Photography by Deun Ivory
Originally written for Black Girl In Om.
Recently, both Astrology and self-care have become mainstream conversations. And, as with everything that acquires a large platform, both of these important tools that help us heal and thrive have been limited to the widespread representation of predictive horoscopes, memes, face masks and bath bombs. Although these forms of both of these incredible tools have their own place and positive impact, there are much more sustainable ways that Astrology and self-care can be used, especially once we acknowledge the undeniable link between them.
Our ability to take care of ourselves first comes from our ability to recognize our own needs and wants.
Most of our lives are spent in a space of trial and error, attempting to satiate our desires without fully knowing what they are. Only sometimes are we able to recognize what is truly and deeply nourishing, often after a culmination of a long line of painful and draining experiences, from which we are left to reform our desires in response to these lessons. From there, we often only find what stimulates, or maybe even satisfies, us but only in the short-term. Most of us still struggle to adapt to the fluidity of our needs and wants, as the seasons of our lives and the world around us, shift and change.
Astrology is an ancient tool based on change. It is the study of light and therefore the study of life itself. All things in this world are made up of and dependant upon light, which also means a Natal Chart can be drawn up for the birth of anything; people, events, companies, animals, and whatever else. Changes in orbit, light, and therefore season, are what determine the qualities of different Astrological times and energies. Astrology takes into account all of life’s junctures and places them into larger cycles that have been occuring long before us and will continue long after. It contextualizes us as part of ancient archetypes and helps us to sort out our own lives by peering through a mirror that connects us endlessly and simultaneously to both our lineages and our futures.
There can be no comprehensive self-care without comprehensive self-understanding, and this is exactly what Astrology provides.
In Astrology, the Natal chart is a snapshot of where all of the stars and planets were when you were born. It captures the essence of the ever-evolving light and what mold it settled and shaped into for you to fill upon your arrival. When you get a Natal chart reading, the practitioner you sit with acts as a translator, not a fantasy fortune teller as the media may often portray.
As practitioners, we have learned the language and historic legacy of what humans have associated with the placements that you have acquired and now carry as personality traits and life experiences. Our job is to fully see you for who you are, how your experience may be informed by history and how this information can help to build a brighter and more fulfilling future.
A birth chart reading can give you perspective on any issue in life. Unlike therapy, the practitioner you sit down with is already aware of your basic makeup, and therefore already possesses knowledge of what you may need to help guide you, reaffirm you of who you are and where you are going, and outline the obstacles you may run into in your attempt to get there.
Astrology is not a certified science, but when have humans ever looked to science to give them hope or to help them understand their path and gain emotional, spiritual and relational understanding?
Life is a journey of self-discovery. The only promise Astrology makes is that it can help to smooth the road and give you the tools of grounded foresight, self-confidence, self-compassion and deep self-understanding to help you navigate the path with as much confidence and as many tools as possible. Once we can create an abundance of self-knowledge, self-acceptance, and self-love, we are unstoppable, and Astrology is one of the most ancient and long-standing tools we have used to achieve these enlightened states of being.
At the end of the day, we all just want to be seen and loved. Astrology helps us understand and own what it means for us to feel these things. It helps us find exactly what we need by showing us where to look. We use astrology to help us relate so that we can breeze through the awkward and painful parts of settling into ourselves, situations and relationships and move into meaning, sensuality, and connection much faster.
Ultimately, we lean into the cosmos to see ourselves.
We lean into the cosmos to see truth and to heal old narratives and stories around what we believe limits us.
We lean in because we are worthy of having access to every tool possible that can give us the greatest chance at finding god within ourselves.
To book a Natal chart reading or to learn more, click here.