CHAPTER SIXTEEN

ASTRODREAMWORK

If you’re looking for another way to work with your oneiric visions, consider using an astrological approach to dreaming, a method I call AstroDreamwork. Given that both dreams and astrology are vehicles for self-awareness, they can work together to synergistically help us access an even deeper level of understanding. As you’ll see, astrology can aid us in accessing and translating the meaning of our dreams, while dreams give us insights that can further reveal the fount of self-knowledge potentiated within our astrology charts and the current zeitgeist through which we are living. Even if you don’t know much about astrology, you may find that AstroDreamwork offers you supernal benefits.

A Traditional Practice

Astrology is a sacred art that has guided cultures throughout history. With roots dating back to Babylonia in the second millennium BCE, astrology has been used for providing counsel and guidance ever since. While it previously was the provenance of priests, physicians, and court advisors, in the twentieth century, it became ever more accessible to laypersons with the publication of the first horoscope columns. Today, as we continue to seek self-knowledge as well as glean answers to larger universal questions, astrology has made further inroads into popular culture.

The connection between astrology and dreams has roots at least as far back as medieval times. It was during this period that court astrologers would serve as counsel for kings, providing them with divinatory insights that would guide their approach to affairs of state, including when to arrange meetings or whether to proceed with battles. Some of these prized insights would come through interpreting the dreams of the nobility, as their oneiric visions were viewed as being divinely informed.

Astrologers today who practice medieval-astrology techniques use these classic principles when working with the dreams of their clients. Some of the notable texts that feature guidelines for this practice include The Book of Astronomy by Guido Bonatti, who, in the thirteenth century, served as advisor to numerous leaders, including Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. Another classic tome is the Complete Book on the Judgment of the Stars by Ali Ibn Abi al-Rijal, written in the eleventh century and translated into Latin four centuries later.

Using these techniques, astrologers create charts for the moment a client asks them a question about a dream they’ve had. From there, they use methods to first assess whether the dream has value in understanding a pressing situation. If the dream is found to hold insights, the astrologer then looks to the planets in certain areas of the astrology chart to try to understand the nature of the dream. They then do further analysis to see if and how what occurred in the dream is likely to manifest in waking life, partially assessed by looking at key features of the Moon in the astrology chart. While this particular approach takes skill and experience, you need not be a practicing astrologer to be able to turn to astrology to access more awareness about your dreams. Following are numerous ways in which you can practice AstroDreamwork.

Your Signs, Your Dreams

Your personal astrology chart holds the keys to understanding the unique signatures that make you who you are. Your astrology chart can help you decipher what your dreams are revealing, while your dreams can unlock the mysteries of your astrology chart. And while astrologers who practice AstroDreamwork may minister to their client’s dreams through the lens of their full natal chart, even a cursory understanding of your personal astrology can give you stellar insights into deciphering your dreams. You only need to look to your Sun sign (what you answer when someone asks you, “What’s your sign?”), and if you know them, your Moon and Ascendant signs as well. (Don’t readily know your Moon and Ascendant signs? Check the Resources section shown here for a way to discover them.) As zodiacal signs express who we are, their characteristics are those that we tap into during our waking life. Knowing about our signs, we can see why it may be that we act a certain way, ruminate about a particular topic, approach situations through a particular emotional vantage point, or find ourselves motivated toward certain activities. These are facets of ourselves that also show up in our dreams.

shown here, you’ll find a list of the twelve zodiacal signs, as well as some characteristics and symbols associated with each. Since the sign that our Sun is in — as well as the ones that our Moon and Ascendant are in — represent core principles of who we are, we may find that their associated signatures appear in our dreams with some regularity. After all, they are reflections of the archetypes with which we are connected, and how we express much of who we are, whether in our waking life or our dreaming life.

A Stellar Approach to Dreams

Here’s a simple AstroDreamwork approach you can try.

▪ Since most people know their Sun sign, first read the keywords associated with yours. Remember that the Sun represents your vitality, identity, and the things that have you shine. And so, if you notice a dream that is filled with many of these themes and symbols, it may be that you’re working through issues related to further expressing your identity and what it is that truly makes you tick.

▪ Now look to your Moon sign. Because the Moon represents what we find nourishing, as well as our unconscious instincts, the sign that it is in gives us distinct insights into what our dreams may be revealing about how we orient emotionally. If archetypes related to your Moon sign are quite present in a dream, it may be that you’re trying to work out some powerful emotional issues and/or gain insights into how you can take better care of yourself.

▪ After that, look to your Ascendant sign (also known as the Rising sign), which signals how we present ourselves and move through the world. It also represents how we perceive the external world and orient to it. As our dreams reflect the way that we navigate through life, their backdrops may be infused with telltale images associated with our Ascendant sign. If your dream is particularly flush with concepts related to it, it may be that you’re trying to solve challenges related to how to maneuver a current situation and/or you’re reconsidering the way you want to present your image to the world.

▪ If you don’t already know them, you can find resources to discover your Moon and Ascendant signs shown here.

THE ZODIAC SIGNS

Aries

Desire nature. Fast movements. Battle of wills. Sharp objects. Impatience. Warriors. Swords. Guns. Head. Rams.

Taurus

Sensual delights. Practical solutions. Slow movements. Resistance to change. Luxury items. Verdant scenery. Flowers. Routines. Neck. Bulls.

Gemini

Dual approaches. Gathering information. Need for variety. Intellectual orientation. Schoolrooms. Breathing. Libraries. Messengers. Arms. Twins.

Cancer

Family orientation. Maternal instincts. Feeding people. Indirect movements. Containers of safety. Kitchens. Gardens. Moon. Stomach. Crabs.

Leo

Artistic expressions. Dramatic performances. Romantic love. Pride. Sun. Royalty. Gold. Children. Heart. Lions.

Virgo

Filing systems. Fitness studios. Digestion. Perfectionism. Crafts. Organization. Details. Agriculture. Pets. Maidens.

Libra

Art galleries. Social gatherings. Courtrooms. Equality. Indecision. Diplomacy. Partnerships. Roses. Skin. Scales.

Scorpio

Buried treasures. Deep emotions. Secrets. Darkness. Transformation. Passion. Money. Toilets. Genitals. Scorpions.

Sagittarius

Foreign lands. Religious sites. Big picture. Truth. Philosophy. Adventures. Travel. Liver. Archery. Horses.

Capricorn

Skeletal system. Old age. Time. Success. Blueprints. Endurance. Delays. Knees. Mountains. Goats.

Aquarius

Futuristic visions. Technological advances. Humanitarian missions. Gadgets. Innovation. Rebellions. Spaceships. Ankles. Urns. Stars.

Pisces

Unconditional love. Blurred boundaries. Mystical pursuits. Oceans. Sacrifices. Compassion. Fog. Magic. Feet. Fish.

Dreams and the Moon

Throughout time, the Moon has represented our emotional nature, the sea of feelings in which we swim, and the tides of our personal unconscious. As such, it also is an archetypal symbol that represents our dreams. There are numerous ways that you can turn to the Moon when working with your oneiric visions.

The Four Elements

Zodiacal signs are often grouped together based upon the element to which they belong. Here are some qualities and symbols associated with each. You may be able to get more insights into what your dream symbols are revealing by looking to see if those associated with the elements of your Sun, Moon, and Ascendant appear with frequency in your dreams.

Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) Flames, spirited action, candles, vertical movements, red, orange

Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) The earth, practical matters, physical structures, sensual experiences, green, brown

Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) Communication, conversations, balloons, wind, horizontal movement, yellow

Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) Water, the sea, faucets, boats, aquatic creatures, blue

THE LUNAR CYCLE

Throughout the month, the Moon moves through a cycle in which it appears to grow with light, reaching the culmination of a Full Moon. It then proceeds to have its illumination wane, receding back to darkness, before it again becomes a New Moon. The monthly New Moon is said to be a time in which we can initiate new beginnings. Several days before this new lunar cycle begins, the Moon holds and projects less and less — and finally an absence — of the Sun’s rays. Referred to as the Balsamic Moon, this is the phase of the lunar cycle in which we’re oriented to letting go and finding direction through connecting to the depth of illumination within ourselves; it’s a time to be still, meditative, and reflective, seeing what arises from the depths of our intuition. As such, it’s also an especially gorgeous time to tune in to what’s being revealed through our dreams.

Many people like to make New Moon intentions, planting seeds for what they want to usher in during the month-long lunar cycle. By doing dream incubation (which we explored in chapter 11) in the last days of the Balsamic Moon and first days of the New Moon phases, we can gain further clarity as to what we may want to hone our focus upon to manifest over the coming four weeks. Before going to bed, ask that your dreams contain directionality as to what is ripe for growth in the ensuing month. You could pose this as a general inquiry, asking yourself something like, “Dreams, please point me to an understanding of what intention I should make for this new month.”

Or, if you want to further target this practice, you can work with the energy of the sign in which the New Moon will appear. For example, for the New Moon that occurs during Capricorn season (the third week of December to the third week of January), you could ask your dreams to share insights with you into objectives you can undertake related to how to be more productive or efficient. Or, during the New Moon that takes place during Leo season (the third week of July through the third week of August), you could request clues as to how to bring more joy and creativity into your life. Look to shown here to gain more insights into what each of the signs represents and therefore what a focused New Moon dream practice could target. You can find a way to discover dates for the New Moons in the Resources section shown here. Additionally, if you know your birth chart, you can get more details into what each New Moon is inspiring for you personally. For example, if it connects with your Venus, the following weeks may bring lessons in love, while if it takes up residency in the 11th House of your astrology chart, the coming month may hold opportunities for community work. Knowing this, you can then refine your dream-incubation inquiry.

Full Moon Dreams

The days around the monthly Full Moon seem as if they are filled with heightened energy. While some people find that they are more likely to have disrupted sleep during this period, others note that their dreams are more vivid and active around the time of the Full Moon. Be aware of any sleep and dream patterns that arise for you during this lunation.

1 Pay attention each month to when the Full Moon occurs.

2 Keep track of it in your dream journal, making a notation on the days that it takes place.

3 See whether the dreams you have around the Full Moon have a different level of intensity or feature certain themes. Note whether your sleeping pattern has a unique quality during this time of the month.

4 After a few months of tracking this, look through your dream journal to see if you can identify any patterns that connect your Full Moon dreams.

ECLIPSES

Each year, between four and seven eclipses occur. Some accord with New Moons (solar eclipses) and some with Full Moons (lunar eclipses). Even if we can’t see an eclipse in the sky where we live, these celestial events are thought to coincide with powerful, life-changing events and reflections. Mark the eclipses on your calendar, and then see if your dreams have a different tone or yield unique perspectives the week before and after them. Once again, if you know your birth chart, you may be able to generate additional insights, since you will know which realms of your life the eclipses are highlighting.

Mercury, Venus, and Mars Retrograde

When it comes to astrological awareness, one of the phenomena that continues to capture many people’s attention is Mercury Retrograde. As it turns out, the retrograde cycle of this quicksilver messenger planet — plus those of Venus and Mars — can be a time when doing AstroDreamwork can be very fruitful. To understand why, let’s start with defining what it means when a planet is in its retrograde cycle. When this occurs, the planet appears — from our vantage point on Earth — to be moving backward in the sky, in motion apparently distinct from that of other celestial bodies. And while the perceived shift is an illusion caused by the paced pathways in which the different planets, including the Earth, orbit the Sun, astrologically, the retrograde cycle of planets is accorded with special meaning.

As the planets revisit territory already traveled during their retrograde phase, we are encouraged to do the same, going back to the past with fresh eyes. Our waking thoughts may feature our retracing of situations that we’ve already traversed…and so may what arises in our dreams. During these planetary retrogrades, you may notice more emphasis on people, places, situations, objects, and ideas from the past in your dreams. And as we reencounter previously traveled landscapes, we may see how our dreams are helping us to craft understanding in our present, based upon further acceptance and awareness of what came before, so that we can move forward with more clarity. And while, from our perspective on Earth, all planets experience a retrograde cycle, those of the trio known as the personal planets — Mercury, Venus, and Mars — seem to be a time when we access insights that inform us on a more individual level. As such, they serve as a stellar focus for AstroDreamwork.

MERCURY RETROGRADE

Mercury is the planet of communication. During its thrice-yearly retrograde cycle, we revisit ideas from the past in order to gain a new perspective, one that can bolster our ability to more clearly share thoughts and move about in the world. To this aim, during its retrograde cycle, symbols of Mercury — such as books, mail, cars, bicycles, planes, computers, and bridges — may populate our dreams. See what they are reflecting to you about learning and communicating from a different angle.

VENUS RETROGRADE

Venus Retrograde occurs every eighteen months, and is a time period in which we reevaluate what we value. During it, we may also find ourselves reconsidering our relationship realm and our approach to partnerships. In the course of its retrograde, symbols of Venus — such as luxury items, money, mirrors, lovers, objects of beauty, cosmetics, and artwork — may appear in our dreams. See how they point you toward further understanding the ways in which you can infuse your life with more worth and richness.

MARS RETROGRADE

Occurring every two-plus years, Mars Retrograde is a stretch of time during which we may find ourselves further understanding just what it is that we desire, as well as how we design the strategies with which we pursue what we covet. It’s also a time to gather more understanding about our relationship with anger and frustration. During Mars Retrograde, symbols of this planet — such as swords, knives, fire, battles, warriors, athletes, sexual pursuits, and the color red — may appear more frequently in our dreams. See how they may aim your attention toward the ways in which you’re reconsidering how you cultivate and direct your energy and will.

Remember to pay special attention to images or scenes that involve reflections of the past during all the retrograde cycles. Also note that it’s often the days around the beginning and ending of these periods in which the themes associated with these planets, and the awareness we’re encouraged to discover, may be more concentrated. Consider paying special attention to your dreams during these nights. Find a way to learn the dates for upcoming retrograde cycles of Mercury, Venus, and Mars in the Resources section.