My astrology story so far…
I've been a stargazer for as long as I can remember. There was always something evocative and mysterious about the distant lights in the night sky, and on some deep level, I knew that they must have some connection with us here on Earth. So I used to cast my gaze out into the universe, where my earthly problems and fears seemed to dissolve into the stars.
There was a time when my heart would ache with a deep longing, a yearning to touch, to visit, to know the stars intimately. The closest I could come was to borrow the school telescope on weekends. This small act of access allowed me to peer into the mysteries of the universe, to see the intricate details of Saturn's rings, the faint glimmer of Jupiter's moons, and the rugged beauty of our Moon's craters, as if she was gazing back at me with a reassuring, protective glow.
One day, while browsing in the library, I came across an astrology guide while looking for astronomy books, and suddenly, I knew I had found what I was seeking. This book affirmed my instinct that the stars and planets were intrinsically connected to my life, shaping my character and giving me context in the immense universe. Though I was too young to have articulated it quite this way at the time, what I learned in those illustrated pages of the astrology book helped affirm that I, too, was made of star-stuff and that my life wasn't a random accident but had a place, a meaning, and a path to follow.
That was the moment that astrology chose me.
I went on into my teens, seeing the world through an astrological eye. I camped out in new age bookstores, reading and eventually purchasing my first ephemeris, table of houses, and any book I could find on astrology. This activity was back in the '90s, so there wasn't an internet or easy access chart software, so I had to learn how to draw up a chart by hand. I'm happy that I had to puzzle through that analog process, which gave me a tangible connection to the astrologers of old.
Voice of Mars, 1994
During my university years, the allure of the planets and their energies began to seep into my artwork. I embarked on a dedicated artistic endeavour, a series of abstract paintings titled "Planetary Portraits." These dynamic, splattered works on canvas, I now realize, were my initial attempt to summon and connect with the planetary forces as sentient beings. This practice would evolve and deepen as I progressed on my astrological journey.
In the early 2000s, with the dawn of the internet, I got online and started casting charts and, again, reading all I could find on astrology. I learned the foundations of Jyotish, also known as Vedic Astrology, and constantly looked at charts in my spare time. Around the mid-2000s, I created written astrology reports for my friends and acquaintances as gifts. My partner once said, “You're really good at this; you should do this for a living.” I smiled shyly, always self-critical, and accepted the compliment, but I didn't feel ready to take money for this work. It was a well-loved hobby, a simmering background obsession, that stayed in the mix as I explored other modalities.
Hanuman Temple, Mt. Madonna Centre, California
Around this time, my partner and I went on a vast soul quest, leaving our busy jobs and obligations behind in big-city Toronto and exploring Canada, East to West. We landed on Vancouver Island, where we live now, and it was here that we delved into parallel yoga training. Next, I studied Ayurveda and, eventually, Western herbalism. These herbal, energetic and holistic arts brought me back to astrology, as I realized that astrology was the companion of seers and healers in both the East and West traditions. Astrology offered a map of one's character and life's path and an energetic map that illuminated every person's unique constitutional strengths and vulnerabilities. Astrology also illuminated the intermingled nature of mind, body, and spirit; what happened on one level of being was intrinsically linked to what was happening to others.
In this grand tapestry of life, everything is interconnected. The body, a microcosm, mirrors the macrocosmic workings of the universe. Every action, every thought, every breath resonates across the vast expanse of existence, creating a symphony of harmony and balance.
Today, I am fully immersed in my astrology work, having transitioned into a professional role. I operate my teaching and consulting practice from my home or community spaces, whenever possible. I am proud to hold two astrology certifications and to have studied under some of the most esteemed astrologers in the field. My journey has been marked by a deep commitment to understanding astrology's history and origin. I have diligently researched its most influential thinkers and philosophers, traced the origins of its timing and diagnostic techniques, all in an effort to better innovate and bring astrology's rich classical traditions into our modern era.
Read more about my services and offerings here.