Kenner - Astrology for writers: spark your creativity using the zodiac

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

Astrology for Writers: Spark Your Creativity Using the Zodiac 2013 by Corrine Kenner.

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First e-book edition 2013

E-book ISBN: 9780738733975

Cover art: Typewriter: iStockphoto.com/Diane Diederich
Venus, Mars, and Mercury: iStockphoto.com/parameter
Full moon: iStockphoto.com/Magnilion
Page curl: iStockphoto.com/khalus

Cover design by Kevin R. Brown

Editing by Andrea Neff

Interior art by the Llewellyn Art Department

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Manufactured in the United States of America

Contents

: THE PLANETS

Meet the
Planetary Players

The Sun:
The Star of the Show

Behind the Scenes:
A Planetary
Casting Call

: SIGNS AND STORIES

The Signs
of the Zodiac

Common
Characteristics

Gemini,
the Questioner

Sagittarius,
the Archer

Aquarius,
the Water Bearer

Mix-and-Match
Character Creator

Behind the Scenes: The Twelve Labors
of Hercules

: THE HOUSES OF THE HOROSCOPE

Setting:
A Cosmic Backdrop

Behind the Scenes:
Setting as Character

How to Read a
Horoscope Chart

: QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES

Glossary of
Astrological Terms

The stars we are given. The constellations we make.
That is to say, stars exist in the cosmos,
but constellations are the imaginary lines
we draw between them, the readings we give the sky,
the stories we tell.

Rebecca Solnit, Storming the Gates of Paradise

Introduction

A Match Made in Heaven

More than 3,000 years ago, the visible planetsthe wandering starscorresponded to the gods and goddesses of ancient myth. The constellations illustrated their stories of heroic battles and adventures, as well as their rising and falling fortunes.

The ancient Greeks used myth as we use science today, to explain the creation of the universe and to help describe mans place in the cosmos. While modern physicists now can explain many of the physical principles that underlie the working of the universe, it is storytellers who continue to put science into context and help us understand our spiritual place in the universe.

Today, we can still be inspired by the figures we see in the sky. Everything old is new again, and the ancient myths can serve as models for contemporary stories. The stars are still there, too. Theyre beckoning you now, waiting to be used as a cosmic model for the creative journey.

Drama on a Cosmic Scale

The night sky has inspired storytellers since the dawn of time. For thousands of years, people have gathered around a fire, looked up at the heavens, and spun stories on the strands of starlight. Today, the imagery and symbolism of astrology can inspire your writing, too.

In fact, every constellation in the sky is associated with a corresponding myth or legend. Those stories have become part of our collective memory, and they make up a shared language of myth and metaphor that illustrate the human condition.

Writers and astrologers have a lot in common. Theyre both students of human behavior, with a fascination for discovering hidden motivations, secret fears, and boundless dreams. Theyre natural observers who have a knack for tuning in to conflicting emotions, subconscious behavior, and mystery.

The language of astrology is the language of dramaof conflict and resolution, courage and compassion, and life-changing growth and development. A lot of astrologers even describe the zodiac as a cosmic drama, and they point out that the planets move through the signs of the zodiac like players on a celestial stage.

Whether or not you use astrology for inspiration, every story shares the same elements: characters, plot, setting, and theme. You might be surprised, however, at how quickly astrology can help you create and develop those components, and weave them seamlessly together.

The Science of Astrology

Astrologers were our first astronomers, and theyve been plotting the movement of the planets since the beginning of recorded history. Originally, the priests and philosophers who studied the skies were searching for signs and omens from above, which they could relay to their leaders and kings.

Contrary to popular belief, however, astrologers dont think the planets control our behavior. Youll be hard-pressed to find any astrologer who believes that the stars create our destiny. In fact, astrologers have a saying: The stars impel. They do not compel.

William Shakespeare put it even better when he wrote, It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.

In fact, astrologers have noted that the movements of the planets mirror events on Earthprimarily because the planets move in predictable cycles, and people are creatures of habit. Astrology isnt superstition. Its the study of patterns, both in nature and human nature. And while astrology can sometimes be used to predict the future, it also puts the past and present into context.