Humanistic (Natal) Astrology

The basic premise of humanistic astrology is that the birth chart reveals the potential of that which we can become.

This potential is revealed through understanding the planetary cycles existent at the moment of birth, and their correlation to observations of human behaviour, development and relations. It is the periodical order inherent in all cyclic inter-relationships of the planets which makes their use in relation to human life relevant to the humanistic astrologer.

All of existence is structured by time, and all activity takes place within time. A cycle may be seen as the life span of a given entity. Although the cycle has a recognizable beginning and end, it is a mistake to interpret this as the perpetual starting point - that is, - the beginning, end and new beginning. Such a view leads us to believe that everything is a series of repetitive sequences of events, which is not a true picture of the reality; for although the pattern of unfoldment from beginning to end does indeed repeat itself, the contents of a cycle - the changing states, events or experiences within the cycle's span are never exactly repeated.

A "cycle" represents "a whole activity", and there are recognisable phases of activity or development as the cycle unfolds. Any specific moment within the cycle is considered part of the "middle" - a working out of the impulse which began the cycle and can be seen as being directed toward the consummation or purpose, of that cycle.

Astrology is the study of the interconnections between all these factors - between future and past in every present moment; between the Universal macrocosm and the individual microcosm. "As Above; So Below" to use the cliché…….

The natal chart then, is the starting point of an individual's life cycle. Poised between the ancestral past - the karmic roots as it were, and the potentially individualised future - the dharma - or life purpose. It is the pattern or plan of what Carl Gustov Jung called individuation. It reveals in symbolic language how each person can fully become what he potentially is.

The aspects within the chart should be understood as instructions - guides to the map. These instructions tell us how the activities or functions represented symbolically by the planets concerned should be related to one another in order to fulfill what is needed at a particular phase of the whole cycle during which the two planets relate to each other in all possible ways.

Similarly, when looking at future trends, the aspects reveal what we should be doing - that is for what productive purpose - we must deal with the circumstances symbolised.

Astrology then, merely broadens, conceptualises, generalises and codifies into principles applicable to human development, the experience of unfoldment of the Universal cycles, that is the WHOLE process of changes occurring within that cyclic process.

Cycles themselves are measurements of change - in order for any purpose to be realised, change must take place. Change necessarily involves crises. Here, crises or crisis, should not be confused with the word catastrophe. Crisis derives from the Greek KRINO, which simply means - a time for decision. "Malefics", "bad aspects" etc. are descriptives that have no place in humanistic astrology, which is the astrology of human understanding rather than deterministic prediction.

So, a crisis is a turning point -- that which precedes change; in other words, in order to avoid a crisis, one would have to avoid change altogether --- an obvious impossibility.

Man has the capacity for conscious decision to change in the form of choice. The barrier to conscious choice is ego, or that which society has conditioned us as individuals that we should be, as opposed to the experience of Self, which tells us what we really are. It is conforming to the societal role that we assume habitual patterns of behaviour. Here, when the time for decision (crisis) arrives, we allow the habitual patterns to determine the choice rather than using the guidelines issued from our own personal truth as revealed in the natal chart.

The challenge of confrontation in a life is endless. Some of these turning points (confrontations) are biological (such as adolescence and menopause) and are met at specific ages, while others are individual and may occur at any time during the life span. The potential for the latter is inherent in the natal chart, and the interpretation of effects and responses will depend on the culture, age and personal development of the individual at the time of crisis.

These correlations appear to correspond to the Seven Ages of Man, as listed by Shakespeare in "As You Like It," which he appears to have derived from the Chaldeans.

There are many ways the life-cycle, or complete development of man as an individual personality, both theoretically and archetypally can be considered.

Dane Rudhyar suggested that this cycle takes 84 years - a complete Uranus cycle. This coincides with current life expectancy rates.

Correlatively, we can use the seven twelve year periods or the twelve seven year periods as markers or divisions of the life cycle. This 84 year cycle can also be divided into three periods of 28 years each --- the correlations are:- Uranus (84 years), Jupiter (12 years) and Saturn (29 years).

The number seven is the period attributed by all esoteric teachings. (viz the Jesuit doctrine "Give me a boy to the age of 7 and I will show you the man") Additionally, Rudhyar suggested that astrological analysis should concentrate on the 70 year cycle - containing 10 X 7 year periods. In this system, 35 is the dividing point. It is a well known fact that after the 36^th year, there is a repolarisation of the nerves and vital centres of the body, and in those psychic structures which are correlated to them. At approximately this time the truly individual Self of a human being should begin to operate. It is an age which often coincides with a definite step or decision - inner, outer or both, which gives an entirely new direction to the consciousness of an individual.

What is unique in a birth chart (for all that is depicted has either happened before or will happen in the near or distant future) is the total interrelatedness of all chart components. Certain factors will remain standouts - and what is required here is the ability to see the way in which the 'dominant' factor(s) can be integrated into the others and in turn are affected by them. After all, the entire constellation of these factors present at birth and throughout the life, together with the meaning attributed to them and therefore the way in which we respond to them, is what gives significance, integrity and uniqueness to our lives.

Bibliography: Dane Rudhyar: The Lunation Cycle - CRCS Publications - 1978

Astrological Aspects, A Process Oriented Approach - Aurora Press - 1980

Alexander Ruperti: Cycles of Becoming, The Planetary Pattern of Growth - CRCS Publications -1978