Bernie Ashman (astrologer)

Bernie Ashman (born November 24, 1947) is an American astrologer, writer, teacher, and lecturer. He is the author of eleven astrological books. Ashman describes his work as empowering and committed to helping people find their own spiritual, psychological, and creative insights. ACS Publications released his first book, Astrological Games People PlayAshman, Bernie (1987). Astrological Games People Play. San Diego: ACS Publications. ISBN 978-0917086748, in 1987. Astrologer and Author Steven Forrest commented on the book, saying, “Ashman has the insights of a humanistic psychologist.” This book is still being used by healers and astrologers in their counseling work. Ashman is known by his peers for his ability to explain astrology in a clear, understandable way without sacrificing its depth.
Ashman’s past life work has drawn a great deal of attention. Astrologer Carmen Turner-Schott, author of The Mysteries of the Twelfth Astrological House, has described Ashman as “an astrology past lives whisperer” because of his ability to intuitively identify past life patterns in an astrological chart. Ashman believes that many current life issues may have their roots in internal memories from previous incarnations. These shadows can surface as repeating themes in the current lifetime and can be transformed into positive creative energies. Ashman believes each of us can find greater love, harmony, and happiness when we shift these past life energies. His book, Sun Signs & Past Lives: Your Soul’s Evolutionary Path, identifies past life patterns corresponding to each astrological sign. He explains how these once problematic past life energies can become empowering when a person recognizes their influences.
In 2000, Ashman invented a past life astrological chart that excited people around the world. It offers a lens to perceive past life influences more quickly and clearly. This new type of chart became a software program through Matrix Software in the United States and was made available internationally. Ashman wrote the interpretations for the program. 
Ashman currently mentors astrology students and astrologers around the United States and in other countries. He has lectured throughout the United States. His books have been translated into French, Spanish, Russian, Romanian, and Chinese. 
==Biography==
Ashman was born on November 24, 1947, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated with a B.A. in political science from the University of Florida in 1971.
While attending the University of Florida, Ashman took coursework with Sidney Jourard, PhD, author of The Transparent Self. Jourard was a leader in humanistic psychology. Ashman believes this encounter with a brilliant humanistic psychologist influenced him to discover astrology. 
He began studying astrology in 1973 after encountering The Astrology of Personality written by French Astrologer Dane Rudhyar. This book had such an impact that Ashman quickly decided to make astrology his field of expertise. He liked the Rudhyar emphasis on astrology as a symbolic language encouraging Freedom of Choice and stimulating evolutionary growth. After reading Astrologer Stephen Arroyo’s book Astrology, Karma and Transformation, Ashman found his thinking and insights about past life astrological themes profound. The book The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious by the great Psychologist Carl Jung inspired Ashman’s interest in correlating archetypes with the astrology signs and planets in his own work.
He studied diligently over the next year and offered chart readings for free in 1974 to obtain some valuable experience. Between 1976 and 1978, he gradually built up a large and faithful practice that continues to thrive today. Over the years, his work has expanded into writing, lecturing, and teaching, and now he has clients and students from all over the world. His books have been translated into French, Spanish, Russian, Romanian, and Chinese.
In 1984, Ashman had the good fortune to receive his first book contract for Astrological Games People Play from ACS Publications in San Diego, California. Their Editor in Chief Martha Pottenger, who was herself an astrologer, edited both of his first two books. Ashman was excited about the opportunity to reach people from many different regions of the world. This book was released in 1987. He had more good fortune in the early 1990s when ACS agreed to publish his second book, RoadMap to Your Future, a thorough discussion of predictive astrology that focuses on secondary progressions and transits. This book was released in 1994 and later was reprinted for the third time by a new publisher, the American Federation of Astrologers. 
Ashman signed a contract in February 1999 to write his third book, SignMates, published by Llewellyn in the year 2000. SignMates covers all the possible sign comparisons and offers creative solutions to help readers bring fulfillment to their relationships. Ashman wrote this book for the general public in order to reach the widest audience possible. 
Following the terrorist attack in the United States in 2001, Ashman’s publisher, Llewelyn, asked him to write a chapter for the book Civilization Under Attack: September 11, 2001 & Beyond. Ashman titled his chapter “The Psychology of Terrorism.” The book came to publication in November 2001. Ashman was a co-author along with several other astrologers, including Author Robert Hand.
Llewellyn published Ashman’s book Sun Signs & Past Lives: Your Soul’s Evolutionary Path in 2010. This book uses a person’s birth date and astrological chart to describe past life patterns and ways to channel these energies more productively. Ashman employed a technique known as decans in an innovative way to describe past life patterns associated with each astrological sign. 
In 2016, Ashman’s next book, How to Survive Mercury Retrograde, was published by Llewellyn. The Telegraph newspaper in London, England, interviewed him shortly after its release. Shortly afterward, Watkins Mind Body Spirit Magazine in London asked him to write an article on Mercury Retrograde which they published the same year.
Llewellyn published Ashman’s next book, Sun Sign Karma: Resolving Past Life Patterns with Astrology, in 2020.
In addition to his books, Ashman’s interpretations and insights have become the foundation for several astrological software programs. He invented a past life chart in 2000 that became a software program called the Past Life Chart for Matrix Software. Ashman wrote all the chart interpretations that accompanied this new type of astrology chart. People around the United States and in other countries excitedly welcomed this new approach to getting a fast look into their past lives. Chart wheels previously had been constructed using a counterclockwise house system. The past lives chart uses a clockwise house system that quickly allows people to see into past incarnations in a whole new way. 
Ashman has written the text for other software programs: the Birth Chart Report, the Prediction Report, and Simpáticos, which is a written report that discusses a romantic or non-romantic partnership.
Ashman continues to accept invitations to lecture at astrology conferences and has taught many classes. His main focus of late has been training others to become astrologers. He serves as a mentor for several students as well as astrologers. 
His work is based on a humanistic and person-centered approach. He sees astrology as a wonderful blueprint for assisting individuals to define their life choices more clearly. 
Ashman is committed to his astrological practice and does consultations from his office in Durham, North Carolina. His next book, Astrology’s Magical Nodes of the Moon, co-authored with Astrologer and Author Carmen Turner-Schott, is being released in 2024 by John Hunt Publishing in England. Shelley Kaehr, Ph.D., world-renowned past life regressionist and author of Past Lives in Ancient Lands & Other Worlds, has already endorsed the book. She says, “I highly recommend Astrology’s Magical Nodes of the Moon to anyone who wants to understand their soul’s purpose at a deep level.” 
Astrologer and Author of The Inner Sky Steven Forrest has endorsed Astrology’s Magical Nodes of the Moon. He says, “With their aptly-named new book, Astrology’s Magical Nodes of the Moon, master Astrologers Carmen Turner-Schott and my friend Bernie Ashman have created a precious addition to the library of every evolutionary astrologer. In cookbook fashion they go through every possible nodal sign or house configuration, and they do so in a way that is uncannily accurate and always aimed at being helpful.” 
==Bibliography==
===Books===
* Astrological Games People Play. San Diego: ACS Publications. 1987 
* RoadMap to Your Future: A Quick Guide to Progressions and Transits. San Diego: ACS Publications. 1994. Reprinted: Tempe: American Federation of Astrologers. 1999 
* SignMates: An Astrological Guide to Love & Intimacy. Woodbury: Llewellyn. 2000 
* Sun Signs & Past Lives: Your Soul’s Evolutionary Path. Woodbury: Llewellyn. 2010 
* Intuition and Your Sun Sign: Practical Methods to Unlock Your Potential. Woodbury: Llewellyn. 2014 
* How to Survive Mercury Retrograde: And Venus & Mars, Too. Woodbury: Llewellyn.2016 
* Sun Sign Karma: Resolving Past Life Patterns with Astrology. Woodbury: Llewellyn.2021 
* The Magic of SignMates: An Astrological Guide to Romantic Love. 2nd edition of SignMates. Willow Spring: Realization Press. 2022 
* Your Sun Sign Intuition: The Magical and Creative Sky Within. 2nd edition of Intuition and Your Sun Sign. Willow Spring: Realization Press. 2022 
* Astrology, Psychology, and Transformation: Discovering Your Sacred Sky. 2nd edition of Astrological Games People Play. Willow Spring: Realization Press. 2022 
===As Co-author or Contributor===
* Ashman, Bernie; Crook, David; Hand, Robert; Keyes, Jonathan, Riske, Kris Brandt;Stathis, Georgia Anna, Clement, Stephanie J., PhD. Civilization Under Attack: September 11, 2001 & Beyond. Woodbury: Llewellyn. 2001 
* Ashman, Bernie; Turner-Schott, Carmen. Astrology’s Magical Nodes of the Moon: Releasing the Past & Embracing the Future. Winchester, Hampshire: John Hunt Publishing. 2024 ISBN 978-1-80341-412-6
===Professional Written Interpreted Software Reports===
* Birth Chart Report Software, Astrological Institute of Research (AIR Software). 1991
* RoadMapping Your Future Cycles Report Software. AIR Software. 1992
* Simpáticos: Composite Relationship Professional Report Software. Matrix Software/Cosmic Patterns. 1998
* Past Lives: Karmic Professional Report Software. Matrix Software/Cosmic Patterns.2002
* The Earth Mandala Report Software. Matrix Software/Cosmic Patterns. 2010
===Articles===
* “Saturn the Cosmic Chiropractor,” Mountain Astrologer 1993
* “The Uranus Discovery Degree,” Dell Horoscope, February 1995
* “What Does Each Sun Sign Teach Us About Past Lives?” Llewellyn Journal, December 2010
* “How to Successfully Navigate Mercury Retrograde,” Llewellyn Journal, November 2015
* “Surviving Venus and Mars Retrogrades,” Llewellyn Journal, February 2016
* “What Do Planets in Intercepted Signs Mean?” Llewellyn Journal, November 2018
* “Healing Our Karma by Understanding Our Sun Sign” Llewellyn Journal, June 2021
===Videos/Written Interviews===
Sun Sign Karma - Shelley Kaehr YouTube Interview
Sun Sign Karma - Sherianna Boyle Interview
Interview with Bernie Ashman - Matrix Software Interviews
===Professional Certification Award===
Ashman was awarded the highest level of professional astrological certification by the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NCGR), the most widely-recognized astrology organization in the United States.
Category:1947 births
Category:People from Springfield, Massachusetts
Category:American people
Category:Astrologers
Category:Writers
Category:Teachers	
Category:Lecturers