What is Archetypal Astrology?

In the 1960s, psychiatrist Stanislav Grof was at the forefront of consciousness research, exploring the depths of the human psyche through non-ordinary states of consciousness. During his clinical work, Grof made a groundbreaking discovery: the intense psychological experiences his patients underwent seemed to correspond with distinct, recurring patterns. Through years of research, he identified four basic perinatal matrices (BPMs)—archetypal experiences tied to the stages of birth, representing profound psychological and spiritual thresholds. These matrices revealed a universal blueprint of transformation—from struggle and dissolution to rebirth—that shaped not only individual healing but also collective human experience.

In the 1970s while living and working at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, Grof crossed paths with Richard Tarnas, a young scholar with a deep interest in philosophy, history, and the nature of the human condition. Initially Grof’s student, Tarnas was drawn into the profound inner journeys unfolding in Grof’s research. He began to recognize striking correlations between the emotional and spiritual breakthroughs people experienced and the planetary transits occurring at the same time. Skeptical at first, Tarnas meticulously tracked these correlations, eventually becoming convinced that astrology was not a superstition but rather a deeply symbolic and sophisticated system—one that mirrored the archetypal patterns governing both individual and collective life.

Driven by this revelation, Tarnas went on to write two seminal works:

• The Passion of the Western Mind (1991), a sweeping intellectual history of Western thought, tracing the evolution of philosophy, science, and spirituality, while subtly pointing toward the need for a re-enchantment of the modern worldview.

• Cosmos and Psyche: Intimations of a New World View (2006), where he fully articulated his groundbreaking research into archetypal cosmology—the study of how planetary alignments correspond with and express the fundamental archetypes shaping human experience. Drawing on decades of meticulous analysis, he demonstrated how astrological transits aligned with both personal breakthroughs and major cultural events, from the French Revolution to the creative explosions of the 1960s.

Their work—deeply influenced by Carl Jung’s concept of archetypes and the collective unconscious—revealed that the cosmos itself appears to be ensouled. The same archetypal forces shaping dreams and myths also move through history and individual lives, with astrology offering a map of these unconscious patterns.

Archetypal astrology is the practice of interpreting this cosmological language. It reveals how the planets mirror the deeper patterns within your psyche, illuminating the hidden mythic dimensions of your life. A reading offers more than self-awareness—it offers a sense of deep belonging, helping you recognize how your personal story is interwoven with larger, archetypal cycles.

When you sit for an archetypal astrology reading, you step into this greater narrative. You’ll explore the planetary patterns influencing your inner world, relationships, and life path. It’s not about predicting the future—it’s about uncovering the deeper meaning of your present and guiding you toward a more authentic, purposeful life.

The cosmos is speaking—it always has been. Archetypal astrology simply helps you learn to listen.