April 26, 2011

The Right Time

One of the common uses of astrology is to choose a time for a particular activity. This is called “Electional Astrology” and is usually used for choosing wedding dates, opening businesses, doing elective surgery or initiating a significant project. It’s a challenging process in most cases because there is almost always some planetary static that presents challenges in an elected chart. Still, we astrologers do the best we can to support our clients’ aspirations by seeking the most favorable astrological times to take action. We often say, “Timing is everything,” which I don’t believe is totally true. There are bad ideas for which no time is suitable as well as good ones that can survive a shaky take-off moment.

The reason that sometimes even perfect seeming astrological charts do not produce the desired outcome is that the launch moment is only one factor in determining success. For example, if the fast-moving Moon aligning perfectly with a delicious Venus-Mars connection indicates a superb moment for love, the longer cycles affecting a person’s chart might not be favorable. These slower moving transits, often in effect for a year or more, are the deeper currents that shape the tides of one’s life. A narrow stream of opportunity in the midst of an ocean of challenges is unlikely to carry us very far.

There is, as well, the nature of the planets in a birth chart to consider. While I believe that no one is absolutely limited by her or his natal chart, that we each have inherent strengths and weaknesses that shape our lives. If we aren’t gifted in certain areas and haven’t overcome obstacles to develop ourselves there, even the most desirable short and long-term transits may not provide the right moment to exercise them. This could be called fate or karma, a lifelong current that shapes our experiences. It can also be called personality that shows the ways our minds, bodies and emotions work to set the stage for our experiences. Simply put, if it ain’t in the birth chart, it’s unlikely to happen unless we consciously commit to transforming ourselves.

Lastly, there is the great mystery, the vast unknown that exceeds the sum total of all human knowledge. Dark matter in space and junk DNA in the body are two physical examples of this. There are the mysteries of birth and death and human origin and purpose. These envelop our known worlds of birth charts and personalities, long cycles and short transits and all the other means by which we measure our reality. There are, nevertheless, “right moments” or at least better ones when our instincts align with astrological insight that can help pave the way if we are on the road to our higher purpose.

As published here on my Tarot.com blog.

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