Psychological Astrology. To be very honest, I was not aware that the concept existed. I skeptically picked up Judy Balan’s book on the topic. Why am I like this? A journey into Psychological Astrology by Judy Balan (Simon and Schuster India) is part memoir and part introduction to the world of psychological astronomy.
From the word go there is a vibrant energy that pierces the book and takes the reader with it! The book is loaded with humour and pop-culture references (Harry Potter fans will be enthralled). The first part of the book traces the journey of the author from her childhood till her initiation into the field.
The book then delves right into the background and concepts of psychological astronomy. Carl Jung’s concept of the collective unconscious, complexes and archetypes form the crux of this section. Then, the narrative moves into the more technical bits about planets, signs and houses. Towards the end, there is guidance on putting it all together.
The book is mainly intended as an introductory text rather than a guide to practice. For those interested in pursuing the topic further, there are various recommendations, and the book is indeed a good place to start.
Jung’s concepts themselves do take time to understand, and for those with a background in psychology, it might just be easier to grasp. For instance, the idea of the Collective Unconscious, which is Jung’s contribution to depth psychology, will resonate with readers who have also grasped the concept of the conscious, preconscious and unconscious as elements of the structure of the psyche, in the context of the original of these concepts in original Freudian thought, and then Jung’s contribution to the same.
For me, the intersection of psychology and astrology is a new concept, and I am curious to know more, though at the moment, it does not look like I may veer towards the practice of the same. However, for those who are keen to explore, I would recommend this book as a starter, and then you could move on to the specific book recommendations mentioned herein!
Why am I like this? A journey into Psychological Astrology by Judy Balan could thus be seen as a taster to the world of psychological astronomy.
