What is Astrodharma?

				*What is Astrodharma?* As Eastern, non-dual teachings and practices continue to infiltrate the West and our separation-affirming models of reality crumble or harden into polarized, dogmatic factions, the oneness-affirming truths of ancient oracular arts like astrology become more and more compelling. Even the current rash of oversimplified and misleading sun sign columns is a sign of spiritual opening insofar as they signal a growing demand for unmediated, interpersonally verifiable truths that demonstrate we are submerged in- and imprinted by- an Intelligence of cosmic dimensions. The reason astrology is undergoing such a renaissance is because it is so effective at seducing our otherwise lonely, hard-edged egos to dissolve themselves—however briefly—into bona-fide experiences of oneness. By appearing, at first, to be a mind-made system of typing people, astrology presents to our egos the mouth-watering possibility of better understanding— and, thereby, better seducing— the minds of those it considers separate, desirable and good. At the same time, it promises to equip us with the perceptual tools needed to avoid and defend ourselves against the dangerous “bad” people. Is this not the closest thing to heaven an eternally orphaned mind could hope for? However, as ego actually starts peering at itself, others and the events of the world through astrology’s symbolic lens, it quickly becomes exposed to energetic patterns and felt meanings that are far too fluid and multi-dimensional to be captured and pinned down by thought. Before we know it, we’ve developed an appetite for intuitive insights that are only accessible to the extent that we free ourselves from the very astrological dogma and preconceptions we worked so hard to learn. From this perspective, cheap conversation starters like “What’s your sign?” may actually be the collective consciousness’ way of priming itself for the non-conceptual experiences of dharma. Dharma is a Sanskrit word meaning, “the forces that hold the Universe together.” It refers to a body of spiritual truths that so accurately articulate our soul’s longing for (and our ego’s resistance to) embodied emptiness, or Oneness, that they usher the self-inquiring mind to the cliff edge of thought. If you’ve ever jumped from a frightening height, you know that the person who finally decides to jump is not really “you.” It is, rather, a feverish nobodyness that finally takes over. A nudge of grace. This is dharma in action. When this free-fall into the experience of one Self is inspired by a body of astrological truths, I call it “Astrodharma.” This perceptually alive (vs. “believed”) form of astrology initiates us into a kind of extroverted mysticism. The twelve archetypes—Aries through Pisces—appear, not so much as personality attributes that divide us, but as “styles of awakening” that underscore our common destiny. As we learn to identify and appreciate these awakening styles in our self and others, our attention naturally moves past their distracting, lower octave expressions to the luminous intention that inspires them. Egos become less and less opaque. In this way, we effectively free ourselves of reactivity to the veil of personality and the burdens of the separate self. To learn more about this dharmic perspective on the twelve styles of awakening, click on the 12 Styles of Awakening icon, or sign up for my free monthly Newsletter.








	Not only did Hunter identify and clarify my major issues of the present, he coached me on how I could work through my challenges in positive ways. I could tell he really cared about helping me. - Tera Antaree