The tradition
of astrology is one in which the client asks questions and the astrologer
answers them. The success of the astrologer is generally determined by the
accuracy of these answers. This tradition, though, can limit the potentials
of astrology, and more importantly, the person who uses it. The reason is
that being right is not always helpful. With respect to a natal chart, for
example, if an astrologer says, "Pluto in your Seventh House indicates
that you attract powerful and manipulative partners," this may be correct.
But, where does that leave you? Must all your partners be manipulative?
The accuracy of the statement reinforces your negative experiences in relationships.
The astrologer may be right, but what's been the effect? It has reduced
your hopes for a trusting, non-manipulative partnership. Is this really
helpful?
It's understandable
that people want answers and that coming up with correct ones demonstrates
the skill of the astrologer and the accuracy of astrology. However, the
role of the astrologer is much more than the reporter of facts. The astrologer
can be a creative agent, a source of ideas and inspiration for creating
the future. But, this possibility can only arise if we do indeed have
some choice in life. If it's all fated, then there's nothing anyone can
do about it. However, if life is a mix of Fate and Free Will (and I believe
it is), then there is a place to influence the future. This is a very
significant role for astrology.
Saturn,
Creative Prediction and Planetary Meanings
Creative
Prediction, as I call it, is not about saying that you've got transiting
Saturn square your Venus and this is a great time to party. It is, rather,
a means of finding positive value in any transit, progression or other
forecasting technique. The key to this is meaning. What is the meaning
of transiting Saturn? If you believe that its only purpose is punishment,
then you might as well stop reading now. Certainly, Saturn has its demanding
side. It holds us accountable and places us up against limits. But, it
also has the potential to help us build, construct and shape ourselves
and our lives with conscious purpose.
Saturn's
square to Venus is about reshaping love. The form can come with challenges,
that's the most common expression of the square. But, these challenges
are most likely to be fair, within your capacity to meet them and, thus,
can strengthen Venus in your life. A more detailed description of how
this might be done would come through the sign and house placements of
Saturn and Venus, as well as other aspects and chart factors.
We can tell
a constructive story about any upcoming cycle (or any chart pattern, for
that matter). With this approach the astrologer helps the client (or him/herself)
produce desirable and realistic images for the future. This creative approach
is only limited by the imagination of the astrologer. Good astrology,
of course, is true to the symbolism; it's inaccurate to say that Saturn
square Venus means expansion of love. Nope, Saturn is contraction, but
the good astrologer understands the value of contraction and how to use
it productively.
Keyword
Brainstorming
If you're
short on ideas about combining the meanings of Saturn and Venus (or any
other astrological factors), try astrological brainstorming. Take a list
of keywords for Saturn and Venus and combine them in as many ways as you
can. Even non-sensical ones can trigger creative ideas. For example, with
Saturn we have: mature, patient, responsible, constructive, delayed, frustrated,
serious, practical, etc. For Venus we have: love, beauty, grace, charm,
art, pleasure, etc. Saturn-Venus, then, can bring mature love, constructive
art, responsible pleasure, etc. Add the signs for more details. Transiting
Saturn in Aries, for example, describes new order or structures, the necessity
for independence or being a pioneer. The house Saturn is transiting describes
where this can best be expressed. If transiting Saturn is now moving through
the Eighth House square natal Venus in Cancer in the Eleventh, this can
mean (among other things) that the need to define (Saturn) new conditions
(Aries) in intimacy (Eighth House) challenges old relationships (Venus
in Cancer) with friends (Eleventh House). Or, the need to focus (Saturn)
on one person (Aries) through deep emotional work (Eighth House) meets
the resistance (square) of your old love (Venus in Cancer) community activities
(Eleventh).
Stringing
together factors like these can feel awkward at first, but it's a useful
step towardh the creative fluency that makes for effective astrological
counseling. Working this way means that the astrologer is dealing with
possibilities, not absolute answers. This is vital to the process of discovery
that makes choice possible and cultivates creativity. The astrologer,
then, changes roles from the arbiter of reality to that of an agent of
change, from having the right answer to supplying a variety of possible
answers. This also means that the astrologer must be willing to give up
her/his power of being right. The desire to create and contribute must
at least equal the ego's needs to control with absolutes. This kind of
flexibility is appropriate for the health and well-being of the astrologer
and the client. It empowers the client who is to be encouraged to reinterpret
the information in other ways as she/he sees fit.
Natal
Chart Interpretation Principles
These same
principles apply to interpreting a natal chart, as well. Too often I've
seen astrologers (including myself) victimized by the limits they impose
on themselves through their interpretations. "I've got the Moon in
Scorpio, so I should just accept emotional suffering in my life."
Statements like these are not meaningful, they are curses. They may provide
some certainty. (Negativity is an excellent way to control reality.) But,
they disempower the person who hears them. If astrology is to be of service
to individuals and to our society, it will do well to open itself to all
the possibilities available. At this time we no longer need the dogmatic
beliefs of the past. Pluto in Sagittarius reminds us that this is a time
when religions and philosophies will be transformed or fall into further
corruption. Astrology is no exception to this. Approaching astrology with
an open mind and heart is the best way to harvest its unlimited supply
of inspiration and useful ideas.
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