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Moon Wobble

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Mars Perihelion, Moon Wobbles, Solar
Bobbles & Retros:  Summer 2003

November 2003 Eclipses, Moon Wobbles
& Retros

a.  psychic powers/gifts
b.  tarot cards
c.  the spirit world
d.  all of the above
e.  none of the above

Answer: (e) none of the above.

REAL ASTROLOGERS READ CHARTS!

Astrology is no stranger to controversy. It has been its misfortune that astrologers have traditionally been in disagreement over their skills – not to mention the ongoing debate with the religious and "scientific" communities. Some consider it an "occult" craft; others think it is just as much a matter of fact as any empirical science.

Johannes Kepler once said, "My vision is that one day astrology and astronomy would be considered one empirical science."

In 16^th century England, Queen Elizabeth’s astrologer, John Dee, said, "Astrology is an art mathematical." However, at the same time, his contemporary Francis Bacon wrote, "As for astrology, it is so full of superstition, that scarcely anything sound can be discovered in it….but I would rather have it purified than altogether rejected." An attitude which seems to echo through many modern day astrologers.

What religion takes on faith, and science bases on fact, astrology is the bridge which closes the gap between them.

"Unlike religion, astrology is based not on faith, but on facts. The religious man believes; the astrologer knows. Experiment and observation are his guides." The Gospel of the Stars by Joseph Seiss, 1884.

History repeats itself. From the 1960s and 70’s, a renewed interest towards astrology took place, beginning with Saturn’s transit through Aquarius and Pisces, which has come full cycle as Saturn now transits Pisces again. At the same time, during the 1960s, a return towards what we now refer to as "metaphysics" took place, during Neptune’s transit through Scorpio. Consequently, with Jupiter and Pluto now in Scorpio, we are arriving at a new plateau of this cycle.

It is within this metaphysical pea soup, that the ancient, esoteric and divine science called astrology lies. It is not to be confused with tarot reading, psychic phenomena and palmistry. Tarot and palmistry were derived from astrology. As a result of this apparent chasm between astrologers, there have been arguments over predicting the future since the 16^th and 17^th centuries. Practitioners of these and many other forms of divination gained credibility by riding upon the coat tails of astrological/astronomical discoveries. As a result, astrology then began to lose its respectability in the minds of many because it had been associated with fortune telling, which astrology essentially is not.

Some astrologers utilize these forms of divination, tarot, palmistry and even psychism, as additional tools which is why they are often confused with being fortune tellers. When a medical doctor or psychologist uses medical astrology as a tool to aid in their diagnostic process, it doesn’t necessarily make them astrologers, nor discount them as doctors. The same is true for astrologers and psychics. They often work together, but yet are separate in their distinction. There is also a difference between being psychic and intuitive. Psychic abilities are irrelevant is doing astrology. Being intuitive can be an asset in any line of work.

In fact, it is the mind which is the astrologer’s most important asset. From as far back as ancient Egypt through the 18^th centuries, astrologers came from the elite educated class. They needed to be schooled not only mathematics, but Latin, Greek philosophy, medicine and, oftentimes, law. For centuries, astrology was considered a royal science or art. From the pharaohs of Egypt, the kings of Babylon, the emperors of Rome, popes of the Middle Ages, to the queens and kings of England, France, Germany and Denmark, none were without their astrological advisors. What did these civilizations and kingdoms know that we have lost? Astro-logical strategy.

Many of the best minds of the Renaissance certainly could and did reconcile astrology with a more "scientific" approach to their own subject. From the advent of Christianity down, there have always been objections to astrology on religious grounds. Scientific considerations in the 16^th century were just as likely to predispose scientists, or at any rate astronomers, in favor of astrology.

The word "horoscope" is Latin for hour pointer, which shows potentials, tendencies and possibilities. The definition of astronomy is the "naming" of the stars, while astrology is defining the "logos" or "language" of the stars. Astrologers often act as consultants, advising their clients towards decision making, giving them choices and recommendations, not predictions. Fact: many so-called gypsy fortune tellers, who claim to be astrologers, usually only know basic sun sign, but continue to advertise astrology in order to gain credibility, reading palms or tarot cards when often they couldn’t explain to you the difference between reading an astronomical chart, mathematically calculated, and astro-logical interpretations. Fact: astrology, and consequently astrologers, have often been distorted through this association with divination and fortune tellers.

Between the apparent controversy, religious wars, the emergence of the Age of Reason and Rational Science, and the association with witchcraft and occultism, astrology and astrologers were persecuted for their skills, and the legacy continues today in many circles. But today, however, the veil cast over astrology turns out to be one of ignorance clouded by the pea soup it has inevitably been thrown in. Fortunately, astrology is now dawning from its dark age, as so much as been re-discovered, and a wealth of knowledge has accumulated, dispelling many of the myths. Well-noted psychologists such as Carl Jung tested and proved astrology in character analysis, and many have followed suit, dissipating astrology’s tarnished image.

ASTROLOGY, THE NEW EDUCATION: Astrology now moves towards a new era. With the transit of Pluto through Sagittarius till the end of 2008, great strides and transformation are expected in the fields of education, religion, ethics and law, and with Uranus ruling astronomy/astrology and Neptune ruling myth, travelling together through Aquarius, the sign traditionally governing astrology, lasting throughout the onset of the 21^st century, the Age of Spiritual Sciences will emerge, as we begin to witness the link between celestial and terrestrial objects.

Originally published in the Tampa Bay New Times
August/September 1994