The Forces that Shape Us
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!
First off, I want to clarify that my focus has been solely on natal astrology—learning to read birth charts—not predictive astrology, which I have not explored enough to weigh in on. Also, although my enthusiasm is high and mushrooming, I am definitely still a novice. When my class ended last fall, I continued to study privately with the wonderful astrologer who taught my class, Debra Donnally, by attempting to read people’s charts over Zoom in tandem with Debra, and then process the feedback I received.
For those of you rolling your eyes at me for promoting astrology, I want to assure you that while it makes no sense to the rational Western mind that the positioning of the planets over our newborn bodies can reveal countless details about our personality, deepest desires and ultimate destiny, it seems to be true. The more readings I do and the more I explore my own chart and those of my family members, I am increasingly blown away by astrology’s accuracy, as well as the depth and breadth of the insights offered by this more than 4,000 year-old ancient art and science.
It’s easy to disregard astrology when our exposure is limited to merely sun sign predictions in magazines, but there are actually innumerable powerful planetary influences that shape us. Astrology is incredibly complex, nuanced and individualized. I’ve read that the odds of having the exact same chart as another person are less than one in 18 million!
Debra Silverman, who still can’t explain exactly how astrology works after forty-four years, says, “The truth is, I don’t really care how it works; I care that it’s always accurate. Your chart conveys who you are, outlines your true purpose in this lifetime, and provides a clear roadmap to follow your path. That we are all being affected by the stars is not a question, just a mystery.”
Years ago, when Debra was still giving private sessions, I was amazed how one session with her felt more productive than years of therapy. From a quick survey of your birth chart, Debra knew you. She would immediately begin sharing profound insights about the way you see the world and react to different situations. She’d elucidate your biggest challenges, most habituated patterns, as well as your deepest inhibitions, motivations and desires. The most astonishing part for me was that although the majority of these insights rang 100% true, I’d never before fully articulated them or brought them to light.
The goal of Debra’s psychological practice is to help turn our well-worn stories into lessons and gifts. “I believe all of us are on this planet with same job: to transmute pain into wisdom.” Debra explains that astrology contains all the archetypes human nature could ever embody. “Its goal is to tickle you back to remembering your instinctual nature, and then to help you stop fighting it and pretending to be someone you are not. Learning astrology is the quickest way to fall in love with yourself and this whole planet.”
The powerful merging of astrology and therapy traces back to Carl Jung, the Swiss-born psychiatrist and disciple of Sigmund Freud. Jung believed that the twelve signs of the zodiac configure all the psychological patterns that inhabit the collective unconscious of the human race, and that within each person exists an innate disposition that they were born with. He wrote, “Astrology represents the sum of all the psychological knowledge of antiquity.”
Not only do the characteristics of twelve signs of the zodiac determine the essence of our life force and personality (our sun sign), the exact placement and relationships of our planets at birth determine many other qualities, including how we appear in the world (our rising sign/ascendant), our emotional temperament (Moon), the way we think and communicate (Mercury), how and what we love (Venus), the quality of our energy and assertiveness (Mars), our good fortune and what we enjoy (Jupiter), and our life lessons and destiny (Saturn).
Part of my excitement about astrology stems from how it’s motivated me to do a thorough internal inventory of my essential nature (including why my mind is so hyper-active, and why my personality is so effusive while my emotional body is extremely sensitive), and what lessons are most relevant to me now in my search for balance and healing in my fifty-eight year. Astrology has quickly become an important part of my journey for wisdom, healing and self-discovery—the exact mission statement of the Quest for Eternal Sunshine platform.
In the introduction to Debra’s book, The Missing Element—Inspiring Compassion for the Human Condition, she writes, “What if I were to tell you that the part of your personality that you dislike the most—the weirdest, quirkiest, most unlovable parts that you’re certain, if seen by others, will leave you friendless, jobless and unloved—are the very doorways to your inner peace and happiness?” Debra avers that in all her years in private practice, she hasn’t yet met one “normal person.” Not one! “Each of us learning to authentically be the unique person we were born to be is essential to healing our world.”
Astrology, which vividly illustrates that we are all beautifully different, helps us celebrate diversity and banish our proclivity to conform. Studying so many charts has opened my mind to different ways of being, which in turn has fostered more humility, acceptance and humor. For example, now I can see how one person needs regular occasions to get dressed up and socialize to feel jubilant, while someone else (me!) needs more solo quiet time in nature to recharge.
Each of the twelve zodiac signs is associated with one of the four basic elements in nature—water, air, earth, and fire. Debra says that when we’re in pain, it means these elements are out of balance in our lives. “If you have too much or too little of a particular element, your life will likely be out of balance. You’ll want to grow and cultivate that underdeveloped element and be careful not to become too preoccupied with the one that’s overdeveloped. Like a car on the road, all four wheels must be balanced for smooth driving. Imagine each wheel as an element. If one of the tires is low, or over-inflated, your vehicle will rattle and shake.”
There is so much more I’m eager to share, so if I’ve tickled your curiosity, please join Debra and me for our free 75-minute event, “The Forces that Shape You,” on May 15 at noon PDT. I have a list of provocative subjects to discuss with Debra during our fun, fast-paced, information-packed conversation, and we’ll reserve time to answer your questions. Debra will lead us through some relaxing and enlightening guided exercises, and leave us with practical tools and powerful insights we can utilize immediately. Whether you’ve been a fan of astrology for decades or are just a teeny bit intrigued, this fascinating event with Debra will be a rare opportunity to hear from a true master.
Below, is a link to some free resources I’ve developed for you to explore. There is a short video created by my astrology teacher, Debra Donnally, on how to create and decipher your birth chart for free on Astro.com, a link to Debra’s popular YouTube channel that is loaded with free content, as well as some overview materials generously provided by the Debra Silverman Astrology School. There is also a link to the wonderful 15-minute “Four Elements Circle of Light Guided Meditation” Debra Silverman graciously created for us last year that will introduce you to the magical qualities of the four elements. Happy exploring. Debra and I hope to see you soon!
