Life's Greatest Adventure
What Is Astrology? (Part I)
by Ruth Hadikin
Part one of an essay written as part of the Foundation Programme for the Faculty of Astrological Studies, exploring whether astrology can be considered an art, a science or a system of divination, and what (if any) is the causal relationship between celestial patterns and life on earth…
I’ve always believed there is an underlying reality to the universe, which we do not see, yet has been described in many different ways and given many different names. None of which alters it’s essential nature. When we ask a question, such as “what is astrology?” our mind shoots off in many different directions searching for an answer. Maybe it’s a science? Maybe it’s an art? Maybe it’s a system of divination? Maybe it’s a cosmology…
The answer that we return with depends upon both our perspective and our capacity for perception. There is an old Indian story about four men washing an elephant: the one washing it’s tail described what he saw and said “it’s like this”! The one washing it’s back said, “no, it’s not like that at all, it’s like this” and so forth. We all think we are seeing reality, yet we can only ever be seeing one small part of the picture.
What if reality is one whole, of which science is only one aspect, art is another, language is another, divination is another, cosmology is another, and so forth? This theory is supported by quantum physicist David Bohm’s theory of a holographic universe [1]. All are equal aspects of the same whole, seen from different perspectives and using models created for different purposes. Much like different lenses on a camera or microscope that present reality through different magnifications, angles, or filters.
“Despite the inevitable backlash as old paradigms expire, we are now entering an age where scientific explanations and models of the cosmos are more in accord with astrological principles. In such a climate, astrology is emerging from relative obscurity to become once again a serious study offering a greater understanding of our true nature as inhabitants of a living cosmos imbued with sacred mysteries.”
- Melanie Reinhart, Chiron, Pholus and Nessus: To The Edge and Beyond.
I believe ancient astrologers knew this and didn’t divide knowledge into separate parts as we do today. We can perhaps see evidence of this in the Pythagorean school [2] where students were apparently required to study music, mathematics and to practice ‘self-examination’ (meditation) in addition to astrology to gain a comprehensive and experiential understanding of how the universe works. There is a modern-day counterpart to this in the Tibetan system, where medicine and astrology are considered one of the "five fields of knowledge” [3] .
Also from Tibet the Bön wisdom tradition, which is said to date back over 17,000 years [4] and is still active today, places great emphasis on the study and knowledge of astrological techniques as a valid method (science) for understanding the true nature of reality. I think there is great value in studying knowledge systems that didn’t experience the subjective/obective ‘split’ that happened in the West between astronomy and astrology.
In the Bön tradition [4] great emphasis is placed on cultivating clear perception: the ability to see reality exactly as it is. This means observing how our mental concepts can actually obscure our clear view. Masters of this tradition are said to be able to see clearly (even in the dark), and expansively (meaning they can perceive planets, even outer planets and beyond).
This is said to be possible because they are not using their physical eyes, but rather the ‘light of their clear mind’[4] (which we might think of as consciousness). When we compare these systems of knowledge with what is known of the Pythagorean School and the origins of Western Astrology, we can see that there are some similarities. Namely, looking at the universe holistically and practicing some form of meditation to enable one to develop one’s capacity for perceiving subtle energy and light.
At first this ability to perceive the universe directly might appear to make astrology redundant, but if this were the case why would the greatest masters and sages place such great importance on it? I believe it is because astrology is primarily a language that has developed over thousands of years to describe the infinite and subtle dynamics of light and energy that create universes. The origins of astrology may be subjective yet it is possible, with great clarity, for our experiential knowing to still be ‘scientific’ in that it contributes to our knowledge-base.
The origins of astrology may be subjective yet it is possible, with great clarity, for our experiential knowing to still be ‘scientific’ in that it contributes to our knowledge-base.
The Dalai Lama has been meeting with scientists like David Bohm for many years to explore where subjective knowledge from experienced meditators and objective sciences, such as quantum physics, can work together to give us a fuller, more complete understanding of reality. He makes a very good case for valuing both subectivity and objectivity [5]. We already see a precedent of this in the psychological and social sciences, where subjective experience is valued and still considered ‘scientific’. (continued in Part II)
That's all for now see you next time, and in the meantime... happy exploring!
Best Wishes,
Ruth
Artwork: "Doorway To The Stars" by Josephine Wall
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Soul Path Astrologer Ruth Hadikin specializes in supporting you on your own greatest adventure: using Soul Astrology to explore your Soul Path and Life Purpose. Read more articles like this in her free newsletter.
What Is Astrology? (Part II)
by Ruth Hadikin
Part two of an essay written as part of the Foundation Programme for the Faculty of Astrological Studies, exploring whether astrology can be considered an art, a science or a system of divination, and what (if any) is the causal relationship between celestial patterns and life on earth…
I am coming to believe that Western Astrology originally had a holistic worldview at it’s root, which we have somehow lost as we have collectively fallen into dualistic, separative, thinking. This is beginning to change as astrology values and incorparates our intuitive[1] capacity.
When we perceive things holistically the issue of ‘cause’ and ‘effect’ loses relevance. For example: imagine a shaft of sunlight shining on a prism, and the prism appears to split that ray of sunshine into a spectrum of rainbow light. Did the ray of sunshine or the prism ‘cause’ the rainbow? One could argue that point ad infinitum or one could choose to look more deeply. Looking deeply means trying to understand the essential nature. The sunlight didn’t cause the rainbow, the rainbow was already inherent in the sunlight. It is it’s essential nature. The crystal didn’t cause the rainbow, but because the essential nature of the prism is clarity, it allows the essential nature of the sunlight to be revealed.
Through the wisdom of direct perception, the ancients who first coined the hermetic aphorism “As Above, So Below” probably understood the essential nature of the universe. Their astrology is likely to have been informed by direct experience. When they said ‘as above, so below’ I believe they were more likely to be speaking of the essential nature of things, rather than causation.
It is through direct perception that divination becomes possible. Once again if we look to the Tibetan system, divination is an inherent part because it was observed that as one’s perception becomes clearer, it is possible to perceive a continuum of energy where it’s clear see how events will pan out. Divination arises from clear perception, simple observation of the essential nature of things, and experience. For example, if I pour water onto sloping ground I can predict with some certainty that it will run downhill! Likewise, through extremely subtle perception and exquisite observation, Bön masters make accurate astrological predictions simply because they observe and understand the essential nature of the universe.
When combined with clear, direct, perception astrology has the potential to help us understand the energetic reality underlying all cosmologies. It is therefore an extremely valuable tool for enhancing our understanding of the universe, each other and ultimately, ourselves.
The essential nature of the universe is connectedness. Everything is inextricably linked and quantum physics is beginning to show us the evidence in theories such as quantum entanglement[2] (where entangled particles still affect each other even over great distances) and the butterfly effect[3] (where a small change in one area can have a large effect elsewhere). Furthermore, quantum physicist Dr. Amit Goswami resolves many of the paradoxes of quantum physics by proposing that everything in the universe is made from and connected by consciousness[4] .
It makes sense to me that if we are an inherent part of one ocean of consciousness, then anything that happens anywhere would send out ripples that we can detect. For me, astrology encompasses the language, science and techniques we use to understand and interpret ripples in our conscious universe! In Esoteric Astrology, Alice Bailey emphasized the importance of energy dynamics in understanding astrology:
"I cannot too strongly reiterate the constant necessity for you to think in terms of energies and forces, of lines of force, and energy relationships… The whole story of astrology is, in reality, one of magnetic and magical interplay for the production or externalization of the inner reality…" [5]
Yet even in her words we can see she is talking about ‘thinking’ which is a step down from direct perception. In the Bön tradition, an even deeper understanding comes when thinking has quietened down and what they call ‘the clear light mind’[6] arises, through which the energy of the universe is perceived directly.
In conclusion, we can consider astrology to be a science in the original sense of the word scientia[7] because it supports deeper knowing. It is a holistic science through which we can comprehend a holistic universe. It is also a living language in which we actively participate. As such there is definitely an art to it, in using our creative skills and intuition when applying techniques and discerning interpretation. When combined with clear, direct, perception, astrology has the potential to help us understand the energetic reality underlying all cosmologies. It is therefore an extremely valuable tool for enhancing our understanding of the universe, each other and ultimately, ourselves.
That's all for now see you next time, and in the meantime... happy exploring!
Best Wishes,
Ruth
Artwork: "Doorway To The Stars" by Josephine Wall
__________________________________________
Soul Path Astrologer Ruth Hadikin specializes in supporting you on your own greatest adventure: using Soul Astrology to explore your Soul Path and Life Purpose. Read more articles like this in her free newsletter.