MysticMag chats with Deb McBride – The Golden Astrologer – who views self-discovery as a lifelong journey. She emphasizes the importance of confronting and healing personal patterns to effectively help her clients. Practicing what she preaches, Deb moved from the challenges of New York City to Costa Rica, where her Sun and Mars lines encourage clarity and passion. She sees astrology as an alchemical language that reveals individual paths through natal charts, combining personal growth with the broader cycles that influence collective consciousness.
Deb, how has your personal journey with astrocartography influenced your understanding of its impact on individuals, and how has your move to Costa Rica enhanced your practice?
I’ve observed that relocating can profoundly change people’s lives, and this is often a popular reason people seek my guidance. Through my lectures and presentations on astrocartography, I’ve found that when individuals face challenges they can’t quite understand—especially when something is hindering their progress—it often relates to their astrocartography.
For instance, my late partner was from the UK, and his Saturn line ran right through there. He found much greater happiness in New York, where his Jupiter line was prominent. He even mentioned he couldn’t stay in England for more than ten days because of the Saturn line’s influence. Meanwhile, in New York, I lived under the influence of Saturn and Neptune, which was quite complex for me.
My move was driven by a desire to escape those lines, but I also fell in love with Costa Rica, which became a primary motivation. Initially, I visited because friends invited me, but I was aware of my favorable astrocartography there, featuring the Sun and Mars lines, making it a much happier place for me than New York. Living under Saturn’s influence felt like an obligation, creating a constant sense of responsibility that made taking vacations challenging.
When advising others, I emphasize that they must genuinely like the place; I can’t simply suggest they move to a location because it aligns with Jupiter. I encourage them to visit, experience it firsthand, and see how it resonates with them. For example, my Sun line runs through Monaco, and while I found it beautiful and charming when I visited 20 years ago, it didn’t compare to the overwhelming connection I felt in Costa Rica. Ultimately, it’s essential to explore, like, and feel a connection with a place when considering a move.
Can you explain how astrology serves as an alchemical language in revealing an individual’s path and the significance of planetary cycles in shaping one’s life journey?
Alchemy is a fascinating concept that involves expressing symbols to bridge the physical and mystical realms. In astrology, alchemy describes the transformative processes individuals experience. This transformation reflects the stages of alchemy, which mirror the evolution of the self. For instance, I often describe a Pluto transit as a profoundly alchemical experience. Pluto can plunge individuals into darkness, akin to the “drowning of the king” stage in alchemy, which symbolizes the surrender of the ego.
During a Pluto transit, one must often relinquish control and let go of ego-driven desires, opening themselves up to what comes next. This process is inherently evolutionary, mirroring the transformation that occurs during astrological transits and progressions. Although alchemy is not frequently referenced in modern discourse, it is a powerful metaphor for the continuous cycles of transformation we undergo in life. We constantly navigate these layers of experience, reflecting alchemical processes even if we don’t always recognize them as such.
How do you integrate your background in chemistry and mathematics into your astrological practice, and how does this influence your approach to interpreting natal charts?
I have a naturally analytical mind, which applies to both astrology and chemistry. In school, organic chemistry was my best subject, and I often find parallels between understanding chemical synthesis and interpreting planetary configurations. Just as chemical processes involve adding elements and using catalysts to create new compounds, astrology involves mixing planetary influences like Venus and Neptune to produce certain effects. This blend of elements is akin to alchemy.
Astrology is deeply mathematical and geometrical, with planets interacting through angles like 90°, 120°, and 180°. Understanding these interactions requires a solid grasp of geometry. When I first learned astrology, I calculated charts by hand, using logarithm tables and mathematical skills to compute astrological positions accurately.
The analytical aspect of both disciplines resonates with me, and I find it challenging to turn off my analytical mindset. Whether interpreting a chemical reaction or an astrological chart, the process of analysis is integral to understanding the intricate relationships within each field.
What role does empathy play in your work as an astrologer, and how do you use your empathic abilities to support your clients on their alchemical journeys?
Conversely, alongside my analytical nature, I am naturally empathetic and highly sensitive. I can truly feel people’s pain, allowing me to tap into their emotions and understand what they need to do, both from their astrological chart and my personal experiences. Having gone through my own astrological journeys, progressions, and transits, I know firsthand what these experiences feel like and can describe them accurately to others.
It is crucial to remember and draw from my own experiences when helping others navigate their transits. For instance, when someone is going through a challenging transit and has unrealistic expectations, I can guide them because I completely understand where they are coming from. My empathy allows me to connect deeply with their current situation and provide meaningful support, informed by both my intuitive understanding and my own past experiences.
In your experience, how do personal astrology and mundane astrology interact to affect individual consciousness and contribute to psychological and cultural shifts?
The collective unconscious is influenced by the outer planets, and during deep cycles of collective change, like the one we’re experiencing now, people feel its effects profoundly. Often, they’re unaware of what’s causing this unease because they’re preoccupied with their daily routines—working, raising kids, and living their lives. Yet, there’s an undercurrent of collective energies at play, leading to a kind of death anxiety, signaling the end of one cycle and the beginning of another.
Currently, we’re witnessing Pluto changing signs, and in the coming years, other outer planets like Neptune and Uranus will also shift. These transitions can shake people up, prompting reactions of anxiety and fear. When outer planets change signs, cultural shifts occur, and people may describe the times as chaotic or hysterical. This response is often rooted in an internal dread of endings and fear of what’s next. The cycle of change weaves personal and collective energies together, and I believe the tension and acting out we see in people are often due to these broader cycles.
When people become intensely upset about issues—whether political, religious, or current events—there’s usually a collective component at play, reflecting larger societal shifts. However, there’s often a personal story fueling this anger. If individuals look deeply enough into their own lives, they might discover the root cause of their intense reactions. This introspection is challenging because it’s easier to blame external factors like political parties or opposing groups.
I believe that when experiencing an outer planet transit, individuals are called to engage with a larger narrative. Sometimes, their lives are directly impacted by collective stories, while other times, they are part of the collective experience shared by everyone. If a planet like Neptune is affecting a significant aspect of someone’s chart, like an angle or their Sun, they’re likely to be drawn into a story that has both personal and collective implications. The interplay between the collective and personal is a complex and intricate dance, shaping our experiences in profound ways.
If you would like to find out more about Deb McBride, please visit https://www.thegoldenastrologer.com/
