What if the stars held the secret to reaching stellar heights in your yoga practice? As you might come to expect from a semi-alchemical ritual like yoga, the secrets to elevating our physical offerings are never as simple as they seem. Hidden between twinkles and glimmers, they span far beyond our visible gaze.
The physical and philosophical paths of yoga are intimately unique to each of us– testaments and teachings are subjective, and we earnestly lean into translations that resonate with our own unique values and beliefs. They shape our faith and nurture our individual experience of the universe around us.
All the tenets and maxims we live our lives by are believed, by some, to be owing to exactly how the stars and planets aligned the day we were born. With these astrological orders comes a quorum of characteristics dictated by the seasons of that particular moment in time.
From the fast and furious nature of wind signs like Aries, to the febrile passion of fire signs like Sagittarius; the charisma of water signs like Pisces, and the loyalty of earth signs, like the Taurus - I’m yet to meet a soul whose disposition doesn’t directly align with their astrological profile.
Naturally, these core qualities attract different approaches to how we move and, in subtle ways, use our bodies as instruments to greater enlightenment and higher purpose.
Understanding what selection of poses or disciplines of yoga suit your star sign personality might just open the door to a deeper, more purposeful practice.
Astrology 101
Astrology is an ancient system of study, mapping the movements and positions of the sun, moon, planets, and stars, with the belief they influence our characteristics and, ultimately, the courses of our lives. An ancient quest to find meaning in life from the phenomena of the sky, many of our ancestral cultures believed astrology acted as an oracle, predicting what would happen to them.
This hermetical practice was revered across the ancient world - from Chinese Dynasties, to our ancient Greek and Roman ancestors. Here, it was venerated alongside other scientific studies; like astronomy, medicine, and meteorology – until the Scientific Revolution of the 17th Century.
From thereon, we entered an age of rational logic and evidential reasoning. Astrology was discredited and kicked out of the sciences – with no tangible evidence to prove patterns and ordnance within the sky affected the fates and eventualities of human life, how could we have so flippantly and foolishly took it so seriously?
Branded as pseudoscientific and a purely divinatory practice, it was another counter-culture heresy only indulged in dark, rebellious corners of society.
Signs of the stars
Contemporaneous with dark arts and macabre musings, astrology and the art of the horoscope regained popularity throughout the nineteenth century. From the Mystical movement of the nineteenth century, through to a more contemporary preoccupation with seances, spooks, and sorcery, astrology’s dwindling flame was rekindled.
And that flame burns brightly today. Social media is replete with flickers of #starsign and #manifestation – key indicators we’re still devoted to divination as a modality for moulding better lives.
There are many subdivisions of astrology that delve deeper in discerning our lives, but the order of the main astrological chart calendar comprises 12 signs, each represented by an animal or symbolic entity:
Aries – the ram, March 21st – April 19th
Taurus – the bull, April 20th – May 20th
Gemini – the twin, May 21st – June 21st
Cancer – the crab, June 22nd – July 22nd
Leo – the lion, July 23rd – August 22nd
Virgo – the virgin, August 23rd – September 22nd
Libra – the scales, September 23rd – October 22nd
Scorpio – the scorpion, October 23rd – November 21st
Sagittarius – the centaur, November 22nd – December 21st
Capricorn – the goat, December 22nd - January 19th
Aquarius – the water bearer, January 20th – February 18th
Pisces – the fish, February 19th – March 20th
Whether you call them star signs, signs of the zodiac, or something else, each sign attracts its own set of individual characteristics and attributes, thought to be dictated by the planetary sequencing sewn into the sky.
Relevance of yoga
For thousands of years, yoga has provided a discerning path for aligning the physical, spiritual, and emotional aspects of who we are. It is omnipresent in our hectic, multi-faceted dimensions lives and seeks to add dimension and definition to our beings - marrying our individual selves with greater universal consciousness.
Astrology follows a similar system. Although they appear unrelated, astrology and yoga work in tandem to cultivate a deeper sense of belonging in the expanse of the universe. By understanding planetary cycles, we can investigate our own physical and emotional patterns, understanding how our constitutions and characteristics might be direct reflections of the rhythms and order of the sky above us.
The elements also act as an expedient to unite yoga and astrology. Yoga focuses on bringing into equilibrium the earthly forces – fire, water, air, and earth – through steady postures (asanas) and control of the breath (pranayama); to achieve metaphysical balance in the universe.
Whereas astrology relates each zodiac sign to one of these elements, leaning on them as driving forces to individual attributes and motivations.
Together, yoga and astrology support us to more deeply align with the energy of the world around us and, governed by the majesty of the sky above, help us understand we are microcosmic beings buzzing around a macrocosmic plane – in other words, we’re like specks of dust in a vast desert.
With this, we find the true meaning of union and achieve greater self-awareness and a natural sense of harmony and flow.
Yoga and your star sign
Yoga is a ubiquitous force complementing our needs in any given moment. With governance of the present moment, it’s an adaptive guidance system that settles frenetic energy and nervousness, appeases and satiates ferocious and veracious appetites alike, and gives us energy when we’re weighted down by lethargy and inertia. Whatever you feel, yoga will sort you out.
Based on yoga’s innate regulatory process, it’s only natural that we might synergise yoga with a system like astrology; delineating subtle characteristics and archetypal attributes obtained through cosmic interference – like our star signs do.
Blending intrinsic and external factors, yoga harmonises the delicate forcefields of who we are and can serve to both enhance our endearingly righteous qualities - and placate and remedy our mortal frailties.
Aries
Taking pride in your place as the principal sign of the zodiac, you are a force to be reckoned with. Bold, energetic, vivacious, and fun, Aries have an indomitable will and an “all or nothing” attitude. Commensurate with your deep passion and commitment, you’re driven by your heart’s desires. And, once your heart is set on something, there’s no stopping you. Rivalry and reverie go hand in hand for you. But watch the tipping point of your ego and don’t let healthy competition transmute to treachery and targets.
Yoga forecast: You’re blessed with a sign that falls on the precipice of spring, and drawing influence from the regenerative process of this season might help transform your yoga practice to suit your strong characteristics. Stay light in spirit with beautiful balance postures. Vrksasana - Tree Pose - has delicate grounding qualities that will help you reconnect with yourself and the universe around you. Remembering you are not alone is key to levelling out your eagerness, so grounding postures like Vrksasana, Trikonasana, and Skandanasana are vital. And each of these postures has its own set of incrementally challenging modifications and variations, so you can still placate your inherent desire to go all in.
Taurus
Gemini
Cancer
Leo
Virgo
Libra
Scorpio
Sagittarius
Capricorn
Aquarius
Uniquely peculiar, Aquarians are the outsiders of the zodiac. Bringing your own brand of quirky humour and a dash of mad genius affords you a natural ingenuity – much like we might depict a “mad genius”. Led by your brilliant mind, you need ample time to rest and restore their intellects. Using their brilliance for greater good, Aquarians are attracted to humanitarian aid but remain paradoxical with their charmingly rebellious streak.
Yoga forecast: Fostering connection with others is one of your yogic joys. Getting out to classes supports your sense of community and natural affinity for your fellow humans. Extending this beyond your mat might prove useful to your physical practice. Adopting the other limbs of yoga, such as a vegetarian or vegan diet – and charitable endeavours will support this mission. But on the mat, embracing periods of deep rest through Yin postures and Yoga Nidra will allow your busy mind suitable time to rest and rejuvenate, ready for more fast and furious ideas to flow.
Pisces
Divine intervention
A vestige of majestic faith and ethereal wonder, astrology still holds a poignant place in modern life. Intractable in its abilities to continuously evolve and fit into cultures whims and desires at any one time, make it [perhaps] the cleverest and most cunning of sciences we haphazardly underestimated. But, with severed ties in cementing exactly how it functions (if that is at all possible), our allegiance to astrology should be considered more an impetus for making positive changes in our lives, rather than as a vehicle for ultimate truth.
Often, when we engage with esoteric subjects like astrology and [to an extent] yoga, we become more focused on living intentionally and making the most of our existence. We adopt circular behaviours that enhance our lives. But, even with this cognitive behavioural element, astrology is still a cultural bellwether, relied upon by many people to determine the outcomes of their days and years – and to ultimately define who they are.
Whether you believe in the power of the cosmos or have taken a humble pledge to live with pure intention, there’s no doubting the fierce fascination the stars have sewn into our minds. And the decrees of our zodiac signs show a steadfast hope in a greater good, a divine order, and a universal truth. All we can do is believe in the good qualities they prescribe, work to augment lesser ones to serve some purpose, and roll out our mats to nurture and celebrate the wonderful creations that we are.
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