Astrologer and teacher Ursidae joins host Jenn Zahrt from La Paz, Baja California Sur in Mexico to connect about books and more! Check out this lively conversation, where the duo cover: accessing esoteric astrology; growth points, not fixed points; shoring up certifications; embodying texts; the history of the name Within Orb; the beauty of storytelling; Chiron’s key; the individuation process and the importance of psychological awakening; understanding life cycles; the IC as our root system; evolutionary astrology; breaking down power systems; the Pluto return of the US; and what the Moon and angry breakfast cereal have in common! All that, plus: surfing on Lake Michigan, van life, and… the tail that wags the dog of the chart!
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Transcripts available upon request.
Song “Wake Up” used with permission by The E-Block Band.
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Episode timestamps (conversation recorded June 2024):
00:31 – lauren k. hickman, MSW (affectionately known as “bear”) of Ursidae Healing Arts is a mindfulness teacher and spiritual guide, specializing in intuitive counsel, astrological interpretation, and comprehensive Reiki training and mentorship. Since 2013 she has offered professional readings and trains students pursuing Reiki practices. A resident of Milwaukee since 2020, she often works in residency as a partner provider at National Geographic’s top spas in the Midwest, Kosa in Madison, and provides astrological sessions at KIN in Des Moines, Iowa; she also travels to host healing workshops and retreats. Her healing journey has included a twenty-plus year practicum in Usui Reiki, a bioenergetic and spiritual practice originating in Japan, as well as containing a life-long relationship with astrology. She utilizes her background in Tibetan Buddhism, meditation, and experience in naturopathic nutrition to inform her work and support clients. She recently received a master’s degree in clinical social work from the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin. Social justice and a decolonized framework form foundational pillars in all her offerings. bear writes a bi-monthly astrological musing newsletter, The Moon Mailer, and produces The Inspired Astrology Podcast. She is co-authoring a book with integrative astrologer Ryan Evans, and lives part-time in La Paz, Baja California Sur in Mexico.
04:01 – Aquarian babysitters FTW!! Ursidae’s first astrology book was The Secret Language of Birthdays by Gary Goldschneider and Joost Elffers; child minder Dorothy often had that text available! Ursidae’s mom later studied star stuff, specifically Esoteric Astrology by Alice Bailey, so that was also influential. The Inner Sky by Steven Forrest was the first book Ursidae read cover-to-cover when taking the practice more seriously. And Astrology for Dummies by Rae Orion also gets a mention here!
10:48 – If Ursidae could bring only three books to a deserted island, what would she take? First up: the well-written and deep Chiron and the Healing Journey: An Astrological and Psychological Perspective by Melanie Reinhart, because she would like some more time with it!
16:16 – Interlude: Join CAELi and snag yourself a Saturn stress-relief ball. (Yes, you read that right!)
18:55 – Ursidae’s second choice would be Robert Hand’s classic Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living. This seminal text rebirths itself again and again.
20:38 – The third title Ursidae would bring is Evolutionary Astrology: The Journey of the Soul through the States of Consciousness by Raymond A. Merriman. Ursidae’s mom introduced her to this one, and it taught her the importance of chart angles.
23:47 – A bonus book! Ursidae would also pack Postcolonial Astrology: Reading the Planets through Capital, Power, and Labor by Alice Sparkly Kat. This important text helps Ursidae in decolonizing her own spiritual practice.
31:38 – For beginners, Ursidae recommends: The Inner Sky by Steven Forrest; Astrology Illumined: Revealing Soul Through Astrology by Donna Mitchell-Moniak and Sara Traub; and Horoscope Symbols by Robert Hand.
37:04 – Find Ursidae at her website: www.ursidae.us.
38:10 – Thanks for listening to Within Orb! If you love the show, please help support it at no cost to you: Follow or subscribe wherever you listen, rate it five stars, or write a happy review! And if you’d like to become a CAELi member or support our work with a contribution of any amount, we’d be delighted – thanks!
Show notes by Jen Braun, JJ Boots Productions LLC.
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