BDTB2 – Read What the Speakers Have to Say About Their Lecture
As a way of gaining insight into the BDTB2 speaker’s lectures I asked them to offer us a brief preview of their lecture. I also wanted to know who should be attending and what one may expect to learn. Be sure to register for your favorites as seats are filling up quickly.
Here’s what our speakers had to say:
Pemo Theodore – Clarifying All Levels of Intimacy through the Love Asteroids
Saturday, 1 December 2012 6:00 p.m. GMT
Do you ever feel limited trying to understand the complexities about how we relate & our needs in relationship by looking at Venus, the Moon & 7th house? Do you really want to get to the Heart of relationship issues? The Love Asteroids provide incredible detail & clarity when looked at natally in relation to Venus & 7th house. Any relationship when viewed through the lens of the Composite Chart also is brought into high definition & clarity when using the Love Asteroids. Relationships & relating are full of mysteries and understanding the asteroids can help shine a light on what can sometimes appear pretty foggy.
To attend this lecture you need to know the basics of astrology and have an interest in relationship astrology. Be prepared to add new tools to your toolbox.
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Bruce Scofield – What We Really Know About the Mayan Calendar
Friday, 30 November 2012 10:30 p.m. GMT
I’ll be speaking from a no-nonsense point of view about the Mayan Calendar media event that is taking place now. There is a lot of mis-information out there and also some wild ideas floated by a number of self-appointed, non-native, New Age writers and speakers. My job is to present the facts and analyze them.
You may wish to attend this lecture if you are interested in the Mayan Calendar madness that is percolating below the surface of mainstream society. If you are the type of astrologer that is interested in questions like “what is astrology, really?” and “who should we believe when it comes to media events such as this one,” or better yet, you actually want to know something about a subject before letting other people do your thinking for you, you should sign up. On the other hand, if you are seeking some special astrological technique that you could immediately employ in your chart work that will surprise and amaze your friends, family and clients, you would get nothing out of this talk.
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Michael Erlewine – Buddhism and Meditation in Astrology
Saturday, 1 December 2012 9:00 p.m. GMT
I have been trained in meditation and Buddhist practice for over 35 years, read Tibetan, have published several books on meditation and scores of articles on related topics, and have run a dharma center teaching these topics for over 25 years.
As a counseling astrologer of almost fifty-years experience, I have found the traditional mind-training methods of the Tibetan Buddhist an invaluable aid in working with my clients. It is an assumption on the part of many astrologers that the mind, just as we have it at birth, is good to go, and needs no improvement.
Many Asian disciplines point out that our mind, like a dirty pair of glasses, has all kinds of obscurations that can be removed, giving us access to intuitions and clarity in handling our counseling workload.
This talk will be about how best to take advantage of these mind-training methods to improve your ability to help clients.
Professional and amateur astrologers who do readings for their clients should attend this lecture. We know how to read a chart, but we may not have the psychological tools we need to anticipate and best work with the problems that will be presented to us through clients. This talk will help to provide those tools so that we may better serve our clients.
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Joyce Hoen – Prenatal Progressions
Sunday, 2 December 2012 10:30 p.m. GMT
Anyone who has ever worked with secondary progressions can attend this lecture. The lecture however, does not deal with ordinary secondary progressions, but using the same technique, we will regress in time rather than progress in time, thus finding out how prenatal patterns which were operative in our families are part and parcel of our own chart and lives!
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Roy Gillette – Understanding World Change
Saturday, 1 December 2012 7:00 p.m. GMT
Understanding astro-cycles, astrologers learn from the past, but realize we cannot return to it. I will consider the nation charts of USA, China, the European Union, Turkey and Brazil. It is suggested that with Pluto in Capricorn and Neptune in Pisces, “consolidation and kindness”, not “growth” is the solution to world economic and social problems.
Any astrologers fascinated by the incredible relevance of mundane astrology and anyone seeking (or thinking they know) the answer to the economic and social challenges we all face should attend this lecture.
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Christeen Skinner – Harmonics
Sunday, 2 December 2012 7:00 p.m. GMT
Horoscopes can be geometrically simple and easy to read but most are complex. For example, you may not have a traditionally ‘close’ aspect between Mercury and Uranus (often seen in the charts of astrologers) but there will be an aspect between these two planets even if that aspect is not obvious to the naked eye.
Using harmonic techniques you can explore the relationship between any two planets and ascertain the years when those planets will work together most obviously. From the 2nd harmonic (180 degrees apart and a useful tool to understanding relationships) to the 125th harmonic, showing moments when habits and addictions may be broken, harmonics offer extra tools for use in interpretation.
The second, fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh harmonic will be covered. I aim to show which of these you should reach for before the client arrives so as to be well prepared for your encounter.
To benefit from this session you need to be familiar with your own chart and the symbols for different aspects – and that’s all.
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Erin Sullivan – Cosmic Shamanism: The Sighting of the The Outer Planets
Sunday, 2 December 2012 5:00 p.m. GMT
The charts of the sighting of the outer planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto were times of massive metamorphosis in the global experience. Each sighting birthed a new consciousness AND established a new motif/theme of people’s potential, activity, major changes in options in lifestyle and world-views. We will explore the charts and their relevance to new discoveries, alternatives and potentials in the human experience, and what that did for individuals. This talk leads into the interpretation of the transits of the outer planets as “shamans”, in that they lead us to a horizon never before seen and across that horizon to new developments in our own consciousness and options! A powerful tool in counseling people with outer planet transits, as well as analyzing global trends.
This lecture is aimed at all levels, from the early learner to the professional astrologer. Each individual will be able to apply the information into their work/study. The attendee will gain a ‘big picture’ view of the meaning/importance of the Outer Planets – Uranus, Neptune and Pluto as archetypal agencies as well as the powerful long term transits of each of these planets to the natal horoscope.
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Claire Chandler – Astrological Symbolism in Ancient Magic
Saturday, 1 December 2012 4:00 p.m. GMT
Magic is a much used and little defined word and one sometimes invoked along with astrology. Few astrologers have looked to see how astrology and magic actually worked together, know how the ancient world viewed astrology or how that legacy affects and influences our modern approach to these subjects. After all Greek and Latin are entwined around the roots of the English language.
There will be historical content in this lecture, so obviously those interested in the history of astrology would be interested, but I also hope to open up the lecture to cover aspects of magic and astrology and there should be rich food for thought concerning astrological practice.
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Gloria Star – The Astrology of Childhood
Friday, 30 November 2012 8:30 p.m. EST (01:30 a.m. GMT – Saturday, 1 December)
Astrology is an exceptional tool for child guidance, but the concepts and qualities we apply through astrology need to be adjusted when applied to children. In this class, we look at childhood through the lens of astrology, hopefully with vision more finely tuned as we’ve all gone through this period in our own lives! Integrating developmental psychology within a metaphysical framework is both challenging and rewarding. Whether you’re hoping to use astrology to better understand your own children, grandchildren, or students or if you want to gain more insights into your own childhood, this class is filled with great information!
Early intermediate to advanced astrological knowledge will be helpful to those attending this class.
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Greg Bogart – Progressing the Birth Chart
Friday, 30 November 2012 10:00 p.m. GMT
Progressing the birth chart is both the key to predictive accuracy and the means to understand the unfolding of personality over the course of time. This workshop will teach several methods of progressions in a live demonstration format. You will learn about your own chart and also how to apply these methods to working with clients.
Participants should be familiar with the basics of natal astrology.
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Eric Meyers – The Planets and Awakening
Friday, 30 November 2012 7:00 p.m. GMT
I’ll be speaking on the range of consciousness which interacts with each of the planets. We are in a process of awakening, which basically means moving from unconsciousness to greater awareness. Where we fall on this range determines how we partner with each planet. In the darkness of egoic defense mechanisms and survival needs, the planets are used only for self-interests. When we become more awake or enlightened, each of the planets takes on broader roles in our collective evolution. We’ll look at each of the major planets in astrology in light of this important variable.
Anyone interested in spiritual growth is more than welcome to attend. Participants will find an additional framework to understand the scope and functioning of planets. Instead of forming judgments about the planets (benefic/malefic), we’ll explore that how they manifest is completely up to our own quality of consciousness. We are in a co-creative relationship with the universe, and our level of awareness is the prime variable in understanding our role.
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Michael Munkasey – Compatibility: Its More Complicated that Sun Signs
Saturday, 1 December 2012 11:30 p.m. GMT
Compatibility, as one of the eleven “practices” of astrology, holds great interest. Just tallying the large number of astrology books written on this subject shows that. But, just what is “Compatibility”? How is it that a strong attraction of (say) three years ago turns into apathy today? Is Attraction the same as Compatibility? Or is it just one part? Is it the Sun or the Moon (or Saturn or whatever) that astrologers should first consider when comparing charts between two persons?
How would traits like these show in the layouts between two charts: Tolerance for Shortcomings, Communication, Growing along the Same Life Direction, Offering Support, Handling Conflict, Respect, etc.
In the 90 minutes I have for this interaction I do not say that I can cover everything, but I can certainly point out some useful and practical insights that may just improve ways that you can look at two charts in a “Compatibility” way.
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Georgia Stathis – Rulership: From a Modern Perspective
Sunday, 2 December 2012 8:00 p.m. GMT
We all need reminders, refreshers on rulerships, whether we use modern or ancient ones. This lecture focuses primarily on Modern rulership delineation with some reference as a contract and compare to classical. I was a teacher at Kepler College and suggests that without using rulerships we only get half the story when we delineate.
Beginners, Intermediate and even some advanced students and astrologers would benefit from attending this lecture. The idea is to spark some thought or revisit some memory in terms of how we read horoscopes.
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Rod Suskin – Astrology for Spiritual Guidance
Saturday, 1 December 2012 5:30 p.m. GMT
My lecture aims to provide practical ways for an astrologer to help a person find and follow their spiritual path, and to answer questions about their spiritual life without having to resort to any alternative or special belief systems. Too much spiritual advice in astrology assumes the client will believe in things like past lives, karmic lessons, etc., when in fact astrology does not necessarily offer those explanations for the spiritual experience. Many astrologers feel stumped by the question, and many students struggle to find authentic answers to spiritual matters with astrology.
Sticking to well established, traditional meanings of astrological significators, and using standard , well-known methods in astrology, I will show you how to offer legitimate advice based on sound astrology not your own belief systems, and how to gain insight into the client’s needs and ways of construing the spiritual life. I will also introduce just a few lesser known methods to suggest avenues for further exploration and deeper work. I use a mixture of modern and traditional methods while I am very firmly rooted in the traditional approach.
The lecture is aimed at both practicing astrologers as well as experienced students, although even novices will be able to understand and use a lot of the material. The lecture will also help you understand how astrology traditionally deals with matters of the soul so that you can develop your knowledge and ability as an astrologer without having to subscribe to other systems outside of astrology itself.
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Ani Bettati – Planetary Cycles: Saturn
Sunday, 2 December 2012 4:30 p.m. GMT
The Cycle of Saturn has clear manifestations in our lives, because this energy develops the spinal chord of our growth and allows us to integrate higher levels of all the Natal Chart. The energy that activates Saturn through the 12 phases enables us to become totally conscious, and overcome concepts of restriction, fears and feelings of limitation and as a consequence contact with freedom.
We can observe in a chart the Cycles of Saturn and its path through the twelve houses and simultaneously through the conjunction, squares and opposition to the natal Saturn.
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Maria Simms – Becoming Whole
Saturday, 1 December 2012 10:30 p.m. GMT
From the beginning of astrological study we become aware that the signs are grouped into elements and modes…but how deeply have you truly thought about that, for yourself and for each person whose chart you study? When you truly sense…and feel…the ancient elements of fire, earth, air and water, know which element is dominant in a chart, and how it expresses in the person, you have a highly important key to understanding. Then when you consider the polarities or masculine and feminine and the modes of cardinal, fixed and mutable, you gain a deeper sense of who this person truly is. You’ll find it easier to recognize blockages and blind spots, and how what might seem to be a challenge can be transformed into an asset and an ability. Your increased awareness of these basic categories, these tools of the ancients, can become your tools of the Now. You’ll expand your ability to bring your own elements, modes and polarities into a balance that works well in your life, and you become Whole – empowered to creative your future with confidence – and assist others whose charts you read.
This lecture is appropriate for students of every level of astrological knowledge. Technically, we’ll be dealing only with knowing how to identify the element, mode and polarity of each of the twelve zodiac signs and what each means. Then we’ll see how to determine from a simple wheel chart which element, mode and polarity is dominant for the person. In some cases, we’ll see that a chart can “break down” to one clearly dominant sign, while in other cases more than one sign might have equal dominance. Identifying the primary emphasis of element, mode and polarity can be a highly important key to understanding the astrology and the basic nature of a person, including a deeper understanding of self.
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Monica Escalante-Ochoa – Who is Right: Western Astrology or Vedic Astrology?
Sunday, 2 December 2012 9:00 p.m. GMT
I have been a western astrologer for more than 20 years and a Vedic astrologer for more than 10 years. I find both types of astrology really interesting to use to offer better natal readings as well as to provide more effective predictive trends to my clients.
As most Vedic astrologers from the western part of the world I started with the Western Astrology, but as soon as I got the opportunity to know about Vedic Astrology I started using both types of Astrology and finding more precise explanations.
I feel the most interesting part of this lecture is that after giving all the theory we will review some real examples of charts in both western and Vedic form while discovering how effective both types of astrology are.
This lecture should be interesting to all astrologers who have an open mind and believe that there is more than one way to “do” astrology. This lecture will help western astrologers learn Vedic and the Vedic astrologers will learn the basic of western astrology.
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