Earthbound Astrology

Earthbound Astrology



Many practitioners familiar with Agrippa (or its derivatives) acknowledge the eminence (or emanation) of planetary powers and through self-cultivation can learn to sense their specific presences on the Earthly plane. This is my preferred method to work with planetary energies, as an alternative to working with planetary or zodiacal timing. If you consider that things on the Earthly plane are constantly being created, destroyed, and reborn, then the environment will naturally accumulate materials born under auspicious celestial conditions. We can also cultivate a sensitivity to the natural energies of material objects based on their elemental affinities, which vibrate across the Sub-lunar, Celestial, and Super-Celestial planes (see Agrippa). This doesn't mean that I completely eschew electional astrology, but that I employ a space-for-time substitution. A mental model of planetary alchemy can be helpful when chasing down sources of energy for our spells and I've included an example model below.



All the components of this model represent phases through which energy moves. The elements indicate gross states of energy analogous to the four fundamental states of matter, but extending to the immaterial planes. The planets in this model are analogous to phase transitions that provide pathways for energy to flow from one state to another. The Zodiac in this model hints at the illusionary nature of Neptune. Ostensibly the Zodiac in this model offers 12 additional phases or transitions, but can actually be summed up as a triplicity consisting of cardinality, fixity, and mutability. The final component is the direction of energy flow. Clockwise around any circle indicates increasing, expanding, or rising energy. Counter-clockwise indicates decreasing, condensing, or falling energy. These two cycles can be used to achieve the same goals, depending upon one's starting position. So in that regard, they represent a single energetic cycle.

I often keep this mental model in mind when scavenging for sources of power or configuring new spells. I also assign keywords to each component, which I use as a heuristic when trying to sense or understand spirits or energies in my environment. Nonetheless, I always reserve the right to spin around, flip, break apart, or throw away part or all of this model as necessity or whim dictates.

Ianvs

Elements
Earth - Solid
Water - Liquid
Air - Vapor
Fire - Plasma

Planets
Terra - Stabilization
Luna - Perception
Venus - Motivation
Jupiter - Organization
Mercury - Transmission
Sol - Generation
Mars - Action
Saturn - Dissolution

Zodiac
Cardinal - Increasing
Fixed - Steady
Mutable - Decreasing

Cycles
Clockwise - Transformation
Counter Clockwise - Manifestation