If you have been trying out the exercises each month, I would, as always, be interested to hear of what you have discovered.

As we move into another zodiacal round I will be editing some of the original posts to keep them relevant. This will include removing the Archetypal Eye exercises so if you want to try them I suggest you save the instructions in last year’s post.

For me, during the sign of Pisces, I noticed increased awareness of artistic topics. One I can remember is a radio interview about painter Edvard Munch, of ‘The Scream’ fame. Piscean correspondences of extreme anxiety, fear, insanity and the soul are related to this work. I also watched the latest of a BBC documentary, ‘Seven Ages of Britain’, which focussed on the cauldron of creativity that is modern art.

This 2010 release includes both Piscean rulers, Neptune and Jupiter

The film ‘The Lightning Thief’ (left)was actually released on February 12th (with the Sun in Aquarius – related to lightning of course), but I came across it after the Sun had entered Pisces. This film, steeped in Greek mythology, reveals the main protagonist to be the sun of Poseidon (Neptune, ruler of Pisces) and the Neptunian glyph, the trident, is prominent throughout. The lightning that is in the title belongs to Zeus (Jupiter) and Jupiter is not only the co-ruler of Pisces but is currently placed in this sign. One could speculate that there are astrological truths reflected in the film’s plot (I won’t spoil it), which also involves Chiron, Ares (Mars) and Hades (Pluto).

I also spent a great deal of time researching the Global Consciousness Project. Pisces relates to macrocosmic themes of this nature.

The main feeling I got from this whole period, something mentioned in the Munch programme, was that art is the best way we have today of conveying spirituality to those who don’t currently accept a spiritual dimension to life.

Finally, on the last day before the Sun entered Aries there seemed to be an element of chaos in the air, almost as if the dramatic shift from the nebulousness of Pisces to the focussed concentration of Aries was too much for the cosmos to handle. Last year,if you remember, the shift was marked dramatically by the eruption of an underwater volcano in the South Pacific.

…And finally, one less pleasant correspondence (and an embarrassing admission), I picked up a fungal toenail infection. Both fungi and the feet are associated with Pisces.

And that’s it for the exercises. I certainly have become a better astrologer by applying them and I hope you found your own value in them.

The Attributes of Pisces

The Roman god Neptune, complete with his trademark trident

Pisces’ day ruler is Neptune and its night ruler is Jupiter (van Wingerden, 2010). Neptune is the planet of refinement and dissolution, revelation and illusion, sleep and dreaming, including substances that induce both. Neptune was known to the Greeks as Poseidon, god of the sea, and so the element of water and its connection to artistic and spiritual inspiration, are Piscean concerns. Jupiter, the largest of the planets, injects a tendency to exaggeration, egotism and enhanced vision. Indolence is also a possibility where Jupiter is concerned and, combined with Neptune’s connection with the realm of sleep and dreams, it is easy to see where the stereotype of the unreliable, constantly late Piscean comes from.

Pisceans are not comfortably housed in the mundane world, seeking to either transcend it or escape it. The sigil of the sign depicts two connected fish and is often seen as representing these twin traits, one swimming upwards towards ‘the light’ with the other descending into illusion and the glamour of materialism. Another,more occult explanation is that the two fish represent the physical body and its ‘astral’ counterpart, connected by the oft-mentioned ’silver cord’. However, Babylonian tradition relates the fish to the goddesses Anunitum and Simmah, in turn symbolising the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (Parker and Parker, 2001).

Pisces is a mutable sign. This translates as an extreme impressionability, especially to artistic and spiritual influences. This can account for both the artistic and mediumistic abilities often associated with the sign. It also explains why Pisceans can often become deeply affected by the moods and crises of those around them. Perhaps it is this that sometimes results in self-imposed isolation from the world. Neptune is also the great dissolving and eroding force of the Zodiac, whether that be the removal of the Berlin wall or the less physical erosion of the boundaries between public and private, real and imagined, that is such a feature of life in the 21st Century as the planet inches towards Pisces for the first time since the late 19th Century.

The polar opposite of Pisces is Virgo and this axis epitomizes the conflict between matter and spirit and points the way to its resolution. An overly Piscean nature may concentrate on the big picture to the exclusion of any practical considerations. Those who believe they can transcend physical laws or who make grand philanthropic plans without the means to enact them would probably have Pisces emphasised in their charts. These are the people who,in the words of visionary and former wilderness guide Jonathan Zap, might ‘mistake the map for the terrain’.

To continue the analogy, the extreme Virgoan is apt to identify too much with the terrain, ignoring the landmarks they need to orientate themselves to their goals and ending up lost and aimless. This is the type that will not see the wood for the trees and will get bogged down in superfluous detail.

To blend Virgo and Pisces perfectly enables simultaneously the spiritualisation of matter and the grounding of spirit. A person who solves this conundrum can both make grand plans and deal with the housekeeping. To Christians it may also be interesting to note that in Pisces and Virgo we have two of the most well-known symbols of that faith; the Christian fish and the earthly mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary.

The holy city of Jerusalem has Piscean connections

Pisces is related to the principles of transcendence, faith, communion, humility, imagination, self-renunciation and love. It is the sign of the musician, the artist, the psychic. The negative side of these qualities include impracticality, over-emotionality, carelessness, confusion, gullibility and indecision.

Physiologically Pisces relates to the feet, substance abuse and (by reflex with Virgo), the intestines. Aquarius also relates to the sea, fluids, plastics, waterlilies, willow, lime, lettuce, fish, Portugal and Jerusalem.

Pisces is associated with soft sea-green, the stones moonstone and bloodstone and the metals platinum and tin.

Pisces' sigil: Two fish, two rivers or an allusion to astral travel?

Do you have any personal experiences with any of the themes above, or with Astrology in general that you would like to share? If so, please leave a comment below.

References/Sources used (please use my bookstore if you want to order the books):

Parker, D. and Parker, J. (2001) ‘Parker’s astrology: New edition’, DK, London
Mayo, J. (1964) ‘Astrology’, Teach Yourself Books, London
van Wingerden, B. (2010), ‘The cosmic law of seven’, The Astrological Journal, 52:1, pp 42-43.

Image attributions

Lightning Thief image licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license by Ttarasiuk
Neptune image released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Germany by the late Max Bauer
Jerusalem image is in the public domain

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Exercise Update: ‘Developing Your Archetypal Eye’.

If you have been trying out the exercises each month, I would, as always, be interested to hear of what you have discovered.

For me, during the sign of Capricorn (where the sun is placed in my chart) I experienced a strengthening of the Capricorn traits in myself. I re-assessed goals, updated plans and set deadlines. True, the New Year has this effect on most of us but given Capricorn’s correspondence with death and time, it also seems natural that this sign should stand on the threshold between the old and new years.

I also found myself feeling anxious and gloomy and experiencing train delays (at the precise time of the New Moon on 15th December) and a car breakdown (which happened barely half an hour before the moon entered Aquarius – anyone care to guess what the car problem was? The answer is in the post below).

As we moved into Aquarius I expanded my network of contacts via an event hosted by the radio station I do an astrological reading for. Networking, radio and the unconventional (e.g. astrology and tarot) are all Aquarian correspondences.

As we move into Pisces, try keeping a journal again this month, paying attention again to the change in element from air to water, more emotions and art at the expense of thought and science, for example; and the change in quality (fixed to mutable), dogmatic opinions giving away to compromises and a valuing of subjectivity, perhaps.

This month could show us the things to come over the next few decades due to the cosmic focus on Pisces that is now coming into play. Check out future posts for more on this (bookmark me!).

The Attributes of Aquarius

A replica of the telescope used to detect Uranus

Aquarius’s day ruler is Uranus and its night ruler is Saturn (van Wingerden, 2010) which provides a complex blend of principles. Uranus is associated with the unpredictable, the unexpected and the unconventional, while Saturn sticks to the tried and tested and sets boundaries. Saturn was one of the original seven planets, those that can be seen with the naked eye, while Uranus can only be seen by telescope and therefore was discovered only in 1781, by William Herschel, when technological and scientific knowledge had developed to a certain level (see left).

Therefore, Uranus’s first challenge to the conventional and traditional was aimed at astrology itself. The dominance of the seven ‘planet’ hierarchy had been shaken and the whole foundation of astrology needed to adapt to accommodate this newcomer. In truth, it merely represented a need to return to the empirical roots on which astrology has always been based. Astrologers had to watch, wait, record and report.

The story of Uranus neatly illustrates the role of Aquarius as the cosmic scientist, bringing the new, and often unexpected, into consciousness and then fitting it into the old systems and patterns.

Since the 1900s, most astrologers have agreed on the associations mentioned further down but as Tarnas explains in his must-read book, ‘Cosmos and Psyche’ (Tarnas, 2007), the appropriateness of the name Uranus has been debated. After various suggestions (for example Georgium Sidus and Herschel), Uranus was settled upon since he was Saturn’s father, just as Saturn was Jupiter’s father – it was logical. But astrological Uranus is anything but logical, as beautifully demonstrated by its planetary counterpart which spins on its side, unlike any other planet in our solar system (below right). I, like Tarnas, believe that Prometheus is the true archetypal figure that corresponds with the eighth ‘planet’.

Aquarius is a fixed sign. This fits well with the Saturnian aspect of Aquarius and equates to firm opinions and strong convictions. In fact, those with a strong Aquarian focus in their charts need to constantly strike a balance between the novel and the tried and tested to avoid becoming either stuck in their ways or erratic in their beliefs. Empiricism is again the answer, although the purity of thought that this entails is easily confused for the illusory objectivity that so blights many otherwise capable ’scientists’.

The polar opposite of Aquarius is Leo and an unbalanced Aquarian nature denies the need for personal power, leading to aloofness and identity crisis.

Crazy Spin! Uranus, like Aquarius, defies tradition - rotating 'on its side'

Aquarius is related to the principles of detachment, unconventionality, progression, humanitarianism, rebellion, change and freedom. It is the sign of the scientist, the radiographer, the astrologer. The negative side of these qualities include perversion, eccentricity, fanaticism, excess disruptiveness, tactlessness and lack of integrity.

Physiologically Aquarius relates to the lower legs, circulation and (by reflex with Leo), the heart. Aquarius also relates to radio transmission, electricity, storms, orchids, fruit trees, pepper, apples, large seabirds, Sweden and Moscow.

Aquarius is associated with the colour turquoise, the stone aquamarine and the metal aluminium.

PS. The car problem was a faulty battery!

The sigil of Aquarius, suggestive of waves

Do you have any personal experiences with any of the themes above, or with Astrology in general that you would like to share? If so, please leave a comment below.

References/Sources used (please use my bookstore if you want to order the books):

Parker, D. and Parker, J. (2001) ‘Parker’s astrology: New edition’, DK, London
Mayo, J. (1964) ‘Astrology’, Teach Yourself Books, London
Tarnas, R. (2007) ‘Cosmos and psyche’, Plume, London
van Wingerden, B. (2010), ‘The cosmic law of seven’, The Astrological Journal, 52:1, pp 42-43.

Image attributions

All images are in the public domain.

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We have recently experienced the astrological sign of Capricorn (the Sun moved into Aquarius about 4am UTC on 20th Jan). This post features the attributes associated with Capricorn together with the other three signs the sun has traveled through since my last astrological entry; Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius.

Exercise Update: ‘Developing Your Archetypal Eye’.

If you have been trying out the exercises each month, I would, as always, be interested to hear of what you have discovered. Due to the length of time since the last entry, this month I will provide just a short summary of some of the relevant correspondences I noticed in my life.

Mesa Verde. Image attribution below.

While researching for part 2 of my shamanism series I came across a Navajo corn maiden deity and her links with Mesa Verde (left), famous for it’s corn. Virgo is often related to such ‘earth-mother’ figures, the Virgin Mary being a prime example.

After moving into a shared house there were lots of conversations about making sure we all compromised to achieve harmony (my guess is if we moved during Aries we would be talking more about ensuring our own needs were met).

Needles and poison are potent Scorpio themes as is paranoia. My girlfriend received her swine flu vaccine and, as she was having it done, I came across some unsettling conspiracy theories about a plot to reduce the population through compulsory injection. Scorpio’s ruler Pluto has the habit of taking inner psychological issues and projecting them on to the outside world and I decided not to delve too deeply.

I had my first encounter with a Chinese Lantern. Having been previously unaware of their existence, the flaming orange light that flew over me on two occasions got my ‘UFO sighting’ hopes up for all of a nanosecond. At least my astrological archetypal eye was indulged, though, since this sighting corresponds well with Sagittarius and his fiery arrows!

As we move into Aquarius, try keeping a journal again this month, paying attention again to the change in element from earth to air, more ideas and talk at the expense of material progress, for example; and the change in quality (cardinal to fixed), more dogmatic opinions and less enterprise, perhaps.

It is also worth noting that Aquarius is one of the most unpredictable, unconventional and bizarre signs so, as the saying goes, expect the unexpected.

The Attributes of Libra

Justitia carries the Libran scales and Arian sword (Attribution below article)

Libra’s day ruler is Venus and unlike Taurus, where Venus is described as the sign’s ‘night ruler’ (van Wingerden, 2010), Librans experience her in a more ethereal abstract sense, corresponding with the sign’s ‘air’ element. Instead of Taurean earthy and sensual love, we have love of harmony and love of justice. Whether looking at the colours and styles on the catwalk or the small print of a legal document, Librans just seem to know what’s right and fair. Libra is the opposite sign to Aries and where the latter is associated with the ‘law of the jungle’ and the right to self-realisation, the former is aware of the necessity of compromise and the human laws based on equal rights.

Libra is a cardinal sign. This means that Librans like to enforce change. Combined with the element of air we see that this change is in the way people think and is therefore especially suited to the fields of diplomacy and politics. The need to maintain equilibrium sometimes outweighs the necessity to pass sentence which gives rise to the stereotype of Librans as being weak and overly accommodating. This is a little unfair perhaps, since Librans are nevertheless more than capable of achieving success. The sigil is the scales but do not make the mistake of assuming this sign is the epitome of balance. Life is not that simple, and real balance (on the Libra-Aries axis) comes from a position that realises when we need to act and when we need to hold back. In fact, the symbol of Justitia, the Roman goddess with the scales and sword, is a more fitting symbol for real balance.

The rose is a Libran flower. Image attribution below.

Libra is related to the principles of relatedness, harmony, co-operation, deliberation, evaluation, charm and equality. It is the sign of the artist, the poet, the diplomat. The negative side of these qualities include indecision, inconsistency, untidiness, frivolity, sycophancy and lack of confidence.

Physiologically Libra relates to the kidneys, lumbar region and (by reflex with Aries), the head and eyes. Libra also relates to roses, ash trees, most spices, cereals, lizards, Austria and Copenhagen.

Libra is associated with the colours pale blue, green and pink, the stones sapphire and Jade and the metal copper.

Sigil for Libra. Image attribution below.

Pluto, Roman god of the underworld and co-ruler of Scorpio. Image attribution below

Scorpio’s ‘day ruler’ is Pluto and Mars is the sign’s ‘night ruler’ (van Wingerden, 2010). Unsurprisingly then, this sign is the most intense of the twelve with Pluto’s impulse to eliminate that which no longer serves a purpose combined with the aggression and ruthlessness of Mars. Scorpio is a sign of great depth and those with a strong Scorpio element in their chart will often be drawn to delve into the innermost nature of whatever they turn their attention to, ignoring the superficial and illusory and dealing with what is true and real. Scorpio characters are renowned for being silent but deadly, delving secretly in the shadows to find the resources they need before acting quickly, with power and force.

Scorpio is a water sign, but unlike the flowing waters of Cancer and Pisces, Scorpio’s realm is in still water, whether pools, ponds, wells or stagnant swamps. Perhaps the latter correspondence somewhat explains the unfair branding that Scorpio receives as ‘the worst sign’ since water which is cut off from its source becomes poisonous to life. This is symbolic of the Scorpio trait to become fixated on painful emotional experiences instead of using their Plutonic gift to effect a cathartic healing. These toxic feelings can then start to poison the personality leading to acts born of spite and resentment. However, the transformative potential of this sign should not be underestimated and, utilised correctly, Scorpio energy can power revolutionary advances.

Scorpio is a fixed sign. This means that intensity and power comes at the expense of movement. As this quality is focused on the water element it equates with strong, honest feelings that are slow to change. Scorpio loves with fervent passion but once slighted, this sign is slow to forgive. The sigil resembles the scorpion with tail raised to sting but it is also clearly related to Virgo and is said to represent the male phallus, although more occult explanations exist. Scorpio is a fascinating sign since it is connected to themes of both death and sex and while its polar opposite, Taurus, builds, saves and conserves, Scorpio tears apart, sacrifices and releases.

Surgery is an occupation associated with Scorpio. Image in public domain.

Scorpio is related to the principles of penetration, intensity, repression, intuition, steadfastness, inner depth and passion. It is the sign of the researcher, surgeon and soldier. The negative side of Scorpio includes resentment, jealousy, extreme destructiveness, suspiciousness, vindictiveness and cruelty.

Physiologically Scorpio relates to the genitals, bladder, urethra, rectum and (by reflex with Taurus), the throat and nasal bones. Scorpio also relates to geraniums, thorny trees, aloes, insects, strong foods, Morocco and Washington DC (the subject of numerous conspiracy theories).

Scorpio is associated with the colours dark red and maroon, the stone opal and the metals steel and iron.

The sigil for Scorpio. Image in public domain.

The Attributes of Sagittarius

Sagittarius is ruled by massive Jupiter. Image in public domain.

Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, planet of expansion and growth. However, the traditional ‘Greater Benefic’ has a major downside; the lure of excess. Correspondingly, Sagittarius is both favoured and challenged with a sense of unrestricted movement, unfettered growth. In its most positive manifestation we notice the expanded vision of the philosopher, the cultured wisdom of the long-distance traveler and the benevolent generosity of the philanthropist. A free-ranging Sagittarius,like a galloping horse in a field, fills us with a sense of joy and youth. Sagittarius is also very passionate and goal-orientated, symbolised with the archer and his bow and arrow (also the sign’s glyph). The less welcome Sagittarian traits manifest themselves when Jupiter’s influence becomes unbalanced and abundance becomes excess. Then we witness irresponsible borrowing (and lending), unwise investments, gambling addiction, drug abuse, joyriding and infidelity. Excess eating can lead to obesity, especially if exercise is denied, and consumerism can be taken to extremes. Even the personality itself can become inflated leading to arrogance, dictatorial behaviour and the tendency to exaggerate.

Sagittarius is a fire sign and therefore activity, enthusiasm and dynamism is present in abundance. It is also a mutable sign, constantly moving, adapting and assimilating. As a consequence, Sagittarius responds negatively to being obstructed or manipulated and frustration and restlessness is a common outcome. The sigil, as already mentioned, is the arrow, symbolic of the archer. However, Sagittarius is depicted as a centaur with the torso and head of a man and the lower body of an animal. This signifies that the Sagittarian wisdom is grounded in instinct. Gemini, sign of the intellect, lies opposite Sagittarius and ideally we should all strive to integrate the logical and linguistic strengths of Gemini with the instinctual, experiential knowing of the Sage. I personally also see Sagittarius as the shaman’s sign, with its desire to transcend boundaries and animal connections. Sage is also used as a purifying herb by many shaman.

The horse corresponds with Sagittarian energy. Image in public domain.

Sagittarius is related to the principles of freedom, expansion, extension, exploration, optimism, sincerity and wisdom. It is the sign of the philosopher, teacher and sportsperson. The negative side of Sagittarius includes extremism, extravagance, tactlessness, boastfulness, lack of consideration and carelessness.

Physiologically Sagittarius relates to the hips, thighs, sciatic nerves and (by reflex with Gemini), the lungs and bronchial region. Sagittarius also relates to dandelions, oak trees, sage, horses, onions, Spain and Sydney.

Sagittarius is associated with the colours dark blue and purple (though I associate Turquoise with this sign as well), the stone topaz and the metal tin.

The sigil for Sagittarius. Image attribution below.

The Attributes of Capricorn

Death is one of Capricorn's less popular associations...Image attribution below

With Pluto and the moon’s north node in this most austere of signs, Capricorn’s attributes and challenges are being felt particularly strongly at the moment and this is likely to continue for a number of years to come. If Jupiter is the planet of expansion and growth then Capricorn’s ruler, Saturn, is its complete opposite. Traditionally, this most formidable of planets is known as the ‘Greater Malefic’. This label is clear to appreciate when we understand that restriction, hardship, limitation and death are among this planet’s associations. Capricorn’s material associations appear paradoxical at first glance since on the one hand it is a sign of plentiful resources while on the other hand it embodies notions of prudence and even deprivation. The reasons for this become clear when we realise that Saturn represents the conditional parent who expects good behaviour before providing a reward. If we behave badly (for example by spending lots of money we don’t have or overusing the resources available to us) we will suffer famine. If we show restraint and prudence, this dispenser of Karma will provide us with feast. Whether we associate Capricorn with the cornucopia and Saturnalia or with hardship and loss might largely depend on how we respect the wisdom of this most serious of signs.

Capricorn is an earth sign and therefore a focus on practical matters and material status is present. In fact, it seems to me that the recent astrological activity in Capricorn has coincided with a focus on material wealth and history, from the discovery of Anglo-Saxon gold in Staffordshire to documentaries on national treasures and ancient kingdoms in Zimbabwe that once flowed with gold. Capricorn is also a cardinal sign, concerned with initiating material growth and climbing the career mountain. The symbols of the goat and the mountain represent the austerity and scarcity associated with this most independent of signs but the sigil is very unusual, supposedly depicting a goats head and fish’s tail, the Chaldean character known as Capricornus. Cancer, sign of maternal dependence, lies opposite Capricorn and reminds us that no matter how high we climb on our own, we need the support and nourishment of others to give our existence strength and meaning. The ultimate lesson of Capricorn/Cancer is that neither sheltering beneath the mountain nor scaling its heights is enough to fulfill us. For true integration we need to become the mountain itself.

...and the cornucopea is one of Capricorn's more palatable correspondences. Image attribution below.

Capricorn is related to the principles of restriction, contraction, retention, conservatism, realism, passivity and enterprise. It is the sign of the manager, head teacher and civil servant. The negative side of Capricorn includes fearfulness, miserliness, repression, lack of confidence, pessimism and coldness.

Physiologically Capricorn relates to the knees, skin, teeth,bones and (by reflex with Cancer), the digestive system. Capricorn also relates to time, karma, ivy, hemp, meat, India and Brussels.

Capricorn is associated with the colours dark grey, dark brown and black, the stones turquoise and amethyst and the metal silver (though I also think gold is a candidate along with Leo).

The sigil for Capricorn. Image attribution below.

References/Sources used (please use my bookstore if you want to order the books):

Parker, D. and Parker, J. (2001) ‘Parker’s astrology: New edition’, DK, London
Mayo, J. (1964) ‘Astrology’, Teach Yourself Books, London
van Wingerden, B. (2010), ‘The cosmic law of seven’, The Astrological Journal, 52:1, pp 42-43.

Image attributions

Mesa Verde image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. It was originally posted to Wikipedia by AFBorchert

Justitia image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. It was originally posted to Flickr by belgianchocolate

Rose image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. It was created by Atoma

Libra, Sagittarius and Capricorn sigil images are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License. It was created by SeLarin (link not active at time of post)

Pluto image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License. It was created by Rufus

Death image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported licence. It was created by Jbuzbi (link not active at time of post)

Cornucopea image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License. It was created by Jina Lee

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Exercise Update: ‘Developing Your Archetypal Eye’.

If you have been trying out the exercise, I would, as always, be interested to hear of what you discovered during the last month under the sign of Leo. I already posted the Leonine themes I picked up on but here they are again.

Try keeping a journal again this month, paying attention again to the change in element (fire to earth) which will equate to movement to obstruction, unpredictability to stability, formless energy to the beginning of form, and the change in quality (fixed to mutable), evidenced by a movement from conservatism to experimentation and passive acceptance to argumentativeness.

The Attributes of Virgo

Is the Virgin Mary a Virgoan icon? Image by Raimond Spekking/Wikipedia

Virgo is ruled by Mercury and the desire to communicate is strong but, unlike Gemini, this aspect of Mercury is focussed downwards and inwards, into the element of earth. Virgo is the opposite sign to Pisces and where the latter is associated with idealisation and spiritual awareness, the former is focussed on the physical body and the mundane world, sometimes to the exclusion of spiritual matters completely. The Mercurial mind can become bogged down in detail and lose sight of the bigger picture if Virgo is strong in the chart. Not seeing the wood for the trees is the ideal metaphor.

Virgo is a mutable sign. This means that changeability and flexibility is a hallmark of this sign (as you might expect with Mercury). The sigil represents the female genitalia although some authors have related it to the letters M and V and hence the virgin Mary. I have also come across writers who relate the symbol to a sheaf of wheat.

Athens is associsted with the sign of Virgo. Image by Harrieta171 under Creative Commons ShareAlike 3.0 licence. URL = http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilisateur:Harrieta171

Virgo is related to the principles of analysis, critical ability, efficiency, perfectionism, discrimination, logic and restraint. It is the sign of the teacher, the psychologist, the community health nurse. The negative side of these qualities include pedantry, hypocrisy, excess worrying, emotional suppression, nagging and hypochondria.

Physiologically Virgo relates to the abdomen, intestines, spleen, central nervous system and (by reflex with Pisces), the feet. I also think some of the vague psychosomatic ailments suffered by Pisceans can find form in Virgo also. Virgo also relates to root vegetables, domestic animals, health spas, technologists, complementary medicine, Turkey and Athens. The recent fires on the outskirts of Athens seem to correspond with the astrological movement from Leo (fire) to Virgo.

Virgo is associated with the colours navy blue, green and dark brown, the stone sardonyx and the metals mercury and nickel.

The sigil for Virgo. Image by SeLarin under Creative Commons ShareAlike 3.0 licence: URL = http://commons.wikimedia.org
/w/index.php?title=User:SeLarin&action
=edit&redlink=1

Do you have any personal experiences with Virgoan themes or Astrology in general that you would like to share? If so, please leave a comment below.

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Thawing of the Cold War: Obama and Medvedev Agree Nuclear Cuts.

The Kremlin 2009: Did the Cold War end here? (Image provided by NVO under Creative Commons ShareAlike license 3.0. url: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:NVO)

On 6 July 2009, following meetings at the Kremlin, Presidents Barak Obama and Dmitry Medvedev agreed to reduce their respective countries nuclear stockpiles. The agreement was accompanied by promising statements from the two leaders regarding leaving behind past suspicions and moving towards a twenty-first century relationship.

This meeting occurred under the influence of the full moon (exact on 7 July, 9am Universal Time). Astrologically, the Cancer/Capricorn axis is highlighted at this time which becomes interesting when you look at some of the themes involved.

One of the ways in which Cancer and Capricorn oppose one another is across the dimension of dependance. Capricorn represents the principle of independence and unilateral action, climbing the mountain unaided in the most extreme condtions to find wisdom. Cancer, on the other hand, represents dependence on others, including the most extreme dependence possible, that of the child on the love and support of its mother.

In terms of the USA/Russian Federation relationship, this can be seen in the interplay between the desire for dominance and self-sufficiency and the necessity for co-operation. The full moon is often a time of great stress but often it is also the time when the opposites find the compromise that leads to positive development.

I will go into this in more depth in my forthcoming e-book: ‘Astrology and the theory of the six pendulums’, due for release in 2010.

With its strong shell, the crab is a the symbol most associated with Cancer, representing the Cancerian urge to protect oneself and ones family. Clearly the meeting focussed predominately on issues of defence, including the reduction of a nuclear deterrant, a proposed anti-missile shield and the use of Russian airspace in the ongoing ‘war on terror’.

The ‘Cold War’ is particularly associated with Capricorn and its ruler, Saturn, with associations of coldness and hardness. The metaphorical ‘thawing’ symbolises the relaxing of rigid Capricorn qualities under the softening influence of maternal Cancer. Of course, the meeting was not all warmth and love, the ‘frostiness’ of Saturn being very much evident at times.

From freaky films to fairground fun: Meeting the dark goddess.

The triple goddess - but where is the dark goddess?

The following new moon occurred on 22nd July, in the same period as the sun shifted from Cancer to Leo. In some pagan belief systems, the new moon is associated with the dark goddess, she who helps us make the transition from life to that which lies beyond ,at the transition of death (the full moon is associated with the mother who brings new life through the transition of birth).
As such, the dark goddess is a source of fear to many and my experiences on the 21st and 22nd July demonstrated both this notion of fear of death and the transition from Cancer (realm of the moon) to Leo (realm of the sun).

I used to love horror films but eventually came to realise my ‘reactive’ disposition wasn’t ideally suited to them and nowadays I tend to avoid them. On the other hand, my mother, who is a horror connoisseur, can’t watch enough of them. Whilst on holiday, I struck up the courage to watch a couple with her, including ‘The Grudge 2′. Although I’ve never seen the first film, I knew it would be one that would have an impact on me. I had watched the Japanese version of ‘Ring’ and that film stayed with me for a long time.

For those who don’t know the story, the setting is a creepy Japanese house where a double murder (a woman and her son) had been committed. The house is haunted by the pair and anyone who looks the eerie lady’s spectre in the eye is cursed. They are then relentlessly pursued and eventually killed by the dead lady. The curse is passed on to others who have contacted the doomed.

What does this have to do with Astrology? Well, after watching the film (which lived up to my expectations) I had a realisation that the ghost, Kayako, whilst certainly not a goddess, does relate to the dark goddess in many ways. Not only is she terrible and invisible to those who have not encountered her, but only those doomed to die are able to behold her and she certainly takes them over the threshold of death.

I analysed my own reactions to the film for the source of its unsettling impact and came up with the following. Clearly the characters in the film are living in a terrifying nightmare. Not only are they being hunted, their predator has no respect for the boundaries of the Newtonian physical world. Kayako can appear at any time, anywhere, there is no escaping her. My irrational fears stem from this same lack of boundaries. Whereas some can put a ring-pass-not (no pun intended) between film and life, I constantly question this distinction. In fact, this kind of Japanese horror genre seems to work largely on the technique of dissolving such barriers, bringing the evil spirit closer to the viewer with each scene. After all, if Samara (The Ring) can crawl from the TV into Noah’s room and Kayako can emerge from a photographic film, why should they not traverse one more boundary into my room, especially when the lights are off and I’m alone in my bed. What if my fear could create such powerful hallucinations that I myself die of fright. What if I die of fright anyway, could these characters exist on the other side? (I have the creeps now!).

Fortunately, for most of us, such wild scenarios tend to be banished with the sun and this brings me to my next point. Illusion and fantasy are under the dominion of the moon and when we are experiencing the dark goddess at home in her own sign of Cancer this can be very potent.

However, this July, Cancer merged into Leo in the new moon period. Leo is concerned with the light side of life, ruled by the sun, but with the fearful dark goddess still present I realised that fear can be controlled when we are completely aware of what it is we are afraid of. The next day, my mother dared me to go on the most extreme rides at a local theme park, again something I avoid these days. Unable to refuse a challenge I reluctantly accepted. The illusory scenarios crowded in (what if they fail to secure the bars, what if there is an equipment malfunction, etc.) only to be banished, replaced by exhiliaration and joy when the ride commenced.

I could go on but there’s more to write about the signs themselves and I’m sure you appreciate the astrological pattern I am trying to illustrate, one strand of a tapestry of meanings which are the archetypes, the signs.

Transition to Leo brought more fear - but of a rational kind. (Image provided by Will Ellis under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 licence. url http://www.flickr.com/people/49554480@N00)

Exercise Update: ‘Developing Your Archetypal Eye’.

If you have been trying out the exercise, I would, as always, be interested to hear of what you discovered these last two months.

In contrast with Gemini in late May and early June, the latter part of June and early July brought me more Cancerian correspondences than I could begin to record, but here is a brief list:

Try keeping a journal again this month, paying attention again to the change in element (fire to earth) which will equate to movement to obstruction, unpredictability to stability, formless energy to the beginning of form, and the change in quality (fixed to mutable), evidenced by a movement from conservatism to experimentation and passive acceptance to argumentativeness.

The Attributes of Cancer

Cancer is ruled by the Moon which governs the feminine side of life including receptivity, sensitivity and cyclical rhythms. These rhythms form the basis of memory and reflection and hence the ability to learn from experience.

Cancer is a cardinal sign. This means that despite appearances, those with Cancer strong in their chart are initiators, albeit usually in an indirect way, making use of their emotional power. The sigil represents both crab claws and the breasts, symbolising the nourishing, protective and defensive qualities of this sign.

Cancer is related to the principles of emotionality, psychic ability, intuition, shrewdness, self-repression, imagination and creativity. It is the sign of the nurse, the mother, the cook. The negative side of these qualities include self-pity, timidity, instability, lack of self-care, resentfulness and clinging to the past.

Physiologically Cancer relates to the female reproductive system, the breasts, stomach, alimentary canal and (by reflex with Capricorn), the skin and knees. Cancer also relates to the sea, fresh springs, dogs, estate agents, crayfish, lobsters and crabs.

Cancer is associated with the colours silver and grey, the stone pearl and the metal silver.

Sigil of Cancer (Image provided by SeLarin under Creative Commons ShareAlike 3.0 url: http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:SeLarin&action=edit&redlink=1)

Moving on to Leo, the Leonine correspondences I particularly noted were:

The Attributes of Leo

Could there be a more fitting correspondence with Leo? (Image provided by Zan Wheelock under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 licence url: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28814129@N04

Leo is ruled by the Sun which governs the masculine side of life including organisation, self-confidence and leadership.

Leo is a fixed sign, which means its qualities (and vices) are strong but not particularly mobile. This means that unlike the mobile energy of both Aries and Sagittarius, Leonine energy burns steadily, its symbol manifested in the sun we work and play under. Leo’s domain is the waking consciousness, the daytime and the summer and its power is such that it commands attention. Those with strong Leo in their chart rarely pass by unnoticed. In fact, the lure of the sun is so powerful that it colours public understanding of astrology itself with the unbalanced notion of the ’sun sign’, again I will go into this in more depth in my forthcoming e-book: ‘Astrology and the theory of the six pendulums’. The sigil resembles a lion (sometimes drawn as a lion’s mane instead) but is said by some to represent the process of creation, the little circle proceeding from the big one.

Leo is related to the principles of creativity, self-assurance, courage, power, steadfastness, self-expression and impressiveness. It is the sign of the actor, the father, the director. Leo is naturally a very giving sign and those with this sign prominent are often generous and warm-hearted. The negative side of Leonine qualities include egotism, despotism, inflexibility, bossiness, intolerance and a tendency to melodrama.

Physiologically Leo relates to the heart, dorsal spinal region, back and (by reflex with Aquarius), the circulation and ankles. Leo also relates to sport, recreation, dancing, big game, honey, management and the city of Rome.

The sigil of Leo

Do you have any personal experiences with Cancerian or Leonine themes or Astrology in general that you would like to share? If so, please leave a comment below.

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Coming next: The Astrological Signs: Virgo

Mercury, Messenger of the gods, rules Gemini

Exercise Update: ‘Developing Your Archetypal Eye’.

If you have been trying out the exercise, I would, as always, be interested to hear of what you discovered this month.

Things seemed to move slowy but steadily for me this month, requiring a great deal of patience but ending with solid results. I also found myself spending much time (probably too much time) within my comfort zone. As we entered into the sign of Gemini I shared a journey with two tiny Great Tits. They walked beside me in the undergrowth having presumably just left their nest for the first time. This was my sign.

In Gemini we should find a new active cycle beginning, especially in the social sphere, with communication and travel becoming central themes for the next month. Depending on our astrological make-up we may either find ourselves irritated by intrusions from others or finally liberated from a period of stagnation as the solid element of Earth is gradually replaced by Air. Things will seem to speed up and lighten up as the month progresses, butterflys and bees should become more visible in the northern hemisphere. Venus’s rulership is superceded by Gemini in his outwards-facing mode and our impulses will turn towards adventure and exploration, meeting new people and sharing ideas.

Try keeping a journal again this month, paying attention again to the change in element (earth to air) which will equate to obstruction to liberation, stability to flexibility, forms to ideas, and the change in quality (fixed to mutable), evidenced by a movement from conservatism to experimentation and passive acceptance to argumentativeness.

The Attributes of Gemini

The sigil of Gemini. Created by SeLarin and released under GFDL Licence

Gemini is one of two signs ruled by Mercury (the other being Virgo) and is said to represent his air aspect (Virgo is more practical and turns the analytical mind inwards). Gemini is the adaptable Mercury, the communicator bringing messages to and from the gods. He is contrary, evasive and elusive, hence always appears to be two instead of one.

Gemini is a mutable sign. The mutable signs are mobile, never still, and this quality is exagerrated in the active signs (Gemini and Sagittarius). The sigil represents both twins and the Roman numeral II, symbolising the dual nature of the sign.

Gemini is related to the principles of adaptability, verbosity, versatility, restlessness, inquisitiveness, changeability and mental agility. It is the sign of the agent, the traveller, the journalist. The negative side of these qualities include superficiality, dissipation, duplicity, inconsistancy, anxiety and manipulative behaviour.

Physiologically Gemini relates to the respiratory system, the nervous system, the upper limbs and (by reflex with Sagittarius), the hips and sciatic nerves. Gemini also relates to small birds, trains, winged insects, salespeople, secretaries and monkeys.

Gemini relates to yellow and the experience of colour in general, agate and, of course, the metal mercury.

Do you have any personal experiences with Geminian themes or Astrology in general that you would like to share? If so, please leave a comment below.

Coming next: Bringing British Witchcraft to the US: Elizabeth Sturino

Venus, Goddess of Love, rules Taurus

Exercise Update: ‘Developing Your Archetypal Eye’.

If you did the exercise, I would be interested to hear of what you discovered this month. Do you feel you have become more sensitive to Astrological archetypes? It might be too early to say since you have only tried the technique for one ’sign’ so far.

I didn’t really keep an Astrological journal this month but I noticed a few things. My girlfriend had placements in oral surgery (both Arian) and a renal unit (the kidneys are important to Arians due to the polar connection with Libra) and I was aware of a great deal of frustration in myself. Being a Capricorn, Aries is always a tricky month for me with things happening too quickly and seeming to fizzle out with no end product.

At the cusp (boundary), Aries (aggression and directness) meets Taurus (the vocal cords, stubbornness, established institutions) at the moment and this was most clearly signalled by the outburst from the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a UN conference on racism and the intolerant reaction by other members. The bombastic drive of Mars will no longer be as effective as Venus in her Earthy aspect begins to capture the energy and put it to ‘constructive’ use. The pace of the world will seem to slow but real signs of construction will be evident, whether that be from the birdsong and plant growth of Spring, the building blocks of international agreements or even the foundations of a house. The recent budget here in the UK and the governments financial strategy are Taurean themes.

Try keeping a journal again this month and pay particular attention to the change in element (fire to earth) which will equate to movement to obstruction, unpredictability to stability, formless energy to the beginning of form, and the change in quality (cardinal to fixed), evidenced by a movement from dynamism to conservatism and pioneering adventure to passive acceptance.

The Attributes of Taurus

The sigil of Taurus. Created by SeLarin and released under GFDL Licence

As already mentioned, Taurus is one of two signs ruled by Venus (the other being Libra) and is said to represent her earth aspect (Libra is more abstract, pertaining to notions of harmony and justice). Taurus is the fertile Venus, the mother, the one who brings sensual and sexual pleasures, warmth, comfort and human love.

Taurus is a fixed sign, which means its qualities (and vices) are strong but not particularly mobile. This is good when you relate it to a domestic house but not so useful when, for example, creativity and flexibility are necessary. The sigil of Taurus represents a bull’s head but more occult interpretations suggest the domination of the feminine principle over the masculine shown by the crescent moon above the sun.

Taurus is related to the principles of security, perseverance, patience, routine, sensuality, practicality and endurance. It is the sign of the builder, the saver, the conservative. The negative side of these qualities include stubbornness, possessiveness, self-indulgence, resentment, inflexibility and greed.

Physiologically Taurus relates to the throat, the thyroid gland, the ear and (by reflex with Scorpio), the genitals. Taurus also relates to money, music, food, jewellers, bankers and civil servants.

Astrological signs also correspond to certain colours, gemstones and metals. Taurus relates to pale pinks, blues and greens, emerald and copper.

Do you have any personal experiences with Taurean themes or Astrology in general that you would like to share? If so, please leave a comment below.

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