Astrology and Personal Development

Natalie Delahaye Astrologer Surrey

Natalie Delahaye - Astrologer in Surrey. This article describes how astrology contributed towards your personal development.

In what ways has astrology contributed toward your personal development and which writers and/or practitioners have influenced you thus far?

Astrology has greatly contributed to wards my personal development from an early age and continues to more now than ever, since I’ve been formally studying it. In this essay I discuss some of my views on astrology, the main writers who have influenced me and how astrology, in my view mirrors or differs from other disciplines.

Astrology has significantly contributed towards my personal development since the age of 13 when I was given Linda Goodman’s Sun Astrology book. I used to re-read her book over and over again; I found it so fascinating and poetic. Her portrayal of the sun signs is so romantic and positive that I couldn’t imagine disliking or not getting on with everyone, after reading the book. It definitely helped me to understand myself and others more. It also made me appreciate the uniqueness of each individual as well as the similarities we share. An understanding of Sun Signs led me to explore astrology in greater depth. In the last 2 years, since commencing my studies at the faculty, astrology has contributed the most to my personal development. Every day I seem to be understanding astrology on a deeper level as I learn something new about it. I love the way astrology is never just a theoretical discipline; it can be seen and experienced all around you Since studying astrology, I take a far more active role in my destiny and find that through the self-discovery and depth of self-knowledge that has come from astrology; choices are made more easily and random, coincidental events now seem natural and seem to follow an order through understanding the cyclical continuity of transits and the opportunities for growth and transformation that come with them. Certain experiences and aspects of one’s personality that could easily go un- noticed or be superficially understood, can, with the help of astrology be understood with depth and clarity. That is one of the beauties of astrology.

Since studying astrology I’ve taken more control in my life and become less fatalistic; I’m not saying that relying on fate is a bad thing but I think it’s good to have a healthy balance between seeing life as fated and utilising the pockets of free will we’re given. I used to let life happen to me more, rather than asserting myself in the way I do now. Like a lot of people who visit fortune tellers, I believed that so much of our lives were fated and was happy going with the flow and allowing myself to be guided by fate. This way of living worked for me until I was 29 and then I became much more aware of free will. This new way of thinking seemed to be a result of my Saturn Return. I learnt to take much more responsibility with the choices I made rather than allowing life to come to me I knew what I wanted and as a result, worked on manifesting it.
Many people, when they hear of my interest in astrology, want me to predict their lives for them. Many people assume that Astrology is similar to fortune telling which is what Astrology was in the Middle Ages and the Rennaisance.

Steven Arroyo ,in his book Astrology, Psychology and The Four Elements, talks about how the new type of astrology today is orientated towards those who have taken some steps towards self-knowledge. I agree with his view and like him, I don’t think a modern day astrologer serves as a fortune-teller, as in previous ages. I like Steven Arroyo’s holistic, multi-faceted approach to astrology and his practical and clear language. His approach is creative, psychological and scientific.

I see astrology as an art form in the way that creative energy is required to bring astrology to life. Different people bring different aspects to astrology, depending on how they see the world, their experiences and attitudes. This is what makes astrology so creative; such a diversity of tools and disciplines are available to bring it to life. Imagination and intuition are invaluable faculties involved in the complex astrological art.

Psychology mirrors astrology in the way that both are corncerned with the inner world, the personality and potential of the individual. Jung utilized astrology in understanding the human psyche, using symbols and archetypes. Liz Greene’s books have been useful to me in gaining understanding of how the Jungian approach can work with astrology. However, I don’t feel the solely psychological approach towards astrology is the path for me although some great astrological writers and practitioners have a background in astrology and bring innovative perspectives to the subject due to their understanding of psychology. C.G Yung sees astrology as enhancing psychology but doesn’t think that psychology can contribute as much to astrology.
‘Obviously astrology offers much to psychology, but that which the latter can contribute to its elder sister is less obvious.’ (Arroyo, 1975,p6)
This quote I intuitively agree with even though I have no background in psychology/psychotherapy. However, I can very much appreciate how the psychological path naturally leads people to astrology and the similarities in the systematic approach they share.

Astrological theories mirror science in the way that the birth chart is based on mathematical and scientific calculations. Astronomical observations are essential in the production of a birth chart and in this sense it is scientific. Astrology is a science in the definition of science being.
A systematic and formulated knowledge, esp of a specified type or on a specified subject.” (Oxford Dictionary). Astrology differs from science in the way that astrology is holistic and does not involve an individual factor being tested in an isolated way like science does. In his book, ‘Cosmic Loom’, Dennis Elwell talks about how the methods used in astrological understanding differ from the statistical approach. He uses the analogy of an acorn being planted, to compare the kind of knowledge involved in waiting to see what is produced; to the statistical knowledge of measuring and weighing acorns.(Elwell, 1987, p159).
In this quote, Elwell accentuates the element of growth, evolution and mystery within astrology.

Astrology provides one with the opportunities to exercise many parts of themselves at once ; the creative ability, the scientific aspect, the esoteric part, the literary skills and mathematical understanding.

This essay discusses the way in which astrology has contributed towards my personal development thus far. I look forward to ways astrology continues to offer me opportunities for growth and transformation. The authors I have mentioned have been the most influential so far. However, there are many others whose books I have found highly inspiring. They are Lindsay River and Sally Gillespie, Julia and Derek Parker, Bernadette Brady, Sue Tompkins, Howard Sasportas, Edgar Cayce and Nicholas Campion. I enjoy reading a wide and diverse range of astrological writings and look forward to the many more writers who will be of influence to me, as well as exploring new literature from astrological writers who I’m familiar with.

WORDS 1, 178.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Arroyo, S. Astrology, Psychology And The Four Elements ( USA: CRCS, 1975

Elwell, D Cosmic Loom, The New Science Of Astrology (UK: Unwin Hyman, 1987)