What's Your Sign?

For anyone dating thru the 60's or 70's and even into the 80's , this was either a dreaded pick-up line or a serious question whose answer could possibly give the other person some insight into what type of person you were. Songs like "Age of Aquarius" from the musical "Hair" and "Jesus was a Capricorn" by Kris Kristofferson made it popular. Newspapers devoted (and still do) entire columns to it. Books and magazines about it flooded bookstore and library shelves. Yes, I'm talking about Astrology... that pseudoscientific study of how the positions and movement of celestial bodies at any given time, affects who we are and how we live our lives.

If you're a believer, I hope you'll continue to read and perhaps expand your thoughts about the subject. If you're not a believer, I hope you'll continue to read and perhaps just consider the possibilities. Before I go any further, this is expressly my opinions on the subject. I have no hard facts to back me up but I believe there is some logic to my ramblings!

First, a little bit about astrology. Astrologers believe that the movements and positions of celestial bodies either directly influence life on Earth or correspond in some way to events that occur in life. While some present day astrologers define astrology as a form of divination, others consider it a symbolic language, or even an art form. Despite this disparity in definitions, a common assumption by all astrologers is that celestial placements can help interpret past and present events and assist in the prediction of probable future events.

Not very definitive, is it? Perhaps not, but then, what is nowadays? Things that scientists held as "written in stone" truths 50 years ago are often disproved through modern technology. So, who is to say that anything is so assuredly true that there will never be an instance of something occurring that would negate popular wisdom? On the flip side, say it is just a bunch of hooey... it is after all, "for entertainment purposes only!" But that choice is yours to make.

So why do I personally believe in astrology? Simply put - because I ascribe to Newton's laws of motion - for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Bear with me here...If you drop a pebble into a pond, there will be a change in that pond and in that pebble, albeit on an infinitesimal level. The pebble will probably sink to the bottom, displacing some dirt and perhaps some marine life as it sheds some incredibly small pieces of itself as it resists the water. Or perhaps it will shatter into many smaller pieces, providing shelter for tiny creatures who would otherwise be eaten by the fish in the pond. The water nearest the point of impace will ripple and those ripples will continue to spread out until they reach the shore, where they will change the shape of the shore. Soil or sand will be moved around, the animal and plant life will be disturbed. Energy will be expelled as the insect on the beach scurries away from the water or fights being swept away on it. If a boy happens to be moving past the insect, instinct will cause both the boy and the insect to act in a manner that is consistent with their best interest. The boy may see the insect and crush it, ending its life and turning it into a virtual feast for nearby birds. A bird might use the dead insect for food for its hatchlings, allowing them to grow stronger and eventually leave the nest. One of those birds might become dinner for another animal in the cycle of life, still another may be part of a flock who flies into the engine of a plane in flight. The pilot of that plane could be the father or mother of that little boy on the shore.... okay, maybe a bit morose, but I hope you can see where I'm heading with this. Even traditional science acknowledges the effects of the sun and the moon on our planet earth!

Virtually everything we do has an impact on everything else...keeping in mind that in the grand scheme of things, we are sooo tiny! Is it really that much of a stretch to believe that in the pond we call the universe, that a celestial pebble could not possibly have an effect on our tiny insignificant lives? There will never be two identical moments in time. If every action does indeed create a reaction, there can be some generalizations made about similar actions and the similar reactions derived from them, but in the end, even the most common of action and reactions still have an element of difference from one to the next.

Astrology, to me, is the same. Some movements of celestial bodies occur in cyclical patterns, so the results of those movements will produce a somewhat similar "ripple". Other movements are less cyclical, more random or the cycles are much shorter or much longer - causing their effect to be different at different times, dependent on what other forces are in motion at any given moment. Just like we can predict with some certainty that if we answer the phone when it rings, there will be someone on the other end, astrologers can use thousands of years of observations to predict with some reliability that an event that occurs at a certain time will probably produce certain results.

And, astrology has been around for a long, LONG, time. Basic principles and methods have been traced back to the Babylonian cultures that had already standardized their observations as early as 2000BC. It has always had its skeptics and believers and probably always will. One of the amazing things about it, at least to me, is the stigma that is attached to belief in astrology. Everyone reads their horoscope, hardly anyone admits that they just might take a little bit of it to heart. I can't think of too many people I know that don't at least know their sun sign (although most, if not all astrologers will tell you that your sun sign has little to do with how people perceive you!). World leaders retain astrologers for guidance. Alternative medicine incorporates astrology into some of its methods of healthcare.

As for me, I keep a record of my natal (birth) chart. My sun (my true personality) was in Scorpio - making me very loyal and inquisitive and at times somewhat secretive and very passionate, and somewhat of a loner; my moon (my emotional side) was in Pisces, making me somewhat emotional and compassionate - and is probably what is responsible for my imaginative and creative side. It is also what probably makes me internalize so much of my feelings. My ascendant (how I appear to the world) was in Taurus, making me patient and practical, but sometimes also very stubborn and a bit lazy unless I'm motivated. Do I think those fit? Definitely... although the other planets and nodes do have their effects as well. Would I live my life by a horoscope? Not any more than I would live by any advice that anyone gave me. But it does help me to understand myself a little bit better, plan a little bit better, and yes, it can be very entertaining at times!

So there you have it - my thoughts on Astrology. If you've never had your chart done, I'd highly recommend it - at the least you will be entertained. You may also learn why you deal with things in certain ways or why certain cycles of your life have seemed so easy or so hard... or why you tend to get along with certain other types of people so well - it definitely can be interesting if you're open-minded.

I won't be posting for the next couple days, as I'll be in the hospital for some tests. I will have my hubby post my "Today is" and "spotlight" features for me (hopefully - got my fingers crossed!) I'll look forward to posting again on Friday unless someone brings me a laptop, in which case, you know how boring hospital stays can be!

Thanks to the shops whose items I've featured today! For now ~Peace, Shalom, Namaste, Blessed Be... Enjoy!

Venus - ImagineStudio

Custom Astrology Necklace - 4 charms - KristaLynnDesigns

Caught in Stardust and Wonderlust - ImagineStudio