Practical Astrology
What role can astrology play in your life?
As you may have noticed, I've been making an effort to share more about the role astrology can play in our lives. What using astrology looks like for me and how I use it when assisting clients. I love hearing about what role it plays for you and how you like to use it.
The language and interpretation around astrology provides an amazing opportunity for deeper knowing. It's way more than a tool - much more mysterious and vaster than one can fully understand - yet it can be used practically as a tool. I feel I'm able to distill enough from astrology for it to function within my cornucopia of guidance techniques - for myself and with guiding others. Making astrology serve as an archetype teacher and a communication enhancer.
In full transparency, I used to refrain from writing more about astrology in the past as I thought some would find it off-putting. I thought there was a possibility it could alienate those who prefer models based in physicality or cognition. I have my thoughts as to why a metaphysical approach doesn't always connect with people, but I try not to let this stop me. Why not work with all that's offered to us with the language of the stars? That includes interpreting metaphysical components of the astrological expansiveness.
The Uniqueness of Your Birth Chart
Here are some highlights about the approach I like to take. I use astrology in a descriptive way, rather than a predictive way. Describing archetypal and relational aspects associated with our luminaries and planets, as well as some additional celestial bodies and astrological points.
I like to see it as a practical way to incorporate astrology into your life. Giving insight into how you relate to different aspects of yourself and how you interact with others in the world. Astrology can also get very practical when deciding how to approach certain areas of your life, depending on those initial placements within your chart.
If you had 100 different astrology enthusiasts look at your birth chart, you'd have 100 different readings. Each individual will notice something from their unique perspective. Sure, there will be distinct themes and aspect from your chart, but there’s so much occurring with each individual birth chart. So, it becomes a matter of what the reader chooses to focus on and discuss.
Costumed Archetypes and Light-Refracting Prisms
Key points of interest come with noticing the prevalence of the elements and modalities that are shown in a particular chart. It’s fun to use mytho-poetic language to tap into a literacy for deeper understanding. Using metaphor to describe the elements and modalities and how they correspond to your perception and your experiences.
I follow along as if the planet is an archetype. When you view the archetype (planet) as a character, you can then add a costume. The sign in which the planet is positioned (within your birth chart) is the costume giving further characteristics to the archetype. The house, where the archetype is positioned, is another layer - the set for which the character plays.
I also like the interpretation of describing astrological components as similar to the light going through a prism. Having the correlation of light, filter and lens associated with the planets, signs and houses. As the light of each celestial being hits the prism, it's like there's a filtering by the sign. Each refracted light is then seen through the lens of the house.
Developing Your Own Astrological Literacy
I find that gaining proficiency with literacy of astrology occurs in tiers. The first tier is understanding one’s own chart with the basics - the archetypes and costumes that are signified in the chart. The next tier of understanding further nuance is the set - the houses - which can be explored after the foundational understanding is put in place. Yet another tier to understanding astrology day-to-day regards the current transits. (The kind of stuff you can hear about from your favorite astrologers.) I feel like each individual is best to start with the basics.
If I asked you "What is your sun sign?" you'd probably know the answer. What about the element related to your sun sign? Or if the sign is cardinal, fixed or mutable? Do you know this? What if I asked you about your moon sign or your rising sign? Would you know these? Your average person will know some of these answers. Although there's likely some wonder as to what any of this means. Each person has a different relationship to astrology, so meet them where they’re at.
I maintain a thread of focus on astrology here as a reminder that there's this awesome guiding tool out there for you to use whenever you like. It can tell you so much! I’m often curious about the more intense parts of someone's chart, which often includes connections with Saturn, Mars, Chiron, Pluto, conjunctions and oppositions. I tend to look at the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus & Neptune relative to those planets (but this is just a preference I’ve acquired), while each can have a way of standing out due to their attributes. How about you? What aspects of astrology stand out the most for you?
Ask me about how this current Pluto shift from Capricorn to Aquarius affects you and your personal astrology chart!