First Principles Astrology Course
4 Weeks — a foundational course​​
Hybrid (zoom and in-person)
April 5th 5 pm
April 12th 5 pm
April 19th 6 pm (note the different time for this day)
April 26th 5 pm
Takes place at:
Learn Heal Grow
2906 B Tazewell Pike
Knoxville, TN 37918
2024 Eclipse composite by Noah Frere
* This course is designed for beginners,
but also useful for experienced astrologers.
For the beginner, it builds the craft from the ground up, one step at a time. For the experienced astrologer or enthusiast, it provides a depth and cohesive understanding of the fundamental components of Western astrology. It does this carefully, utilizing only the most essential ingredients — or First Principles, which I will call “arche” — which gradually combine and coalesce to form the astrology we’re all familiar with. It doesn’t take any of these fundamental constituents for granted, but gives each one the respect it deserves. The goal of this course is to learn the foundations of astrology — what it’s really made of — rather than to be able to to read charts. There are plenty of courses that will teach you that — and I intend to teach one soon. However, by concentrating on what lies beneath the sacred art, what’s at the heart of it, then you will be in a better position to understand what you’re really doing when you read a chart.
Explore First Principles Thinking
​First principles thinking, a physics concept, is a problem-solving method that breaks complex issues down into their most fundamental, undeniable truths—or "first causes"—and builds up from there.
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A good example is colors: we don't say there's fundamentally a hundred thousand colors in the world, despite the infinite variety. Rather, we study the phenomenon closely, and discover that there's only three primary colors - just three! - from which all the others can be derived.
Image from New York Public Library
The way astrology is currently practiced and exhibited in our US society, as seen in not only Instagram or YouTube, but also in professional workshops, courses, classes and panels, is varied. There are so many brilliant astrologers. However, often there are statements that belie a trend or bandwagon mentality, rather than coming from a deep investigation of the mechanics of astrology. This often leads to misunderstandings, and things taken for granted. One aim for this course is to clear up misconceptions, and to reframe some of the astrological assumptions that run on autopilot. We do not go into reading transits here, or how to incorporate asteroids, or stars, or things like Secondary Progressions or Astro-mapping. That is for intermediate or advanced courses.
We’ll have four classes of 90 minutes each. There are two main aspects to each class. Each Sunday in April, you will receive a 45-minute presentation, followed by a 45-minute activity that deepens your knowledge of what you just learned by having a physical experience with your body, pencil and paper. There will be time for questions after the initial presentation and throughout the activity. If you can come to our meeting place in Fountain City — great! If not, the entire class will also be held over zoom so that you can follow along wherever you are.
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Additionally, you will receive a private meeting with me to address any questions or to discuss anything. There we can fill in any gaps that are unclear, as well as talk about your birth chart if you desire.
I’ve identified eight arche. The structure I have chosen is by no means the only way to do it — and in fact I’ll probably change it myself as I evolve. However, I try to incorporate all the crucial elements, and in the simplest way possible. Here’s a short outline of the course (the roman numerals indicate the arche number):
* Week 1: Intro, Constellations (I) and Celestial Motions (V)
* Week 2: Duality (II): Polarity, Qualities, Elements. Modes (III)
* Week 3: Synthesizing those to make the Signs. Rulers (planets) (IV). Aspects (VII)
* Week 4: Sky Anchors (VI): Houses. Culture (VIII); Putting it all together: the natal chart. An example.
There is a LOT of information in this course, but I’ll present it as simply as possible, and the activities will help to solidify your knowledge. I’m guessing that you will have some “aha” moments.
For example, we often hear that Aquarius is
revolutionary or progressive; but why?
It turns out that Aquarius is not necessarily so…it just becomes so under certain conditions. If you were taught that Aquarius is a rebellious sign, just because, you know — something having to do with standing up for the people and being non-conformists — then I will make a strong case that there’s a huge gap in that understanding of Aquarius.
* Many times,
the traits that we see in astrology are the symptom,
not the cause.
I aim to elucidate the root causes.
As you learn how to think of astrology from a First Principles perspective, you’ll begin to question some of the astrological portrayals that you run into. My intention is not that you replace your current practice with my methods. Not at all. Rather, I hope that you will deepen your own narratives, pierce through the narratives that society presents, deepen your relationship to the living sky and the cosmos, and thereby to enhance your own practice.
3 Price Tiers
Bodhisattva
* This helps to offset those who sign up for the Budget plan
* Includes a 60-minute consultation