“I favour a depth approach to astrology; one that is embedded into daily life and that honors the soul in all its complexity…
Cheska Whelan:
Experiential Astrology initiated me into the rich world of the Astrological model. It took place around the dining table of a Tibetan Buddhist retreat centre in Northern India “Twilight,” a New York astrologer led a small group on a guided journey relating to the elements. It was a magical experience heightened by the exotic environment and her offbeat New York humour. Several months later living amongst the dismal grey skies and heavily concreted area of North London I came across a course advertised as ‘Intuitive Astrology’.
In the first lesson the tutor took us on an imaginal journey into the world of the elements. We imagined a dry, baked earth – a world absent of water; a colourless, sunless world – an absence of fire; a chaotic formless world – an absence of earth; a still and an unmoving universe – an absence of air. In this one exercise, which I can easily call to mind after thirty years, I was able to intuitively sense the gift and the essence of each element.
These first couple of encounters with Astrology involved learning its language in an imaginal and experiential fashion, these experiences taught me the value of participatory and creative methods of learning and unfolding that are in keeping with the symbolic language that is Astrology. I continued my studies at the School of Astrological Psychology in London, and loved the depth, intelligence and thoroughness of their approach. Subsequently I completed a four year training at the School of Astrosynthesis in Melbourne.
As I began to work with people I soon discovered a rub between the usual approach of one off “readings” and my own and others experience of how growth, unfolding or understanding occurs.
To support my leanings towards a depth therapeutic approach I completed a 2 year training with the Kairos School of Psychotherapy in Melbourne in Soulful Presence Counselling. During my time in Melbourne I worked as a Social worker with people facing challenges with mental health, addiction, homelessness and chronic ill health.
Writers and Schools of thought that inspire me are….
- Jungian
- Psychosynthesis
- Marsilio Ficino
- Thomas Moore
- James Hillman
- Clarissa Este Pinkolas