by A non-standard approach to astrology
Astra Astrology Congress, October 1985 – Riva del Garda, Italy
Astrology is a demanding profession that requires exceptional expertise. Clients, when not satisfied with pure emotional gratification, want precise conclusions. They seek astrological advice that often requires accurate judgments, especially when essential contracts or life-changing decisions are at stake. To meet these expectations, astrologers must possess a deep understanding of their craft and stay abreast of the latest developments in the field. They must constantly deepen their intellectual knowledge and participate in the cultural discourse surrounding astrology.
In accordance with the worldview that seeks to perfect itself through an analytical deepening of received data, this approach may not be as coherent when dealing with a discipline that eludes the systematic nature of thought due to its universal character. It is not my intention to criticise the analytic method of astrology. However, it remains a fact that few are available for an intimate and personal engagement – one that is wholly involving – with what astrology signifies.
Astrology is an art that regards human beings as a direct expression of divine nature. It is believed that divinity resides within us, and through astrological symbols and signs, we are able to read and inscribe ourselves in a structure of the world that we are an integral part of. Such a worldview appears beautiful and harmonious, and many are interested in the work of astrologers. However, as time goes by, astrologers may start to feel a sense of uneasiness. While astrology is undoubtedly an elevated art, people seem more interested in solving daily problems related to physical, emotional, or financial well-being than in spiritual heights.
The astrologer’s experiences have highlighted the interdependence of human and cosmic phenomena, and practice confirms it. However, what is lacking is not the astrological doctrine but the human mediator, who, from the height of their ministry, loses sight of the contingent reality. It’s like having a driving license but not being able to drive. Acquiring sophisticated techniques is pointless if the relationship with the client remains trivialised. Perhaps there is a hope to find the golden rule that would give the practitioner perfect clairvoyance. The predictive accuracy of some professionals strikes many clients and astrologers who wonder what mysterious technique is at work.
Learning about the future in great detail may not resonate with everyone when we consider that free will is often celebrated as the ultimate good. However, despite our beliefs, cultural and psychological conditioning, as well as atavistic legacies, are already deeply ingrained. These are then followed by inevitable destiny, which, through the voice of the astrologer-imago pater, acts as the lord of fate and precludes any expressive space. With the force of their mental prowess, the astrologer has taken over astrology, rendering it almost unrecognisable. Despite our intellectual understanding of astrology, astrological awareness is the opposite of intellectual penetration. For true awareness is the ability to perceive individuals for who they are rather than who we want them to be. Ultimately, the astrologer is a mirror that uses human language to reflect the reality of the sky of birth. The sky map offers a unique opportunity to give each individual the place they deserve, free from our own and others’ distortions.
From a conscious practitioner’s perspective, the gap between astrologers and their clients has no reason to exist. Acting as an examiner to judge, discern, and summarise individuals into categories is not a pure approach. True purity lies in the ability to understand the nature of each individual fully. The horoscope reveals the silent requests of the client, intending to find an expressive vehicle rather than forming attachments. By reversing the roles, the client is no longer in front of an oracle or judge who guides them with superior knowledge. Instead, they encounter a straightforward person who creates space for unspoken potential. I recall a Tibetan astrologer stating, “Astrology temporarily allows individuals to observe events from a panoramic point of view, suspending judgments and arousing neither desires nor attachments. With this awareness, individuals can return to their world and act extremely effectively”.
The question arises – what will happen to the astrologer if the stars, the astrologer, and the client are three inseparable parts of a single living process? Outwardly, everything can continue as usual, with no need for modification or deletion; astrology remains a valuable instrument of investigation. However, maintaining one’s original state free from conditioning can become an unparalleled method for those willing to try. Pausing to examine the reflection of the birth chart is akin to saying, “Here, I am like this. That’s me,” which implies that one remains in the dualistic condition of one who feeds on their image. In this case, subject and experience remain separable.
Conversely, “entering” one’s horoscope involves being in the condition of the mirror, free from the conditioning of the reflection: the knower and known, the mind and the object of perception, while retaining clear separability, recognise themselves as manifestations of a single nature. This concept reminds me of the story of a Zen monk, a learned connoisseur of Sutra, who wrote: “The mind is like a mirror; take care that not even a speck of dust diminishes its brilliance.” Another monk, a peasant of little culture but aware, wisely replied: “There is neither mind nor mirror; where could the dust settle?”
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