Astrology represents the sum of all the ancient psychological knowledge.
Carl Gustav Jung
What is astrology? It is not an easy task to define something so vast and profound in a single sentence. In order to simplify things, we could say that astrology is the study of the connection between celestial phenomena and earthly events.
A person who studies astrology is called an astrologer. Astrologers are sky translators. Astrologers are dedicated to studying and explaining how the current movements of the planets affect people according to where the planets were when they were born.
A zodiac sign is a symbol that represents a person’s personality and emotions. Most people only know their sun sign, but the reality is that we all have many signs, one for each planet, the moon, the sun and many more.
One of the main objectives of astrology is to analyze in depth a person’s personality through their birth chart. It is also used to understand the compatibility between two people and to explain or even predict current events, social trends, and financial markets.
The Meaning of Astrology
Astrology is a map of the soul. To understand this practice requires working with energy patterns, similar to yoga, numerology, reiki, and acupuncture studies. It focuses on relationships, patterns and cycles, and opens doors to understanding our psychological nature.
Studying astrology takes us beyond the superficial focus of what we do to ask ourselves why we do what we do. Understanding this leads to greater acceptance, compassion and a sense of purpose to help us heal and evolve.
The study of astrology is like a bridge that connects the knowledge and messages of the cosmos to our conscious and unconscious minds. Since the dawn of time, planets and stars have filled us with curiosity. Some people believe that the planets cause events, circumstances and feelings in the earthly world. Others think the planets are like a mirror, reflecting the energy from below.
With the help of astrology, we can continue to observe the sky for answers and messages.
The Origin of Astrology
We can thank the moon for the beginning of astrology. The history of astrology began around 8,000 B.C., from the observation of the moon. In fact, the first calendars were lunar, found on cave paintings.
The astrology we know today was developed in Babylon, in Mesopotamia. The earliest records date back to between 5,000 and 2,000 BC. Writings were found on clay tablets that had observations of signs in the sky.
The Babylonians observed that eclipses, movements of the moon, sun and other planets coincided with events on earth. From here, astrology traveled to Egypt and gradually came to the here and now, crossing many moments in the history of mankind.
The Birth Chart
What is the birth chart? The birth chart is a map of the sky at the exact moment of your birth. This image shows the position of the planets and other celestial bodies at the time of a person’s birth. Also called an astrological chart, it is calculated using the date, exact time and place of birth.
The birth chart is like a door to the subconscious. We all have a natal chart, which is unique, like a fingerprint. The birth chart reflects your energy, habits, needs, patterns, communication style, desires, emotions, thoughts, challenges, dreams… and more.
The natal chart can illuminate many things about a person, but at the end of the day, you are the most important part of your chart. Factors such as your level of consciousness and how you choose to experience the events of your life are key to your path of personal evolution.
It is an amazing tool for understanding yourself and others. Astrology reveals a lot about you, but it should be noted that your birth chart does not tell you who you are. It is important to remember that you are the one creating your life. Astrology does not happen to you. It’s you.
Astrology is the Key to Self-Awareness
The world of astrology is as vast and diverse as the universe itself. Many see astrology as a channel for answers, and while this is partly true, it is much more than this.
Astrology provides us with the key to open the door to our unconscious. It is not an easy process, as it requires us to look inward, to peel back our layers, to sit with our shadows and wounds.
Thus, astrology gives us self-awareness, a powerful tool to better understand ourselves, our virtues, defects and attitudes, from an external point of view.
It is this very gift that helps us to be more compassionate and patient with ourselves. It helps us to embrace those same shadows that are part of our path, to heal and evolve as human beings.