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Astrology 101
According to
the Online Oxford University Press Dictionary astrology
is:
� noun: the study of the movements and
relative positions of celestial bodies and their supposed influence on
human affairs. [italics mine]
While I don�t care for the
pretentiousness of this particular dictionary�s definition (naturally, I�m
an astrologer! lol), it is, nonetheless, one view of astrology: what it is
and what it (subtly) isn�t.
However, according to the definition
given to astrology by some scientists it is, or is close to being, a science!
And, then of course there are even some
astrologers who claim that astrology is not only not an exact science, it
is not even a science, but a cosmic art, and, therefore, not very practical!
My favorite definition comes from the
astrologers/writers/instructors at Avalon
College who have written and developed several astrology software
programs, as well as written numerous articles and books on
astrology.
Astrology is the study of
correlations of celestial events with behavior on earth, particularly
correlations which cannot be explained by gravitation, magnetism, or other
forces that are well established in physics or other
sciences...
And while this is certainly accurate, it
raises another question: is astrology merely a catchall, explanation-wise,
for any of the other behaviors, activities and conditions here on earth
that cannot be explained by another so-called �credible� and/or accepted
scientific method? Is there really any validity to astrology at
all?
Well, of course, having studied
astrology for more than 25 years, I�d have to say that what I have learned
about the various aspects of astrology, as well as what I�ve seen with my
own eyes, have proven to me that astrology is an accurate and true
science.
However, let�s hear once more from the faculty at Avalon
College:
"...Is astrology a science?", the
answer that I would give ...is "almost" or "not yet." Sometimes a
discovery in science is made in a single "Eureka" moment, but other times
the data slowly and gradually supports the theory until at last a clear
and definitive discovery is made . . . studies ... are extremely
promising, but by strict scientific standards probably cannot be
considered yet to be validation of astrology...
"...Many astrologers believe that
astrology will one day join the ranks of the other sciences because the
work of researchers . . . [is] very impressive and only need to be
replicated and expanded upon in rigorous (and therefore usually expensive)
scientific studies. Some astrologers believe that astrology requires more
emphasis on qualitative techniques and more complex forms of analysis
rather than simple statistical quantitative analyses. According to this
view, astrology can advance as a science but it will require a radically
different kind of scientific approach than is traditionally taken in order
to make great strides, and also that "soft science" techniques are not
necessarily inferior, and in fact can sometimes produce more useful
results than "hard science" techniques..."
~Introductory
explanation from course material from the Avalon College of
Astrology
But...are human beings really affected �
for good or bad � by the movement of the planets?
Consider, as an example the effect that
the moon is believed to have on the tides. While the belief that the moon
has any effect at all on the tides has now come into disrepute in some
quarters, mariners and others whose livelihoods depend on the ocean, know
that the
tides ebb and flow based on the phase in which the moon is located at
any given time during the course of a month.
Certain times of the moon cycle are more
favorable for catching fish, for instance, than at other times.
Additionally, farmers base their
planting schedules, not just on the seasons of the year, but on the Lunar
Almanac, since certain times of the month are more favorable to
agricultural growth than others.
And then there�s the legend of the �werewolf� which says that some humans
with a condition known as lycanthropy turn into wolf-like creatures and
begin showing signs of violent behavior at the first sign of the full
moon? The idea that a human could actually morph into such a
creature may be far-fetched. However the documented cases of lycanthropic
individuals who begin exhibiting these behaviors at the first sign of a
full moon have been well recorded down through history. What could cause
this behavior?
Still, while some can prove the
validity of these documented cases...some claim that they can disprove them.
Unusual behavior in the workplace during a full moon has
also been documented, as well:, along with avalanches, which are believed
to be caused by the moon�s pull.
Still, you might say, the moon isn�t
actually a planet (even though astrology has always considered both the
Sun and the Moon planets). But the fact is, it is a body, just as the
other planets are bodies. And, according to the prevailing scientific
minds of the age, masses do affect, not only each other (i.e.,
gravitational pull), but they affect even smaller bodies.
"Gravitational Interaction: An attractive force between
any two objects or particles. The "charge" that determines the strength of
the gravitational interaction is energy. For a static object it is
mass-energy but in fact all forms of energy both cause and feel
gravitational effects."
We also know from astronomy that when
one planet invades the orbital path of another planet or lesser body, that
body � regardless of what it is � is not only physically pushed out of its
orbit, but major changes are effected upon the bodies� surface and
interior. And while all this means is that there is a physical pull or
attraction between bodies, isn�t it possible that there could also be an
emotional reaction to this interaction as well? That is, that sentient
beings who are being affected by this phenomenon would also � for want of
a better word � feel the results of this physical
manifestation?
Is it really far fetched to believe
that, since the above is the case...that humans, too, could be affected by
this same gravitational interaction?
What is Psychological
Astrology?
Although there are many types of
astrology, one of my personal favorites is psychological astrology.
Psychological Astrology is just what it sounds like: the combination of
psychology and astrology. This form of astrology helps us to better
understand who we are, where we�ve been, and where we will possibly go. It
can help us to improve our weaknesses, enhance our strong points, talents
and abilities and, hopefully, do away with negative or harmful
tendencies.
Carl Jung
the famed Austrian psychologist who studied under Sigmund Freud at the
turn of the 20th Century, believed in the validity of astrology, as well
as its applicability to psychology. Jung also stated that synchronicity was the result of cosmic events occurring
in the Universe which affect both our physical and our collective and
individual psyches. In other words, just as with the ripple effect referred to in the earth sciences, when a
body is set in motion, any other bodies in close proximity are affected by
the initial movement of the first body. Or, in still other words, when a
rock is thrown into the ocean in Africa, the ripples will ultimately be
felt on the shore in South America. But how can anything be synchronized
with any other given body unless they are connected in some
manner?
Albert Einstein�s Unified Field Theory,
though still not proven, and the Superstring Theory, seems to support the
belief that everything is connected and is, therefore, affected by the
actions of one body against another.
According to the authors of the article
�What Is the Structure of the Universe� located at the Superstring Theory website "The Einstein equation
says that the curvature in spacetime in a given direction is directly
related to the energy and momentum of everything in the spacetime that
isn't spacetime itself. In other words, the Einstein equations are what
tie gravity to non-gravity, geometry to non-geometry. The curvature is the
gravity, and all of the "other stuff" -- the electrons and quarks that
make up the atoms that make up matter, the electromagnetic radiation,
every particle that mediates every force that isn't gravity -- lives in
the curved spacetime and at the same time determines its curvature through
the Einstein equation." Thus, based on theories that science itself is
striving to prove, everything in the Universe is connected and affected by
the actions and interactions of everything else. And so it is with the
movement of the planets in relation to human beings and the effects of
astrology.
~Kat Starwolf
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