360 Songs of Spirit
Podcast Exploring the Symbolic Degrees of Astrology
I have been working on this project with my friend Linda Ruth who is a life long Astrologer. Her wisdom and insights have guided me since I first met her in 1987.
360 Angels and Angles
The sky arcs above and below us, encircling the Earth. If you have ever seen an astrological chart, you know that it is cast as a circle. A circle consists of 360 degrees. As offered in ancient times, each of these degrees (or angles) was of great significance. Every angle mattered. Every angle had a message for humanity – this message was sometimes embodied as an “angel.” It is said that the Divine speaks in symbols rather than linear sentences.
There are many layers of Astrology.
You probably know your Sun Sign – this is what we are referring to when we say “I am a Gemini” or “I am a Pisces” etc. In addition to the Sun, we investigate the sign that the Moon was in at the moment of birth, along with the other planets in our solar system: Mars, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. You might also know that your Sun is Leo, your Moon is in Virgo and your rising sign is Scorpio. These are a few layers of astrology…and there are more!
Degree Symbols
Imagine looking up at the night sky from a boat in the middle of the ocean.
You can see the arc of the sky from the horizon in front of you all the way to horizon behind you, which is half of a circle, or 180 degrees. The other 180 degrees are below you, on the other side of the earth. Is the moon low on the horizon? Maybe it is at about 45 degrees from the ocean surface. If it is directly above you, it is 90 degrees from the horizon. Wherever the moon is, it corresponds to a degree, an angle that can measured.
All of the planets can be measured at a specific angle/degree from the Earth’s surface. Astrologers mathematically determine where each planet was when you born using the date, time, and place of your birth. The result is your “birth chart.” With this information we can see the exact degree a planet was at the moment you were born.
Using the example above, it could be revealed that your Sun is at 3 degrees Leo, your Moon at 6 degrees Virgo, and your rising sign at 11 degrees Scorpio.
(Each signs of the Zodiac has 30 degrees.)
Below are Linda Ruth’s Symbols (her Song of the Spirit) for each of these degrees:
3 Leo: The Poetic genius disrupts convention
6 Virgo: Devoted to the practice, a student gains the wisdom of the Elders
11 Scorpio: A stormy sea gives birth to an island of refuge
Understanding the meaning of these degrees is a layer of astrology that brings a wider perspective to the questions of our lives. How do we understand these Divine messages? By contemplating the symbol given for the specific degree, hopefully in the presence of someone like Linda Ruth, who can bring their meaning into worldly understanding.
360 Songs of Spirit
Few astrologers have delved into the significance of these degrees and symbols to the extent that Linda Ruth has. She dedicated over 50 years of research, contemplation and “real world experience” of every symbol through her astrological consulting practice and her daily life. The result is her set of symbols for each degree: 360 Songs of Spirit. It has taken her twelve years to create these new symbols.
The Podcast!
Linda and I created the 360 Songs of the Spirit Podcast to share her wisdom of each degree symbol. Even if you know nothing about astrology or the symbols, listening to Linda describe the divinity of each degree is an opportunity to benefit from her extraordinary understanding of our human journey. It is my privilege to be a part of her offering. I am beyond excited to share the podcast with you now that it is live! Listen Now
