good time oatmeal

by Joseph Banks

PART I: WHAT ASTROLOGY CAN DO

Astrology comes in a very big box and it has an awful lot of applications. Most astrologers specialize in a couple of broad areas based on their natural inclinations. My interests lie in the field of psychological/psychotherapeutic exploration and predictive work. Medical astrology is my weak point. I imagine one needs to be well trained as a medical professional before perpetrating this branch of astrology onto one’s clients.

The psychological approach examines the birth chart to better understand yourself. For example, maybe the chart shows a natural talent for music or writing; or a predisposition to work better when self employed. Perhaps a lack of discipline is indicated, or a tendency toward substance abuse. Reincarnational issues are clearly shown by the position of Pluto and the Moons nodes. The greatest benefit of this psychodynamic approach is that we can get a good idea of our life’s purpose. A sense of direction is clearly indicated. Simply put – your chart shows what you oughtta be doing with your life, and what you shouldn’t oughtta do.

A deeper exploration of the chart can reveal psychological complexes which limit us and create suffering. My chart clearly shows a persecution complex which may be a carry-over from a previous life. I was abandoned by my parents and eventually (at age 7) ended up in an abusive orphanage. A life long study of my chart has helped me forgive myself and others and helped me turn away from heroin addiction and other unhealthy behavior patterns which arose as a result of a rough childhood. I can honestly say that my understanding of astrology has shown me the details of how to turn a broken life around and find joy and meaning. It really kicks butt.

The nature of your chart is the nature of your personality. It can show which specific personal growth techniques will work best for you – and when to apply them. This can develop into an ongoing relationship between you and your astrologer as you use the psycho therapeutic effects of astrology over time.

The psychological approach can be applied to relationships. The most common use is to examine intimate partnerships, or even potentially intimate partnerships. Early in my romance with astrology, I learned to find out the birth information of potential friends and lovers so I could check for compatibility and possible trouble spots. Don’t put much credence into the simplistic Sun sign approach to compatibility. Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Mercury and the Moon are vitally significant in any chart comparison. It simply ain’t true that if you’re a Leo and she’s a Sagittarian you’ll have a great sex life. It pays to check out the charts of potential employers, business partners, employees, or the guy you are about to buy a used car from.

There are several techniques for chart comparisons. I recommend using at least two. That would be the synastry and composite methods. The synastry superimposes one person’s chart over another’s. The composite chart uses planetary midpoints to produce a single chart signifying the relationship itself. This chart becomes a sort of “third entity” created when two people come together. Transits to this chart can show when hard times may lie ahead and how to deal with them.

This brings us to the next main application of astrology; the broad field of predictive work. For everything there is a season, and these seasons are known by understanding the complex musical score produced by the celestial dance of planets in our solar system.

With the aid of the sophisticated mathematical abilities of the home computer, a plethora of predictive techniques is available. A good astrology program can turn your chart upside down, inside out; sideways, backwards, over, under, around, and through. You can regonkulate the gizmotic midpoints of the perihelion of the nodal axis of that little mole on your cheek, if you want to. The two most common forms of predictive work are transits and progressions.

The progressed chart is unique to each person. Your birth chart is “progressed” to the current date (or any chosen date, for that matter). This represents the natural growth process and potentials of your psyche. Remember, to an astrologer, your chart is your personality. It’s as if your birthchart is a little rosebud which blooms out through the years of your life in accord with the cosmic pattern and natural law. Your free will interacts with this pattern to create your personal, self determined destiny. Free will rules; but it has its limits. It’s unlikely that you can grow an extra arm or leg, no matter how hard you try. It’s also unlikely that an apple tree could produce strawberries.

Transits describe the actual astronomical position of each planet in our solar system at any given moment. A graphic representation of the planets as they are today is imposed onto your birthchart. From the dynamics created here, the astrologer predicts the changes you’re liable to be going through from day to day.

It is important to remember that predictive astrology clearly shows the issues presented to you at any specific time. How you manifest and react to this energy is largely up to you. The better the astrologer knows you, the more detailed the predictions become. An accurate birth time – to the minute if possible – is necessary for really good predictive work. I use predictive overlays to answer whatever questions the client may have.

Probably the most useful application of predictive astrology is to note times of increased personal growth. Certain issues (remember the psychological complexes mentioned earlier) surface at definite times in our lives, usually when we are finally ready to deal with them and “get on with it.”

There’s a well worn and somewhat cynical comment made between professional astrologers. It runs something like this; “How was your last consultation?” To which you respond, “Oh, you know, the usual. When am I gonna get laid; when am I gonna get paid.” This makes a very valid and useful point. Predictive astrology can indeed indicate times when we are likely to fall in love, and periods when financial success is virtually guaranteed. It has worked well for me.

As you share your current interests and endeavors with your astrologer, the likelihood of success or failure becomes visible in the chart. This happens as each planet’s position is interpreted in the light of your intention. For example, Jupiter transits can indicate financial success; Venus shows your relationship dynamics; Mars rules your desire nature, and so on.

There are two special types of predictive astrology which need to be mentioned. Electional astrology is the term used to describe answers to questions such as “Should I start my new business this month?” or “When is the best time for us to get married?” Using electional astrology, the astrologer searches for the best planetary alignments, usually within a window of time which you provide. It may be best to wait a few days for a retrograde Mercury to begin to behave properly before you set off on your vacation trip. And for goodness sakes, don’t get married while the ruler of your seventh house (the marriage house) is in a difficult aspect to Saturn or Pluto. There is a harmony to the music of the spheres. Astrology helps keep us on key.

Another predictive tool is horary astrology. Here’s where astrology begins to move suspiciously into the realm of “fortune telling”. Horary astrology is a very complicated art. It is used to answer one specific question. It can be used to find lost objects. Questions such as “Should I buy this house?”, or “Will my plan to impeach George Dubya work?”, or “Do my current symptoms indicate a difficult childbirth regarding this pregnancy?”, or “Will my son do jail time for this cannabis offense?” can be answered in detail. Sometimes the horary chart will indicate that no clear answer is available. It’s the astrologer’s job to judge this and share it with you.

I used to pass off horary astrology as so much bunk. However, after researching and practicing it for several years now, it has compelled my unwilling belief. So far, my horary results have been about 65% accurate after being rigorously, and skeptically, analyzed by myself and the clients. This is still a bit spooky and I don’t know just how it works but it does. The amount of detail available from an horary chart is startling. It works best if you pose the question to the astrologer and then give them at least a couple of hours to sit with the chart before they get back to you.

Another use of astrology is in the field of medicine... Before the 18th century, almost all physicians were skilled astrologers and herbalists. I am not a trained physician and so I don’t use medical astrology; although I’m familiar with its basic principles and will sometimes give a rather vague and uncertain response to health related questions.

Astrocartography is the science/art of being at the right place on the planet relative to what you want to achieve. For instance some parts of the country may be better for your health, or your business, or even your love life, etc.

Last but not least is the area of Mundane astrology (from the Latin mundus = world) which deals with political events, planet changes, tsunamis, wars, plagues dictators and other such jolly stuff. You can find mundane astrology predictions in most intelligently written new paradigm journals. Many of them are quite well researched and well written. Some of them are so much hogwash. Caveat emptor.

PART II: JUST GO FOR IT

So let’s say you’ve decided to consult an astrologer. Here’s a good way to go about it. First of all, get an accurate record of your birth time. Birth certificates are pretty good; sometimes they’re off by a few minutes; sometimes the nurse logs in A.M. when it’s P.M. and vice versa, putting your time off by twelve hours. Try to verify your birth time by anecdotal evidence from someone who was there. Statistics show that “mother’s memory” is often highly inaccurate. Sorry, mom. Labor can be confusing or even traumatic, and sometimes drugs are used which work great on the pain but cloud the mind. Family bibles are often another reliable source of the time of birth. The planets don’t move very much in a couple hours time (‘cept for the Moon which moves about 13 degrees every 24 hours), but the earth spins rapidly with a different rising sign appearing in the east every 2 hours (12 zodiac signs divided into a 24 hour day...). Suffice it to say that it’s worth calling the Bureau of Vital Statistics for the county of your birth if there’s any doubt. If you can’t get an accurate birth time you can have an astrologer “rectify” your chart for you. It’s complicated; and only the most experienced professionals should be employed to do this delicate process. Personally, I try to avoid doing rectification to ascertain a clients birth time. It involves a lot of probing questions about your life and it requires a daring and very confident astrologer. It’s worth it, though, for the accuracy it provides.

Shop around for an astrologer. Ask openly about their fees, about their special approach. Ask how long they’ve been practicing chart interpretations for clients. Some folks read a few books about astrology over the course of six or eight years and then claim to have “eight years of experience.” It’s best to find a full time professional, rather than someone who has a “day job” and reads charts on the side. Ask if they make most of their income from their astrology work. Be friendly and direct. You have every right to know. Find out if the consultation will be recorded. Be clear about what you need from the astrologer. Some people want a relationship chart done. Some want a look at the year ahead. It’s a good idea to give the astrologer a little lee-way if they want to discuss your basic birth chart with you for a half hour or so even if you’ve already had a “birth chart” reading. Each astrologer brings a different approach to their work and this will help them get a feel for “how you are using your chart”.

Perhaps most importantly – if it doesn’t feel right, go somewhere else. As you talk to the astrologer, before making the appointment, expect them to be willing to give you 10 or 15 minutes of their time as you feel each other out.

One last thing, I’ve had a number of clients call me, usually on a friend’s recommendation, and then cancel out when I quote my fee. This isn’t because I’m expensive, rather it’s because I’m economically priced. They ask “Why are your fees so low? My last astrologer charged more than twice this.” I’m not kidding here; and this ain’t a cheap pitch on my part. It’s simply that some folks think that if it ain’t pricy, it ain’t valuable. That ain’t true. Some bad astrologers charge exorbitantly. Some good ones are cheap. The size of the fee usually has nothing to do with the quality of the work you’ll receive. Trust your feelings; and use common sense.

The Consultation

Get comfortable. Astrology is a come as you are kind of thing. It helps to dress down to your comfort level. Be prepared to sit cross legged in a comfy chair if it pleases you and don’t hesitate to take your shoes off. This is especially true if your visit is of the psychological astrology type. It is important that you be comfortable and at ease during your consultation. Anyone may have a little mild anxiety at meeting someone new who may ask you rather probing questions about yourself. However, any consultant worth his salt will help to put you at ease right away, at least until such time as the two of you begin exploring a core issue about your life. Deep psychological work can produce strong emotions, and a good astrologer will walk with you, and to some degree match your level of emotional expression. It can turn out to be quite an adventure, but it should begin from a comfortable space.

Enter the dialogue. I usually start a consultation by talking rather than listening. This is because I trust the chart (usually displayed on a computer screen in front of me) to guide me toward some issue of current significance to the client. This validates the client’s feelings and develops an interest in what may follow. You might say I try to “hook” the first time client in to the realization that the chart can be quite revealing and that the process of astrological counseling does indeed work. After this initial impression, I hope for some response from the client. This is your que to steer the consultation toward what is important to you at the time. Let the astrologer know what you want. Give plenty of details and enter a dialogue about your concerns at this time in your life. There’s a tremendous amount of information available from the chart and it’s up to you to help the astrologer understand what your needs are. We’re not here to prove or disprove astrology. We’re here to help astrology serve you. The more data I receive from the client through conversation, body language, eye movement, even breath patterns, the better we are able to explore the pertinent issues. Let’s get down to it!

You may want to play along a little as the astrologer asks redundant questions or asks you to repeat something you just said; most good consultants are trained in various therapy techniques which use neuro-linguistic profiles to explore the unconscious. It goes without saying that you have the inviolable right to stop any line of inquiry which you choose. Most professionals I know are very ethical folks, but I have heard occasional tales of some weird scenes inside the gold mine.

You’ll know things are working well when the dialogue between you and the astrologer is stimulating, interesting and a bit challenging as points of resistance are approached. We tend to resist change, and personal growth demands that we do change. Again, trust your feelings.

Of course if the consultation is about when to start your next enterprise or whether or not to buy this used car from a certain curious fellow, things will tend to be less intense, and hopefully somewhat humorous.

Avoid any astrologer who claims to have the answers to your life. Don’t be bullied into thinking or believing anything that doesn’t feel right to you.

You have the clear bell of truth in your heart and in your gut. Trust yourself first and you’ll know whether what you hear is ringing that bell or not. The astrologer is not here to sell you his truth. He is here to wander with you through your inner landscape; occasionally recognizing the obvious, and sometimes stumbling in startled surprise over the truth that is your very own.