Foundations of Astrology.
Philosophy - Part 2
The Greek philosophical contribution to astrological understanding:
Having a coherent philosophy is important to the understanding and practice of astrology. The practice of philosophy, or love (philo) of wisdom (sophia), was a highly developed art in Ancient Greek times. The Greek philosophers had several main aims. These were the contemplation of the unchanging or divine as it was in itself and the consideration of how the unchanging was related to the changing or manifested cosmos. The main tool of these thinkers was reason and logic. Through such empirical gifts, the philosopher aimed to get to the heart of what was real and unchanging and what was impermanent and changing. Plato was one of the most well known and venerable philosophers of all time.
Plato acknowledged the existence of a supreme mover or cause of all causes. This prime being was God the perfect of the perfect realm. Any movement away from the permanent and unalterable realm of pure divinity was a movement into manifestation. It was considered that there were different levels of manifestation, from the nearly but not totally perfect realms belonging to the other gods and stars to the less than perfect and more transitory realms, such as those of the planets and all forms of life on earth. Ancient thinkers regarded the heavenly patterns as reflecting the intent or will of god.
Central to the conception of life was the idea of soul. Soul was seen as to be pre-existent to body, which it entered to undergo experience of life on earth. Soul was closer to the divine and body was but the vehicle for the soul to undergo life experience. Body was direct and immediately visible. But the captain of the body, soul, was hidden and operating behind the scenes as it were.
Soul, imbued with the original creators divine spark, was shaped, as was the human body, by the less than perfect wisdom of the secondary causes; the child gods and goddesses of the one supreme being. Humans could aspire to the perfect life of the supreme (the philosophers goal in the pursuit of the GOOD or God) or else be caught in the transitoriness and passing illusions and whims of the desire nature: moods, anger, wants, craving. According to how one had lived, the overall nature of ones life would be measured at its end. If spiritual development was less than it could have been then the person would be demoted in the scale of things in the next life. If higher, then there would be an elevation of consciousness. If of the highest, then the person would be sent to a more perfect planet or plane of existence in the hereafter.
The prime goal or directive that was given to the philosopher was to practice moderation in all things and to cultivate an attitude of non-attachment to that which would pass. Only the eternal is all enduring and only the contemplation and understanding of this element of beingness was worthy of the truly sagelike way of life. The seeing behind the causes of the apparent, the vanquishing of the seeming with the light of reason, was the way to approach the causes of all that was. All that was manifested was but a copy or imitation of a more pure and enduring world. Only through the providence of the one creator, in that a seed of his beingness was in all things, was it possible for anything to be at all. It was imperative to clear away the weeds that covered the seed, to dig down to the root of all things, to dedicate ones life to the original idea and to pledge guardianship towards all that was pure. For it was in the pure realm that lay the one hope for humankind, the only salvation, whereas all other was were to mans ultimate misfortune and demise. The lessor gods (Zeus, Ceres, Hera etc) may serve as guides to the supreme but they must not be confused with the all knowing. As the closest beings to the highest, they are yet immeasurably far away and inferior to that which has no equal. These gods may regulate the laws of the universe, earth, seasons and life; but of themselves they have no power in anything, save that which the one being grants to them.
According to Plato in the Timaeus, the planets and stars are the determiners of time. We derive our meaning of human experience from the orderly setup of the heavens which serve to guide and inspire us. The perfect relationships of the heavenly spheres are indications of how we can attain fulfilment and live a virtuous and meaningful life. The heavenly bodies are closer to god and thus their study provides clues in how we can achieve a more godly lifestyle.
The philosophy of astrology is based on two broad principles:
1) “Correlations exist between celestial and terrestrial events. 2) Correspondences exist between the position of the planets at birth and the human personality.” (John Anthony West).
It is the same universal picture that we all tap into. The birth chart shows how and in what way we personally tap into this understanding. (That is our unique perspective of, and contribution to, this universal flow).
We are a kingdom to ourselves. Each person is a mini-universe of being, potential and action. The planets, Sun and Moon represent various planes of consciousness that we access in both a personal and a universal manner.
The 12 signs of the zodiac represent the 12 main universal ways of being. The 12 houses of the birth-chart represent the 12 major phases of earthly experience.
Astrology is the study of the interworking of the planets, Sun and Moon with the energies of the earth. Some astrologers also use other astronomical indicators as well, such as the asteroids and fixed stars. These other bodies are not essential to the understanding of astrology in its essence. Although such study can be a worthwhile activity for those who are so inclined.
The birth-chart is representative of the souls incarnation into this worldly existence. This chart is an astronomical map of the individuals psyche. The study of astrology is the oldest, most universal and indeed the deepest tool we have for understanding the language of the soul.
Copyright. Stephen Winder.