Change your question to chart your life!
Astro-Counseling
Imagine visiting your favorite astrologer to consult about your life ahead. What are the questions that come to your mind? When will that promotion happen? When will I find a husband and settle down? When will I move into my own house?
You have put your Astrologer in the ‘event prediction’ mode. He is searching in the vast number of charts and tables of data to see when these events are likely to happen in your life. He gives you a broad indication of the period - typically six months or more in the future. And you go home happy that at least he didn’t say none of this is foreseen! The exact period fades from your memory.
Event Prediction is the most popular use of Astrology and also happens to be the most criticized aspect of Astrology. The debate of whether Astrology is a Science or not is often limited to whether event prediction is possible or not! The debate turns to whether we have Free Will or whether everything is predestined. Astrologers will typically tell you that 60% or so is predestined while you still retain control of 40%. The percentages could vary.
In the euphoria of how many ‘events’ the astrologer got it right, we forget that the grand purpose of Astrology as envisioned in the ancient scriptures is ‘Personal Growth’ and ‘Inter-personal Harmony’. There is nothing fatalistic about Astrology in the Scriptures. There is no debate of whether you have Free Will or not. Rather, the scriptures insist that we do our karma, without which no result is possible.
Western Astrologers seem to be cleverer than the Indian counterparts. They have been practicing what is called ‘Psychology of Astrology’ since antiquity. The mode of delivery of Astrology is essentially the personal counseling process.
Without doubt, Indian Astrology (also called Vedic Astrology) has a richer set of tools for identifying your inherent Strengths and Weaknesses and Opportunities and Threats that may come your way. All you have to do is induce your Astrologer to do a SWOT analysis for you.
And the easiest way to do this is by staring your question with a ‘Why’. Why am I a not getting that promotion? Why am I not getting married? Why am I not able to buy my own house? Chances are that you will get a more involved response and inspire you to towards Personal Growth and Inter-personal harmony.
Next time you visit your Astrologer, you know how to frame your question! Change your question and you will be on your way to chart a happy and contented life!
