The Astrological Imagination: Where Psyche and Cosmos Meet

by Brad Hiljanen Kochunas

Many books today simply widen the field of astrology by promoting newly created techniques or championing older historical methods for investigating every possible nook and cranny of a horoscope. In contrast, this award winning writer points the reader in a new direction toward deepening the way that we approach and think about astrology in these post modern times. Drawing upon the archetypal perspectives of Mircea Eliade, James Hillman, and Thomas Moore, the author presents a truly psychological astrology, an astrology of soul that can plumb the depths of our being, sounding out our centers in a manner that enriches our struggle to fully engage what it means to be human.

Genres: Astrology

132 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2008

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book I purchased from the author at the first astrology conference I ever attended, which was in 2009. I stood expectantly in front of him in the auditorium after his lecture, clutching the book, ready to possess it, trying to put aside the thoughts of my finances. "You're holding a book. That means you want to buy it," he said,, observing me. Nod nod yes! I paid him for it and brought it home and now have finally read the whole thing at once.

The wait was probably worth it. Rather than approach it like I was studying for a comprehensive exam, I read it as a professional astrologer who was thoroughly versed in the astrological concepts presented. But I still marked it with more than a few highlights and notes and asterisks because there were things that were just said so clearly and strongly, like...Bam!!. Like Rachel Madow taking down a member's of Congress hypocritcal position on the issue of the day or a New York Times journalist explaining the intracies of something going on with the depth and clarity of a diamond.

Example from the final essay: 'This means as astrologers we stand up for...whatever it is that the client wishes to be rid of; shyness, anger, depression, failed relationships, stand up for it, find its value in the client's life. A reimagined astrology is not a practical approach to serve those clients with egoistic concerns. It is for clients seeking something more; more imaginal, more meaningful, more soulful....Growth, healing, and transformation take time....I've never met anyone yet who believes that store bought bread was better than bread baked from scratch in the home."

Or this from the essay, "Reclaiming Lunacy": "It is a wonderfully poetic irony that the magnum opus of solar consciousness was the landing on the Moon in 1969....From the perspective the Moon offered we could literally reflect upon our center, our Gaian rootedness and connectedness....Solar psychologies are the ego psychologies, the cognitive/behavioral therapies, and much of what is found in the field of transpersonal psychology....Solar psychologies offer a picture of the fully functioning, ever in balance, always in control, well related, self awakened human being....The solar model of psychological health is incomplete for it leaves out the necessity of pathology in human growth and tries to rid of its presence. But wholeness contains darkness, rigidity, emptiness and barrenness, it brings with it deformity, disease, depression, and death [Yes, Brad is a big fan of Saturn - no doubt a good quality to have when you taught astrology to incarcerated individuals under the cover of a self-improvement writing group - something like that, as I recall him saying]. Counseling need not be the heroic attempt to extinguish those aspects of our being that have negative cultural sanctions....The lunar psychologies emphasize descent and deepening as characterized by the archetypal approach of Hillman (1975), the phenomenological approach via Romanyshyn (1982), somatic therapies, gestalt therapies, feminist and some existential perspectives....The Moon throbs and gushes with intensity and juiciest calling our attentions away from our heady cognitions and into our bodies to experience ourselves in our earthiness."

I happened to be reading these essays during a week in which I was struggling with my relationship with a health care professional I have been seeing for several years but whose unsolicited advice about the ending of a personal relationship seemed simplistic and unhelpful. The solar and lunar perspectives Brad elucidated and contrasted helped me frame the situation and make decisions about how I was going to address it: this person wanted to stay in the sun, I wanted to watch the Moon.

The book is a collection of essays. Overall, the tone and format would appeal to anyone who enjoys reading academic works, but it could he understood by any intelligent non-academic reader, whatever that might mean. In the first several essays, Brad explains what astrology is, the astrological mindset, and the reasons for the vehemence of its detractors, in eloquent sentences that position astrology in the conceptual realm of the imagination. Throughout the essays, he argues that it should be there rather than trying to dress itself up as a science. That is the central organizing theme that ties all of the essays together, and he presents his case both assertively and poetically. There are astrologers who would place themselves and astrology elsewhere on the Science-Imagination spectrum, but Brad's work is worth reading regardless because it makes a strong case for what is one of, if not the strongest, most useful and relevant aspects of astrological practice today, and it does so clearly and intelligently.

Just to reinforce and elaborate on the above: Brad is all in for the non-rationalist approach to astrology. I find a rational, empirically based exploration of the world through astrology to be interesting, but the key here is the use of the word exploration. We would both agree that astrology should not be pandering to the cultural obsession with rationalism, empiricism, and positivism and its degradation of the intuitive, imaginal, and sacred. He explains the differences between these alternative mindsets with wonderful clarity, and, as much as he might balk at the suggestion, his explanation of the basics of astrology come from a refreshingly objective stance rather than sounding like a defensive astrologer touting the wonders of his craft but offering nothing the outsider or skeptic could relate to. Brad's wiring demonstrates the kind of conceptual awareness they might appreciate. For these reasons, Brad's book would be a good one to offer to an academic type who 'doesn't believe in astrology.' There are some typos and a few technical details that would probably not get picked up on by an 'outsider,' but might make an astrologer think...eh, hmm...is that right? But they are minor issues that don't touch the core themes of the easays.

As the book progresses, the essays come more from the perspective of an astrologer talking astrology to other astrologers or talking to other astrologers about astrology, but the message remains consistent thoughout: astrology should proudly place itself in the realm of the Imaginal, the Sacred and let scientists do science over there. Overall, Astrological Imagination is an intelligent and eloquent presentation of astrology to both astrologers and the outside world.

[Patrick Massey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first academic book I've read on the subject of Astrology. I didn't be agree with all of it, but it's helped me to conceptualize Astrology and take it seriously.