Ashley McFarland

About Me

I am an astrologer and the owner of Shift + Shine - where cosmic insight meets personal empowerment.

I wasn’t always what one would call ‘spiritual.’ While forever fascinated by my Leo Sun, astrology began as a curiosity rather than a calling. That changed over a decade ago after a profound soul awakening that reconnected me to herself and set me on a completely new path.

Leaving the corporate world, I felt a clear calling to help others accept, love, and grow into themselves in ways that feel authentic and aligned. My journey led me through both traditional and non-traditional healing practices, eventually guiding me back to astrology — an ancient, archetypal language that forever changed how I understood myself and my life.

My approach to astrology is heavily rooted in traditional, Hellenistic astrology, and weaves in some modern, psychological elements. In my readings, I love going deep into the rising sign, blending technical wisdom with intuitive insight.

Through 1:1 readings, events, and astrology-inspired products, I invite you to rediscover your inner light and move through every season of life with clarity, confidence, and self-trust.

Favorites and Recommendations:

I often recommend You Were Born For This by Chani Nicholas to those beginning their astrology journey.

Sessions

• 30 minute reading

  30m 30 minute reading $88

  $88

• 60 minute reading

  60m 60 minute reading $175

  $175

• 90 minute reading

  90m 90 minute reading $222

  $225

Q&A with Ashley McFarland

1. 1. Tell us a bit about you and your practice.

   I’m Ashley —boy mom, astrologer and founder of Shift + Shine. I am based in Seattle, Washington but work with clients virtually from all over the world. I am a cancer rising, leo sun and gemini moon. When I am not studying astrology, doing readings, events or creating my astrology-inspired products you can find me scrolling TikTok for whatever I am currently into, going to baseball card shops with my son, trying new Seattle restaurants and coffee shops, and supporting my local community with anti-ice efforts.

   Interestingly, I wasn’t always what you’d call "spiritual". Astrology first caught my attention when I was young because of my leo sun — it felt fun and intriguing, but more like a curiosity than a calling. That changed when I went through a profound personal awakening that completely shifted the direction of my entire life.

   Studying and applying astrology to my life was the true catalyst that helped me make sense of my own story, and now I use it to help others understand theirs. My approach to astrology blends traditional Hellenistic astrology with modern psychological insights. I love working with the rising sign and chart ruler because they reveal so much about a person’s path and how they’re meant to move through the world. In my readings, I combine technical depth with intuitive guidance so clients leave not just informed, but empowered.

   With my business, Shift + Shine —my intention is always the same: to help people reconnect with their inner light so they can shift, shine, and navigate every season of life feeling more aligned with who they are.

2. 2. What moment or realization made astrology and/or tarot “click” for you in a real, lived way?

   When I first began studying my birth chart, it helped me understand why I felt so deeply unfulfilled in my career. The experience was incredibly validating — for the first time, I felt truly seen and understood for who I was at my core.

   But what really changed everything for me was the timing. As I looked at the astrological cycles that pointed to a potential career shift, my life began to unfold in alignment with those very patterns. Watching that timing play out so precisely was profoundly eye-opening.

   That was the moment my curiosity turned into conviction. It solidified my belief in astrology, deepened my desire to study it, and ultimately inspired me to share this work with others.

3. 3. What’s something most people misunderstand about astrology and/or tarot that you’re always gently correcting?

   I love this question because sun sign compatibility is something people ask me about all the time. We’re so often told to look at astrology through the lens of our sun sign, but the truth is, there is so much more to a person’s chart — and to relationships — than that one placement.

   While the sun reflects our core identity, true compatibility is far more nuanced. Astrology looks at the full energetic blueprint of two people and how those patterns interact.

   I also truly believe we have the potential to be compatible with anyone. Lasting connection isn’t determined by a single sign pairing — it comes down to self-awareness and personal growth. Each person has their own energy patterns, strengths, and sensitivities, and healthy relationships require the willingness to understand and work with those patterns consciously.

   When we take responsibility for our own energy — creating space, practicing understanding, and showing up with intention — we give any partnership the opportunity to grow, deepen, and thrive.

4. 4. Tell us your thoughts on the astrology of 2026 and how it’s likely showing up in people’s everyday lives right now.

   2026 is a life-changing year for all of us — no one is exempt from the transformation that’s unfolding. When I think about the energy of this year, I keep coming back to the elements of fire and air.

   At their highest expression, fire brings deep transformation and renewal, while air connects us — through ideas, information, and new ways of understanding each other and the world. But when these two elements become imbalanced, they create combustion. And that’s the tension I feel in the year ahead.

   We’re going to be exposed to an overwhelming amount of information and rapid change. In many ways, it will awaken us — expanding our awareness and pushing us forward. But at the same time, the speed and intensity may feel disorienting and overstimulating.

   I also believe the ways we’ve collectively avoided discomfort or escaped the harder truths are no longer sustainable. The fire we’ve been trying to avoid will meet us. It may feel jarring, but it’s also necessary. This is the kind of heat that burns away what isn’t aligned so something more honest and authentic can emerge.

   Change during this time is inevitable. Rebirth is required — and rebirth is rarely comfortable.

   The most supportive thing we can do is ground ourselves. Stay present. Be in community. Slow down enough to come back into the body. Connect with earth energy and the physical world around you. When everything feels like it’s moving quickly or intensely, grounding is what helps us move through the transformation with steadiness, clarity, and resilience.

5. 5. What’s a recurring life theme you see in your readings right now (love, career pivots, endings, rebirth, boundaries), and how do you help people work with it instead of resisting it?

   One of the biggest themes I’m seeing in my readings right now is career burnout and a deep desire to pivot. People are questioning the path they thought they were supposed to follow and re-examining what success and fulfillment actually look like for them.

   There’s a collective shift happening from chasing external expectations to asking a much more honest question: What kind of life allows me to thrive? Instead of forcing themselves into a version of success that no longer fits, many people are learning to embrace the energy that feels most natural and aligned for them.

   I’m noticing an interesting generational difference as well. Many of my millennial clients are arriving at this realization in their early 40s, often after years of pushing through burnout or outgrowing a career they once worked hard to build. But my Gen Z clients are coming into this awareness much earlier, in their early 20s, and they’re taking alignment seriously from the start.

   That gives me so much hope for the younger generation. I believe they may be the first generation to truly prioritize living in alignment with who they are. They’re more comfortable with change, more willing to pivot, and more committed to building lives that reflect their authentic energy rather than someone else’s expectations.

   To me, that’s the real evolution we’re witnessing — a shift toward people choosing their highest self, even when the path looks different than they originally imagined.

6. 6. When someone comes to you feeling stuck, what part of the chart do you look at first and why? If you do tarot or another practice, tell us about your process for this.

   I always begin with the rising sign and the aspects it makes to other planets and houses, because this is where I look for areas of ease or friction. The rising sign represents the point of self and identity — the “I am.” It reflects the innate energy we use to meet life and navigate the world, so it often reveals where we may feel blocked, challenged, or out of alignment.

   From there, I look to the chart ruler — the planet that governs the rising sign — to understand its condition, strengths, and potential challenges. The chart ruler tells a powerful story about how a person’s life path is meant to unfold and where their energy naturally flows.

   I also pay close attention to Mars, since it speaks to how we take action. Mars shows our drive, ambition, willpower, and the way we pursue what we want — as well as how we experience frustration, conflict, and motivation.

7. 7. When someone is trying to understand their love life more deeply, where do you guide them to look first? What parts of the chart, energy, or inner patterns tend to reveal the most?

   When reviewing relationship dynamics, I begin with the ruling planet of the 7th house to understand its strengths, challenges, and overall condition. This helps reveal how someone approaches partnership and the kinds of patterns or experiences they may encounter in relationships.

   I then turn to Venus and the Moon. Venus speaks to how we give and receive love, what we value in connection, and the way we express affection and desire. The Moon adds another essential layer, showing our emotional needs, our capacity for vulnerability, and the ways we seek comfort, safety, and nurturing.

   Altogether, these placements offer a deeper picture of how someone experiences intimacy — not just how they relate to others, but what they truly need in order to feel loved, supported, and emotionally secure.

8. 8. When someone is trying to understand their career life or work/ purpose more deeply, where do you guide them to look first? What parts of the chart, energy, or inner patterns tend to reveal the most?

   When I’m looking at career and life direction, I begin with the Midheaven (MC), paying close attention to the sign and house it falls in. I look at any planets located there and consider how well they function in that sign, as well as the aspects they’re making. If there are challenges, I explore how my client can better support and work with that planetary energy so it can operate more effectively.

   From there, I turn to the ruling planet of the Midheaven to understand its condition and placement. The chart ruler of the MC often tells an important story about how someone’s purpose and public path are meant to unfold, and how they can best align their energy with their professional direction.

   If the Midheaven falls outside of the 10th house, I also examine the 10th house itself, since this area traditionally speaks to public image, reputation, career, and what we’re known for in the world.

   All these these layers help paint a fuller picture of someone’s vocational path — not just what they do, but how they’re meant to show up and be recognized for their unique contributions.

9. 9. What’s one small but meaningful practice or reflection you’d recommend people try based on their natal chart or reading?

   I always encourage my clients to read horoscopes based on their rising sign rather than their sun sign. When you follow your rising sign, you’re not only understanding the overall energy at play — you’re also seeing which specific area of your life is being activated. That level of personalization simply isn’t available when reading for your sun sign alone.

   I have a deep appreciation for sun sign astrology because it made astrology accessible and brought it into the mainstream. It opened the door for so many people to begin their journey. But now, especially with greater access to accurate birth times — particularly among younger generations — we’re able to work with astrology in a much more precise and meaningful way.

   The rising sign allows astrology to become personal, practical, and directly relevant to your lived experience.

10. 10. What are your favorite decks + resources that you think people should know about?

    I learned tarot on the traditional Rider-Waite deck so I am partial to that. When I pull cards in my readings I always use that one, but I flirt with the Modern Witch deck because I love how diverse and relatable it is.

Offerings

• ASTROLOGY