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Astrological counselling uses the knowledge of astrology including the four elements - fire,earth,air and water to understand and help the client
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Ken Ward's Astrology Pages: the ElementsAstrology: Counselling and The Four Elements. |
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The page on counselling
referred to counselling from the perspective of the element air. While what was written
was standard counselling, it was based on the air element. The rules of this type of
counselling are the rules of "air" and different styles will have
different rules. Different styles would be used depending on the client's personality, the
client's current needs, the subject matter ... etc. However, because counselling obviously
concerns the mind, the basic approach will be "mental" and employ the style of
"air". In astrology, and in Traditional Western Philosophy, the four elements are an essential part of our understanding. These four elements are associated in astrology with keywords:
The table above is reproduced form a page on this site. Looking at this table immediately indicates how the previous example of counselling involves the "air" element, because it has the goal of creating a client who is thoughtful. Practical, earthy people often look down on counselling, suggesting it is "airy fairy". They think that what people want is to get stuck into working and get their mind off things. They do not see any point in talking about theory and think we should get down to practice. "Fiery" people think that what people need is a kick up the butt, to get them into action. "Watery" people think we should open our hearts and share our feelings. They believe that having a good cry is the best therapy! The style of counselling that concentrates on the "fire" element tends to involve motivation. (The keyword above is "forcefully", and force is that which moves something. It is easy to see how this concerns motivation.) "Fire" counselling is counselling that seeks to inspire and encourage the client to act. Inspirational and motivational speakers use the "fire" style of influencing others. Fire people believe that if you want to do something badly enough, then nothing can stop you. Insight therapies will tend to use the element "fire". Coaching often emphasises the element "fire". Counsellors who use the "earth" style, will be concerned with practical issues. They will not be concerned with deep and hidden matters, and will be concerned with what will work, what will be useful and what is practical. They may not be interested in the mind, as such, and concern themselves directly with what seems useful. Behaviour therapy may be considered an "earth" therapy. The "earth" style emphasises practical advice. The "water" style of counselling will consider feelings and the expression of feelings an issue. They may dig deep into the psyche of their clients, and they will value emotional release as a therapy. Psycho-analytical approaches seem to emphasise the quality of water. They plunge the depths for hidden mental conflicts and try to bring them to the surface. They also evaluate and give their opinions on what the client says. The astrological counsellor will use these styles and others depending on how the counsellor perceives the client's present needs. The main style is probably the "air" style and the other styles are used as needed. All types of counselling will involve all of the four elements (or at least it should!). Counselling and therapy should help us to:
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