Steven Forrest

Steven Forrest, born in 1949, is an American author, lecturer, and astrologer recognized as a co-founder of Evolutionary Astrology. This approach to astrology, as described by Forrest, integrates psychological perspectives with metaphysical concepts, focusing on the soul's prior experiences and unresolved issues rather than solely on childhood development. He has authored numerous books on the subject and has taught his methods through apprenticeship programs and at various institutions, including the Omega Institute and the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. Forrest's work emphasizes the role of free will in shaping one's destiny, asserting that individuals are not bound by predetermined planetary influences and can actively create their futures through personal evolution and conscious choices. His approach has been praised by various figures, including actor Robert Downey Jr. and astrologer Rob Brezsny.

Steven Forrest is a prominent figure in the development of Evolutionary Astrology, a system he helped define and popularize. This school of thought posits that an individual's birth chart reflects experiences from previous lifetimes and the karmic issues carried forward. Forrest describes it as a blend of humanistic psychology and ancient metaphysics, viewing the birth chart as a guide to understanding personal "predicaments" or challenges stemming from past lives. Crucially, the chart also offers a path toward healing and empowerment, providing an "experiential recipe" for personal growth. Forrest considers Evolutionary Astrology to be practical and verifiable, emphasizing its intense yet compassionate nature and its relevance to present-day life, even when discussing reincarnation.

Forrest champions a perspective that places significant emphasis on free will within the framework of astrology, a stance he acknowledges as unconventional in some deterministic astrological circles. He asserts that individuals possess the capacity for profound self-change and evolution, and are not irrevocably bound by the celestial configurations at birth. According to Forrest, as people transform themselves, they make different choices, which in turn shape their future experiences. This viewpoint suggests an active role for the individual in navigating their life path, moving beyond a passive acceptance of destiny. Publications like O, The Oprah Magazine have noted his approach for shifting focus away from blame and towards personal agency in fulfilling one's life journey.

Steven Forrest began his professional astrological practice in 1976, following a B.A. in Religion from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His first book, 'The Inner Sky,' published in 1982, garnered positive attention from major publications like The Los Angeles Times and Esquire, and was lauded by musician Sting for its intelligent and poetic approach to demystifying astrology. Forrest has held positions on the Ethics Committee for the International Society for Astrological Research and the Kepler College Advisory Council. He has received the Professional Astrologers Incorporated Award for "Outstanding Contribution to the Art and Science of Astrology" and has been nominated multiple times for United Astrology Congress Regulus Awards. He also wrote monthly horoscopes for Elle magazine in the mid-1980s.

“a form of psychological astrology which is integrated with metaphysics. Where a twentieth century psychological astrologer might focus on the dynamics of childhood, the evolutionary astrologer focuses on the childhood of the soul—prior lifetimes, and the issues left unresolved from them.”

“the most brilliant astrologer alive”

“one of the greatest events of my life. . . you have restored the divine art to its noble status.”

“the fusion of humanistic psychology on one hand with ancient metaphysics on the other hand. We assume, as we look at a chart in the evolutionary context, that the person has this birth chart for a reason ... and that built into your chart is a description of what we might think of as an evolutionary predicament or a karmic predicament — a set of illusions that you have, a set of issues you may have, things you need to work on, things that can trip you up ... and then most importantly, the birth chart will describe 'the medicine' ... a kind of experiential recipe that you can follow in order to optimally empower yourself, heal the wounded places in your psyche, and get on with your journey.”

“utterly practical, utterly testable,” and “the most verifiable form of astrology that I have ever encountered.”