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  Part I - Introduction: What is Astrology? (Page 1)

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Author Topic:   Part I - Introduction: What is Astrology?
truthseeker
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posted October 19, 2002 10:22 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi everyone!

Phew, better late than never!

I just wanted to start things off with something of a personal message about me and my feelings about astrology and the role it’s played in my life before we dive right into the material for “Introduction: What is Astrology”, which covers a lot of information about the basic points and concepts of astrology.

So what is astrology? Trying to define astrology is, in a sense, like trying to define a religion or feeling. The words exist, but so much is dependant on the individual’s experience of the topic. Before sitting down to write this I took the time to read all your thoughts on this topic in the string ‘Definition of Astrology’. The definitions were personal and wonderful! I encourage everyone to read that string and post his or her thoughts too! Jackiep gave an especially lovely description of astrology as, “the road that I had chosen before being born”, which is a fantastic way of integrating our western value of free will with the sometimes fatalistic brush that astrology’s nay-sayers like to paint it with.

One common theme, when defining astrology, is the concept of “astrology as a tool”. In my experience, this is a very accurate description of how to apply astrology in your daily life. It can be used as a tool for self-understanding and growth, for negotiating the ups and downs of your relationships, for understanding your past connections to your family and friends, even for planning when it’s best to buy a house, go back to school, or change jobs. Hey – you can even use the moon as a guide to when you should cut your hair! Yes, astrology is a tool, and a powerful one at that.

Astrology, in the dictionary sense, has two definitions. One, “The divination of the supposed influences of the stars and planets on human affairs and terrestrial events by their positions and aspects.” Not too bad. In fact, omit the cynical “supposed” and I’ll agree wholeheartedly. The other definition pays tribute to astrology’s history, and reads simply “archaic – astronomy”. It’s useful to remember that until around the 18th century, astrologers were astronomers and astronomers were astrologers. The terms were interchangeable, and the division between science and occult that we see today was not present. However, as science developed, a rift between astrologers and astronomers opened up, and that has carried forward to the present. Still, some basic knowledge of astronomy is helpful to the beginning astrologer, as it helps one become familiar with the important principle of “As above, so below”. Meditate on this phrase while considering the configurations of the planets and stars in the heavens and the correlations to us here on Earth. Think about how every small system, like a human body, can be seen reflected in systems larger and larger still, such as planets, solar systems and universes, or smaller and smaller such as cells and DNA. That spiral of thought can take you to many places, and I’ll leave it to you to find your own conclusions

As for me, I started learning about astrology the same way that almost everyone else here has – by reading Linda Goodman’s Sun Signs. I was lucky enough to have a mother who was an amateur astrologer herself, and who supported and encouraged me to become familiar with this, and other metaphysical subjects. Throughout my teens I learned more and more about astrology, although I never remember going from being a disbeliever to a believer – I so young when I started reading about astrology that I believed from the beginning. I still have a hard time when people who don’t believe confront me. Astrology just makes such good sense to me! However it wasn’t until fairly recently that I began to study the subject in earnest. I was lucky enough to come across the old, ‘official’ Linda Goodman website in early 2000, and it was at that time that the most serious explosion in growth occurred for me. It was wonderful to meet other people who shared my interests, and it was wonderful to belong to such a knowledgeable and loving community, and it was wonderful to feel as if I was learning something new everyday!

I hope to be able to share with you here some the knowledge I have learned, but most importantly, I hope to be able to share with you some of the TOOLS I have acquired to make this process easier, and even more relevant to you and your journey. The communicative, interactive nature of this course is one such tool, and I hope that everyone will actively participate in the discussions, as I am certain we will all benefit from each other’s experiences and viewpoints. I also recommend keeping a journal of your lessons here. I have included “Discussion” questions in each part of the Introduction, and I would encourage all of us to not only use it as a suggested topic of discussion, but also as a topic in your journals. There are also two exercises which I will include and which I hope you will do. Finally, for those interested in reading further, I recommend a few beginner books, and I would also like to credit these books with much of my own knowledge. Besides being a recommended reading list, this can also be considered to be a bibliography for the material I have written.

Everything by Linda Goodman!
Complete Astrology, by Alan Oken
The Astrologer’s Handbook, by Sakoian and Acker

Good luck to everyone! I hope that each of us gets from this course what we most need. I hope everyone reading this feels as excited as I do to begin, and that people will not hesitate to jump in and ask questions, and even feel free to answer other people’s questions. All of us have something valuable to contribute here!

Love,
Terri

What is Astrology – Discussion Questions:

What does the phrase ‘As above, so below’ mean to you?
What sort of tool is astrology in your life?

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StarLover33
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posted October 20, 2002 12:35 AM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That was beautiful I promise I will respond to this later!

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Cat
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posted October 20, 2002 07:03 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Cat     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi Terri
Glad to hear you got your computer problems sorted out.

We're all looking really forward to working with you on this course
Sue

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aquamoon
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posted October 20, 2002 11:59 AM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In my opinion, 'As above, so below' refers to the natural Law of Harmonics. Everything falls into a harmonious pattern on its own. A book I read explained it very nicely ... it said something to the effect that the interaction between planets does not CAUSE circumstances or situations down here, it is simply a reflection of what is happening here. There is a synchronicity between events upstairs and downstairs .

*Co-incidental*

To me, astrology is a tool that shows me how things could end up if I just go with the flow. From there, I can decide whether that's what I want to do, or whether I want to brave the tide and end up on another shore.

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Randall
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posted October 21, 2002 04:06 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What Aquamoon said!

That was BRILLIANT, Terri! To me, that oft heard saying refers to the symbolic nature of astrology. That's just my ONION, of course.

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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark

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truthseeker
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posted October 21, 2002 03:37 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi Starlover, Aquamoon, Cat, Randall

Thanks everyone!

Aquamoon - What was the name of that book? It sounds like something I would enjoy! And I really enjoyed your description of 'Astrology as a tool'.

Love,
Terri

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Jaqueline
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posted October 21, 2002 04:35 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
In my opinion astrology is a type of revelation about the divine organization of the Cosmoses.

The planets show "what" is happening, the signs show "how" and the houses show "where".
As I said at Part VIII , I believe that we developed for ourselves a "Plan" before we reincarnated and we can put that " Plan " on a paper using Astrology.
But,to follow this plan it's in our hands.

For me, Astrology, Numerology, I Ching, Alchemy, etc are the Arcanas of the superior knowledge.

I believe that this sentence-"As above ,so bellow"- means that nothing is permanent, everything is in constant mutation. What we can see as a gift today, may become a curse tomorrow and vice versa.

Jakie

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Randall
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posted October 21, 2002 07:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A better way to say it is "As below, so above."

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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark

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aquamoon
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posted October 22, 2002 02:48 AM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi Terri! I don't think you'll have much use for the book - it's called The Complete Idiot's Guide to Astrology.

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lllog
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posted October 22, 2002 07:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for lllog     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What is astrology? Sounds like an easy question dosn't it? If it was easy, I wouldn't have started writing this reply several times and then realized that I was off track, and didn't post it.

Maybe my problem is that I'm having a hard time separating the use of astrology from the activating principle itself.

I agree that we use the planetary locations to describe different patterns and we give these patterns meanings. That to me is the art or use of astrology.

When compared to the other ways of fortune telling(for lack of a better term, such as tarot, ruines, or chicken bones the difference lies in that the paths of the planets are not random, but predictable.

When I do tarot readings, I have no idea what cards are going to come up, when I do a transit reading, I know exactly what palnets are where and where they will be next week, or next year.

I feel that the planets play a more cause-effect role than the other ways of reading events. I tend to see the universe as one big energy pattern, and as the planets move through the pattern they change it in subtle ways just as ripples moving across a pond.

I think we are also made up of an energy field, represented by our natal chart, and a any change in the overall pattern (universe) effects us in specific ways depending upon our original pattern.

I don't know if this makes sense, as I said I tried several times to post a coherent response.

Lanny

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Randall
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posted October 22, 2002 09:39 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Terri, we are anxiously awaiting the next Lesson!

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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark

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MARY
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posted October 22, 2002 06:43 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi everybody,
To me Astrology is a science as well as an art! I believe it a science that helps us to understand ours-elves and others.
So that we may improve on some things, and so that we can behave as we should toward other beings.
I think that also makes it an art.

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Purpleflame
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posted October 22, 2002 11:42 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
..As Above so Below..brings to my mind the words of our Lord's Prayer..
Thy will be done
On Earth as it is
In Heaven.
and also the thought..All is Unfolding as it should..In Divine Timing.

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truthseeker
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posted October 23, 2002 09:32 AM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great thoughts everyone!
It's great to hear everyone's different feelings and opinions on the topic.

Purpleflame - I have thought that about the Lord's Prayer too...and I really do think that Jesus and the early Christians had a much greater understanding of esoteric subjects than the altered Bible and some of today's more conservative ministers would have us think. But that's a conversation for another day...

Love,
Terri

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Lioness823
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posted November 20, 2002 09:42 PM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I wanted to answer the questions without reading everyone's answers first (want to go with a gut instinct answer). Apologies if I repeat anything.

"As above, so below" to me indicates that things are influenced both ways. What we do here influences things above. What happens above influences things here. It's a two way street kind of thing.

Right now astrology is a tool for getting to know myself better. I hope that by knowing myself better I will come to understand others better, too. After all, you can't love another until you love yourself.

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Randall
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posted December 06, 2002 03:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
To the top for others' opinions.

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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark

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Mystique
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posted December 14, 2002 02:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Mystique     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hello all!
"As above so below"...reminds me of the Lord's Prayer as well....."Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.."
Just like "The Star" showed the Magi where Jesus was born....the alignment of the heavenly bodies that Night showed that a very important event was taking place!

Astrology is a wonderful tool and gift from above to guide us in our evolution!

Thanks Terri for the lessons...I just joined


Love
Mystique

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Randall
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posted December 15, 2002 12:44 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hurry back, Terri, for the next installment!

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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark

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Cat
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posted December 22, 2002 11:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Cat     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
To the top

[Note: This message has been edited by Randall]

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Randall
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posted May 10, 2003 01:01 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
To the top!

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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark

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raj_105_2001
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posted September 27, 2003 11:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for raj_105_2001     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:

You cannot shake a leaf without disturbing a star

There are many dimensions and at present human mind is capable of perceiving only three dimensional space. Albert Einstein gave us few hints about four dimensions but did not reveal beyond that. Stephen Hawking writes in his book A Brief History of Time he personally is unable to imagine four dimensional space.

Astrology is proof you have plan for you. "Tool" does not seem to be appropriate word. You can say astrology is very sophisticated tool. This tool tells you what plan you have for you!


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GingerB
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posted January 24, 2005 10:57 AM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What is astrology?

hmmm...
well, it's kinda like a patch work quilt.
Little pieces here & there, coloring the fabric of our lifes
Each unique & different, yet some resounding to the same pieces.
Puzzles & games to learn & grow from.

What type of tool?

Well, I guess the best for me to say would be one of analyis.
Paths to understand how I work, and how other's work.
Hopefully a common ground of becoming better than we are, by understanding why we are the way we are.

As above, so below.

Well, to put it simply, it sounds like a great big turning circle...

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Randall
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posted October 02, 2008 06:31 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
*bump*

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"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." Charles Schultz

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Randall
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posted February 07, 2009 10:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

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"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." Charles Schultz

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Nema
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posted April 15, 2009 03:12 AM           Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As above so below... hmm.. I think that all is connected so what is above and what is below..???

Every time I look at my chart I see something new and a AHA moment rise inside me. It´s soo cool when I can relate my life and expereinces to Aah well it´s connected to this and that. I see Astrology as a tool to learn more about myself and others. A chart is like reading a bluprint of the potentials we have in this life.

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