Jay Johnston
University of Sydney

Astrological Healing: Subtle Bodies, Subtle Material and Energetic Healing

Traditions of astrological healing continue to attract interest in a variety of ways in contemporary spiritual practice.  Overtly through the practice of medical astrology (with its long conceptual heritage) and in more indirect ways through, for example the practice of herbalism in secular contexts and in neo-pagan religions.  Indeed, even models of energetic, or spiritual healing incorporate aspects of celestial influence.

This paper will discuss the model of interrelation between self, environment and cosmos proposed in Wellbeing Spirituality (having developed out of New Age cultural practices) and contemporary pagan groups.  In particular it will focus on current popular cultural understandings of the subtle body (including the degree to which it is understood to be comprised of celestial substances).  Further, these contemporary practices will be considered within the conceptual framework and influence of modern psychology and the secularisation of various astrological and magical traditions found in western esoteric traditions (particularly Renaissance).  That is, how the ‘sympathetic’ relation of cause and cure is both conceptualised and rendered malleable through the intervention of specific healing rituals.

Jay Johnston is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Studies in Religion, University of Sydney. Her publications include Angels of Desire: Esoteric Bodies, Aesthetics and Ethics (Equinox 2008).  Areas of research include metaphysics, western esotericism, the role of images in astrology and magic (antiquity to present), philosophy of religion, religion and medicine, angelology.