About Antoinette
My Story
Born under a Balsamic Moon, I was raised among snow-capped mountains and wild oceans on the Ring of Fire at the Southern edge of the world. My first words were the names of flowers & herbs, trees & stars taught to me by my grandmother.
A childhood spent immersed in the elements was my earliest apprenticeship to astrology. I swam in the sea, scaled cliffs & ran barefoot in the woods. I read stories either by the fire, or perched high in the branches of trees, singing banshee songs to the wind & the old, wild gods.
I was always drawn to myths and fairytales - our original star lore - and I was fascinated by astrology from a young age. As a teenager in the ‘80’s my interests were considered…unusual; so I devoured books on astrology and herbalism largely in secret, learning as much as I could. Later, I studied astrology formally and have had many wonderful teachers over decades that have led me to practice astrology professionally.
I have degrees in Literature, History & Philosophy, with a PhD in Literature. I’ve also studied naturopathy, massage therapy, clinical nutrition, permaculture design, herbalism & astro-herbalism.
As a herbalist some of my heroes (aside from my beloved grandmother) include Juliette de Bairacli Levy, Rosemary Gladstar & Nicolas Culpeper (my birthday & ascendant sign twin!).
Myth, story & the poetics of place are reflected in my astrological practice. I’m inspired by the beautiful work of Sharon Blackie, Jay Griffiths, Robert MacFarlane & Donna Haraway; as well as stories & lore drawn from my Scottish & Irish background.
As a lifelong gardener, I’m devoted to radical earth guardianship & co-creating beauty with the spirits & elementals of place. These days I dwell on the edge of a cool, temperate rainforest outside Naarm (Melbourne), on unceded Wurundjeri land, Australia.
Antoinette MacKenzie, PhD
“ Weaving the ancient languages of astrology & the mythic imagination with a deeper ecology of place, I’m devoted to creating safe, nurturing sanctuaries for others”
The astrological system I practice is Hellenistic Astrology merged with aspects of modern astrology.
This means I work primarily with the seven visible planets, using the whole sign House system. However, I weave many modern techniques into my practice.
Traditional Astrology is a system grounded in the techniques & practices of the ancient Egyptians, Greeks & Babylonians. I draw upon the wisdom of these cosmologies, as well as weaving in our lived experiences with mythic stories & archetypes.
Your birth chart is a map of your life, not simply your character & psychology. This holistic approach is designed to reveal your own personal gifts, potentials & challenges.
By drawing upon symbols & stories that are often universal yet unique to each of us, we can discover meaning & magic in our own lives. We can glimpse the archetypal patterns & characters mirrored in our own cosmology. We can see how rich in story & purpose our lives truly are.
“Antoinette is warm, friendly and compassionate. She holds space so beautifully, and I really felt seen and understood without judgement as she helped me navigate my natal chart.”
⸺ Michelle
