Priscilla Costello and Colin McPhillamy, "Shakespeare and Astrology: How the Classical Worldview Unlocks his Plays"
Did the Bard really draw on astrological symbolism to create his magnificent literary works? (spoiler alert: he did) And was he really inspired by the cosmological model of an interconnected, meaningful universe with synchronicities between humanity, nature and the cosmos? (spoiler alert: he certainly did!)
Starting with speculations about how astrology “works”, we will be focusing on the spiritual philosophy that originated with Pythagoras and Plato and was added to for over 2,000 years by multiple streams of Western thought: not only Platonism but also Neo-Platonism, Kabbalism, Hermeticism, and Christianity. By Shakespeare’s time, it is a fully developed cosmology positing connections between all the levels of creation through sympathetic resonance.
The stars and planets, named after the deities of Greek and Roman mythology, are integral parts of this model and function as carriers of psychological, philosophical, and spiritual meaning. Embedded within this framework is a formulation of a psychological model based on the four elements, which Shakespeare draws on consistently.
Referring specifically to “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Priscilla and Colin will deconstruct its principal symbolism, and Colin will lend his sonorous tones in reciting speeches from the play.
We hope that from this deconstruction of the play you will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Bard’s works. If you have had difficulty “cracking the code” of Shakespeare’s opus, prepare to hear it in an entirely new way…we will “lend you ears” to experience it as the Elizabethans did!
About the speakers: PRISCILLA COSTELLO, M.A., Dipl. CAAE (Canadian Association for Astrological Education) is a counselling astrologer, educator, speaker, and writer with a professional practice spanning over 40 years. With a B. A. from Wellesley College and a double prize-winning M. A. (on religious philosophy and Jungian psychology), she has spoken widely throughout the U.S, Canada, and England, and at numerous conferences sponsored by NCGR, AFA, SOTA, and UAC. Founder and Director of The New Alexandria, a centre for religious, spiritual, and esoteric studies, she has written numerous articles for various publications. Author of The Weiser Concise Guide to Practical Astrology, an introduction to horoscope analysis, her most recent book is Shakespeare and the Stars: The Secret Astrological Keys to Understanding the World’s Greatest Playwright. Also available are smaller “Playbill” editions on six of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, drawn on material from the longer book.
COLIN McPHILLAMY was born in London, England to Australian parents where he trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. His most recent stage role was the bombastic Shakespearean actor “Sir” in “The Dresser”. In the U.K. he has worked in the West End, at the Royal National Theatre for five seasons, and extensively in British regional theatre. In the U.S. he has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and at regional centres across the country. Internationally, he has acted in Australia, China, New Zealand, and across Europe. His book An Actor Walks into China tells the story of teaching Shakespeare to Chinese students at Peking University. Two other books, The Treehouse and Other Stories and Actor Blog Plus, are available on Amazon. Following a lifelong interest and a prediction made to him in his 20’s, he began an astrological practise in 2016. With a Gemini Moon in the 9th, Colin’s interests are many and varied. His website is https://galacticfragment.com.
Sunday, June 14th (2:00 - 4:00 PM Eastern Time) Location: ONLINE only - Zoom login information will be emailed to you the day before the lecture. Suggested contribution: $5.00 members and students, $20.00 non-members Registration: Please click the button below or call (732) 705-1351 as soon as possible. Registration deadline is Friday, June 12th.
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