Astrology for
Raising Children
by Douglas Bloch, M.A.
The other day I overheard the
following conversation between a father and a neighbor friend. "I can't
understand how my children Molly and Sarah came from the same family," Tim
said. "Sarah is serious, reserved, a hard worker, and wants to be a success
in the world. Molly, on the other hand, is capricious, talkative, lighthearted,
and extroverted. These kids had the same parents and grew up in the identical
environment. I don't get it."
To students of astrology, Jim's
comments should come as no surprise, especially when they learn that serious
Sarah was a Capricorn born on December 27, while versatile Molly was born on
June 11 under the sign of the Gemini twins. Astrology confirms what parents such
as Jim have long observed ? that children do not enter this world as a "tabla
rasa"? a blank slate. Instead, they are born with a specific agenda,
revealed in the birth chart, that begins to manifest itself almost immediately
after birth.
If children have their own
agenda, then our job as parents and educators is to allow them to fulfill the
seed potential within them. Can you imagine exhorting an oak tree to become a
maple; or a rose to grow into a tulip? Yet how many times are children pushed
into careers in order to carry on the family tradition of one of the parent's
professions? This "poisonous pedagogy", as psychoanalyst Alice Miller
calls it, occurs when adults project their own wishes and biases onto the child.
Astrology offers a solution by allowing the adult to see the child for who he or
she is ? as an independent, autonomous being with his own needs, desires,
proclivities, and destiny.
For
example, my sister-in-law Jane recently spoke to me
about a problem she was having with her six year old
daughter Laura. Laura, an excellent dancer (Mars in
Leo), wanted to sign up for a number of different
classes ? tap dance, jazz, and ballet. The chagrined
mother complained that "Laura is never going to
learn focus and discipline herself. She must decide on
what she wants now and stick to it." A quick look
at my ephemeris revealed that the mother had Sun
conjunct Saturn in Scorpio and Capricorn rising. Laura,
however, was born with the moon in Gemini, the sign of
variety and versatility. Thus, her desire to try out a
number of different dance styles was in keeping with her
Zodiacal signature.
When I
explained to Jane the difference between Saturn's need
for focus and Gemini's need for variety, she was able to
accept and be more comfortable with her daughter's
eclectic pursuits. Jane's understanding of astrology
allowed her to trust her daughter's decision. Moreover,
Jane also became more aware of her need to control, as
indicated by her strong Saturn and Capricorn.
If
parents and educators were to use astrology in a
responsible way, a real revolution in child rearing
would take place. We would function less as autocrats
and more as guides, encouraging each child to unfold in
accordance with the seed potential revealed within the
birth chart.
Astrology
also finds an important application in the field of
childhood education. The great educator Maria Montessori
wisely told her teachers, "Follow the interest of
the child!" Yet, these interests may not always be
apparent to the teacher or other adults working with the
child. With the help of the birth chart, the child's
inclinations, talents, and learning style, can be
clearly discerned.
For
example, a teacher friend recently expressed frustration
about her fourth grade student named Daniel.
"Daniel," she stated. "is always in a
'fog' and a 'dream world' of his own. I can't seem to
get through to him," she complained. Suspecting the
influence of the planet Neptune, I constructed the chart
and discovered that his Sun was conjunct Mercury in
Pisces, the sign ruled by Neptune.
"Pisces,"
I explained , "is the sign of the dreamer. So it's
natural that Dan would be off in his own world a bit.
Pisces also rules artistic creativity. Has Daniel
expressed an interest in music, poetry, or
painting?"
The
teacher replied, "As a matter of fact, Daniel loves
to make up stories and tell them to the other children.
That kid has quite an imagination."
"Ask
him to start writing his stories down," I
suggested. "Children with Mercury in Pisces often
find an outlet for their imagination in creative
writing."
Within
weeks, Daniel began writing a number of stories that
gained him much needed academic recognition. More
importantly, he found a creative focus for a talent that
was longing to be expressed.
In the
above example the teacher's knowledge of astrology
helped her to support the positive side of Daniel's
Neptune (creativity, imagination) instead of focusing
exclusively the negative side (his tendency to
daydream). The astrological perspective enabled her to
accept Daniel for who he was. Upon learning that
dreaminess was a common Piscean tendency, she felt more
comfortable with this trait and could treat it as an
asset instead of a liability.
What the
one person calls a pathology, another will label a gift.
A planetary energy is neither good nor bad. It is the
way that the energy is expressed that determines whether
its application will be constructive or destructive.
Waldorf
vs. Montessori
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Article Source
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 This
article was
written by the author of
"Positive
Self-Talk for Children?by
Douglas
Bloch.
Info/Order book
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About The Author
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Douglas Bloch is an author,
teacher and astrologer who has been a student of metaphysical principles
since 1971. He is the co-author of Astrology
For Yourself ($24.95, Wingbow Press), Asteroid
Goddesses ($18.95, ACS Publications), and the author of Positive
Self-Talk For Children ($12.95, published by Bantam books), as
well as the new ground-breaking book, When
Going Through Hell Don?t Stop: A Survivor?s Guide to Overcoming
Depression and Clinical Anxiety ($14.95). Check your local
bookstore or write Pallas Communications 4226 NE 23rd Ave., Portland,
OR. 97211. (503) 284-2848. Or visit our website at www.teleport.com/~dbloch
(Author's email is
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Finally,
astrology sheds some unusual light on the differences
between two well-known educational philosophies. The
great educator Maria Montessori was born with the Sun in
the earth sign of Virgo. The Montessori method which she
developed reflects the Virgoan needs for structure,
order, and self-discipline. The program emphasizes
learning skills that are grounded in everyday reality.
One of the learning modules, appropriately known as
"practical life", teaches children how to
accomplish the ordinary, mundane activities that allows
them to function efficiently (Virgoan keywords) in their
environment. This focus on practical self-care is a
hallmark of the Virgoan archetype and Montessori
education.
Rudolph
Steiner, founder of the Waldorf school, was born with
the Sun in Pisces, the sign opposite Montessori's Virgo.
Unlike the down-to-earth Montessori, Steiner's Piscean
approach nurtures the child's spirituality and
emphasizes dance, creativity, and the arts. Children are
taught a particular style of painting that evokes a
dream-like, impressionistic quality. The Waldorf system
supports the fantasy life of the child and waits until
the seventh year before teaching more left-brained
academic functions. The differences in focus between the
Steiner and Montessori methods clearly reflect the
Pisces/Virgo polarity of their sun signs.
In this
brief article, I have attempted to demonstrate the
important role that astrology can play in helping us to
better understand and appreciate our children. By
providing a soul's road-map, astrology offers unique
glimpse into a child's psyche and inner life. It is my
hope that astrologers will one day serve as consultants
to parents, teachers, and school counselors, applying
the astrological perspective to help children grow and
mature into the people they were meant to be.
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