Astrology: The Language Of The Stars

A couple weeks ago I promised to turn you on to a few different “systems” for exploring your personality and character style.    You can have fun and learn a lot about yourself and others engaging in this type of exploration.  You’ll especially enjoy it if you like delving into personal growth and transformation.

While it’s beyond the scope of the blog to go into great detail about each system, I’ll talk a little about each one and provide you with a couple links that you can use to explore further if you find your interest piqued.Astrology – The Language Of The Stars

Astrology is misunderstood – and unfortunately frequently misused – and yet it remains a remarkably developed and fascinating system for personal exploration.

The twelve astrological signs each describe a different quality of functioning. And this is just the beginning point in the study of a rich and complex body of work that has been developed over thousands of years.

A lifetime study, astrology reveals a great deal about our individual styles and is perhaps the most highly developed “psychological language” we possess for talking about we humans and our various styles of operating in the world.

It is a great mystery how the position of the planets when we were born could say anything about us as individuals, and yet they do.

Disclaimer: Newspaper astrology is NOT real astrology!

A Strange Encounter:

My introduction to astrology was “accidental” and intriguing.

In my early 20’s while in the Florida Keys a friend suggested we visit a gallery owned by her friends.    We walked in and the husband, who happened to be an astrologer, asked my birthdate.  He then proceeded to sketch out the placement of the planets at that time and gave me a description of myself that boggled the young brain!  How could he know so much about me?

How The Hell Did You Know That or A Testament To The Interconnectedness of Life

I felt as if he could see me from the inside out and I have to admit it was a little disarming.  He then mentioned his brother had studied astrology at a small university in Ojai, California, and before I knew it I was headed to California.  I lived the next 15 years in Ojai and studied astrology for some time.

Had I not had this personal experience, I don’t believe I would have ever considered astrology worthy of exploration.  But in that moment,  I decided I was going to study and see for myself before judging.

The fact that we can gather any information about ourselves as individuals from planetary placements indicates to me that we are indeed part of a greater whole and is a testament to the interconnectedness of all life.

That’s my take.  There are several “theories” as to why it works and as I mentioned, I believe it’s part of the mystery, at its most intriguing I might add.

As you ask yourself how “symbols” could have any significance (such as the planetary symbols), it may be good to remind yourself that numbers are symbols and yet without mathematics we would have very few of the things we use on a daily basis in modern life.

Phases of Life

We experience many phases in one lifetime and having someone take a look at where the planets are now as they relate to your birthchart can give you valuable information and insight.

If you seek a reading,  make certain the person doesn’t have a habit of making “predictions” about what will happen to you. They don’t know!  A good astrologer will not do this.  Astrologers are not fortune tellers.  The value is in helping you understand the general “flavor” of a time period.

For example, when Pluto is currently making contact with your birthchart in a significant way you may feel tremendous upheaval and not particularly in control of your life.  The outer planets crossing over certain planets in your chart signify times of transition and the opportunity for transformation.  Transitions don’t always feel comfortable.

Understanding that it’s natural that you would be experiencing some level of discomfort at a particular time period, and the general nature of the time,  can help normalize your experience so you don’t feel so confused. This is just one example of how you may be benefit from astrology.

Astrological Resources

By googling astrology you can get a ton of free information on-line.  There are thousands of books and hundreds of authors.

A couple of my personal favorites are Liz Greene, a brilliant Jungian analyst, and StephenArroyo.   Both approach astrology from a psychological perspective (there are many branches).  Stephen Arroyo is easy to understand and extremely interesting.  Liz Greene has tremendous depth.

I found this link that might be fun if you want to have a computerized version of a reading from Liz Greene -  this is cool because for a nominal amount of money you could get a computerized version of a chart “reading” from a program developed by one of the best astrologers in the world (I am not an affiliate and do not benefit financially in any way).   http://www.astro.com/

Hey, check out these awesome photos from NASA the universe

A Reminder – Don’t Drink and Drive!

Using astrology to pigeon hole people is another common misuse of astrology.

This incredible tool demonstrates the wide array of ways we can express ourselves as human beings. As individuals we are extremely complex and multi-faceted. Astrology is a roadmap that describes a multitude of factors indicating who we are both as individuals and collectively.

Remember, it is a symbolic tool that can help us understand our style of being in the world. Astrology accounts for depth and substance.  It is far from superficial.

Astrology is meant to be a tool for self-exploration, personal growth and expansion. While it may be fun cocktail party conversation to say “Oh, you’re a _____ (fill in the blank with Aries, Taurus, Gemini…) so you must be…” it can be shallow and even hurtful – sorry!  A little bit of knowledge can be harmful!

But, what the heck, if you’re among friends and you want to play have at it – just be mindful!

About Relationships

Self-awareness improves your relationships.  Understanding personality styles enhances self-awareness.

You can only view life through your own perspective.   Expanding that perspective and realizing that others view life through their own perspective helps us to be more inclusive and perhaps less judgmental.

How cool that you get to be you and others get to be themselves!

Enjoy life and may you experience the best relationships ever!

photo courtesy of gideon wright