Have you ever had an astrological reading
and thought that it did not sound like
you? Do you read the daily sun-sign based
horoscope in the newspaper and think it
has nothing to do with what is happening
in your life? If so, you might be interested
in learning about Shamanic Astrology.
Shamanic Astrology is an evolving system
developed by Daniel Giamario. It is a straightforward
system that zeros in on the most useful
and important information found in an individual's
astrological chart. Shamanic Astrology
has 5 basic principles:
- The foundational philosophical truth
of Shamanic Astrology is "As Above,
So Below, As Without, So Within." It
is considered that the patterns and cycles
of the constellations, Sun, Moon and
planets are the same as the patterns
and cycles of the human psyche.
- Shamanic Astrology is experiential
and earth-centered. The system is based
on viewing the sky without the aid of
a telescope or any other technological
means, much as the ancient shamans would
have done.
- Shamanic Astrology is ceremonial and
participatory and operates from a mythic
perspective. The myths of various cultures
were created from the patterns and cycles
of the planets and constellations.
- The death and rebirth theme of shamanism
underlies the precepts of Shamanic Astrology.
To become a shaman one has to complete
an initiatory process and this process
is linked to the cycles of the planets
and constellations. All human beings
go through a series of initiatory experiences
consciously or unconsciously. Shamanic
Astrology is a tool that will assist
the individual in making conscious decisions
while traveling the initiatory path.
- Shamanic Astrology is archetypal and
symbolic. It is a look at the intent
of the current life, not a description
of how people are. The archetypal material
gives us a sense of all the possibilities
that are available and which ones apply
to us. Using this model, there are twelve
possible paths for the current life intent.
There are twelve archetypal life paths.
Each astrological sign is associated with
specific archetypes, images and god/desses.
For example, Aries is associated with the
Wild Woman Archetype or the Aggressive,
Willful Boy with Toys Archetype. The essence
of Aries is absolutely straightforward
and dualistic, black and white, good and
bad. If there is a battle, you want Aries
on your side. Aries is associated with
the Gods and Goddesses who are the defenders
of the cosmic order. The down side of Aries
shows up as ruthless fundamentalism, which
is very black and white, good, and bad.
However, the archetype descriptions are NOT Sun
Sign descriptions. Shamanic Astrology differs
from the current astrological models that
are based on the Sun Sign. The focus of
this system is on the Moon Sign, Rising
Sign, Venus and Mars, and the relationship
between the other planets in an individual
chart. The Moon Sign describes the area
of mastery, or talents and skills, a person
has already attained. It also describes
areas where there may be addictions or
attachments. The Rising Sign describes
what type of training a person intends
to undergo in the current life. Mars and
Venus are the aspects of the masculine
and feminine that the individual is working
on in the current life. The Sun Sign serves
as the fuel or flavor that runs through
the rest of the chart.
Shamanic Astrology is an organic, living
system best understood through the lens
of a chart: for this article, let us say
a person has an Aquarius Moon, Capricorn
Rising Sign, Venus and Mars in Leo, and
Sun Sign in Cancer. The Aquarian Moon represents
the area of mastery, skills and talents
or past life lineage. Aquarius lineage
operates outside the realm of the physical
and the emotional; it does not involve
the feeling function. There are several
themes associated with Aquarius. One theme
is that the person has had a series of
lifetimes where they were purely intellectual,
thinking and writing about life without
actually experiencing it. A mythological
explanation for Aquarius is they come from
the realm of the fairy, fairy princess
or elf. My favorite storyline for Aquarius
has to do with the Pleiades. The Pleiadian
story says Aquarius is not from the Earth;
rather they come from the Pleiades or a
different star system, where they have
a rule (or Prime Directive) of noninterference.
For those beings who wish to make a contribution
here, the only way around the noninterference
rule is to incarnate. The problem with
incarnating here is the person can forget
their mission because the karma and density
of this reality is so heavy. The essence
of Aquarius to find a way to translate
the dense experience of earthly life into
spirit, intellect or a higher charka experience.
What this could mean for this individual
is that she would be comfortable with purely
intellectual experiences and theorizing
about life without experiencing life. Also
that she would attempt to understand any
emotional experience on a purely intellectual
level, thinking about feelings but not
feeling the feelings. But remember the
Moon sign is the past life lineage and
while important the Rising Sign is more
important because it indicates the current
life purpose or intent.
Rising Sign is in Capricorn is the current
life identity project or life purpose.
Capricorn is a giver sign and is dedicated
to keeping it together for everyone else
and in return for that function they receive
great respect and get to be in some position
of power and leadership to better carry
out their responsibilities. The Capricorn
archetype is associated with the elders
of the community who knew the laws and
was responsible for the community. Some
examples are the fathers, the prime minister,
counselors and teachers. So Capricorn Rising
is here to learn to manage and control
their environment in a responsible way,
get results, and become the elder of the
future.
Venus and Mars in Leo indicate the aspect
of the feminine and masculine that the
person is working to integrate during the
current life. Leo is a strong and intense
energy based in self-interest. The lesson
of Leo is radiant self-love. Leo energy
empowers others through its own self-confidence.
Leo's intent is to empower themselves so
that others can be empowered by observing
Leo. The archetypal images associated with
Leo are "The Leading Man or Woman", "The
Star" or "The Born Leader."
The Sun Sign in Cancer describes the type
of fuel a person burns and uses to accomplish
the current life purpose. A person may
or may not display the characteristics
associated with the Sun Sign dependent
upon other aspects of their chart. The
primary identity for Cancer is derived
from responsibly nurturing their family,
their children. The emphasis for Cancer
is to feel the feelings of those they are
taking care of so they can provide the
best love, support and attention.
How does each of these individual components
integrate into a storyline for this person?
Let's look at two of the strongest energies
in the chart, Capricorn and Leo. Both of
these signs can be seen in leadership positions.
Leo leads through personal charisma and
Capricorn leads through being a responsible
administrator. So what you might see is
a person who would be given leadership
roles in which he/she would lead through
being dependable and reliable but also
through personal will and personality.
In other words, others like this person
because he/she is trustworthy and because
he/she is a likable person. The Cancer
Sun Sign energies will channel the leadership
qualities to include a nurturing aspect;
for example, the workgroup might be seen
as family. The energies of the Aquarian
Moon might surface when the person is under
stress and may need to detach emotionally,
meditate, and retreat from social interactions.
A look at your astrological storyline
might be something you would like to explore
if this sample mini-chart interpretation
has intrigued you. Shamanic Astrology is
great way understand your life purpose
and how to walk your chosen life path.
Please contact me for a typewritten chart
interpretation or to arrange a telephone
reading. Information about training workshops
on Shamanic Astrology can be found at www.shamanicastrology.com.
Source:
Giamario, Daniel & Brent,
Carolyn. (2002). The Shamanic Astrology
Handbook. Tucson, AZ :JCAU Publications.
