by Robert Wilkinson
I recently had a conversation with a traditional astrologer who was perplexed at something I wrote about archetypes, the planets, and the signs. Today is a brief look at these and how they operate in our lives.
I see the planets as the "Inner Lights," each with a "department of labor" and a duality of function. I discuss the planetary dualities in my book Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend and how we can change our problematic responses to more satisfying results as we continually refine our personality qualities. As I pointed out in my recent talk, if we have a problem during a square, it’s a planetary malfunction or challenge, and should not be attributed to the aspect which only marks a phase relationship between the two planets.
I see the signs as the filter through which the planetary lights shine. The signs can be seen as three groups of 4 signs each, with each group having the four elements represented, just in different modes of expression. And we can see the 12 signs as 6 axes, each axis symbolizing one of the 6 great archetypes in astrology, such as Aries/Libra being the Lover/Relator, Taurus/Scorpio being the Warrior/Guardian, Gemini/Sagittarius being the Magician/Questor, and so on. I discuss the archetypes in the monthly birthday celebration for each sign.
The houses represent specific life realms, and the signs in those houses are the lens through which we view and live each of those realms. Early in my studies, I realized that while there are correlations of the signs with the houses in terms of general energy, the genius of astrology is in seeing how the various signs overlay entire sectors of our chart, within the context of the three sectors of "sign reality." So while the houses are the specific life realms, the signs are the focus we put on the realms.
I remember reading something in an old text which was confirmed by others sources along with way. I learned Aries, Taurus, Gemini, and Cancer are the "signs of self," where we are preoccupied by personal interests. Leo, Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio are the signs of interpersonal focus, where we gravitate toward interactivity wherever they fall in the chart. Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces are how we seek fulfillment, or "harvests," in a higher "spiritualized" way.
As you can see, depending on what’s on the Ascendant, we can have a lot of different combinations of how people relate to life. For example, if Sagittarius through Pisces are on the 5,6, 7, and 8 houses, then in our interactive life (houses 5-8) we seek a higher fulfillment (the signs of Sagittarius through Pisces). In another instance, f we have Leo, Virgo, Libra, and Scorpio on houses 1-4, then we are naturally interactive (Leo through Scorpio) in our personal realm (houses 1-4), seek higher fulfillment (Sag through Pisces) in the interpersonal realm (houses 5-8), and find elements of our personal identity (Aries through Cancer - I am, I have, I perceive, I self-gather) in the harvest sector (houses 9 through 12) of the life.
So different rising signs will put different sign emphases in the different “thirds of life.” Scorpio rising has one interpersonal sign and three transpersonal signs in the personal third of the chart, has one transpersonal and three personal signs in the interactive third of the chart, and has one personal and three interpersonal signs in the spiritual harvest sector of the chart.
This relates to the concept of “the Three Part Self” which was an outstanding class given to Astrology Arizona about 4 years ago by astrologer extraordinaire, Bill Nastasiak. If there’s interest I can see if I can find it in the deep archives. In any case, enjoy exploring how various signs on various houses show the interactivity of the personal, interpersonal, and transpersonal focus with the life affairs in each sector.
© Copyright 2024 Robert Wilkinson
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