How Does Astrology Work?

People often ask me about astrology and how it works. They sometimes look at me with slight bemusement and wonder “Does he really think the planets can make you do anything”?

The answer – of course – is NO!

“The stars incline, they do not compel”

What do astrologers believe?

Hardly any astrologers today would argue that the planets make you do, or be, anything.

Rather, there appears to be some kind of connected pattern between the structure of the human psyche and the structure of the cosmos.

No one knows how or why it works. But we astrologers have been observing for at least 6000 years that when the planets are in certain relationship to each other or us here on Earth, it tends to correspond with certain states or situations in peoples lives.

So, just like predicting the weather, we can say with some certainty that when particular alignments occur, certain events or personality traits are likely to occur.

Astrology is an observational science, practised over thousands of years. Because the people who practice astrology have taken the time to study and learn its principles – to test them out on themselves and the people they know – they are can say – “YES, this works for me and most of the people I come in contact with.”

To this day, no-one can say for sure how astrology works.

It is as much an intuitive practice, or art, as it is scientific or observational. What can be said for sure is that countless intelligent and sophisticated people throughout history have noticed that astrology, when applied to the lives of individuals, seems to work. Their recorded observations form the body of knowledge that astrology is based upon.

In today’s day and age, many (not all) astrologers in the West look at astrology from a psychological point of view, to examine what motivates a particular individual and why. Thus, Western astrology is often based on a psychological model that is very well suited to modern life, and can be applied to many areas of life.

It can help us to learn more about ourselves, our strengths and opportunities, as well as our challenges and weaknesses.

Astrology can reveal the kind of work or career we are suited to, how we go about achieving the things that we want in the world, how comfortable or uncomfortable we are within ourselves, and how other people are likely to respond to us. It can reveal a lot about career, relationships, finances, family life, children and life direction.

It can reveal what we do and don’t need in relationships, the kinds of partners we do or don’t attract, and why. It can also tell us a lot about where we hold ourselves back in life, why we do things habitually that fail to get us what we want, and what we can do to change that.

The best way to get a handle on your strengths and challenges is to consider your Sun Sign and House, then blend that with your Moon and Rising signs.   

Most importantly, astrology takes the point of view that the birth chart is a map or blue-print of your potential.

Very few of us ever realize our full potential, but with a deep and ongoing awareness of our birth chart we can hone skills, putting ourselves in the best position to see things come into fruition, and take responsibility for our weaknesses, so that they can be transformed.