Sabian Symbols Training

Vanessa asks...

Could you help by going into more detail about your Sabian Symbols course. What are your teachings like? How do you offer the material-videos, speaking, written? I did read that you focus the exploration on the individual Sabian Symbols which I feel would be helpful for me.

What is your past experience with the symbols?

James responds:

• This course is for those who want to work at studying the Sabian Symbols and gain a deeper sense of themselves through the teachings of Sabian Mysteries and its key source material: that of Jones and Rudhyar, viewed through the lenses of Sufism and the 7 Words System.

• The structure is not particularly fixed so that I can adjust to the needs of the individual student, yet will certainly include guidance through the process of self-examination by the student, based on the Sabian degrees indicated in their own horoscope. Together we will look at the chart and determine which are its key factors, which planets are emphasised and which situations and attitudes in life relate to which planet. From this we can see which of the Sabians are most helpful to study in depth. For example, perhaps a life issue has arisen that points to Taurus 16; we would study that degree profoundly until there is a real understanding of what can be done to progress towards understanding and then resolution.

• Mostly, there will be an exchange of emails, although initially, and from time to time, contact through Skype is possible. The study material itself is all published on this website, although further suggestions may also arise regarding other material that may be useful.

• The pace of study is entirely at the student's discretion, subject to the constraint that it must be concluded within 18 months, and preferably only 12. Probably there will be something like 12 - 15 sessions over the period, and those sessions can follow on from each other very quickly if preferred. 

• During the course there is likely to be emotional process; we do not progress very far on our spiritual path without it! Typically this is what deters students from completion of the course - although that fact is more evident to the teacher than the student. For this reason, as an incentive, the whole course fee is payable in advance and is nonrefundable. So in order to give the student a real sense of whether they want to commit to this, the first introductory sessions are without charge. We begin with an exchange of emails, possibly followed by a Skype call after which both of us will decide whether to continue. Please don't be offended if your application is not immediately successful - I can only handle a small number of students at a time, and in some cases there is insufficient empathy for me to be helpful, so I cannot accept the student onto the course.

• It is assumed that the student has some experience of meditation and is committed to following a spiritual path based on truth and love

• Naturally all communications are confidential

I came across Sabain Symbols long ago, before I had much knowledge of astrology and almost none of self-development. My own degrees seemed irrelevant, confusing or trite. Much later I met someone who had a deep interest in them herself, and she triggered my own study, although that was rather casual - and anyway by that time I had begun my journey into Sufism, which is bottomless and demanding. Eventually I had the time and appetite to look into them deeply, and found that writing an interpretation of Marc Edmund Jones's work was the best way for me to learn what was offered by him.

That project enabled me to expand my awareness and correct some misapprehensions I had had about myself. In particular, certain characteristics clearly related to planets other than those I had originality thought. Most helpfully though,  the Sabians somehow gave me permission to be more of who I was because 'it was written'.

Later, when I came across Dane Rudhyar, I found a way to reconcile my Sufism with the hidden secrets of the Sabians. His work is unrivalled in my opinion, and takes Jones's to another level. This website is my attempt to bring together the interpretations of Jones, Rudhyar and Sufism. By doing this I feel I have advanced to a point where my life purpose has been fully revealed. One reason for me to offer this course is to express gratitude for these teachers that went before us to keep alive the tradition of wisdom that could so easily be lost otherwise.