What is Hellenistic Astrology?
I thought I’d chat about the system of astrology I use. What is Hellenistic or ancient astrology? This is a brief and broad-strokes outline of a beautifully complex and elegant system…
First of all though, no system of divination is superior to another. I choose Hellenistic astrology because it speaks to me most powerfully. But it’s not about the system one uses, (that’s just preference); it’s whether that system is used ethically, with kindness, devotion and a genuine wish to be of service. The rest is garnish.
☆ In ancient astrology, we use the whole sign House sytem, rather than placidus. As someone with a “cuspy” chart, this was a revelation for me personally, and feels a lot more accurate.
☆ We generally just use the seven visible planets as seen in the sky by the ancients. It’s a wild idea, but those seven say everything the outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) and asteroids are capable of saying. With arguably less “clutter”. However, myself and others use the outers and some asteroids for transits. Because they add nuance, and their energies are fused with the collective imagination now.
☆ But, we don’t acknowledge the modern rulerships of the outer planets. For instance, Mars not Pluto remains the ruler of Scorpio, yet Pluto embodies many Mars-Scorpio characteristics.
☆ Many of us who practice this system are steeped in a deeply lived understanding of light and shadow. With the sweet comes the sour. Helping others to recognise their gifts and the beauty they bring to the world is deeply rewarding; but helping them navigate challenging times with compassion and without toxic positivity (or a string of instant sugar hits), is also part of the practice.
☆ We don’t ascribe zodiac signs to the Houses, (eg, the 1st House as Aries). The Houses have very different meanings, and have nothing to do with the signs themselves.
☆ We have Day and Night sects or “teams” of planets, depending upon whether you were born during the day or the night.
☆ Modern astrology tends to favour a psychological model of astrology, but in ancient astrology the chart reveals so much more than our personality. It’s a snapshot of our potential at birth, but it also describes the environment, family, and circumstances into which we’re born. It’s about you, but also not about you. You are woven into a more complex, interconnected tapestry.
☆ In this system (much like Vedic astrology - which is derived from Hellenistic astrology), the nodes are “shadow planets”, not evolutionary points.
If you’re curious to know more, or learn about your chart through this system, book a reading with me and we can explore the beautiful mystery some more!
