Asteroid astrology
The DEEPsee approach to astrology is all about revealing unique personal details that are hiding in plain sight in your natal chart. Highly individual traits, connections and clues that are simply ignored if the analysis of a chart is limited to planets, zodiac signs and houses.
Asteroids are a relatively new source of information in astrology. Basically, they add a lot of detail. It’s like using a more powerful telescope to look at the astrological sky. While the ‘influence’ of asteroids on current events can be seen quite clearly, DEEPsee asteroid readings are not aimed at predicting events. The goal of an asteroid reading is to add more detail to a previous analysis of your natal chart. So if you already have a pretty good idea about the basic structure and dynamics of your natal chart, but you still have important questions, an asteroid reading might give you the answers.
3 asteroid readings
Asteroid astrology is fascinating, but a full analysis of a natal chart would take many hours of work and it would probably result in information overload, because there are literally thousands of asteroids that we can choose to work with. That’s why i offer 3 different ‘standard but personalized’ asteroid readings that will give important insights without overwhelming you with too much detail.
The basics: heavy hitters check
The heavy hitters are asteroids that can really throw off a ‘regular’ natal chart analysis, that mostly covers planets, their zodiac signs and houses. What do i mean by that? Let’s say you have a really good Mercury placement in your natal chart – at least according to tradition – but somehow that doesn’t seem to make sense. The reason might be that you never noticed your Mercury is conjunct a ‘malefic’ asteroid like Chaos, Eris or Nessus. In other words: if you know the placement of these heavy hitters in your chart, certain patterns, traits or events may finally start to make sense.
Think of the heavy hitters check as a kind of ‘sanity check’. I look at 50+ asteroids that can potentially have a strong impact, but i only note the ones that are actually conjunct planets or important sensitive points (within 1 degree). The others are neglected, so to speak.
Asteroids conjunct the Sun are also relatively important. In fact, the most important asteroids in your natal chart are often found within 1 degree of the Sun. That’s why the heavy hitters check also includes a look at relatively important asteroids close to your natal Sun. And although Moon-asteroids are usually less prominent, we do the same analysis for the Moon.
If you want to know more about a certain theme (like relationships, career etc.) we look at the condition of 5 relevant asteroids. Alternatively, if you have a special interest in certain asteroids, we can also analyze up to 5 of them individually.
Name-asteroids (for example Anna, Julia, Diana etc.) can either point directly to you, or to people who are important to you. Two name-checks are also included in this reading.
Refining the picture: coloring the planets
We all know the symbolic meaning of Venus and Mars. But what happens if a notable asteroid like Bellona (a feminine version of Mars) is conjunct your Venus? A planet’s symbolic fingerprint can be altered quite a bit by the mix of nearby asteroids, just like seasoning a dish alters the flavor. This effect is most noticeable with the personal planets, but asteroids can also add detail to the expression of the outer planets in your natal chart.
This reading is all about adding more nuance and color to the planets in your natal chart:
The most personal reading: deeper into destiny
Astrology can be a great tool for holistic self-exploration on a deep level. But if you want more clarity about ‘cosmic’ themes like your destiny, or the tools you have at your disposal to overcome certain obstacles, you will need a bit of preparation. Both psychologically and philosophically.
In my opinion the ‘deeper into destiny’ reading can only be really valuable if we have somewhat compatible ideas about life, the universe and everything. So how can we approach some of the ‘big questions’ while avoiding confusion? My solution is to only do readings about topics like karma and fate after an intake session. If our ideas don’t match, i don’t charge you and i don’t do the reading.
The problem is that unlike for example Jyothish, Western astrology has no common philosophical framework. Find out more about the specific philosophical ideas behind my readings.
During the intake i also collect personal information. Certain clues that are hidden in the natal chart can only be found if i have an idea of what i should be looking for. This is not some form of ‘cold reading’. As an example, an asteroid named after a famous artist may be relevant to you, but i would need to know a few things about your relation to art to be able to do the detective work effectively.
Limitations
To be very blunt, i don’t do readings to accommodate New Age fantasies. Similarly, i’m not a big fan of the Theosophical mindset. Also, i can’t help you if you want astrological ‘proof’ that in a previous life, you were… [whatever] or in a next life you are going to be… [whatever].
I’m ok with doing readings that build on an Evolutionary Astrology-style interpretation of the natal chart but please know that in my opinion, the role of Pluto is over-emphasized. As for Hellenistic and Medieval interpretations of the natal chart, it really depends on the way you as an individual deal with a mindset rooted in a culture that existed more than 500 years or even 2000 years ago. But if you have more or less the same perspective on fate as Vettius Valens, that’s a perfect place to start!
Elements of the analysis
When it comes to matters of karma, fate and so on, probably the first elements to check are the lunar nodes (Rahu and Ketu). Asteroids within 1 degree may point to important themes, or on the other hand to relatively superficial correlations that do have a predictive quality.
Lot of the Daimon
Next are the Lot of Fortune and especially the Lot of the Daimon, which is a foundational element for this reading. For a better understanding of what the Daimon represents, please read Daimonic Reality: A Field Guide to the Otherworld by Patrick Harpur and/or The Daimon and the Soul of the West by Bernardo Kastrup. For astrological context see Dorian Gieseler Greenbaum’s excellent study The Daimon in Hellenistic Astrology. A note for those who have a solid background in Hellenistic techniques: based on my own experience i see no reason to ‘switch’ the formula based on sect.
Galactic Center
Next is the Galactic Center, which points to the role that spirituality and religion play in our life. Like the Lot of the Daimon, the GC isn’t very popular so to speak, but for this specific reading it is highly relevant. In fact, it is so powerful that we also take a good look at the squares of the GC. These points can give detailed information about fundamental lifelong issues or patterns of frustration, and obstacles that can not be removed, only accepted. (Note that astrologers with less deterministic ideas about the natal chart would disagree with this view. This is exactly why philosophy matters.)
Relevant asteroids
There are also a few more ‘general’ asteroids that may or may not be relevant, like for example Fortuna, Karma, Moira and Tyche. And based on the intake session a few thematically related ‘deeper’ asteroids (typically Centaurs, Plutinos and Cubewanos, like Huya and Ixion) may be included, which often point to more subconscious psychological themes or qualities.
Ascendant and Midheaven
For contrast, the deep and lesser known elements are combined with an analysis of the familiar Ascendant and Midheaven, and if it’s relevant we also include Black Moon Lilith and asteroid Lilith.
A note on signs and houses
You may have come across asteroid resources that offer interpretations based on the sign or house an asteroid is in. In my opinion this practice is based on unexamined assumptions, or on tradition, but not on actual experience. Generally speaking the sign or house an asteroid is in doesn’t matter.
Think of it this way: the orbs for asteroids are very small (1 degree) and while conjunctions with sensitive points (Ascendant, Midheaven, nodes, midpoints, lots etc.) are all relevant within a 1-degree orb, a 30-degree sector is simply too large to make sense. In my opinion the only exceptions would be the ‘big dwarf planets’ Ceres and Eris and maybe the duo Haumea and MakeMake.
Learn more about asteroid astrology
Unfortunately there isn’t a lot of mature work on asteroids (yet). If you want to learn more, i highly recommend the asteroid books by Benjamin Adamah. There are other authors who have made really valuable contributions but Benjamin is – in my opinion – the only one who offers a systematic approach to a large number of asteroids. In my experience almost all of his delineations are correct.
Some ‘extended’ techniques
In addition to working with Benjamin Adamah’s foundational interpretations, i have also developed a few ‘extended’ techniques, mostly based on linguistic aspects of asteroid names. I have also developed a simple technique for measuring the relative importance of bodies, based on the so-called Golden Aspects, described by Theodor Landscheidt and derived from the Golden Ratio. I’m open to doing workshops about these topics, so feel free to contact me.
Asteroid science
I’m very curious about the new field of asteroid astrology, and i’m even involved in science-grade quantitative asteroid research together with my highly esteemed colleague Renay Oshop. If you’re also interested in doing research and want to discuss strategies, experimental design, statistical benchmarks, reception of results by the community/journals etc. contact me.