Astrology has evolved from archaic times, from evidence of soli/lunar cyclic “lunar sticks”; cave dwelling art - e.g. Catul Hyuk in Turkey; sacred sites such as Avebury and Stonehenge in England; Canyon de Chelly in Arizona; and hundreds all over our earth. All were created when the human psyche was in a state mythographers call “
participation mystique” – magical thinking, or, being at one with the universe.
Though we are far from those days now, aeons away from them, in fact, and are very much a product of consciousness and science evolution. From ancient early days of the Greeks, through the Copernican revolution to contemporary times, we are still, deeply embedded in the collective unconscious of humankind - thus deeply enmeshed within the natural cycles of earth and the heavens.
In astrology itself, there is no subject/object split, because astrology is predicated on a unified, whole-system world-view; it actually is a subject in which both magical and critical thinking are naturally fused.
This seminar will present each planet, from the Sun out to Pluto, as an archetypal agency in the psyche, along with its fascinating living myths and symbols. The planets, their nature and laws are closely related to essential aspects of
cosmos – order - a fundamental organizing principle.
The solar system is an integrated, whole system with a focus - the sun. The focus - meaning hearth-fire in Latin - is the nucleus of the system of planets, of which earth is just one. Contemporary psychological astrology proposes that
each planet represents and reflects a core content of our psyche, rather like we all have a nose, but a different kind of nose. As DNA is unique to our individuality, so, the horoscope is unique to each person. Not only is astrology highly sophisticated, exceptionally complex and specialized, it is also now broadly accepted as a practical world-view; it is employed widely in many forms of counselling, psychology, philosophy, as well in what is called “mundane” astrology – political and matters of the
anima mundi – the word soul. Erin will describe each planet in our system from an archetypal, Jungian, mythological, psychological and pragmatic aspect – as an integral aspect of your own self. That is what this course is about: you and your cosmology.
Topics:
- A brief but significant history of the magical mind of pre-egoic humanity and had no conscious differentiation between humankind, animal, earth and sky
- How this pre-literate mind shifted, becoming “personal”, individual and distinct . . . how the sky and the earth separated and the ancients believed that planets “did something” to one, “made things happen” and so on; this is not how it is viewed in contemporary astrology
- An overview history of the solar system and the fascinating way great minds constructed and deconstructed various models . . . heretics were scientists, polymaths and the direct contributors to the horoscope’s evolution; how “heretical thought” was suppressed but did not win
- “The inner reaches of outer space” . . . re-enchantment of soul and body; re-connecting the cosmos and the earth by understanding your complex character as related to a larger frame of reference: the solar system and its elegant organization.
- Jungian archetypes as related to planetary agencies and their mythology and theology
- Relevant mythology which builds the foundation for astrology as the inner cosmology of the human psyche – nothing has changed under the sun
- Each planet will be explored for its meaning, expression and both individual and collective “activity”; what each planet as an archetype represents as an aspect of you
- A whole system approach to the psyche and its contents; their way of interaction: inner conversations we consistently engage in as we mediate ideas, opinions, decisions and do the life-work of individuation - self growth
Learning Outcomes:
- Come away with a more open understanding of yourself; your interior life and its external impact/mirror; view yourself in the big picture
- Absolute awareness of how each of us carries the exemplar of the yet undiscovered “Unified Theory” in our psyche as the “gods within”, or the solar system as psyche.
- Seeing how planetary archetypes are agents of our psyche expands your language, points of reference, way of thinking and your word-view
- You will be astounded at how “psychology” – which is about 110 years old” is deeply embedded in a magical thinking mechanism: the mythological and archetypal “players” in the celestial realm are the gods of old, but now internalized as, for example, our conscience, our sense of responsibility, drive, desire, passion, aesthetics, morals and
- Planets are agents for change in individual and collective growth patterns
- Understand how your psychological complexes are based in a psychological (planetary) nuclear focus’ – and how these are part of our core creativity
- This course will change the way you see things, think about things, and open your mind to a non-dualistic and integrated world-view.
- Today’s heresy is tomorrow’s status quo!
- Facilitator: Erin Sullivan has forty years practice in psychological/consulting astrology. Her practice and teaching is “whole system” astrology, incorporating the solar system both as an archetypal qualitative AND practical quantitative content of the psyche. It is the cosmology of the individual psyche in action. Her astrological consulting practice is international. Erin was Series Editor for the Penguin, Arkana Contemporary Astrology Series, in London, UK, 1989-1998. Background in Classics (UVic); Jungian training and studies, London; Tutor for the Centre for Psychological Astrology, London. Workshop/lecturer/seminar speaker world wide; author of six innovative books on serious astrology; seminars on consciousness and social change, astrology as human cosmology; astrology and mythology; astrology for astrologers – and speaks to many types of groups from high school students to psychologists. Erin teaches depth astrology classes in Victoria. www.erinsullivan.com