I became interested in Astrology after having my chart read by an older woman, who I met when I moved to Topanga Canyon in 1999. After looking at my chart she exclaimed, “ Sara, with your six planets in Aquarius, you'd make an excellent astrologer.” She told me “Aquarians have the innate ability to see the larger picture.” She offered to mentor me and I gracefully accepted; six months later I was giving professional readings.

In discovering the language of Astrology (there are many meanings to each sign and planet) I used myself as a primary case study. I discovered I was not the stupid person I had been led to believe by teachers and authoritative figures influential in my younger years, growing up in England. Both of my parents advised me ‘If you learn how to type you’ll always get work as a secretary.” I couldn’t imagine anything more boring. And as the typical Aquariun rebel, to this day I don’t know how to type! (I am, however, ready to change this!)

According to my natal chart, I'm quite the opposite of stupid. Aquarians hold the ‘genius’ archetype. They are ahead of the times, original, inventive and intellectual. How could I be stupid when I have this Aquarian energy validated not just once but six times in my chart! I began to understand, as an intuitive, how I receive and assimilate information differently than the standard way taught in traditional schools, colleges and universities. In my work with children on the ‘spectrum’, I recognize this genius quality in them and how their brilliance is misconstrued to be a handicap because of the lack of understanding of how these sensitive, intuitive children need to be held in order to be honored and seen. With this new perception, my life dramatically changed as I started to nurture and cultivate this dormant part of myself.

In conjunction to my studies in Astrology I was taking classes at the Life Energy Institute. It was here, I learned in depth, the nature and characteristics of the elements; earth, fire, water and air which correlate nicely with Astrology (each sign falls into one of these four elements). By knowing which of the elements are strongest and weakest in my chart, I was able to understand why I was drawn to specific people who strongly held the element I was lacking, which happens to be earth. Earth represents the physical and material elements of life; structure, foundation and business. I have predominantly earth types who do my books and help me with my business. I also realized how important it is for me to integrate earth qualities into my life in order to be balanced. This transpired into me adopting horses, becoming a horse person and working outdoors.

In order to focus more on my work with horses, I let Astrology fade out of my life, yet now, several years later, as Uranus in Aries sextiles my Aquarius Sun, Jupiter and Venus, and with Mercury retrograde in Gemini trining my Aquarius Stellium, I’m returning to Astrology with a deeper passion and insight into how this therapeutic modality, has the ability to help us become significantly empowered.

My return to Astrology comes with a fascination of the Centaurs, (Neesus, Pholus and Chariklo) along with the dwarf planet called Eris, the Goddess of Chaos, discovered in 2005. Combining traditional astrology with these contemporary additions has given me a whole new scope in which I see these intricate influences and how they manifest in our lives. I especially like Chariklo, a female centaur, who was married to Chiron (the Wounded Healer). Chariklo stands for inner wisdom and self sacrifice. Because she died instantly, she represents sudden transformation. Wherever she is situated in the chart can tell a story of how these characteristics play our in our own drama.

Another way in which Astrology is incredibly useful is to give us insight into why life is not going the way we want it too. Consistent in astrology is that these periods will pass, just as the earth and planets are constantly moving. By studying our transits we can see;

       what planets are affecting us   

       how long the transits will last  

       how to masterfully manage challenging times, and how to take full advantage of auspicious times.

To the neigh sayers and skeptics who claim Astrology is rubbish, I challenge them to look deep into why this ancient practice of seeing ourselves from a different perspective triggers a negative reaction. My suspicion is that it may lie in loyalties to old Christian and Catholic beliefs; 'Astrology is the work of the devil'. 

Astrology originated from our ancestors noticing patterns and shapes formed by the stars; such as the Constellation of Leo the 'lion' and the Constellation of Aquarius the 'water bearer'. They observed the planetary movements as they travelled through the twelve constellations.

Astrology is a systemic, divinational art form which allows our intuition to extract and assimilate relevant information about ourselves, relationships to others, our environment and cultural events. In my experience, Astrology works! 

by Sara Fancy

sara@silverhorse.us