my astrological path

My astrological path has taken me through studies in modern psychological Western astrology, traditional Western astrology with a focus on Renaissance techniques like horary (a divinatory branch of astrology), and astrological magic inspired by the Picatrix, an 11th century grimoire. Along this Western astrology journey, I’ve had the privilege of studying with many fantastic teachers, including Austin Coppock, Nina Gryphon, Wade Caves, Dr. Lee Lehman and Deb Houlding.

However, it wasn’t until I encountered Vedic astrology (Jyotish) – completely by chance, as was also the case with Western astrology – that I truly felt at home in my astrological practice. Despite its technical complexity and abstract nature, Vedic astrology has enabled me to delve deeper into birth charts than I ever could with Western astrology.

Since switching my focus to Vedic astrology, I’ve completed Science of Light Years 1 &2 with Freedom Cole. I am currently enrolled in the second year of Pandit Sanjay Rath’s 5-year Parāśara Jyotiṣa Course (PJC), led by Freedom Cole and Dr. Eric Rosenbush.

I am eternally grateful for the wisdom and guidance of the wonderful teachers I’ve studied with in both systems.

My mission

In my practice, I aim to make the profound art and science of Jyotish accessible to everyone, regardless of their background. I am especially passionate about helping individuals gain clarity of purpose and career path.

My particular interests include Prashna (similar to horary astrology in the Western system), omenology, mantras, and offering a variety of effective remedies from different traditions – be they arcane and occult or modern and mundane – that extend beyond traditional Vedic practices.

Who I work best with

My clients have a wide range of backgrounds and life experience. Some have prior knowledge of Vedic astrology, some know more about Western astrology and some know nothing about astrology whatsoever. I have clients who have “big life” questions and struggle in finding meaning and spiritual connection and others who have more down-to-Earth questions, like should I move or what career would suit me best. I always tailor my approach and guidance according to the needs of each individual client.

That said, I’m perhaps not the ideal choice for someone who is looking for a quick fix or easy answers. The remedies and insight I offer are ultimately participatory – I may suggest a certain donation, mantra or meditation, but in the end, it’s up to you to do the work.

Some Vedic astrologers concentrate very heavily on predictive techniques. Although I include elements of these techniques in my consultations, my focus and approach is much more on finding practical steps and solutions that allow my clients to improve their lives in the here-and-now as well as the future.

More about me

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve lived in Berlin, Germany since 1999. I became a dual, US-German citizen in 2019.

I studied classical voice at Mills College and planned to become a professional opera singer, but decided against it when I realized I wouldn’t be happy living out of a suitcase in a such a high pressure world. Although I still sometimes sing classical music, I’ve since moved on to jazz and, more recently, joined a choir and took Indian classical singing lesson. Besides voice, I also play piano, ukulele and violin.

I’ve read tarot cards since my teens, and my mother taught me Shamanic journeying in my early 20s. Although I’ve never worked professionally with either of these practices, they have been an important part of my personal journey and inform my work.

I write fiction under the name Rebeccah von Schlieffen.

XOXO

Michelle R. Dean