Ancient AStro Wisdom

ANCEINT ASTROLOGY WISDOM
 
Astrology is the most ancient of sciences, with recognition of the stars, planets and cycles dating back to the earliest of human cultures on the earth. From its use as a cyclical calendar in early tribal cultures, through to more knowledge based advanced ancient societies, to its mutation into a hidden mystery or occult practice in the middle ages and finally the resurgence of popularity as the Aquarian age (ruler of astrology) arises, it has always been a tool in the guidance of mankind.

As we look to the future in astrology, it is important to recognize that there is so much wisdom we can draw from its past incarnations in previous cultures to enlighten us on our spiritual soul journey this lifetime. If you are interested in a perspective on Astrology that incorporates astrological science and techniques with intuition, personal soul evolution, ancient esoteric understandings, theory and philosophy, then this article is for you!
I am going to step through a handful of ancient cultural astrological beliefs and how they can be incorporated into our philosophical approach to astrology today. I will also mention some helpful techniques – so if you are more logically minded, hang in there, there will be something in this articlefor you too!

It is important to keep in mind that not everyone approaches astrology from the same perspective – and that is OK! There are those who incorporate an intuitive, spiritual sense, and those who appreciate a more method based approach to their astrology. Please refrain from judging those who do not come at astrology from your perspective. One of the rich and beautiful offerings of astrology is the recognition that we all have a unique energetic perspective to shine (earth, air, fire or water) that will resonate with different people. 

EARLIEST CIVILIZATIONS AND ASTOLOGICAL PRACTICE
Shamanism is really the most ancient form of spiritual priest/priestess hood. Most ancient cultures had rituals and celebrations that were presided over by shamen or shawomen who functioned as mediums between the spirit world, medicine givers and healers, and the wisdom holders in their communities. These people were innately gifted in their practice – just as some are gifted with a warrior nature, others are gifted with a thinking nature, and others are gifted with a practical nature, shapeople carried gifts of feeling and intuition. Shapeople offered their profound sensitivities in service to their communities through their ‘6th sense’ and psychic abilities, their empathetic gifts, and their ability to function with more highly attuned feeling and intuition guidance.

Carl Jung noted this approach in cultures untouched by western civilization, where life worked more from intuition and understanding, and western cultures functioned largely from a conquest and rational approach. Carl Jung felt there was need or capacity to incorporate and honour these elements – seen in astrological charts by the modalities of earth, fire, air and water – in the human experience.

There are those who practice forms of ancient priest/priestess hood today, seeking to grow their consciousness through communion with hidden realms (spiritual, other dimensional) and use of ancient tools – tools such as dancing, drumming, music healing, energy work, chanting , dream work, attuning with nature and natural cycles, the recognition of omens and signs, and of course, understanding the language of the universe in the stars. Similarly to ancient shapeople, these practitioners today also seek to use their gifts in these areas to serve their communities and bring blessing to the world around them.

BELIEFS

1. THE UNNIVERSE IS ALIVE. Ancient peoples believed that anything that could move had a soul, had desires. As the planets moved in the sky against the backdrop of the fixed stars, this gave rise to the concept of an intelligent soul for each of the planets, and subsequently, the concept of the zodiac as the seat of the gods. It also eventually lead to the creation of planetary god mythology with humanlike attributes and characteristics seen in almost every ancient astrological practice. 

 

1. ONE WITH ALL THINGS. The Celtic cultures saw the world as both magical and interconnected – we are one with all things. The trees and animals were reflected in their zodiac, and communication with the spirits of sacred trees (nymphs and dryads) formed part of their spiritual belief. They held that all of nature was sacred and spiritual.  They believed that what was represented above was reflected, or a reflection of, what was happening on earth. Ancient spiritual practice at its core is a celebration of our interconnectedness – not just an intellectual understanding of life and the world, but rather, our role and connection to the larger system of the earth and universe.

 
Interestingly, did you know that scientists calculate that 60% of stars in the universe are in binary (or more) relationship with another star – and in western cultures 60% of adults are in a couple relationship with a partner? Just an interesting correlation – as above, so below.
 

1. WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH OUR WORLD. Tied to the as above so below theory, cultures such as the Indigenous Americans believed that we were able to communicate with the universe by interacting with the spirit of the earth, the planets, our ancestors, our dreams and nature. We could not control such energy, but we could work with and in alignment to such energies. For example, learning to understand the significance of certain animal omens or certain weather patterns as indicators of coming personal events or energy in our lives…

 

1. ASTROLOGY IS CYCLICAL. Indigenious astrology is the oldest form of astrology as it predates chart making astrology forms – almost every indigenous culture had its own version of interaction with the celestial cycles. For example, the Australian Aborigines used astrological cycles to help them know when to hunt, gather seeds, do their ceremonies and undertake certain individual rituals, such as the Australia Aboriginal walkabout. Belief in the cycles of life and the celebration of our human experience of these cycles also formed part of these early astrologically based cultures – childhood to adulthood, marriage, birth of offspring, death etc.

Jamini astrology also realizes the importance of the planetary cycles and their manifestation in our lives eg.
Jupiter maturation at age 16 indicates sexual maturity
Sun maturation at age 21 indicates physical maturity
Moon at age 24 indicates emotional maturity
Venus at age 25 relational maturity
Mars at 28 capability and life strategy
Mercury at 32 skills talents and abilities
Saturn at 36 philosophical maturity – how you carry your burdens and sufferings
North Node at 42 – relative to its house position in your chart
South Node – also relative
 
Also, though the ancients were not aware of Uranus, modern astrology recognizes that the four quarters of Uranus in its cycle indicate the four stages of life – childhood, young adulthood, middle age, mature age.
 
And there are many more cyclical indications in the heavens but this is a small example.
 

1. THE EARTH IS SACRED. Indigenous American, Australian and Celtic traditions (to name but a few!) believed that the earth was sacred - that we need to honour her nature, cycles and seasons. Respect for the earth (modern day Environmentalism) is important.

 

1. MYTHOLOGY AND STORIES. Again, many tribal cultures such as the Mayan and Aboriginal, as well as the first organized systems of astrology in Babylon, Greece and Egypt, used their rituals, stories and ceremonies as mythical re-enactments of cosmological events. Modern Western astrology continues to draw from the insights Hellenistic mythology offered to describe planets, the signs and their effects on humanity.  Similarly, modern psychology uses architypes to describe personalities (for example, the 16 Personalities test based on the Jungian Myers Briggs analysis). Such expressions and storytelling assist our understanding of the characteristics of the Zodiac, and therefore, ourselves.

 

1. EQUALITY. Interestingly, there is great variance between cultures for the interpretation of male/female energies. For example, Australian Aboriginal astrology viewed the Sun as female and the Moon as male – the opposite of our contemporary view of the energies. Similarly, in Mayan astrology, Venus was considered the planet of war. Tribes would time their sacrifices and warfare to align with the heliacal rising of Venus as the Morning Star. From the third century BC the principal of Yin and Yang was incorporated as part of Chinese cosmology. This is the principal that all things exist in inseparable and contradictory opposites and is therefore nonhierarchical – all is equal – male/ female, youth / age, dark / light, good/ bad – each with an element of the other at its core.

 

1. RESPECT FOR THE TOTALITY OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE. As illustrated by the Yin Yang, all experience is important – the light and the shadow of who we are, our youth, our middle age, our old age is all of value and should be honoured. This is an important component of Ancient Astrology Wisdom, where we see that nothing is inherently ‘bad’ (malefic eg. most parents who raise their children with appropriate boundaries will understand the intent behind the phrase ‘you’ve got to be cruel to be kind’) and nothing is inherently ‘good’ (benefic eg. we all know the phrase ‘too much of a good thing’). Everything serves its purpose in both the karma and evolution of our souls. Eg. Saturn can be a planet of psychic protection in the chart; Venus can represent our struggles with relationship as a reaction to past life relational experiences.

 

1. REINCARNATION. Almost every ancient astrologically based culture believed in the afterlife, and most in reincarnation and past lives as part of the evolution of our souls. In Hindu and Western Astrology past lives are revealed in the chart through both the south node of the moon, the moon itself, the 12th house and the placement of some karmic planets (Saturn and Venus particularly)

  
NOT FOR EVERYONE
Ancient Astrology wisdom is not for everyone. It is more than a logical, calculated mathematical or ‘cookbook’ approach, as it incorporates philosophical and spiritual understanding, alongside as techniques.
The words below are from a review for my amazing astrological colleague, Heather, and when I read these words they really ‘clicked’ with me, especially with regard to ancient astrological philosophy, and my own personal experience that not everyone ‘gets astrology’, and even within astro circles, not everyone ‘gets the spiritual component’. (Thank you Heather and Chriselda for permission to use this quote!)
“People who only base their understanding of life in what they call “logic” ironically don’t realize that astrology is anything but LOGICAL. It is alchemical. It is the science of ALL AGES because it is rooted in (age old) truths that have been hidden, scapegoated, demonized and therefore ridiculed….”

USE OF ANCIENT ASTROLOGY WISDOM
When I do a reading I use astrological techniques from many sources – Western, Evolutionary, Jamini etc – but the philosophy of our connection to the earth and the sky, the cycles of the planets relating to our seasons of life, the importance of every element/sign/planet and placement, and the equality of all life experience influences what I see in the chart, stemming from my understanding Ancient Astrology principals.
Ancient astrological philosophy can support our astrological practice if our intent is to empower and support others. To do so we need to ‘tune in’ to our clients with our intuition and feeling capacity, just as the ancient wisdom keepers, medicine givers, sages and tribal wise ones did for their communities.  We need to understand our own and our clients life questions and journey at a soul level, in order to really be of assistance.
Astrology has become my spiritual connection with God and what the Universe is communicating to humanity. I hope that by combining my understanding of wisdom theory with astrological knowledge I may bring the language of the heavens into greater clarity and understanding within your life.

You can also watch the video I prepared for the Astrolada channel on this topic here 

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