A holistic perspective on meaning and identity: Astrological metaphor as a language of personality in psychotherapy

In this study modern personality systems are examined in reference to how they shape the way the person gives meaning to his existence. An examination of the literature shows that the following problems are existent in current psychological language: It is not sufficiently oriented towards giving the person a feeling of his life's meaning, is biased towards describing personality in terms of sickness due to the use of a medical model, is often reductionistic and categorical in character, and tends to focus on atomistic description of personality traits. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the growing attempts at developing a holistic language of personality. From a critique of the field criteria for a holistic identity system are formulated including: elements necessary for describing the uniqueness and wholeness of personality, elements which allow the experience of new meaning to unfold (Gendlin, 1962), and elements which allow one to relate his way of being to a wider whole.; The potential of certain pre-modern identity systems are explored with these criteria in mind. Although certain cultures such as the American Plains Indians are discussed in order to examine their process of metaphorical Naming, astrological metaphor is chosen for deepest exploration as a language of personality.; Astrology is examined and reformulated in line with "the meaning reorganization point of view" of phenomenological thought (Fingarette, 1963), a departure from the causal theoretical stance of traditional astrology and from the synchronistic orientation of humanistic astrologers such as Rudhyar (1936). By bracketing the ontological question concerning the objective correspondence between cosmos and personality, the hermeneutic question can be examined concerning the new meaning that may be experienced when using astrological symbols. The language is shown to be capable of functioning in accord with the principles of holism and meaning reorganization; and is renamed astro-poetics to emphasize these attributes.; Clinical application of the language is illustrated through case example, possible problems arising with its use are addressed and areas of contraindication outlined. Its ability to be integrated with various therapeutic modalities is demonstrated, and problems of measuring its value wrestled with.; From exploring the structure of symbols a means was derived whereby the core of astrological language can be transposed to a simpler form to make it more easily used, i.e., by using metaphors from our everyday surroundings.; In addition to illustrating that astro-poetics is a viable language, within the parameters outlined, for the individual to come to terms with his life's meaning and his identity; it is also discussed in regards to its ability to constellate a metasystematic perspective on psychotherapy.