Getting To Know Astrology - Our Tool To Self-Awareness & Self-Discovery

Mention the word “astrology” at a social gathering and reactions vary from - “Oh, I sometimes read my horoscope in the paper” to “I don’t believe in all that stuff.” Well, in both of these scenarios, astrology is definitely misunderstood. To think that everyone with the same Sun sign is going to have the same kind of day is absurd, and to treat astrology as a religion is equally so.

When all is said and done, the bottom line is that astrology works. Astrology is actually a holistic study of nature. Not just a study of nature in an earth-bound local way; such as plants, animals, seasons, etc., but a study of nature and cycles in a more cosmic relatedness. Astrology is about connecting the macrocosm (universe) to the microcosm (us).

Many people have the misconception that the planets and stars and their position in the sky “make” us behave a certain way and it is this misconception that frightens, misleads and confuses people about astrology. This kind of thinking could be extended to nature locally and the absurdity becomes clear. I could observe geese migrating over our home every spring and fall, and at the same time, I see that the weather patterns are changing. I could call this “Geesology” and claim that the geese are controlling and changing the weather. Of course, we all know that this analogy is silly and it is more complex than that - with much larger cycles and patterns at work.

Astrology is a study of nature, behavior and patterns that are accurately plotted by observing the movement in the heavens. We are all part of this larger cycle of movement or rhythm. We are not separate from anything. There is a synchronicity to what is happening out there (stars, planets, etc.) and what is happening down here (us). We exist in the same environment with other people, the planets, the solar system, the galaxy and beyond. We are all part of the same picture. I like to think of it as being similar to a hologram. In astrology, we study one piece of the picture to understand another part of the same picture. We study the planets (among other celestial bodies) to understand ourselves.

Astrology is used in many ways and there are many techniques used to retrieve different information. The most common analysis that people are familiar with is the “birth chart”. This is like an imprint of cosmic patterns that are stamped on you at the time of your birth. The light of the cosmos enters our soft spot on our head when we are born and activates all our glands and circuitry. We are imprinted with the light of the universe when we are born. How can we not reflect that moment of energy in our make-up?

An interesting exercise to do is research the day of your birth historically. Read newspapers from that day. Understand the times. Talk to people who remember what was happening that day. Chances are you’ll be hearing things that sound familiar to your personality make-up. You’ll see a connection between the “times” and what makes you tick. Was James Dean starring in Rebel Without a Cause? Was there a war going on? Were economic times tough? Was there a new technology being discovered?

Ancient astrologers would study the heavens, see certain human behavior at the same time and note the correlations. Thousands of years (the accurate beginning of astrology is yet undetermined) of correlations, observations and analysis has made astrology what it is today. And what exactly is that? Primarily, astrology is used as a guide and a tool to understanding things, events, and more important - people.

There are many branches and areas of specialization to astrology. There is Horary Astrology - the study of a chart of a particular moment a question is asked, Electional Astrology - planning an event based on the most auspicious time, Mundane Astrology - the study of events in the world, Spiritual Astrology - the study of our spiritual make-up, Medical Astrology - the study of our health in connection to our chart, Tibetan Astrology - one of several eastern lunar based systems, Chinese Astrology - another lunar based system incorporating twelve animal archetypes and Vedic Astrology - a Hindu lunar based system incorporating gemstone and yagya cures, to name a few. Astrology is used by financial analysts involved in the stock market, by psychologists to quickly root out their patient’s issues, by lawyers to time court cases, by healing practitioners to time healing modalities and the list can go on.

By far, the most widely used method is the study of the birth chart to understand oneself. A birth chart is a unique “picture” of the heavens and you. In order to construct an accurate chart, the correct birth time must be known as well as the date and place of birth. These factors are vital to an accurate analysis of the person. Accuracy of time should be within five minutes or closer. When the input data is accurate, what can be revealed is amazing, such as a person’s psychological make-up, how they function in the world, their emotional and physical needs, energy levels, skills and talents, career potential, relationship issues and financial patterns. This and much more is revealed when an accurate date, time and birthplace are known. There are other techniques that can be used when an accurate birth time is unknown.

Many people ask, why would a person want to know all that if they already “know” themselves? And I do think that we all know ourselves to a large extent, but we are not static. We are constantly growing and changing. Astrology offers insight to help us through those growing phases and to adapt to changes in the most effective way. It is a roadmap of yourself. If you get lost - you can always check your map.

Whether you’re mildly curious or seriously seeking insight, astrology is a tool that is thought-provoking, fosters self-awareness, understanding and self-discovery.