How Roses Grow From Concrete: Astrological Synchronicities Within the Work of Tupac Amaru Shakur

Abstract

Tupac Amaru Shakur, the celebrated icon of hip-hop music and film, who was tragically murdered in 1996, is widely recognized as a sociocultural and artistic phenomenon. As a means of exploring the archetypal themes present in Shakur’s life and personality, this hermeneutic study analyzes Shakur’s artistic output, including his songs, poems, interviews, texts, and film roles, using the theoretical lenses of archetypal astrology and Jungian depth psychology. This study further contributes to the growing catalog of analysis in the sub-field of archetypal astrology, which identifies varying archetypal complexes signified in planetary alignments as they occur in astrological birth charts and historical events and examines how the human personality is influenced by these planetary archetypes that show themselves through relevant material. Through this study, it can be seen that archetypal astrology is a valuable and efficient way to explore the theoretical implications of depth psychology and C. G. Jung’s theory of synchronicity. The study uncovers many archetypal themes, complexes, and psychological forces evident in Shakur’s life and personality, illustrating the relationship of his creative life to the mythical realm of the gods that emerge through classic mythology and human history. This study reveals that Shakur was himself a psychologically dynamic force, and his personality is flanked by a multitude of different archetypal expressions and roles such as the Rebel Activist, Mercurial Warrior, Romantic Poet, and the Dionysian Hero. This study validates and adds to the currently expanding body of research within the study of archetypal astrology, marking it as an effective tool for increasing knowledge in the field of depth psychology.