Dean’s Update, October 2024

Greetings, FCEA community! We are approaching the holiday season already and 2025 seems just around the corner. We hope that you take a look at our next year’s class schedule, now available on the FCEA website. We tried our best to plan a robust offering to support our ten cohorts (a cohort is made up of students who share the same classes throughout the curriculum). Thinking about joining a cohort yourself? Please observe on our website how the classes flow one after another and read about the topics we cover in the catalog entries for each class. 

As we get ready to wind up the year, I’d like to share some thoughts I have about the course assignments and requirements. It has to do with the ongoing evolution of our school and the kind of education we hope to generate for each and every FCEA graduate. 

Let me start with an astrological reference to illustrate what I would like to share. Here in the United States, we are about to have a presidential election. Now, don’t worry. I have no intention of diving into astrological prediction nor will I say anything in terms of the charts of each candidate. I’ll leave that for you to explore. There is certainly a lot out there in the astrology world already being said! Rather, I want to mention that in the days following the election, Mercury will be “out of bounds” in Sagittarius. In fact, it is at extreme declination until the end of the month.

We all know the low road of Sagittarius can include fixating on one’s beliefs, rather than using an open mind to question what is “true” or expanding into new territory to broaden our point of view. In what kinds of approaches does the universe ask us to stretch our intellect and think of the broader picture in unconventional ways? Let’s add the fact that Mercury enters its “shadow” November 7th, going over degrees the planet will cover when its retrograde period starts later in the month. An interesting time indeed.

Will Americans be asked to question their “truth,” to reconsider their cherished beliefs? We shall see. But let’s look at the birthchart of the FCEA. We have Sagittarius as the sign on our school’s descendant, with Jupiter at 22°30’ in “Sadge” as well in the 7th house. When Mercury stations retrograde on November 25th, it is at 22°40’, still out of bounds and tightly conjunct our school’s Jupiter. 

That 7th house Jupiter, called by some the “great benefic,” is a blessing I feel, though I’d say a “mixed” blessing and here’s what I mean. Our school attracts top-notch astrologers and hardworking folks who act as “teachers” to one another all the time. I can’t help but think of one of the Indian names for Jupiter, “Guru.” Aren’t our FCEA students so great at sharing wisdom, expanding the minds and skillsets of their fellow classmates? I love it! But I also caution us and ask us to consider the low road. As Steve might say, who is Jupiter as “trickster”?

Over the last few years since we opened our doors at the FCEA, I have been in awe of the high caliber of students we receive. And we are just about to graduate our second cohort! We are so pleased with their successful journey. Congratulations to the new class of master-certified graduates! More on this great news next month. But returning to my subject at hand, I also notice occasionally we have students who encounter obstacles when completing their assignments and discussion posts. 

When doing the basics of identification, some students simply rush too much. Others are so eager to include their Sagittarian wisdom (wise though it is!) without proofreading their work. We can’t have this, FCEA community! Of course, grasping the larger picture and practicing integration with an evolutionary perspective is the heart of our work. But it is critical to properly delineate signs, planets, and houses – in essence, you must get the A, B, Cs correct! 

So, I ask you all to consider the following questions during this upcoming time of Mercury reflection and Sagittarius enthusiasm and curiosity: Where do I need to slow down? Be patient as I correct my work? Do I use care when identifying glyphs and chart details? An essential part of an FCEA education is doing chart analysis carefully, and always, always double-check your submissions. We will insist that in order to be that Jupiter “Guru,” the details must be right! And let me add one more closing thought: Please, in turn, be gurus and help us proofread and correct any mistakes you catch in the FCEA curriculum. I am always grateful for your help. We all want the best education we can get.