The Forces that Shape Us

In astrology, Saturn is the planet of life lessons. I often think of Saturn as our hardest teacher—the one who keeps returning our term paper until we finally hand in our best work. Being in a Saturn return means that Saturn, having completed a full orbit around the Sun, has once again returned to where it was positioned when we were born.

Today I’m sharing the first article in a four-part series on elemental wisdom I wrote in collaboration with the master astrologer and psychotherapist, Debra Silverman. Debra always starts off teaching her students about the four elements because it’s the foundation upon which all understanding of astrology is built, and because she’s witnessed what an extremely effective model it is for understanding human nature and cultivating compassion for both ourselves and others.

I’ve recently become a devoted student of astrology. It began when I learned that the positions of the planets above our heads at the moment of our birth can reveal countless essential details about our personalities—including how we perceive the world, what we yearn for, and the particular ways we think, act, and love.

Last July, in a blog titled “Wisdom from the Stars,” I announced that I’d decided to study astrology by enrolling in an entry-level class at the online astrology school run by my friend, Debra Silverman, who is an extraordinary therapist, astrologer and advisor to many celebrities and thought leaders. I promised to report my findings in a future post… and here we are!

This week, I’m enjoying being part of Debra Silverman’s Conversations with Destiny online summit, where she’s been having intimate conversations with twenty-two top experts in their fields. This focus of the summit is on what astrological birth charts reveal about peoples’ personalities and life’s purpose, and it’s been quite entertaining to watch Debra blow everyone’s minds during these fascinating and thought provoking interviews.