The Sequence of Learning
A definitive and detailed outline of what the course covers will now follow:
Astrology is a very broad subject. The introduction will have taken you into what astrology can do and it’s underlying philosophy; the professional training will take you into the deeper waters of understanding the human condition.
Introduction: already completed (see above)
Stage One: Astrobiography: the building blocks of astrology
Having completed the Introduction, we will then explore human nature through the lens of our own astrological birth chart.
Each planet we look at will be discussed thoroughly. We will look at each one in turn and explore its dynamics through our own experiences.
For example, if we are looking at the Moon and what it means in astrology, we will discuss the Moon in each sign of the Zodiac in its natural order: beginning at Aries and ending at Pisces.
If anyone in the class has the Moon in the particular sign we are considering in their astrological chart we take time to talk about it. Typically, I will outline the astrological possibilities, describing their relationship with their mother, the atmosphere of the early home environment, heir emotional needs etc. The student is invited to comment and chat about which of the outlined potentials manifested and came to fruition and which ones remained dormant. Obviously, discussing our early lives and relationship with parents can be moving and emotional at times, as well as enlightening and illuminating. I include my own chart in the group discussions as well because I think it’s important that you also understand the person teaching you.
During this stage of the course, every planet is thoroughly explored through every sign and house.
Along the way we stop occasionally and look at any related scenery.
When we are discussing Mercury, for example, we also explore how language can be used to encourage co-operation … or the reverse!
At the 4th house we experience deep meditation.
Any art or music that has been created by us is shown to the class as an example of our talents when we explore Venus.
We experience Runes and the Tarot at the playful 5th House.
The 6th House gives us the opportunity to review, briefly, an A to Z Glossary of all complimentary medicines and therapies.
When we reach the territory between Jupiter, the planet of beliefs and philosophies and Saturn, the planet of time and history, we are well placed to explore most of the world’s religions, mythologies and philosophies. We do this in the sequence that each one presented itself to the world, taking our minds on the amazing journey of a timeline of man’s unfolding quest for the truth. We explore Greek Mythology, Egyptology, Islam, Principles behind Magic, ritual and seasonal Witchcraft, Buddhism, The history of Witchcraft, The Renaissance, Plato, Aristotle, Nordic Gods and Goddesses, the Megaliths and Pyramids: from the burial rites of Neanderthal man over 100,000 years ago until the first graduation of astrologers in a British university in 2004. Believe me, this is some journey and it places all that we learn about astrology in a much clearer and broad context.
The deep and mysterious 8th house gives us the opportunity to explore the major models and systems of Psychology: Freud, Jung, NLP and the Mind Body healing principles of psychobiology, Psychosynthesis etc.
When we reach Uranus, we take a little more time to explore alternative ideas and further develop our intuition. Please remember, although his course revolves around astrology this is also the David Rowan School of Esoteric Studies. At this stage we explore Tarot in depth and numerology, which form a solid foundation towards understanding aspects in astrology a little later.
Neptune gives us another chance to experience meditation and deep inner healing through hypnosis. Astral projection and the nature of dreams are explored and we have a discussion on Spirit Guides, elementals and other spiritual phenomenon.
The remaining houses and planets and chart points: Pluto, the north Node, Chiron, The Part of Fortune, Retrograde Planets and reincarnation and the 10th, 11th and 12th Houses are thoroughly explored.
Stage one, the deep exploration and understanding of the Planets, Signs and Houses its reaches completion and the class have a chance to discover how deep their understanding now is. This is very important because, like a rite of passage, it brings home to everyone how much they have already absorbed of this fascinating subject.
We achieve this realization by inviting a stranger to the class to sit with us for the day and the group as a whole take the person through their chart, one step at a time. The group will have practiced this many times over in exploring their own and its fun to be able to sit with a stranger and discover how much you can determine about them.
Stage Two: Astrobiography: Aspects
Astrobiography: Aspects – exploring the complexity of the human condition.
Aspects: the relationships between the planets revealing the relationships between the different facets of your psyche. This is the section that brings Astrology into close personal focus. At this stage you come to realise the previous stages were just the preparation for understanding the complexity of your nature.
Traditionally Astrology looked at 5 different Aspects, or types of relationship. Modern astrology advocates using 15 types of Aspect. One ancient systems looks at 360 aspects, implying that each degree of the circle has its own intrinsic quality. Here you will have an overview of that 360 degree system and explore in great depth 24 different types of aspect. The results can be profound:
You will discover such things about yourself as:
- Creative talents. and creative energies you tend to suppress that can be bought to the surface
- Things you have mastered on every level of being: mentally, emotional, physically and spiritually that you have access to in this life.
- Things you have never done in any life before. it’s brand new for this time round.
- How you can tap into your potentials for creative genius, leadership, healing and success.
The specific things that Aspects can determine would make as long a list again that this course outline has produced already. You can take it Astrology is a remarkable window into the truth of who you are. and who you can be.
Stage Three: Astrobiography: the complete model
We now review all of our charts with all of the Aspects included.
Traditional Aspect patterns and a more general interpretation (Faculty of Astrological Studies standard Astrology).
Stage 4: The Astrobiography Certificate
The First Exam: Natal Charting – The Birth Chart interpretation (purely voluntary).
This exam is for those students who wish to gain a certificate. The exam comprises of 2 sections:
- Questions that are taken home and completed within 1 month.
- An interpretation of the Birth chart of a ‘stranger’ (to the student). The interpretation can be done in one of 3 formats: Written, cassette taped, live reading in the presence of the ‘client’. The accuracy of the data will be determined by the ‘client’ while the professionalism and presentation will be judged by the tutor.
Stage 5: Chart Calculation:
Some students like to ‘get their teeth’ into Astrology by learning to calculate by hand and begin to develop a working knowledge of Astronomy. This stage has a voluntary exam and carries a certificate.
Stage 6: Forecasting:
In this section 6 of the main forecasting techniques are explored. Students are asked to select 3 important dates from their past and then the individual forecasting techniques are ‘measured’ against this. Which techniques and theories proved to be most accurate? This stage has a voluntary exam and carries a certificate.
Stage 7: Relationships and Business.
Cross referring charts for determining the qualities invoked in personal relationships and business. This stage has a voluntary exam and carries a certificate.
Stage 8: Weather Forecasting with Astrology:
Astrometeorology. Learn how to accurately predict the weather days, week, months even years in advance. Very handy indeed on this island. This stage has a voluntary exam and carries a certificate.
Stage 9: The Roots of Astrology:
Ancient texts, the journey of Astrology’s history and its essential themes. Here we look in depth at the writings of Ptolemy, Lilley, Raphael, Leo, Rudhyar, Green, Schulman and Spiller. From traditional Astrology we’ll learn such things as Horary Astrology, the ability to cast a chart at the moment a question is asked and to then answer that question. From more recent thinking we’ll gain an insight into our past lives and the Soul’s purpose.
This stage has a voluntary exam and carries a certificate.
Stage 10: Freestyle discussion and learning
At the end of this section students have enough information, understanding and skill to be able to journey through the widening fields of Astrological research with confidence for themselves.
A very strong bond of friendship is often created through this journey of self- discovery and learning. Often, groups wish to continue journeying together in exploring this fascinating world of Astrology. The curriculum at this point is so flexible and variable that it is essentially, ‘student’s choice’.