ASTEROID ARCHETYPES - patterns of human experience

with Brian Clark - an eight-week program designed to explore the rich terrain of the asteroids in astrological practice.

Saturday September 20, 2009 at the Abbotsford Convent

The first four asteroids discovered were named for feminine Olympians, powerful archetypes that were easily integrated into astrological practice. But what about the subsequent asteroids discovered? In this workshop we will explore an overview of the asteroids including the next six asteroids that were discovered after Vesta, namely Astraea, Hebe, Iris, Flora, Metis and Hygieia. As part of the workshop we will explore the value of using the asteroids in astrological delineation and for self discovery. An overview of the pantheon of asteroids will be presented, their discovery and history will be explored as well as ways to use them effectively for astrological insights and revelation. Bring your own charts on transparencies.

BACKGROUND: Johannes Kepler first suggested that there might be a planet orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. Nearly two centuries later the publication of Bodes Law reiterated this possibility. When Uranus was discovered in 1781 its distance from the Sun conformed to Bodes law, giving greater weight to the theory of the missing planet between Mars and Jupiter. Finally, on New Year’s Day, 1801, a Sicilian astronomer spotted the ‘missing planet’ in this region and named it Ceres after the patron goddess of his homeland. To the Sicilians Ceres favoured their island and it was here that they claimed Hades abducted her daughter. Early in 1802 another body was sighted between Mars and Jupiter and named Pallas. Again on September 1, 1804 another small body was discovered in the region and was named Juno. On March 29, 1807 a fourth was discovered which was named Vesta. No more would be discovered until 1845. But for now the four major asteroids had revealed themselves and been named for four Olympian goddesses. By the end of the 19th century over 400 hundred of these small planets were discovered and named.

It was not until the early 1970’s, as the women’s movement accelerated, that astrologers began to take note of the significance of the asteroids. In 1973 an ephemeris of the first four was printed and the astrological community began to experiment with these new archetypes. Eleanor Bach inspired astrologers to recognise the first four asteroids named after Olympian goddesses, who were unnamed in the planetary pantheon even though all four were prominent in Greek myth and their cults predated their male counterparts. Renewed images of the feminine appeared in the astrological tapestry bringing the ancient feminine wisdom of the goddess to consciousness. While the first four asteroids are the most widely used in astrological practice, there are many other asteroids, which highlight important concepts and patterns in the human experience.

THE SEMINAR: The first four asteroids named for female Olympians are powerful archetypes that are easily integrated into astrological practice. But what about the subsequent asteroids discovered? Our seminar will explore an overview of the asteroids including the next six asteroids that were discovered after Vesta, namely Astraea, Hebe, Iris, Flora, Metis and Hygieia. As part of the seminar we will explore the value of using the asteroids in astrological delineation and for self discovery. A synopsis of the pantheon of asteroids will be presented as well as ways to use them effectively for astrological insights and revelation.

THE CLASSES: Each of the eight classes will focus on powerful goddesses and heroines such as Hygieia, Iris, Antigone, Medea etc. We will explore their myth in depth, including when they first entered into mythic consciousness and the changes they underwent through time. In the classes we will also discuss what the myth can tell us about their archetypal nature and what human qualities, concerns and concepts these asteroids are illuminating. And of course we will explore the placement in our own and others’ horoscopes to understand the feminine wisdom they reveal in our personal experience.

VENUE, DATES and FEES: The venue will be the Abbotsford Convent; the seminar will be held September 20; classes will be held Monday evening starting October 13. Fees for the seminar are $110; fees for the eight classes will be $225; for both the seminar and eight classes the fees are $295.00. If you are interested please contact Brian Clark at AstroSyntheis@bigpond.com for further information.