The Basis of Astrology

Okay, I know how many skeptics there are on what astrology does. Most of this, I think, comes out of not knowing much about it and basing what they do know on horoscopes in the newspapers.

So I thought, hey I'll give a whack at discussing it even though I am not an astrologer. I look at it from the outside as one who has had horoscopes done by others, bought quite a few books on astrology, done natal charts for friends using a computer program (which was more about my ability to create characters than understanding the star combinations), and had an interest in what it all might mean and why. I especially think that when I see my own life reflecting big changes without anyway for me to explain it.

Here's the first personal opinion. I don't think much of horoscopes either especially not those in newspapers. That's simply too general to have much meaning for anybody. I have had a horoscope that was specific to my birth time and it still didn't seem to hit on what happened to me on those dates. I think there are too many variables in our lives to have the planets explain any given day.

Natal charts, now those are closer to having meaning. That means on the date you were born, here are the general characteristics of people born at that exact time, place and date. That turns out to be surprisingly close if you have ever had one done. The question would be why is it close, and why would I believe astrology has value in a general sense for trends that are impacting humans as a whole, not each individual sign specifically?

First of all, here is what astrology actually is in the sense of that age old method of looking at the stars and planets to determine some trends. The planets move around the sun as does the earth and all orbit in a mostly predictable way. In the sky, way out there, the constellations, they are on a different pattern. So as our universe moves, those constellations don't have the same apparent movement. They move too but so far out that it's not like our rotations that form more regular cycles. Same way with the planets that are closer to us changing more often in our sky than the ones farther out.

Let's take Neptune, which is being much discussed right now because it is moving into what is considered its own sign-- Pisces. This is not some arbitrary imaginary thing. Neptune, if you looked up into the sky, you would see it in the constellation Pisces. You could measure where it is there. You could also measure where it was compared to other planets.

"From now until 2026 with only a brief retrograde back to Aquarius from September until Feb 2012, Neptune will be a strong influence for basic escapism from the uncomfortable, fearful aspects pressuring our shared reality, and at the same time, the arts and creative imagination and expression will flourish as artists tap into the inspiration of the muse, and the vast, dry spiritual emptiness of our cultures open themselves to direct experience of Spirit." Patricia A.Liles

If you get an astrology reading from one who really is good at it, they will have the degrees of these planets which is measurable. Astrology is more about mathematics than mysticism. The theory on astrology is that these combinations, as they naturally occur in the skies, coincide with certain trends on earth. They repeat themselves over generations. Some birth signs might feel some of these impacts more than others but the overall impact is universal.

Here's where the skeptic goes-- ridiculous. But wait. Supposing that this is all based on observations of human life as it is with say the Vedic school of astrology which goes back thousands of years. Supposing that it's not so much that the planets make this happen as it is that these naturally occurring combinations are part of the trends of human nature. Suppose some observed this and kept records of the impacts, and over generations, the patterns were repeated.

I have a book on life in the United States since its beginning. Generations The History of America's Future 1584-2069 by William Strauss & Neil Howe. Their theory, which has nothing to do with astrology, is that each generation impacts the next and we have had in the US eighteen American generations. Within the generations are four repeated types with certain characteristics.

In each cycle, there will be Idealist, Reactive, Civic, and Adaptive. One impacts the next. It is a cycle that continually impacts who the next generation will be based on the one ahead of it.

For example, my parents were of the Civic generation while (they calculate the start of this differently for the year) I am of the Idealist (which other social engineers call Boom and say starts a few years later than this book has it).

Understanding this was of particular interest to me as a writer who wanted my historic characters to seem real, but I can see another implication to it.

Supposing that astrology, rather than some mystical set of numbers with no meaning, actually is using what has happened over and over again, patterns that are repeated. We can, when we look at the skies, take measurements, then look at the likely trends to come, how they are impacting our lives, and use the information. This isn't going to tell us when an earthquake will come but more how humans will likely react to it.

To me, that's what astrology is about. And if you find a good astrologer, follow what they are saying, observe what the patterns have been and are likely to be, it serves a purpose. It helps you understand why friends or family member might be acting seemingly irrational, why the world seems to be going loopy. You don't have to be fearful about a time that seems particularly upsetting to you because you know that cycles come and go. This too will pass. If you are a sensitive person, you probably already were feeling some of those vibes.