Last summer I chose to spend my vacations in a different way, and attended an astrology Summer School in Oxford. This was my second time at Summer School, but the first after having started the course in the Faculty of Astrological Studies. As before, attending Summer School was a great experience, and a wonderful opportunity to meet other students and astrologers who come from all over the world.
Summer School is usually organized in a way that allows us either to explore a specific main subject throughout the week or to mix sessions with different subjects according to our wish. The latter is my favorite, so in both occasions I went to Summer School I chose the ‘Astrology in Action’ program, and had the opportunity to approach a variety of astrology topics.
I also loved the possibility of seeing some astrologers in action by attending ‘Chart Interpretation Masterclasses’, in which different professionals do a presentation on the way they approach a natal chart within a consultation environment. For those of us who aspire to practice astrology in the future, these sessions are not only very inspiring, but also encourage us to develop our own style as regards our astrology practice.
In my view, one of the most special things about Summer School is the opportunity to meet some of the worldly known astrologers, who wrote the books we learn from, thus representing a repository of astrological wisdom. This Summer I could once again learn with Melanie Reinhart and Rob Hand, whose work I much respect. I also enjoyed the opportunity to meet forthe first time Lynn Bell and Alexander von Schlieffen (just to mention a few).
Summer School is also great as it gives us the opportunity to exchange views and experiences with a wide range of participants and to spend an entire week breathing and living astrology. As we enter the beautiful Exeter College, we leave outside our ‘other’ life and start a unique experience of learning and sharing among 'aliens like us', who cannot have a conversation without referring to planets and signs. And those who come back always meet some of the friends they have made in previous years, among students, teachers and the Faculty's staff.
As I usually joke with my friends back home, because of all the above going to Summer School is spending a true Summer with the Stars.
