Astrological psychology is deeply grounded in spirituality, as well a psychology, notably through its formative relationship with Alice Bailey’s Arcane School and Roberto Assagioli’s Psychosynthesis[1] What does this mean for us in practice?
‘Know thyself’ has been the siren call of philosophers since the time of the ancient Greeks, inscribed upon the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. ‘Who am I?’ is the quintessential spiritual question posed by advanced souls such as Ramana Maharshi. It is also a fundamental question of psychology, which is frequently aired in Psychology Today[2].
Some form of yoga/ meditation/ contemplation/ mindfulness/ prayer has always been the necessary approach for spiritual advancement. Such approaches bring us closer to seeing our true selves, rather than simply being the creations of the mind and our surrounding society.
Astrological psychology can be described as an aid and guide along the path of psychological and spiritual development. Sometimes even an accelerator. Through it, we can begin to see our internal patterns, our habitual reactions, and come closer to our essence. We are always asking the question ‘who am I?’, providing the food for transformation to a new and hopefully higher state.
Whenever we pass through a country’s border, we are asked this basic question ‘Who am I?’, which we demonstrate by showing our passport. Bruno Huber once offered the official a small laminate version of his birth chart, suggesting that this would tell them far more about who he was than a mere passport!
Of course, astrological psychology will only take us so far on our developmental path. In the end, we become pioneers and seekers into a level of being that few achieve. But fortunately, over thousands of years, many remarkable pioneers have left a trail of clues to follow.
Many modern teachers and authors have given accounts of their experiences along this ultimately spiritual path. I was fortunate recently to come across Ravi Ravindra’s excellent book Blessed by Mysterious Grace[3], which outlines his own spiritual journey and his truly blessed experience of being mentored by notable figures across the worlds of both Eastern and Western spirituality, including zen master Kobori Roshi, Buddhist Kun Sunim, the unique Jiddhu Krishnamurti, Jeanne de Salzmann (successor of Gurdjieff) and her son Michel de Salzmann, and Mr & Mrs Welch (leading figures in the Theosophical movement).
This is a fascinating read, giving insight into the focus and dedication of these teachers.
Of course, Ravi concludes that in the end all paths are one.
At the end of the book, reflecting back on this life of learning and what might have been ‘achieved’, Ravi quotes Rabindranath Tagore, in the following poem written just thirteen days before Tagore’s death in 1941:
In the beginning of my life,
With the first rays of the rising Sun,
I asked, ‘Who am I?’.Now, at the end of my life,
Rabindranath Tagore
With the last rays of the setting Sun, I ask,
‘Who am I?’
If you know the answer, perhaps you didn’t understand the question?
The featured image shows a statue of Tagore at Ray Miller Park in Houston, Texas.
[1] See e.g. the history in Piercing the Eggshell: The Hubers and their Astrological Psychology, the biography of Bruno & Louise Huber, Joyce and Barry Hopewell, HopeWell 2020.
[2] “Figuring Out the Answer to ‘Who Am I?” Raj Raghunathan Ph.D., Psychology Today 2022.
[3] Blessed by Mysterious Grace: The Journey of a Pilgrim, Ravi Ravindra, Vasanta Press 2023.
Astrological Psychology 