Greetings, Gifted
Reader.
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| Margaret Gray |
If you haven’t looked up
recently, you’re missing a lot! There’s so much going on in the sky right now,
and Astrologers worldwide are pointing to the Grand Trine as a time for good
fortune. Because trines (when planets are 120 degrees apart) are harmonious, it
is believed that you’ll have luck in those Houses in your Natal chart where the
Grand Trine transits. With Jupiter in Cancer, Saturn in Scorpio and Neptune in
Pisces, all water signs, the Grand Trine can trigger an emotional outpouring.
So, your good fortune might be a release from something that hurt you in the
past.
Speaking of good
fortune, this month we’re featuring Margaret Gray, a well-known Psychological
Astrologer currently based in Honolulu:
Q: Margaret, tell us a
little about your roots:
A: I was born in Dublin
Ireland. My mother was Italian and my father Irish, and I grew up spending
summers in Italy where my mom worked with her dad. It seems to be my path in
life to live between two countries as I continue to do so now with my home in
Dublin, yet also spending time here in Hawai’i.
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| Margaret in water |
Graduating from TCD with
a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, I realized that I wanted to be able to apply
the theory I had learned in a practical way, to create some useful change in
the world. So, I applied to MSW programs in Social Work in the USA, as many
Irish students did in those days. One of my core criteria was being by a warm
ocean and, by synchronicity, the dean for the faculty of Social Work at Florida
State University happened to be in Ireland at that time. We met and, nine
months later, I was on my way to Florida with a bursary to help with my
studies.
Two years later, I
returned to Ireland and started a career in social work that spanned 15
years--many of them in the UK as the economy in Ireland had crashed. I finally
left social work in the year 2000. By then, I had had two major wakeup calls
with my health, alerting me that I needed to change my work. I finally heeded
this second one, resigned from my social work post and bought a school of
holistic therapies with a friend in the UK. My venture into self-employment had
started, and I loved it. By then, I was also working as a consulting Astrologer
having graduated from the Centre for Psychological Astrology in London where I
studied with Liz Greene and Melanie Reinhart.
Q: How did you get
interested in Astrology?
A: I feel like I have
always been interested in Astrology although going for readings inspired my interest
even more. I spent several years (pre-computer days!) trying to draw up charts
by hand with the help of manuals. This was so frustrating as math is not my
favorite or best subject by any stretch of the imagination. So, many of the
charts were inaccurate! One of the best gifts I have ever received was an old
Amstrad computer that a kind friend passed to me when she bought a new one
together with a copy of ‘electric ephemeris’ that enabled me to print out
accurate charts. It was a real gift from the gods, and I am very grateful to
her to this day. In 1993, amidst a lot of personal turmoil and health issues, I
went to an evening class in Psychological Astrology at a local college. I
remember sitting in the cold classroom (the UK was not too fond of heating in
those days!) with a bunch of strangers and knowing in my soul that I had
finally come home to a part of me. A light of passion that I had never
experienced before was ignited within and has never gone out. I studied with
Cate Reidy for the next six years on a weekly basis, and then attended the
three-year part-time course at the CPA in London.
About 15 years ago, I
discovered that my now 90-year old aunt in Italy has also been an Astrologer
for many years. She is also very psychic as was my mom. My aunt and I have had
many interesting Astrological discussions over the years.
Q: What is Psychological
Astrology?
A: Psychological
Astrology is one of many approaches to Astrology. It was mainly developed from
the work of Dane Rudyar and Carl Jung by pioneers such as Liz Greene and Howard
Sasportas. It is fundamentally concerned with the development of the
personality rather than the prediction of events. Over the years, many branches
and variations of Psychological Astrology have developed including Transpersonal
Astrology, some branches of Evolutionary Astrology, etc. Most Astrologers learn
the basics and then develop their own approach to working with the stars and
planets.
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| Margaret on water, Diamond Head in background |
Over the years, my core
passion has been to explore, teach and work with the tool of Psychological
Astrology to facilitate the study of psyche meaning spirit/soul as well as the
more modern understanding of personality. Hence, I view a birth chart as
offering useful information on themes we came on a soul level to experience in
this incarnation. The chart also offers information on ways we may choose to
experience these themes or not. One of our great gifts as humans is free will
and hence we can choose to live out our chart at its most expansive or most
limited and/or not at all--it is merely a map--we will get to the same
destination whether we follow the map or not! My belief is that we choose an
exact time, date and place to come into this world and, hence, we choose the
exact birth chart that can help us achieve what we chose to come here to do on
a soul level. Sometimes we get into conflict with ourselves as there is a
discrepancy between what our human self wants and what our soul self would like
for our fulfillment. Understanding
our birth chart can often help us more easily align our human self with our
soul self.
Q. What is the relevance
of Astrology right now?
A: During this time of
evolutionary change, Astrology can offer us a map of what the energies are
encouraging us to move towards and how we might best engage with them. As
humans we all seek meaning--why am I here? And, what is this life about?
Astrology offers both a macro overview of the larger picture as well as how it
interacts with us on a personal level. For example--if you are born with your
Sun in the early to mid-degrees of the sign of Capricorn, the planet Pluto will
visit your Sun sign between now and 2017 if it has not done so already. As
Uranus is squaring Pluto in the sky at the moment, he will also connect with
your Sun sign at the same time. The invite for you at this time is to transform
and empower the ‘self’. It is a time to release whatever is inauthentic and to
embark on a new period in life that is aligned with your ‘self’. Being aware of
what is going on can bring comfort and a greater ability to engage fully with
the changes rather than stagnating or allowing fear of the unknown to block
movement.
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| significance of water with Grand Trine in Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces |
Q: Please describe your
practice.
A: My practice has three
main sections: the first and fundamental part is individual and couple birth
chart consultations. I also work with children’s charts. I particularly enjoy
working with relationship, vocation and relocation issues. Most clients come
once or twice a year for follow-up consultations to explore the current
transits. I work in person when in a location and on Skype and phone the rest
of the time. I am also a Reiki Master and I open myself to the Reiki energy
when working with clients. When working with couples, I ideally like to meet
both individuals, but I will also work with one only if the other is unable to
come. I also offer ongoing Astrological counseling sessions that allow for more
in-depth work with the birth chart and the current transits over a period of
time.
The second part of my
practice is teaching. For example, I have just put together a two-year online
certified course in Psychological Astrology with IAA starting in October 2013.
It is a unique course that includes some of the best and most soulful
Psychological Astrologers in the world including: Melanie Reinhart, Lynn Bell,
Brian Clarke, Claudia Bader and Graham Ibell. The well-known Astrologer Donna
Woodwell is also one of the lecturers. I am the coordinator as well as teaching
a portion of the course that I am really excited about.
I also regularly teach
classes in Ireland, both independently and with my dear colleague and friend
Christeen Skinner--author of ‘The Financial Universe’. My connection with my
first Psychological Astrology teacher Cate Reidy also continues as she now
teaches in Dublin as well as in the UK.
I will also be teaching
an online course on Life Transitions for Kepler College starting in September
2013. Whilst on location, I regularly offer seminars and classes from
Introductory to Intermediate level. I am also always delighted to offer free
talks on Psychological Astrology at centers such as Oscailt in Dublin and Yoga
Hawai’i in Honolulu. In Honolulu, I have set up free monthly Meet-up groups to
explore the current transits. One of the meetings is for experienced
Astrologers and the other one is for everyone with no Astrological knowledge
required.
I also offer individual
intensive tuition.
The third part of my
practice is offering mentoring/support to newer Astrologers, mostly on a
monthly basis. I found this very helpful in the early years of my practice as
it enabled me to get feedback on my work and to increase my learning. Hence, I
love offering it to other Astrologers. It is a fun and expansive way to learn
through practice.
Q: How can Gypsy Stars’
readers reach you?
A: The best way is
through email in case I am on my travels.
Soon, we shall meet again. Meanwhile…
Good luck, light and love,
Gypsy Stars
“What is a psychic fair?” inquiring minds want to know. And
rightly so, because it’s a very good question. Most psychic fairs follow a
similar format, although Gypsy Stars has herself been involved in different
kinds.
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