turning wheel astrology

Astrology is an ancient language of symbols and stories that can help us find guidance during times of challenge, affirm and encourage our growth, and foster a deeper understanding of our roles in life. Although it has been practiced for thousands of years, the modern form of Western Astrology is very different from its ancestral roots. Today, most astrology is an eclectic blend of Hellenistic (Greek) mythology, interpersonal and transpersonal psychology and popular culture. There are practitioners and scholars who utilize the deep roots of the science of Astrology, but many astrologers use a variety of methods and philosophies within their practice.

Humans seek connection and meaning; it is just as important as the basic necessities of food and shelter. The tools of astrology are one way to tap into the patterns and processes behind the “seen” world in order to find such meaning and connection. We all have access to this wisdom. It does not belong to anyone exclusively. Astrology gets us back in touch with that wisdom and the right to create meaningful, lasting change in the world. It can help us reassert our power and authority, while reminding us of the inherent interconnectedness of all life.

I invite you to see this for yourself by utilizing some of the tools and exercises on this website and by reading the Full Moon Reports offered here. You may even venture so far in that you want to get a reading. Once you begin to notice the impact celestial events have on personal situations, you will also see how you might be able to work consciously with those energies. In her book, Making the Gods Work for You, Astrologer Caroline Casey playfully lays out her “Visionary Activist Principles.” In them, she gives sage advice on how we might become active co-creators with the universe. Here’s an excerpt:

“The invisible world would like to help, but spiritual etiquette requires that we ask…The only way the gods know we're asking for help is [through] ritual…We only possess the power of an insight when we give it expression.”¹

Astrology can deepen our understanding of self, and welcome us home to the knowledge that our Self is much vaster that previously thought. Astrology is one tool of many that assists us in loving the wild places within us, as well as the beauty and stories that desire to be spoken and danced and sung into being.

If we imagine that the world is a place of magic, then it is. If we envision communities built on beauty and justice, and then, as Casey says, ask for help in expressing that vision, then what could stop us? The power within us is the power around us is the power within us. Astrology, when used as a tool of vision and intention, clearly penetrates this mystery and offers up the goods on how to translate vision into action.

Now for the nuts and bolts:

Let’s take a look at a Natal Chart and discuss the basics of astrology. The Natal Chart is a kind of map of unfolding consciousness. The moment we are born is recorded through the placement of the planets and other heavenly bodies² in the twelve signs of the Zodiac and twelve Houses. So, there are three main categories we’ll be dealing with: Planets, Signs, and Houses. In astrology, the Planets are the actors on the stage. They represent an archetype or universal realm of experience, such as Mercury, who embodies Language and Knowledge. The Signs of the Zodiac tell us how the planet will behave. Mercury in Leo might blurt out strong opinions without much consideration while Mercury in Libra will look for more diplomatic ways of communicating. Each planet will have a different emphasis and quality of being depending on the sign it is in at the moment of birth. The Houses in a natal chart show us where the action is; each house governs an area of life like career, family or education. Mercury in the Tenth House (career) might, for example, give strong public speaking tools, while Mercury in the Twelfth may indicate more of an inclination toward expression through poetry or prayer. Each planet will have a specific sphere of activity in which it will find its most natural expression according to the house in which it is placed.

Aspects are the angles that the planets make to each other in our Natal Charts and they describe the relationships the planets have with each other. There are major and minor aspects to consider. Some aspects are challenging and powerful, while other aspects, such as trines and sextiles, indicate a more supportive, easy relationship. All of them have lessons to teach us. The relationships between the planets are the places where our charts are truly alive, because relationships are always changing and require us to continue to expand ourselves in order to meet new demands and opportunities. Challenging aspects, such as squares, oppositions and conjunctions, are the places in our charts that the energy pushes and pulls at us. And where there’s that kind of friction, there’s the opportunity to see the spark of the divine at work in our lives.

The last piece I will touch on here are transits. A Transit occurs when a planet’s current position in the heavens coincides with a planet’s static position in our Natal Chart. So, for example, as the planet Saturn makes its 29-year journey around the Sun, it will bump into places in our charts. The most well known time this happens is when we are around 29-years-old, called the Saturn Return. During this time, Saturn finds itself back in the same Sign as it was when we were born. So it is a Saturn conjunct Saturn transit. And for those of you who’ve experienced it, it packs quite a punch. All of the planets are in motion, so at different points in our lives we will have many opportunities to experience transits and the surprising energy they stir up.

Take a look at your own birth chart and see what you can discover. You can get one for free at www.astro.com. If you want a bit more synthesis than a computer can give you, contact me for a reading.

Footnotes
1.  Casey, Caroline W., Making the Gods Work for You: The Astrological Language of the Psyche. Three Rivers Press, 1999.