The Twelve Letter Alphabet, sometimes called the twelve “Archetypes,” underlies much of modern Western astrology. In my view, this has led to the distortion of much of astrology’s fundamental symbolism.

This lecture, the result of many years of frustration with the conventional presentation of astrology, has as its goal that astrologers question their explicit and implicit use of the Twelve Letter Alphabet. A case can be made for putting this system away forever, and I attempt to make that case here.

Joseph Crane, M.A., has been an astrologer, teacher, and writer on astrology since the late 1980s. He has taught training programs on ancient and modern astrological technique and counselling skills for astrologers, and courses for astrologers and astrology students in mythology, history, and philosophy. Joseph has written numerous books and articles on astrological technique, ancient understanding and practice of astrology, and the relationship between astrology and literature. He has a BA in philosophy from Brandeis University and an MA in counselling psychology from Lesley University. He has been a Buddhist practitioner since 1980 and lives in southern Rhode Island.