Musing Mystical

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Tag Archives: myth

Astrology’s Higher Octaves, by Greg Bogart, Ph.D.

Astrology’s Higher Octaves: New Dimensions of a Healing Art, by Greg Bogart, Ph.D.
Ibis Press, 9780892541935, 232 pages, November 2020

Astrology’s Higher Octaves: New Dimensions of a Healing Art by Greg Bogart, Ph.D. is a must-read for astrologers! I finished it earlier today, after savoring it over the course of this week, and am still processing all the revelations I’ve had as a result of Bogart’s incredible knowledge and expertise of astrology. While it’s not exactly a linearly progressing book, each chapter has its own theme, I deeply enjoyed reading Bogart’s insight, which he conveys with humility, humor, and profound self-realization.

The content of this book is so utterly refreshing to me because of the unique viewpoints Bogart puts forth about the practice of astrology and all its potential for personal growth, spiritual awakening, and aligned living. By the end, the reader gains an understanding of how astrology can tap us into the imaginal realm and also be the best guide for structuring our daily lives. The multi-facet approach depicts the usefulness of astrology on many levels, offering perspectives that invite an integration of mind, body, and soul as one looks towards the cosmos for answers.

To begin, Bogart describes for the reader his own personal journey that has led him to where he is today. As a therapeutic astrologer, Bogart incorporates psychology with mythic symbolism and astrological timing techniques in order to facilitate healing and stages of development in his client’s life. What really struck me about this is how well Bogart elucidates his methodology and clearly states how he uses astrology to facilitate emotional healing, spiritual growth, and expanded awareness with his clients, which is the primary focus of the next chapter.

Once the methodology is clearly laid out, Bogart bridges therapeutic astrology with dream interpretation. Drawing on the work of Carl Jung, Bogart examines how archetypal energy of the planets is easily expressed in dreams and can help to journey deeper into the mythical experience of working with energy of certain planetary transits. By combining astrology and dreamwork, he helps clients to develop awareness of the unconscious energy within their psyche and in turn have more agency in the co-creative expression and manifestation of these archetypal energies at play in their lives. I personally loved his thoughts on the topic because my entire time in graduate school for depth psychology, I was also studying astrology and directly saw the link between these two fields. I wholeheartedly agree with Bogart as he writes, “In the future I believe the link between astrology and dreams will become a major focus of depth psychology.” 1 Yes, thank you, more please!

From here, the book becomes a bit more grounded and practical as Bogart describes his use of diurnal astrology. This is my only caution about this book: sometimes the material may be over the head of someone just learning astrology. For instance during this whole chapter, Bogart doesn’t explain how one might create their own diurnal chart and for someone who doesn’t fully grasp the transits of planets yet, this section may be a bit advanced. That being said, it was refreshing to read about someone else who lives their life by the stars! Bogart’s explanation of how different plants influencing angular placements in the chart invite different types of energy into the day. He gives all sorts of examples about how the harmony or disharmony of the planets crops up in daily life, and also offers insight on how to best navigate the different energies to find a feeling of flow and alignment with the current moment in time.

In the following chapter, spanning nearly 70 pages and by far the longest in the book, Bogart dives into the topic of vocational astrology. I found this section absolutely fascinating, but that could be my 5-planet 6th house Capricorn stellium speaking, being mercilessly transited by Pluto and squared by Mars in Aries nearly this whole past year. Did I mention Uranus is hanging out in my 10th house? Career stability is something I could use some insight on! All joking aside, this section was truly phenomenal. I appreciate Bogart’s approach because he fills the chapter with dozens of anecdotes and charts for the reader to look at, which really helps with getting a visual for what he’s describing, of both his personal clients and celebrities. Once again, I have to say this section may be over the head for someone who is not familiar with the different planetary aspects (conjunct, opposing, square), but still feel there’s value for even a novice astrologer in this chapter if only to gain an understanding of the premise of vocational astrology. The whole chapter is packed with insight about different models used for assessing one’s vocational type, reference to work of other astrologers who have written on this subject, and in-depth chart analysis.

The book concludes with a chapter on Bogart’s evolving focus on the music of the cosmos, or the sound of astrology. This chapter is simply mind-blowingly amazing. While I’ve read about the harmonics of the universe before, Bogart’s description of how music and astrology can co-evolve together made me perceive the subject in an entirely new way. He writes, “Music and astrology have the power to awaken us to states of consciousness outside the mundane, the profane, to tap our sense of the sacred, our perception of a greater beauty and harmony.” 2 Reading about Bogart’s ideas of weaving together the components of music (tone, rhyme, tempo) with the movement of planets made me wish I could hear the sound of my own natal chart, and I’ve been trying to imagine what it would sound like ever since! I look forward to his new direction and hope it generates a new book sometime down the line. There’s a lot to explore here and all music lovers will appreciate Bogart’s insightful perceptions of link between astrology and sound.

My favorite thing Bogart said in the whole book was about the need to have both structure and improvisation in astrology.

“Rather than just repeating what we’ve read and staying in interpretative ruts, it’s possible to improvise and say something new, bold, and edgy, as long as it’s in alignment with the astrological symbolism. That’s the main parameter — that we stay within the form and that we don’t just make things up. That’s part of the astrologer’s ethical responsibility: to be true to what the planets indicate.”3

All in all, Astrology’s Higher Octaves is a wonderful read for those looking to explore new dimensions of astrology. It teeters on the edge of the field, and gently pushes new boundaries, backed up with a beautiful blend of Bogart’s research and intuition. I was actually so moved by reading this book that I decided to sign up for a year-long program at the Portland School of Astrology, finally taking a leap of faith towards furthering a career in astrology combined with my background in depth psychology due to Bogart’s inspirational writing. I’m excited to see what Bogart has to share in his next book and will certainly be getting a copy of his previously published book Planets in Therapy. He is a wonderful guide for people seeking to explore the realms of psyche and expand their perceptions through astrology to create a meaningful, fulfilling life.

The Heart Path Oracle Cards, by Nadine Gordon-Taylor

The Heart Path Oracle Cards, by Nadine Gordon-Taylor
Bear & Company, 1591433903, 53 cards, 128 pages, September 2020

The Heart Path Oracle Cards tell stunning, evocative stories through rich imagery. Nadine Gordon-Taylor, artist and author, offers us the beauty of the natural and the mythic world with incredible technical skill and a visceral understanding of color. Each of these 53 cards holds the galaxy within them.

Gordon-Taylor is able to render exquisite details in a surrealist landscape. Her intimate understanding of the natural world allows this vivid imagery to come alive. The images themselves are portals, offering an initiation into the energy they hold. Each card comes with text that aids you in understanding the transmission of the image if this visual way of understanding the universe is new to you. The visual depth of each card also allows you to put the book aside for your own journey and information to emerge. 

Gordon-Taylor holds an MFA and EdD. She is a classically-trained visual artist. She has a depth of knowledge of both the natural world and the mythological one. The accompanying book offers a vivid description of what is held within the card itself. She includes a channeled message of the card as well as an affirmation to anchor the energy of that card in your body. It is a helpful tool, particularly if you are a beginner in using oracle decks, to deepen your intimacy with yourself and with the more than human world.

I confess, I quickly put aside the booklet, more drawn to the imagery than the writing. As someone who sits with clients regularly, tarot or oracle deck in hand, I found that these cards deepen the divinatory and narrative arc of the reading. They are generous in how they invite you into the mysteries of yourself, of the natural world, of the cosmic and elemental energies swirling around us just waiting to be acknowledged. 

One thing I loved about this deck as I sat with clients is how deftly it moved from the mundane to the inner realms of the heart to the outer realms of the galactic. Each card holds the human-being experience, and how it is that we root into the earth and reach up to the stars. 

As a white person working with a variety of decks, I appreciate in this deck that there are different races and ethnicities as well as some variation in body size.

There are some cards that feel like initiations into the deeper mysteries. Some cards that remind you it gets better. These cards can be an instruction on your spiritual path. “Programming your Highest Intentions” is a card that invites you to use the power of intention to change the reality of your everyday life. There is a playful irreverence to some of the messages. This artist allows vitality and play as a through-line to her work. 

My favorite card, “The Connection” invites you to take deep breaths. A woman-tree at the center of a grove of trees is circled by lambs and her tree family. Above, helping guides offer peace and love. The trees themselves take the shape of a heart. The use of light and shadow brings both grace and soft intensity. It reminds you that you are always held in the nest of the universe. 

The guidebook is practical and accessible as it speaks to these great cosmic archetypes and energies. It is a tool that will meet you where you’re at and invite you to go deeper into what you are seeing and feeling with the imagery. There is a glossary at the back of the book to support you in your growth and learning, if you come to these cards as a beginner. I celebrate the work to take these profound energies and make them accessible. 

Each card is laid out so that the painting fills the majority of the frame. The text of the card gives both title and baseline instruction. Take deep breaths, setting boundaries, manifest your dreams, birthing a new life. In this way, you can be in imaginal space and communion with the card without having to refer to the book. The book will take you deeper if you desire it. For me, the style of writing didn’t land with how I receive and understand information. 

The Heart Path Oracle Cards are truly for anyone who wants help in deepening understanding the messages of love that are offered to us from the unseen world, from the natural world, from our own bodies and hearts. It is a fantastic beginner deck because it delves into profound concepts in accessible ways. For me, this deck inspires me to get outside, to breathe, and to remember my vital, small role in the great organism of the universe.