Wizard Weekly by Daniel Giamario | Dec 28, 2025 |
The unique and powerful usage of the synodic cycles of Mercury, Venus and Mars is a foundational element of TOTAMS and the Shamanic Astrology Paradigm ™. Venus’ and Mars’ currently unfolding Underworld Saga is nearing its most important phase from January 6-9, when their closest conjunctions with each other and the Sun in a 384-year period will be occurring. For more info, see this vlog.
Few astrological groups and practitioners make use of the synodic cycles, and those that do are fond of working just with the Venus cycle. This has become increasingly popular since the proliferation of “goddess” groups and emphasis on the sacred feminine, but most often ignores Mars (and Mercury).
Originating with my ground-breaking 1996-2002 research on the synodic cycles of Venus, Mars, and Mercury, the use of the larger span of these cycles, i.e. averages of
- 584 days for Venus
- 25-26 months for Mars
- 116 days for Mercury
has provided information on the intent and stages of the journey of a lifetime that cannot be found using other tools.
The Overstory
In TOTAMS, the entire time-span of each synod is referred to as the Overstory. We had previously used the term “overtone.” These larger synodic periods of time are the larger story and the larger context from which individual planetary archetypes and aspects are operating from.
Many astrologers have been aware of the synodic periods and other ‘planetary periods,” but few have examined them from a naked-eye-observation and ceremonial perspective. My own research started with that objective: How do the interweavings of these three planets, including their absence in the night sky, impact our senses? What stories do they inspire? And what do we project?
A Synthesis
There are significant reasons why this knowledge and these techniques are so useful and have seminal importance at this great Turning of The Ages. Prior to about 500BCE, individual personal horoscopes did not exist. Using the senses and the movements of the visible planets (including sun and moon) through the year, global humanity had been observing and conducting ceremony with the planetary and seasonal cycles for thousands of years. Among other directly observed and experienced phenomena, the synodic cycles were “astrology” and were utilized and celebrated by clans, tribes and groups collectively. The innovation of the personal chart changed everything. My mentor Dane Rudhyar wrote extensively about this development, and in his own way, so did Rudolf Steiner. Click here to see my article about this. But this was only the antithesis of the previous hundreds of thousands of years. Though an advancement, another step in the evolution of global humanity is necessary. On the basis of the establishment of this individual consciousness, with the horoscope of the individual, there can and is intended to occur a synthesis, what Dane Rudhyar called the Planetarization of Consciousness.
How does this relate to the synodic cycles of the visible planets?
With the use of the Overstories of our individual synodic cycles, it is possible to see where your personal story and its intent fits into a larger story! This is how your planetary return and transit cycles start to make more sense. This knowledge also allows you to discern how and when to connect with the planets directly – a major contribution of the Shamanic Astrology Paradigm ™ and TOTAMS. An even larger context provides a great framework for reconnecting with the DNA and elder wisdom of hundreds of thousands of years of global humanity, prior to patriarchy, overuse of technology, and the materialism of the Kali Yuga. With this understanding, inspired by global humanity’s past experiences, we find ourselves in a powerful position of being able to create new stories and new ceremonies that can inspire a renaissance.
This coming February, TOTAMS will begin its one of a kind group to work with the ascent of Venus in her current Pisces Overstory. Our narrative always includes Mars an an equal. And, as the Sumerians did, we also include Mercury. Whether you have been part of one of these groups before or not, we invite you to a free introduction of the synodic cycles of Venus and Mars. Due to the profound significance of the time frame when Venus, Mars and the Sun align in the underworld in their closest meet-up in an epic 384-year cycle, we have chosen January 6 for our session. Free registration available here.
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image credit: Naraya Naserian
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