iVillage

One popular misconception about astrology is that the planets out there in the heavens cause events to happen down here on the earth. Professional astrologers who I have known (and I have known many) do not hold with these theories of “celestial influence,” that planets somehow make things happen to us. Instead, modern astrologers see the heavens and the earth as one whole entity, interpenetrating, and sharing the same space and time, which in fact is the case.

They do not see the various planetary configurations as causing events to happen here on earth, but rather see the earth (itself a planet) and all the other planets as interacting in the very same space, and as sharing whatever events are occurring. In other words, whatever events taking place out there in the heavens are also happening down here on earth. Neither is the cause of the other; both are happening simultaneously. The planetary configurations are just grand signatures (like writing in the sky), signs of events happening right here in our own lives. Both are the product of the same moment, one acted out in the heavens above, the other here on the Earth below.

In other words, there is only one grand “play” or moment. The great drama enacted in the sky above is also acted out (in exact detail) here on Earth, and in the same moment. Another way to say this is that the Earth is part of the cosmos and shares in that cosmic moment. Astrologers tend to feel that all major cosmic events (eclipses, etc.) are interactive; they represent an activity also taking place within our self and consciousness.