I had the luxury of only focusing on the pragmatic and ignoring my spiritual practice before I became a practicing astrologer. Even at that time, a steady ‘sadhana’ would have only helped, not harmed. One can call this block I faced as inertia or the result of a distraction immersed culture we live in, that every time I began a routine of meditating/whatever; it would get inevitably sidetracked.
It felt like I was taking one step forward and one step back, dancing in the same place and fooling myself of my so called progress. Moreover, having a highly skeptical mindset, and the new age spiritual movement that almost resemble cults, I wondered if I’m even meant to be involved in the “spiritual”. Having seen reasonable people turn very unreasonable, bigoted, prejudiced was a big turn off from any codified organized spiritual or religious systems.
So, I gave up my feeble attempts at meditation or the halfhearted rituals that my dear father recommended as a foundation for well being. He should know as, being a practicing astrologer, he’s had a rock solid daily routine (involving prayers, chants and fasts) for almost 50 years that remains unchanged whether he’s at home or in a hotel room.
Everything changed when I started practicing astrology. By practicing, I mean turned a professional astrologer from a hobbyist. I could not ignore or neglect the spiritual part of my life anymore. Because it created a sort of grounding mechanism for the watery, sensing energies I used as a part of my practice. By its very nature, astrology (like any other divination) demands a huge amount of mental energy that needs a strong foothold in the truth. Not a facsimile of the truth, but our own personal truth. Or it would be frighteningly effortless for any astrologer to lose themselves in the charts of their clients. It could be as simple as an ethical code of conduct that one follows.
‘Know thyself’ is a necessary condition for any form of divination, astrology included. If I don’t know myself, how could I possibly gain insight into another human being? If I don’t know what I stand for (or don’t stand for); how could I possibly determine my overarching philosophy in life? The latter feeds into all aspects of ones thinking, feeling and behaviour.
This applies to non-astrologers too, of course. Spirituality is not a special diet meant only for those in esoteric arts.
One can define ones truth however one wishes because it truly is very very personal. It is what keeps one sane in an insane world. What keeps one breathing and moving and eating. It’s the unseen force that keeps us alive until we have completed the mission for which we are born.
There is no book nor guru nor mentor nor youtube video or tarot reader or astrologer or psychic that can uncover ones truth for us (Although these support structures have their own place and importance in helping us on your journey)
It took me two full years of consistent practice. Of seclusion from the outer world, of a mental diet from all news, of distancing from real life relationships to go within myself and dig up my values and truths. It’s not easy and it cannot be rushed. The practice isn’t a one-time event but rather an everyday routine that becomes as second nature as brushing our teeth. Until one day we don’t have to force ourselves to practice our rituals. Whatever they are- whether one chooses to meditate, or chant, or say affirmations or light candles at an altar.
As with any task that requires self discipline, I’ve noticed that once we make up our minds, the universe (or whatever you may wish to call it) throws up all sorts of obstacles in the way. So initially it may seem that all our self control is being used in meditating for those 5 minutes. However, if we persist, even for those 5 minutes every single day, suddenly, the path clears. Distractions cease. We seem to stop fighting the experience.
Those 5 minutes turn to 10 and to 15 and one fine day, we sit in one place quietly without moving for a full hour (or more). Essentially that’s what meditation is- to sit with ourselves and observe our thoughts. Eventually we go from many thoughts to less thoughts to no thoughts. Don’t give up (like I did multiple times) because like any habit, it has to be done every single day for a long time until it becomes automatic.
Automaticity is what we’re seeking. Automaticity overrides any conscious resistance. When a task becomes automatic, we don’t have to think (or overthink, in some cases). We just do.
So, going from forcing ourselves to do to just effortlessly doing is a journey that demands patience and stick-with-it-iveness. The journey is the purpose. The process is the purpose. There is no other profound purpose or meaning than the act of simply sitting quietly. And by sitting quietly, we eventually tune out the chatter of the outer world and then, one day, we silence our monkey brain. et voilà!
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