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Astrology and the Search for Meaning

Astrology is an ancient tool that, when used in concert with Jungian depth psychology, can support us in purposes of self-discovery, soul growth, and being "brought to completion." Astrology's "map of the soul" provides each person with a map of their inborn potentials and then symbolically shows how these inborn potentials will seek to systemically unfold over the course of the person's lifetime.

In fact, what I call the "living out" of one's birth chart is the psychological goal and/or task of this lifetime... In Jungian psychological terms, this task is called the process of "individuation" or the natural internal movement toward "wholeness."

The Task of Wholeness
The ancient Christian philosopher Irenaeus once wrote: "the glory of God is a life fully lived." In making this statement, Irenaeus had been inspired by the familiar New Testament passage from the book of Matthew where Jesus of Nazareth had stated: "You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly father is perfect." Unfortunately, English translations of this passage - making use of the word "perfect" - are more than a wee bit misleading. The original Greek word used was teleios, meaning "brought to completion." Therefore, the better translation is: "You must therefore be complete just as your heavenly father is complete." Thus, as Irenaeus wrote, "the glory of God is a life fully lived."

In actuality - Jesus, Irenaeus, and then finally Jung were all echoing the famous admonition "Gnothi se auton" ("know thyself") inscribed on the Oracle of Delphi temple in ancient Greece. "Know thyself." The task involved in "knowing thyself," being "complete," or "wholeness" is that of more consciously (and fully) living out all the potentials - the good, the bad, and the ugly - contained in who you are as an individual.

Don't Worry, Be Happy
Ask the average person what they want out of life - and they'll likely tell you that they'd just like to find a little happiness. At least, I know that's been my personal, private, little fantasy. A little happiness… Quite a concept, isn't it. A little happiness…

Heck! If you're an American citizen, then you know that the very Constitution of our Cancerian nation promises to mother and nurture her citizens with opportunities of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Nevertheless, finding and then living in a continual state of happiness is an illusory (albeit wonderful) Cancerian fantasy. As a result of attempting to live out this fantasy, we often end up spending large portions of our lives in the attempt of reducing our pain and inducing our pleasure.

Unfortunately, archetypal psychologist, James Hillman, author of the bestselling book, The Soul Code, aptly reminds us that the very last thing our soul seems to be intent on is happiness. Our soul is looking for a sense of wholeness and meaning.

What Do you Think This Is? A Holiday Inn?
Yep! The all too obvious "reality gap" - between hope and experience - remains a hounding, howling opponent to our peaceful fantasies of "a little happiness." The archetypal father sign of Capricorn (in oppositional tension to the nurturing sign of Cancer) serves as a stark reminder of: "Whoever told you that life is fair?"… "You've got to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, buddy!"… and "What do you think this is? A Holiday Inn?"

Jungian author, James Hollis, in Swamplands of the Soul:

Psyche
Psyche (from which psych-ology derives its name) is the Greek word for soul. Ironically, much of modern psychology refuses to dirty its hands with notions of "soul" and/or "meaning." The goal of modern psychology is often that of reprogramming and/or medicating maladaptive behaviors, emotions, and/or thoughts.

Behavioral treatments and therapies unquestionably have their rightful, vital, and essential place. However, in the treatment of deep emotional and spiritual soul wounds... one can only hope that the masking and controlling of pain, in order to support a person successfully function in day to day life, is only the first step and not the ultimate goal of emotional health, healing, and well being.

Jungian psychology and archetypal astrology provide a much needed alternative perspective based on the premise that the purpose of life is not that of finding the ever-elusive fantasy of "happiness" or even of finding a "happy medium" between pain and pleasure. The purpose of life is that of finding "meaning."

At The Core of Life and Meaning
Fortunately, finding "meaning" through our experiences in the "swamplands" does not - by any means - imply that we will or should remain in those swamplands or be left helplessly at the bottom of an abyss of pain.

That, too, was Carl G. Jung's fervent belief... that at the core of life one could find purpose and meaning - and that finding purpose and meaning made all things bearable.

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