What do the stars say about your personality and future? This question illustrates the main assumption of astrologers. That is, astrologers assume that an individual's personality and behaviour is influenced by the position of stars and planets at his/her birth.
Of all the pseudo-psychologies, astrology is probably the most popular. For some, astrology offers an approach to utilizing their strengths, overcoming weaknesses, and fulfilling their potential. For others, it's a little frivolity.
Astrology, having existed for more than 3000 years, can consider itself to be the elder sister of psychology.
Both disciplines concern themselves with the psyche. As with astrology, there are different branches and schools of psychology. Some prefer scientific approaches - if this is possible with the complexity of the human psyche and others follow holistic or alternative concepts. These latter approaches often display parallels to astrology and combine easily with it. Among them is Carl Gustav Jung's Analytical Psychology.
Despite their individuality people "allow themselves" to be pigeonholed into certain categories.
Carl Gustav Jung explains this phenomenon by categorising people into four psychological types. According to his theory the conscious self knows four main modes of perception which express them differently and more or less strongly in every individual: the thinking function, the feeling function, the sensation and intuitive function. They can be defined as two contrasting pairs: thinking and feeling are rational opposites (in the sense that they evaluate and judge things). Both sensation and intuition are considered irrational functions, because they do not judge, but simply record things. Of course, not all four functions are equally strong within any one individual. One function dominates, while the other tends to be "underdeveloped". In order to become really whole, a person should attempt to develop all four modes of perception. This is an extraordinarily difficult task. Jung writes in Psychological Types:
We know that a man can never be anything at once, never complete - he always develops certain qualities at the expense of others, and wholeness is never attained.
The science of psychological astrology was born from Jung's theories and writings. This is an engagement of horoscopic astrology with depth psychology, humanistic psychology, and transpersonal psychology.
The first thing that the would-be astrologer should do is discard the idea that all forms of astrology is superstition mingled with the paranormal which can only be understood by mystics steeped in secret wisdom. Today, some astrology is presented this way, but this is not true "traditional astrology". Did you know that Astrology was considered science in man's early history? And some still do, with good reason.
Why do people believe in astrology? The answer to the question lies very much in the same realm as why people believe in just about any superstition. Astrology offers a number of things which many people find very desirable: information and assurance about the future, a way to be absolved of their current situation and future decisions, and a way to feel connected to the entire cosmos. In the past, astrology and other forms of divination were integral parts of many religions. Today, people either accept astrology alongside religions which technically condemn the practice or accept astrology in place of traditional religion.
Think about what happens during a visit with an astrologer: someone holds your hand (even if only figuratively), looks you in the eye, and explains how you, as an individual, are actually connected to our entire cosmos. You are told how mysterious forces in the universe around us, far greater than ourselves, work to shape our intimate destinies. You are told relatively flattering things about your character and life, and in the end you are naturally pleased that someone cares about you. In the hectic and generally disconnected modern society, you feel connected - both to another human being and to the world around you.
None of this is to say that astrologers' advice is never any good. Like a telephone psychic, even though the advice is usually very vague and general, it can often be better than no advice at all. Some people just need another person to listen to them and show some concern for their problems. On the other hand, astrologers who recommend against particular marriages or projects because of the "stars" might be providing disastrous advice. There is, sadly, no way to differentiate between the two.
Rather than being about divinations or predictions, psychological astrology looks at the birth chart as a map of who we are, our life journey, our complexes and can help us get a clearer picture of who we really are. It can help us work out our problems and clarify our goals.
A psychological astrologer will give you insight into what makes you tick as a person. It can help you understand where you are going in life, why problems recur in your life and teach you how to develop yourself better. This can lead to helping you have a greater understanding of yourself, your relationships with others and the direction of your life.
The application of psychological astrology makes a powerful tool for counselling and life management. It gives an incredibly helpful insight into areas such as lack of a sense of direction, low self confidence, conflicts in relationships, health, sexuality, love, vocation, addiction, depression and much more.
Of all the pseudo-psychologies, astrology is probably the most popular. For some, astrology offers an approach to utilizing their strengths, overcoming weaknesses, and fulfilling their potential. For others, it's a little frivolity.
Astrology, having existed for more than 3000 years, can consider itself to be the elder sister of psychology.
Both disciplines concern themselves with the psyche. As with astrology, there are different branches and schools of psychology. Some prefer scientific approaches - if this is possible with the complexity of the human psyche and others follow holistic or alternative concepts. These latter approaches often display parallels to astrology and combine easily with it. Among them is Carl Gustav Jung's Analytical Psychology.
Despite their individuality people "allow themselves" to be pigeonholed into certain categories.
Carl Gustav Jung explains this phenomenon by categorising people into four psychological types. According to his theory the conscious self knows four main modes of perception which express them differently and more or less strongly in every individual: the thinking function, the feeling function, the sensation and intuitive function. They can be defined as two contrasting pairs: thinking and feeling are rational opposites (in the sense that they evaluate and judge things). Both sensation and intuition are considered irrational functions, because they do not judge, but simply record things. Of course, not all four functions are equally strong within any one individual. One function dominates, while the other tends to be "underdeveloped". In order to become really whole, a person should attempt to develop all four modes of perception. This is an extraordinarily difficult task. Jung writes in Psychological Types:
We know that a man can never be anything at once, never complete - he always develops certain qualities at the expense of others, and wholeness is never attained.
The science of psychological astrology was born from Jung's theories and writings. This is an engagement of horoscopic astrology with depth psychology, humanistic psychology, and transpersonal psychology.
The first thing that the would-be astrologer should do is discard the idea that all forms of astrology is superstition mingled with the paranormal which can only be understood by mystics steeped in secret wisdom. Today, some astrology is presented this way, but this is not true "traditional astrology". Did you know that Astrology was considered science in man's early history? And some still do, with good reason.
Why do people believe in astrology? The answer to the question lies very much in the same realm as why people believe in just about any superstition. Astrology offers a number of things which many people find very desirable: information and assurance about the future, a way to be absolved of their current situation and future decisions, and a way to feel connected to the entire cosmos. In the past, astrology and other forms of divination were integral parts of many religions. Today, people either accept astrology alongside religions which technically condemn the practice or accept astrology in place of traditional religion.
Think about what happens during a visit with an astrologer: someone holds your hand (even if only figuratively), looks you in the eye, and explains how you, as an individual, are actually connected to our entire cosmos. You are told how mysterious forces in the universe around us, far greater than ourselves, work to shape our intimate destinies. You are told relatively flattering things about your character and life, and in the end you are naturally pleased that someone cares about you. In the hectic and generally disconnected modern society, you feel connected - both to another human being and to the world around you.
None of this is to say that astrologers' advice is never any good. Like a telephone psychic, even though the advice is usually very vague and general, it can often be better than no advice at all. Some people just need another person to listen to them and show some concern for their problems. On the other hand, astrologers who recommend against particular marriages or projects because of the "stars" might be providing disastrous advice. There is, sadly, no way to differentiate between the two.
Rather than being about divinations or predictions, psychological astrology looks at the birth chart as a map of who we are, our life journey, our complexes and can help us get a clearer picture of who we really are. It can help us work out our problems and clarify our goals.
A psychological astrologer will give you insight into what makes you tick as a person. It can help you understand where you are going in life, why problems recur in your life and teach you how to develop yourself better. This can lead to helping you have a greater understanding of yourself, your relationships with others and the direction of your life.
The application of psychological astrology makes a powerful tool for counselling and life management. It gives an incredibly helpful insight into areas such as lack of a sense of direction, low self confidence, conflicts in relationships, health, sexuality, love, vocation, addiction, depression and much more.
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