ZIP DOBYNS (Astrology) http://www.ccrsdodona.org/ [Note: These talks by Dr. Zipporah Dobyns were transcribed from audio cassettes by myself, Bill Wrobel. I also personally attended the sessions held largely at Zip’s Los Angeles house (the location of many of her local astrology Intensives). Being a “Virgo” astrologer, Zip much preferred the preciseness of her writing style than the “over-the- cuff” spontaneous “Gemini” speaking style. Zip passed away in mid-June 2003. Her daughter, Maritha Pottenger, has given permission to put these verbatim transcriptions (some slight edits) online as a tribute to Zip and her teachings. The material is quite excellent for the very reason of its impromptu spontaneous nature—more, as just given, the Gemini style or side of her nature than the written Virgo style or side of her nature. Of course I preferred her Gemini style! Even in those terms, I much prefer hearing Zip on cassette or in person than simply reading the transcripts of her Gemini style material. I understand that Zip would sometimes feel a bit frustrated with material from transcriptions of her workshops and talks because of its far more casual speaker style and would prefer to “clean up” the material in her Virgo mode! Be that as it may, I believe the reader will find great value in the material as given. Enjoy!] [Background bio information: Zip was born August 26, 1921, Chicago, Illinois at 9:48 pm CST. She earned a B.A. in anthropology from the University of Chicago in 1944, Phi Beta Kappa. Her graduate studies in anthropology were held at the University of Chicago and also the University of Arizona. She was married in October 1948 and had three sons and one daughter (Maritha Pottenger, who also practices astrology professionally). Zip began her study of astrology in the fall of 1956 and became certified as a professional astrologer in 1960 (AFA exam). She also began a study of clinical psychology in 1962 at the University of Arizona and earned her M.A. in 1966, and her PhD in 1969. In 1968 she was ordained as a minister in the Community Church of Religious Science. Ever since she was taught astrology and counseled people in private readings in 16 countries and at least 36 States. Some of her books include: Evolution Through the Zodiac The Astrologer’s Casebook (with Nancy Roof) Finding the Person in the Horoscope The Node Book (introduction) The Asteroid Ephemeris (introduction) Progressions, Directions, and Rectification Expanding Astrology’s Universe The Zodiac as a Key to History Seven Keys to Understanding (with Bill Wrobel) Planets on the Move (with Maritha Pottenger) The Book of Saturn Millennium Fears, Fantasies, and Facts (with Maritha Pottenger, Maria Sims, and Kim Rogers-Gallagher) Unveiling Your Future; Progressions Made Easy (with Maritha Pottenger) Healing Mother-Daughter Relationships With Astrology (with Maritha Pottenger) 1 It was a privilege and a life-changing experience to have known Zip. Somehow I found out about her and made an appointment for a reading in January of 1978. This was the first time I met her. I had a lot of fun with her in that session, and I enjoyed her keen analytical intellect and perceptive comments. She also had a terrific soothing voice (marred only by coughing). Following that personal horoscope session, I wanted to know far more about her unique approach to astrology, so that March I attended her "Intensive" at her house on 838 5th Ave in Los Angeles (she moved to Jamul several years ago at least). I taped the lectures and chart readings and typed up transcripts for easy reference. During that general period (around 1981, actually), her daughter, Maritha, also had classes on Wednesday evenings that I attended. Many times Zip would join in. I remember Marguerite being there, and Katie, and Mary S., Mark occasionally, and others. Often we brought guests for Zip and Maritha to "read" their charts! It was a fun, learning experience. Zip was really at her prime then and her house was an energetic meeting ground of inquisitive minds. The hungry stomachs were also feed very well in that household after the Intensives meetings as well! I remember Zip, Maritha, and others slaving in the kitchen! Zip was, in her words, a "Virgo" type astrologer, especially seen in her style of writing, although I most appreciated her "Gemini" (Moon in Gemini in the 1st) style of expression, hearing her voice, her spontaneous remarks. Zip on tape, in my opinion, is far more "alive" and insightful than her writing style, and I am glad I still have tapes of her sessions to enjoy. However, we all owe her gratitude for her unique, workable "Zip" system or approach to reading horoscopes. I particularly found of value her focus on the asteroids (that many astrologers at the time found irrelevant or of minor consequence). She was on to something there, something big. The named asteroids showed even further the grand "order" of the Universe in terms of mapping the psychological framework or dynamics of a given chart. As an example, when Zip did my chart with the asteroids, I commented on how I always liked Arizona when my wife & I vacationed there. Zip pointed out that I had natal asteroid "Arizona" conjunct my natal Moon in Aquarius in the 4th house--a natural "home" for me! So I plan to retire there in about 12 years! My progressed Moon was opposite my progressed Juno (the "marriage" asteroid) in May of 1982--the exact period I moved in with my future wife! At the time I did not realize this astrologically. Progressed Moon was conjunct Juno in Sept '81 when I got seriously involved with Stephanie. Progressed Juno was trine natal 2 Moon when we got married that early November. So there is indeed, at least in my case, to say about the asteroids that Zip championed. Zip was a highly "Mutable" individual, and she traveled all over the world. She was also a Mother to the world. She admitted in the Virgo 1999 issue of the Mutable Dilemma quarterly journal that being a universal mother had its karmic price that cost her health. I think also that her compassion to the world was so strong that she felt really bad about the state of the world (she was heavily into political astrology) and perhaps this too affected her more than people realized. But what she contributed to the world in terms of intellectual output and personal insights for clients is truly monumental in scope in this small corner of the World (the field of astrology). I am truly grateful to her for being lovingly and helpfully here in this world for these nearly 82 years. I'll miss her! - Bill Wrobel *************************************************** ZIP’S STANDARD INTRO TO ASTROLOGY Zip: “ I always start with a philosophical statement for new clients. Whenever we’re talking about a horoscope to somebody who is not familiar with astrology, we have to start first by explaining it a little bit because astrology is often presented very badly in the newspapers and magazines that people normally see. Those of us who work with astrology (at least the ones that I’m associated with!) do not think the planets are running the world or making character or making things happen to people. I think Life is the creative power, that life is continuous, that we’ve been here before, and we come back to keep on growing, and we come in where we fit, where we match the state of the universe as seen in the sky. We think that the sky is like a clock. You look at the clock to see what time it is, but you don’t think the clock makes time. It only shows time. The horoscope shows the state of the sky at the moment of birth. It’s like a mirror, a way to see ourselves, and it symbolizes the picture of our character that we ourselves have developed and it’s up to us what we do with it. And if we want to change ourselves, then it’s up to us to do that. This doesn’t mean it’s easy because what we bring back is habits, and habits are not easy to change but possible if we really want to. The horoscope does not show the details of the life. It shows the principles or themes operating in our own nature, the basic drives and desires in our character. It’s an inside job. There’s nothing out there doing anything to us. It’s very mysterious how it works, but it does seem to work—that the baby comes to a situation, including patterns in the sky that we call a horoscope or map of the sky, that fit its own nature. The horoscope does not dictate the details of the life or what will happen to you. It just shows the psychological principles that are operating, and then it is up to the person to handle those drives or desires to do positive, constructive things with them. 3 So the horoscope is just a model of life but it’s a useful one that shows twelve basic drives or desires or twelve ways of being in the world. These twelve ways are described in many ways. The twelve signs say them, the twelve houses say them in another way, the planets say them in another way. So we get the same meaning with the sign of Aries, the planet mars, and the 1st house. Much of the way astrology is taught is just totally confusing to people because they talk as if these were all completely different.