Dean’s Update, November 2026

In his Master’s Musings this month, Steven describes his first encounter with his principal mentor, Marian Starnes. What a truly extraordinary soul Marian was! So very “marian” in her beloved role as teacher. I love how Steven humbly admits that her profound wisdom touched his heart: True prophets do not revel in being right – instead they revel in deepening our wisdom, helping us to avoid unnecessary pain, and empowering us to change.

I’d like to share my own initial encounters with Steven as a mentor and how I humbly tried to embrace necessary change in order to find my own authentic path. In the late 1980s, I was a graduate student living in Seattle, when I often found myself wandering into Maggie’s Nalbandian’s astrology shop next to the university where I was studying. I was fortunate to be introduced then to Steven’s The Inner Sky and The Changing Sky. I was even able to see Steven speak in person. So exciting for me at that time! But it really wasn’t until I experienced my Chiron Return many years later and the critical event of my Progressed Sun entering Pisces (I was 50 years old. I am now 62), that I took the deep dive into studying with Steven via his in-person meetups in the Apprenticeship Program (the “AP”). That’s when I met Paula Wansley, our business manager, as well. Paula did priceless work helping to organize the AP in Southern California.

My very first “AP” gathering was a remarkable Uranian wake up call for me. Transiting Uranus and the Progressed Moon both lined up with my natal 1st house Aries Jupiter. Just prior, I was on sabbatical from my college job and I was living in Guatemala. I saw an online video about the AP and in it, I heard Joan Kiley speak about how meaningful the teachings were. Joan and I eventually became good friends and we still meet with other “AP grads” in a Zoom group each month. She and other “APers” truly became my beloved family. That first year, I called the organizer, Joyce Van Horn, to see if I could join the Northern California AP the following fall, and instead she said, “We have an opening in early March. Would you like to come?” Well, if you took a look at that March chart of the AP event, you’d say the now-classic line, “You just can’t make this stuff up!” It was truly a remarkable time of synchronicity and evolutionary change for my soul.

The Northern California AP met twice a year back then at a place called Mountain Home Ranch. I could easily fill up my article with wonderful memories of the community gatherings and shared camaraderie we all felt there. What a gift to have these days and nights together! The immediate connection of heart and soul I felt with Steven was beyond words. But perhaps the best visual image to share with you all of our cosmic meeting was a moment in the classroom, involving two of my favorite barnyard animals on the ranch. We were in the middle of class session and two goats marched right on in down the main aisle and came together at Steven’s feet. Excuse me if it seems as if I take this too personally to heart! But, for me, these goats walking in sync together became immediately an archetypal symbol. Catie and Steve, Capricorn goats, falling in line, mentee and mentor, with work to accomplish and a mountain to climb!

As a teacher myself, I know the beauty and power in such 6th house relationships. Student learns from teacher, teacher learns from student. True prophets do not revel in being right – instead they revel in deepening our wisdom, helping us to avoid unnecessary pain, and empowering us to change. Now, years later, I continue to learn from Steven every day and I hope (in all humility) he learns from me. Uranus now in Gemini invites such flexibility, such radical ways of being.

Since the events of this past August, our school has been going through heartfelt reflection on the mistakes that were made during a podcast Steven had produced as a LILA project with Ricky Williams. Part of this work has involved thoughtful internal work with professional counselors. We are most happy to report that we feel empowered to change. The FCEA staff have always maintained our firm commitment to diversity and equity, while recognizing the needs of all our students and members. We continue to make this a top priority and so we are all grateful to Steven, our staff, and our counselors for the work we have been doing to address concerns raised after the release of the podcast. Like two goats climbing a mountain, we take care with each step and, in the process, we strengthen our mission and goals at the FCEA: to share the master teachings of a gifted wise soul, Steven Forrest, while also recognizing as well, that every prophet empowers us all to change.

Catie Cadge, PhD
November 2026