Ancient Astrology and Me: Same Planets, Different Life

There is usually an astrology book on my bedside table.  I practice Western astrology, but, I'm always open to learning new techniques. And so a couple of months ago, after my darling daughter was safely tucked away for the night, I embarked on a fascinating journey into the world of Hellenistic astrology.

"Wow", I thought. "Those ancient astrologers didn't mince words.  According to their techniques, I should have suffered accidents leading to open wounds, ended up childless, and with health issues.  And, I should have had a tough life, with not much luck available to me".

Astrologers back then - and we're talking centuries ago, Ancient Greece - were much more prescriptive about the kind of life you were going to have, according to your natal chart. They used a number of techniques to assess the condition of each planet in your natal chart, something that is still practiced in Western astrology, but to a much lesser degree. 

Back then, the planets were the Sun through Saturn, as Uranus, Neptune and Pluto weren't discovered yet.

Mars: the Malefic That Would Doom Me

After I applied the techniques to my own natal chart, I saw that my Mars was in very poor condition.  My 5th and 6th House are in Aries, ruled by Mars (although in Hellenistic Astrology, it would have been just my 6th House, since it uses the Whole House system).

OK OK don't worry....I'm not going to go into too many technical details. I want to share with you my biggest aha moment instead.

The Hellenistic techniques I learned give you a much more realistic, starker view of your natal chart. They are practical and perhaps more accurate then Western astrology. I was amazed at how specific the pronouncements were. 

They are also quite deterministic. Had I lived in Ancient Greece, I would be resigning myself to the fact that I would have ill health, suffer wounds, and leave this world childless.

If I'm honest with myself, what my natal chart says through the lens of Western astrology is very similar.  My Mars is in square with Saturn and Neptune.  It's the only planet that makes no positive aspects. The only saving grace is that it's conjunct my natal Sun, but even then experts disagree if it's a blessing or a curse, because it's combust - too close to the Sun.

In Hellenistic astrology, Mars is the Lesser Malefic - a bad guy, together with Saturn.  And so the areas of your natal chart it touches, as a ruler or by its placement, can be problematic to start with.  And in my case, because Mars was in such poor condition, I would experience the ill effects tenfold. 

Mars: My Greatest Ally Who Changed My Life

In Western astrology, Mars also represents courage and drive. When taken to the extreme, it's aggressiveness, combativeness and impatience. 

One day 28 years ago, I came across an astrology book in a public library.  I devoured it, and started to decipher my own natal chart. 

My first reaction was skepticism and disbelief. 

"No, this person can't be me!", I thought. "This astrology thing makes no sense".

Western astrology described my natal chart as someone who is a courageous trail-blazer (Mars in Leo closely conjunct my Sun).

And me at that time? I wasn't just reading books at that library.  I was hiding out from my abusive first marriage. From the reality of working two jobs, six days a week, and barely making ends meet.  From my fear and inability to break free. I was in a new country, with no support system around me.  No family.  No friends. I felt so alone.  

I don't mind telling you, I crumpled the printout of my chart and was about to toss it into the garbage can when....something life-changing, transformational happened.  I decided to give my natal chart a chance 😊

"What if I AM that person? What would she do? What would a courageous trail-blazer do?"

The answer was clear. 

I found the courage to divorce my husband and to strike out on my own with just enough in my bank account to cover one month rent.

I chose to believe that my Sun-Mars conjunction was the energy of courage. 

Now, back to no kids and ill health and all that...

• I do in fact have a chronic inflammatory health condition (Mars = inflammation)
• I went through 6 surgeries in 15 years (Mars = knives, open wounds)
• It took me 17 years to have my beautiful daughter.  The journey was so horrific at times that it nearly broke me. Part of her arrival was me learning how to work with energy, but that's a story for another day...

It's also true that it was difficult for me to learn how to work with my Mars. Once I discovered its fiery strength, I started to use it to overcompensate. There were periods when I projected to the world as too assertive, too direct, too bold - and that hurt my professional career. 

So, everything that a Hellenistic astrologer would have told me came true.

Words Have Power

Yes, everything that a Hellenistic astrologer would have told me came true.

Except - and this is a very big EXCEPT - I didn't view my Mars as dooming me.  I viewed it as empowering me, giving me the courage to never give up, even when things looked very bleak.

The very same planet that was supposed to be a malefic, working against me, became a great ally, fueling me and helping me power through life.

Why? Because that was the story I was telling myself, for 28 years. "I have the courage to go on. I WILL go on. I won't give up." 

Disappointments. Losses. Grief. Pain.  They are all a part of my life. The thing is, I didn't stop there. I didn't give up. And so successes, great love, and fulfillment of wishes are a part of my life, too. 

Back to that aha moment I was telling you about:  Words have power. The stories we tell ourselves are powerful. They can change the direction of your life. 

And the most beautiful part is? We choose them.  We choose our stories. 

"Ancient Astrology in Theory in Practice" 

For serious astrology students, Demetra George's book that I'm still reading - it's comprehensive! - is an amazing and very insightful read. 

"Ancient Astrology in Theory and Practice".  Available on Amazon.