I've had a decades long interest in astrology
and I have recently been interested in this correlation of planets
and other astrological factors with the nature of a particular psychedelic session.
Each person's chart is such a unique and multiplicitous assemblage
of interrelations that it is indeed very difficult unless one is or has access to a gifted astrologer
to say with any certainty how the current positions of the planets may effect one.
Astrology is a kind of psychedelia and path of liberation in and of itself.
It truly pushes one into a different mode of thinking once you have grasped all of the rather
large number of basics and apply it to interpretation. I have found you really need an ability
to see whole patterns and wider pictures while keeping in mind the detail so as not to
stray off into a meaningless level of overgeneralization. It pushes you to use both sides of your brain
synthesizing intuitive/analytical and assessment skills.
As far as the astrology of tripping, boy thats a book that needs to be researched and written if it hasn't already.
Encouraging that Grof has said some things about it, makes a lot of sense that he would, I'd like to read what he says.
Perhaps when the mushrooms start cropping up in my garden I can look into this.
I think I would start with assuming based on traditional western astrology:
1. moon phase is a big factor and also how the
degrees of the zodiac in ones chart are activated according to where the moon and sun sit.
Half moons and new moons can be rough, I have long noticed most people struggle more on those days.
For example in my own case I tend to have repressed anger bubbling up and short lived depression as well as general
body discomfort during those days. New Moon also can be a bit paranoiac. So I would not choose those days to trip.
Full moon is said to create a bit of madness in people and animals, more accurately I have noticed it is
just a very high energy time. It seems to be a bit much for some people and affects them negatively, myself
I often feel rather psyched up and inspired and indeed when I used to trip frequently I would do
it on full moons, as I think a lot of people like to. More harmonious times lunar wise generally would
be 120-240 degree sun-moon degrees of separation, what are called trines. You would then also see how those
trines sit in your chart and also how they connect or don't connect with the rest of the planets in the sky.
They can really charge up the potential of certain planetary configurations and tending in an easy to
handle direction, but it really depends, it can also just set a lot of flow in motion with planets that are not easy.
Its like how do you respond to certain psychedelics, you just have to expereince it for yourself, everyone is different,
same for astral energies, but there are high likelihoods for certain conditions to arise internally and externally
in ones situation that you can get a general idea from.
2. Planets and kinds of trips
Again, this is all just speculation. I haven't looked into and checked others and myself but just going by traditional
astrology if I wanted to have say psilocybe or LSD session that was particularly
visual or inspiring for artwork creation,
I think I might of course do some spiritual practices to channel energy in that direction, your intention is at least as strong as any
planetary influence, but the planetary influences are also there and can be ridden as one would surf a wave.
So for a very
visual or art inspiring trip anything involving Venus and Neptune would be considered good. If the full moon lines up
along the Venus or Neptune axis that alone may be enough, the more exactly in degree terms the better. You could also
have it ruined by Saturn affecting it and figuring in in the sky or in your birth chart, but Saturn could also just as well crystallize a very visual trip in some manner. Saturn
has to do with "crystalization" or manifestation, so it might be good if one wants to actually work and produce something from
a trip, but the trip itself is likely to be harder work than a Full moon conjunct (in the same place as) Neptune or Venus.
There is also full moons in the same spot in one's birth chart as either Venus or Neptune or at 120-240 to those points.
There are many configuartions that could hold very good potential for a very "visual" trip. Neptune can be
a bit dicey, it can create confusion, it is also an oceanic god so, one can be overwhelmed by the oceanic amount
of material a Neptunian session could present. But it is connected with otherworldly and very deep things. If you can handle
Neptune I think its a must for that best trip you ever had type thing.
Neptune is the planet of intoxication and drugs too, so harmonious Neptune connections I think are ideal.
Venus as even people who don't know much astrology is connected with beauty art and the visual as well
but more down to earth and sensual and erotic than Neptune. Having both Venus and Neptune lined up favorably would be what I would shoot for
next time I trip, as I am quite a Venusian type, Venus angular in Libra and I really seem to appreciate all things Neptuninan, it never ceases to amaze
me how just about all of my friends are heavily Neptunian types or Piscean which is the sign Neptune rules. And yes, I really
love visuals, I gotta have them, just profound insight is not enough haha!
But if
profound insight is your thing Neptune is also a very good component, but it is more mystico-religious
or deep archetypal mind that you get with Neptune. So for insigtful trips you want to check for powerful
connections to Jupiter the planet of wisdom and philosophy and Mercury the thinking mind. I would probably
look to Saturn as well especially if you handle Saturn easily. If you have a lot of Capricorn or Saturn is in an angle
(1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house) and in a sign where it is beneficial and strong like Capricorn, Aquarius or Libra. Saturn is work
too, and more hard earned wisdom whereas Jupiter is just your natural spontaneous wisdom won of good
karma. Jupiter in a good spot is also good for lots of laughs, Jupiter is just not going to bring that much trouble
apart from wrecklessness, over-optimism and taking too much of something, Saturn will help you check yourself.
OK, I've written a book practically already and you could just go on and on. I haven't even researched how any of this plays out either.
Also, I have gotten into Jyotish, which is Indian astrology. My god. It is infinite and so essential to Hindu life. Traditionalists in India
do everything in life consulting astrology and as such I feel it is a much more accurate system than western. Hindu astrology also
checks the planet positions acccording to where they actually are. Western astrology has not adjusted for the slippage, where
all of the planets are 20 degrees ahead of where they should be. To me it is clear as day, when I plug in the Vedic reckoned signs and degrees
I am certainly a Gemini rising not a Cancer and you can see it in the charts of famou speople too, sorry the western charts just do not quite
match as well, particualrly the rising which is arguably the most obvious thing about everyone that astrology indicates.
You can look up your own chart both western and Vedic at
www.astro.com. An encyclopedic astrology resourcerun by the great astrologer
and writer and astrology educator Liz Green. Her books are incredibly deep and lessons in mythology, depth psychology as well as astrology.
