Astrology: Reflections In Astrology Part 2

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: Reflections In Astrology
Part Two - Science Or Not?

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The "only true way"

This tendency to want definition and proof, known as science, is not always a bad thing but it's not necessarily appropriate in astrology. It also leads skeptics to criticise an ancient tool which has no real scientificproof. In spite of this, astrologers are convinced that their discipline works, and so it does: particularly if one lets go of trying to define it in exoteric terms and sees it as an esoteric matter - a mirror of the inside.

Astronomers can sit safely in the knowledge that what they have learnt is true, and can be proved, while it is difficult to quantify the intangible spiritual approach.

Wherever humans have tried to lay down foundations and "spritual truths", the unfortunate result is often cries of "mine is the only true way, follow me or die!" with the resultant religious chaos... With wyrd, of course, a reflection of this is when scientists destroy and perform unethical experimentation in the cause of "knowledge" - without understanding, or caring, that some things do not need to be practised... The question of who is right, astrologer or scientist, can easily have the same effect - chaos, which is a pity since neither discipline really wants to do anything other than be what it is; it's people who twist it into a tool to demonstrate their own "power".

Power

I place "power" in inverted commans, since power is actually the ability to do work. Yet most perceive power as the ability to get others to do their work for them. It's their way of showing that they are somehow "better" than others... yet nobody is truly better. We all share the same threads, so it might be more useful to forget about trying to prove something that's not worth proving and then aim for real power which starts from within and is never misused against other people.

In this context, it is better to let go of the whole principle of trying to "prove" astrology and getting on with what every astrologer knows works in any case. That way, the satisfaction comes from inside, rather than from fighting against others in a twisted battle for the "true faith". Astrology works because of the wyrd and because we believe in it, not because we have rules and proofs. It works because we have a sixth sense, an intuition that many find uncomfortable and for which nobody has found a gland!

If we take the wyrd perspective that there are many paths, and that they are not all the same, then we come a little closer to understanding that everyone has a right to think as they will.

Trying to persuade the "heathen scientist" to encompass the "true faith of astrology" is as much of an abuse, under those circumstances, as it is for the "heathen scientist" to condemn the "crazy astrologer" for his or her approach without knowing anything at all about it. However, an open minded discussion with opposing parties willing to listen and learn is not abuse: in fact, it empowers (in the real sense) all concerned, allowing them to grow. What remains at the root is that if it works for us, as astrologers, we should use it. If it doesn't work for others, the others usually have something that works for them. It's better to believe we are right and take comfort from that than to become worked up because others do something else. From this perspective, then, the astrologer needs to concentrate on learning his own skills and improving them, rather than wasting energy complaining about that which does not match his or her belief. The scientist might think about doing the same.

A common wyrd

Astrology and astronomy share a common wyrd, or root - it's just that their practitioners, over time, took different choices and made two paths of wyrd. It's fruitless to approach them the same way. It's also unfair to criticize one because it doesn't match the ideas of the other. It is not comparing like with like; yet there are similarities. Astronomy, for example, is based on the logical collection of facts and figures after careful observation of what is outside and factually existent, and astrology is based on intuitive interpretation, after careful observation, of a selection of actual planetary placements which reflect what is inside and essentially existent. Their disciplines and principles are different: though the level of discipline required to study either is equal. Yet, as has just been illustrated, some of the methods are the same and they examine the same areas from a different perspective.

I firmly maintain that knowing a little astronomy is a fine way of understanding both the different viewpoint and being able to visualise what happens in the night sky with astrology. The two disciplines started together and should not be kept in separate boxes: nor can they be, in a very real sense, because the wyrd threads through them both in like quantities and they are interwoven. Part of what is occurring as we approach the 21st century is a desire to somehow reconcile the two and make something from this marriage which is greater than both combined.

Of course, the debate will go on forever because there are scientists and astrologers alike who are convinced that they hold the only key. They're both wrong because they both hold the key: it's just that they unlock different locks on the same door! Both disciplines, together, make a more whole image, but we're a long way from being able to integrate them fully, just as we're a long way from really being able to integrate and accept different belief systems... Yet, if the end result is some kind of personal understanding, it really doesn't matter how someone gets there and variety is part of human existence.

Perhaps more importantly, what's difficult is when one's own discipline is criticized; after all, astrology is very dear to astrologers who have spent forever learning its lessons. Under such circumstances, it is incredibly hard to just accept "to each their own", but when we do, we understand quite how much we are committed to our own views and that's the true gift of believing in our choices. That's a twist which not everyone is able to see. But when we do:

Click; the key turns.

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