The study of astrology seems to be very simple in it’s aims. A way to understand yourself better, a way to predict things. But, if we limit the scope of astrology to simply personality typing and prediction, in the long term, it can start to be very demotivating.
When we look at astrology as just a tool for prediction, or for understanding our strengths and weaknesses, the static nature of the chart gives a fatalistic idea of what astrology is. Since astrology defines our entire lives, we start understanding our own lives as something we have no control over.
This is a phase everyone who gets extremely into astrology goes through, and it’s not necessarily incorrect. There are circumstances in our lives that will happen whether we want them to or not. There are things that are destined, and those things will not change. However, there are things that we can and we should control.
My understanding of karma and past lives leads me to believe that our prewritten experiences are a consequence of our past actions. Since we have done the karma, we must face the consequences for those. But, the point is not our past karma, and how the results of those karmas manifest. The point, rather, is to understand how our mindset impacts our actions (karmas), and how those deep impressions can be changed, so that our current actions do not create more problems in the future.
I am a firm believer in past lives and reincarnation, because it slots well into my belief system. However, even if one doesn’t believe in those things, they can still understand that some people are born more advantaged or disadvantaged than other people, and how those can impact our personality, our actions, and our entire lives. Astrology as a subject can show our advantages and disadvantages in life through our charts.
For me, understanding astrology is about understanding the disadvantages that we are born with, and from there, understand how improve those things in our lives. When I write about Planets, my aim is always to write about the planets in a holistic way. A lot of times, we like to look at astrology as “how does it relate to us”, as in, we want a detailed report on all our placements, and how it defines us. We take the ego boost that this (usually positive) interpretation gives, and we run with it.
But, astrology does not, and cannot exist just to give you an ego boost. Astrology exists to improve your life, improve your mindset, and improve how you go about life.
For me, astrology exists to define the best way a planet can manifest in your life, the way a “good” planet will impact your lifestyle, your mindset, and to help people implement those into your life. I believe very strongly that the planets are gods who help us, and when we misuse those planets, they do not appreciate that, and bring bad luck into our lives. You can simply focus on improving those tendencies, but that is often difficult, and sometimes, we simply don’t know where to start.
This is where spirituality and remediation comes into the picture. Aside from a belief in karma, I also have a belief in rituals. The idea that a ritual can be a symbolic gesture that attracts likewise energy into your life is one that I believe in very strongly. The idea that a remedy can improve the life of a person, through improving our tendencies, is something that makes astrology a worthwhile practice. A ritual or a deity we pray to, can guide you towards using a planet well, and guide you towards how to do something you may not understand how to.
Aside from simple remediation, I also believe in the power of yoga. Yoga, for me, is a practice that you do regularly, and dedicate your life to. This can be anything, from your job, your family, or art. When you dedicate your life to something, remediation comes naturally, because you will find certain issues keep cropping up that prevent you from practicing well. Those are the remedies that happen naturally.
The alchemical nature of both rituals and yoga, and the way they improve people’s karma is not to be underestimated. The process of loving something to the point where you keep trying to constantly improve is not to be underestimated. The power of placebo, and of deities, should not be underestimated. For me, this is why I strongly believe that having something that you dedicate your life to is more important than astrology as a subject. Astrology is a tool, and as a tool, it needs to be used well.
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