Dean’s Update, September 2024

Happy equinox, FCEA community! Time to shift into another season as we wind up 2024. Where I live in California, September means “back to school,” and at the FCEA, we, too, return to class. By early October, we will have twelve new classes open. At the start of Libra season, we focus upon the dance we do with others and how good counselors help us find peace and balance in our lives. As evolutionary astrologers, we all benefit from honing our Libra gifts, and what better way than through the counseling room with our clients or in the classroom with our teachers and tutors. With this spirit in mind and heart, I am excited to write to you about our two new tutors at the FCEA, Erin Fish and Shirley Waram. Some of our students may already know Erin and Shirley from their experience this summer in our FCEA 103 class, when they both began tutoring at our school. Let me share a little more about them and welcome them to our growing FCEA team.

A Leo Sun, Libra Moon and Gemini ascendant, Erin Fish first received the gift of astrology from her mother, who had 70s era astrology books in the house. Always interested in astrology, Erin started studying formally twelve years ago with Anne Ortelee and then discovered Steven Forrest nine years ago when she went to Lilydale to see him with several astrology friends. He was the first astrologer to bring a tear to her eye, something difficult for her SN in Capricorn in the 8th house. Steven’s teachings really touched her soul. She studied with Steven through his AP program and attended workshops at Omega Institute and Lake Como, Italy. Erin is retired from a 28-year career (Saturn cycle) as a military officer, as well as a career in state government. She has always wanted to teach and pass on the gift of astrology.  Last year, she completed her certification as an ISAR-CAP astrologer. Erin lives in Upstate New York and, when she is not tutoring, she is busy spending time with her daughter and granddaughter, traveling, playing pickleball, swimming, knitting or watercolor painting. Welcome, Erin! 

We continue to celebrate the Sun’s entrance into Libra with tutor Shirley Waram, a Libra Sun, Sagittarius Moon, Taurus ascendant with five planets in the 6th house in Libra! We are thrilled to have Shirley share with us her gifts of service and mentorship. Like Erin, Shirley was first exposed to metaphysical topics by her mom. But it wasn’t until her Chiron Return, at age fifty, that Shirley began serious study as a professional astrologer. She discovered Steven’s work in 2009 and attended many workshops through his Apprenticeship Program (AP) in North Carolina, North and Southern California, Oregon and Lilydale, New York. Shirley writes about her studies with Steven, “It seemed like the learning curve with this particular field grew the more I got to know about it, and despite – or likely because of – the challenge, I realized this was something I would never tire of – especially knowing that I could help others with it”! Shirley lives in West Lorne, a small town in southwestern Ontario, Canada, located between Toronto and Detroit. She has worked many years in office management and marketing. Now she reads charts professionally with a specialty in rectification. Welcome, Shirley!

Finally, if you have not read Steven’s Master’s Musings, please do! Steven and I are thrilled to be traveling to Greece in April and early May, 2025, and sharing evolutionary astrology together at Steven’s workshop, Astrological Odyssey in Greece, April 24-29, in Athens, and then visiting sacred sites, April 29-May 7, on a Sacred Site Journey. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hear Steven teach in person in Greece, while also going on pilgrimage as a group. Please take a look at our page on the FCEA website and consider joining us on this magical trip!