Astrology is Natural Psychology

Astrology can be studied and understood from a variety of perspectives. Generally, people recognize that it outlines character traits based on one’s birthday. More specifically, the year, place of birth and exact time offers us a much more complete picture of planetary positions and relationships, from the perspective of Earth where we live, perceive and experience life. This more complete picture offers a whole understanding of how each one of us expresses a unique relationship with ourselves, others, society and the world in general and the cosmos itself. Contained within this fractal reflection of planetary positions, which renders an archetypal expression of nature mapped on a Mandala, is a rich a layered perspective to better know who we are and what special relationship we share with existence. The perspectives offer a deep understanding of one’s nature and of one’s essential psychology. In so doing, Astrology can be further understood and described as a Natural Psychology.

More mainstream studies in psychology invariably focus on the impact of our environments. By extension, sociological considerations are brought to the fore. At deeper levels, emphasis is focused upon the brain and how it functions. That the glandular system linked to the hormonal and chemical functions of our biology are aspects of the brain is the beginning of understanding our psycho-spiritual nature and connection to existence. However, this ‘leap’ of thinking does not seem to be of interest in traditional and main stream psychology. How to affect the chemical processes of the brain via drugs has become far more interesting in both the medical and the psychological professions. The main point is that the influence of environments is a standard given, but deciphering where the environments that ‘influence’ us begin and end is where the subject often begins to get fuzzy.

Let’s consider the ‘natural’ part of the equation. The environment is a natural feature of our life. So, how do we define environment? Psychologists, sociologists, meteorologists, biologists, environmentalists and so on may each have their own categorical interpretation, but each one is simply studying another feature or layer of what is ultimately the same whole environment. A full and complete understanding of nature and of human nature and its tendencies towards various forms of behaviour must therefore include all of nature. Nature as a term in the wider sense of its meaning encompasses the entire universe and all the levels and dimensions within it. Beyond the traditional perspectives of the term, nature includes yet also significantly transcends the various regions, geographies and climatic zones of our planet and the flora, fauna, biology, chemistry and the physics and so on. From the atomic, to the micro-cellular, to the anatomic to the environmental and then to the cosmic beginning with the solar system, then the galaxy and the omniverse – the infinite reality of galaxies, nature is all encompassing.  From another perspective we can look to dimensions.  Simply stated, these can simply be understood as frequencies and wave lengths where we get various ‘channels’, as in radio and televisions channels. This is very much the tip of the iceberg concerning dimensions, but the point is that multiple realities exist simultaneously. The term, parallel universe come to mind here. Each dimension has its own objective existence and rules and laws and realities. This can be hard to understand for some. However, just go back to the fact that each channel on the television hosts various expressions of reality ranging from the news to science fiction to fantasy to documentaries and so. This range of realities existing simultaneously is a pale example but it should suffice as a start. Nature is an umbrella term and all of existence in all its expressions and dimensions comes under its scope. This includes us.

The intellect aspect of our brain function, that which most of humanity continues to regard as consciousness is the mechanism that allows us to experience this dimension and to co-create the relative illusion that we call reality. If you do not think it is a relative illusion, ask someone what they think of anything, any topic, and then ask another and another and you will soon discover that our interpretations are relative to our experiences and perceptions and subjective senses and so on. Anyway, the intellect is the dividing sorting, categorizing, differentiating and separative function of our brain. As a consequence of its excessive action or of any person excessively identifying with the intellects function, we experience reality as something separate from that which we are. This produces fear due to feelings of vulnerability. Further, our perception and experience of existence begins to become dull, habitual, matter of fact, boring, meaningless and so on. This is called ego-centrism and in as much as we function from this place, we are perceiving reality from a very limited perspective. This is how most people think and why, despite all our inventions an devices and tools and tricks to create a better world and more fulfilling experience of life, we are getting sicker and more out of tune and balance with each new day. The intellect also tends to think is a linear and so we fall into the delusion that yesterday we were less intelligent and less advanced and less this and less that and with each day we are more and more. This is one aspect of the illusion and elusion and confusion of excessive intellectual brain function. Put simply, excessive intellect concludes that we are separate from nature and therefore from everything and everyone. The result is that we feel isolated. Again, this produces fear and depression and confusion and reaction and defence and so on. Many spiritual teachers have said many times in many ways that the main problem with most people and humanity in general is the ego, which is the intellect’s notion of one’s self as a separate unit. Our intellectual brain function is designed to be the servant, but it has become the master. This is an old story but few seem to really get it.

            One of the reasons why people continue to function from the intellect is that monopolizing, economic interests have come to recognize that they can profit from people’s ignorance. So, not only is this advantage sustained, it is perpetuated. Herein is the basis of all the conspiracies of hidden governments and so on. Yet, because people feel separate and therefore function from fear verses love, from the intellect verses the heart, they are afraid to consider this as having any truth. Doing so makes us have to re-think about who and what we are and why things are the way they are. There is much to say about this rampant corruption, this black magic that is prevalent in the world at epidemic levels. That the media is privately owned is a fact that so few seem to really appreciate the implications of and thus the divisions within society grow daily.

            The basis of Astrology is very natural. The annular cycle of the Earth around the Sun can be divided into four quarters. These divisions are natural and are the Solstice and Equinox’s. The Solstices mark the shortest and longest hours of sunlight and the Equinoxes measure equal hours of day and night. The 21^st day is the approximate day of these key dates and the months are December, March, June and September.  These dates mark the beginning of the next season. So, now it is Autumn Equinox and the hours between light and dark are equal. The changing temperatures and light on the planet for any given hour in the day are noticeably different. This natural division of the year is the basis of Western Astrology. The light of the sun or the lack of it in terms of hours has a powerful effect upon our psyche at deep levels of consciousness. The story continues from here with more details, but in essence, Astrology is the study of our relationship, of our intrinsic connection to nature. Beyond the environmental factors of our home and society and so on, are those of the season one is born in and the cosmic backdrop, especially of the planets in our solar system. By the way, the closes star to us, Alpha Proxima is about 6440 times further away than Pluto! In other words the planets are much closer that is often recognized. Further, the entire solar system can be seen to be encased in its own ‘shell’. Go online and check it out, it is called the ‘Helio Pause’. This containment of the solar system is yet another example of the principle of wholes within wholes and we live in a whole body, in a whole town or city, in a whole country, on a while continent or island, on a whole planet in a whole solar system, in a whole galaxy. This should not be too hard to understand and the implications of this natural principle of nature are directly linked to our natural psychology. It may seem cosmic and ‘out there’ but each environment has an influence on the other both intrinsically and by causal connection and the divisions are merely categorizations of environments for the sake of compartmentalized and thus organized thinking, which is useful and convenient, yet at worse, betrays the essential oneness of it all. Our education system and society in general and vice versa operated upon and ‘profits’ from this categorical process.

Within the larger framework of environments that we are, within which we live, to which we are intrinsically connected, is the simple fact that at each level we see cycles. From the molecular with electrons cycling around the nucleus of a cell to the rotation of the earth creating night and day, to the seasonal round, to the orbits or planets around the sun and ‘apparently’ around the earth, which is how the right brain ‘experiences’ reality and to larger cosmic realities yet, every aspect of our lives is subject to, is a feature of cycles.

Choosing to honour these natural cycles can contribute to greater health. Choosing not to honour natural cycles is the beginning of dishonouring nature itself. The current state of the ecology across the entire world is testimony to this. Astrology recognizes that these cycles are significant and the effects are measurable when we look at people’s natal charts. In this respect, Astrology can be understood to be a natural psychology. Natural psychology recognizes our intrinsic oneness with and relationship to nature. Recognizing that nature is one appearing to function is many is the key to solving the riddle of how we perceive reality as a conglomerate of separate parts. The root meaning of the word psychology, by the way, is soul.

If you are thinking that this all sounds theoretical, consider setting up an appointment to have an Astrology reading. You will soon discover that Astrology offers a means by which we can come to know our nature, our character, who we are, why we do some of things we do, when shifts and changes can be expected to occur, how we can be more self aware and therefore chose to more consciously flow with our nature and the cycles of life. The experience can be very empowering, illuminating and ultimately healing because, when done well, Astrology stimulates awareness and brings various subtle aspects of our consciousness on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels into alignment. The result of which can simply be understood as flow.

For additional insight on this topic, you may enjoy another article which hovers around this same topic by following this link.

Michael O'Connor

www.sunstarastrology.com

sunstarastrology@gmail.com

1.888.352.2936

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