A major misconception about Astrology is that because our charts show it's a "good" time or "bad" time for certain things, it’s somehow okay to “let fate take its course,” ignoring the fact that as we act or do not act, we create our destiny.

To quote some timeless wisdom from The Bard of Avon, "The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, but in ourselves if we are underlings." We alone shape our lives through our actions and inactions. Whether or not these are in our best interests and can accomplish what we intend is the path of our growth to a spiritual maturity and understanding.

Today we take a brief look at one of the intersections of fate and free will. Our stars or chart positions or progressions do not “make anything happen” of themselves, nor can any Astrological, Tarot, psychic, or "spiritual" self-help reading make a thing happen or not happen. In my book A New Look at Mercury Retrograde, there is an explanation about why planets do not cause anything:

Even if we use astrology, we still live our own lives and make our own choices. Invariably, we are either acting, not acting, or being acted upon. Planetary configurations are relevant to us in our chosen field of activity, in our life energies, and the varying circumstances that influence us. An astrological configuration cannot make us act appropriately, or solve a problem in and of itself. Many configurations completely pass us by, with the "good ones" not magically bringing expected good nor the "bad ones" visiting disaster upon us. Any configuration only manifests to the degree we are living life, and not merely being spectators waiting for something to happen.

No matter how great a set of planetary positions or aspects is in our chart, our limitations and skills determine if we can achieve the best use of those factors. If we try to avoid certain limitations or deficiencies and choose to push forward with a project, or fail to follow through at critical moments due to fear, attachment, or buying into illusions, then we will experience failure. Our failures are meant to teach us to get beyond our preconceptions and limitations, and not blame circumstances or someone else for our failure, or hope that somehow magically things will turn around, even if sometimes they do.

Whether we "succeed" or "fail" at something involves several variables, including circumstances, timing, and effort. If one or more of these are not correct, then usually we don't achieve the results we desire. Of these three variables, the last two are mostly within our control, while the first usually isn't. And if the circumstances are not correct, then no amount of effort or right astrological timing will make our project succeed.

Real world circumstances influence our ability to be able to act or not act in our best interests, and while we don't control the circumstances, we always control our responses to those circumstances. Some circumstances do not permit "success" as we envision it, and even when they do, if we don't do the right things in the right ways and times, we cannot succeed.

For example, we cannot drive two thousand miles with only $20 for gas unless we have an EV and unlimited charging credits. We cannot catch trout in a bass pond, nor can we plant potatoes in great soil with the Moon in a fertile sign and get a crop when the ground is frozen. We cannot sell products to people who want to buy something else, or make someone "do the right thing." We cannot make someone else want to be in a healthy relationship with us if they don't want that. And while we can pray for some things, we cannot make them come. Some things are beyond our control.

There’s also another factor in success and failure that is absolute. If we’re clear in our vision, have the skills and resources to use to achieve that vision, begin our effort at the right time in the right way and place, and persist in doing what we must to achieve the result, then usually we get some measure of success. HOWEVER! If in doing that effort we violate one critical factor, then no matter what, our efforts will never succeed.

Regardless of what we believe is good or desired, we must not violate our integrity and what we're here to learn and Be, or at some point our "truth of being," or karma, or guardian angel, or another Spiritual component in our lives will put a stick in our spokes to keep us from error. Something about "leave us not in temptation" comes to mind. Spirit has many ways and means to redirect us from erroneous aim, regardless of what we think or believe.

If our desires are pulling us away from what we are to learn about selfless service this life, then at some point our desires will be frustrated or wrecked altogether. We can effort mightily in a direction, but if it's fundamentally not true for us, or is leading us away from our best and Highest Self and purpose for being here on Earth, or the "failure" is part of our higher path of Self-realization, then inevitably our efforts will not bring us the success we hope for. This helps us learn detachment, dispassion, discrimination, and a positive attitude regardless of what comes or goes.

When our best efforts have seemed to fail, it's a perfect time to reflect, with as much objectivity and compassion as possible, to see if we were in error, and if possible make appropriate corrections. Even if the fault was in circumstances or due to another cause, these matter less than our ability to understand our part in the play, and see how we acted the best we were able, or where we fell short of our best. This reflection can lead us to see what constitutes "right view," "right effort," "right action," and "right realization."

Of course, compassion also dictates that we remember the hard human truth that even if we do everything correctly, "sometimes the answer is no." A crop failure may not come from our actions or inactions, but it's always important to take responsibility for whatever part we did play in the larger event, and if we "failed," examine how we can become better people for the experience.

Our willingness to rise to our challenges appropriately determines how the outcome of those challenges affects our lives. How we respond determines future possibilities of succeeding in fulfilling our purpose. Sometimes just rising to the occasion brings forth our better Self, whether we succeed or fail at whatever. An apparent defeat today can bring forth skills and understandings that will be the foundation of future successes.

This is one of our greatest inner tools to help us transcend limitations we no longer need while acquiring the skills and understanding we need to fulfill our higher destiny. I speak of these things and more in my book Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend which offers you all you need to navigate the perfection of your personality on your own terms to achieve the expression of your Higher Self. In our striving and experience we come to understanding and wisdom. These in turn create a more fulfilling future than what we can imagine.

I'll close this brief essay on our responsibility to drive our own boat and not blame externals for our apparent worldly failures and frustrations with a reminder from The Three Truths: "Each man is his own absolute law-giver, the dispenser of glory or gloom to himself; the decreer of his life, his reward, his punishment." Something to consider as we move and groove through the intersections of fate and free will.

Reprinted on crystalwind.ca with written permission from Robert Wilkinson. Copying this article to other blogs is strictly prohibited. It is copyright protected. 

© Copyright 2023 Robert Wilkinson

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