Art, Archetype, and Astrology

Richard Tarnas defines an archetype as “a universal principle or force that affects--impels, structures, permeates--the human psyche and human behavior on many levels.” Since the time of the earliest cave paintings and communal rituals of indigenous people, these universal patterns have been made visible and tangible through the arts (painting, music, poetry, dance, and drama). Archetypal patterns are also revealed through myths, fairy tales, and religious motifs, in cultures around the globe. Astrology is yet another system based on the universal archetypes, and even astronomy has named planets and asteroids after mythological beings. In his essay, An Introduction to Archetypal Astrology (http://www.cosmosandpsyche.com/pdf/IntroductiontoAstrology.pdf), Tarnas explains the connection between archetypes and astrology:

“Jung thought of archetypes as the basic constituents of the human psyche, shared cross-culturally by all human beings, and he regarded them as universal expressions of a collective unconscious. Much earlier, the Platonic tradition considered archetypes to be not only psychological but also cosmic and objective, as primordial forms of a Universal Mind that transcended the human psyche. Astrology would appear to support the Platonic view as well as the Jungian, since it gives evidence that Jungian archetypes are not only visible in human psychology, in human experience and behavior, but are also linked to the macrocosm itself--to the planets and their movements in the heavens. Astrology thus supports the ancient idea of an anima mundi, or world soul, in which the human psyche participates. From this perspective, what Jung called the collective unconscious can be viewed as being ultimately embedded within the cosmos itself.”

Due to the universal nature of archetypes, we can see the same archetypes showing up in diverse cultures during different eras of human history, clothed in a variety of garb and bearing numerous names. Yet each is used to symbolize the same themes, energies, characteristics, or qualities. For example, the Great Mother archetype is seen as Mother Mary in Western culture, Kwan Yin in China, Tara in Tibet, and Isis, in ancient Egypt.

In art history, we can see the goddess, Venus, portrayed in many forms, from the famous Venus de Milo sculpture, created in Greece (c. 130-100 BC), to Botticelli’s Birth of Venus (c. 1485–87), to Michael Parkes’ contemporary Venus (2007).

These same universal forces that inform culture and religion are flowing within us and around us all of the time. Both astrology and the arts provide powerful ways to understand, consciously experience, and physically embody these invisible forces that underlie our existence. Let’s use the archetype of Aries, for an example.

Aries is often called “The Warrior”. Wherever we have Aries in our birth chart is an area where we would do well to be assertive, bold, and courageous. We can look at a Rembrandt painting of the warrior god, Mars, or watch a war movie, such as “Saving Private Ryan” or sing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. We can take a martial arts class, do the warrior pose in yoga, or pick up a sword and actually feel Aries in our own bodies. Each of these approaches will further your understanding of the Aries archetype and assist you in using the energy of Aries in your daily life.

As an experiential astrologer, I believe that interacting with the archetypes of astrology through the expressive arts is an especially potent way to learn astrology and to work with the dynamics of your own chart. You can paint the emotional intensity of Scorpio, sing Sanskrit chants to invoke Pisces, write love poems to touch Libra, or delight Taurus with a sensual dance.

If you would like to see the archetypes of astrology come to life before your eyes and feel them move within your being, please join Sajit and Eric, at our upcoming classes in Asheville. For details about the classes, click here: http://www.soulvisionconsulting.com/classes.html.
If you are a kinesthetic learner, Sajit offers astrology consultations that combine movement work along with astrological insights, to assist you in experiencing the energies of your chart in your body and learning how to effectively use these energies in your life.

Sajit Greene, M.A.
Astrological Counselor and Authentic Expression Coach
www.SoulVisionConsulting.com