and it even confuses long time professional astrologers.
The seasonal signs also apply to the planets as the seasonal or archetypal energies emanating from that area of the sky as long as the season is located there. When a planet is in the area of the sky that the Sun is in during that season the planet is also in the sign of the season so carries the archetypal energy of the seasonal sign as well as the energy of the constellation that is also there.
This is due to how the sky is divided up by the Equinox and Solstice points by astronomers as well as astrologers in the tropical system and those signs have a specific archetypal energy that is also being informed by the constellation as the season moves through that constellation.
In Shamanic Astrology we ask … to what degree does the constellation inform the sign or season??? And because our mythic understanding is growing and evolving we know our understanding of the signs is continually being updated by their interaction with the constellations.
This is very confusing without the greater cosmology as a basis to understand what is being said here. Most sidereal and tropical astrologers have no idea about how this really works…because they see the two as separate rather than two things that are working together… and of course each tends to feel their way is the RIGHT way without really understanding the difference and how to integrate the two.
Shamanic Astrology says the understanding of both is a key to restoring a sense of wholeness in our relationship to the cosmology. When these two factors are engaged separately and not understood as working together together - it sets up this either or frame of reference - as if it is a competition. From from the Shamanic Astrology perspective it is both and more…not just one or the other.