The Uranus Files

In honor of the planetary ruler of awakening and the expansion of consciousness.

Can I Get a Degree in Astrology?

astrology

For thousands of years, astrology was infused into every science and every discipline, and all the great astronomers of the past were astrologers. This is interesting to me, that such a well developed intellectual tradition that dealt with abstract archetypes, astronomical analysis, philosophy and psychology — a kind of stellar philosophy rich in distilled and ancient wisdom — has now been buried. You can’t get an accredited degree in astrology anymore.

Why Is Astrology a Hidden “Science?”

If you can get a degree in psychology, economics, religion, philosophy, gender studies, the mysticism of African pygmies, and basket weaving, why can’t you get a degree in one of the greatest and most solidly-founded intellectual traditions of all time? I imagine the answer has to do with faith and Christianity and that astrology has been seen negatively through that lens for some time. It could also have something to do with our modern tendency not to look deep, and to discourage the use of the abstract and creative mind.

Studying astrology takes my creativity and imagination to places I never thought possible. It gives me a deeper understanding of myself and others — to take away judgment, have hope, and foster greater understanding of the world and those I share it with. Astrology also expands my mind, makes me smarter, and more creative. This makes astrology immeasurably valuable to me as a field of intellectual exploration.

Isn’t it time we brought astrology back into the world of formal education?

What Astrology Programs are Available?

14441016_10154693775249614_4755241560052868095_nFor a short time, Kepler offered an accredited degree program in Astrology, but their accreditation was eventually revoked. You can still receive your Astrology diploma from Kepler, but it won’t be recognized by the esteemed scholarly institutions of the world. In addition, there are other programs that offer a diploma, like the Centre for Psychological Astrology.

As for me, I established my foundation of astrology knowledge, with the Debra Silverman’s three-month intensive Applied Astrology course, which gave me both the confidence and the ability to offer solid astrology readings. But I’ve also read extensively, studied the vast resources available on the Internet, and established connections and friendships with fellow astrologers who have enriched my knowledge even more. Right now, I’m also deepening my education through the diploma program at the Centre for Psychological Astrology referenced above.

What Kind of Astrology Should I Study?

There are many different styles of Astrology, so if you want to study the topic, it’s best you research the many different disciplines to decide which one resonates with you. For me, I’m interested in the way Astrology is used to know the inner psyche and/or soul of the individual and how, from this perspective, we relate to others and the outside world. For this reason, I’m drawn to both Esoteric Astrology and Psychological Astrology.

generals systems of astrology

The foundational basis of “Astrology,” has cross-discipline application. So no matter where you start, the study will be valuable to your final destination. As you learn more, new doors and interests will  open, and your education will gradually become an individual expression of who you are.

specific schools of astrology

Where Should I Start?

d7d1f4bf45b5e40e62efce52b08dd4c2You might start off with a basic course, like I did through Astrologer Debra Silverman,  that gives you a firm understanding of the major planets, signs, angles, houses and their aspects to one another; and, later, you could find yourself drawn to explore the many asteroids and how they affect the birth chart and the psychology of the individual. Or, perhaps you find yourself more interested in the fascinating discipline of Horary Astrology, which uses the planetary cycles to predict the future.

Some prefer to study on their own, and there certainly is enough information available for free on the internet for you to gain a powerful mastery of the symbols of astrology — and how to interpret a chart — completely on your own, and for free. However, if you’re like me, you may need a structure to your education provided by a course, which in my case, has helped me stay on track and focused on the trajectory of my learning.

Are you an astrologer? Do you want to be an astrologer? Let me know how you learned or are learning the science, how you plan to learn it, or what courses you’re taking and enjoying right now in the comments below. 

What’s the Difference Between the Sun Sign and Rising Sign in Esoteric Astrology?

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In Esoteric Astrology, the Sun Sign represents the ego or personality, and in its worst expression, it’s about me, me, me — like a puffed up Donald Trump or a preening bird who can’t stop looking at himself in the mirror and selfishly steals all the worms from the other birds. The ego, or Sun Sign, represents the complicated patterns of fear, limiting beliefs, and knee-jerk reactions that we use to navigate the world, and it’s not that pretty. There is an “evolved” version of the ego, however, which we’ll talk about later.

The Rising Sign represents the soul’s journey in Esoteric Astrology. The Rising Sign symbolizes the “context” of your spiritual evolution, i.e., the path you will take as you identify and master your higher purpose. It’s the full expression of your higher self, which — with the help of an evolved ego — will manifest in the physical world. Your soul isn’t worried about pain avoidance or keeping things the same like the ego tends to be. Your soul says, “How can I learn, experience more, and grow as a person?”

The Rising Sign symbolizes the “context” of your spiritual evolution, i.e., the path you will take as you identify and master your purpose.

By expressing our Rising Signs in daily life, we benefit ourselves and find a sense of well-being, purpose, and stability. We also touch the people around us and support them in doing the same. To better identify the yearnings of your soul, find out your rising sign here! 

The Soul-Aligned Ego

As long as your ego is working in service to the journey of your soul, the differences between your Sun and Rising signs aren’t a problem. But feelings of inadequacy and a lack of purpose will start to emerge when we ignore our soul’s yearnings and let the “me, me, me” version of our egos sit in the driver’s seat. Most people have their “me, me, me” egos running the show, but there’s another version of the ego that everyone can tap into. It’s the soul-aligned ego. The soul-aligned ego sees a much bigger picture while working in service to the higher purpose of the soul.

The soul-aligned ego sees a much bigger picture while working in service to the higher purpose of the soul. 

How does a soul-aligned ego work? Let’s say your Rising Sign is in the fire sign of Leo. You’re fiery, athletic, full of energy, and you’re an extrovert. But your Sun Sign is in water sign of Cancer. It wants to be emotional, sensitive, gentle, quiet, and an introvert. On a soul-level, you’re feeling an intense urge that says, “We’ve got to go out there and dance! Let’s have a party!” But your ego (Sun) is saying, “Let’s just stay home and cuddle. I don’t want to go out there where someone could hurt my feelings. Let’s watch a movie instead.”

Can You Feel the Split?

Once you understand the difference between your Sun Sign and your Rising Sign, your job is to aim for the soul while recognizing and balancing the needs of the ego at the very same timtea-1040653_960_720e. Fire and water do mix well, after all, when done the right way. It’s only by combining them that we can make a nice hot cup of tea.

When the ego works in service to the yearnings of the soul, life regains its meaning and purpose again.

Maybe the solution for the Leo rising and the Cancer Sun is to get out there party and be an extrovert, but still reserve plenty of “me time” at home. Or, maybe Leo, who wants to be the center of attention, makes teaches group classes about getting in touch with their emotions (Cancer).

Whatever solution you use to “bridge the gap,” make sure you’re honoring the yearning of your soul and actively pursuing the soul’s urgings. If you want to identify those yearnings, read a description of your Rising Sign and see if you resonate with it. When the ego works in service to the yearnings of the soul, life regains its meaning and purpose again.

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