by Robert Wilkinson
I was talking with a friend the other day and they were lamenting the failure of modern psychology to understand the power of archetypes as larger spiritual markers rather than just images to manipulate in therapeutic settings.
I responded that archetypes preceded psychology. Archetypes have resided in human consciousness for over a million years, with each culture having their own archetypes. They just took different local forms based in which civilizations are dominant.
Baal was an archetype; so was YHVH. So is Santa Claus. So is a Trojan Horse. So is “an astronaut.” So is Sanat Kumara. So is FDR. So is a Full Moon. Each age, each culture, finds symbolic things to explain their larger reality and mythos,, as well as beings who play symbolic rolls which give definition and meaning to that society.
There were ancient archetypes, some of which are still playing out in the world, while others have been left behind as humanity’s beliefs evolved. Is the archetypal tale of King Midas and his legendary touch obsolete in a world of vulture capitalists? Many archetypes Shakespeare gave us are in full display in our world today.
All archetypes, these and all the millions of archetypes not mentioned, are in some way shown by the planets and signs of Astrology. The “Trickster” or Magician in all mythologies? Mercury. The “Old Wise One” in all mythologies? Saturn. Santa Claus, the Healer, the “dispenser of gifts,” the Priest, the Shaman? Jupiter.
Even in our names, we find a blend of cultures. (Thoth) Hermes or Mercury? Neptune or Poseidon (or Vishnu)? Oranos or Uranus? The Saturn of Vedic Astrology is the same Saturn as that of Western Astrology. What we call them is less important than the archetypes and functions they symbolize.
Of course when an archetype shares a name across cultures, it symbolizes something which is somewhat unique to each culture while somewhat related to other cultures. At the same time, each cultural meaning evolves with that culture's understanding of its world as a function of time. The archetype of Saturn as a hard taskmaster was fine when it was needed, but now that name has a far more expanded and wisdom-oriented nature in modern Astrology.
That’s one extraordinarily great thing about Astrology. It expands to embrace each culture’s understanding of “All-That-Is” in its own way, as well as over time. Astrology, being the “Systems Theory of all Systems Theories” gives us clues to the nature of our inner and outer world, its harmonies and contradictions, for each of us as individuals, as well as nations and our world. It shows us the larger field, and how we fit into it.
As time is a one way street, and humanity’s understanding of itself and its world evolve, so does its local and global conceptions and definitions of “god.” Each new understanding of our world and the energies of Nature and Cosmos leads us to a greater understanding of “All-That-Is.” Whether going to the Moon, or creating masterpieces of art and literature which expand the consciousness of others long after they’re gone, the archetypes of our lives transform us in countless ways.
Most people are moved by archetypes, but don’t understand what moves them. Ideally, psychology is the mechanism by which we come to reflect on how we came to be who we are and how that shapes our choices here and now which will impact our future. While those are valuable insights which can help us understand how to make different life choices, we’re still left with the issue of how to respond in a way that will lead us to a beneficial life direction.
That’s the human factor. We now live in a media world dominated by archetypal images used to sell people ideas and things rather than explore the deeper dimensions of Being. You can’t buy or sell higher awareness. That’s why psychology will go so far, and no farther, in the “hero’s journey” we’re all on.
It’s also why the archetypes of Astrology are of universal benefit to everyone as they evolve throughout their lives. Astrology is based in archetypes, and perpetuates and evolves our understanding of archetypes, and even searches for new ones as our human race moves forward in time. And each individual chart relates to and expresses those universal archetypes countless ways.
The names of the planets and signs were given to us in antiquity, when they were archetypes of antiquity. The parallels between Shiva/Parvati and Pluto/Demeter are known, and both are ancient archetypes involving ancient archetypes. We have more modern archetypal names which belong to the same archetypal tales as those mentioned above.
In those archetypal themes we find universal elements in the human condition. The Labors of Hercules each have an astrological correspondence representing the various tasks any spiritual Disciple deals with at each evolving level of consciousness. In any archetypal “hero’s journey” there are abundant astrological elements in play.
In the planetary names, we find archetypal functions. On the transpersonal dimension of human existence, the annihilation of nations and land masses? Pluto. Mass movements, fashion, and “conventional wisdom”? Neptune. Revolution, technological breakthroughs? Uranus.
The planets represent the “Lights of our Being,” each with its own archetypal functions, which are “stepped down” and made manifest in countless ways throughout our lives. At key points, our inner Mars may force us to be vigorous in our own defense, or something or someone we hold dear. That archetype is also known as “the Spiritual Warrior” and “the one who cannot be vanquished.” Mercury is our Trickster, both when we trick others as well as when we trick ourselves. It is also the pathway used by “the Guide of Souls” to bring us to where we need to be.
The zodiacal sequence, showing us the eternal pathway through countless cycles of birth, growth, emergence, fulfillment, and harvest, is universal, though it works out uniquely for each individual. We are living our archetypes every moment we’re alive, as we express ourselves on the personal, interpersonal, and transpersonal dimensions of our lives as these manifest on the material, emotional, psychological, or spiritual levels of engagement. This is why we fulfill certain archetypal functions in one area of reality, and fulfill other archetypal energies in another.
Ultimately, “the Great Work” of purifying our personality through alchemical means to become the Shining One is shown by Astrology as it manifests in the archetypes which we value. Take a look at your beliefs about certain planets, and expand them. See how your planets manifested one way when you were younger, and expressed different archetypal energies as you evolved in your understanding and expression.
It’s also useful to approach it from the other angle of examining the archetypes in your life, and seeing a broader view of them from the perspective that each is represented by something in your chart. See how as your understanding of the archetypes which gave your life meaning were expanded to where you’re at now, and take a broader view of the possible powers in those archetypes to make your life the fulfillment of your dream.
Copyright © 2019 Robert Wilkinson
Fantastic connections! Thank you!
Posted by: David | April 27, 2019 at 11:48 AM