Tending to Wisdom’s Sacred Flame

Tending to Wisdom’s Sacred Flame

Dean’s Update, November 2023

Tending to Wisdom’s Sacred Flame

 
 
0:00 / 0:00
Dean's Update
 
Greetings, FCEA community! The holidays are here and solstice is almost upon us. 2024 is just around the corner. We are excited for a new year of growth and expansion of the FCEA program in the year ahead. I feel so blessed to have all of you as my friends and colleagues. What a pleasure to work each day with fellow passionate evolutionary astrologers, learning and practicing Steven’s methods and sharing wisdom. 
Next year, we will see our very first graduating class finish their studies and receive master certification. Congratulations for all your hard work, master practicum students! It has been a pleasure to join you in your educational journey these past three years. I learned so much from you every step of the way! I am confident your skills and gifts as evolutionary astrologers will help many souls discover the fine nuances of their birthchart and that you will offer precious words of counsel in the years ahead.
We are excited to open FCEA 401: Sacred Counsel in January. This counseling course will complete the FCEA degree program, providing critical assistance in perhaps the most important aspects of our jobs as evolutionary astrologers. How best do we work one-on-one with clients, how do we lay the foundation for a strong rapport and how do we resolve potential conflicts or wrestle with obstacles inevitable in the counseling room? How do we best honor diversity, recognize and respect each individual coming to us for guidance? And then how do we care for ourselves while doing this critical work of service? We developed a series of modules to help you reflect upon these important topics. We see FCEA 401 as a final step, an essential one, in bringing the FCEA educational journey to certification to completion. 
Hold tight! More 400-level classes addressing various advanced topics will be available in the near future as course electives as well. We have been growing slowly with care under Saturn’s practical limits (the ringed planet is in the FCEA’s 10th house by transit as I write, soon to enter the 11th next year), while we plan for Jupiter crossing the school’s ascendant in late May.

As we grow in size, Steven and I have high hopes for expanding the richness and diversity of course offerings in the year ahead. The journey continues. We are excited! We hope you are too.

 

As the year comes to a close, I have one sad announcement. After two years of work with us, Tutor Bryan Colter will be leaving us in order to pursue some of his own independent projects as an evolutionary astrologer. Bryan has played a critical role as tutor and mentor for our 300-level students, leading a much-loved Saturday Zoom class. Bryan has been so committed and supportive of our whole community, gracing us with his wisdom, kindness and love. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors! Thank you, Bryan, for all your hard work and talents. We will miss you so much.

 

We close down the FCEA doors for the holiday season from December 1st through January 10th. Last study group call is November 21st. Registration is still open during the holiday break and self-paced courses remain in full swing.
Before I end, let me share with you our excitement over our upcoming Holiday Celebration on November 30th at 5:00 pm Pacific time. Steven will address the upcoming Jupiter and Uranus conjunction in Taurus next spring. Such a rich topic! How do we have faith and hope in 2024 and yet contemplate the Uranian surprises undoubtedly in the works for all of us? We will open the conversation up for questions and sharing in a holiday spirit of love and community. Please join us! Happy Holidays to all!
 
Catie Cadge, PhD
November 2023
 
 

Questions Touching on Shadow Work

Questions Touching on Shadow Work

Dean’s Update, October 2023

Questions Touching on Shadow Work

 
 
0:00 / 0:00
Dean's Update
 
We are just about in the middle of our fall semester here at the FCEA. Always around this time, we have our mid-course Q&A Zoom calls. I love getting a chance to connect and touch base with so many of you! This fall, I am glad to hear our courses are going so well. But we are at the start of Scorpio season now, so I am going to dive into the truth, even if it involves a little “shadow work.” You see I’d like to encourage more students to take an active interest in attending our class orientation and Q&A calls. Sometimes students mention they want more Zoom interaction at the FCEA. These calls are a PERFECT way to do just that! Hmmm…why do students say they want more Zoom, but then not follow up with attending?
We typically have a good attendance for the mid-course Q&A calls, but still we often miss a good third of our class enrollment. Why is this so? Students often love our Zoom calls, where everyone gets to meet the teacher and tutors, as well as fellow classmates. So I am giving a big “shout out” – please try to attend our course calls. The calls are always recorded, but having a live conversation with the teacher or a tutor is so helpful. We are here to answer questions and share chart analysis together. The opportunity is always there.
On a similar note, we have created new courses: 101Z and 201Z, composed entirely of Zoom interaction with a tutor and a small group of classmates. We listened to your request for more Zoom learning experiences. However, again, enrollment needs a boost. The class enrollment is limited to five students and we need four to make them run. We have yet to see many students following through on enrollment and taking an active interest in these new classes. Please consider them an option in 2024!
I also want to share with everyone that the structure of the FCEA curriculum has a really clear mission and design. We start off with Zoom interaction through the orientation and Q&A calls for the new folks working through the 100-level and continue this basic approach into the 200-intermediate level. Steven and I chose to make most of the student contact occur in written format at these early stages, because we believe learning best takes place when students actively apply what they are learning.
Now don’t get me wrong – I do see the value of our course Zoom calls and also our popular study group calls on Zoom. But such methods of instruction emphasize passive learning, when many students sit back and listen and less time is involved with putting both our mind and heart to applying our skills in chart analysis. Just pay attention to these calls – mostly the same students speak up and, well, some students simply remain quiet, while a tutor takes center stage. In FCEA 103 and 200-level FCEA classes, students must take an active interest in posting in discussions and completing written assignments. And it is hard work! First and foremost, we hope to train talented and skilled evolutionary astrologers who can do the work. But it just takes patience to see it unfold.
Recently, I had an email exchange with one of our advanced 300-level students currently taking the 306 Master Practicum with Steven and myself (she humbly asked to remain anonymous). She shared with me how impressed she was by the sheer talent and thorough work her classmates demonstrated. Steven and I totally agree! It is truly a gift to listen to them explain chart analysis in our 306 Practicum class. Their comments are clear, concise, and beautifully spoken. In response to our discussion about how well the 306 students were doing this fall, this advanced student shared with me:
 
“I was reflecting yesterday on how impressive my fellow 306 classmates’ interpretations have been, and I can look back and see it is a result of the program slowly becoming more complex over the last 3 years! It seems to me that a student who doesn’t participate fully would have a very hard time in the 300 levels, so I’m happy that you have set this standard.” 

 

Please try to see the beauty of participating and working diligently to learn our sacred craft. Realize homework and written analysis in forums are invaluable as learning tools. I am confident you too will feel eventually like this 306 student does today!
In the 300-level classes, you enter the next stage in the FCEA “ladder” of learning. It is worth the wait. Once doing the difficult tasks of thinking, writing and applying your skills through forums and assignments, advanced students hone their skills through class presentations and Zoom dialog with a tutor in conjunction with written work. And we are improving these 300-level courses each time we offer them. We are fine-tuning our course scheduling in advance to better assist students to find times the Zoom sessions will work for them. In 2024, we anticipate offering meeting times and days in advance as best as possible to help smooth this transition from 200- to 300-level class participation. We listen to you and we are making strides to improve our classes each step of the way.

 

Catie Cadge, PhD
October 2023
 
 

Meet Our Four New Tutors

Meet Our Four New Tutors

Dean’s Update, September 2023

Meet Our Four New Tutors

 
Catie Cadge
Greetings, FCEA family! I write to you on equinox, the start of our fall season here in California. The Sun’s ingress into Libra sets the stage for us to work closely one on one and help each other calm down and find peace in learning our sacred craft. The south node in Libra and north node in Aries ask us to move beyond superficial pleasantries and have the courage to take the initiative in forging our path. In this spirit of both collaboration and stepping into new frontiers in bold Aries fashion, I am thrilled to announce that we have hired four new outstanding tutors to join our growing FCEA team. We welcome Fern Vuchinich, Lisa Jones, Harry Farmer and Vernon Robinson. They began serving as tutors at the end of June. This month, they officially come on board, so expect to see them in several classes this fall and in 2024.

Let me take a moment to briefly introduce them to you.

 

Fern Vuchinich

 
Fern Vuchinich and I met through the Southern California apprenticeship program (AP) with Steven prior to the opening of the FCEA. I am so happy to have her working for us. Fern began walking the “astrological path” over 30 years ago after receiving her first professional astrology reading in college. Around this time she also met and started learning from her first mentor Asata Gabriel. Artist, astrologer and all-around wise woman, Gabriel taught Fern over the course of 25 years about astrology, intuition, technology, plant medicine and so much more. In 2006 Fern joined Steven Forrest’s Southern California AP, which she returned to several years in a row. She received Forrest certification as a Master Astrologer in 2018. Fern has been a practicing counseling astrologer and teacher since 2003. She has published widely, specializing in Ancestral Astrology work. Fern has also received advanced training and degrees in many modalities of healing including: acupressure, essential oils, energy healing, flower essences and bodywork (eastern and western). She has been a teacher for all ages and holds an M.A. from Sonoma State University and a teaching credential from San Francisco State University. As a Virgo Sun, Libra Rising with Venus in Cancer she enjoys gardening, making herbal remedies and nesting. She resides with her partner and dog family in the mountains of Northern New Mexico.

 

Harry Farmer


I learned about Harry Farmer’s skills from our tutor, Ryan Evans, who knew Harry from the Northern California AP with Steven. A lifetime resident of California, astrology entered Harry Farmer’s life in his mid-late 20’s, soon becoming a source of deep understanding of his life’s journey, as well as providing support and clarity during very challenging times.  And while for many years he had a quite active astrology practice, serving clients, writing columns and articles, and doing a daily radio cosmic weather forecast, other professional opportunities have needed to be addressed over the years, from working in a mental hospital for the criminally insane, to many successful years as a disc jockey/interview host, gardener and environmentalist, to currently serving on the Board of Directors of the local Water and Sewer Services District. He also shares daily walks in nature with his current special canine companion Chiron. His first love continues to be astrology, assisting others in having a greater awareness of themselves and their own unique life purpose, providing insight, encouragement, and healing energy, especially in redefining times of crisis as opportunity.  He also has very fond memories of many years attending Steven’s Apprentice Workshop in Calistoga, California, sharing joyful and enriching times with fellow astrology students while learning from Steven. Harry is an 11th house Leo, a Capricorn Moon and has strong Virgo placements. A hardworking and passionate teacher, I look forward to working with him.

 

Vernon Robinson

 

Vernon Robinson and I have crossed paths over the years first through Steven’s AP, then at numerous conferences. I am excited to have Vernon sharing his many skills with our students. He has been studying astrology for over 30 years and involved in Evolutionary Astrology for the past 20 years.  Vernon has been counseling clients for 15 years. He has a Masters Certification in Evolutionary Astrology from Steven Forrest. He attended the last public class taught by Jeffrey Wolf Green in Boulder, Colorado in April, 2004.  Vernon has presented at Rocky Mountain Astrology (ROMA), Denver Astrology Group, Northwest Astrology Conference (NORWAC) and the San Francisco Astrology Society (SFAS). He is currently working on research for a book about the astrology chart of the First African Slave Ship coming to Hampton, Virginia in 1619. Vernon is an 8th house Capricorn Sun with a Pisces Moon in the 11th and Taurus ascendant. Surely, he will take FCEA students to a deeper level in their studies with his hard work and caring soul.

 

Lisa Jones

 

Lisa Jones is last to be introduced, but certainly not least! Lisa and I met “down under” in the Australian AP in 2016 and I immediately sensed Lisa’s passion for evolutionary astrology and Steven’s methods. She shared with me that “she is really thrilled to be part of FCEA world; it is a real honor and is super exciting to be supporting and sharing astrology wisdom with everyone.”
Lisa met Steven over 15 years ago as a modern astrologer. She was fortunate enough to facilitate 20 apprenticeship programs (AP) both in Australia and Europe. Completing master level certification with Steven as well as various studies, including Astrosynthesis certification, a diploma in counseling and group work, and her other love, working with Australian bush flower essences with advanced certification, Lisa creatively nurtures these skills in conjunction with evolutionary astrology. Lisa is presently completing her OPA certification and she is the OPA Australian Satellite. With the Sun in Sagittarius and Moon in Capricorn, both in the 11th house, Lisa feels it was mapped out to be working with groups of people, doing something different! 
Very family orientated, with five children and six grandchildren (some of her greatest teachers!) and with a deep appreciation for music, the water and nature, Lisa’s other love of travel has her creating wonderful astrology retreats in various destinations. When at home, her practice is on the east coast of Australia. 
 
Please join us in welcoming Fern, Harry,Vernon and Lisa when you meet them on our Zoom calls or in the classroom online. We are so lucky to have them share with us their astrological wisdom and many talents at the FCEA. 
 
Catie Cadge, PhD
September 2023
 
 

Late Summer Transits of Transition

Late Summer Transits of Transition

Dean’s Update, August 2023

Late Summer Transits of Transition

 
Catie Cadge

We are on the threshold of our first FCEA “summer” break. I hope everyone enjoys a little rest and relaxation before classes resume in September. I put the word, summer, in quotes, because, of course, we have FCEA students and members all around the world and, for some down in the southern hemisphere, I wish them a joy-filled winter recess.

Here in my home in California, it feels as if summer has zoomed by in a wink of an eye. Busy transitions are in place at our growing school. Let me welcome our many new members and students! I look forward to the new cohort of students joining our 100-level guided program beginning September 20th. There’s still room if you find yourself, or perhaps a friend, eager now to learn our sacred craft. But I have other news to share as well, some sad, some more like a Saturn time in feel, other announcements align more with Jupiter. Let’s start with Saturn challenges first.

One of the hardest tasks I find I face as FCEA Dean is keeping our tutors happy, motivated and eager to share their wisdom. But we all know Saturn can bring endings and a process of maturation involving difficult effort for a soul (Or in this case, our school. I am thinking of Saturn’s transit in the FCEA’s 10th house, moving retrograde now). Saturn’s call to task was evident in my summertime work to train and guide seven new tutor trainees. I will provide a formal introduction to our new tutors in September, when the hiring process is confirmed. I am thrilled to be working with this new talented group! But as one could expect, there have been some ups and downs and a learning curve for everyone, especially in light of the distinctive tutoring environment of Moodle, our learning platform. I’m including this Saturnian roller coaster of roadblocks and challenges, because I want to thank FCEA students and staff for your patience and love you have shown our new trainees. All are top-notch evolutionary astrologers; it just takes some hurdles to get the nuts and bolts of working in our classes down.

Marie O'Neill

On another Saturn note, we say goodbye to our tutor and teacher, Marie O’Neill. Marie is stepping into new endeavors and taking her flourishing career as an astrologer and writer in fresh directions. We want to wish her all the best in her soul’s journey! And, of course, we support her in any way we can. Marie has been an outstanding staff member of the FCEA. We are so grateful for her constant care and dedication she always showed her students. Marie’s astrological wisdom and insight has been a great gift of service, especially in her tutor role in our advanced, 300-level classes. Marie was a “founding tutor” at the school; one of three who made the plunge with us when we first opened our doors. Her wise guidance and initial contributions to building the school played a critical role in making the FCEA happen. I am personally so grateful for her love and support over the last three years. I will miss her greatly.

 

I’d like to end with some positive news, a little Jupiter opportunity and faith.

 

 

In late July, our Scholarship Selection Committee convened to discuss the many student applications we received for our two scholarship opportunities: the FCEA Diversity and Financial Need Scholarships. It was a very difficult selection process, because we had so many thoughtful essays and very strong interest. Steven and I wished we could help all our applicants, but of course our school has very limited resources to do so. We successfully chose four recipients (two in each category). We are excited for our scholarship funding to begin in September. We encourage students to seek out our next opportunity for scholarships June 15th through July 15th, 2024.

I share one last Jupiter-inspired hope and dream. Steven’s Omega Program in Rhinebeck, New York, came off with flying colors in early August. If the angels allow, from what he shares with me, he will return to Omega next summer. With Jupiter faith, let’s open our hearts to in-person possibilities with Steven in the future. Perhaps an FCEA event? We shall see.

 

Catie Cadge, PhD
August 2023

 
 

Our Community Is Our Family

Our Community Is Our Family

Dean’s Update, July 2023

Our Community Is Our Family

 
Catie Cadge
Greetings, FCEA family! August is around the corner and Venus is slowing down and about to turn retrograde. The obvious message we might glean from this introspective Venusian time is a reevaluation of our closest partnerships. Are we fully cherished for the gifts of love we bring to the table? Or do we strive too much to be seen or go overboard in our need for applause and approval? There are many ways to contemplate Venus’s backward dance through Leo. But one way we might consider this transit as FCEA students and staff is the all-important role we play as counselors, always in that delicate dance of Venusian rapport we develop with our clients. How can we best creatively express a generous Leo heart, letting our soul shine as “leader,” in the counseling room as we work one-on-one with our clients in Venusian fashion?
 
As we all know, in evolutionary astrology, we use the perceived backward motion of retrograde planets to reassess or reconsider how we work with the planetary archetypes. What Venusian questions of a Leo-like nature do we ask of ourselves now? Of course, in order to make the strongest response to Venus’s placement at the moment, we look to the planet’s placement in the natal chart. Moving through the 6th house of my own chart, I ask myself how can I reconcile the need to be of service, both as “mentor” and as “mentee” (I am Steven’s apprentice myself) and step into the leadership role I find myself playing as Dean. How can I revel in the joy and playfulness of Leo in all the dimensions of my 6th house? 

 

Bear with me here. I mention Venus’s retrograde passage through my own chart only as a means to dive into the topic of the FCEA’s next step in curriculum development.
 
In the months ahead, Steven and I will create the master practicum and counseling courses. Both classes are so critical in honing our skills and supporting a successful astrological practice, one that honors every client in a respectful and professional manner. In part, Leo is about taking center stage, but Venus is about negotiation, about relating to one another and about collaboration. How do we shine as evolutionary astrologers, letting our inspiration, creativity and intuition flow in practicing our sacred craft, while using care and discernment in choosing our words and guiding our clients through a positively affirming and choice-centered reading? 
 In true 6th house fashion, I want to be of service in writing the FCEA 300-level counseling course. In this spirit, I ask FCEA students and staff to please feel free to share resources, topics, or useful strategies we might add to the counseling course in the months ahead. If you have particular strengths in this area, reach out to me when you have a moment by emailing interest@forrestastrology.center. I have been serving as a faculty member in higher education for over thirty years and one of my own strengths lies in support of student diversity and equity. My “door” is open and I appreciate the wisdom you are willing to share. Venus is traveling through the FCEA’s 4th house this month. Our community is our family. We all bring unique gifts to our school. I cherish each of you and I’ll listen with an open heart.

 

Catie Cadge, PhD
July 2023
 
 

Our Evolving FCEA Curriculum

Our Evolving FCEA Curriculum

Dean’s Update, June 2023

Our Evolving FCEA Curriculum

 
Catie Cadge
Greetings, FCEA community! During the long days of June, I have been working with Steven to put the final touches on a new course we are opening mid-month. FCEA 305: Chiron and Eris is the last 300-level class prior to the masters-level practicum. I have to admit it is a bittersweet moment for me as FCEA Dean. I have enjoyed working alongside Steven, slowly writing our curriculum, one course at a time. We started back in 2019, continued through the pandemic and then kept going, even as the FCEA was growing as a new school. It has been such an enriching experience for me.
There is something about the learning that takes place when writing class content that is hard to replace as a method for polishing one’s own skills as an astrologer. Now that most of the classes are written and the school is flourishing, I can look back and take stock of what we have created. I sincerely hope it provides a good, solid education in evolutionary astrology. We tried our best and I think we succeeded!
My ever-curious and inquisitive Gemini Moon recognizes the FCEA curricular projects may never quite end. Curriculum development is always on-going and certainly other topics will surface. But at least the main foundation of the FCEA masters program is now in place.
We end the 300-level in-depth focused study of the planets with little comet-like Chiron and mysterious, slow-moving Eris, just barely a newborn in our expanding concept of our solar system.
 
Expanded Image of the Solar System
Image by Pablo Carlos Budassi, Wikimedia Commons
 Why cover Chiron, the wounded healer, in the FCEA program, when so many asteroids compete for our attention? Steven argues Chiron’s popularity might be partly a product of current trends, but the little rock in the sky does seem to carry a punch. Personally, I feel we are always creating and expanding our astrological language, simply through our usage of the archetypes that then become part of our shared collective consciousness. We will them into being through our creative minds and hearts. Either way you look at it, Chiron is definitely a valid player and worthy of addition to our astrological toolboxes. 
Why not add Chariklo, the wife of Chiron in Greek mythology and a planetary object larger than Chiron? Many astrologers do add Chariklo to chart analysis. Nothing wrong with that. But we decided to focus upon what Steven’s experience merits our attention and study. And Steven and I wish our students all the best in doing their own investigations and research into what astrological frontiers lay ahead.
Here again I ask, will writing new classes and the growth in our curriculum ever stop? I don’t think so!
 
Some of you may recall Steven’s special solstice presentation last year addressing Eris and how best to wrestle with the planet’s presence as an archetype and by location in the birth chart. What could be the high road to take with the Goddess of strife and discord? Steven stresses the gifts of talent and innovation intense competition can bring. Eris adds a particular challenge in that all the charts we see in our practice have Eris in the fiery Mars-ruled sign of Aries. The planet won’t even get close to entering Taurus for over another twenty years. We tried to make some interesting “food for thought” by bringing in the chart of famous artist Pablo Picasso, born in 1881, years before Eris’ ingress into Aries. A little Eris in Pisces anyone? Eris is so new to our awareness. Much of our interpretation (for all of us) is a work in progress!
On a final note, I hope to see many of you at our community gathering on Zoom for this year’s solstice celebration and the start of Cancer season on June 21st at 5 pm Pacific time. Steven will talk with us about the nodal shift into Aries and Libra along with Pluto’s recent return to Capricorn. Please join us! Wishing everyone a joyful and blessed season and happy solstice to all.
 
Catie Cadge, PhD
June 2023
 
 

New “Z” Courses

New "Z" Courses

Dean’s Update, May 2023

New “Z” Courses — How We’re Bolstering Calm Amidst EA’s Complexity

 
Catie Cadge
A cheerful, chatty welcome to everyone this Gemini season! I’ve got some good news to share about a new course offering at the FCEA. But first, just a reminder. We are starting our official process of choosing scholarship recipients this summer. We have a limited number of awards. Competition will be steep, but we encourage all interested to apply. Jupiter is in Taurus now and maybe the planet is calling out to you to take a chance and submit an application. Trust your instincts! We will do our best to be fair and supportive. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, please check our website under the Learn tab at the top of the main page and see the posted descriptions and instructions. The window for application submissions is June 15th through July 15th every year.
 
Moving on to the main topic I wish to focus upon, let’s think about Jupiter now in Taurus as a chance to calm down and find peace with the complexities of learning the many-faceted tool box of evolutionary astrology. I have a new class to introduce to hopefully help with this Taurean process!

 

 

First, a little history to explain how the class came about.

 

 
Last year, we started offering a basic level course in the fundamentals – the A, B, Cs – of our sacred craft. 101-Z was developed as a simple, live discussion class, entirely on Zoom, where students could ask questions and review any trouble spots in learning the very basic vocabulary of the birthchart. The beauty of 101-Z is class size is small, making the discussion about the material less intimidating and more personal. No exams, writing assignments nor forums. Just a chance to relax (think Jupiter in Taurus again!) and simply “be” with the primary parts of reading a chart. So far, the class has been a success! 101-Z is up and running several times a year and is available to any student currently enrolled at the 100-level. Now we hope to expand upon this curricular model with a brand new 201-Z.
 
One of the difficulties we face at the FCEA is making curriculum accessible to all types of learners. We realize some students come in already familiar with complex subjects, such as transits, progressions and solar arcs, while others are completely new. The newbies can feel overwhelmed and, at times, they may need a little more hand-holding and support for them to grasp the ins and outs of the methods we use in our advanced 200-level coursework. Once again, we turn to the Zoom classroom to provide a small-group environment where the very basics of calculating and working with the “current sky” can be simplified and made more “user friendly” for all. 
 
The tutors, Steven and I know that forum participation can be scary, especially if a student is less familiar with evolutionary astrology and the many ways we look at the evolving soul’s journey. We require participation in our online forums because the content is so rich and we need to see students are actively engaging in the material. We want to see you all are working hard to apply what you are learning. But we know forum discussions and writing assignments are not easy. We are a college and expect hard work and effort. It will pay off! However, we also understand that at times a class may seem challenging to the point of overwhelm or intimidation. Please let us help! Consider 201-Z. Open to any student in the 200-level courses, 201-Z is designed to fill in the gaps and lend a supportive “Zoom hand” and heart in the learning process. If this sounds like a good Jupiter fit for you, please join us!
 
Catie Cadge, PhD
May 2023
 
HOW TO REGISTER: The 101-Z and 201-Z courses ($199 for 6 to 8 weekly, 1-hour small-group tutoring sessions) will be added to our Course Catalog in June 2023. To join the “Z” Interest List, receive notice as soon as registration opens, and reserve your space in the next section, please email our Registrar: registrar@forrestastrology.center.
 
 


FCEA Scholarship Opportunities

FCEA Scholarship Opportunities

Dean’s Update, April 2023

Scholarship Opportunities

 
Catie Cadge
April is a busy month at the FCEA. We have six classes in operation at three levels of instruction!  A special congratulations to those students who recently graduated from the apprentice level last month and our advanced craftspeople who have now embarked on the 300-level. Way to go! I also wish to give a shout out to the 101B grads who are now starting 102B. We are so impressed by everyone’s growing skill set and devotion to study, along with the spirit of community you all bring to the school. We are so grateful!
 
I have some long-awaited news to share about our scholarship opportunities this year. We have been receiving questions about financial aid practically since the first day the FCEA has opened. It has been tough for Steven, myself and our staff because so many are in need and we, of course, wish to help. The problem is the school’s limited resources. We are just now gradually moving ahead with our very first scholarship application process to try to alleviate even just a small fraction of this hardship experienced by so many. Thank you for your patience!
 
Here is the scoop:

 

  • There will be a scholarship application and selection process.
  • Full instructions will be posted under the “Learn” tab on the FCEA website by late May.
  • We will be offering a limited number of scholarships providing the awarded students a full tuition waiver from the time of the award until masters certification, as long as they are actively enrolled at the FCEA.
  • All students are eligible to apply.
  • Scholarship rewards are not retroactive and only apply to coursework not yet attempted by the student.
  • Scholarships require the student to successfully pass their coursework in each class. 
 
There are two types of scholarships at the FCEA: a needs-based award in response to a student’s financial hardship and a diversity scholarship intended to support students from historically marginalized and/or oppressed communities worldwide. Let me share the descriptions:
 
The FCEA NEEDS-BASED SCHOLARSHIP:
 
The FCEA recognizes that in order to create the best in an astrological education, a student body must be inclusive of those with limited resources or financial support. This full scholarship will be awarded to the person whom our scholarship committee deems to be the most promising aspiring student who is in need of financial assistance in covering tuition at the FCEA.
 
The FCEA DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP:
 
The FCEA is committed to promoting diversity in our student body in terms of race, ethnicity, age, gender, gender preference and the inclusion of other underrepresented groups in education and in the professional field of astrology. The scholarship committee seeks to award candidates with a full scholarship who contribute to a diverse student body and who help build a more inclusive learning experience at the FCEA.
The number of students chosen will depend upon the school’s growth and financial position at the time of application. Students will be chosen once a year by our Scholarship Selection Committee by August 1st. June 15 to July 15 is the date window for submitting an application. Again, please refer to our website for complete application directions in late May.
 
We wish we could offer support to all applicants, but, of course, the selection process will be competitive. Every effort will be made to make the selection process fair. We ask all students to realize the school can only do what it has resources to do.
 
We strive to serve all our students with the best education in evolutionary astrology. And we hope to make our online campus diverse and supportive of those in need. Hopefully, the inauguration of our scholarship program will be a great asset for the whole FCEA community in the years ahead.
 
Catie Cadge, PhD
April 2023
 
 
 

Study Group Survey Results Are In!

Study Group Survey Results Are In!

Dean’s Update, March 2023

Our Study Group Survey Results Are In!


Catie Cadge
Blessings on the March equinox, FCEA community! Vernal equinox here in the Northern Hemisphere starts a new cycle of life, new beginnings. Astrologers call the day of the Sun’s entrance into Aries “International Astrology Day.” Can you think of a better New Year for all of us to share!?
Claim some Aries fire and initiative, and have courage in yourself and your direction, and your flower will open, as Steven likes to tell us. Well, some of the Aries spark for the FCEA involves planting new seeds and working our soil with new goals and aspirations. The equinox on March 20th occurs at 2:24 pm Pacific time at 00°0’ Aries in the school’s 11th house, conjunct Chiron, in the FCEA birthchart. Welcome to spring! And to our Southern Hemisphere students, love to you in the new season.
Reassessing the format and future of the FCEA study group calls is one seed we hope to plant in the weeks ahead. We are so grateful for the student feedback we received from you through our recent survey. The results are so helpful as we strive to improve our current Zoom calls and also discuss and consider options for change. Thank YOU for your participation and sharing your thoughts! I also want to thank our tutor, Patty Morris-Stebbins, and our registrar, Penelope Love, for creating and implementing the Study Group call survey. Great job, Patty and Penelope!
I’d like to share with you a summary of the survey results. Students who responded were roughly split between the apprentice, 100-level, and the craftsperson, 200-level, groups. Let’s start with what seems to be working for students: length of the calls, Tuesday as a meetup day and the time of day we currently schedule all received the most positive feedback in comparison to other dates and time options.
In addition, students were asked about whether they preferred the current format for our study group calls and by far the majority liked the set up as it is. Only 16.7% commented that they did not like the current format. So, this is good news!
Most students prefer chart interpretation in small groups (breakout rooms) and a brief tutor-led Q and A when call participants reconvene or within the breakout room itself. This again reinforces that the current study groups are working well, given this is the structure we now have in place. Most pleasing for me to read was how so many students appreciate the sense of community the study group calls provide and the connections they make with their peers.
The area students express a need for improvement is having a tutor consistently in the breakout rooms. Unfortunately, we have limited staff to work these calls. And though we strive to have some tutor availability as much as possible in each room, we are not able to accommodate students this way in the current structure. Read on and you will see our suggestion for change.


So how do we now till our soil and plant our Aries “seed” into fresh directions?
 
Clearly, the current format is working, but we are growing as a school and cannot maintain this structure as we expand in size. We welcome growth! But how best to move ahead? We are currently implementing a new social platform, Circle, to partly cover our needs. But live interaction with tutor-led Q and A requires a lab.
Late last year, we began offering 101-Z, a lab class to accommodate 100-level students who preferred live interaction and Q and A with a tutor. A 201-Z will be the next step. This would provide a similar focused tutor-led cohort for advanced study. The additional tuition for these lab sections would allow us to support the on-going tutor Zoom interaction some students want. (Please note: Z courses are not currently listed in the Course Catalog; registration information is provided during our guided course orientations.) In the meantime, study group calls will be used primarily as a form of social engagement, following the original intention of the calls. Q and A with instruction will continue to occur on monthly calls with our master teacher Steven Forrest and through the 101-Z and 201-Z labs.
Slowly we plan to implement these changes, developing our Circle community and opening a 201-Z lab by summer, 2023. Look for these new developments in the months ahead. Equinox joy to all!
 
Catie Cadge, PhD
March 2023
 
 
 

Growing Through Changes at the FCEA

Growing Through Changes

Dean’s Update, February 2023

We’re Growing Through Changes at the FCEA

Current Students — Please Take the Study Group Call Survey (See details below)

 

Catie Cadge
February greetings to our FCEA community! It is a bright, clear Valentine’s Day morning here in Santa Cruz, California, and, of course, in the spirit of the day, I have relationships on my mind. On a recent FCEA Member Q&A call, Steven mentioned how having the sign Virgo on the cusp of the 7th house gives a soul ample opportunity to critically work on herself through interactions with others. Yup, well, that’s me. I have Pluto on my Virgo descendant. And the FCEA is providing plenty of chances to learn and grow for me through the good, bad and ugly (well, let’s say challenging) sides of so many souls. Let me give this a positive spin and explain some of the relationship dynamics and changes we are going through as a school.
First, some news about our tutors and tutorial assistants. The FCEA is blessed to have a great group of highly talented and loving staff! As I write, transiting Mercury is conjunct our 9th house Venus in Aquarius in the FCEA birthchart. We have been so fortunate to have not only master evolutionary astrologers as teachers and mentors, but also folks with open Aquarian minds and a willingness to embrace the online learning experience of the FCEA curriculum. We could not do any of our courses without them! We are so grateful.
With a heavy heart, I start by mentioning one of our very best tutors, Joey Paynter, is leaving us at the beginning of March. Joey has been instrumental in helping us get the FCEA up and running. She was with us from the very day our doors opened. Joey’s insights and feedback played a key role in helping us establish the student and tutor relationship via online learning the very heart of what we do at the FCEA. So supportive and always loving, Joey gave us a penetrating and passionate Scorpionic lens into how to make the FCEA tick and grow as a school. But we realize our tutors have busy lives and growing astrological practices of their own, and the time has come for Joey to leave us. We are forever thankful for all the hard work Joey has done for us and, most importantly, all the care and commitment she showed our students. Joey, you will be sorely missed. We wish you many blessings in all you do, Joey!
 
From L to R: Joey Paynter, Marie O’Neill, Catie Cadge, Steven Forrest, and Teal Rowe at the first FCEA Staff Retreat in 2021.
 
On a hopeful note, we recruited two new work study students, Linda Walker and Andre Arellano, to our team. Linda is one of our students from our very first cohort and has been studying with us since 2021. A fine astrologer, Linda has the gift of the storyteller, a true evolutionary bard, in the style of Steven Forrest. Linda will be helping to oversee tutor involvement in all our courses, making sure discussions get properly posted and that weekly interaction between tutor and student occurs. Andre, a student also at the advanced level, brings to the table a number of tech-related skills as well as being a gifted evolutionary astrologer. We look forward to working with Andre to grow our social media presence and to help develop a social platform for student engagement. Welcome Linda and Andre!
Another area of growth and change, in terms of how we relate to each other, learn and teach evolutionary astrology and the Steven Forrest method, has been our study group calls. With Saturn by transit in Aquarius in the school’s 10th house and the transiting Sun conjunct as a trigger this week, we are working on improving the format of these weekly Zoom calls. We hear your feedback! We are also sending out a survey soon to gather ideas on improving this part of the FCEA experience to make it more user-friendly and supportive.
However, a little history of the study group calls might be instructive. When we developed the FCEA curriculum, we never intended to have live Zoom instruction on a weekly basis. We designed the school to be asynchronous, the teaching and learning occurring online in written discussion forums and assignments. There are a number of advantages to this format:
    • Students and tutors can post anytime their schedules allow, providing a flexibility needed by so many in our learning community
    • Proactive learning by the student – students must think and be engaged in the material rather than a passive Zoom experience led primarily by a tutor
    • A cost structure that allows us to keep tuition low
In our initial year of instruction, we wanted to add social Zoom calls for students to share ideas and to grow community. These calls were never intended to replace online written instruction nor to be lectures by our tutors. We consider them study group calls for student interaction. Master teaching occurs once a month via Zoom with Steven. This is a Zoom classroom, not the study group calls each week.
We look forward to the results of the FCEA Study Group Feedback Survey we are currently conducting, however we are considering replacing the study group calls altogether with an online student social platform. To take the survey: Log in to your FCEA account and find it under Community > Home.
 
With all this said, please know we are open to possible change.
 
But remember the Zoom Q&A calls with Steven and the online discussion forums and assignments are the primary modes of learning at the FCEA. Saturn by transit provides challenges and hard work for all of us at the school. I welcome the growing relationship pains (and new pleasures!) in store for the FCEA community in the months ahead.

 

Catie Cadge, PhD
February 2023