What is Astrology?

Astrology is the study of the relationship between the heavenly bodies and human experience on Earth. For thousands of years, humans have been stargazers and sought to find meaning and relationship to the planets and stars. From a spiritual perspective, a planet symbolizes an archetype, a universal principle or force that permeates the human psyche and human behavior on many levels. Patterns formed by planets in the heavens correspond to patterns of human affairs on Earth. A planet is like an inner character that lives inside your psyche as well as in the outer world.

From Earth’s perspective, every planet (including the Sun and Moon) appears to move against the backdrop of the zodiac, a circular belt of star patterns that lie along the ecliptic. The zodiac is divided into twelve equal sections or signs, each of which symbolizes a kind of costume that a planetary character likes to wear. For example, when the Sun (symbolic of the Hero/Heroine archetype) is in Aries (an action-taking sign of courage), you may be ready to express a new aspect of yourself in the world

Astrologers erect a person’s natal chart by calculating the location of a planet in a zodiac sign at the exact moment of his or her birth. Planetary position in the zodiac and the angular relationship between the planets at birth are symbolic descriptions of the basic archetypal patterns of that person's life and character.

Each planetary archetype carries both positive and problematic sides. The natal chart describes individual character strengths and challenges. As Archetypal Astrologer Richard Tarnas says, “an astrological chart provides a kind of x-ray of the soul and its movements, which cuts through the more superficial levels of the psyche to reach the archetypal foundations of one's life and being.” See his book Cosmos and Psyche for more information on archetypal astrology.

The natal birth chart describes one’s unique life purpose and character. The cycles of the planets (called transits) symbolically map the timing of when the planetary archetypes express their presence in our lives. After a person’s birth, planets continue to move through the zodiac, forming mathematical relationships to the natal planetary positions. These personal planetary transits to the birth chart reflect the dynamic unfolding of one’s individual life and character in terms of specific events and experiences. They support greater self-awareness of the individual psyche’s growth and development.

Collective planetary transits map the current position of a planet in the zodiac and its relationship to other planets. This describes the dynamic unfolding of the archetype’s growth and expression in human experiences. Awareness of collective transits supports greater self-awareness of the collective cosmos’ growth and development.

Copyright ©2006 Sheila Belanger. Do not distribute without permission.