What brought you to astrology?
I was always drawn toward the idea of the stars having meaning, but I grew up without much exposure to astrology and not knowing anyone into it. Toward the end of my college years I heard for the first time that natal charts exist: I still remember my instant realization of needing to learn about it as soon as possible and then seeking a book on how to cast and interpret charts. The more I learned about astrology the more I had to keep learning, and I’ve never stopped continuing to learn more and being magnetized by its ability to help me make sense of my inner world as well as the world around me.
Why do you practice astrology? What makes it juicy for you?
Astrology places my experiences within a cosmic framework that helps me find meaning in even the most difficult times. Whenever I am also able to open someone else’s awareness of deeper meaning to be found in past or current challenges, it’s always rewarding in a way that makes me feel like I’m on the right path in my practice.
What is your specialty, or focus?
Mostly natal astrology consultations with a focus of bringing a depth, archetypal psychology perspective toward techniques rooted in the traditional foundations of astrology. I also enjoy writing on my website and giving local talks about the meaning of current transits, as well as placing them in a larger context of planetary cycles across time with correlating historical patterns.
Is there a planet, sign, or aspect you’ve been exploring lately that represents an archetype or energy that feels important to you right now?
Everything about the coming union of Saturn and Pluto is demanding attention of course right now, and as we are also not too far away from a new Jupiter and Saturn cycle, working effectively with the current Jupiter in Sagittarius transit has been a major focus of mine recently.
What is your picture of astrology in the future?
I feel the more recent trajectory toward greater interest in the traditional foundations of astrology as well as their intersection with the Hermetic arts will continue, but there will be a deepening of more imaginative interpretation that brings the ancient material forward in a way that resonates more fully with our diverse modern cultures.
Are there any additional comments you would like to make about your lecture and workshop?
My intent is to make people more aware of the importance of paying attention to synodic phases of Mercury when considering the secondary progressed chart. A lot of astrologers already place a lot of significance on paying attention to the progressed lunar phases for good reason, but I often find that people don’t pay a lot of attention to Mercury in the secondary progressed chart unless it is stationing or making a major aspect to an angle or natal planet. I’ve repeatedly found that in the same way you can craft a narrative about your life through paying attention to progressed lunar phases, you can do the same thing with Mercury due to its speed and the fact that people will live through changes in synodic phase. I’ll be making some symbolic associations with chart examples to help people gain an understanding for how to interpret Mercury shifting between phases of light and darkness within the secondary progressed chart, and how that correlates with their own capacity to mediate and navigate currents within their larger life narrative.
If you discovered a new planet, or asteroid, what would you name it and why?
Circe comes to mind as an archetype resonating with the zeitgeist, though after thinking of it I discovered that she already has an asteroid named after her. Circe is interesting to me in part due to having a recent bestselling novel named after her as well as one of the lead characters in the popular Game of Thrones having the same phonetic name. I like that Circe is a feminine solar deity and also incorporates themes and lessons around the practice of magic, which is one of the most prominent current developments on the rise amongst astrologers today.
Gray enjoys exploring the connections between the stories of our lives with the cycles of astrology. Gray uses the living symbolism of astrology to foster self-awareness and provide guidance centered around the soulful purpose felt within. Gray draws from diverse astrological lineages including the hermeticism of Hellenistic astrology and the depth psychological approach of Dane Rudhyar. Gray lives with his family in Olympia, WA where he serves as a social worker and practices astrology. Gray regularly publishes astrology articles on his website graycrawford.net. He can be reached on email at consultation@graycrawford.net