How Astrology Became My Religion
Religion –
(noun)
: the belief in a god or in a group of gods
: an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods
: an interest, a belief, or an activity that is very important to a person or group
When I discuss astrology, I’m often asked how and why I became so knowledgeable on the subject. The short answer: obsessive study. This is the douchey answer, I know, but I didn’t take a class or approach astrology with a lesson plan. I had a long-standing interest in sun signs and horoscopes. Though I never believed them to be absolute fact, when I read general descriptions of my sun sign (Libra) and those of my loved ones, I saw similarities. Raised by two Capricorn women, when I read about their high expectations of loved ones, sense of duty, opportunism and struggles with empathy, my childhood made more sense to me. Reading about high energy, witty, cerebral Geminis, I saw those traits in my closet friends and the man who became the love of my life. Good-natured, freedom-loving and fiercely loyal Sagittarian women have been a staple in my life as well. While my loved ones have unique identifiers and are certainly more than their sun signs, I couldn’t help but notice the astrological patterns behind what drew me to (or repelled me from–Hi, Capricorns) them.
While healing devastating break up wounds in 2010, I asked a friend to read my chart. In my casual research, I’d learned there was more to astrology than the sun sign and I was curious about the meaning of it all. I learned then about Ascendants (the filter through which we express ourselves) and Moon Signs (our innermost emotions and motivations). Apparently, I was more than just my diplomatic, charming, contemplative Libra Sun. My personality got a boost from a prideful, expressive Leo Ascendant and an intense, brooding Scorpio Moon. Accepting the Leo Ascendant was easy; tales of my cockiness were well-documented. The Scorpion Moon traits were just as real–specifically the overwhelming emotions that often pulled me into periods of transformative darkness–but harder to accept. Until then, I treated my dark periods as external events that interrupted what should’ve been consistent confidence and optimism. I didn’t know how such contradictions (Leo’s shining light vs. Scorpio’s dark solitary depths) could co-exist without ripping me to shreds.
My interest went from casual to obsessive early last year when I received my first professional astrology reading; a Venus Report that detailed my approach to love, sex, and relationships as laid out in my natal chart. While I’d followed the astrologer (Nella) online for a few months prior, we didn’t have a relationship. She didn’t know me. However, when I received her report, I was stunned by how much ME was on its pages, especially the sections that emphasized the primary conflict of my love life:
Venus in Virgo in the 1st House Square Uranus in Sagittarius in the 3rd house
Your impulse to create affinity and build relationships is in hard aspect to your impulse to establish an independent identity within society and find freedom. This often leads to a feeling of internal conflict. Though you value routine, order and devotion in a relationship, you also have a great urge to be independent, spontaneous and free from any type of constraints that a love partnership could possibly impose. At times you feel you have to choose between committed, stable relationships that lack the sense of adventure that you so enjoy or singlehood that allows you freedom and autonomy over your own life. You must learn to meld the two urges in order to achieve a sense of balance and fulfillment in the sphere of love.
After days of pouring over the report, highlighting sections, and discussing them with friends, I wanted to learn more about astrology; not just instant interpretations of my natal chart and placements. I wanted to read and interpret on my own. During a particularly dark period last summer, when I had far too many thoughts and too much free time to drown in them, I started my deep dive into astrological study. It served two purposes: a practical application of my restless mental energy and a tool to better understand what made me tick and why.
One evening, over drinks with my BFF as a I practiced reading her natal chart, she interrupted me with a broad grin (the grin usually precedes her telling me something about myself that I don’t know yet) and said “This is kind of like your religion.” I hadn’t thought of it that way, as astrology doesn’t feel particularly spiritual for me. Granted, I like some planets’ meanings more than others (I rock hard with pleasure-seeking Venus. Disciplined Saturn, not so much), but I don’t worship them. I’ve taken on an unconventional set of beliefs, but I’m not “woo-woo” enough to espouse them as deep, spiritual truths.
Most people hear “astrology” and think horoscopes and sun signs (i.e. “Because, I’m a Libra, I’m indecisive and even moreso when Mercury goes retrograde because that makes everyone crazy”). Sun signs and horoscopes, however, are part of a much larger picture. The school of astrology I’m most interested in is natal chart astrology. Spoiler alert: we are more than our sun signs. While sun signs reveal how our egos express themselves, we are born with all twelve astrological signs in our natal charts, each sign governing a different aspect of our lives. Within the natal chart, we learn how we communicate, love, handle adversity, nurture others, and expand ourselves. Natal charts can reveal if you’re an introvert or an extrovert; sensitive and intuitive or pragmatic and analytical.
Predictive astrology (which is where we get horoscopes, Mercury Retrograde, and Saturn Returns) is another tenet of astrology. It isn’t based solely on our sun signs, but rather on how planets in their current position relate to our natal charts. The quick five-sentence summaries found in magazines and newspapers are more for fun than accuracy, as you need specific information (birth time and location) to know how transiting planets (what happens in the sky on a daily basis) affect your natal chart (how the planets were laid out when you were born). I don’t live or die by daily horoscopes, but I follow transits to identify major themes to look out for. I like to be mindful of the patterns that manifest in my everyday life. More often than not, I can tie an event to a larger purpose.
Religion isn’t always spiritual. In fact, the world is full of people who divorce religion from true spirituality, but that’s another post for another time. Religion can also be defined as “an interest, belief, or activity that is very important to a person or group.” By that definition, astrology is a religion for me. Like writing, astrology helps me understand myself and contextualize the events of my life. I’ve made peace with my highs and lows because emotional transformation through darkness helps me find my light and guide others to theirs. I’m unapologetic about my unconventional relationship needs because freedom and autonomy keep me centered. Transparency in my writing is more than just “telling my business,” it’s how I fulfill my larger purpose: self expression, communicating my values, and showing others how to embrace their quirks. All of which I learned via astrology.
If you’ve endured this post and haven’t dismissed me as a New Age hippy, I appreciate you. For those who have asked how I learned all of this, I wish I had a concise answer, but astrology is vast and endless. I can, however, give you a couple of links to get you started. If you’re serious about learning, try to take it a little at a time. If you try to learn everything at once, you’ll get overwhelmed. Focusing on one concept at a time (I’d start with signs, then planets, then houses) makes it easier.
Websites
Chaos Astrology: If you’re looking for a quick, easy-to-read interpretation of your natal chart, start here. It describes all of your placements and houses in (mostly) plain language and best of all, it’s free.
Cafe Astrology: This site has a ton of resources for those new to astrology, including explanations of all the signs, planets, houses, and placements.
Psychodynamic Astrology: This was one of my favorite sites when I first started studying. If you want to know how astrology and psychology link, read the following articles:
The Luminaries
The Inner Planets
Jupiter & Saturn
The Outer Planets
The Cycle of the Zodiac
Alyssa Sharpe, Astrologer: I pretty much live for all things Alyssa. Her YouTube is full of hilarious, down-to-earth explanations of astrology. Start with her Basic Astrology playlist and work your way around her channel.
Astrologers to Follow on Twitter
@AshleighDJay
@TheMecchanism
@JChiron18
@AlyssaSharpe
@SagittarianMind
@UnlockAstrology
How Astrology Became My Religion was originally published on The Skinny Black Girl
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