Underworld Astrology

In the previous post for this series, I introduced Aries, as The Catalyst. If you’d like to explore Aries personal styling, click here.

The Changeling:

Now you see them, now you don’t and The Changeling wants to keep it that way. It’s easier for them to move through the world as something of a trickster and a shapeshifter, forming to their environment as needed. Sometimes they are a joker or an entertainer; sometimes they are a trickster, but they are always sharp and incredibly intelligent, so much so that they can be quite detached from the people with whom they come into contact. This doesn’t matter to The Changeling, however, because they only ever do something because they want to do it. They don’t care about your approval, because they are always one step ahead of you. The Changeling represents all the duality of life- the light and dark, the good and evil, they are two or three or four people inhabiting one body and they shape shift at will. You cannot catch them or hold them, for just as the elemental fae of their namesake, they must be free.

Photo by Wyxina Tresse on Unsplash

In The Underworld:

The Changeling roams the Underworld of their own free will, as they are one of only a few archetypes that can come and go as they please. Their sacred assignment is to show the new souls of the Underworld that appearances can be deceiving, and therefore to never trust the surface level. There is strange wisdom to their madness, and if you choose to take on their challenge, they can show you marvelous new worlds that were right in front of you. All you have to do is change how you think and accept the fact that we are all multifaceted. In addition, The Changeling teaches new souls to shamelessly collect as much information as possible. For them, knowledge is power and they can use it to hurt, to connect, to manipulate and to gain what they desire. And now- so can you.

Symbolism:

From Gemini’s ruler, Mercury (the Greek god Hermes), The Changeling takes the airy, intellectual, and changeability that comes from flitting from one subject to the next and being able to examine a topic from multiple angles. If The Changeling seems scattered, it’s probably because the subject at hand no longer interests them. Because they are incredibly intelligent (though their playfulness, curiosity and sense of humor may bely this), they often grasp topics incredibly quickly. They may not share this fact, preferring to remain somewhat of a mystery. These mischievous beings often collect knowledge to use again later OR as a way to feed their curious natures.

Sacred symbols of The Changeling include the color yellow, the lovers and magician cards in tarot, the planet Mercury, crossroads, and trickster gods, such as the African spider god Anansi.

Style Needs:

The Changeling’s ultimate style need is flexibility and diversity in their wardrobe. In fact, there are multiple ways to enjoy The Changeling style. If you are a true Changeling or choose to embrace it as a primary archetype, you will probably have multiple style elements in your closet. Style starts out as a mental exercise for The Changeling. When choosing an outfit, they will ask themselves which version of themselves they most feel like at any given moment. Changelings are truly kaleidoscopic. After they have figured out their goal mentally, they need style to feel easy, fun, light and airy. Nothing should feel too heavy or stuffy. Even if they go for a darker aesthetic, there has to be an element of whimsicality to it. Life’s too short for a stuffy, boring style.

What to Wear:

Intrigued yet? As we discussed prior, The Changeling needs a lot of variety in their wardrobes so that they can show off the entirety of who they are. They might change on a whim, going through multiple outfit changes in a day. They might have one outfit planned and then get there only to decide that it doesn’t represent who they feel like anymore. Or, if they’re slightly more organized, they might divide their wardrobes into capsules (i.e. one aesthetic for loungewear, one for professional wear etc).

• Every Day: On a daily level, The Changeling needs spontaneous, expressive style choices that can keep up with their mercurial natures- such as combining unexpected color combos or combining pieces that don’t look like they’d go together. The Changeling should always be comfortable with their outfits being somewhat of a conversation starter.
• Loungewear: The Changeling’s mind never stops, so when they’re home, they’re likely multitasking until they finally crash. Loungewear should be eclectic and comfortable with a dose of fairycore inspired magic.
• Professional: For The Changeling, work shouldn’t feel like work. That would be boring. They do best in environments that allow them to bring their unique combo of intellectual curiosity and sparkling wit and charm with them. Work outfits should be combine interesting patterns and textures with an academia inspired fit.
• After Dark: For after dinner drinks, dates or social events, the Changeling transforms into a flirtatious, slightly chaotic and edgy creature, somewhat inspired by the fae. Outfits that combine whimsical or ethereal elements combined with edgy or tough textures, will help them charm anyone who comes their way.
• Workout: The Changeling needs workouts that will keep their minds, as well as their bodies engaged. Because of this, they enjoy novelty and workouts where they can socialize. The Changeling needs fun, bold athletic basics that can easily shift from HIIT to pilates to a walk with a friend.

Style Staples:

• Color blocked sneakers
• Cropped yellow sweater
• Whimsical graphic tees
• Mod-inspired A-line dress
• Pale green organza dress
• Soft floral midi skirt
• Earrings with celestial designs (planetary, mushroom, wings, etc)
• Color shifting slip dresses
• Patterned wide leg pants or culottes
• Plaid mini or pleated skirt
• Corduroy blazer
• Mary Janes

Outfit Cheat Sheet:

To get you started, here are some outfits you can throw together with stuff you probably already have in your closet. In case you’re just getting started, here some ideas to channel Changeling energy.

• Casual: Ditzy floral shirt + jeans or trousers + two-toned loafers + colored chunky earrings
• Workout: Butter yellow sports bra + matching wide leg yoga pants + color blocked sneakers + braided space buns
• Date/Party: Green organza dress + color shifting waterfall cardigan + silver butterfly necklace + little pink purse
• Professional: Yellow cardigan+ toadstool patterned pussy bow blouse + black trousers + yellow and green color-blocked flats + black fedora + brown book bag
• Loungewear: Playful oversized graphic tee + patterned leggings + fluffy green socks

Check out more styling ideas on the dedicated Changeling Pinterest boards here.

Fabrics:

Fabric Keywords: Versatile, lightweight, airy, whimsical, crisp, playful, flexible, clever

Fabrics to Shop For: lightweight cotton, tweed, mesh, tulle, organza, chiffon, iridescent satin, tweed, jersey, crinkled gauze, soft lace, cotton voile, muslin, corduroy, plaid flannel, linen blends

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Patterns:

When shopping for patterns for The Changeling, look for those that are clever, intellectual, witty, enchanting, surreal, eclectic and expressive. Here are some examples:

1. Celestial or mystical inspired prints: stars, moons, occult symbols, etc
2. Geometric and Optical Illusions: zig zags, wave, spirals, checkerboard
3. Retro Inspired: Color blocking, polka dots
4. Surreal: Patchwork prints, surreal figures, doodles
5. Fairycore: Small woodland animals, toadstools, butterflies, wings
6. Academic Inspired: Clothes with writing, houndstooth, Glen Plaid
7. Mismatched Prints: Pattern mixing (florals on top and polka dots on the bottom), collage inspired

See More Here…

Accessories:

Accessories should feel fun, versatile and should be able to go from one outfit to the other, since The Changeling likes to mix and match. There should be a combination of different aesthetic designs, all designed for the social, on-the-go nature of The Changeling.

Jewelry: Whimsical, clever, and layered

• Layered charm bracelets or necklaces
• Miniature lockets or pendants with secret compartments
• Stacked bracelets or bangles
• Mood rings or holographic jewelry
• Fairycore inspired jewelry

Bags: Compact, convertible, and fun

• Crossbody bags
• Mini backpacks
• Convertible bags
• Tote bags that tell a story
• Belt bags and Fanny packs

Shoes: Fun, Flexible, and Comfortable

• Two-tone oxfords or brogues
• Mary Janes and T-Straps
• Color blocked sneakers
• Jelly sandals
• Mod-inspired high top sneakers
• Ballet flats in fun textures
• Boots with star cutouts or embroidery
• High Top sneakers with star print
• Velvet ballet flats

Others: Bonus accessories so you’re prepared for anything

• Sunglasses: Round, retro or heart-shaped frames with holographic lenses
• Hats: Newsboy hats, mini berets, bucket hats
• Statement belts
• Enamel pins, brooches, patches added to bags and jackets
• Convertible scarves in a variety of patterns

Color Palette:

Overall, the Catalyst color palette is light, airy and breezy but at times, given the unpredictability of their style desires, will change from being very playful to very moody. The Catalyst is likely to play with extremes of color while always maintaining a color scheme that never feels too heavy. If they wear darker colors, they’re likely to do so with fabrics that catch light OR that have some time of iridescence or sheen on top. The most important color for The Catalyst is a light, cheerful yellow. Below is the primary Catalyst color palette and in addition, palettes adjusted to each color season.

Power Color: Buttercup yellow

Core Colors: Sky blue, lavender, mint green, pearl white

Accent Colors: Canary yellow, periwinkle, silver, lilac pink

Neutrals: Pale sand, driftwood, dove grey, stone grey, chalk white

Seasonal Color Analysis:

Seasonal color analysis is a style system that is about helping people harmonize their clothing with their coloring. First popular in the 1980s, it has now had a resurgence in popularity thanks to social media. If you’re new to color analysis, click here. If you know your color season, here are some custom palettes combining Changeling color principles with your season.

Spring:

If you use one of the spring color palettes, focus on your pale pastels and the light, bright colors. Suggested colors for you include: buttercup yellow, aqua blue, apple green, coral, warm ivory, peach fuzz, goldenrod, warm periwinkle, sunlight yellow, and pale turquoise.

Summer:

If you consider yourself a summer, you should still easily be able to use the Changeling color palette. Here are some colors to use: lavender, powder blue, silver grey, rose quartz, soft white, wisteria, pale mint, bluebell, cool taupe, and dusty lilac.

Winter:

While the Changeling’s coloring tends to be on the paler, more pastel side, winter Changelings can still play with colors like these: icy blue, lemon yellow, fuschia, magenta, graphite, crisp white, cobalt, plum, emerald, silver, and black and white stripes.

Autumn:

The autumn palettes are probably naturally the farthest away from the Changeling’s core palette, however, you still have plenty of choices if you wish to play with this archetype. Choose these colors: mustard yellow, sage green, terracotta, olive, cream, burnt sienna, camel, antique gold, copper and moss.

Chart Notes:

At this point, you might be asking yourself how much of The Changeling do you really need? Assuming that most people will use a combination of 3-4 archetypes, your use of this archetype will depend on how much Gemini you have in your chart and where it is placed. Here are some examples for how to apply it to your chart.

Gemini Rising (or Mercury Rising): This is likely a primary archetype for you. You primarily approach life as something of a fascination or curiosity, always on the look out for something fun, exciting or intriguing to occupy your time and attention. With Gemini rising, you probably tend towards more of the whimsical or quirky inspired looks, while Mercury rising may have you leaning more academic. Either way, you have likely tried them all and they can all benefit you, depending on the situation.

Gemini Sun: You benefit from the flexibility and diversity that Changeling style offers for you. Choose pieces that reflect your inquisitive mind and your lightning fast sense of humor- airy, breezy and not someone who takes themselves (or life) too seriously. A solid every day look for you is a Breton striped shirt, bright blue trousers, color blocked sneakers and a mini black beret.

Gemini Venus: Time to dip into the dreamier, seductive qualities of the Changeling, which means mixing whimsical fairycore inspired pieces with academic or edgy ones. For example, a pale blue mini dress combined with a leather jacket and western style boots with stars on them.

Gemini Mars: If you have fiery Mars in this airy, breezy sign, then you probably feel a little unfocused and ungrounded when it comes to your exercise routine. You need bright, bold and colorful workout pieces that can transition between activities as quickly as you can. No boring activewear here. Have fun with it.

Gemini Midheaven: Your public reputation is one of adaptability, curiosity, and a clear intellectual nature. Focus on looks that combine academic or traditional professional elements but that come in distinct colors, dynamic patterns or some other spin that is precisely you. For example, you might try a bright yellow blazer, combined with a solid white shirt, some patterned polka dot trousers and some two toned oxfords.

Gemini IC: Our sign on the IC (opposite our midheaven) indicates our most private self, not to mention the types of things we might like in our home environment. If you have Gemini here, you might have a very playful, curious and intellectual nature that others aren’t aware of. You likely do a lot of multitasking at home, so your loungewear needs to be able to keep up. You might find that you do your most experimenting in the privacy of your own home. Indulge your sensitive, whimsical side by combining an oversized graphic tee with a message that makes you laugh, with some magical printed lounge pants and some fuzzy green socks.

The Shadow:

The Changeling doesn’t always want to admit this, but they are social creatures and want to feel like they belong to something. Because of this, they can be very sensitive to rejection from people thinking that their clothing choices are not serious or grown-up enough. The problem is that most people look at the surface here and just see this very charming and inquisitive person, who seems to just laugh everything off. But they miss the very thoughtful, caring person underneath. Accept that not everyone is for you and that you’re not for everyone. And please, don’t dress for how you think others want to see you. The Changeling’s power is in dressing for themselves and then bringing people together that way.

In Conclusion:

Because all things must come to an end, we’ve reached the end of this comprehensive styling guide. The Changeling is the ultimate shapeshifter- curious, adaptable, sociable and whipsmart. This shows up in the diverse and ever changing aesthetics that they try. Regardless of how much Gemini you have in your chart, these astrological style archetypes are designed for the maximum amount of flexibility for anyone to use.

Experiment with Changeling styling this week by picking one of the aesthetic groups listed above and putting an outfit together with some of those pieces. What flavor of Changeling will you be? Need ideas: this summer pair a yellow maxi dress with some butterfly sandals and some matching wing earrings and charm necklace.