what is astrology?
by Jill Kirby | 25 march, 1999
Many people are under the mistaken impression that Astrology is what they read in the newspaper "horoscope" columns, or in the little scrolls sold in drug stores and novelty shops. As an Astrologer, I am pleased that this form of 'pop' Astrology has kept the subject alive in the mass consciousness.
At the same time, I am dismayed to see such a profound body of wisdom trivialized and denigrated. Misconceptions about Astrology abound. Unfortunately, opportunities to impart solid information on the subject are few and far between.
Horoscope comes from the Greek "hora" meaning hour, and "skopos" meaning watcher. A genuine horoscope is a chart calculated for a specific time and geographical location, depicting the Zodiacal positions (Signs) of the Sun, Moon and Planets and their geometrical relationships to one another as seen from our Earth-bound point of view (because that is where we live).
While the most familiar use of horoscopic work is for the birth of a person, charts can also be drawn for nations, animals or even the beginning of a project or enterprise, provided one has an accurate 'birth' time. Of course, it is essential to know which of these is the subject in question - one would hardly interpret the birth map of your pet iguana in the same manner as the birth map of your child (find a new Astrologer if they do!).
There are things which cannot be read in the horoscope, but must be known in order to interpret appropriately. For example, assuming we are working with one of the species homo sapiens, the sex, cultural background, economic circumstances will all affect the possible expression of the potentials indicated by the horoscope. You would expect a very different interpretation for the chart of Queen Elizabeth and that of an unemployed immigrant, even if there were similarities between the charts. In fact, the most outstanding indications in the Queen's natal chart are a sense of duty, hard work, responsibility and perseverence. She takes her royal position very seriously, indeed. The immigrant might exhibit some of these qualities, but will live in much different circumstances with much different options. Without such background information, it is like expecting an accurate diagnosis from a doctor by mail-order, sight unseen. Astrologers are neither mind-readers nor fortune-tellers.
Despite what skeptics might say, Astrology is a science in that it requires very accurate astronomical measurements (Astrologers measure the planetary positions the same way astronomers and the scientists at NASA do) and is based on literally thousands of years of empirical observations, using literally millions of subjects.
"Horoscope comes from the Greek 'hora' meaning hour, and 'skopos' meaning watcher."
It is a science which is constantly growing and evolving. This has been reflected by the discovery over the last 200 years or so of the planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, which expanded our concept of our solar system, and Astrology's ability to understand human nature. Astrologically, these planets symbolize transpersonal experiences and facets of the collective human consciousness.
Astrology is also an art in that it relies on the skill of the individual Astrologer in blending the complex patterns of the horoscope into a cohesive whole. This is not unlike the skill required by a psychologist in understanding the client's psychological makeup based on personality profiles and dialogue. In fact, the horoscope is the most precise and detailed personality profile available to anyone.
The influence of the planetary energies is apparent in our language, which assigns such words as mercurial, saturnine and jovial (Jove being another name for Jupiter) to certain types of personality - not to mention those who have a 'sunny' disposition, or others who display such 'lunacy' that they end up in the 'loony bin'.
Each individual is a small complex universe, reflecting and reflected by the universe in which we live. After 25 years of study, I continue to be fascinated by the planets of inner space exploration. To look at a horoscope is to embark on a fantastic journey through a personal solar system - truly a mind-expanding trip!
To contact her, check out her website at holisticarts.ca.
