Ancient astrology seems to suggest that our future is written. If we can predict the likely events and outcomes of our lives, how can we possibly have any control over what happens to us? And if our future is set, what's the point of changing anything?
I believe we have agency over our lives within the framework that is laid down by our inherent energies and prescribed life stories. We have free will. Which means that we have the ability to choose how we act and behave and what we do or don't do. I believe we have the capacity and capability to transform our selves and thus change our outcomes for the better.
So what can we change? And where do we start?
I work with the Seven Hermetic Principles. The Principle of Correspondence states:
as above, so below; as within, so without.
We can work with this in two ways:
We can look outside of us at the experiences we are attracting in order to work out why we are attracting them, and where the root of the experience sits 'within', and
We can get to know our inner self and what we honestly feel about the experiences we are having and the circumstances of our lives, in order to choose what we want and attract the life we want 'without'.
We have the choice to pursue the self-work needed in order to get to know ourselves and the stories we are creating. And I can attest to the notion that the more we know ourselves, the more power we have over our reality.
The Importance of Self-Work
Doing 'the work' to get to know yourself and your stories is essential to living a free and authentic life. By taking responsibility for our inner world, we gain the power to shape our external reality. This conscious effort enables us to break free from limiting patterns and beliefs imposed by external influences, allowing us to live in alignment with our true selves.
Carl Jung emphasised the necessity of self-awareness and transformation, stating, "Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." and argued that if we choose to individuate, meaning we consciously embark on the hero's journey to know and accept ourselves fully, the more successful we will be at life.
“The difference between the “natural” individuation process,” wrote Jung “which runs its course unconsciously, and the one which is consciously realized, is tremendous. In the first case consciousness nowhere intervenes; the end remains as dark as the beginning. In the second case so much darkness comes to light that the personality is permeated with light, and consciousness necessarily gains in scope and insight.” (Carl Jung, Answer to Job)
Similarly, George Gurdjieff highlighted the importance of conscious effort in personal growth: "Man's possibilities are very great. You cannot even conceive a shadow of what man is capable of attaining. But nothing can be attained in sleep."
These insights remind us that the journey to self-discovery and empowerment requires deliberate and mindful work.
Pursuing Self-Transformation: Understanding 'As Within, So Without'
The concept informs that our internal states directly influence our external reality. To transform ourselves and our reality, we must engage in profound self-work. This process involves introspection, understanding the root causes of our external difficulties, and healing these internal sources of strife.
Here's a structured approach to this transformative journey:
1. Identifying Internal Causes of External Difficulties
Begin by observing patterns in your life that cause distress. These patterns are often reflections of unresolved internal issues. Tools that can help with this include:
Journaling: Regularly document your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Look for recurring themes that point to internal conflicts or beliefs.
Mindfulness and Meditation: These practices help in cultivating awareness of your thoughts and emotions, allowing you to identify subconscious patterns that affect your reality.
Therapeutic Modalities: Engage in therapy or counselling to uncover deep-seated issues, especially those rooted in childhood.
2. Healing Through Feeling: The Body-Mind Connection
Our bodies store emotional pain and trauma, which manifest as physical or emotional ailments. To heal, we must feel and process these stored emotions:
Somatic Experiencing: This therapeutic approach focuses on bodily sensations to release stored trauma. By paying attention to physical sensations, we can process and integrate painful experiences.
Breathwork: Practices like Pranayama or Holotropic Breathwork facilitate emotional release and healing by altering our physiological state.
Bodywork Therapies: Engage in therapies such as massage, acupuncture, or Reiki, which can help release emotional blockages stored in the body.
3. Transforming Beliefs: The Power of the Mind
Beliefs shape our reality. Transforming limiting beliefs is a process. We need to develop the self awareness required to see the beliefs we hold before we can reprogram them. Tools that can help:
Conscious Self-Inquiry: Question the validity of your beliefs. Ask yourself if they are truly yours or imposed by external influences. Byron Katie's "The Work" is a helpful framework for this process.
Exposure to New Ideas: Read, study, and expose yourself to diverse philosophies and teachings. This broadens your perspective and helps in adopting more constructive beliefs.
Affirmations and Visualisation: Use positive affirmations and visualisation techniques to reprogram your subconscious mind. This helps in replacing negative beliefs with empowering ones.
4. The Role of Childhood Programming
Our early experiences shape our belief systems and, consequently, our reality. To transcend these programmed limitations:
Inner Child Work: Engage in practices that heal the wounded inner child. Visualisations, dialogues, and creative expression can reconnect you with your inner child, facilitating healing.
Reparenting: Provide yourself with the nurturing and validation that you may have lacked during childhood. This involves affirming your worth and creating a supportive inner dialogue.
Community and Support: Surround yourself with individuals who support your growth and reinforce positive beliefs. Community healing can be powerful in reprogramming our minds.
5. The Creative Power of the Word
The mind's creative power begins with the word. Words shape our thoughts, which in turn shape our reality:
Conscious Language: Be mindful of your language. Speak positively and constructively about yourself and your circumstances. Avoid negative self-talk and limiting phrases.
Mantras and Prayers: Incorporate mantras and prayers into your daily routine. These practices harness the power of words to align your mind with higher intentions.
Writing and Reflection: Regularly write about your experiences, aspirations, and reflections. This practice clarifies your thoughts and reinforces positive beliefs.
Integrating the Wisdom of Carl Jung and George Gurdjieff
Carl Jung's work emphasises the importance of integrating the unconscious aspects of the psyche to achieve wholeness. His concept of individuation is the process of becoming aware of oneself, including the shadow aspects, to realise one's full potential. Jung stated, "Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate."
George Gurdjieff, on the other hand, focused on the idea of waking up from our mechanical, automatic ways of living. He introduced the concept of self-remembering and the necessity of conscious effort to transcend our habitual behaviours and achieve higher states of consciousness. Gurdjieff's teachings remind us that true self-transformation requires persistent and deliberate effort.
The journey of transforming oneself and one's reality is deeply personal and multifaceted. By understanding the connection between our inner states and external experiences, we can engage in meaningful self-work. This involves identifying and healing internal causes, transforming limiting beliefs, and harnessing the creative power of the mind. Wisdom from various traditions, including the insights of Carl Jung and George Gurdjieff, can guide and support us in this transformative process, ultimately leading to a more aligned and fulfilling life.
How can astrology help us to do the work?
Our birth chart shows us who we are and the stories we have chosen to play out in our lifetime. The chart shows us our core experiences and how they shape us. As we learn to understand our chart, we understand our selves and the meaning and purpose behind the journeys we have had.
Want to explore your birth chart as a means of getting to know yourself better and beginning an intentional journey of self transformation?
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