Readers know I occasionally mention astrology. Through research, I’ve found that the major planets transiting over birth positions can have a powerful effect on emotions and events (karma) that arise in life.
However, I don’t see astrological effects as created by the planets’ direct influence on us, beaming energy, tachyons or whatever.
Rather, the world arises from flows in consciousness. There are various layers of cycles within that, like the cycles of expression that I refer to as cycles of time.
Those flows and cycles express through the layers, into the patterns of the structure of our world. On one scale, we see the cycles expressed as planetary orbits. On another scale, as events in our life. i.e., the planets don’t cause the events but reflect the same cycles of time. If we can read the cycles, we can get an idea of the flavour of events. I’ve seen a chart described as a map of our karma.
When someone recognizes a pattern, they can learn to read it. This has led to various systems for “reading,” like fingerprint reading, phrenology, and tea leaves. (The skill of the practitioner makes an enormous difference in quality here.)
Another system is astrology. Astrology and astronomy grew up together, eons ago. India started with a lunar zodiac of 28 signs. They later added the more familiar solar zodiac of 12. That evolved into Jyotish (Vedic astrology). And into the ways we still measure space and time today (360 degrees, the 7-day week, the 12-hour clock, the 12-month year, etc.). The Middle East, then the Mediterranean imported the solar zodiac. The West fixed the position of the zodiac about 2,000 years ago to make manual calculations easier. However, because of the precession of the equinoxes, that’s now most of a sign off the actual sky. This has made Western astrology less useful for prediction. But it still reflects the patterns, so can be insightful. (By this, I don’t mean Sun sign columns in the newspaper – I mean the overall pattern relative to your overall chart.)
Over the years, I’ve looked at many systems designed to bring out the pattern of nature’s cycles. Some became part of today’s science. Others, like astrology, have not. Yet because it’s built into expression, we could study almost anything and find the patterns.
No system is a complete map of nature. Nature is too complex and multi-layered to map conceptually. Each system has its usefulness and weaknesses. Of the forms of astrology, I favour Jyotish and the related Nadi leaves. It more accurately charts the cycles.
I’ve found it useful to be aware of the trends of time as they give a sense of what’s supported. But always pay the most attention to your own experience. No external system is ever going to be more that a pointer or perspective on what is in your experience.
Davidya