Astrology 101 Series - The Basics

Have we reached peak astrology? Perhaps, but we’ll never tire of talking about it… and if you’re an astro-head, too, you’re in the right place to find out more with Dandy’s new series: Astrology 101 - The Basics.

By Anna Myers / Oct 27 2024

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I’d be lying if I said Andrew Garfield’s interviewee charm is the reason we started this series, but it’s not not part of it. If you haven’t watched the iconic clip from the actor’s Golden Globes red carpet interview with Chicken Shop Date host Amelia Dimoldenberg, let’s just say that the flirting is adorable, the rom-com vibes are Richard-Curtis levels of good, and the astrology chat is as heavy as it is a sign that something has irreparably shifted in pop culture.

We went from equating astrology with “nonsense mumbo jumbo for gullible girls” (somehow it’s always girls getting disparaged for their beliefs ––what’s that about?) to “what’s your sun, moon, and rising?” being acceptable, even routine first-date chat.

Chakra huns, unite. This is our time to shine.

And if you’re not already familiar with the basics of astrology, but want to keep up with the antics of both gorgeous Hollywood actors and… well, everyone on your social media feed, then this series is for you. Through the next few months, Dandy Wellness is going to bring you the fundamentals of this 5000-year old discipline in easy, digestible formats.

Next time the “Mercury is retrograde” memes hit your Instagram, you’ll be more than ready. Let’s dive in!

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what even is astrology?

Astrology ––from the Greek ástron, meaning ‘star’–– is loosely the ancient belief system positing that the movements of heavenly bodies such as planets, stars, and constellations influence events on Earth. Which is to say: they influence us, humans, and our behaviour!

As a divination practice, it is believed to have originated in Mesopotamia in the 3rd millennium BC (5000 whole years ago) but can be evidenced in ancient cultures all over the world, as it was incredibly widespread. Egyptians, Mayans, Greeks, Incas, Hindus, Romans… they all loved astrology, treated it as a solid science, and furthered its studies with discoveries and understandings we still use today.

is astrology a real thing?

The reason modern science has somewhat rejected ––and often unnecessarily ridiculed–– astrology can be traced back to the Enlightenment’s push for rationalism and rejection of much of what we associate with “spirituality.” A missed opportunity, in the eyes of Dandy’s editorial team, because astrology is simply a chance to reconnect to the universe’s wisdom and to get to know ourselves and our potential better.

Sure, oversimplified horoscopes at the back of every newspaper don’t do the discipline any favours, and might even have contributed to its slightly silly reputation as something that Serious People do not waste their Precious Time partaking in, but astrology’s basics and teachings can truly be life changing ––and if used correctly, at the very least they’re eye-opening.

a path to healing

As a nondogmatic practice, astrology can illuminate both the singular and the universal in encouraging and supportive ways. Not because it encourages you to try your luck with a lottery ticket today, the stars are on your side, or other superficial nonsense, but because it can reveal more about ourselves and the world we live in, as well as the growth patterns we all experience and the emotional dynamics we can choose to lean into more or try to lessen.

At the end of the day, any self-development tool, it can be something we really connect with and feel inspired by or something that doesn’t really resonate with our emotional centre. Either way, it’s good to keep an open mind and try to educate ourselves as much as we can about what astrology is and isn’t, before dismissing it or its potential!

Chani Nicholas, one of the most popular astrologers of our time, writes in her NYT bestselling book “You Were Born for This: Astrology for Radical Self-Acceptance” that the first time she encountered astrology was the first time she remembers feeling seen. “If astrology does its job, it offers a mirror in which we see both our best selves and our growth edges,” she writes, and that’s why, “fortified with this knowledge, you can live out the life you were born to.”

And perhaps, this kind of knowledge can bring us all closer to flirting with Andrew Garfield on a red carpet. Thanks, astrology!

what else is in our astrology 101 series?

In this first volume, we’ve gone over a very beginner-level understanding of what astrology is and isn’t, why you shouldn’t dismiss it before you learn a little more about it, and why trusting that something that’s been around for 5000 years can have some validity may be a good point to start.

In future instalments here at Astrology 101 Basics with Dandy Wellness, we’ll cover more in-depth topics and offer fascinating insights into the zodiac elements and their meaning, the big three: your sun, moon, and rising, how to understand your birth chart, an introduction to the twelve houses, and so much more. Stay tuned for more!

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