Astrology as symbol and archetype

Even though astrology is studied by those who enjoy it, very few modern astrology writers encourage readers to interpret astrology in any other way than allegorically with appreciation for the ancient system, as an admirer might a dead language and the idiosyncrasies of the people who used it. It helps those on a search to find meaning in a sometimes apparently random world; to categorize their world with something that sounds systematic; to answer questions and shed light on themselves and their place in the system.

The other day I took Marcus Aurelius for his morning walk and wondered, as he lifted his leg beside a church wall, if God would forgive him for his indiscretion. In India the priests at some temples wouldn’t even offer the fruit, milk or grains to their gods if a dog had so much as looked at any of it. Then I reminded myself not to be so superstitious and left Marcus to his duties. In a sense astrology is like Christianity; you accept on faith a mythical doctrine upon which to base your judgment of reality. Christianity has the Father and the Son and sometimes the Mother, whereas astrology has some mythic Greco-Roman gods –Jupiter, Mercury and Diana (Moon) and even a few more. Of course in astrology we interpret it all symbolically and as a pastime, while in Christianity lives depend on it. Astrology is a mantle to be worn lightly as an alternative calendrical system of timing events of varying cycles based on earlier observers’ experiences. Reality still rests with its feet on the ground and its eye on the stock market indicators. Other than that astrology is an interesting tool to engage the mind and ego in self-analysis by attributing personal attributes to the archetypal states discussed. The archetypes and deities are projections by us of our own inner potentials and personality types. Before today’s neurology labs were invented scientists used to use other labels to measure and record their observations on human behaviour, and these scientists concurred worldwide in a web of their own agreement from Europe to the Middle East to India, much of the old world basically. Nowadays, even here on the Garden Route the astrologer, psychiatrist or counselor does the job of an old time priest in dealing with issues of the psyche, Latin for soul. Anyone inspired enough can study the systems of the various researchers and graduate as a qualified advisor in that field. In other words they have some legitimacy even though they are no more than theories. The theory that the constellations around the earth, known as the zodiac belt, can be imbued with meaning based on cyclic observations is one that forms the foundation upon which astrologers base their observations.

Out of the woods and into the fast lane

Thurs 13 May – Wed 26 May
The Sun strides off to catch up with Venus by also entering the sign of Gemini on the 21st, only to find she has just moved to her new home in Cancer, all the while leaving Mercury to plod through Taurus as he takes his time to regain his old pace. Thus communication and thought will be clearer but still need time to find surety. Patience and practicality are still favoured so allow for time to think it through, and take advantage of the mental stamina available to work long and hard on the mental level. Shrewd money management may incline toward caution, so long as you don’t stubbornly demand to stay with the sinking ship. In these times of global financial meltdown, the entire capitalist system could be seen as a sinking ship, but lets not go there. And if we do then let’s hope you have your life jacket of alternative value systems and priorities of human life strapped firmly to your self.

While the Sun still accompanies Mercury in Taurus, material issues may predominate within the psyche and you can get some hard work done if you want, though may not want to try anything new or take any chances. As long as it’s familiar, and especially if it’s comfortable, it will appeal. Of course if it’s not urgent you may just find yourself a bit lazy to even make the effort. The new South Africa falls under the sign of Taurus, and although they have the strength of a bull on the rugby field, the pace of service delivery leaves a lot to be desired, literally. With Venus also skipping daintily through Gemini like a curious child, romance may take second place to busy social networking, and you may find yourself getting engaged on Facebook. Just make sure you give your partner enough scope to twitter away his or her time telling the world all about it.

Although the Sun enters Gemini on the 21st facilitating the emergence of your multi-tasking skills and need for variety, Venus simultaneously creeps into Cancer, making feelings much more sensitive and easily hurt now. Tenderness is more important now in your dealings, as well as a potentially needy or nurturing theme (one being the polar opposite of the other). Be sure to provide clear signs of your devotion if you want the other to feel secure in the relationship. Hopefully the lightheartedness of Gemini will counteract any tendency to sulk that Venus in Cancer can sometimes bring. Their juxtaposing qualities may cause conflict trying to be heard, when the one needs variety and space to explore while the other requires single-pointed devotion. How you reconcile the two will depend on which quality is stronger in your personal horoscope.
For your personal horoscope analysis email jasomati@yahoo.com.

Life tides at home

I woke the other day, all bleary-eyed from having stared at the laptop screen into the wee hours the night before, and decided to take my dog, Marcus Arelius, for his morning walk across the Keurbooms River. Actually it’s a morning swim for him but I get to wade over in my swimmers. However, although he jumped in and paddled off in doggy, I noticed the water level was way higher than was decent for my swimmer-clad limbs at that time of the day, so I promised Marcus Arelius a rain cheque and went back inside. It was then that I got to realize first hand how the cycles of the Moon and its magnetic pull, affects my everyday reality. The Keurbooms River runs into the lagoon, which is now fed directly by the tidal currents at Lookout Restaurant, particularly since the ocean totally wiped out Lookout beach and its parking lot during the Spring tides a few months back.
It’s this that got me thinking how the ancients paid as much attention to the Moon as they did the Sun. Ask any archeoastronomer and he will tell you there are clues hidden in the archaeological findings of pre-history that show that the heavens inspired and shaped the beliefs of the earliest civilizations. But then any woman will tell you how powerful the influence of the Moon is on our psyche. Just listen to her stories of how her menstrual cycle dictates everything from her moods to her appetite and more, like clockwork every lunar cycle. Actually we all have one of our biorhythmic cycles entrained to the lunar cycle of roughly 28 days. Farmers and sailors alike are tuned in to these cycles for their planting and sailing. Can’t imagine trying to do both; conjures up images of a mate watering his portable lettuce patch with desalinated Indian on the deck of his yacht.

Nevertheless it’s hard to deny that we come under the influence of cycles beyond our conscious awareness. In fact early sky gazers noticed patterns, and began associating them with events happening around them. Creation myths often came from observing the sky and seasons, with important rituals timed against an astronomical calendar. Early astronomers from every corner of the globe – India, the Middle East, North Africa, South America and Europe – developed calendars that determined their entire annual schedule.
The interplay of various planetary cycles has been found to have the qualities of a clock: an astoundingly intricate, mysteriously precise clock. Astrology has organized the workings of this clock into symbolic from which we can infer meanings about our time and place in the cosmos.