Ramblings, Reflections and Ruminations of Daniel Giamario | May 14, 2026 |
The Project
Since when I first learned astrology in 1969 and was fully into the world of Dane Rudhyar’s astrological movement, I have held fast to the commitment to question, and often reject, traditional and classical astrological meanings and assumptions. Most of all, this involved rejecting the deterministic and fate based versions that have us at the effect of benign or malefic energies. Rather than this, astrology can be a superb, and possibly the greatest, divination tool for connecting to our Dharma and Life Purpose – The Highest of the Lower Mysteries! I have written and spoken on this many times.
Over the last few decades, through my research and experience, a variety of revisions to the classical canon have been made. Among them,
- renaming the modalities
- downgrading the emphasis on Sun Signs
- eliminating dualistic and hierarchical language
- enhanced emphasis on Venus, Mars, Moon, Angles and Nodes.
We also have developed a unique way to synthesize the Sidereal and Tropical zodiacs.
TOTAMS is now ready to take this even farther.
Why Now?
In all we do, another major feature of the TOTAMS approach is to place the weekly, monthly, and yearly astrological transits and cycles within the much larger context of a Great Turning of the Ages. We calculated the core of this Great Turning of The Ages to be 1962-2034. This includes the end and beginning of an entire 26,000-year precessional cycle. It may even be the end and beginning of twelve precessional cycles— a period of over 300,000 years. We also know that the Yuga cycles correspond in many ways. Through the research of Bibhu Dev Misra, the end of the most recent Kali Yuga was determined to be the Aries Equinox of 2025. That means we are now in a post-KaliYuga time, with only another eight years or so to go in this Great Turning.
Therefore, the time is ripe to take our inquiry even further, by initiating a re-visioning of astrology to a place that truly serves today’s Seed People and anyone desiring to create the astrology of the emerging epoch, to remain a pure human, with free will, choosing to connect with Spirit, Soul, Heart and our essential Divinity.
What is very clear is that there is no going back to how things were before. Call it what you will: Reset, Rebirth, Renaissance, Great Awakening, New Jupiter, or even Resurrection. Also clear is that the meanings and interpretations of the astrology that became cannonized around the time of the monthly shift in the Great Year from the constellation of the Ram to the constellation of the Fish are becoming far less relevant. It is indeed time to re-vision all of the signs and the planets. That is our ambitious project now!
How?
One of the many great things that Dane Rudhyar brought to the young astrologers of the 60s and 70s (a Second Turning generation) was the inclusion of Jungian psychology. This sparked great interest to include various tools from Jung and other archetypal psychologists into astrology, adding depth and spirituality to our craft. It also brought about expanded interest in myth and symbol. Among a very long list of us I can particularly name Tony Joseph, Richard Idemon, Demetra George, Liz Greene, and, my favorite, Charles Ponce. These developments also led to the greater emphasis on the archetypal Feminine and reaction against the Patriarchal biases inherent in the classical canon.
Following these initial sparks, a noteworthy split developed in the archetypal world that is deeply relevant to our inquiry. Are the archetypes eternal and unchanging, or do they change and evolve depending on the culture, geography, and, even more importantly, what astrological age or Yuga is happening? The more doctrinaire Jungian would say that the archetypes are eternal and unchanging components of the Collective Unconscious. The Mother archetype is always the same Mother, the Anima is always the same Anima etc, with the same images always, regardless of time, culture, or geography. Charles Ponce and others though had a different view, articulating that the images do change and evolve. I certainly concur, and this is foundational to our inquiry.
How would this relate to astrology? If we use the Tropical signs, which was a magnificent act of creative genius by the Hellenistic astrologers, the meanings of the components, of what Ponce calls a self-standing Zodiac archetype, could be looked at in these two different ways. The essence of the sign Aries, for example, could be eternally the same, or, it could undergo change and evolution depending on time and space.
TOTAMS does use the self-standing tropical zodiac, which is an Earth zodiac, fixed to the Equinoxes and Solstices. The later Babylonians and the Hellenistic astrologers were motivated to create this Earth zodiac because the constellations slowly kept shifting their locations relative to Earth’s seasons. How this all happened is covered in detail in our Cosmology Course. We even now have a deeper understanding of why the tropical zodiac works well in both of Earth’s hemispheres.
The Zodiacs, Signs and Constellations
To really get to the bottom of our inquiry, the other zodiac needs to be considered. I am referring, of course, to the various sidereal zodiacs, based on the constellational star groups themselves. Most every culture projected images and stories onto these star groups. What they projected varied relative to culture, time, and geography. But, the star patterns themselves are the same star patterns regardless of what is projected onto them. The Big Dipper can be a Plow or a Great Bear. The constellation called Scorpius by astronomers can be perceived as a scorpion or a snake or even as Maui’s fishhook. Plenty more examples could be given. But the question remains: Does the constellation Scorpius have an eternal essence as a scorpion? If we say so, we become chauvinists of specific cultural and geographical projections. Does the star pattern itself have an essence? Is it archetypally masculine or feminine? All this is part of the inquiry.
The constellations are in constant and ever-changing relationship with the tropical signs. And it needs to be made crystal clear that they are not the same! For reference, see my classic article Why We Use Signs and Love The Constellations. Each star pattern has an opportunity to align with every sign over the course of a 26,000-year cycle. The star pattern of the constellation Taurus lined up with the sign Aries during the so-called Age of Taurus. Then the constellation of Aries, the Ram, lined up with the sign of Aries, and so on. Even today, many astrologers derive their understanding and beliefs about the Age of Aquarius from the sign of Aquarius. In actuality, the Age of Aquarius is just now beginning because the constellation of Aquarius (in many parts of the world known as the Water Bearer) is beginning to align with the sign of Aries! Can we see why we need to re-think all this?
Naming Constellations and Signs Differently
It’s not entirely adequate, but a simple way to assist this inquiry is to name the constellations something different from the names of the signs. To that end, TOTAMS has borrowed a protocol from the school of astrology called Astrosophy, stemming from the research of Rudolf Steiner. Though now apparently all sidereal, when Elizabeth Vreede took on the responsibility for astronomy and astrology after Steiner’s death in 1925, she envisioned using both zodiacs, with the great need to have different names for both.
In this context, as a practical way of wrapping our minds around all this, we suggest:
Aries is the sign, The Ram is the constellation
Taurus is the sign, The Bull is the constellation
Gemini is the sign, The Twins is the constellation
Cancer is the sign, The Crab is the constellation
Leo is the sign, The Lion is the constellation
Virgo is the sign, The Priestess is the constellation
Libra is the sign, The Scales is the constellation
Scorpio is the sign, The Scorpion is the constellation
Sagittarius is the sign, The Archer is the constellation
Capricorn is the sign, The Goat Fish is the constellation
Aquarius is the sign, The Water Bearer is the constellation
Pisces is the sign, The Fish is the constellation
The reason why this is not entirely adequate, is that naming the constellations by their Sumerian-Babylonian-Hellenistic names is not universal or global. But at least it offers a framework to begin seeing the constellations as entities different from the popularly known signs. The great advantage is that it refers us to the star groups themselves. The popular and widely used meanings of the signs do carry some genuine essence, so we continue to use those names.
Ptolemy’s Timeless Question
But what are the essences of the 12 signs? Is there a deep universal essence to them? Equally we may ask if there is a deep universal essence to the star patterns. As discussed above, within the vast context of the 26,000-year precessional cycle, every star pattern has a chance to align with each sign. This is the observed and cosmological mechanism that gives rise to “New Ages”, each emerging with their differing characteristics. It is the very mechanism and process that changes the actual content and expression of an age as well as the archetypes themselves.
Even in the time of Ptolemy, ca. 200 AD, the existence of both zodiacal frames of reference was known. A question asked in his Mystery School was:
“What is the proportion that the constellation informs the sign?”
And that is exactly what we at TOTAMS ask today. We purport there’s no better time than a Great Turning of The Ages to seriously consider this.
Essence vs. Content
Most likely there’s a universal and long-lasting essence to each of the signs (which TOTAMS calls the 12 Mystery Schools of Global Humanity). I greatly respect the brilliance and genius of the Hellenistic astrologers who created our well known self-standing Zodiac archetype. There is, indeed, for example, something like “Aries-ness”. But this is not the constellation or the Sun sign! When Creator Great Mystery allocates essence to a human being, different signs get different allocations. Here is a suggested list to assist in our inquiry:
Aries is allocated Commitment to a Purpose
Taurus is allocated Embodied Pleasure
Gemini is allocated Joy of Mind
Cancer is allocated the desire to Provide Nourishment
Leo is allocated Sovereignty and the Joy of Being Creator
Virgo is allocated Discrimination
Libra is allocated Relational Consciousness
Scorpio is allocated the Strongest Will
Sagittarius is allocated the Thirst for Truth
Capricorn is allocated Knowledge
Aquarius is allocated Objectivity
Pisces is allocated Compassion
This is in no way dogmatic, but meant as starting points for our project.
The actual practical and cultural expressions in each age, in each culture, and in different geographical locations, will express the essence in different ways, This is the content. For example, Cancer will always have the same essence, but a matrilineal culture will express it differently than various versions of patriarchal cultures. Libra at certain times has been expressed through arranged marriages, and more recently, ideals of soulmates, twin flames etc. But it is always the same essence, expressed differently in different times or places. No right or wrong judgments have a place here. We intend to explore each and every one of these in depth, including their shadow expressions. This, we trust, will provide a solid framework for participating in the great work of co-creating new expressions, new content, for practical application in the post-KaliYuga time we have just entered.
What About The Star Patterns?
But what about the other zodiac, the star patterns themselves? The Tropical sign zodiac is an Earth Zodiac. The sidereal Zodiac with its often distinct and unique star patterns is the framework, the scaffolding, or what Steiner referred to as the bones, through which stellar and galactic transmissions flow to Earth and global humanity. Since different cultures throughout the ages have projected different images, it is very challenging to create universal language for this. The transmissions can be seen and felt through their effects. These transmissions are happening, and are a major part of understanding how signs and archetypes change and evolve over time. This process occurs on a major scale now, likely much stronger than at any of the monthly changes in the Great Year. I think the greatest changes happen at the seasonal junction points of the Great Year: in the vicinity of 6,500 BCE, 12,000-13,000 BCE, 18,000 BCE, and 26,000 BCE. Since our research sees the timeframe of 1962-2034 as the Great Turning, the end and beginning of the 26,000-year cycle itself, the greatest change and evolution of sign and archetype is happening now.
Another way that I like to think of this is that the Tropical sign Earth Zodiac is like Soul, as Jungians and others use that word. It is archetypally feminine. The star pattern Zodiacs are like Spirit, and archetypally masculine. Somewhat alike to Mother Earth – Father Sky.
For a sky-watcher school like TOTAMS, part of this project is also to sense into the essence of the star patterns. Does the Scorpion feel more masculine or feminine? What about the Archer or Priestess? Which ones feel more active, passive or reflective? And what about that huge area of the sky that looks and feels like water, featuring the the Fish, the Water Bearer, and part of the Goat-Fish?
The Re-Birthing Astrology Project
The Project of Calling In The 12 Tribes was announced at our recent Aries Equinox Seminars. You can still get the recordings here for free or by donation. Intending to meet monthly to re-vision and co-create the reformulated 12 Mystery Schools of Life, we will start with Cancer at our upcoming Cancer Solstice Seminars. Learn more and register here. One vision is to eventually create 12 councils of 12 – 144 persons to hold the space and vision. In 2027, we will then follow on with a similar approach to the planets. We also have in mind the creation of an additional Divination Card Deck that will allow to place signs and planets next to constellations, making it easier to sense into the ongoing changes and the evolution now taking place.
However, nothing is better than to go out under a clear dark sky and sense into it. To say the least, it can be revelatory to personally feel the significance of, for example, your natal Jupiter in the sign of Cancer actually sitting in the Twins constellation, or your Libra Rising degree being in the body of the Priestess! So please consider joining us in Re-birthing Astrology for Real Humans in the freshly unfolding post-KaliYuga times.
Momentous Changes
I cannot ever under-estimate the magnitude of the changes and acceleration taking place now in all Three Worlds. As our Media Maven Naraya often reminds us: “These are no ordinary times”.
To conclude, as i couldn’t have said it better than her, I quote Lisa Renee of Energetic Synthesis:
“The magnitude of upcoming events which catalyze major solar transmissions with a planetary magnetic reset upon humanity’s collective consciousness and physical body cannot be overstated. Our planet will not suffer major destructive pole shift surface cataclysms, but the major revelation will be in the form of the bifurcation and soft rapture event. The end of the world that we once knew, and the pressure created in the unprepared minds from those around us that will not comprehend what is happening in the shocking aftermath of the planetary consciousness shift.”
“There is no going back to what was in order to escape the truth. For those unaware that the outer events are reflections of personal spiritual lessons of self-mastery, this is the challenging time of the dark night of the soul in which our heart must deeply cry out for spiritual help through which to forge a direct connection with God and Christ. We must know that God exists as an unconditionally loving force that exists deep within the Inner Christ of our Sacred Crystal Heart. Nothing outside can save us from seeing the painful truth of what has happened to humanity, when the scales fall from our eyes and we finally awaken to see the many lies and deceptions that resulted in human consciousness enslavement. We must turn within, focusing upon our loving heart to look at the inner contents and pray with great fervor to cross the perilous journey over the Luciferian Abyss and cast out AI timelines, so we can take the quantum leap into the truth of the unlimited and abiding love of our Divine Holy Mother’s arms!”
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