The change in my life from which this blog arose was a grand tumble, the one to which I, like most of us, in one form or another, was inexorably headed. It had a fateful quality that alerted me to something more, something behind the drama that I needed to attend to, and very seriously.
Just as I began to fall into my Abyss, a new friend and astrologer, Joe Landwehr, knowing my plight, threw down a 'bag of runes' called Astropoetics which contained some important clues. I've been following these clues like the proverbial breadcrumbs through the darkness for over two years now.
Sharing a forest haven with Joe, I've had first-hand access to his wisdom and his love. In the past year, astrological references have slowly but surely appeared in writing related to the themes of all my blogs, but especially in the poetry on this one. You'll find some examples below.
This post in the category Soul-seeking on Diving Deeper is a kind of 'coming out' for me since it admits to my stronger orientation toward soul than science - at least the face of the science that predominates and the one that provided my early education.
Not surprisingly, my natal chart suggests, says Joe, that I came into this life more soul-orientated, concerned with evolving a sense of identity that comes from within, before looking to the world to see where what is emerging can be useful.
But feel useful, I must. The natural scientist can be found in my natal chart as an aspect of my family psyche - one that I am grateful for and want to make my own by integrating it with the more poetic, artistic, intuitive me that has been longing to reveal herself.
A serious inner master (Saturn) points firmly to the healing work I must do on myself and also provides the creative foundation, the safe tether, for the priestess, poet, healer, warrior woman who is rising from the depths. I am reclaiming parts of myself that felt lost.
There are complex-sounding astrological correlates to the preceding statements; but far more engaging may be stories from a lived experience. Joe's Astropoetic approach reveals for me a thrilling relationship between the symbolic and the real.
In this category on my blog, I will include writing that references astrology (specifically the kind I'm learning through Astropoetics - you can use this keyword, in addition to astrology, astrologers, and the names of planets, zodiac signs and so on to search my sites for more).
I will try to write in such a way as to be easily understood if you don't have much background in this art. Some posts, however, will contain more astrology and require some grasp of the concepts. Perhaps I will entice you to explore a little further yourself.
And you can read more about how Joe applies astropoetics in his own life on The Sky is My Mirror.
What is Astropoetics?
Astropoetics is a rich symbolic language for self-observation and introspection. It gives me free reign to communicate with my own unconscious mind through the spontaneous evocation of personal images and associations that are poetic not prosaic.
It is a language of soul, just as poetry at its best can be. I'm immersed in learning this language because I want to live my life as an act of truly conscious intention, as closely aligned with my own soul's purpose as I possibly can.
The soul is concerned primarily with quality of life. It measures itself by internal, subjective experiences - detected by the body as sensory experiences, the heart as emotions, the conscious mind as a deepening awareness of psychological patterns.
I hope you'll find soul expressed through all that I share on my personal blog Diving Deeper; in my healing work in water Aquapoetics; and in my reflections on spa, soul and the role of water Vision Spa Retreat. And I hope you'll enjoy the Astropoetics.
Poetry inspired by Astropoetics
Other links on Diving Deeper
The tarot card representing the Hanged Man comes from the Haindl Tarot, a deck which draws on many traditions including the Holy Grail, the Norse Runes and astrology. The concept of the Hanged Man has been an important one for me personally, standing for willingness to suffer for an as-yet-unknown good and in letting go of the past.
My own journey into shadow-land or the underworld has been greatly assisted by my partner Joe Landwehr who practices astrology with the intent of helping people reclaim the poetry of their souls, making the gifts inherent in each unique natal chart known so that they can be lived more fully.
One of the planetary strengths I have a need to reclaim in my own life is that of Mars (which lies in the sign Leo in my first house of individuation but which I have consistently denied clear expression). How does Mars (a fiery planet) work positively with water?
I've been on retreat over the holidays, alone in my forest, except for some delightful animal companions. Interestingly enough, tough old Saturn is also associated with Father Christmas, and in this guise he has been showing me the gifts of endings and new beginnings.
Three other astrologers:
An underground stream of spirituality: Brad Kochunas
Links on Aquapoetics
Water bridges a therapeutic gap
Diving deeper: shamanic, yogic, scientific and poetic paths
This 'medical poetics' struck me since recently I began calling my own approach to aquatic bodywork 'aquapoetics' - inspired by Joe Landwehr who distinguishes his approach from the barely accepted field of astrology by using the term 'astropoetics'. We both hope to draw attention to the kind of soulfulness that Thomas Moore and others have articulated so beautifully.
Links on Vision Spa Retreat
Spa culture: a metaphysical perspective
When Astrology meets Spa, some interesting things can happen....In August, I attended the International Society for Astrological Research (ISAR) conference in Chicago with my partner astrologer Joe Landwehr who was a speaking on the topic 'Why Astrology is Not a Science'. It's a topic that interests me since a similar dilemma (science or not) is faced by alternative health practitioners, many of whom find work and some recognition and validation in spas.
Beauty and Harmony: an interview with water advocate and astrologer Barbara Harmony
Although now she only takes appointments at home, at one time if you visited Eureka Springs in good weather, you might have come across Barbara in a shady dell at Basin Springs offering Tarot and Astrology readings. You'd soon discover that this delightful and insightful woman, can also give you a very scientific perspective on the springs and explain why it is crucial that we grasp the fact that 'we all live downstream'. Barbara is a woman of many parts, and they are all inspired by the healing power of water.
Tip
Use keyword 'Astropoetics', in addition to 'astrology', 'astrologers', and the names of planets, zodiac signs and so on to search my sites for more in upcoming posts.
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Astropoetics is the sole inspired creation of Joe Landwehr. You can see more about Joe's work here:
The Astropoetic School of Soul-Discovery - about Joe's astrology school
The Sky is My Mirror - Joe's personal blog about living astropoetically
Ancient Tower Press - free-trade publishing, Joe's own publishing house
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