Wiccan Study - Astrology for Self Empowerment

Excerpt: Astrology for Self Empowerment: Techniques for Reclaiming Your Sacred Power

The Magic of Astrology...
Understand that you are a second world in miniature, and the Sun and Moon are within you, as are the stars.

The celestial sky peers down upon us nightly. It silently and unceasingly radiates its cosmic message of harmony, beauty, and meaning. It subtly conveys amazing truths eternal truths that can be found hidden within the age-old body of astrological lore. One of the most incredible truths is that there is a real link, an observable parallelism, between the timing of events in the celestial sky and our unfolding lives.

Astrology is an ancient and enduring archetypal structure ancient and enduring enough to have witnessed and withstood the rise and fall of great civilizations. Archetypal because it is rooted in the depths of our collective unconscious. Astrology is a profound and sublime celestial art. When practiced in its highest sense, with integrity, sensitivity, and wisdom, astrology can help us gain a greater sense of order, significance, and Self in a seemingly chaotic and frightening environment.

Throughout the ages, the wisest of the wise have believed in, studied, practiced, and taught astrology. Great women and men have spent their lives in pursuit of astrological wisdom and understanding. Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Brahe, Kepler, and Newton practiced astrology. Civilizations as diverse as the Egyptians, the Indians, the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Incas, the Chaldeans, and the Tibetans, among others, have embraced astrology in one form or another.

Astrology: Capturing a Moment of Time
Yet, because astrology deals with concepts, forces, and symbols that refuse to be pigeonholed by the limitations of our analytical mind, it eludes modern science's attempts to prove or disprove its validity. Try as we may, we don't yet understand the modus operandi of the inner workings of astrology. Fortunately, we don't have to completely understand how astrology works in order to make positive use of it. Is it not enough that we can use astrology to gain insight, some small perception of order, and a deeper understanding of our place and part in the pageant of life?

As well as not fully understanding how astrology works, many of us have enormous difficulty trying to grasp even a modest comprehension of just what astrology is. The task is anything but easy, for astrology has been and continues to be, in some respects, a cocktail of religion, spirituality, psychology, psychotherapy, philosophy, and metaphysics.
Paradoxically, astrology concerns itself with moments of time and with timeless realities, with beginnings and endings and the pathway between, with the part and with the whole, with the relative and the absolute. These dichotomies may be responsible for some of the misunderstanding and confusion that inevitably arises in any discussion of astrology, and it tends to increase the reluctance of many scientists to seriously examine the art. However, research is being done that builds upon that which has already taken place in the twentieth century. It is only a matter of time before the scientific community will begin to study astrological concepts in depth.
Astrology is an attempt to orient us in the universe and, as such, it's unlikely it will ever become a pure science. The scientific mind looks everywhere, including outer space, for facts and the ultimate knowledge of life, but typically has failed to see that the answers are under our very nose. To search for the meaning of life in subatomic particles or in outer space is to avoid the search where it's perhaps most critical in our consciousness. The real issue and task for the sciences of the new millennium will be to seek the integration of our inner and outer worlds in our consciousness.
One of the stumbling blocks to a greater openness and inquiring attitude towards astrology is that the ramifications of accepting astrological concepts are monumental. They throw many of our prized ideas about the universe and our place in it upside-down. For this reason, emotions usually run high when any discussion of astrology ensues in contemporary academic or religious circles.

Yet, despite these difficulties in understanding and a general lack of mainstream scientific acceptance, astrology continues to call many to its pathway. A pathway which, in its purest form, is concerned with aiding and quickening our inner transformative processes through the use of universal symbolism.

Whether astrology actually functions in a symbolic, causal, synchronistic, or other as yet unknown way, is beside the point from the perspective outlined here. The real solution to our problems, at whatever level they may occur, whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual, whether collective or individual, is dependent not upon science and technology nor upon the reasoning power of the mind. Solutions are dependent upon our ability to express in ever-increasing ways the unifying energies of harmlessness, harmony, and impersonal love. This is precisely where astrology's strength lies.

A Shift in Consciousness
In its beautiful and unusual symbolic language the code of the stars astrology speaks to us of the energies of synthesis and integration, and of their place in our lives.

If we are to ever change the likely script of our human destiny (contrary to popular belief, the deeper teachings of astrology neither encourage nor subscribe to a fatalistic or deterministic approach to life), it is imperative that we individually and collectively transform our inner lives. To achieve this we need practical techniques for personal and group empowerment capable of making major shifts in consciousness.
In its highest form, astrology contains a spiritual, transformative power. It becomes a measure of our capacity to become more than man, more than woman.

The Archetypes
Astrology provides us with dynamic self-discovery and empowerment tools in the form of the zodiacal and planetary archetypes. The astrological archetypes are our common human legacy. They are primordial images which carry and embody our conceptions of the world in which we live. Archetypes reoccur time and again throughout human history in the form of myths and psychic impressions. Although far more difficult to identify than our common symbols, archetypes are primal expressions of the underlying energy patterns that guide and shape our lives.

These prototypical patterns, symbols, and images of psychic force have lain dormant in our minds either in complete slumber or in a semicomatose and incoherent state. It is time for astrology to walk out of the shadow and to stand clear and strong, radiating its message of universal order, harmony, and meaning amidst the difficulties that confront us individually and collectively.

Astrology was born of humankind's need for harmony and order in a seemingly hostile and confusing environment. The fundamental techniques for reclaiming our power that astrology provides are as ancient as the symbolism itself. Let's go on a psychological and spiritual voyage of self-discovery and reclaim our Sacred Power. Many of us embody personal paradigms that have become so rigid and distorted that mental and emotional crystallization has taken place. Sacred Astrology can help us to refine, transmute, and regenerate our debilitating mental and emotional patterns.

We Create Our Own Destiny
Before we commence our journey and learn about the astrological archetypes and the specific techniques of astrological self-discovery and empowerment, let's look at an erroneous notion that we all embody occasionally. The notion is that something or someone else is responsible for our life problems, for our failed dreams, or for our inadequacies. We may blame our parents, teachers, partner, children, or a deprived childhood environment. It could even be the limitations supposedly ordained by our "stars."

Facing Self in the Timeless Moment
The natural human tendency is to point the finger rather than to take personal responsibility and face Self. This is precisely what astrological self-empowerment is all about. It is about facing Self and transforming patterns of emotional and mental energy that hold us back from expressing all that we are capable of being.

The Self is that essence within us which is never born and never dies (as opposed to the egotistical self of our personality). It's the eternal "I Am That I Am," described in Vedanta as Existence-Knowledge-Bliss-Absolute. In the context of the astrology of self-empowerment, facing Self requires being aware of, and then removing, obstacles that inhibit us from experiencing our pure and inherently all-knowing and all-loving true essence. The idea of facing Self and embracing transformation (of self) sounds relatively straightforward, yet few of us seem to be ready to demonstrate the requisite honesty and resolve to "walk on."

A Symbolic Universe
Carl Jung, one of the twentieth century's greatest psychologists, stated in the foreword to the book, The Secret of the Golden Flower: "Whatever is born or done this moment, has the qualities of this moment of time." The qualities (or energies) of the moment can be deciphered from the symbols of the celestial sky, i.e., through the language of astrology.

Humanity is steeped in symbols. Symbols evoke a response from us at an unconscious, instinctive level. They bring together mental and emotional associations that defy our logical or rational mind. Without symbols we couldn't even communicate with each other, for language is but an incredibly complex mass of symbols. Yet, in our modern and so-called sophisticated times, many people ignore, or deride as of no importance, the most ancient, vast, and magnificent symbols that exist. These are the symbols of the celestial sky. It appears that in the modern rush to dissect and analyze the mysteries of the universe under our mental microscope, we are in danger of losing a holistic and synthesizing perspective which would provide the very answers we seek.

Sacred Astrology
The zodiac, which is one of our greatest archetypal symbolic structures, developed over many centuries. Originally, the zodiac grew out of early man's fascination with the constellations; it is now usually determined by the apparent path of the Sun around Earth (the ecliptic).
The zodiac contains living symbols that embody powers that we can unleash in our lives. These twelve individual symbols are called the signs of the zodiac. They are archetypal patterns of rhythmic and cyclical activity for our solar system.

Against the celestial backdrop of the signs of the zodiac, the planets, by their location and juxtaposition, represent multiple functional energies of psychological integration and emergence. Modern astrology analyzes and interprets the positions of ten planets, including the Sun and the Moon, which are called "planets" in astrology.

The planets symbolize specific dynamics of our psychological makeup. For example, the Sun in our birth chart correlates with our creative life-force and with our individuality. In order to create the positive changes in our lives which we desire, the zodiacal archetypal forces will be used in combination with planetary forces and proven age-old methods of transformation.
At the time of our birth, the planets, by their web of mathematically determined interrelationships, symbolize the complexity of our patterned psychology. These planetary interrelationships are called aspects. Astrology uses numerous aspects to detail the complexity of our psychology and potential.

The planets and their aspects at our birth form a complex algebra of our psychic life. In order for us to decipher this algebra of life we require not only formulae and the ability to interpret them but, more importantly, we need to develop our intuition. We need to sensitize ourselves to our unfolding life story and seek out the real meaning behind the circumstances. Only if these qualities of sensitivity and intuition are present can we successfully use Sacred Astrology as a pathway that leads to self-actualization.
To be self-actualized means to become a whole person. It implies a degree of freedom from the collective and from an unconscious bondage to the values of our family, nation, and culture. The moment such an implication is understood, a basic change occurs; a reorientation and development in our psychology takes place it leads sooner or later to a new approach to life and to astrology.

The planetary positions and aspects coincident at our birth contain, in coded form, the seed idea or the blueprint of our inherent individuality. This blueprint, which combines zodiacal and planetary positions and their interrelationships (as well as the ascendant and the houses), is called our birth chart. It's determined by our time, date, and place of birth. Our birth chart, natal chart, or horoscope (from the Greek horoskopos, meaning "hour pointer") is simply a two-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional reality of celestial space at the time and place of our birth.

As above, So below
Poetically, we could say that at any given moment the planetary forces resound with a multidimensional, multifaceted gong tone that reverberates throughout our solar system, calling to life all those of us who resonate to that particular melody-of-being. When we are born a matrix of individuality is created. In its archetypal or seed form it resides with us for life.

The popular view paints astrology as a fatalistic and character-based art that's more concerned with sensational predictions and personality trivia than with personal development and unfolding. What needs to be realized is that there is a huge amount of profound astrological lore that has been developed over thousands of years. Today, many astrologers and others in the healing professions, including psychotherapists and psychologists, apply astrological principles with sound judgment and sensitivity. In spite of this, some people still believe that astrology is just another New Age practice through which, with a little bit of hocus-pocus planetary power and the right astrologer, miraculous life-enhancing pronouncements can be received.

Fortunately, most of us realize that real personal growth and self-empowerment don't come so easily. In the words of an old saying: "For a tree's branches to reach to heaven, its roots must reach to hell." There can be no coming to greater self-awareness and higher states of consciousness without struggle and difficult life experiences. There are no shortcuts and magic cures astrological or otherwise. Nor can any astrologer take away the need for individual effort and personal responsibility. In its deepest sense, our birth chart is meant to be a reflection of our life pattern and potential, not a means of avoiding it.

Trust, Purity, and Openness
Although there are no easy routes that lead us towards self-empowerment, divine grace always flows, and if we believe in our Self and have pure motives, all things are possible. There is a beautiful story in Buddhist literature that describes how a low-caste barber one day heard the Buddha speak of Nirvana (a sublime and blissful cosmic state of consciousness) and afterwards rushed up to him and asked expectantly, "But could I, a barber, reach Nirvana?" The Buddha answered, "Yes, even you, a barber." Immediately, the man reached Nirvana.

Whether this story is true or not doesn't matter. The salient lesson is that we hold ourselves back from psycho-spiritual transformation by our limited patterns of thinking and by our attachment to erroneous emotional and mental conditioning.

As soon as we are able to demonstrate a clear resolve and openness to change and progress, all doors tend to open and grace can flow into our lives. Such resolve may come through meeting a person or through a major life event. It may be the culmination of many years of personal struggle or be the instantaneous recognition of a new need we feel. At this pivotal point in our unfolding, we often seek guidance and the appropriate technique or pathway to aid us in the process of change and self-empowerment. Astrology is one such technique and pathway and is arguably the oldest, and still one of the best.

Astrology for Self Empowerment: Techniques for Reclaiming Your Sacred Power

What can you do with your astrological birth chart?

If you're an astrologer, you learn amazing information about your personality and make predictions. If you're not an astrologer, you can puzzle over the circles and symbols--until now.

Astrology for Self-Empowerment by Dovid Strusiner moves astrology to entirely new realms, making this a must for both the astrological expert and those unfamiliar with the science. It takes the basic information from the chart and shows you how to change your life so you can achieve your spiritual and worldly goals easily.

The technique starts with the birth chart. If you are an astrologer, you can draw this yourself. If not, the book includes a coupon to receive a free natal chart. Even the postage is paid.

The book describes the basic meanings of the sun signs, planets, and more--but that is just the start--Astrology for Self-Empowerment shows that you are not at the mercy of the planets and stars. Instead, you can use their archetypal power to:

Create the future you want
Overcome self-defeating subconscious programming
Create a life that is richer in every way. This book shows you how to do this with techniques of self-exploration, visualization, affirmation, invocation, breath work, and working with the gems and crystals associated with the planets and signs. These are tied together in a powerful and easy-to-use program for self-change and empowerment. Examples show you how to do this easily for yourself.

Astrology for Self-Empowerment will empower you to change your universe and become what you want to be. You owe it to yourself to get this book.

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