[Note that the origin of “consider” means “to be with the star(s)”]
By Dale O’Brien
What follows is an explanation of my approach to astrology. Regrettably, my type of approach exists in contrast to a far more ubiquitous and careless approach to astrology, present Host Eric Francis, and some others, thankfully excepted. A guy I knew once said to me, “Heck, it’s easy to be an astrologer, I can do this. All I’ve got to do is pull somethin’ outta my ass and tell people that’s the way it is.” Quite simply, such astrologers say “Neptune is ___”, “Pisces is ___” and paste these clichés together like torn paper ransom notes. We can do better than that, and should. Eric’s journalistic background shows us how: Who, What, Where, When and Why are our guiding questions. Combining this information gives a more three-dimensional experience of that planet. Blending this type of perspective for a given planet with its sign placement, planetary aspects, etc. gifts us with interesting and relevant astrology.
Dale O'Brien.
Who: Like the ancient discovers of astrology, I don’t see Astrology’s Planets as abstract concepts of the literalist rational mind. Their mythological names correspond to formerly well-known larger-than-mere-human personalities with revealing stories of their activities. Remember that temples of worship were dedicated to the gods and goddesses with much the same names as our planets.
Too few realize that now, as then, certain people “worship” certain Planets, albeit far more unconsciously now.
What: Planetary Entities not only are known for actions, but were traditionally associated with physical elements, costumes, accouterments, physical elements, etc.
Where: In what places in the sky, what places on earth, etc. do we find a given Planet? Note that when thinking of place, know that the signs of the Zodiac previously corresponded to mythological stories. Precession has not negated the inherent memory of that association, with glyphs and Zodiacal imagery as memory aid reminders.
When: When was the planet discovered? When does an ingress or aspect take place? Note that “when” is best addressed in the context of the personality of that planet. Exact transits of Saturn are important; exact transits of Uranus, Jupiter, Neptune or Chiron, for example, do not require Saturn’s precision!
Why: “Just because” is absurdly not “astro-logical.” Planets have their reasons, their preferences and aversions, their depth and complexity, particularly in interaction with other planets. We may have observed a correspondence and not have known why it is so. If that is the case, it is good to not be so sure of oneself in that regard, at least until we have discovered the mythic correspondence to explain that “why.”
