"Why Am I Like This? : A Journey into Psychological Astrology by Judy Balan"
Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi
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| Why Am I Like This? by Judy Balan |
About the author:
Judy Balan is a writer and consulting psychological astrologer with a Post Graduate Diploma in Jungian Studies. She has also published six novels including the bestselling Two Fates: The Story of My Divorce. Judy lives in Chennai with her daughter and their two retrievers.
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| Launch of Judy Balan's book 'Two Fates' (PC: Bollywood Hungama) |
Instagram: @jungianastrology
Goodreads: Two Fates: The Story of My Divorce
SYNOPSIS
Embark on a fascinating journey of self-discovery with Judy Balan’s Why Am I Like This? Equal parts astrology, Jungian psychology, mythology and memoir - if you’ve ever wished you came with an instruction manual, this thoughtful, in-depth beginner's guide to psychological astrology is just the book for you.
Disclaimer: This review is only intended for initiating discussions. The opinions and views presented in this article are my own and do not reflect anything about the book's author.
REVIEW
'Why Am I Like This?' starts with the author's life experiences from childhood until she decides to pursue Jungian psychology actively, a field that offered an explanation for her unusual and parapsychic experiences, her 'disproportionate reaction' to situations and anything that defied her sense of self.
What is it that makes any two people have profoundly different views about the same process or experience? What is it that makes you act contradictory to your nature, your 'ego' (not self-importance here) that you describe as 'I'? Why do you almost always attract and get attracted to people with particular personality traits that barely describe your 'type'?
More often than not, you may find the answer through the lens of Jungian psychology that holds up a mirror to your life, revealing a fascinating world of astrology as complicated as your life but making the unconscious part visible through archetypes, complexes, myths and more. Judy Balan describes these unconscious drives seeking conscious expressions using a perfect analogy of Harry Potter, who creates a destructive and painful pattern of acts (e.g. vanishing glass) powered by 'mysterious something' without the slightest idea or will. "Once made conscious (of his Wizard archetype), Harry has access to Hogwarts where he can learn to relate to the archetypal part of his nature in a balanced way and express it consciously, instead of having it 'erupt.'"
This finely structured book offers you a view into everything that you need to understand your Natal Chart (the map of your psyche)—what are complexes, projections, symptoms, planets, signs, elements, houses, aspects, their significance and how they may be playing out in your life. The book was a portal that transported me to a mesmerising world of new possibilities and limitless stories.
What I adored about this book is that the Jungian view and the author's view go far beyond pop astrology's concrete interpretation of chart placements and allow you to have fun by relating your experiences, unusual recurring themes and patterns in your life to your favourite mythological stories and archetypes while interpreting the natal chart and finding conscious and balanced outlets for the expression of suppressed and unconscious drives, urges, and energies.
The book is quite accessible for all (Ages: 16+) and a perfect choice for beginners who want to explore the subject of psychological astrology and those who already know Vedic astrology can try this to expand their horizons.
Happy Reading!
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Will see you in the next post. Till then buh-bye. Take Care. Peace. ☮
