I recently attended a lecture at a well-known research institute by the author of a book on astrology. The book isn’t a traditional astrology manual, however - it looks at astrology as a medium of data collection. I was surprised to learn that despite the author’s extensive study of astrology greats such as 9th century Persian astrologer Abu Ma’shar, and despite the numerous telling ‘coincidences’ that the author acknowledged based on the case studies that he presented to us, he was quick to tell the largely academic audience that he didn’t ‘believe in’ astrology. He said that rather than bothering modern astrologers (and presumably their clients) for their views on whether this stuff actually works, he had based his analysis on an obviously binary interpretation of ancient astrological writings. He went on to admit that in researching his book, he had visited what sounded like a hippy town in Sedona in the US, where he had obtained a natal chart reading in the form of a ‘print-out’.
In a nutshell, the author had obtained a computer-generated reading based on his birth data from someone who may or may not have been an actual astrologer. I was saddened to hear that on various levels; not least because he had not given himself at least a fighting chance of getting to the truth of the matter - surely a schoolboy error for an academic. In any event, I like to think that had the author done his research properly, he would have discovered at least some of the incredible richness that astrology has to offer.
Different people use astrology for different things, depending on their particular philosophical outlook and what they want to get out of a particular reading. You may hear that astrology is about predicting the future or telling someone their ‘fortune’. Those sorts of statements are likely to alienate significant numbers of the potentially interested population because they suggest that individuals are not in control of their destinies to any degree. In truth, astrology is a lot more nuanced than that. I will attempt to explain my own philosophical outlook as an astrologer.
The starting point is for me to make it quite plain that astrology is neither science nor religion; it falls somewhere in between the two. Now take the birth chart, for example. Imagine it as a map of sorts to help the ‘native’ navigate the multifaceted experience that is their lifetime. The native will inevitably experience both joy and pain. They will experience the loss of loved ones . And they will experience both betrayal and injustice. The birth chart shows the skills and talents that the individual comes into life with, as well as the more challenging aspects of their personality. It shows areas where the native can overcome difficult circumstances by applying grit and determination and by mustering the strength to avoid falling into familiar traps. The birth chart shows what ‘shadow’ aspects of the personality must be overcome to enable the native to become the best version of themselves. It is also the basic outline of the type of life that the native has been born into the world to experience - for better or for worse.
When the natal chart is examined in light of current planetary movements, significant ‘transits’ will be revealed, throwing light on the times during the native’s life when they will experience particular highs or lows. It is of great comfort to the native during those times to be able to look to the natal chart to better understand why (and when) some of the more difficult circumstances must be experienced. For example, the ‘Pluto return’ transit will be experienced by everyone to a greater or lesser degree (depending on their particular circumstances) in the late ‘30’s/early ‘40’s - the classic mid-life crisis - often marked by a catastrophic loss or erosion of something that appeared unshakable. If the native is suitably enlightened, they will use the experience as an opportunity to implement constructive change and to rebuild something better suited to them in the next part of their life. But the experience will have changed them forever. The natal chart can’t take the pain away, but it can make the process of change a lot more bearable. For some, the warnings inherent in the birth chart will not be heeded for one reason or another, and the native will be doomed to experience the same painful experiences over and over again - often across multiple lifetimes.
Astrology can also be applied to reveal when dormant challenges or successes which must be experienced in the interests of soul growth may be triggered. Ticking time bombs waiting to explode - or bountiful gifts waiting to flower into existence. That can be very helpful for planning and for working harmoniously with planetary influences.
Perhaps I should make it clear that there is no unfettered exercise of free will in life. We all arrive on Earth with a particular life plan and we all have to work within the broad parameters of that plan. Yes, we have some wiggle-room within those boundaries (and that’s where intention becomes important), but we can’t avoid every single hardship or challenge because whether or not you want to believe it, we chose to experience them.
Chances are that life is going to be bloody difficult. But challenges are opportunities for soul growth. And yes, the reality is that some of us have opted to experience more challenging lives than others. That’s also part of the higher plan. The best we can do is stop feeling sorry for ourselves, stop trying to blame other people, and focus on leveraging the good dynamics that are available to us. To that end, think of astrology as a life coach of sorts.
