Spirit of Astrology

Study of the heavens gives many benefits from the expansion of our minds and imagination to the deepening appreciation of the Universal Consciousness that pervades all creation.

A serious study of Astrology increases our respect for those who have adventured into these realms over the centuries and have provided us with a basis for utilization of information that we can make into a life art, a science or both.

As most of us are equally interested in discovering the universe within our human nature and relating what we learn, to the universal realities we benefit through methods that help us to integrate astrological knowledge.

The most common technique of learning is recognized as that of repeated words and repeated action. It is by this elementary but powerful technique of repetition that we find simple assistance in keeping our mental focus and interest during our life course.  This applies in astrology as it requires both concentration and imagination to conceive of the realities of the greater universe as it takes aspiration and perseverance to find our inner realities and identify with our greater soul self rather than the outer personality.

There is nothing new about the technique of mantra that is practised widely all over the world. It is integral in what we know of Asian philosophies and religions in particular. But it is also used in Christian countries through prayer and ritual where certain words and sacred chants and invocations are employed. In our native cultures we generally find a familiar basis and custom to follow but it is also quite an adventure to create our own words that will generate qualities and responses that we personally strive for and seek to identify with.

As with anything, the most successful technique is usually the simplest.

In addition we possess the remarkable faculty of imagination that can create a mental concept or image that can motivate us.

We all know the benefit of strengthening self confidence by confirming that we possess one of the virtues natural to our birth sign.

There are many approaches but the astrologer has the advantage of mental ‘antennae’ that stretch to the heavens and anchor in the realities of earth. So it is natural to condense what is known of each of the twelve zodiacal signs and encapsulate the energy or quality in a word that will help us to ‘tune in’ to the influence of that sphere of the cosmos.

For example: if we select the exercise that involves the 12 signs in order starting from Aries it may sound like a chain of words indicating the differing energies such as –

Courage (Aries)– Stability – Versatility – Compassion -  Generous – Careful – Harmonious -  Truth –Wisdom – Helpful – Independent – Humility (Pisces)

But if we can construct a less clumsy flow of words that are meaningful and help us to affirm fine qualities that are potentials within us all, it can become a useful reminder of the heavenly energies. These we should select and learn them by heart as a tool to anchor chosen qualities by expressing them in constructive ways in our lives.

Such mantra or affirmations are practical as silent, mental repetitions as in meditation rather than vocal.

To create a personal spiritual exercise is very rewarding and when by affirmation and a sense of identification, constructive imagination will help to bridge the worlds of the little earthly self and the heavenly stars.

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There are constant happenings within our own souls, the material world and also in the greater sphere of our Solar System.

At present we are aware of our planet’s increasingly disturbing earthquakes, volcanic activity and natural disasters woven into the fabric of our political and social environment. It is up to us to try to correct or contribute to resolutions of the latter problems that are of our own making.  To watch the disturbances and to be caught up in the destructive events of Nature and its elements requires a different attitude as we are in the role of observers.

Whatever great Nature has in its plan for changes of continents, climate and life forms will remain forever obscure if we seek to use our limited consciousness. Ours is not to reason how and why as much as to offer faith and unconditional affection to our fellow human beings and to our Maker, in our knowledge that the Ultimate evolutionary purpose is good.

We must acknowledge the fact that our tenancy on Earth is tenuous. We humans have despoiled our environment and broken most natural laws, desecrated the land, betrayed our animals and allowed greed to dominate our hearts and minds. We do not deserve extension unless we can contribute massive and sincere dynamic programmes to improve our ways. This is not likely, but we must allow that we may have time to try a remedy. That is the responsibility of each one of us.

Our Moon is also suffering bombardment as NASA images showed recently. Our neighbouring planets are exhibiting strange and violent signs of change. Our Sun is believed to be intent upon increasing it solar flares in the future. We are more aware of comets and the possible asteroids visiting our Solar system. There are signs of cosmic changes of serious proportion and to these we must find an attitude of acceptance, come what may.

There have been many predictions swirling around on the Web and tangling up many minds about the possibility of both man-made and natural disasters.  Whether indeed we are coming to the end of this materialistic but incredible technological civilization or not is not known. Nor are we guaranteed that we will ourselves be involved in the processes of change in the future.  But that each day dawns ever fresh and we have opportunity to live another day happily and constructively – that is a current certainty.

News of the world is regrettably full of negatives.

News of the heavens is above all these errors and material things and we have to elevate our consciousness and increase our sensitivity in order to interpret and to understand.

In your Birth Chart the ‘aspects’ record the relationships of the Planets’ positions at your birth.

They indicate clearly the converging forces and energies that become anchored when we take our first breath . They influence the ‘mix’ or the individual recipe or blueprint of our character.

The aspects at our Birth influence our personality to the extent that they programme our particular tendencies, talents, responses and also our motivations, expressions and inclinations. They also are involved in our health.

Traditional wisdom in astrology confidently points to and interprets these characteristics. Few would argue with some of the common features that are recognized in the science between those born in under the same zodiacal Sign. Even more similarities are observed when their Charts show similar planetary relationships.

The most prominent relationships are those described by the degrees and angles as the positions of the planets are placed in the 360 ͦ  Chart or complete circle of western astrology. Basically these placements will point to harmonious or conflicting life elements and circumstances, factors of ease and plenty, or disease and privation.

We all learn from every quarter and experience in life but at first glance it would seem as if some aspects are blessings and others are misfortunes. However, we must be careful not to exaggerate the power of these relationships as they are interpreted, to the point where we consider we are favoured by some and are victims of others.  We always possess free will – that is the blessing and sometimes the problem of being human and capable of creating our own life and fate.

The traditional basic aspects are determined by the degrees of placement in the Chart.

Conjunction  – where two planets are very closely sharing the same position in the heavens – from 0 ͦ  to 3 ͦ. This must be individually considered according to the planets involved, but usually has the potential for strength.

Opposition – 180 ͦ  between implies conflict or antipathies or energies that must be blended and strain dissolved.

Trine – 120 ͦ  is a relationship of harmony and power

Square – 90 ͦ  indicates difficulties and personal effort required in particular areas of oneself and also circumstances

Sextile  –  60 ͦ  a pleasantly harmonious blending but not as potent as the Trine

Semi-square – 45 ͦ usually indicates negatives or difficulties

We consider these relationships first as we learn to understand and interpret the effect of them upon our own personality and upon the events and relationships in our own lives.

This is important to do before we study more profoundly how to cope with and develop our good fortune and how to redirect the bad elements.  Then we are better equipped to understand others.

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Reference to the five elements of nature has been understood since ancient times to mean earth, water, air, fire and ether. Although western philosophers have debated this interpretation and scientists now would query the need for the addition of others, these five allow us to consider their existence in nature, and to recognize the different spheres or elements in our in our own personality and being. Oriental astrology names them differently.

In childhood each of us reacts different to external realities of nature. One child will show a love of the earth and material things; another will relate well to water; another has the need for air and the outdoors; and one will love to play in the sunshine and be fascinated by fire. The fifth element is universal as we all feel conscious of the need for love and to express to a greater or lesser degree our own affection through harmonious behaviour.

Negative behaviour of an infant can offer a further demonstration of the proportion of an element in its nature. When it is upset a child will tend to revert to contact with the element where he feels most comfortable.  For instance ………….

a dominant earth child will throw himself in tantrum on the floor or ‘throw things’

a water child will resort to tears, need a drink of water or will enjoy a swim

an air child will use the lungs to cry and sometimes struggle from a cuddle to go free

a fiery child will demonstrate anger and often seek to retaliate or to hurt something or someone

a more ethereal child will seem older and wiser about life and seem more composed

All children will in time respond to soothing comfort, kindness and loving care of the integrating fifth element.

As human beings we possess all nature’s components within ourselves. These five major elements are cultivated, directed or changed as time goes by until they are all integrated and the life energies used appropriately. Many of the differences between people can be explained by the symbolism associated with earth, water, air, fire and ether and the proportion of each element represented in their personality or character.

Relating to great Nature outside ourselves, the ideal would seem to be that we accept and relate to each external element harmoniously so that we could enjoy mountains and earth, oceans and water, fresh air in nature’s vast environment, and the heat and comfort of firesides and sunshine.

If we could indeed achieve all this in our personal nature we would likely be seen to be practical and down to earth, as well as emotionally balanced and creative, mentally keen and communicative, enthusiastic and idealistic and with all the elements blended in wholeness, well being, loving kindness and inner peace. A  perfect and high aim indeed!

Traditional ideas and customs related to the sky have developed and held since prehistoric times. Our fascination continues and is reflected in legend and culture of the different nations. The sky continues to hold our interest today. Symbols and legends provide our consciousness with an anchor for our own creative thoughts about the galaxies, suns, planets and stars that are known to exist outside our own world.  Some of us will even aspire to become travellers in these spheres.

Celestial bodies we observe as stars are known poetically as ‘Flowers of the Sky”. As earth flowers bring special qualities, colours and influences to our earthly days so the stars provide us with a focus on beautiful lights, qualities and thoughts of a more rarefied spiritual life.

In some cultures it is believed that once a virtuous person dies physically, the soul takes its place amongst the billions of lights in the heavens – an idea that is beautiful and very appealing to those who suffer bereavement.

Because there has always existed a natural tendency to associate the light of the heavens with the divine, with spiritual blessings and grandeur, it is understandable that the opposite qualities are associated with the fiery core of matter of our lowly earth. So we are in the habit of considering heaven as ‘up there’ and hell as ‘down below’.  But in this, our own concepts as we seek universality must mature to arrive at our own level of understanding.

As we study astrology and astronomy and study the “Flowers of the Sky” we have the opportunity to inject beauty into our purpose in seeking greater beauty beyond in the far flung, mysterious and impersonal reaches of space.

For some time scientists have reported firm indications that the Moon possesses the element water.

In Astrology water has always stood for the unconscious mind, the emotions and the feeling nature of humans and all sentient beings. The Moon’s influence is equivalent to the qualities of water, even though astronomers have considered it to exist without any of this element in its physical make-up.

In practical research by our scientists, efforts to understand the Moon stem from a more materialistic standpoint.

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Fusion not friction is the key to harmony between opposites. To have opposites not desiring a harmony and blend is to recognize two different and incompatible entities.

In our symbol of the Sun and the Moon that together function to maintain life for us on our planet, we have a clear lesson to learn that needs reflection in human relationships. The Sun represents the male and the Moon the female principle. We depend upon these celestial bodies equally just as human life depends upon male and female interchange.

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Tags: blending character, cultivating nature, male and female, relating sun and moon, true to one's sex attributes

An address by Gerrit Janssen, 20^th century occultist

The more thoroughly we enter into the study of esoteric Astrology, the nearer we approach the realm of the Angelic hosts or Devas about whose evolution humanity knows so little. Although it lies at the root of all things connected with both science and religion and is inherent in the biblical teachings, we generally possess only vague ideas about a spiritual kingdom parallel to our material one.

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Tags: angelic kingdom, angels serve, devas or angels, human kingdom, nature gods or benign powers, Nature's agents

There is always a common thread capable of weaving into a bond of understanding between two people of the same sign and although sometimes subtle, it will be there for the parties to build upon or to deny.

There are also the natural affinities and antipathies between people of different signs because of diametrically opposed points of view, of themselves and of the universe around them. Awareness of the fundamental differences allows choices for contact with or avoidance of some personality types.

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Tags: character strengths, gentle attitude to self discipline, spiritual values

PLANETS

Surya, or Ravi             Sun

Chandra-Indu             Moon

Budha                            Mercury

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Tags: indian astrology, names of planets, names of zodiac