Astrology: The what’s + how’s of cosmological offerings
What to know about astrology + Ashley’s views and approach before scheduling an Integrative Somatics session:
Why Astrology?
There are numerous types of divination available to explore your relationship to reality. I love astrology because of the increased vocabulary it offers when trying to articulate life's various experiences, and because it’s been built into traditions of healing, like Chinese medicine, for thousands of years, so we have millions of people—many many ancestors—backing us up with the continued practice of it! Half of my job is dedicated to helping you express what you know in your heart, but might not have the words (or maybe the assurance) to describe. The other is being present to help support your own relationship to what’s unfolding in front of you, moment to moment. That is essentially what divination is. It’s not about predicting a lottery number or eliminating choices so we don’t have to participate or so we can protect ourselves from showing up in our own life— whatever that might need to look like.
Sessions are a two way street & you’re invited to notice and be curious about your astrology through your body
I aim to practice astrology from a more embodied approach, which means more dialogue (with your own sensations and your body) and more deep listening for clients. It’s also why I no longer offer astrological consults on their own without integrative of Chinese medicine, Somatic Experiencing, and attachment theory. This is a personal choice of practice and an invitation to those open and curious to sit in session with me and the cosmology, ancestors, and spirits that guide me.
How do you know what you’re feeling? This question means more dialogue between us rather than me dictating what your chart configurations or transits mean for you. I don’t exactly know what it’s like to be you. My experience of Mars or Saturn or Venus might be very different from your own and this is where our exchange and open conversation makes sense and offers more potential for transformation and integration of wisdom.
That means we can speculate about your life based on current information and astrological transits and it also means I step back from being too predictive in order to avoid taking over anyone’s sense of agency. I can offer perspective on what is unfolding in the moment based on the astrology. Astrological sessions offer a trajectory based on what is unfolding (presently) coupled with the upcoming astrology. Rather than trying to predict if certain values will come to fruition I’m encouraging an embodied experience of astrology by inviting you to notice the value in your lived experiences which the astrology is reflecting back at you.
Predictions and divination
So for example we can discuss your love life, how the sky reflects it, or what closure in a relationship might look or feel like, and opportunities for exploring that demonstrated by certain planetary configurations. In general I avoid giving anyone the impression that astrology predicts with absolution. I’m not the astrologer to ask when you will get married or accomplish x, y, or z. They’re out there, but I’m not in the performance business and as far as I’m concerned my job is to help you be interested in what you must do (destiny) rather than participate in or contribute to any anxiety about fate (what will happen to you).
When the latter kind of predictions come to fruition, often they are a combination of high probability, already set in motion, and intuition. In order to assume responsibility as someone who does divination, I do my best not to let ego step in the way of what messages are meant to come through. Astrology connects us to our nature, our origins, and to the cycles of life. It isn’t about scoring high on predictions tests. I don’t encourage clients to come to me if they seek this. After twelve years of practicing, I’m confident in my skills, but accurate predictions aren’t always helpful and they don’t always offer the connection people desire.
I prefer to dialogue rather than monologue and act like a fortune teller. No offense to them. It’s just not actual divination. It’s symbolism being filtered through someone’s else’s subconscious material.
It could easily miss the mark on what is most valid and important for you and steal your agency. People also often ask if I can share important dates and I’ll say that dates are always a given in astrology and I aim to keep it closer to present and not too distant in the future (more than a year out).
School of thought/practice preferences
My approach to astrology is an integration of contemporary practices and traditional techniques (specific to Hellenistic astrology), and my interest is in using it to encourage self-cultivation and help you recognize the connections that inform your sense of purpose in life. I aim to be thorough, precise, and informative, but ultimately I’m here to offer you an experience that, if resonant, will continue to make ripples in your life as you navigate your path.