by Robert Wilkinson
In this 2 part series we’re “learning how we learn,” and “learning how we teach.” There are 7 different learning and teaching styles, with specific astrological correlations. The 7 different learning styles are well-researched, and clearly correlate to the planetary styles of learning. By understanding how we learn, both similarly and differently, we can become better communicators.
Yesterday we began our exploration of this important universal subject by discussing the 3 and 4 “metacognitive” styles of learning, as well as the 7 different ways people learn what they learn. We all favor one of the metacognitive ways to learn, and combine several of the 7 different ways to grow in our knowledge and skills in any life area.
The three primary ways to learn are: Auditory, involving hearing; Visual, involving seeing; and Kinesthetic, or Tactile, involving movement, touch, and feeling. This is called the VAK model. A fourth was added later, Social. For my own purposes, I use A for auditory, V for visual, and T for tactile.
In the field of education, it is accepted these break down into 7 natural learning styles. Sources list them as Visual (spatial) , Aural (auditory-musical), Verbal (linguistic), Physical (kinesthetic), Logical (mathematical), Social (interpersonal) and Solitary (intrapersonal).
In part one I suggested that each planet has its unique learning style, because how and what we learn from our Venus experience is certainly different than what we learn from our Mercury experience! Today we’ll explore specific astrological correlations with each learning style, and then explore the 7 teaching styles and their astrological correlations as well.
Astrological Learning Style Associations
In number theory, we understand that any three factors (A, B, C) can express in any one or more of 7 ways. These can express as A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, and ABC. If we examine the metacognitive preferences, we can see how they might express both as a pure energy, as well as an amalgam of combining with another. That got me to thinking about planetary correspondences.
As there are 7 visible planets ruling all that is in the material world, we can draw some preliminary inferences from the planets and the 7 styles of learning. This material presents an alternative to the ancient associations I offered in part 1 about the planetary rulership of the various senses. Here is my assessment of the planetary correspondences, using all possible combinations of meta-learning approaches. The meta-learning style(s) are in parentheses:
Visual (Sight) – Sun (V)
Aural (Hearing) – Saturn (A)
Physical (Tactile) - Mars (T)
Logical (ask questions) – Jupiter (AV)
Verbal (Speaking/Linguistic) - Mercury (VT)
Solitary (independent/introspective) – Moon (AT)
Social (interactive) – Venus (AVT)
Sight, hearing, and touch are the first 3 senses to develop. That indicates the meta-cognitive dimension of this issue is directly related to primal sensory experiences in the womb. Saturn and Mars represent the first and second chakra energies, and are associated with the first two senses to develop, since touch and hearing are directly linked. Mars is touch, whereby our hearing is awakened as is our ability to extend physically into the world. Hearing (the ability to learn and know) is Saturn. The Sun is the source of Light, and Light is needed for sight. To see is to know the external and internal field of what there is to be learned.
Jupiter, being open to other views, is always questioning and searching for answers in a larger world, while Mercury is always analyzing what is said and how it is said. The Moon loves its solitude so it may reflect and move with its own independent Cardinality. And Venus is certainly social-interactive, combining what they see with what they hear to offer their elegant touch to situations.
Types of Teaching Modes
Just as there are many learning styles, there are also many teaching styles. That’s why we love some teachers more than others, and learn more from them in a shorter period of time. When the right teaching style meets the right learning style, learning becomes natural and progresses quickly!
While there are many individual ways to teach, all of them seem to fit in one of 7 different categories. This won’t be a lengthy exploration of these general methods, but maybe it’ll open the door to understanding why you learned well from some teachers in some subjects but not others.
Though these are generalizations, each represents its own style of teaching which I believe are associated with the planets noted. Meditating on the planetary function and understanding its quality in a teaching sense can help you become your planetary teacher, and you’ll be able to learn and teach in the combination of these you choose.
Instruction (rote memorization, facts and figures, order and structure) - Saturn
Education (coaxing the student to learn through leading them without instructing them. This develops the student’s initiative by pulling them forward) - Venus
Imitation (student models and mirrors the teacher. This is the classic technique music teachers use, where the students study every finger position and string plucked or bowed.) - Moon
Dialog (reasoning, analysis, debate) - Mercury
Practicum (teacher demonstrates, students does what the teacher did. Project based learning - Building, applying what is learned to learn how to apply – the trades.) - Mars
Mentoring (a teacher working one on one together with students) - Sun
Experimentation (teacher gives the problem and allows the student to come to their own realizations and conclusions. This is teaching students to be self-taught.) – Jupiter
It’s easy to see how any good teacher will be able to use these in combinations perfect for their students. Those in the building trades might learn and teach through combining Instruction and Practicum, whereas teaching others about legal choices in a situation might involve combining Instruction, Dialog, Experimentation, and Mentoring. Teaching writing might involve Education, Dialog, Practicum and Experimentation, whereas teaching reading might involve Instruction, Education, Imitation, and Practicum.
Obviously, this is useful when teaching children, or even seeing how you most like learning something, and what style of teacher works best for you. Even when one doesn’t seem to work, it’s always good to try to expand our learning and teaching styles, since each step into greater growth in skill allows us increasing mastery over our responses and how we deal with worldly challenges.
On A Final Note
As we explore our unique and most natural ways of how we learn what we learn, we can stop feeling badly because we can’t learn a certain way, and bless ourselves to learn another way. This helps us move forward in learning whatever we must learn to fulfill Dharma. By embracing ways to learn that are natural for us, we can find personality strengths and skills and embrace the adventure of learning what we have to learn in ways that don’t cause inner and outer conflict.
We all have our preferred ways to learn and teach, and by seeing how we learn what we learn, we can choose ways to expand our knowledge and understanding of ourselves and our world, finding our unique part to play. As we shape our responses to our planetary strengths and weaknesses in conscious ways, we steer our “ship of personality” through the confusions of Maya in our world with clarity and an ever-increasing sense that the Teaching, the Teacher, and the Taught are all one and the same energy. Then all paths of learning lead us to Dharma, which we fulfill by our living demonstration of the Truths we are here to BE.
All education serves Self-realization. All teaching serves Self-realization. All that we learn selves Self-realization. All the learning modes and all the teaching modes ultimately can lead to Self-realization. Enjoy your life-long learning adventure, and have fun exploring the infinite possibilities and paths to learn what must be learned in the world of the 5 senses and the mind! Have no fear that you do not know, and have fun exploring the many ways you could know all you need to know!
© Copyright 2019 Robert Wilkinson
(Originally published in Celestial Vibes, issue #4, Sept-Oct 2018)
Very interesting and in many ways original post on the ways of teaching and learning.
Thank you for your thoughtful insights.
Blessings be to all.
Posted by: Nic | October 19, 2019 at 04:59 PM