As we enter June, the most astrological month of the year, with exalted Jupiter returning to Cancer and the three benefactors coming together for the first time in 12 years, it’s tempting to relax and let the planets do their thing. That’s exactly the trap I wrote about about six years ago, and it keeps repeating itself. When we have good news, just as we do when we have difficult news, we use astrology to avoid our inner work.
The following piece was written in April 2020. The questions we’re asking here are the ones we’re asking again this June, so we’re republishing them lightly framed. This is the same magician’s sleeve that I wrote about. Signs of life from the zodiac I’m still at work. Especially when Jupiter is exalted.
Eyes on Astrology: Bypassing Astrology
Life is difficult for many people right now. Do we turn to astrological forecasts as a way to justify our emotional problems? How many of us use astrology and our intellectual makeup to avoid the hard work required to change our souls and consciousness? Are you using astrology to over-intellectualize or blame your life circumstances? I have to admit that this happens all too often to me. Today, my friend Carla coined the term “astrological bypass,” which always resonates deeply.
Astrology bypassing is rampant in our community. When we do something wrong or hurt another person, do we blame the planets and say, “Oh, Mars was aspecting Mercury,” or do we accept responsibility for the fight or argument and apologize? Will we take solace in knowing that Saturn is transiting over our natal Moon, causing depression, or will we do something like meditation, yoga, service, etc. to change it?
Do we avoid doing something because of bad timing or poor transportation, and does this avoidance prevent deep learning? Sometimes real difficult life situations bring this upon us in an intense and dramatic way and help us change. It can be painful, but sometimes something drastic is necessary to bring about the growth you need.
My colleague Stephen Stuckey gave us great insight into whether to use astrology to avoid the surprise drama that brings us the most growth.
“I believe that we need to be thrown out into the unknown, so to speak, so that something new (i.e., something beyond thought) can come to us without any ‘idea’ of what will happen next. To go into the ‘darkness’. is very important for spiritual life, but sometimes we may not get there with complete abandonment, because we are a little too “intelligent” for ourselves and know the difficult passages (often accompanied by spiritual experiences). As such, the potential for momentary intensity needed for transformation can be lost. ”
So there’s value in living life without expectations, but at the end of the day, I like to have foresight.
My own feeling is that Jyotish helps us shed light on our shadows and remove self-blame and self-shame. If we can see the puppet master pulling our emotions and thoughts, we can step back and stop blaming ourselves, which creates a moment of Zen observation and allows us to understand that we are not our thoughts, emotions, and ego. In a sense, this is a jnana technique for freeing ourselves from the bonds that usually bind us. I’ve been using it that way for years and it gives me freedom every day because I know when it’s over and what’s causing it. I still need to work on myself, but I’ve become kinder to myself and don’t beat myself up as much.
Sometimes we can be a little too predestined by what the stars suggest, but I think for spiritual seekers and those involved in long-term spiritual practices, our consciousness is more malleable.
My friend Juliana Swanson said:
“When we wake up, we realize that we are multidimensional and there are many possibilities at any given time. There are infinite possibilities found in the fact that every astrological combination is good for something and bad for something, and there are higher and lower expressions depending on one’s consciousness.”
Our consciousness is more powerful than the planet because divinity resides within us, but when we become victims of the planet, its greatness is diminished.
I am reminded of the seminal work of Robert Augustus Masters. Spiritual Bypass: When Spirituality Cuts Us Off from What Really Matters. This study focuses on when spiritual beliefs allow people to avoid dealing with painful emotions, unresolved wounds, and developmental needs in order to avoid unpleasant emotions in favor of activities that appear more “enlightened.” On one level, I completely understand the value of spiritual practices as a means of transforming karma through meditation, service, and spiritual knowledge. And it’s a much healthier method than the addictive behaviors traditionally used to avoid painful emotions. Yet, unless we see our own shadows, can we really become whole and “enlightened”? One of my great teachers always reminded me that “the mud never ends.” How do we balance the benefits of spiritual practices and spiritual organizing that allow us to deal with emotional wounds with the need to dig into our wounds from time to time in order to transform, release, and make whole? There needs to be some balance.
After all, for those on a spiritual path, Vedic astrology can create deep transcendence and shed light on difficult situations, and if we can use that light to remove our own shadows, we can grow immeasurably. At the end of the day, I guess I lean towards spiritual practices as a way to get through life without digging back into muddy waters. Paying attention to our spiritual life and doing good for others raises our consciousness and gives us the opportunity to focus our minds on something more positive than on the disappointing past, allowing us to live in the present moment with a higher quality of life and more joy and presence.
The solution is through the mechanism
This is a practical point. The way out of astrology bypass is not to abandon astrology. It means learning deeply enough to see the planetary dynamics beneath the puppet strings and surface drama, and then stepping back. Superficial knowledge keeps you responsive. True understanding makes you a witness.
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Source: ASTRO BLOG Archives – Applied Vedic Astrology – www.appliedvedicastrology.com
