Sherene Schostak and Katelan Foisy have teamed up to bring you an in depth look at self through the means of self-portrait photography and the archetypes of astrology. This is the first of many classes that Sherene and Katelan will be teaching as part of the Beneath the Half Moon Primer Series. below is a preview:
It all depends on how we look at things, and not how they are in themselves-Carl Jung
Uncovering the complex archetypal layers of Self through the lens of photography.
The process of self-portraiture is about gathering, creating, conjuring and assembling images that can be used as a reflection of the Self back to the Self. Instead of relying exclusively on our one-to-one relationships as mirrors or our actual looking glass mirrors as our primary means of understanding the way we perceive ourselves, the aim of this workshop is to takes us deeper into the unconscious imagery/archetypes that guide and sustain our reality.
The marriage of Astrology and Photography evolved from my interest in Katelan’s “They Be We” self-portrait publishing project. Witnessing the impact the self-portrait work had on the women’s sense of self, self-esteem and impacting their lives in a super positive way overall, I knew it would be an amazing merger! Imagine the limitless possibilities when combining imagery and photography with the ever-fascinating process of delving deeper into the archetypes of one’s horoscope!
Is Self-Portraiture narcissistic?
As professionals, artists, or spiritual aspirants— unless we have reached enlightenment, we are still subject to personal complexes of our unconscious. Being a spiritual person does not mean you have to be invisible, completely disregarding the Self out of fear of feeding the ego. The only way to relinquish the personality and transcend the confines of the ego is to first become whole and “know thyself.” You must connect with both sides to create balance. Without yin there can be no yang.
Yin-yang are balanced, they are rooted together. Yin-yang is a dynamic equilibrium. Because they arise together they are always equal: if one disappears, the other must disappear as well, leaving emptiness. This is rarely immediately apparent, though, because yang elements are clear and obvious while yin elements are hidden and subtle
“’I’ve always felt self-portraits were a type of therapy session. There’s something about being alone with a timer and a flash that captures something no one else can. I found myself staring at the photographs I had taken and looking into the face of someone I obviously recognized physically but knew very little about. As I started to go deeper into my own images, I noticed small details and themes. I began picking up on different aspects of my personality. I began to understand myself better…”-Katelan
Being “broken open” by trauma or profound losses in our life can lead to a feeling of surrender, greater repression, or absolute collapse depending on the strength of the body ego.-Sherene
Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.-Jung
Week One: Ascendant and the Planets in the first house
Working with Persona vs. the deeper “I AM’ principle.
What impact do we have on others?
How do we project ourselves out into the world?
What is our personal mission statement in our process of becoming our authentic self?
Week Two: Sun & Moon
Fantasy love is much better than reality love. Never doing it is very exciting. The most exciting attractions are between two opposites that never meet. -Andy Warhol
Sun: Personality, Purpose, Your heart, Inner Child; creativity; that which you radiate.
In class we will use Flower Essences and music to access your inner archetypes of the Sun and Moon.
Working with inner images of the anima/animus through guided meditation and memory recall of important male and female figures in your life.
Week Three: Black Moon Lililth
I cannot love anyone if I hate myself. That is the reason why we feel so extremely uncomfortable in the presence of people who are noted for their special virtuousness, for they radiate an atmosphere of the torture they inflict on themselves. That is not a virtue but a vice.-Carl Jung
Every woman is Medea. Every woman is Jocasta. Clytemnestra is every woman when she kills.-Martha Graham
Accessing the darker side of the Moon…
Here we will get into sexuality, taboos, & The Other Woman Complex
Week Four: Venus
Beauty is not caused. It is.–Emily Dickinson
Where do you seek and find beauty?
How do you connect with others/yourself?
What makes you feel beautiful?
What do you cherish most about yourself and in others?
When do you feel the most attractive and why?
Week Five: Mars
A man who has not passed through the inferno of his passions has never overcome them.-Jung
The characteristic of genuine heroism is its persistency. All men have wandering impulses, fits and starts of generosity. But when you have resolved to be great, abide by yourself, and do not weakly try to reconcile yourself with the world. The heroic cannot be the common, nor the common the heroic.-Emerson
Getting in touch with your passions & inner primal male energies: Perpetrator, fighter, initiator; warrior; super hero; action taker; thrill seeker; athlete.
What makes you feel like a go-getter, hero, or risk taker?
Week Six: Mercury
Curious people are interesting people. I wonder why that is.-Bill Maher
The reason I talk to myself is that I’m the only one whose answers I accept-George Carlin
Not a week to be taken too seriously as you encounter your inner trickster. We’ll explore the placement of Mercury in your horoscope: How you communicate; your good and evil twin selves; how you play with words.
Week Seven: Saturn
Integrity has no use of rules –Camus
Man needs difficulties; they are necessary for health.-Jung
Your inner Senex; Teacher: Cosmic Taskmaster; Conscience; Authority figure; Ruler Maker; Consistency/Integrity Maker; Wise Elder;
This week we will delve into issues o
Your most conservative/traditional side.
Bound, trapped, insecure
Inner wisdom/Senex/Inner Elder
Week Eight: Becoming Whole
Mediocrity is the only sin-Martha Graham
Taking what you learned for the past 7 weeks and seeing yourself as a whole as well as many parts that make up that whole.
They Be We 