Dealing with the times

Although I did say top government officials in the new administration would come and go unexpectedly, nobody (including myself) could have foreseen that this "prediction" would be fulfilled SO soon! Secretary for Development Mak Chai-kwong stepped down just 12 days after he had sworn it!

That is why "predictions" are rather meaningless. You still won't know how to change the outcome! However, predictions are usually what people who come to see an astrologer are after. What is needed is not predictions, but suggestions on how to make the best out of what has been given us, as indicated in the birth chart.

As I have repeatedly mentioned in this blog, the world and everyone of us are undergoing a "revolutionary" time in these few years, though the degree of impact that we feel does vary from person to person. If you want to maintain the status quo - forget it! Because you will be swept along by something beyond personal control.

About the new administration: On first looking at its chart on July 1, I found the Sun-Moon blend (Cancer + Sagittarius) intriguing. How would that manifest? I did not have any clue until I recalled the slogan that CY Leung and his team often reiterate - "Seeking changes while preserving stability" (穩中求變)! Cancer is associated with stability in terms of emotions (i.e. feeling safe and secure, especially by clinging to the past) while Sagittarius constantly looks for something better elsewhere or chases after some ideal condition in the future.

However, the spirit of the times does not favour gradual change. The administration’s Sun opposes Pluto and both square Uranus, forming a T-square. The administration has got to be "radical" and "revolutionary"; otherwise, it would be faced with challenges that are so unpredictable and overwhelming that it would find it extremely difficult, if not downright impossible, to achieve what it finds meaningful and purposeful.

The sheer survival of the administration will seem to be most at stake - or if it recognizes its "revolutionary" urges and seeks to make sweeping changes - during the following periods, as transiting Uranus and Pluto trigger off the T-square in the administration’s chart:

Transiting Uranus: July-September 2012, March-May 2013, October 2013-February 2014

Transiting Pluto: July-August 2012, October 2012-February 2013, June-December 2013

The common periods in which Uranus and Pluto make a direct hit will be the most radical of all radical times: July-August 2012 and October-December 2013.

As for Mr Leung himself, right now is a very disheartening period (though he may not show it in public), but he will be able to feel more confident and pick himself up more after late August or early September (depending on his exact birth time).

A critical period to look out for is October to November this year and to a lesser extent, July 2013, as he undergoes his second Saturn return. It is significant because it is an accumulation time, a "make-it-or-break-it" time. It shows whether the person has taken up the responsibility that s/he is supposed to take, and put in the efforts that is necessary for a true sense of inner confidence (rather than being defensive, doing things that seeks only external approval or endorsement) for the past 30 years of his/her life.

As discussed elsewhere in this blog, Mr Leung's Sun is conjunct Pluto in Leo and his Mars is also trine Pluto. Pluto is a transpersonal planet and if a person's personal planets (i.e. the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars) or angles is in aspect with Pluto, the person is like having been "endowed" with tremendous power and an iron will. However, the true lesson of Pluto is to use this power for the benefit of others, NOT for personal goals (like prestige, social status or material gains); otherwise, when the time is ripe, the person would be confronted with a strong oppositional power which seeks to bring him/her down.

If the person keeps exploiting his/her inborn willpower to beat opponents because s/he feels his/her survival is threatened, that will only make things worse in the long-run. To use the power of Pluto correctly means to align personal interests with those of others, rather than insisting on one's own stance so much that everything is turned into a life-or-death struggle or a win-lose game. 

Some think that as long as their public relations strategies are clever, then things will work, but I would say it is a definite “no, no”. What really counts is the motive behind our thoughts and actions. Our mind creates our outer reality, not the packaging...

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A look at the new administration

Today's weather was surprisingly sunny and the sky was cloudless. So was this an "auspicious sign" for the new Chief Executive CY Leung and his team who swore in today?

I timed the exact moment when CY Leung finished taking his oath. It was 9:08am when the Leung era dawned.

True to what he has promised, the birth chart of his administration indicates a far more amiable approach in exercising authority and in matters of public image (Venus conjunct Jupiter in 10th house). Some people would call that "populist", but I would think it means that top government officials in Hong Kong will finally become more accessible to the general public, rather than making important policy decisions from the comfort of their armchairs.

Uranus and Pluto have been squaring each other exactly these days and this definitely will leave its mark on everyone and everything "born" around this time. This radical and almost "revolutionary" energy features significantly in the chart of the new administration: The chart ruler, the Sun, is in Cancer in the 11th house (which is associated with collective goals and wishes, usually social and political ones), opposes Pluto in Capricorn in the 5th (the house of individual self-expression), with both squaring Uranus in Aries in the 8th - the house of "joint resources" and total transformation.

What does this mean? This T-square indicates the meaning and purpose of this new administration is emotion- and security-driven (perhaps often looks towards the past too), and is best expressed with regard to collective goals, but this conflicts strongly with the administration's own need for power which tends to be expressed in an authoritative and matter-of-fact way. This inner tension will drive the new government to innovate and overthrow the old in a headstrong (or bold?) manner, particularly in terms of taxation and monetary matters. The change could be quite sudden, in fact. Interestingly, maybe even "secrets" of the government will be leaked out as in a flash of lightning too!

Another possibility is, top officials may come and go rather unexpectedly (as part of the accountability system?), as a result of some serious social and political controversies. It is also possible that because of these controversies, the administration's political alliances and partnerships are made and broken very suddenly.

Meanwhile, the Moon in the 4th house opposes the Venus-Jupiter conjunction in the 10th, with them all squared by Chiron and Neptune in the 7th. This means the Leung administration will feel an inner tension between security needs in private (like the comfort of staying in the office rather than going out to meet the public?) and the need to be popular under the limelight, leading to its allies or opponents feeling left out and hurt. However, if this energy is mastered successfully, it also means the new administration carries a great talent for healing "dashed dreams".

Mercury is in Leo in the 12th house, ruling the 2nd and 11th house. The Leung administration is likely to find its own creative ideas (especially those about the Government's fiscal situation and the community's social and political goals) "behind the scenes". Maybe this means Mr Leung and his team will often go in retreat for brain-storming sessions?

One interesting point is, Leung's own Sun and Pluto are conjunct the Ascendant of his administration! He will certainly be a very strong and powerful leader of his team, dominating the entire outlook of his team. This close astrological connection between Leung and his own administration is an excellent example to show nothing is random in this world.

Overall, what would I say? Frankly, I think the new administration will introduce a totally new approach to governance. Officials will be more willing to get closer to the ordinary people and hear their views. However, turbulent political storms are likely and some officials may have to bow out rather abruptly. This may bring about radical breaks from the past and perhaps, an opportunity for general renewal and transformation for the city too. Friends and opponents of the new administration may feel alienated and disillusioned, but the birth chart also indicates a great potential to heal and be inclusive.

Let's see how things will turn out...

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Stephen Lam's calling

The headline news for today is obviously the announcement by the Chief Secretary for Administration Stephen Lam that he will step down when the term of this administration expires on June 30 this year. He will go to Oxford with his wife to study theology.

Considering Lam's chart, this should not come as a surprise at all. His Sun is in Sagittarius, meaning that his life path is linked with the pursuit of wisdom and the understanding of universal laws, often through religion, the law and philosophy. Moreover, his Moon is in Pisces which is a sign closely related to the spiritual and non-materialistic. It is therefore no surprise that he is a devout Christian and wanted to study theology. Actually, given this Sun-Moon combination, it would not have been impossible if he had pursued a career in the church, instead of in the civil service.

Another astrological indicator for his decision to study theology is that, his Sun is now being squared by transiting Neptune. His identity and ego will be re-defined during this time and he will become even more receptive than usual to spirituality and other-worldliness. This represents a pretty long period of time in which his old self will be let go of, transformed and refined. The effects could be most deeply felt during April-August 2011, February-April 2012 and August 2012-February 2013.

Is there anything else in his chart that indicates why he has chosen to pursue a career in government and politics, and has become so successful in this that he serves as the right-hand man to Hong Kong’s top leader?

Although Lam is not well-liked by the public and generally not considered "very competent" or "outstanding", his chart reveals quite another matter. This should explain why he has been promoted by a series of bosses and was already a bureau head in his 40s.

His Sun (in Sagittarius) is conjunct Mercury and Saturn (both in Scorpio), all squared by a tight Jupiter-Pluto conjunction and are in a trine with Uranus. This indicates an ambitious personality, an excellent strategist who plans everything thoroughly, and capable of outside-the-box thinking. A very smart guy indeed!

However, why has he been dubbed by the Chinese media as a "human recorder" who constantly repeats the official stance over and over again? This is indicated by the T-square in his chart: the Chiron-Uranus opposition is squared by Mars-Neptune in Libra. This exactly means that Lam tends to fight (or defend his position) through an evasive and slippery approach. When Mars combines with Neptune, it is like adding water to fire. There is just smoke and nothing else is in there! This is especially so whenever he feels alienated, estranged or "wounded" suddenly or through others' disruptive behaviour (Chiron-Uranus opposition). In psychological terms, we can say this "human recorder" approach of his is his "defence mechanism" (i.e. psychological coping method) to whatever alienation he may feel under the circumstances.

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Psychoanalysis and Astrology

I saw the movie "A Dangerous Method" several days ago. It talks about the passionate relationship between the famous Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung and a Russian female patient of his, Sabina Spielrein. They started out simply as physician and patient, but became lovers later on.

However, what interested me most in the movie was Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis. He once had such a close, almost father-and-son relationship with Jung, but the two men later broke up over differences in professional orientations.

Freud's chart is very interesting because, except for Mars, all of the other planets are on the right side, and the 6th, 7th and 8th houses are especially packed. This means he needed to channel most of his energies to work/health matters, one-to-one relationships (marriage and in his case, the doctor-patient relationship) and yes, sex!

Another reason why his theory focused so much on sex was, his Ascendant is in Scorpio, with the ruling planet Pluto in Taurus in the 6th house (the house of health). Both Scorpio and Taurus are associated with sex, though on different levels - Scorpio is concerned with the emotional union while Taurus is with the sensual (and pleasurable) side of it.

Long, long before I got exposed to serious astrology, I had read a biography about Freud and I remember the biographer speculated that Freud had an extra-marital affair with his wife's sister. The biographer even showed that Freud eventually had to pay for an abortion for his sister-in-law. Freud was quoted as lamenting why he could never enjoy sex without any price tag attached.

His birth chart is extremely revealing in this: Mars (sex drive) opposes Jupiter (urge for freedom and adventure), both squaring Saturn (responsibility). This literally means that reckless, carefree sex would lead to responsibility for Freud!!!

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Pluto - Let go and be transformed

I know quite a few friends who feel uncomfortable with people strong in Scorpio which is a sign ruled by Pluto. Although I don't have this discomfort with Scorpion people, such feelings are understandable because Pluto stands for intensity, mysteriousness, non-compromise, conspiracy and manipulation.

Why bother go to such lengths? Because behind Pluto's formidable and inscrutable façade, fears dominate. It is due to these fears that Plutonian (or Scorpion) people may strike before others strike, out of the self-preservation instinct.

However, that is not the true lesson of Pluto. The best way to handle strong Plutonian energy is to LET GO - of fears, of control and of mistrust. Once this is achieved, it could be the most transformative force.

I went to a Buddhist talk several weeks ago and one of the speakers was an English monk called Ajahn Brahm. He was so funny that although the talk (excluding the Q&A session) lasted for 1.5 hour, it felt like 15 minutes only! His chart is interesting because it exactly illustrates how transformative Pluto could be.

According to Ajahn Brahm’s personal website, he was born on August 7, 1951 in London. We do not have his exact birth time, but from his birthday, we know that his Sun and Pluto are conjunct in Leo. Many people with such an aspect are very strong leaders, and when the planets fall in a sign like Leo, there is even a "regal" air to them. They could be extremely bossy and even autocratic.

However, Ajahn Brahm was not a bit like that at all. There was nothing like a "you-must-all-listen-to-me" attitude. The theme of the talk was "How to Deal with Worries" and his solution was simple - "Let go!". Because even in the worst scenario, he told the audience, there must be something positive too.

He often has to fly across the globe to teach and some people have asked him if he is ever worried about terrorist attacks. Ajahn Brahm said "no" because there are at least three advantages in dying in an aircraft explosion, including instant incremation! This could only be uttered by someone who has the Sun conjunct Pluto and who has also learned to let go of fears completely!

Ajahn Brahm's Jupiter opposes Neptune and often this indicates an urge to seek spiritual and philosophical truth. At the same time, his Sun (together with Pluto) forms a trine and sextile with Jupiter and Neptune separately, meaning that his life's path is involved with seeking spiritual truth. No wonder that although he has a degree in Theoretical Physics from Cambridge, he eventually chose the monastic life as his "career".

For more information about Ajahn Brahm, see here: http://www.ajahnbrahm.org/

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Whitney's Neptune

The sudden death of the famous American singer Whitney Houston has become headline news across the globe. In reviewing her life, the media has not only discussed her artistic achievements, but has also focused on her drug abuse history. Could her chart tell us anything about this?

I would say Neptune and the sign Pisces are pretty significant in her chart. To start with, her Ascendant is in Pisces, conjoined by Chiron which stands for a sense of rejection and alienation. From this we could guess Whitney felt rejected and wounded right from the very start of her life, as if somehow she just did not fit in with the rest of the world, and this feeling could continue to plague her later on in life, no matter how confident she looked or how successful she had became.

Meanwhile, her Sun and Venus are conjunct in Leo. This explains why her creativity and vocal style were so radiant and even theatrical. Anyone who has heard her songs must have felt blown away by her huge voice.

However, her Sun and Venus are opposite Saturn too. This indicates, despite appearances, she could have heard a cold, nagging voice inside herself (or when externalized, through others) that constantly criticized, as if she were never "good enough". Now perhaps we could understand why one of her greatest hits was called "The Greatest Love of All" which prizes self-love above all others.

But when positively deployed, this Sun-Venus-Saturn energy could also give her strict discipline and the capacity to put her talents to productive use.

Her chart ruler, Neptune, is in Scorpio in the eighth house, forming a T-square with both Sun-Venus and Saturn. This means through Neptunian activities, she could release the tension generated by her constant self-nagging.

Neptune stands for the urge to seek heavenly bliss and so is often associated with the arts and religion, but the planet also represents an escapist tendency and inability to face reality. Therefore, if the person is unaware of this downside of Neptune, he or she could become hooked on drugs, alcohol, gambling, be deceived or deceive others.

Obviously, Whitney had found an outlet of tension for her rather poor self-image through singing and dancing - and most likely through drugs too.

Since her cause of death is still uncertain, we cannot tell if drugs had anything to do with this. Whatever the case, it was a great pity that a great singer like that passed away so young.

Among the three outer planets, i.e. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, I think Neptune is the hardest to deal with, even harder than Pluto which most people are so scared of. It is because the challenges presented by Uranus and Pluto are relatively "concrete". You will know at least what you are fighting against. But Neptune is the very opposite of being "concrete". It is like battling against water!

Moreover, since by definition Neptune stands for an escapist tendency, it is very, very hard for people to look at themselves honestly and become consciously aware of when and how they are trying to escape from something! If you do not even know, how could you address it?

So what is the true solution to Neptune? How to bring out its best qualities without the negatives? Here, we come back to our old friend - Saturn, which stands for discipline, hard work and realism.

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Doomsday and Change

I have heard some long, drawn-out talks about the upcoming catastrophes that could happen when Uranus squares Pluto. The precise dates in which the two planets will be exactly squaring each other are:

June 24, 2012, September 19, 2012

May 20, 2013, November 1, 2013

April 21, 2014, December 15, 2014, March 17, 2015

Admittedly before June 24 this year, the world has already seen a number of upheavals, for example, the Jasmine Revolution in the Middle East and the earthquake in Japan that led to tsunami and radiation leakage last year. Sudden and dramatic changes will certainly not stop there. More are sure to come.

However, I do not think it realistic or useful to brood over about what might happen. After all, Uranus squaring Pluto exactly means some unexpected, explosive and fundamental change. Even if we have listed out a hundred possibilities and tried to get prepared (if possible at all), I am sure what will actually happen must be the 101st possibility that we have never thought of and we will still be caught surprised. So why bother?

Before the end of 2011, I wrote that Hong Kong's sense of self will be seriously challenged this year because first Pluto and then Uranus and then both together will be affecting the city’s Sun. But who could have "predicted" it would erupt in an incident like the Dolce&Gabbana saga?? That is why astrology is only for "predicting" the psychological state and energy flow, rather than the actual incident, if not given a very specific context.

A local English TV channel has just finished broadcasting the three-part documentary Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking that featured the famous British physicist. So the gold we find on our planet is made of iron compressed with some other substances when a star (one like our Sun), upon its "death", exploded into a supernova billions of years ago, and the iron was something that had been accumulating inside the very core of the star for billions of years before the explosion!!! So if you have a gold ring, says Hawking, it is truly precious - and I would say "Simply miraculous!". It is a piece of the universe on the finger!

It was also enlightening to learn from the documentary that even when an old star dies, the substances that its explosion splashes into the universe will eventually, pulled by gravity, form some new planets. I call it the true Plutonic "death and transformation", illustrating the inevitable cycles of change that is the universal law.

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Time for love

A most popular (in fact, probably THE most popular) question that astrologers receive from clients is: "When will I meet a new love interest?"

It is traditionally believed that when transitting Jupiter is either conjunct or having a trine to a person's Venus, a new romantic interest could pop up. This is because Jupiter means "expansion", "growth opportunities" and simply "luck"! When it is having an effect on a person’s Venus which stands for the need for love, appreciation and pleasure, it means the person could be having a great time socially, feeling happier and more attractive (I think this is the essential feeling conveyed by the song "I feel pretty") and hence, also perceived to be more attractive by others.

New love interests do not arise only when Jupiter is having a conjunction or trine to Venus. Sometimes even the so-called "hard" aspects, i.e. square or opposition, could indicate a new romantic partner.

But it should be noted that none of these is a "sure sign" of a new romance. Often it could just mean the person is feeling relaxed and pleasant during the period.

Moreover and more importantly, whether an individual could seize on the opportunity, even when a new one comes along, depends entirely on his/her own embedded attitudes. For example, if a person is basically scared of opening himself/herself up to others in intimate relationships, s/he might still find it impossible to initiate or enter any relationship, and even if s/he does, it might not last long.

Other transitting heavy planets like Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto could also indicate new love interests, though the characteristics of the new partner or the relationship could differ.

A new relationship that begins under a transit of Saturn to Venus could mean a considerable age difference (whether mental and/or biological) between the couple and the relationship itself could be relatively stable.

A transit of Uranus to Venus could mean that the new partner or the relationship is very exciting or "unconventional" in some way. For example, the partner could be a foreigner or somebody who does not belong to the individual's usual social circle. Sometimes in extreme cases, the relationship could simply be an extra-marital affair. A relationship that starts under such a transit could also mean it has a sudden beginning and a sudden ending too.

As for a Neptune transit to Venus, it could mean a dream-like, very romantic but maybe illusory relationship. A Pluto transit stands for a relationship that could bring about a profound and transformative change or is characterized by obsession and compulsion.

But I think it is always true that no matter what the new love interest is like, it is always an opportunity to understand ourselves better. May the Year of the Dragon be filled with love and wisdom for us all!

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Where your luck is - Jupiter

The Lunar New Year is coming up and in the Chinese calendar, 12 years form a cycle and each year is represented by a different animal. For example, the Lunar New Year that begins on January 23 this year is the Year of the Dragon.

Astrologically, it also takes Jupiter 12 years to move through the 12 zodiac signs and it stays in each sign for around a year. I always find this intriguingly similar to the 12 animals in the Chinese calendar and often wonder if they are actually referring to the same thing.

In fact, I have found on the Internet the following, equating each Jupiter sign with an animal from the Chinese calendar:

Jupiter in Aries - Dragon
Jupiter in Taurus - Snake

Jupiter in Gemini - Horse
Jupiter in Cancer - Sheep

Jupiter in Leo - Monkey
Jupiter in Virgo - Rooster

Jupiter in Libra - Dog
Jupiter in Scorpio - Pig

Jupiter in Sagittarius - Rat
Jupiter in Capricorn - Ox
Jupiter in Aquarius - Tiger
Jupiter in Pisces - Rabbit

If you don't know your Jupiter sign, click here: http://www.librarising.com/astrology/tables/jupitersigns.html

Jupiter represents our luck, optimism and growth opportunities. It indicates where we may open up our horizons. However, for those of us who tend to be more cautious and conservative, Jupiter could be a source of energy that is often neglected. If you feel somewhat dissatisfied with your present way of life, but cannot quite exactly put your finger on what is bothering you, try developing the characteristics of your Jupiter sign.

For example, if your Jupiter is in Gemini, try to be more communicative and intellectually versatile and open. If you have Jupiter in Pisces, then be more compassionate and imaginative - you may discover a whole new world of experience is awaiting you and you will benefit a lot!

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Will Obama make it?

Last time I said that astrology cannot predict events, if not given any concrete context. But if we do have a very specific context (like the date for which a specific event has already been scheduled for) and a very accurate birth chart of the participant, we could indeed try "predicting" the outcome.

2012 is an election year around the globe and the one that will attract the most attention must be the US presidential election set for November. Will President Obama be re-elected? I am neither for nor against him, but I would say "yes".

Polling will be held on November 6. Astrologically speaking, the planetary transits on November 7 or 8 do not strongly indicate whether he will or will not win the election. Maybe the counting will take more than a couple of days? In fact, judging from the transits for the next several days after November 6, November 10 seems to be the mostly likely day for something like a "victory speech".

But what really convinces me that he will win is the transits on the presidential inauguration day, January 20, 2013. They do indicate a "big YES" for him. Significant planetary transits for him on that day are as follows:

Sun conjunct Jupiter: his expansiveness and optimism are able to shine through, having all eyes on him

Mercury conjunct Jupiter: expansive vision, taking the long view, big plans

Mars conjunct Ascendant: showing great energy and vitality in his outlook on life

Jupiter square Pluto: Determination to do something big and to improve, despite obstacles

Neptune trine Venus: Compassion and empathy for all

Pluto sextile Neptune: could apply great will power regarding his ideals or transformation of his longings and dreams

All these do not seem to indicate an outgoing president at all!! I therefore conclude he will be re-elected.

Meanwhile, transitting Chiron will be moving away from an exact conjunction to his natal Chiron and becoming opposite to his natal Pluto, thus triggering off the opposition between Pluto and Chiron in his chart. This could mean several things, but I think the most likely scenario is that he will feel "healed" because of a total transformation of an inherent feeling of "woundedness", probably caused by his skin colour and family background.

Though the chances of winning a second term seems to be high, the process must be extremely difficult for him. In fact, I would say throughout his life, whenever he finds himself in any open competition, his opponents will always seem to be formidable. This is indicated by his packed 7th house, occupied by Mars, Uranus, Pluto and the North Node! But through his opponents, he will be able to find his courage (Mars), originality (Uranus), strong will power and transformative ability (Pluto) and his quest in life which is to be warm, generous, creative and even theatrical (North Node in Leo)!

More likely than not, through his wife Michelle, he has also discovered these characteristics in himself, as the 7th house indicates marital partners as well.

I think Obama is the only US president who has published his birth certificate for the whole world to see to fend off rumours that he was not born American. Since birth charts are so useful for assessing people, I would suggest making it mandatory for everyone running for public office around the world to publish his/her detailed birth data!

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Setting the record straight

Today is the first day of 2012. May I wish health, joy, prosperity, peace and wisdom for us all in the new year!

Since I have begun studying astrology seriously, I have received a number of queries about the nature of astrology, mostly about the relations between astrology and fate and even questions about astrology vs religion. I intend to address some of these issues in this article.

To me, the planets on a birth chart indicate our psychological urges and capabilities. They are like "road signs". They do not cause events or make people encounter what they have encountered. It is therefore no use blaming the planets for negative events that have happened to us or the unpleasant situations that we have run into.

However, if we read these "road signs" right, they are a very useful indicator of what is embedded in our psyche and personality. Each aspect in the birth chart indicates a "complex", as psychologists would call it. Since none of us was born with a "manual" attached, throughout our lives we are basically trying to understand, discover and re-discover how our psyche functions. The more awareness we gain, the better we will be able to live our lives to the fullest potential. One can say our life’s purpose is to master ourselves.

When I tell my friends that I am studying astrology seriously, there are usually two types of responses. While most of my friends will look very interested and start to probe deeper into the subject, there are also several who will dismiss the usefulness of astrology off-hand because they believe people have free will and can choose their actions, rather than having their destiny “determined” by the planets up in the sky. I think this latter attitude stems from a common misunderstanding that astrological readings are fatalistic in nature.

In our culture, various Chinese occult arts are very popular, like feng shui, palmistry, face reading, ziwei dousu and bazi. Most of the readings rendered by practitioners in these fields are highly fatalistic. For example, they would tell clients not to marry before a certain age, otherwise their marriage would end in divorce.

I would say that astrology is simply counselling. It is not meant for predictions (at least not for predicting events without a given, concrete context) because the planets are just indicators of some very general psychological urges which could manifest in countless ways - although many people still unrealistically expect their astrologer to tell them what has happened and will happen to them from age 3 to 80.

However, if a person has run into a problem and feels at a loss about what to do, astrology could be at its most useful and practical. It could really indicate the best way forward. From an astrological reading, a person could learn what "lesson" his/her current problem is delivering or what changes in perspective or mentality he or she needs to make. Once the change is made or the lesson learnt, the problem could be significantly alleviated.

Astrology functions best as a counselling tool because it enables people to look at their past in perspective. By tracing the transits of a heavy planet, say, Saturn, to natal planets and points in the past, people will begin to see they are running into essentially the same challenge again and again, separated by regular time periods. They will also be able to see if their usual coping strategy has or has not properly incorporated what Saturn stands for (i.e. concentration, hard work, self-discipline), what sort of outcomes it will lead to. This is where astrology is definitely far more superior to the occult arts which only give fatalistic readings, since astrology allows the possibility of change and sheds light on the direction for change.

I have friends who are worried that astrology somehow contravenes their religion or think it is pure superstition, but in my view, astrology does not pose any contradiction to any religion. It is just a tool and planets are like "road signs". As to what really "causes" the events or psychological states that a person experiences, that is not what astrology has a view on. People can explain it according to whatever religious or scientific views they hold. And in fact, in my experience, astrology complements my religious/spiritual beliefs rather than contradicts them.

As to why astrology works, Juliet Sharman-Burke and Liz Greene have said it very well:

"Life possesses an underlying and secret connectedness or relatedness, and all levels of life, animate and inanimate, conscious and unconscious, inner and outer, are really part of a living whole.[…] Thus, the ancient methods of divination, such as astrology, the Tarot and the I Ching, do not seek to ‘predict’ an already written future, but concern themselves instead with how the true inner quality and meaning of the moment might be reflected and deciphered, through symbolic forms such as planets, coins or cards."

To put it simply and in my own words, astrology works because our mind creates our outer reality which in turn, reflects our mind. Our mind or psyche, as indicated through the birth chart, leads us to experience something as such or leads us to run into such situations. If our mind changes, if our perceptions change, we will experience the same thing completely differently or encounter a very different outcome.

One of my Counselling teachers, a clinical psychologist herself, told us that an ultimate goal of any counselling is to equip the client with skills or understanding that will enable him or her to handle similar problems in the future, i.e. there should be an "inner therapist" inside the client. I completely agree with this and astrology could serve as an excellent "inner therapist".

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Astro Pastures website - http://www.astropastures.com

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