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| The E-Mail Astrologer, copyright Sherrie Nist, 2011 |
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| As Above, So Below Adventures in Synchronicity by Sherrie Nist Does astrology work? I’m a (insert your sign); what does that mean? Who am I compatible with? And what’s the deal with those horoscope columns, anyway? Are they accurate? Why don’t I fit the descriptions for my natal sign? Do planets really make things happen? These are some of the most frequently asked questions about astrology. I’ll attempt to answer these questions and more in this monthly column. This is not going to be a horoscope column. Many people believe that those newspaper/magazine daily/monthly astrological forecasts represent all there is to astrology, and rightly scoff at the idea that there are only 12 personality types in the world, and on any given day, every Virgo is having the same experiences. The horoscopes are fun to read, and occasionally accurate, but don’t even begin to scratch the real astrological surface. Life is not that simple; neither is astrology. Nor will this be a crash course in astrology. There’s no such thing. Astrology is the kind of subject about which the more you learn, the less you think you know. Astrology is not for the impatient. Astrology is not fortune telling. It is a timing device. The word horoscope literally means “hour watcher.” Your natal horoscope is a map of the heavens at the exact moment of your birth, drawn from the perspective of where you (and your mother) were when this momentous event took place. It is unique to you, unless somebody was born the exact same time and place. Even a few minutes can change a birth chart. The natal chart describes your potential. How you develop that potential is up to you. Everyone has read the personality descriptions of the 12 natal signs. When you read about your sign, you will probably identify with at least some of it, maybe most of it. Sun signs definitely do say alot about you. But, they are by no means the last word. Not even close. Everyone has every sign somewhere in their chart. Just as important as the Sun sign is your Moon sign. The moon correlates with your emotional nature. If it is in a sign with radically different identifying characteristics, than your Sun sign, you may find yourself at odds with your emotions, possibly even feeling like you don’t even understand yourself! Every planet serves a specific function in your chart. For example, Mercury is the communication function. The sign Mercury is in, as well as where it is in your chart, and the connections it is making to the other planets will all modify the interpretation of your Mercury. It could have no connection to your actual Sun sign, thereby making the traditional explanation of how your Sun sign communicates not particularly applicable to you. Your natal chart is like a snapshot; it’s a picture of a moment in time. Although the moment is captured forever, life goes on, and so it is with astrology. The planets continue to revolve around the Sun, reflecting the dynamics of your life. Notice I didn’t say causing the dynamics of your life. Planets cause NOTHING. They are merely a reflection of what is going on. It’s all about synchronicity, the simultaneous occurrence of events on different levels. When we learn the planetary correspondences, astrology becomes a valuable tool that can help us in every area of life. |