Finding Telos: An Exploration in Astrological Remediation

In the 4th century BCE, Aristotle developed his concept of Telos—the belief that everything has a purpose or a goal that it is meant to achieve. When viewed through the lens of astrology, this raises interesting questions around the idea of “destiny” and personal growth.

Our natal charts map out the energetic patterns we are born with, highlighting both our strengths and the challenges we are likely to face. Astrological remediation applies celestial mechanics to lived experience, helping restore balance by addressing imbalances at their source. These two concepts work beautifully together, guiding us through difficult moments and toward our innate potential.

Creativity as the Root of Remediation

As an astrologer, my work revolves around infusing the healing process with creativity, offering ways to mitigate both acute struggles and long-standing challenges. For me, remediation is an act of artistic expression—an ongoing dialogue with the unseen forces that shape our reality.

Recognizing Remediation in Everyday Life

At its core, remediation is simply the search for a remedy—the word stems from the latin “remedium,” which literally means "a cure, remedy”—something that soothes, stabilizes, and realigns us. We do this all the time, often without realizing it. When a loved one is struggling, we naturally engage in healing acts. We talk, touch, and embrace. We offer solutions, find resources, and create moments of relief through laughter, movement, and music. These are all forms of remediation—subtle, instinctive, and deeply human. Astrological remediation builds on these natural responses, offering tools to ease difficulties in the moment, to anticipate them, and to create meaningful, lasting change.

The Path to Long-Term Change

1. Understanding Your Rhythms

Keeping a journal of planetary transits and how they affect your thoughts and emotions  is both incredibly effective, and therapeutic. Over time, you’ll see which themes in your chart require ongoing attention, allowing you to work proactively rather than reactively.

2. Mind, Body, and Spirit

• Mind: Notice your internal dialogue. Do your thoughts support growth, or reinforce limitations? Start to introduce affirmations aligned with your chart’s strengths.
• Body: Small, often unnoticeable habits—hydration, movement, and nutrition—lay the foundation for stability. Oftentimes current planetary shifts reflect these daily patterns in ways that allow you to identify and adjust those that do not support you, or those that may be missing.
• Spirit: Meditation, ritual, and time in nature help you connect with yourself and our cosmos. Stretching, spending time alone, little rituals, and small acts of self care all reinforce alignment. Find practices that ground and uplift you and don’t overcomplicate it.

3. Using Planetary Cycles for Growth

Planetary transits and lunar cycles offer a structured way to plan and adjust your efforts and can be used to build resilience and develop skills suited to the moment. Solar returns provide a yearly checkpoint to assess progress and refine your approach. By recognizing when certain planetary influences are strongest, you can time your actions to be more effective rather than working against the prevailing conditions.

4. Applying Creative Remediation

We’re already outside the realm of traditional remedies, so let’s expand that even further. What music, art, or movement restores balance in your life? Simple creative acts like singing in the shower, those doodles in the corner of your notebook, dancing while you clean, or cooking, anchor change in a meaningful way. Experiment with different approaches (especially new and unfamiliar ones) and trust what brings you joy.

Talisman, Gems, and Crystals

Another powerful tool in astrological remediation is the use of talismans—devotional objects imbued with the power of auspicious celestial moments. They allow us to deepen our relationship with energies beyond our immediate perception, acting as bridges between the material and the metaphysical. Similarly, gems and crystals serve as third-party communicators, holding our intentions and offering a focal point for healing patterns through ritualized engagement.

Integration: Living the Work

Remediation is a devotional practice. It requires patience, intention, and a willingness to engage with your spirit's potential as it unfolds. It’s important to remember that while remediation is rooted in the idea of changing or “remedying” aspects of yourself and your lived experience, it is not about fixing something that is broken. Rather, it is about recognizing the challenges and imbalances present in your reality so you can acknowledge and work with them, rather than unknowingly against them. Astrologically, this process becomes both practical and mystical, requiring honesty, effort, and devotion.