Q & A for Speaker Shawn Nygaard

What brought you to astrology?

What feels like ages ago, I spent over a decade being a counselor, with a focus on behavior patterns. At the same time, I’ve always been an artist, loving the mythic, epic, and poetic side of life. To my astonishment these pieces came together when I began learning archetypes with Caroline Myss. Patterns lost the grip of literalness and behavior-only. I was amazed. Alongside Caroline, Lynn Bell taught her wonderful archetypal and psychological perspective of astrology, and I was able to connect with a depth in astrology that has kept me fascinated ever since.

Why do you practice astrology? What makes it juicy for you?

Astrology helps me keep in touch with and remember that there is a cosmos wrapped around and inside of our daily lives.

What is your specialty, or focus?

My focus is the archetypal and psychological approach to astrology, informed by Carl Jung and especially the imaginative archetypal psychology of James Hillman. I’m always super-intrigued with what the soul (or psyche) is up to.

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. Over the years I have tended not to go the extra mile for Jupiter, for some reason. This summer I’ve been spending a great deal of time with Jupiter, which has been a powerful reminder on a personal level of my own optimism during troubled times. Re-connecting with Jupiter’s fire has left me “warmer for the spark,” to quote a favorite song.

What is your picture of astrology in the future?

To stay in touch with the imagination is to stay in touch with the vibrant archetypal forces shaping our lives, which is for me the essence of astrology. In the future I can envision folks using astrology for archetypal forecasts and infusing that work with imagination. This keeps astrology not only relevant, but also mysterious, fresh, and full of surprises.

Are there any additional comments you would like to make about your lecture and workshop?

My Thursday lecture about Jupiter in Sagittarius focuses on Jupiter as the “greater benefic.” Given what I said above about Jupiter, I am really looking forward to this lecture!

My Saturday workshop looks at Saturn and Jupiter (both strong in their signs of rulership) through the archetypal lenses of the Senex and Puer. If people are unfamiliar with the Latin terms “Senex” and “Puer” (“old man” and “eternal boy”), they may sound off-putting. However, I will show how these archetypes are alive all around us, in our lives, in the culture, and in our charts. I feel they are deeply relevant to our current times. They are ways of imagining Saturn and Jupiter (and other astrological elements) that help bring new layers and levels to these long-familiar archetypes. I’ve got example charts and movie clips, and also a particularly great example to show how these avenues of Saturn and Jupiter can show up in relationships. I also want to encourage attendees to participate in a conversation about these archetypes throughout the day.

If you discovered a new planet, or asteroid, what would you name it and why?

I’d have to name her “Priscilla, Queen of the Cosmos,” in honor of one of my all-time favorite movies.