STARS ALIGNING: 01

Sometimes the stars do align in our lives and sometimes they do not! Here is the first in a series of articles about our 'astrological selves' - and the baggage we carry with us on our life journeys.

Above: An animation sequence, ‘STARS’ which is part of a promotional trailer I created for my animated film of ‘Meditations for the Soul’, ‘The HERMIT’.

For most people, the subject of astrology is a no-no! The scientists condemn it for being ‘unscientific’ and a domain of the gullible. The gullible see it only as a means of ‘prediction’ and ‘fortune-telling’ - meaning that they turn to ‘Sun Signs’ columns to guide their every step, and taking no personal responsibility whatsoever for their actions or decision-making. The average person in the street usually has no time for astrology either - as it (unsurprisingly) seems far-too ‘woo-woo’ for them.

So, why on earth did I spent my entire lifetime studying and testing it? And, why on earth do I still fundamentally believe that a better understanding of this entirely misunderstood, much-maligned, and centuries-old body of wisdom can still transform the way people think about themselves and their lives?

Now, full disclosure: I am not a practicing or professional astrologer. But everything I’m sharing here has be fully proven to myself, through my own, subjective, real-life experiences. I know full well too that (as a result of this very astrological knowledge) each of us is a totally rare and unique individual. As a result, this knowledge will only appeal to some, but not all. Yet, in sharing my findings honestly, and without any hidden motives whatsover, I genuinely hope that there might just be one or two readers out there who may just have their lives transformed by this knowledge, as mine was all those many decades ago. That would be reward enough for me!

Above: An early tribute illustration I drew and dedicated to my mentor - the late, great Irish herbalist/astrologer, Samuel H. Weir, my ‘Merlin’ - in recognition of everything he taught me in my early years.

I will keep my writings on the why’s and wherefores of astrology as brief and straight to the point whenever I can. I certainly don’t wish to test the reader’s credibility, interest or patience by over-egging the pudding.

My own early learning process with Mr. Weir began with a slow trickle of curiousity initially - that is, until I saw a clearer vision of astrology’s value and potential. At this point, I began to study it more seriously. My studies and testings continued for a further 50 years or so, until now. This has brought me to a place today where - entirely based on my own personal perspective - I can readily accept that there is a meaning and purpose to almost everything. Even so, I still sometimes find myself lost in wide-eyed in wonder at what astrological knowledge continues to reveal to me from time to time.

Fortunately, I’ve always been successful in circumnavigating the nonsense that is bland ‘Sun Sign’ astrology - or the other limited and spacey ‘woo-woo’ stuff that goes with it under the name of astrology in the popular media. This definitely gave me a better start to my studies than most. All this is why I intend to keep these articles as ‘woo-woo free’ as possible - offering just enough core information for the reader to take real astrology much more seriously. If nothing else, it should prove a very valuable tool for anyone who is searching for a greater knowledge of themself and a greater meaning in their lives.

Above: I may not be a Leonardo da Vinci, but I will certainly try to square the circle of astrology’s meaning for you - that is, if you’re open to letting me try!

In conclusion, I would now like to quote to you directly from my ‘Birth Chart’ book. I believe it will at least clarify, upfront, just what I believe astrology is and what it is not. With an open mind, a wider knowledge and clearer perspective of the subject, I confidently suggest that you too will see that astrology is definitely a valuable, person-centered tool for self-understanding and better life-management. It can certainly help us better define and better realize our inner nature and potential - removing it far, far away from that ‘prediction’, ‘fortune-telling’, or ‘stars compelling us to do things against our will’ stereotype that most people incorrectly believe astrology is. If we approach astrology, selectively and respectfully - for ourselves if nothing else - it should prove of immense value to us as individuals.

Remember also. There is no prejudice with astrology whatsoever. It works just as well for Black, White, Brown, Yellow, Religious, non-Religious, Male, Female, New World, Old World, conventional and non-conventional individuals equally. It simply requires that we first understand the categorized energy language it embraces, then apply such time-proven wisdom and perception to our own personal life circumstances.

So, will you open your mind enough to join me down this particular rabbit hole to the stars? If so, let me define a few things for you, from my ‘Birth Chart’ book:

WHAT ASTROLOGY IS… AND IS NOT!

True astrology is very much misunderstood by the public today and therefore many misconceptions prevail. These misconceptions have not been helped by the countless crackpots, attention-seekers, cultists, money-grabbers, charlatans, and ignorant critics who have bedeviled its existence since the beginning of time.  Perhaps the following establish a ground plan upon which we can each approach it with a clearer picture of what it is and what it is not.

1) Astrology is a profound, age-old system of self-knowledge and wisdom.  It pre-dates all known person-centered sciences and is as valuable today as it ever was in relating an individual to both their true self and to their interrelatedness with universal energies at large.

2) Astrology is not fortunetelling or prediction. Instead, it is a lens through which a changing knowledge of life expression may be viewed or interpreted. It is, in essence, a broad map of the soul's workings, in relation to the cycles, patterns and changing potentials inherent within each one of us in our current life existence.

3) Astrology is not a religion, faith, or belief system, requiring the observer to suspend their critical faculties, or accept any part of its philosophy without question. It needs to be worked with, and will respond positively to any constructive, unbiased, and reasonable questions asked of it.

4) Astrology is not a psychic or mediumistic art, which requires otherworldly contacts for its wisdom. Instead, the understandings of astrology are derived from countless centuries of patient, scientific observation, bringing to our consciousness an awareness of the unique relationship between the events and psychological states on Earth with the cyclic movements of universal energies above and around us.

(Note: It is true to say that, after many years of objective study and personal research, practitioners do tend to allow their intuitive faculties to guide them on certain occasions. However, this is no different to crime-fighters, psychologists or scientists, to name but a few, who get a ‘hunch’ that is based upon previous experience or a scientifically founded awareness of repeatable pattern in human behavior. However, such kind of instinctual awareness can only be born after many years of thoroughly testing and ingesting the language of the stars through scientifically based research, investigation and practice. It is precisely the same, with astrology.)

5) The astrologer is not priest, guru of master of arcane knowledge. Neither do they have a flawless, all-seeing knowledge of life. Instead, the Astrologer's role should be seen as a catalyst, sometimes mentor, drawing from individuals their own realizations of life situations – but always in a way that does not interfere, conflict, or contradict with the natural laws of the universe. In other words, an astrologer’s ego should never get in the way of an individual’s natural process of self-realization.

6) Astrology is a system, by which we see our true Self more clearly. It is a means by which we can appreciate - perhaps for the very first time - that there is purpose, order and reason to our existence and life events in a greater scheme of things.

7) Astrology more instantly and accurately describes the inner world of personal experience with a greater and more immediate focus than any other system of self-awareness accessible to Man. Its wise application can enable us to better understand ourselves, others, and the concealed universal energies that can significantly reflect the changing, evolving flow of our lives.’

Next week’s article: ’02: MOTIVE, MEANS & OPPORTUNITY’.

P.S.: Should you wish to take this further, you might like to check-out my own illustrated and easy to absorb book, ‘Birth Chart’, which will teach you everything you need to know about your ‘astrological Self’ and so much more. If you would like to know how I was first introduced to astrology in the first place, check out my my art book, ‘Esoterica’. These and other of my books are available as either ‘print’ or ‘Kindle’ books on Amazon, worldwide.