Is astrology a religion? AstroLogy and SpiritualitY

For too long in the closet, only let out for pop culture predictions (usually on the weekend papers), it’s only taken a few years for astrology, or "the stars", to go mainstream. Along with it are bigger underlying questions around what it is and how it is used.

The biggest question: is astrology a religion? Or it wholly in the field of the natural sciences, particularly to astronomy? These questions are often asked when one speaks of astrology.

These basic questions help us with practical ones too: is astrology really founded on experience? Or is it only on a false observation of the heavens, a superstitious relic surpassed by modern astronomy?

As a tool for spirituality, it does not hold the rules and confines of religion, though ironically is it what people seek with the tool.

What’s the difference? Some of this is inspired by the old contemplation of region vs spirituality, which is fitting for the ways we turn to astrology and how we find it turns us back into ourselves to create a better path forward in life.

Astrology reflects how we are connected

Astrology is derived from the Greek words "astro" (star) and "logos" (study).

Religion is not just one, there are many. Astrology shows how we are connected; Spirituality is one.

Astrology isn’t prescriptive and any astrologer telling you a set of prescriptions only without challenging you to awaken to perspectives has you remaining asleep to yourself. Religion is for those who sleep. Spirituality is for those who are awake.

In the same vein, Religion is for those who need someone to tell them what to do and who want guidance. To benefit with astrology, you’re doing the work to pay attention to their inner voice.

Astrology may have different schools of thought, but as a whole it does not have dogmatic rules. Its principles offer ways for us to discuss everything, question everything.

Astrology offers ways to peace

Insights with astrology offer inner peace. If the practice threatens and scares, the tool isn’t being wielded for your better good.

In certain eras past, astrology classified people as bad, in sin and guilt, due to their planetary placements at birth. Astrology doesn’t rest on easy judgement; it says "learn from your mistake".

Astrology does not suppresses everything that is wrong. Especially in evolutionary astrology, your task is to overcomes everything — everything! — it brings you closer to the truth

Astrology listens within

Often people confuse "astrolatry" — star worship with "astrology"—divination by the stars.

For some time, the two were conflated. For exampleX the Sumerians and Babylonians revered planets and stars as gods. The worship of the sun god was so cultivated that, for a short time during the reign of Amenophis IV (Echnaton) from 1364-1347 AD, it was supposedly the only god of Egypt.

But the ancient Egyptian moon god Thoth (later Isis became the moon goddess) and Mercury had important functions as well as many bright fixed stars and constellations.

There is no external God sitting in the sky, or at least not as seen in astrology itself. Spirituality is everything and therefore it is in God.

Astrology did not invent anything new. Its principles ; Spirituality is finding.

Some people do not tolerate any questions. In astrology, however, you will find it questions everything.

Astrology is not an organization whose rules are made by men. It observes Nature in its divine cycles, without human rules.

Astrology does not cause division. Understanding the archetypes within ourselves and its higher expressions unites.

You don’t have to believe anything you read or are told in astrology or during an astrological consultation. You’re only told to seek it to believe.

No singular holy book makes up astrology. The lens of Astrology can be found in all books.

Its study does not feeds fear. Spirituality feeds trust and faith.

Astrology is self-centred, not ego-centric

The process of searching for questions in life has largely been in private domains mediated by authority (religion or other); the Internet takes a conversation that was already being had in private, and pushed it into the open and public.

Likewise, Astrology does not lives in thoughts. It comes alive through inner consciousness.

While many rituals, products, services arise as astrology escapes pure pop culture to become a tool anyone can use in life, it does not work or rely on the performance of rituals. Its benefits is related to the inner self.

Thus, those feeds the ego. Astrology forces you to go beyond.

Religion makes us disconnect from the world to follow God. Spirituality makes us live in God, without giving up our existing life.

Religion is a cult. Spirituality is an inner meditation.

Astrology is the Present

Religion fills us with dreams of glory in paradise. Astrology has you focus on creating your present earthly glory and paradise.

Religion lives in the past and in the future. Spirituality is living in the present.

Religion creates monasteries in our memory. A large part of Astrology hinges on ourselves in relation with ours; everything external reflects your state of consciousness.

Religion makes us believe in eternal life. Spirituality makes us aware of eternal life.

Religion promises life after death.

Spirituality means finding God inside us in our present life before we die.

We are not human beings who are going through a mental experience. We are spiritual beings going through the human experience.

References

Astrology: Between Religion and the Empirical, Dr. Gustav-Adolf Schoener, Translated by Shane Denson,
http://esoteric.msu.edu/VolumeIV/astrology.htm