Aries is ruled by Mars, Roman god of war
What is a ’sign’?
Before I look at Aries specifically, I will define what I understand a sign to be (taken from my article, ‘Earthpulse On…Astrology).
The planets, sun and moon appear to follow a circular path around the earth along a revolving band of sky known as the ecliptic. The starry background to the ecliptic has been conveniently divided into twelve equal segments of 30 degrees which are named after some of the constellations which lie within this belt; these are called ’signs’. In my belief, to understand the signs we need to realise that the signs are represented by the constellations, they are not the same as the constellations. In my opinion the mythological symbols that form the twelve signs had been communicated to sensitive astrologers as they gazed into the night skies. In my experience, the word sign is apt because the movement of the sun into a new segment is heralded by ’signs’, coincidences between the nature of the new symbols and mundane events. To pick up on these signs requires the development of what C.G. Jung called the ‘archetypal eye’.
An Archetypal Eye
Briefly, Jung’s fully developed theory of archetypes, described them as transpersonal patterns of energy which transcended existence and affected everyone through the collective unconscious. This gave rise to a shared mythology which informed our religions and our art. In my view, astrology is the study of the relationship between these archetypal energies and our mundane lives. Jung believed that we could develop a sensitivity to the activation of the archetypes and he called this an ‘archetypal eye’.
Some Examples
As an example of the above, yesterday I saw footage of an underwater volcano erupting in the South Pacific. This corresponds with the movement of the sun from Pisces (associated with oceans and seas) into Aries (dynamic, impulsive activity). There was also the tragic story of Natasha Richardson, the actress who died of a head injury following a skiing accident. At home I hit my head on a shelf and my son accidentally kicked my girlfriend in the face, causing a visible scratch. Both of my children have seemed impatient and angry today, a condition relieved by plenty of physical exercise. The head, accidents, anger and impatience are all Arian attributes, the above being ’signs’ that the archetypal energies are in fluctuation.
The Attributes of Aries
Aries is ruled by the planet Mars, being the natural form which Martian energy (the potential to act) takes. Aries is a cardinal sign, meaning its energy initiates processes, and a fire sign, symbolising the instinctual energy which lies behind all growth. It’s sigil overtly symbolises a ram’s head but I have read that it also signifies the stream of intuition entering the human head. There are many qualities that correspond to Aries, here are a few of them:
Spontaneity, impulsiveness, self-assertion, urgency, courage, directness and physical activity. It is the sign of the leader, the pioneer, the adventurer. The negative side of these qualities include lack of planning, rashness, selfishness, insensitivity to others, anger and the risk of accidents.
As mentioned before, Aries relates to the head and (by reflex with Libra), the kidneys. Aries also relates to horns, hunting, soldiers, engineers, fighter planes and racing drivers.
An Exercise:’Developing Your Archetypal Eye’
If you are interested in astrology or are an astrologer who wants to develop an ‘archetypal eye’, try becoming aware of the Arian themes above,in your daily life, over the coming month. Make notes in a journal and, if you have a willing partner, compare your experiences. The source of the themes can be from anywhere; the media, colleagues at work, books, music, TV programmes (e.g. last year there was a Louis Theroux programme on hunting, which showed the horned skull of an animal). When the middle of April arrives, try and feel the merging of the signs as Taurus arrives and Arian energy is slowed and contained but also directed to practical ends. Earthquakes can be a dramatic sign of such a shift. I use this method to become more sensitive to the archetypal energies at work in my clients’ charts (see the ‘Products and Services’ section to book a natal chart reading).
Please leave a comment detailing your progress, or any interesting experiences.
Blessings.
Neil