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.