ARCHIVE #23 — Planetary Archetypes and Psychedelic Astrology with Dr. Renn Butler

Astrology is not a belief system. It is a language—an ancient, symbolic, and scientifically grounded way of understanding the psyche in relation to the cosmos. In this episode, I speak with Dr. Renn Butler, archetypal astrologer and longtime student of Stanislav Grof and Richard Tarnas, about the deeper layers of meaning encoded in planetary movements and how they shape both individual lives and collective epochs.

This conversation emerges from my own deepening engagement with archetypal astrology during my PhD studies with Rick Tarnas, and reflects my desire to bring the substance and intelligence of this cosmological framework into wider conversation. Together, Renn and I explore the foundational archetypes associated with the planets, the structure of the psyche, and the perinatal matrices first developed by Grof and later expanded in collaboration with Tarnas at Esalen.

We also discuss astrology’s relationship with psychedelic experience, dreamwork, and relational dynamics. Renn brings the richness of over four decades of practice and scholarship to our exchange, and speaks with clarity about how astrology can serve as both a diagnostic tool and a guide for transformation.

Dr. Butler is the author of several seminal works, including Pathways to Wholeness, The Archetypal Universe, and The Astrology of Love and Relationships. He holds a PhD in Archetypal Astrology and Transpersonal Psychology and continues to teach and consult worldwide. His work—and this episode—offers a bridge between ancient symbolic systems and contemporary psychological insight.

For anyone curious about how astrology can deepen your understanding of self, spirit, and the mythic weave of the world, this conversation opens a portal.

This episode was originally released under the podcast title Sacred Wisdom, the precursor to The Cosmic Codex. It now resides within The Sacred Wisdom Archives.