The best astrologers
my philosophy
A story is essentially a series of events that describe the evolution of something over time. And that's what an astrological chart is — one of the steps in a series of planetary events that come before it and will continue onwards after it in our ongoing evolution. As a result, storytelling 📖 helps us to better understand where we (or the chart) has been, where we (or the chart) is now, where we (or the chart) is going next, and how to get there. It also helps us to communicate that to others in a way that is easier to understand, more interesting, and has a clear message.
tell stories.
❌ We overlook important information (like what occurred before and after the current chart) that helps us to understand why the chart is manifesting the way it is and what will come next. That creates interpretations that lack a full understanding of the chart, or are confusing.
👍 We see negative aspects are opportunities for growth that can be overcome with time. That creates interpretations that are empowering and can offer advice about how to grow and evolve.
👍 We have a more deep and intimate understanding of why an aspect is manifesting, what will happen next, and how it fits together with the other aspects as a whole. That creates interpretations that are deeper, more complete, and have a clear message.
When we don't use storytelling
When we do use storytelling
"Astrology as it is taught and practiced today has by and large lost its sense of process."
Leyla Rael & Dane Rudhyar
"A process oriented approach to astrology"
"A process is nothing more nor less than an ordered sequence of changes."
Leyla Rael & Dane Rudhyar
"A process oriented approach to astrology"
01. Context
Context is information that either precedes or follows an event, It often includes the setting of that event and other key details. The purpose of it is to clarify what is happening and add information that can help the event be be fully understood and assessed.
02. Point of View
A point of view is a particular attitude or way of considering a matter. it allows you to express your unique perspective on a topic, which can lead to deeper understanding, informed decision-making, and the ability to effectively communicate.
Storytelling techniques I use
It's what your interpretations are missing...
Astrological influences
🌜 Cycles, like the lunar cycle, play a major part in every astrological interpretation I make. That is because cycles naturally represent a process, or story, which follows set steps. A process offers more context about a chart, including what will come before the chart and after it — and has a point of view inherent in it (because the possibilities of what will happen next are limited).
🪐 The movements of the outer, or trans-personal planets, also feature prominently in my interpretations. Most people come to astrology to learn about the larger themes in their life they have been struggling to handle for years. The outer planets, which move more slowly, demonstrate that best because they take longer to circle the zodiac. As a result, they give more context to the chart and determine the point of view.
☄️ Alignments that are not currently occurring (but will occur before or after the current chart in question) also factor into my interpretations. These things are crucial to the proper understanding, or context, of a chart and also determine point of view. Many of these things are related to cycles and the outer planets. But sometimes, they relate to retrogrades and personal planets too.
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I take a different approach than
many astrologers out there:
This concept is heavily influenced by Dane and Leyla Rudhyar's thoughts on astrology, even though they never specifically put it in terms of storytelling.
This concept is heavily influenced by my studies of Evolutionary Astrology by Jeffrey Wolf Green, who emphasized the importance of Pluto and the nodes.
Astrological influences
This concept is heavily influenced from my time as a working journalist. Bernadette Brady's thoughts on predictive astrology also helped.
Astrological influences
a few more strong beliefs I have
Stories aren't silly. They are how humans fundamentally connect with each other now and since the beginning of the time. Back in the day, ancient civilizations would draw glyphs on caves in order to communicate information and pass it down between generations. Currently, it is how we connect with people we love. Friends often call each other to talk about experiences that have happened to them. Oftentimes, I hear my own sister say, "Omg I have to tell you the story of what happened." Let's also not forget that most of the astrological symbols today are based on Greek and Roman myths, which are just stories created by the culture.
1.
People love stories.
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Stories oftentimes have a point of view, which is mostly determined by the person who is telling the story. Is it first, second, or third person? The point of view allows the author to control how the reader understands characters, events, and information by filtering the narrative. It also helps the author to more deeply explore certain topics. Astrology should be the same way. A person who is interpreting a chart should have a certain point of view to help make the takeaway of a chart more clear.
2.
Stories have a point of view.
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Some stories, and some points of view, make you feel worse after you encounter them. These stories, oftentimes focus on the negative or are based on faulty premises. People with negative stories who have platforms can cause more harm than good. However, that doesn't mean we need to get rid of storytelling all together! Storytelling and POV still hold an important place in life. It means that we just need to be more discerning about the stories we form ourselves and the stories we allow ourselves to listen to.
3.
Not all stories (& POV) are good.
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Many people like to say that being biased when you read an astrological chart is a bad thing, preventing you from reading a chart clearly. But I actually believe the opposite. Having a point of view is actually what helps you to read the chart better. When you don't have a point of view, a chart could mean one of many things that are hard to choose between or order. When you read a chart with a clear point of view, you know exactly what the chart means — and you control it, instead of it controlling you.
4.
But some stories (& POV) are great.
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We live in a world where there is so much information available to us at our fingertips — and not enough wisdom. This is creating a society of people who are lost and anxious, with no clear direction for their life. Wisdom is a certain way of making sense of the information and putting facts together that can positively guide behavior. Storytelling helps us to do that. As more and more information becomes available to us, good storytellers will be needed more than ever to help direct and inspire humanity.
5.
Good stories are needed now more than ever.
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When you start to interpret astrological charts with a strong point of view, people will have strong reactions to your interpretations. Some people will strongly love it, while others will strongly hate it. I believe that polarization is a good thing! It will attract the people who enjoy and benefit from your point of view faster. It will also repel the people who do not enjoy and benefit from your point of view faster. And good astrology is not about watering down your message to please everyone. It is about creating something of value.
6.
A point of view can be polarizing.
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I don't believe that the value of an astrological interpretation is determined by making people happy. Sometimes, a good astrological interpretation may upset some people (just like some best-selling books). Instead, I believe the value of an astrology reading is determined by it's ability to inspire new insights that the person whose chart you are reading has never thought of before, or to push the person (or society as a whole) into a new paradigm. That can't be done by playing it safe. It can only be done by playing and creating!
7.
Astrology should be creative.
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why i don't focus on intuition
Intuition is a tool, not a technique to be taught
Intuition is defined as "the ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning." The fact that there isn't conscious reasoning makes it some sort of magical ✨ concept that cannot be taught, replicated, or even planned for many times. That makes it an unreliable teacher or guide — which sometimes shows up and sometimes doesn't. And — it is hard to interpret charts when you just aren't feeling it, or your intuition just isn't working.
Focusing on intuition as a key part of interpretation puts astrology on a pedestal, as only something meant for a select few 👑 with a certain mystical ability bestowed on them by the gods. That's because intuition is some nebulous concept that can't clearly be defined. But astrology should not be meant only for a select few. Everyone should have the ability to form their own interpretations and understand their own life.
Relying on intuition can create lazy astrologers 🔮 and interpretations. That is because the minute an astrologer says their intuition gave them a message, they don't have to explain how or why they came up with it. And many times — they don't know. Intuition by definition has no reason!
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Many people believe that making strong astrological interpretations is mostly a matter of having a strong intuition — and nothing else. But while a strong intuition can help, I do not believe that it is an effective strategy alone in order to create good interpretations. That is because intuition itself is a nebulous concept — What is it? Where does it come from? How does it work? That can lead to a whole host of problems. I explain some of those below.
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In addition, focusing too much on intuition puts the blame for unhelpful interpretations that do more harm 👿 than good on something else. An astrologer can say — it's not me delivering this harmful message. It's spirit trying to tell you something you don't want to accept. Spiritual gaslighting to a T.
But techniques — like cycles, outer planets, and larger transits — can be explained and learned. They can also be used on a more predictable or regular basis (regardless of what you feel like in the moment) and are available to everyone. Point of view is also subjective — so, if you don't like it, you don't have to accept it — no guilt or shame included!
I use the tropical zodiac in my interpretations — and often get asked why I choose that over the sidereal zodiac.
💫 When you understand that context and point of view are a crucial part of my philosophy, the answer to why I choose the tropical zodiac becomes more clear.
The sidereal zodiac is based on the constellations, which may be nice but have no real observed impact on earth, where we live, which is our point of view.
The tropical zodiac is based on the solstices and equinoxes, which have a noticeable impact on earth, where we live, which is our point of view. They have a noticeable impact because the solstices and equinoxes determine how much sunlight we do or do not to have to be active during the day. They also determine when, where, and how we can grow crops, which is crucial to our survival. There is also a clear cycle of death and re-birth.
I choose the system based on the thing that has the most noticeable impact on me and my survival, even though I do believe that both systems can be helpful and yield interesting insights.
A common question
Why do you use the tropical zodiac in your practice (instead of the sidereal zodiac)?
The sidereal zodiac calculates the placement of the astrological signs in space based on the location of the constellation of the same name. That means, the sign of Aries is located in space at the constellation of Aries.
The tropical zodiac calculates the placement of the signs in space as relative to the solstices and equinoxes, which are determined by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This means, that the sign of Aries may actually be located in space at another constellation that is not Aries.
This was done a long time ago when the ancient astronomers realized that the constellations were slowly shifting away from the solstices and equinoxes as a result of a process called "the precession of the equinoxes."
It's time to get a bigger perspective.
Are you tired of getting bogged down by all the details of your natal chart? I help you cut through the conflicting information and get right to the point of what you are here on earth to learn.
