FACULTY OPEN DAY 2022
Saturday 26th March 2022
Mary Ward House
Bloomsbury, London
We were pleased to be able to welcome our Faculty community back to Faculty Open Day in person, at Mary Ward House in Bloomsbury, London. Faculty students, Diploma holders, tutors and friends all came together to enjoy our biggest in-person gathering since before the pandemic. The room was buzzing with conversation with barely an empty seat. In the adjoining room, the Astrological Association and the APAI were welcoming new members and there were demonstrations of astrology software Solar Fire from Roy Gillett.
In the morning three students presented lectures on the theme Embracing New Horizons, looking at different and fascinating facets of the astrology of the times.
Lesley Martin opened the proceedings with a thoughtful examination of liminal spaces in astrology, where we might find liminality in the astrological chart and in our astrological consultations. Having lived through such liminal times collectively, her talk was deeply resonant and sparked many conversations through the day.
Itziar Azkona, one of three new Diploma holders, spoke about the new realities which have opened up in these pandemic years and how astrology has helped us to find meaning in them.
Finally, Victoria Green spoke about the transits of Venus throughout the pandemic, with some beautiful insights into the role of Venus during some key events and how our relationships and values have shifted during this transformative time.
After a relaxing lunchtime sitting in the sunshine and catching up with friends old and new, our President Cat Cox opened the afternoon session with an overview of the Faculty’s achievements and plans as we move back out into the world.
The highlight of the day came next – the reason we had gathered as a Faculty family and astrological community. Mónica Teixera, the Faculty’s Head of Exams, introduced the Awards ceremony, honouring and celebrating the achievements of 22 new Certificate holders and an impressive 3 new Diploma holders. The Faculty is a global community and we were so pleased to have many of our award winners joining us via Zoom, allowing us to acknowledge their achievement with a round of applause sent across cyberspace. The award winners attending in person were congratulated by our guest speaker and Faculty Patron, Clare Martin.
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After some time for coffee and more catching up in the sunshine, the day was rounded off perfectly with a lecture from Clare Martin, Faculty Patron, entitled Building on the Past and taking us on a deep and powerful journey back to astrology’s most ancient symbolism, the harmony of the spheres, the work of Johannes Kepler and a look at the astrology of pandemics.
The next Faculty Open Day will be on 25th March 2023 and we’d love you to join us for this annual celebration!