Helping Yourself Through Alternative Methods

Medical intervention is by no means the only way to improve your mood and mental functioning. For centuries, prayer was used as a way to calm the soul and soothe the mind. Astrology, dream interpretation, and palmistry have been around since the time of the Egyptians

Why do these very unscientific methods seem to work so well? There are as many explanations as there are researchers studying them. One thing could be the need for control over one's life and fate. By using a variety of methods to try to see where you're headed, you may be able to take charge of your life. Whether or not there is a metaphysical component to these methods, they do give you an insight to yourself and your life, and can be valuable in showing you where you need to change things and take control.

Regardless of how it happens, it's undeniable that skilled practitioners of several of these methods, notably palmistry and tarot, are trained not only to read the instruments of their trade but also to read the person having the reading done. Palmistry includes a number of observations of the hands that mainstream health practitioners also use. And tarot includes many elements of psychoanalytic and Jungian psychology.

But there are things that are unexplainable in this way as well; an astrological natal chart, even though it does of necessity speak in generalities, often describe the subject of it surprisingly well. And in that description, the individual can find strengths to capitalize on and weaknesses to eliminate.

Prayer has recently been scientifically examined; in a 2003 controlled experiment, congregations praying in Canada had an effect on South Korean women trying to get pregnant through in-vitro fertilization, even though neither group knew the other and the women in South Korea didn't even know they were being prayed for. This remarkable occurrence has given many scientists something to think about.

1. Astrology

Astrology involves using the positions of celestial bodies, primarily stars and planets, to understand, interpret and organize information about the world, reality, and human life. In both the Oriental and Western traditions, astrology has had a strong following since the dawn of history and probably earlier. Most of the great construction projects from the earliest civilizations – Stonehenge, the Pyramids, and hundreds of mound burials – were planned according to astrological designs.

Astrology is believed to reveal the past, present, and future by observing and interpreting the positions of celestial bodies. This can be an individual's own fate, or the fate of a nation, the fall of a city or the violent destruction of a continent. The ancient astrologers believed that the movements of the heavens were reflected on the earth. An ancient Hermetic maxim states, "As above, so below."

Today, astrology in the West is used in two basic manners: using a natal or birth chart to identify your life path, and to publish personal horoscopes. Newspaper horoscopes are related to the personal horoscope, but because they tend to be very generalized are not the best method to use to understand yourself; they are truly for entertainment purposes only!

Methods of Astrology

Astrology, astronomy, mathematics, and physics all rose from the same source in the ancient world, and as a result astrology when applied properly is surprisingly mathematical. It uses principles of geometry and arithmetic to determine positioning of celestial bodies relative to one another and to the individual in question. After the math is done, the interpretation of the astrological chart is generally up to the astrologer, which leaves a great deal of leeway.

Astrologers are of two camps as to what their readings mean. Some believe that the querent, the person who is asking questions, is able to use the chart to answer questions about himself and to find the means to cause significant things to happen in his life. An example would be a natal chart that talks about an untapped talent of the querent's – a musical ability, for instance, that the querent has kept hidden from the world or has never explored. Through expressing himself through that ability, the querent might be able to bring about change in himself and his life.

Other astrologers truly believe that our lives are primarily predestined. They may be right. But for the purpose of using astrology to improve one's life, it's probably better overall to choose to disbelieve in predestination.

Using Astrology To Help Yourself

Throughout this site, you'll find a common theme: the true key to helping yourself is self-understanding. Astrology is no different.

Having a natal chart (a large astrological reading based on your precise date, time, and place of birth) done is a good first step. It's better to use an astrologer you meet in person to do your chart, and it's also better to use one who does not depend entirely upon a computer program to create and interpret the chart. With this tool in hand, you can go through and determine how closely your personality -- both the surface parts and the hidden parts – match the chart. You will undoubtedly be surprised.

Discuss this with your astrologer; that's part of what you have hired him or her for. Ask them for advice, based on your chart, for what they think you should pay attention to. Chances are very good that they'll turn the question back on you.

You can use daily personalized horoscopes for guidance through your life as well. Often, a good horoscope will warn you of an upcoming problem, or trigger the thought in your mind that you need to get ready for something coming up. Ideally, using astrology will help you tap a part of yourself that you may not normally use – your intuition.

Never use astrology as a substitute for seeking medical help for things like depression, suicidal ideation, or any mental problems that interfere with your daily life. But similarly, if you find that astrology helps you, never let a doctor tell you to stop using it. Any medicine that helps is a good thing.