The Bard & The Stars
For those who cannot attend live, there will be a recording available after the session has taken place. Simply book a ticket via the button below, and the recording link will be sent with the joining instructions.
About the class
Shakespeare, Astrology, & the Elizabethan World
Following the enthusiastic reception of their presentation on Shakespeare and Astrology in July, 2024, Priscilla Costello and Colin McPhillamy offer an expanded and in-depth exploration of the Bard’s relationship with the Stars. This 4-part course ranges widely over Elizabethan culture and history, the mythological and mathematical bases of astrology, and Shakespeare’s extraordinary creations, most especially the world’s most famous play, Hamlet. Join them on an adventurous journey encompassing astrology, psychology, great literature, and esoteric thought.
*BOOKING: Please note we are now using Stripe for all our transactions. Please be reassured that if you have a Stripe receipt, we have received your payment. Therefore, your Stripe receipt is confirmation of your registration. By registering for any of our courses/events, you agree to our terms and conditions. We will send you the Zoom link 24 hours prior to the start of the event. Please check your spam folder. Any queries, please contact us: info@mythcosmologysacred.com
Week 1:Wednesday 24th September 2025 6.30pm-8.30pm UK time
The World of Elizabeth and the Elizabethan Worldview
To begin, what precisely IS astrology? And how can we be sure that Shakespeare referenced its symbolism in his plays? After considering its presence in 16th century England (and Elizabeth I’s use of it in particular), we’ll ask the important question: How did the Elizabethans view the world? The answer is through the lens of a carefully-thought-out cosmology going back to Plato and the Neo-Platonists, one of an interconnected cosmos envisioned as a “Great Chain of Being.” Many references to Shakespeare’s plays show that he consciously used this paradigm in creating his many works.
Week 2: Wednesday 1st October 2025
6.30pm-8.30pm UK time
The Planets, The Plays, and the Bard
Many astrological symbols are derived from Greek and Roman mythology and are mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays—Mercury, Apollo, and Jupiter among them. Drawing on astrological and mythological tradition, we’ll explore the connections between specific planets, zodiacal signs, and particular plays and reveal the sacred geometry embodied in the zodiac and the horoscope. In addition, we’ll apply “temperament theory”, an offshoot of the Elizabethan worldview, to probe the psychology of Shakespeare’s characters, illustrating various expressions of Mars, the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn.
Week 3: Wednesday 8th October 2025
6.30pm-8.30pm UK time
The Worlds Most Famous Play: Hamlet
Why is this play the most famous one ever written? We’ll trace its sources and discover its links to the astrological/mythological Saturn as the key to the play. Is Hamlet fated? Or did he have free will? Is he obligated to wreak revenge on his uncle for the murder of his father? Many actors long to play the role of the melancholy Dane. What is it like to act Shakespearean roles? Looking at famous actors’ horoscopes reveals their talent and potential attunement to particular roles. We will be recommending speeches that attendees might like to memorize to replicate the experience of an actor’s life (and Colin will share experiences from his own).
Week 4: Wednesday 15th October 2025
6.30pm-8.30pm
Summing Up
Why does Shakespeare matter and why he is one of the West’s greatest spiritual philosophers/teachers. Are his plays moral lessons? Religious in scope? Or perhaps “initiations” – aids to climbing the ladder of creation depicted as a “great chain”? What can we learn from analyzing his creative output and the characters who people his world? And finally, what accounts for the mystery and magic inherent in his works?
In addition, we will be making a few other speculations: Who really wrote the plays? And does it matter? And how do we understand not only the astrology (and astrological configurations) of Shakespeare’s time but also the astrology of NOW?
*BOOKING: Please note we are now using Stripe for all our transactions. Please be reassured that if you have a Stripe receipt, we have received your payment. Therefore, your Stripe receipt is confirmation of your registration. By registering for any of our courses/events, you agree to our terms and conditions. We will send you the Zoom link 24 hours prior to the start of the event. Please check your spam folder. Any queries, please contact us: info@mythcosmologysacred.com
About
Priscilla Costello, MA, Dipl. CAAE
(Canadian Association for Astrological Education)
Priscilla Costello is a counselling astrologer, educator, speaker, and writer with a life-long interest in Shakespeare and spiritual philosophy. 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 Canada, the USA, and England and written numerous articles for various publications. Author of The Weiser Concise Guide to Practical Astrology, an introduction to horoscope analysis for the intelligent public, she also penned the more recent Shakespeare and the Stars: The Hidden Astrological Keys to Understanding the World’s Greatest Playwright. Also available are “Playbill” editions, condensed chapters from the larger book, on six of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, handy to carry with you to theatrical performances.
About
Colin McPhillamy, Dipl Act.
Colin McPhillamy was born in London to Australian parents and later trained there as an actor (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 UK he worked in the West End, at the National Theatre, and extensively in British regional theatre. In the USA he has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and at regional centres across the country. His book An Actor Walks Into China tells the story of teaching Shakespeare to Chinese students at Peking University. His other books, The Treehouse and Other Stories and Actor Blog Plus, are available at Amazon. Following a lifelong interest and a prediction made to him in his 20’s, he began an astrological practice in 2016. With a Gemini Moon in the 9th, inevitably he pursues a variety of studies with more than one school at a time. His site is https://galacticfragment.com