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My Beliefs About Astrology 
February 26, 2007 |
| Vedic Astrology Diary Archives |
By Vaughn
Paul Manley, M.A.
Today I had lunch with some friends who asked me about my beliefs
about astrology. I said that I believe astrology is a tool for
awareness. We can't change something until we are aware of it.
Astrology helps us become aware of ourselves - both our strengths
and weaknesses, or our positive and negative karma.
Our astrology chart is literally a map of our karma and reveals
our journey through time. We use maps to navigate through space
- astrology is a map to navigate through time. However, the
problem with this analogy is that it sounds like our lives are
set in stone, like a physical map. This is a misconception,
because our karma is 'flexible.' It's because we can change
our karma that astrology becomes useful and interesting. Astrologers
aren't meant to just tell us what's going to happen, and then
we sit back and brace ourselves for the ride. There's no value
in that. Astrology is meant to be empowering, and is valuable
because it reveals tendencies and potentialities, not definitions
and inevitabilities. "Forewarned is forearmed"
as they say. Armed with the knowledge of astrology we can make
constructive changes that modify our karma. We created our karma
by our past thoughts and actions, and therefore we can 'uncreate
it.' We are the architects of our own destiny.
While I believe our karma is flexible, it's more accurate to
say 'relatively flexible.' I also believe that some experiences
in our lives are destined, like meeting a spouse at a particular
time. If this weren't true then predictive astrology would have
no validity. Of the undesirable or negative karma, like a serious
illness, I believe that it always can be modified at least to
some extent - if not by remedial measures, then by the grace
of God. Ultimately, I believe our lives are a dynamic interraction
between both destiny and free will.
Sometimes people ask me, "How can you give readings
to people who are going through terrible time periods?"
Frankly, it's because I don't believe in terrible time periods.
I believe that from the soul's perspective there's only learning
and growth. Our happiness at any given time is internally based,
not externally. Usually the most difficult periods are the most
transformative, and I could probably drop the word 'usually.'
They just might not be easy time periods.
I see astrology as a service and a helping profession. If it
doesn't help improve people's lives, then I lose all interest
in it.
I like what the great sage Veda Vyasa said:
"Fate and free will are equally powerful forces. Yet
I consider free will more important, because it is our conscious
choices that create our fate."
Veda Vyasa
Copyright 2007. Vaughn Paul
Manley. All Rights Reserved. |
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