What is a traditional astrologer who sees value in psychological and spiritual astrology supposed to do?
The term “classical” or “traditional” astrology refers to astrology as it has been practiced over the last 4,000 years in the West. The actual origins of astrology are mysterious, yet it was practiced extensively throughout Chaldean (Sumerian), Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, Persian and Medieval European cultures. Traditional astrology uses techniques of essential dignities, house position, Ptolomeic angles, and rigorous chart delineations.
In the 20th century starting with the rise of scientific rationalism, we witnessed the rise of what is known as “psychological” astrology, which relies more upon general definitions and aspects between planets to gain reflective insight into a human being’s life experiences or psychology. Out of this grew modern astrology, pop astrology, and evolutionary astrology. Each having their own capacity to contribute to the minds of modern humans seeking meaning in life.
However, traditional astrology tends to de-emphasize or completely ignore the outer planets and asteroids in a chart reading. Their effects have not been observed by sages or empirical study for the previous four thousand years or more, thus it is my opinion that their effects are still being studied. My own interpretations of Chiron, Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus has itself changed over the course of my study, let alone the asteroid goddesses and dwarf planets. Richard Tarnas went on to in his own way successfully, or at least tangentially redefined Uranus as Prometheus, or at least added the richness of the promethean myth to the meaning of Uranus, discovered by William Herschel in 1783. Thus it took 230 years for a nuanced layered, and meaningful interpretation to be added to Uranus. The outers are still works in progress in terms of understanding the full impact of them on the chart.
Ptolomeic aspects (the conjunction, sextile, square, trine and opposition) are considered in traditional astrology as they are based upon strong neoplatonic philosophical reasoning but the non ptolomeic aspects are not used in traditional astrology. The result is that in traditional astrology one speaks of precise events and timing, where as in psychological astrology, more often than not spiritual and psychological generalities are spoken of. However, the traditional astrologer is limited in the scope of what they can explore. Traditional astrology misses out on a plethora of useful techniques for seeing things through minor aspects, outer planets, midpoints (although those can in some way be equated to lots). But, Modern astrology misses out on a whole lot of useful techniques too! Lunar Mansions, Zodiacal Releasing, Profections, Solar Arcs, Dwads, Decans, and Triplicity Lords, just to name a few.
To tackle this dilemma it becomes necessary to develop an understanding of astrology that unites Modern and Traditional astrology. Unfortunately, I do not see this when I go to conferences. There are still two camps.. the moderns and the traditionalists, and as you go room to room you see the same people in the same camps. The tremendously influential Rob Hand has suggested we consider a postmodern form of astrology which includes the best of modern astrology and its discoveries united with the more precise classical western astrological techniques. Certainly gifted astrologers can indeed employ both in helping the client discover themselves and their place in the grand cosmic play of human life and history.
A small note on the above video, Robert Hand suggests that astrology has not been used as a tool for self realization up until now. I am very much of the opinion that is exactly how it was used in the Orphic mystery cults.
What does this mean for someone seeking astrological guidance. It means that an astrologer who has studied traditional and modern techniques can give a fuller and more comprehensive reading. One that is more detailed and illuminating to the souls journey through this life. This is a result of being able to speak in a modern language of psychological meaning appropriate for the time, and think in the logical way of seeing that makes traditional so incredibly potent as predictive ways of insight. There are outstanding astrologers who are solely modern and amazing astrologers who are also incredibly gifted traditional astrologers.
However, it is as Rob Hand suggests here, Post Modern Astrology which can uniquely contribute to the development of astrological meaning during our time of great need to define what is human about our experience.
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This is mostly a reprint of a blog post I wrote in 2013