Astrology Basics for Beginners

Astrology is an ancient craft, the first known references date back to Babylonian texts in 1600 BC. It's place in the lives of the Babylonian folk was no different to the influence of computers in modern times. It was a natural tool used to help fathom the ins and outs, whys and wherefores of living life. In short it helped to get ones head around why stuff happens, the good, bad and ugly.

Unfortunately modern day or mainstream tabloid interpretations of Astrology has led to sweeping generalisations of interpretations. In fact I don't give credit to the magazine or tabloid interpretations at all. A major body of knowledge is missing from these snippets of information that the average muggle has no idea about, but buys into anyway. Sad but true, a true astrologer will cringe and dismiss anyone who wants to know about their star sign. "Get the big picture," they will say.

Esoteric study on the subject finds a lot of work from the Greeks. They hooked into the Babylonian knowhow and wanted to learn more and more. Homage to the great Platonists who delved and wrote and delved and wrote. Interesting that in the times of the great philosophers comes knowledge from experience more than the written word. Ancient Greek Platonists write about the influence of the psyche as being linked directly to planetary spheres.

It was common knowledge that the soul, or psyche was made of the same substance as the stars. Whilst modern day differentiates astrology and astronomy, in the ancient days they were not as separate. Yes astronomy is the study of the physical planets, asteroids and all things outer space. The ancients knew this, they also understood soul qualities as determined by the influence of planets. Accordingly, you are influenced by the soul qualities of the Sun and Moon, Venus, Mercury, Mars and the rest. In this regard astrology intermingles with astronomy.

If an astrologer has no knowledge at all of planets and stars and where constellations are in the night sky, nor interested in stargazing, then I take their knowledge as being shallow. Grave as this statement may sound, how could it not be? Astrology emanates from Astronomy. They are married.

It is fair to say however, that Astronomy is not married to Astrology. I respect the science of astronomy and all the knowledge we are uncovering is phenomenal. So if any astronomy scientific geeks get on here and want to argue, you won't get one here. Though an open mind toward ancient knowledge can't hurt. Plato was a genius and I'd pay allot of money to be in his presence for a day. Perhaps also know there is lost knowledge that science is not capable of capturing, not yet anyway. Many ancient philosophers were seers. Their knowledge was not only passed but experienced, so to disregard their vision is shortsighted in my view.

Psyche, Soul and Psychology

In some esoteric teachings, the soul is called the Astral Body This term refers to thoughts and emotions and these waves of stimuli are determined by the influence of the stars - aster. Aster (your chart) = Astral Body = thoughts and emotions - your personality warts and all.

The ancient Greeks did not differentiate between the stars and planets, yet it's the planets mainly that are involved in our personality. Or at least the most prominent and traceable parts of our psyche. It would not be true to say we are not influenced by it all. A question to ask self "How well do I know myself?" The more we delve, the more we see; the more we understand about ourselves, the more we see we don't know all we are capable of. Are we as diverse and magnificent as the carpet of stars and planets above our heads? Don't limit yourself when answering that question. Our hopes and dreams are as real as the thoughtforms that created it. We're just chicken and only do a fraction of what's possible.

Speaking of thoughtforms, esotericists of the Platonist era considered that the system of planetary spheres were not just astronomical objects but astral spheres of consciousness. What is consciousness but the whole sum of what we think and feel and fathom as an individual? Our Astrological Blueprint is the sum of the influence of the planets at the time of our birth. Within our blueprint is a plethora of forces that animate our lives in an attempt to be the best we can be.

Unfortunately, we are limited only by our lack of consciousness. We only use 30% of our brain, that must tell you something. If we are not using what we are capable of, this makes us only half or a quarter or a fifth of who we could be. A newborn baby has in front of it a lifetime of experiences and opportunities. It is only limited by its surroundings. Everything else is a possibility. When that child becomes limited because of the determinants of life, be that social memes, family beliefs, and expectations, the wants and needs of peers at their expense, less and less is that child acting on the potential that is theirs.

Interestingly, the more lost we feel in this big crazy world, the more we seem to need a psychologist to fathom it all. As individuals, we have a hard time accessing ourselves, let alone excelling at being our true selves.

But at least to know what you have at your disposal, to know your potential is half the battle. It is then up to you to follow through on that potential. Your astrological chart will show you this. But remember don't limit yourself to your Sun Sign, get the big picture of yourself.