Name
Marina
Will you share your big three?
Sun Aquarius, Moon Aquarius, AC Gemini.
How would you describe yourself?
I’ve been called ‘Base’. I’d say I’m an old fashioned Saturnian who loves natural law and traditional values.
Describe what you do
Traditional, fixed star astrologer who specialises in the zodiac decans. Self taught since a teenager, but went full time professional in 2009.
Are you typical of your sun-sign?
With a stellium in Aquarius, yes, if you are using Saturn as the ruler.
What attracted you to astrology and your particular area of interest?
Originally because of an interest in psychology and Carl Jung. Later because of learning traditional astrology, visual astrology, horary astrology and becoming interested in the fixed stars. I learnt that astrology was embedded in Christianity and goes so much deeper than we could ever fathom.
Which areas would you like to learn more/study give more time to?
Mundane astrology.
Which zodiac and house system do you use and why is that your preference?
The tropical zodiac, but to answer why would take a book. The whole sign house system because I like the elegance of house=sign, doesn’t get distorted at high latitudes and works very well with traditional astrology.
If you could travel back and experience any transit again, which would it be and why?
Chiron, Jupiter and Neptune on my Mars sticks out as the most memorable transit as that’s when I took up astrology full time and married an astrologer! It was life changing. Not sure if want to experience that again as it was very ‘super natural’, and the relationship burnt out relatively quickly due to long distance. (Jupiter!) Very much a catalyst transit.
What is the most satisfying thing about being an astrologer?
Never ending questions and research about the meaning of life.
What’s your favorite song and your favourite era of music?
Impossible to pick one song. But right now it’s “for no one” by the Beatles. Otherwise love synth pop, new wave, mod revival and two tone from 1979 to 1983.
If you could be any animal in the world, what animal would you be and why?
Charlie the Unicorn. Because he’s Charlie the unicorn.
What were you like in high school?
Annoying rebellious like a typical sullen goth.
What’s the last thing you watched on TV and why did you choose to watch it?
Upstairs & Downstairs. Because it was made in the 1970s and untainted by progressive programming.
What’s your favourite film/series/show?
Life on Mars and the follow up Ashes to Ashes
Which 4 guests (dead or alive) would you invite to a dinner party and why?
Mozart, the original Paul McCartney, Anne Boleyn and Manly P Hall. Because they are my heroes or their stories fascinate me (Boleyn) and am interested in the times they lived in. I wonder if there was an “original Paul” so I could ask him…
What 3 courses would you serve your guests?
Prawn cocktail (because it’s so 70s), proper Neapolitano pizza and tiramisu. I’d love to see Mozart eat pizza.
What’s the last book that you read and your favourite book?
Pagans & Christians by Robin Lane Fox was last book read. But can’t commit to a favourite book. Too many. Generally would be a non fiction history one tho.
Do you have any advice for the new student astrologers out there?
Do your own research, until you have loads of clients look at your own transits, keep a transit diary. Look at all your friends charts. Nothing like hands on experience. You can read books of other astrologers but best to develop your own unique take and intuition because in the end people will come to you for your speciality, not rehashed interpretations from other astrologers or schools.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I’m abit of a lone wolf and don’t like “schools” 😉
I am a self-taught Brit-alian astrologer and illustrator based in the UK. 30 years of working with symbols and archetypes form the foundation of my astrological approach. For reading natal charts, my technique uses the tropical zodiac divided into decans and incorporating the fixed stars.
Aspect patterns are very important to me and represent the sacred geometry of one’s soul. In 2015 I completed a Horary course with Deborah Houlding, owner of the amazing site Skyscript. I am moving more towards traditional techniques since they are based on natural law, visual astrology and make use of the fixed stars.
The name of the site Darkstar is an oxymoron and describes my approach to astrology and life in general. You can only see the stars in the dark of night and we can only become enlightened by going through the nigredo (Blackening) stage in alchemy. This means facing our shadow.
The Lilith (Dark Moon) archetype and Persephone’s journey to the underworld describe the alchemical process very well. The fixed stars take us away from the earth and into another dimension, but it’s important to keep a balance between the heavens and the earth.
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