Awakening to the Spiritual Archetypes in the Birth Chart: From Astrology to Astrosophy

Awakening seeks to lift astrology from its modern intellectual constructs, so that even readers unfamiliar with astrological charts might be brought to the threshold of astrosophy—the lost cosmology of the ancient world. Opening wide the door to direct experience of the majesty of the starry realm, astrosophy raises the soul out of the closed circle of contemporary astrology. Astrosophy leads us to personal certainty that our spiritual home lies among the stars, which are the “alpha” and “omega” of our existence. One pillar of this work is the original, sidereal zodiac of ancient Babylon, within which the zodiacal signs remain connected with their constellations. As intuitively clear as this way of thinking may seem, such a sense of connectedness has been lost, especially in the West, where— despite astronomical reality!—it is proclaimed that the Sun always enters Aries on the first day of spring. Another pillar is that of the spiritual truths of the Arcana of the Tarot, which once spoke through the clairvoyant consciousness of ancient Egypt, and which astrosophy seeks to reawaken and renew for our time. Our purpose is to behold the firmament through the lens of Hermeticism: the wisdom contained within the sacred writings of Hermes Trismegistus. As each human individuality crosses the threshold of death, it encounters the beings and spiritual archetypes indwelling the stars and planetary spheres. This is why the birth chart of the current incarnation, cast according to the principles of astrosophy, unveils the wise spiritual guidance at the heart of each soul’s longing. We are not alone! If Hermeticism is this book’s warp, the working of Christ is its weft. Christ’s love has walked with humanity since our fall from Paradise, and will do so until the end of time. May we kneel together beneath the splendor of the stars!

Julie Humphreys integrates a vast fund of insights drawn from many traditions into a text that draws together the profundity of the Tarot figures (both on their own and as interpreted in the massive work Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey into Christian Hermeticism), ancient knowledge of the planets, stars, and their mutual influences (star-based astrology), and an enhanced understanding of the major deeds of Christ made possible by a chronology of the life of Christ drawn from the visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich. As the story unfolds, she makes clear that, although an “archetype” does not offer the yes/no answer to life’s questions a materialist might wish for, we can come to know an archetype in such a way that we enter mythopoetic worlds far more useful for grappling with life’s nuanced challenges than “cookbook” astrology can offer.
—David Tresemer, Ph.D., StarHouse, Boulder, CO

In the all-encompassing context of astronomy, astrology, and astrosophy, the wonderful tapestry Julie Humphreys weaves from the threads of the major Arcana of the Tarot will enable attentive readers to come to realizations concerning their own connection to cosmic realms. All who wish to deepen their experience of the celestial song that each life sings will be ever grateful for this important, long-awaited, pivotal text.
—Robert Powell, author of Christian Hermetic Astrology

Julie Humphreys has brought together a vast amount of research, perspectives, and tradition. She has distilled these into a practical, down-to-earth guide: from planetary aspects, to the Tarot; from the twelve houses, to the life of Christ. Here, astrologers both new and experienced can find entryways to an understanding of astrosophy. Many of us have been looking for a book like this for years! It is wonderful that Julie has taken the time and effort to bring these matters to life.
—Joel Matthew Park, editor, Star Wisdom series