Astrology A Sin? Options

Some of you may notice I'm currently researching lots about the "allowed and not allowed" aspects of magick. More over the "good" or "bad" perspective I'm forced to take being a loyal follower of God and Jesus Christ. This explains why everything I'm involved with now is strictly research. Research and understanding concerning how potentially living and participating a certain area of magick will effect my "good person status" in Gods eyes. I intend to ask questions here a lot regarding things to which I cannot find answers to through other means. I need to listen to arguments that would allow me to make a choice for myself. By the time I have completely gone through it all an established a sort of "end" to these types of questions, there will be enough information on the forum for people in exact situations as mine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hideingbhindcurtian.gif)
So, unfortunately I've witnessed on several accounts that astrology is a sin. In fact, I've heard that ALL forms of divination are sins and should be completely avoided to stay in God's good graces. As most of you can understand, this has halted my magick research as of now seeing as though Astrology eventually intertwines itself our magick learnings. Again, I have heard lots on the argument of astrology being a sin, I must hear a counterargument to make my own choice. Or I must hear agreements to it being sin. Any help is appreciated as always. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/egypt1.gif)

I see I am going to have to tread lightly with this post. But I'm afraid it's going to be long.

Priest, I can see that you are very much thirsty to expand your spiritual life beyond the "safe zone" established by orthodox, mainstream religion. I applaude you in this, as this takes great courage, and a willingness to overcome a lot of fear, self-doubt and uncertainty. It is a step into the unknown, an unknown labeled as sinful, even evil, in the eyes of God.

I can speak with some, albeit indirect, experience concerning what you are going through.
My wife is a Christian, but in the years we've been together, she has shed an enormous amount of baggage and crap she took on since accepting Christ, baggage attached to the religion. This was a very scary process for her, but now, she is confident that despite all that she had let go of, the flame of Christ's love still burns just as brightly in her heart. From what she has said, this is the key. Approach your path with love and an open heart and mind, not fear. If you truly accept Christ and let him into your heart, his light will guide you, and you will know the right path. Not from what others tell you.

Now, from my point of view, if God is to be approached only by one way, then this would have to be a God very narrow in scope. Sort of contradicts God's nature, no? I believe that God, the eternal Spirit, is so infinitely vast, so all-encompassing, so incomprehensible and inexpressible that no one belief system can EVER pin God down. All things being equal, every path to God is a valid one.

Now, on the subject of God's nature, I also do not believe God has any characteristics befitting a human being. I am a Hermetic, and from this personal standpoint, I believe that the notion of God as a superior being to all other beings, separate and distinct in and of itself, judging others, dispensing punishment and reward is an unfortunate error, and is the source of most problems in religion. When we think of God in these terms, it is all too easy to ascribe to this being human attributes and human standards of judgment, and to then to pretend one knows what God wants and what God doesn't from us. IMHO, this is true idolatry. And it is serves as the basis for mass social and political control.

Rather, think of all that is, all that exists, as waves on the ocean. You, me, the computer, these words, the table, all are waves, but where does the wave end and the ocean begin? (On the subject of astrology, the "cosmic energy" of the planets are just larger currents)

There's a great Sufi parable on God. There is a large elephant being examined by a group of blind men. One felt his side and proclaimed that an elephant is like a wall. Another felt the tusk and exclaimed it was like a spear, another felt the trunk and thought it like a snake, another felt its large leg and said it was very much like a tree, yet another felt the ear and thought it foolish others did not realize the elephant is like a fan, and so on and so on. But none of them see the elephant. All of them are wrong, but each one, from his standpoint was perfectly right. Your very perceptions, and your very experience is divine.

To practice magick is to slowly come to realize the divine through your own being, that you are the kingdom of God. Although you may never see the elephant in its wholeness, your feeling the elephant is the elephant feeling itself through you, that you are God experiencing itself through itself. To realize this completely is the task of the Great Work.

So, all that being said, I hope you can appreciate my feelings that plainsight's notion is part of the baggage you cannot take on if you are to go any further. Besides, not very long ago, science, God and astrology all enjoyed a very happy union.