The Communal Underpinnings of Astrology

Written By Cameron Byas

Across cultures, people crave connection and aspire to have a sense of belonging. The way that people find that will look drastically different; but this need for connection can be quite useful, especially in times of distress and despair. The 2020 COVID lockdown, for example, showed many that they would go to great lengths to be in community with other people. Some even ventured outside of their comfort zone, due to an entanglement of hopelessness and boredom, to find connection. Through the ongoing disparities and hardships of the world, many folks found a home in astrology. As I have always enjoyed a conversation that goes beyond discussing the sun signs, I decided to find my own community and began my journey in reading birth charts. 

Despite the skepticism of astrology, I find it a useful tool in not only building community but also finding meaning and purpose. Whether it be religion, sports, astrology, or any other organized group, people need to have something to believe in. Is there scientific evidence that says not washing your lucky socks will help you score better? Is there scientific evidence that says ‘knocking on wood’ or not ‘splitting the pole’ helps you avoid danger? Although there isn’t “proof” in these beliefs, the point in believing isn’t to have proof. When an absolute stranger comes to me and asks for a birth chart reading, that one interaction alone has connected me to them. In that interaction, I am focusing on what that person needs in the moment – perhaps its meaning, hope, or reassurance. Whatever it is, there is a binding force, linking us together, that would be severed if either of us focused solely on finding the evidence.

In a lot of ways people think similarly about therapy. It can be viewed as taboo in many cultures or less valuable than medical and pharmacological remedies. There are many misconceptions; yet those who do indulge in therapy, who trust in the process, find it the most helpful. Don’t get me wrong, astrology and therapy do differ in the sense that psychology is backed by scientific evidence. Where they come together is the ability to create narratives, connection, and meaning. 

In my own experience, being both a clinician and a client, there has been utility in allowing these two ideologies to exist together. I have had clients discuss aspects of their chart in session which I have used to help guide the session. For example, when clients highlight differences in the traits of their moon sign versus their venus sign, this reminds me of parts work or an internal family systems (IFS) approach. From a psychological perspective, there are many ways to interpret a client’s connection to astrology and implement it into the therapeutic space and relationship. Despite the different language used, and of course the level of evidence-based practices, making meaning of our lived experiences is what connects astrology and therapy. 

Regardless of the setting, be it with a client or a stranger asking me to read their chart, I enter the space with humility for their narratives. As many psychologists believe that clients know themselves best, I’ve come to understand that meaning making cannot happen through myopic narratives and overestimating my positionality. When I am asked by a stranger to explain what their rising sign means or when a client asks how I can “fix” them, both questions bring about similar emotions. It is within these spaces that I recognize everyone is looking for answers and not yet recognizing the answers are right within themselves. As psychotherapists, we’re here to guide clients and help them reveal truths about themselves that have yet to be spoken. As an astrologer, I help them find the words that have been at the precipice of their thoughts and the emotions that linger behind the exile of their hearts.

The thing about life is that we don’t know why anything happens, but we choose to believe in something. I choose to believe that components of my birth chart demonstrate my capacity for flexibility and empathy. Having a strong belief system drives the narratives that connect us and regardless of what we choose to believe, we can find community, hope, and meaning on the other side. 

Cameron Byas

Cameron Byas is pursuing advanced clinical training at CORE. They have a master’s degree in clinical psychology from The Chicago School and are currently a fourth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Program at this institution. They have also received an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. Prior to joining CORE, Cameron most recently trained at Center on Halsted where they provided mental health services to the LGBTQIA+ community. They have also trained at Ada S. Mckinley where they conducted psychological evaluations for children and adolescents. As Cameron has spent the last two clinical training years working in community mental health settings, they have grown in their passion for advocacy, support, and connection within marginalized populations.  Cameron works with individuals, couples, and families at CORE.

Cameron has other clinical experiences working in hospital settings along with residential, IOP, and PHP program settings. With such vast experiences across the lifespan and settings, Cameron has worked with a wide range of clinical presentations which includes diagnoses of gender dysphoria, anxiety, depression, trauma-related disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorders along with personality disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Within the therapeutic space, Cameron is drawn to a relational-styled approach which allows rapport building and deep reflective work to transpire between clinician and client. They typically work within a systems framework as they believe that each person is shaped, influenced, and co-created within the micro and macro systems in the client's environments. Cameron takes a gentle directive approach allowing clients to reflect on their experience with emotions while also engaging with the nervous system through somatic and experiential exercises. Cameron focuses largely on the narratives clients have created for themselves as it relates to their thoughts, emotions, and lived experiences. With such deeply integrative work, Cameron has clinical interests in couples and individual concerns that focus on gender, sexuality, and identity.

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