What brought you to astrology?
I believe astrology finds us. It arrived in my life in my teenage years when I used the Dell pocket book on my sun sign to get a handle on this emerging identity which had thrown me so totally for a loop. Before computers, I ordered astrology books by mail and learned to set up my birth chart by hand even though I had barely gotten out of my high school math courses alive. Such is the self-centeredness of teenagers that it did not hit me until a year or so later that I could also set up horoscopes for other people and get some insight into their lives. I have loved and studied astrology ever since, appreciating this gift which helps us find our place in a vast and beautifully ordered cosmos.
Why do you practice astrology? What makes it juicy for you?
I use astrology to understand the forces at work in our world and within ourselves. What consistently excites me is watching the planets form aspects or pass through signs and wondering how the archetypes will manifest in our lives. I knew, for example, that Uranus passing over my Moon, the ruler of my Midheaven, would bring unexpected opportunities, but what? As Mercury opposed this Moon-Uranus conjunction, I was contacted by Stormie Grace and invited to appear on her YouTube show in December. I certainly never saw that coming, but am delighted by the playing out of the archetypes of the Moon, bringing my work to the public, Uranus, surprises and technology, and Mercury, communication. I also found it stunning that earlier in 2020 when Saturn, indicating boundaries, entered Aquarius, a sign which builds social networks, the term “Social distancing” entered our consciousness. Knowing the aspects, the planets and signs and their archetypes keeps us in constant expectation of new and stimulating manifestations of their energies.
What is your specialty, or focus?
I am particularly focused on cycles when I read the astrological sky or a particular chart. I love that the cycle of the seasons plays out in all movement of the planets, from the planting of the seed deep in the earth, the breakthrough as the first shoots appear above ground, the full flowering and harvest, and finally the decomposition, and the fruit falls to the ground and the plant decays, giving back to the earth. This cycle happens every month through the Moon cycle but can also take decades as the slower moving planets meet and then move through their cycle. We are all experiencing various stages of these cycles at any point in our lives, making our growth cyclical rather than linear.
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?
Jupiter has caught my attention this past year as it is initiating a new cycle with Pluto and also beginning a new cycle with Saturn. It brings its expansiveness and vision to the more sharply defined and heavier energies of Pluto and Saturn, so it has been interesting to see where and how Jupiter’s gifts are manifesting during this challenging year. With Jupiter considered in its fall in Capricorn, I tend to see Jupiter as our rich and successful Uncle Max who would show up in his flashy convertible, take us out for ice cream, and slip us a $20 bill. But when Jupiter enters Capricorn, Uncle Max has lost his job and can’t make his car payments. Yet he shows up anyway, invites us to ride with him on the city bus to go for popsicles, and can only slip us a couple of ones. Yet he knows hard times never last and he has some leads on a job which should come through as soon as he can get into Aquarius. Watching this fallen Jupiter as work in our world has given me a heightened appreciation for the simple gifts in our ordinary life, and for the value of optimism.
What is your picture of astrology in the future?
The picture of astrology being taught as a subject in high schools and colleges is absolutely dazzling to me. I emerged from my teenage years as a happy person because I had astrology as a guide, and I would love for every teenager to have the opportunity to choose to study astrology. As a subject in college, it would greatly enhance the curriculum for future teachers, counselors, medical care workers, and people looking to work in fields such as marketing or human resources.
Are there any additional comments you would like to make about your lecture and workshop?
I have truly missed meeting with my fellow WSAA members in three dimensions this year. I hope that in making my presentation interactive, we can use the technology to come together as a community to share our experiences of 2020 and to build our optimism for 2021.
If you discovered a new planet, or asteroid, what would you name it and why?
I would name the planet Anwar for Anwar Sadat, the Egyptian president whom I have always admired because of his courageous efforts to reach out to Israel and make peace. He was brutally murdered for his efforts but the beauty of his life and the crucial importance of his dream lives on. I would hope an archetype emerging from Planet Anwar would be “world peace.”
Sally DuCharme as been an avid student of astrology for many decades, Sally DuCharme practices astrology in Gig Harbor, Washington. She writes about astrology and just had her fourth article published in The Mountain Astrologer. She also writes about astrology books on Facebook at Sally’s Astrology Book Club. She loves to talk with people about their charts and can be reached to schedule a consultation via Zoom or phone at sallyjducharme@gmail.com