Laurence Hillman
Participating in the Third: The Astrological Agon in Archetypal Practice
The dilemma of “To be, or not to be,” when read as a choice, resolves in the fifth act of Shakespeare’s play when Hamlet says, “The readiness is all… Let be.” This suggests that dyads often pose a false choice, yet can generate something new—a relevant learning for our times, where false choices are increasingly common. The elusive third, what Jung described as a third function—staying within a tension to allow for something new to evolve—speaks to the complexity of moving beyond dyadic thinking.
By way of archetypal astrology, we will explore the concept of the astrological agon, the core dyadic tension that describes astrological charts. If we live our agon as a dyadic dilemma, we end up frustrated and incomplete, with the constant sense that we are failing certain parts of ourselves. Drawing on nearly 50 years of astrological practice, this lecture explores the origins of creativity and the demanding work of allowing a third to emerge through a particular mode of attention and active participation. It will also offer embodied ways of ‘becoming ready, and letting be.’
Astrology itself brings up the dilemma of two worlds: imagined stories unfolding in the heavens and the very practical question of whether, and how, we are influenced by celestial patterns. We will draw a comparison to the work of Antoni Gaudí, the renowned master architect. While the connection may not be obvious at first, a closer look reveals that both architecture and astrology are languages of translation from the imaginal into form. At their best, both create a tangible space for soul work. In this sense, archetypal astrology can be understood as a language for engaging with, rather than merely describing, celestial archetypal patterns.
Laurence Hillman, PhD, is an internationally respected archetypal astrologer, consultant, and teacher whose work has been devoted for nearly five decades to illuminating the symbolic patterns that shape human character, vocation, and destiny. Born and raised in Zürich, he began his study of archetypes at the age of sixteen and went on to become one of the leading contemporary voices in archetypal astrology. As a professional archetypal coach, he helps individuals discern deeper purpose and life calling; as a consultant, he advises leaders and organizations in recognizing the archetypal forces that underlie culture, strategy, and long-range decision-making. He is also the co-creator of Archetypes at Work™, an innovative methodology for assessing and developing both individuals and institutions.
Hillman has lectured and led workshops internationally in distinguished settings, including the Globe Theatre in London, Pacifica Graduate Institute, Findhorn, Jean Houston’s Mystery School, the Faculty of Astrological Studies at Oxford Summer School, and Washington University in St. Louis, and he now also teaches through Kosmos Institute. He is the author of Planets in Play and co-author of Alignments and Archetypes at Work. With a PhD in psychology focused on Transformative Leadership, along with advanced degrees in business, construction management, and architecture, Hillman brings together depth psychology, symbolic imagination, and practical wisdom in a body of work that is at once intellectually rigorous and broadly applicable to both inner and collective life.