What is Humanistic Astrology?

The image that comes to mind with the word “astrology” has changed over time. At one point in human history, it may have evoked an image of a fortune teller. At another point, it may have described a scholarly science. And at some point in our history, we began to use it to understand inner events, not just the outer ones. Humanistic astrology focuses on an inward meaning-making process, using astrology to contemplate personal motivations and growth as a tool to reach our unique potential.

The Role of Depth Psychology

This call for a more inward approach to astrology emerged alongside the foundations of Depth Psychology. At the turn of the 20th century, psychologists such as Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung championed an analytic approach to human suffering—one that suggested that we could change our lives not just by changing our circumstances, but also exploring our dreams, motivations, and inner fears. 

The Humanistic approach to personality was born from this movement. In exploring our unconscious behaviors, the founders of humanism became more interested in what motivated people than what held them back. They developed a theory that all humans are working towards achieving their unique, creative potential—a process called self-actualization (Carnegie Mellon University, Open Learning Initiative, 2025).

When you blend this quest for self-actualization with the language of astrology, you get a kind of astrology that’s more focused on process than prediction. This is the foundation of Psychological Astrology, the umbrella/sister term of Humanistic Astrology. It’s an astrology that recognizes growth, and suggests that the outcome of your life experiences isn’t necessarily as important as the meaning you make from living through them.

Traditional Astrology vs. Humanistic Astrology

Astrology is a tradition dating back thousands of years, and many of the most ancient techniques are still used today. We still recognize the Sun, the Moon, and the planets of our solar system as powerful symbols of the human experience. It’s important to remember that Humanistic Astrology is still rooted in this tradition.

But over the years, astrology has also picked up influences from the different cultures that have shaped it, which affects the way we practice it. One example of this is the choice of some astrologers to soften the use of essential dignity: a system that assigns a “domicile,” “detriment,” “exaltation,” and “fall” for certain astrological symbols. While some astrologers still use this terminology today, it’s not hard for me to imagine how it may have been more useful in a more overtly hierarchical culture.

I do believe some natal charts are more challenging than others, but I also believe that exalted power is not always so easy to recognize—sometimes the underdog does win and the tyrant falls from grace. Now, we move through the world with more nuance, and I find the Humanistic approach makes it easier for me to recognize the complexity we all carry.

Navigating Life Changes through Participation

This brings us to my personal favorite aspect of Humanistic Astrology: the invitation to participate. Life has a way of demanding change whether we feel ready for it or not. Nothing stays the same. We are always being asked to learn and grow, sometimes in ways that are particularly painful. 

I call these life changes “tender moments,” because I think too often we tend to bypass the vulnerable and emotional truth of becoming who we are. Being human is hard work. 

In these moments, we often have two choices. We can suppress the tenderness and turn away. We can accept our circumstances with no control. We can ignore the call to mature, to experiment, to surrender, or to confront the parts of ourselves that are demanding change. 

Or, we can engage. We can meet our limitations by recognizing where we need to develop more structure. We can face disruption by learning to embrace life as a conscious experiment. And we can confront our biggest fears by being honest with ourselves about the support we need to meet the unknown. 

Frankly, both options are valid. But I’m a firm believer that nobody has to face these tender moments alone. If you’re ready to dive deep, look inside yourself, and respond to life with an understanding of your unique, innate potential, Humanistic Astrology may be right for you. We can begin exploring your path today. Learn more about my Humanistic Astrology offerings here.

References:

Carnegie Mellon University, Open Learning Initiative. (2025). Early schools of psychology: Early 20th century. In Introduction to psychology (Module 2, p. 11). [Access requires course enrollment]