Spirit Walk Ministry

Spirit Walk Ministry

"a grimoire for magickal thinkers"

Spirit Walk Ministry
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
United States
contact@spiritwalkministry.com

Astrology

The signs of the zodiac are karmic patterns;
the planets are the looms;
the will is the weaver.

~ Author Unknown ~

( https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/what-is-the-zodiac)

Astrology has been studied and practiced since ancient times. The early Egyptians and Greeks, the Chinese and Indians, the Mayans and Aztecs all practiced astrology and used it in the course of their daily lives.

However, much of the astrology practiced today in the United States and other western countries is not a true employment of traditional astrology and it has degenerated to being mostly used for “entertainment”, as in the case of “Sun Sign” horoscopes.

Disbelievers and professional astrologers alike understandably
denigrate Sun Sign Astrology, piteously trivialized in horoscope columns
that appear on the newspaper comic pages for a good reason.
Not that they find it false, but professional astrologers tend to view
Sun Sign Astrology as the cheeseburger on the astrology menu,
an item whose mass appeal is only matched by its lack of imagination.
Without it, however, the study of astrology is like climbing a ladder
that is missing its first rung. 

~ Steve M. Weiss ~

Sun Sign horoscopes are based on very limited elements of the true science of astrology. These horoscopes are created using the basic Sun Signs and the influences on them from planetary movements to produce a “common factor” prognostication. Since no two people of any particular Sun sign have the same astrological chart, horoscopes are rarely, if ever accurate.

To begin to understand the true utility of astrology, you must first unlearn what you already know about astrology.

A common misconception of Western Astrology is that the western horoscopes “Sun Signs” are in correspondence with the identically named constellations. "They are not!"

Western or “Tropical Astrology” is a system of astrology based on a Zodiac, whose reference points are the equatorial solstice points of the tropical year. Tropical Astrology is not based on the constellations, but on the seasonal cycles. The signs of the zodiac have no real connection to the constellations outside of sharing the same names and the influences of the zodiac originate not in the heavens and stars, but from the precession of the equinoxes in respect of the axial rotation of the Earth, meaning that the positions of the signs of the Zodiac are changing slowly with respect to the background stars.

A Glossary of Astrological Terms 

The ancient astrologers were not aware of this astronomical phenomenon of precession, but it was not relevant to their system anyway, for they interpreted the signs of the zodiac according to the seasons and not the constellations. For them, living in a simpler time, it was easier to visualize the Sun, Moon and planets moving through the constellations which they could actually see in the sky.

The unfortunate naming of the Signs of the Zodiac to the apparently corresponding Constellations while causing confusion in the understanding of the nature of the Zodiac was an understandable error on the part of the ancient astrologers. The phenomena of the 'precession of the equinoxes' was only much later discovered by the Greek astronomer Hipparchus, (around 127 BC), when he compared his own circa 200 BC records with older charts. Yet, when the true astronomical facts were known, rather than negate the basic premise of astrology, it added to astrology's exposition of the cycles of Nature, in all its manifestations of existence.

Astrology is one of the earliest attempts made by man
to find the order hidden behind or within
the confusing and apparent chaos that exists in the world.

~ Karen Hamaker-Zondag ~

In ancient times the people understood that they were a part of the Earth and its seasons. They understood their connection to the animals, the plants and the minerals of the Earth and the energies residing within them. It was a time when gods and goddesses not only roamed across the heavens, but walked the Earth, and breathed spirit into all that was manifest, above and below.

Though the gods and goddesses, from whom the planets derived their names, are seemingly no longer there to answer our prayers and portent our futures, the value in understanding astrology is just as great today as it was then. The true importance of astrology and the Zodiac never really was in the promise of the divination of trivial events in our mundane lives. The true value of the study of astrology, even in our modern age, lies in its ability to awaken us and to reconnect us with the cycles of Nature. The zodiac thus becomes a flute that plays a rhythmic tune to which we can dance in harmony with the Cosmos.

The Importance of the Moon

(https://witcheslore.com/bookofshadows/witches-workshop/the-magic-of-the-moon/2499/)

In modern “popular” astrology, the Sun is the all-encompassing maestro of events in the zodiac. Everyone knows their particular “Sun Sign” and can easily, perhaps too easily, get their “individual” astrological information from the daily horoscopes and populist Sun Sign literature. But, that is not how it all began.

To the ancient peoples humanity seemed to have little control over nature. The people were mainly farmers, hunters, fishermen and herdsmen who had to learn how to live and work within the cycles of nature just to survive. In order to do this they became aware, through observation, how the phases of the Moon coincided with events occurring in their environment as it traveled through the lunar month and they learned to plant, harvest, fish and hunt in accord with the phases of the Moon as it waxed and waned in light in an unchanging and “predictable” cycle. For this reason, ancient astrologers considered the Moon to be just as important as the Sun and saw it as symbolizing the timing of events and the actions needed to deal with these events.

There are nights when the wolves are silent
and only the moon howls.
George Carlin

On a spiritual level, to the ancient peoples, the Moon was a symbol of the Triple Goddess representing the Maiden, Mother and Crone and the cycle of birth, life and death in the waxing, full, and waning faces of the Moon.

The Waxing Maiden Moon Goddess represented enchantment, inception, and the promise of new beginnings. The Full Moon Mother Goddess represented ripening, fertility and growth. As the cycle came to completion, the Waning Moon Crone Goddess represented the bountful wisdom gained from the harvest of what has been sown in this life and rebirth with the new the lunar cycle.

All life forms have cycles of birth, growth, death, and renewal that are mirrored in the progressive phases of the moon cycle. Month after month, the Moon cycle mirrors a woman’s menstrual cycle, with 'coincidentally' both the Moon and the menstual cycle have an average length of 29.5 days. Similar to the Moon cycle, a woman’s menstrual cycle changes from the menstruation of waxing new potential, to the ovulation and full blossoming of new growth, leading inevitably t0 the waning phase of harvest and degeneration and returning back to a new cycle of menstruation and renewal again. Thus reinforcing the image of the Moon, as Triple Goddess, symbolizing the cycle of birth, growth, death and then rebirth with the new lunar cycle.

But even when the moon looks like it's waning...
it's actually never changing shape.
Don't ever forget that.
Ai Yazawa

On a more mundane level, the Moon is the Earth's satellite and closest celestial companion, effecting the Earth in its orbit and producing the regular (and predictable) ebb and flow of the tides. These were seen as the primordial waters of the Cosmic Oceans representing the world or cosmos as enveloped by cycles of the Moon and these primordial waters. This in turn inspired the people to create both religion and science as paths to seek order out of the chaos in both the spiritual and the mundane realms by trying to find answers within the lunar cycles, even though the 'answers' inevitably seem to lead to even more mystifying questions. Though we may not want to admit it, many of us still cling to the age old belief (or superstition) that strange things are going to occur at the time of a “lunatic” full Moon and after thousands of years we are still seeking the irrefutable evidence that will finally prove whether that "lunacy" is real or merely a figment of our superstitious imaginations.

When the Moon is viewed in "the light" of all this, it becomes fairly apparent that in order to begin to understand traditional Astrology, as it was in the beginning, an awareness of the Moon and its phases is as important, if not more important, than the observance of the Sun passing through the Zodiac in order for us to achieve a harmony within the cycles nature.

Quantum Astrology

(https://heartastrology.com/astrology-described-as-a-quantum-science/)

Whether astrology is a science or not is an incredible and mostly useless debate. Mostly useless because astrology works as a predictive tool giving probabilities of events occurring and a psychological tool giving insights into habits and patterns of the psyche. But astrology is a science.

The definition of 'science' is as follows:

“The intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experimentation".

Astrology fulfills this requirement. It's precepts are derived from the observation and intellectual analysis of how the relationship of planetary bodies and their cycles has predictable effects based upon over 5,000 years of study and experimentation.

The definition of 'quantum' is as follows:

"A discrete quantity of energy proportional in magnitude to the frequency of the radiation it represents".

The astrological chart represents exactly that. It is diagram of a potential of energy that is going to manifest in different forms and radiate different energetic impulses into the world, based on the parameters of that astrological chart. The nativity is quantum potential and the birthchart outlines that potential and predicts probable outcomes based upon the observable manifestation of that energy. Thus, Astrology is a Quantum Science.

The Cosmos is a vast living body, of which we are still parts.
The Sun is a great heart whose tremors run through our smallest veins.
The Moon is a great nerve center from which we quiver forever.
Who knows the power that Saturn has over us, or Venus?
But it is a vital power, rippling exquisitely through us all the time. 

D.H. Lawrence

Quantum Astrology is Energy Astrology

( https://ezinearticles.com/?Quantum-Astrology-is-Energy-Astrology&id=3564348)

For centuries, many have looked on Astrology as an occult practice that tries to find spiritual correlations through the study of the cycles of the Earth and the Heavens as witnessed through the sciences of astronomy and mathematics. That certainly was at the heart of the work of Isaac Newton who established much of the mechanics of modern science. Newton was an astronomer, but that interest came out of his work as an astrologer. Newton was convinced that modern science would unlock the secrets of the Universe and the wisdom of the ancient astrologers held the key to uncovering these secrets. Quantum physics appears to be significantly narrowing the gap between physics and metaphysics and seems to be suggesting that Newton may have been on the right track.

Quantum Mysticism is a modern term that has been used to refer to this attempt to build a bridge between science and spirituality. Both the scientist and the mystic are looking for the "fundamentals of reality", one starting from the outer physical realm and the other from the inner spiritual realm. Quantum Astrology is also a modem term that is being used to refer to the attempt to find correlations between the emerging science of quantum mechanics and the elements contained within the mystical concepts of traditional astrology.

In his famous E=mc² equation Einstein mathematically proved something which the ancient masters had been saying all along, that everything is connected. Everything is energy and everything is caught up together in a quantum entanglement, where even though particles appear separated on the sub-atomic level, they in fact resonate together. Even if a particle is on one side of the universe and another particle is on the opposite side, they will resonate simultaneously when one is caused to vibrate. This seems to fit in fairly well with the basic premise of astrology that events happening on the Earth resonate with cosmic events happening in the universe. The harmony having been expressed long ago in the ancient Hindu spiritual wisdom that Brahman, the ultimate reality without, is identical to Atman, the reality within.

No one has yet claimed to truly understand the workings of quantum mechanics, but it has been successful so far in explaining the connection between all things in the Universe.

Couldn’t the same thing be said about astrology?

It is time to integrate the wisdom of both science and spirituality and together the scientist and the mystic may discover the same answers though they ask different questions.

How Astrology Can Help In Everyday Life

(http://www.astrology-and-science.com/h-heys2.htm)

If you have found your way to this page, perhaps you have been led to a place where you will find something that you need to know. Follow along upon this path to discover the purpose of your spiritual journey.

The study of astrology, from the perspective of Traditional Astrology will perhaps help you to bring your Earthly Being back into harmony with the cycles of the Earth and help to guide your Spiritual Being into a greater harmony with the Cosmic Oneness, for the student of Traditional Astrology seeks to participate in a ceremonial dance with these cosmological cycles of the heavens and the seasonal cycles of the Earth as a means of reclaiming the harmony lost in the course of living.

Planetary cycles effect you as you go through life. If you are willing to take the time to do a little study and a little experimentation then you may see the patterns begin to emerge.

Frequent Planetary Cycles To Be Aware Of:

Take the time to observe these phenomena
and note the experiences that you encounter under these influences.

The Void of Course Moon

(https://www.astrologyweekly.com/astrology-articles/void-of-course-moon.php)

The term refers to the condition of the Moon between the moment it performed the last major aspect with another planet in its current sign and the moment of stepping into the next sign. The old rule is this: "no aspects, no events".

It is commonly considered in the traditional astrology that the Moon carries the signification of the upcoming events, but only when she relates to other planets by a major aspect. The nature of the other planet and of the aspect, the position by sign and house of both the Moon and the other planet, will determine the kind of event to expect. When there are no further aspects to perform in Moon's current sign, no relevant events may happen.

The void of course Moon periods are truly great for taking a break from the common activities. The void of course Moon periods are most unfavorable to do anything that requires a specific desired outcome, with a very wide range of actions. The basic rule is: when you want something to happen, if you want to be successful, avoid beginning new projects during the void of course Moon periods.

Void of Course Moon Explained

"Void of Course Moon Explained" (video)

Void of Course Moon Tables 2021

Mercury Retrograde

(https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/503425/what-mercury-retrograde)

Retrograde Mercury is the most commonly known astrological signature for Murphy's Law ("If something can go wrong, it will"), and it is one of the first planetary influences that astrology students should learn about.

Three or four times a year Mercury appears to turn around and go backwards for about three weeks. Mercury really isn't really going backwards, it's just an optical illusion based on the relative speeds and orbits of the Earth and Mercury around the Sun.

The apparent backward motion of a planet is called “retrograde motion” and, in general, the effect of Mercury retrograde is one of annoyance. Things get snarled up and won’t come together as planned. Anything involving written or verbal communications, travel, education, neighbors and siblings can be affected.

Mercury Retrograde Periods Explained

"Mercury Retrograde Periods Explained" (video)

Mercury Retrograde Table 2021

Recommended Reading

Parker’s Astrology

The Definitive Guide to Using Astrology in Every Aspect of Your Life

by Julia and Derek Parker

Dictionary of Astrology

by James Wilson

The Rulership Book
A Directory of Astrological Correspondences

by Rex E. Bills

Simplified Horary Astrology

Horary means question of the hour. When you calculate a chart for the precise moment a question is asked, the chart will provide a solution to the quandary.

by Ivy M. Goldstein-Jacobson

Electional Astrology

Electional Astrology is concerned with the choosing of a propitious time for the commencement of any undertaking.

by Vivian E. Robson

Mundane Astrology

A standard reference work of the Astrology of nations and groups.

by Baigent, Campion and Harvey