Taking large abstract ideas and rendering them into graspable bite-sized metaphors – or archetypes– is one of my soul’s purposes. Many years ago, I was inspired to learn of astrological theaters performed here in Santa Fe in the 1990’s where individuals had their astrological birth charts acted out by a group of people. Many of us now know this as astrodrama. Working with local astrologer Tom Brady, one of the people who orchestrated the original experience, I decided to render this idea into something simpler, especially using far less humans. I decided upon the analogy of the planets as actors who wear the costumes and use the tools of the 12 signs living life in the various 12 houses or stages of life. Now I had to figure out how to make that work.
When you visit her website and read her statement, you can understand why I chose artist Christine Cianci to render these arcane ideas in visual form, “Symbolism can be used like a language. Each of us creates our own symbols of remembrance with each new experience -our own personal history which over time, as in the stories of an elder, can take on a mythic quality, becoming the narrative of our lives.” Such a beautiful way to describe archetypes. Please visit her website https://www.ccianciart.com
We have entered an age where simple glyphs, symbols and icons are used to express complex ideas and information. AstroTheatre gives you a unique opportunity to experience the iconography of astrology. If you have watched some of my talks, you have likely already experienced Christine’s evocative steam-punk imagery, as I like their playful manner to explain astrological placements and configurations. Most people believe that astrology is difficult to learn and study because the books are so wordy and thick. “A picture is worth a thousand words” because visual aids are more easily interpreted than long sentences filled with abstract ideas. Learning the astrological lexicon takes time. Your vocabulary will grow from two to three key words to many more as you make relationship with the planets, signs and houses. Everything we see and experience can be attributed to an aspect of astrology. Because each of us has our own unique birth chart and therefore perspective, all of us look at life a little differently. Therefore, please, use the images as a jumping point rather than a definitive explanation. Finding your personal relationship to astrology is key to learning.
You were probably wondering why stained glass is in the title of the article? When I was a teenager, I had an uncanny experience that validated my perception that I made stained glass in a past life. As you may realize, the revelation was profound on many levels and validated me in ways few other things could. Stained glass made for the gothic cathedrals and churches were meant to give illiterate individuals -which were the vast majority of the population- the ability to understand a whole story in one image. Here “I” am almost a thousand years later and I am still working on ways to inspire, uplift, educate and inform others about the “mysteries” of life.
AstroTheatre: A revolutionary approach to the ancient art of astrology is available as an eBook, paperback or hardbound edition. I hope you will enjoy the book and find a new approach to astrology that you find entertaining, playful and most of all informative.
Available through Amazon or from your favorite book seller: Hard Bound Edition ISBN: 979-8-9854599-0-6 and Print Edition ISBN: 978-0-578-33768-5
Wishing you and yours a happy new year,
Michael