Accommodation in Oxford

If you need a place to stay for the Dark Goddess weekend, there are a few rooms in Trinity College itself. It's incredibly atmospheric and, of course, right in the middle of town.
Let us know and we will put you in touch with the right person. oxfordastrology @ gmail.com

The Dark Goddess in Drag

Hillary booking her ticket - just kidding...

Early Bird tickets are now available for the Dark Goddess weekend. Click here to see details of who, what, where, why and, indeed, when.

We are working on a rather extraordinary entertainment for Saturday evening, which may involve cross-dressing, astrologers, Lilith and some 20th century history. This is still in the offing and it does depend on getting some funding, but we'll keep you posted.

Lilith Weekend January 31-February 1

Owl by Arthur Rackham

We are very excited that plans for a weekend devoted to the Dark Goddess and her winsome ways are going ahead.

We'll be expecting you at 10am sharp on January 31 to start an intriguing, exciting, unnerving exploration into the energy and meaning of the many Liliths in your chart.

Over the weekend we will be host two long, detailed and powerful talks/workshops and one short punchy lecture.

Lynn Bell has agreed to come back (the biscuits were acceptable apparently). About her talk and workshop, The Hidden Centre, she writes: "The Black Moon Lilith represents an aspect of self that has gone out of bounds. This can happen in any area of life, sexual, intellectual or emotional, as if something has been heated too high and then cut-off or isolated. Underlying the cut-off is a source of power that has become stuck in refusal mode. Lilith resonates with those aspects of the feminine that have been rejected by a given culture, and her symbolism connects us to something that has been disavowed in our own lives. This archetype is of equal importance for both men and women, often triggering mysterious struggles in relationship. How may we unlock this powerful placement in our charts, and what happens when this archetype is released?"

We're also delighted that Dick van der Mark, chairman of the Dutch Astrological Association and world expert on the Black Sun and Black Moon Lilith will be holding a workshop on the first day. This promises to be something of a revelation for British astrologers. Lilith is used a lot on the continent, but a most of the writing on the subject has not been translated. Dick has been working with Lilith and the Black Sun -- a fascinating notion -- for more than 20 years.

Pamela Armstrong has also agreed to give a short, sharp talk on Dark Moon Waltermath, "The Life and Loves of a She Devil". This is about the other, other Lilith.

As usual, the venue is the Sutro Room at Trinity College -- easy to find, easy to get to. If you need help with finding accommodation, let us know.

We are offering an excellent Early Bird discount because, frankly, the sooner we know numbers, the more effectively we can organise. If you have any questions drop an email to oxfordastrology@gmail.com.

Adultery, Art and Design: Kelmscott Trip

Just to remind you all that we are hosting a wonderful day at William Morris's house Kelmscott Manor this Saturday. We'll be looking at mystery charts, taking a tour of the house and getting our Venuses grooving.

We are giving a few people lifts from Oxford but there's still room for you to squeeze in .

If you have your own set of wheels, meet us in the car park at 10.45. Don't worry if you're going to be late. We shan't go into the house itself until after lunch, because we have some Venus to discuss first.

Get Your Venus Grooving

Kelmscott Manor, near Lechlade, was the final home of William Morris, pioneer of the Arts & Crafts Movement. It dates from around 1600 and has an outstanding collection of the possessions and works of Morris, his family and associates (Benson, Burne-Jones, Rossetti and Webb among them) - furniture, textiles, pictures, carpets, ceramics and metalwork. Included is a set of sketches of the signs of the zodiac and there is an Icelandic sea monster in the garden !

Morris worked as an architect, poet, painter and designer, became a prominent socialist and in 1861 he and others founded Morris & Co, whose designs and ethics came to embody the Arts and Crafts Movement. His designs for fabrics, wallpapers, furniture and glass were to prove a massive influence in Britain (the Laura Ashley aesthetic is a lineal descendant of Morris's rustic nostalgia). This period coincided with Neptune’s last sojourn in Pisces, so maybe the time is ripe for a revival of the movement’s ideals.

We will have the charts of Morris and Dante Gabriel Rossetti to see how some simple astrology illuminates their lives and work, plus the telling synastry of their tangled relationships with Morris’s beautiful wife Jane. The tour of the house may inspire you creatively, so we will especially consider Venus in the charts of Morris et. al and in our own charts, to explore how we as individuals respond to particular styles of art. Probably over some indulgent cake from the teashop. If you wish, bring a copy of a piece of art that has inspired you. 

For lunch there is a café on site and a village pub, or you can bring a picnic to eat in the garden. Please feel free to bring your non-astrologer friends for a nice day out.  

£15 includes entry to the house & garden.

Postcode is GL7 3HJ. There are local signs to the Manor. Meet in the car park at 10:45am. (This is earlier than the previously published time) The house is a 10 minute walk through the village.

Anyone needing a lift from Oxford should get in touch via oxfordastrology@gmail.com.

Kelmscott Manor, the Pre-Rapaelites and Astrology

We will be going on a field trip on September 6 to beautiful and fascinating Kelmscott Manor, home of the artist and designer William Morris.

The house itself is an Arts and Crafts masterpiece and worth a visit just for its own sake, but we intend to go much deeper.

Morris was, of course, one of the Pre-Raphaelites. His wife, Jane, was one of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's muses, and the three of them were involved in something of a love triangle. So as well as the art, we will be talking about the complicated and intense personal relationships within the

Astrologer Kris Lee will be leading the group with the help of his partner Liz, an artist and art historian.  Astrologer Christina Rodenbeck will also lend support.

Date For Your Diary

We are having a general meeting on May 21 at the North Oxford Association in Summertown at 7.30pm.

This is a meeting to decide a general direction for next year and to see what suggestions people have to make. We're hoping that as many people can come as possible so that we can really keep in touch with other astrologers.

Obviously we will be looking at some charts and talking astrology too.

Thank you all for coming

Our minds are filled this Monday morning with magical imagery: the queen on her inverted throne, the never-closing eye of the fish, the baby goat clasped to the bosom of a charioteer.... All came to life yesterday in the Sutro Room at Trinity as John Frawley wove a spell of the sky.

Thank you everyone for coming and making this such a memorable weekend. See you next time!

Frawley's Sunday

Great to see so many old friends and new faces at the talk today. Just to confirm, we are starting at 9.30 tomorrow and finishing around 4.30 -5.00.

See you there.

Drinks on Friday

Actually just vino...

If you're coming to the John Frawley weekend -- and you're in Oxford for the evening before -- do drop in for some early evening drinks at Trinity. 

A glass of wine is on offer in the Sutro Room between 6pm and 7.30pm on Friday, March 21. John will be there and we have a stack of his books for signing.

Look forward to seeing you.

Agenda For John Frawley Weekend

We are much looking forward to this weekend with John Frawley, the traditional astrology meister. 

Many of you will be coming from far afield -- including John himself who will be coming all the way from his home in Warsaw just to be with us. So if you have any questions about Oxford -- food, drink, dental floss, you know -- please ask one of the group on the day or Jackie in advance.

Here is a rough agenda for the weekend. We do hope you'll make it to the Friday tipple. It's very genteel, since we need John to be fresh as a daisy for Saturday morning.

All events take place in the Sutro Room, Trinity College. Just ask the porter by the gate which way to go.

Friday, March 21

Early evening drinks 6.00 - 7.30pm

7.30 pm to the small hours free time to explore Oxford.

Saturday, March 22

Horary Astrology

10 am to 5pm

11.30 Morning coffee and biscuits

1.30 -2.30 Lunch

You’re free to do as you please on Saturday evening. There are plenty of handy restaurants near the college, which is right in the middle of town. Oxford is better-known for its pubs than its fine dining – so be warned!

Sunday, March 23

Traditional Astrology

10 am to 5pm

11.30 Morning coffee and biscuits

1.30 -2.30 Lunch

Academic Conference On The History of Astrology

If you are interested in the history of astrology, you might want to try to make it to this two-day conference at the Oriental Institute here on April 23-24. You may be able to drop by for just one or two papers.

ARAM Society for Syro-Mesopotamian Studies: 

Thirty Ninth International Conference 

Astrology in the Ancient Near East

Papers include

       “Babylonian divination.”

“Stranger Beasts in the Zodiac: Kalendatexte and the Astrological Table in BM 56605”

         “Assyrian Astroglyphs.”

“Eutocius: a mathematician and astrologer from Ascalon.”

                    “The Celestial Roads of Babylon and early China.”

 “Astrology and premonitions in ancient Egypt.”

“The Horoscopes of Cities in the Near East”.

"Light upon Light: The Astrological Theurgy of Shihab al-Din al-Suhrawardi al-Maqtul (executed Aleppo 587 H/ 1191 CE).”

"The Bull of Heaven: Animality and Astronomy in Tablet VI of the Gilgamesh Epic".”

 “In search of truth: Astronomy versus Astrology in the Syriac Book of Causes.”

“The representation of celestial images in the Palazzo della Ragione, Padua, Italy.”

 “The provenance of ‘Arabic’ astrological techniques.”

 “The influence of Islamic astrology on Galileo’s work.”

For more details of times and speakers contact aram@orinst.ox.ac.uk.

Cyclamen, Winter Aconite and Snowdrops

Door to the Sutro Room

Those of you coming on Saturday are invited to take a look around the grounds at Trinity - the first spring flowers are lovely.

Most of Oxford is flood free, except the southern and western arterial roads. If you are coming from London or the North, you can drive right in. If you're coming from the direction of Abingdon or Swindon, you may need to take the ring road around a short way and then head in or park and ride. Trains and buses are fine at the moment.

Get Your Grey Cells Bouncing

Bernadette Brady day is approaching.

She'll be here in Oxford at Trinity College this Saturday, February 15 for a full day seminar. There is still room to squeeze you in.

Here is what the day is about.

Charting Your Life Story
Your natal chart is the map of your character. Add in transits, progressions  and returns and you will see your life story develop as a narrative. Knowing and understanding the potentials of this narrative will enrich our approach to reading all charts.

Bring your natal chart and your brain: Bernadette is one of the cleverest people in England (or Wales) and this seminar is bound to get your little grey cells bouncing.

Just get yourself to Trinity College and ask the porter for the Sutro Room.

Trinity is the college opposite the entrance to Turl Street with the big curly iron gates and the enticing lawns. It's a couple of doors down from Blackwell's bookshop, and diagonally opposite the Museum of the History of Science - choc full of astrological gear - and the Sheldonian Theatre.

You'll need to tell the porter that you're here for the astrology course in the Sutro Room and he or she will send you the right way.

If you're coming by car, park and ride is best.

Oxford is easy to get to by bus from London. There's one every 15 minutes from Marble Arch.

The train station is about 10 minutes walk from Trinity College. 

If you need any help or advice, contact us on oxfordastrology@gmail.com.

John Frawley Weekend

Those of you coming to the John Frawley weekend in March need to make sure your rooms are booked. Many of you will be staying in Trinity College itself - which is very lovely.

If you need any help, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us or click here to go directly to the college room booking website.

Time Change

Bernadette Brady's workshop Charting Your Life Story will start at 10am and finish at 5pm with a one-hour break for lunch.

See you there.

A Tapestry of Rich and Royal Hue: Bernadette Brady

The Vanity of Small Differences Grayson Perry. (Still on in Manchester and coming to Brum in Feb. Hooray.)

I've just been in touch with Bernadette, who is coming to Oxford on February 15 to lead an all-day workshop called Charting Your Life Story.

So thrilled that she'll be here and entirely intrigued by the concept of this day. We'll be charting our lives from birth to the Big D (within reason), looking at the really big cycles -- Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, and how these weave together to create the tapestry of your life.

Do book now so that we can get enough biscuits in. We had a great showing at the Lynn Bell day and we're expecting the same kind of numbers.