Astrology ~ Lesson One

I spent the rest of 1997 reading about astrology so as to decide whether it was a serious enough discipline to warrant the length and depth of study it would surely take to fully comprehend. By the spring of 1998, I had decided to sign on for the Beginners Course which would take me a full year to complete; although someone who is good at learning would perhaps need only six months. I can do the in-depth learning which is the more artistic part but not the joining of the dots sort of learning which is more scientific – this is characteristic of my sun-sign Scorpio which likes to go into things deeply and often obsessively – it is why I needed to carefully investigate the subject before deciding to commit. Astrology better suits the deep or far thinker, so the early preparatory work I found more testing than the later work for the diploma part of the course.

Astrology provided me with the answers to most of the unanswered questions that I have been projecting through this blog so far.

Astrology is based on the belief that at the moment the infant takes his first breath he becomes one with the material world, he is imprinted with all the energies that are swirling around at the time. He is an individual with a particular blueprint, who goes on to react in his own individual way to all the events and energies that continue to happen to him throughout his life. The language of astrology describes those energies which entered into the baby at the moment of birth, revealing all the potential for growth. No moment is ever repeated. No two people are ever the same.

Your natal chart gives you an insight into yourself so that you can be more aware of both your challenges and your gifts.

It is not surprising to see that the different energies appear to contradict each other or that the definitions seem inconsistent, for that is how we are made – the sum of many parts, often warring ones. It is up to each one of us to try and make them work together, to synthesise these energies in an attempt to be whole and healthy.

What follows is known as the initial ‘cook-book’ approach – it does not yet try to synthesise the descriptions for you - that will come later when you understand the meaning of each part. The synthesis of the astrology chart is the work of the qualified astrologer, the maestro. I think much of what follows I took from: The Complete Astrology by Alan Oken.

The PLANETS indicate specific dimensions of experience.

The SIGNS indicate specific qualities of experience.

The HOUSES indicate specific fields of experience wherein the energies of the planets and signs operate.

The ASPECTS (or angular relationships between the planets) reveal how various dimensions of experience are integrated within the individual.

A particular dimension of experience (indicated by a certain planet) will invariably be coloured by the quality of the sign in which it is placed in the individual’s birth chart. This combination results in a specific urge toward self-expression and a particular need for fulfilment. The individual will confront that dimension of life most immediately in the field of experience indicated by the planet’s house position. And, although the urge to express or to fulfil that dimension of experience will be present in anyone having a certain planet-sign combination, the specific aspects to that planet reveal how easily and harmoniously the person can express that urge or fulfil that need.

The planets are the ‘WHAT’ of astrology, the signs are the ‘HOW’ and the houses are the ‘WHERE’. (I hope you will become used to the mis-use of capital letters – it’s an astrology thing….)

The Ascendant (also called First House cusp and Rising Sign) - this is the projected image, the door through which we express and activate our inner motivations and psychological needs in the immediate environment. It characterizes our body types as well as the way other people receive their first impressions of us.

For example, if you were to spend your life in a room with only one window and that window were tinted blue, no matter what the inside of your room looked like to you, people on the outside would only see you and the contents of your room through this blue tint.

Therefore, in order to receive an objective understanding of one’s Self and of life in general, it becomes essential to understand the difference between one’s essence (the Sun sign) and image (the Ascendant).

When the characteristics of the 12 signs are applied to the Ascendant, they are modified so that they are more closely related to one’s external approach to life than to one’s inner motivations - which are characterized by the Sun in the same sign.

The Rising Signs

A person’s initial approach to life is modified through:

Aries as an urgent need to express oneself through a constant projection of one’s energy upon the immediate environment. The individual can often react to given stimuli with over-enthusiasm or unnecessary haste. Aries rising is indicative of an eager but often short-sighted individual. This placement usually indicates a great need (and ability) to succeed at everything one undertakes, with immediate returns as a primary goal.

Taurus as a need to achieve some form of concrete success through the projection of oneself upon the environment. Therefore, no matter what the inner motivations, one’s drives will be externally expressed with caution and circumspection. There is, in addition, an awareness of possibilities of material reward for all expended energy. Taurus rising can endow the person with great physical magnetism and an appreciation of the arts; alternately, it can indicate a rather fearful and restrained form of self-expression.

Gemini with a desire to express oneself in many ways through a great sense of versatility and a need for a constantly changing environment. An individual with this constellation is usually light-footed, enjoys changing his or her appearance, and is often active in an attempt to gain as much experience in as many areas as possible. This life style can result in a shallow and superficial expenditure of energy or in keen awareness of the many differences existing in society.

Cancer by a keen awareness for self-preservation. Cancer rising lends an extremely sympathetic and sensitive approach to life but with an overriding tendency to take all initial impressions personally. Unless conditioned by other modifying factors, this Ascendant can give an extremely subjective approach to life. The initial drive is to secure a foundation or home base from which all outer activities can proceed. With this in mind as a conscious goal, a Cancer Ascendant can either give great creativity or a great sense of insecurity to his or her form of self-expression.

Leo in a grandiose manner. There is a tendency to dramatise and to be keenly aware of life as a stage upon which one plays out one’s personal drama. A Leo Ascendant gives the ability to organize oneself and others quite efficiently, as well as a great creative potential, an understanding of children, and a need for personal appreciation. Leo rising usually imparts a proud and handsome appearance and a love of clothes and beautiful surroundings.

Virgo as a great attention to the minor details in one’s manner of self-expression. A Virgo Ascendant can indicate a person who is extremely fastidious in his or her image and surroundings or one who is at a loss as to how to organize himself. A certain tightness or controlled image is present in an effort at self-presentation according to a personal concept of ‘proper’ appearance. A Virgo Ascendant gives the ability to learn about oneself through an eagerness to be of help to others as well as a multifaceted resourcefulness.

Libra in a continual search for social relationships. A Libra Ascendant gives the need for a great many contacts; the person tends to see himself through the eyes and reactions of others. There is a talent for bringing harmony and beauty into one’s surroundings through a natural match-making approach to life. This Ascendant is said to produce the most perfectly formed physical bodies, and it definitely lends charm and attractiveness. Very often there is a strong indecisiveness when it comes to self-expression.

Scorpio with a degree of self-control and the need to express oneself a little at a time. A Scorpio Ascendant gives the ability to see all the various levels of activity and interactions occurring simultaneously around one, but it also introduces some difficulty or resistance to entering upon a field of activity in a personal, or at least extraverted, sense. Very often this intensity is felt but not mentally ‘understood’ because of the watery nature of this sign. Awareness of the sexual energy in the environment is strong as well, as is the ability to drastically alter the surrounding circumstances.

Sagittarius with great expansiveness of self-expression. A Sagittarius Ascendant imparts a need to cover a tremendous amount of territory; such an individual can be seen to be in a constant hurry. There is a generally brave and optimistic approach to life and a very friendly and outspoken nature. The individual tries to avoid all circumstances which tend to bind or limit spontaneous actions. This trait can make a person into an opportunist.

Capricorn in a very self-restrained manner. A Capricorn Ascendant imparts constraints on any form of impulsive activity because there is a tremendous need to project a ‘good’ self-image and to maintain that created image in the face of all changes in relationships. It can thus become a very static influence. It is, however, a fine contributing factor toward personal success and long-range plans for the fulfilment of ambitions. Capricorn rising can view a situation from many angles, assessing the total structure of a better set of circumstances before any commitment. This is very important, for this Ascendant makes one true to one’s word through a binding realisation of duty.

Aquarius in a desire to express oneself in highly original ways. Aquarius on the Ascendant contributes to the making of a truly original individual insofar as one feels the need to act in some way contrary to the established order. This influence can lead to either highly inspirational contributions to society or to a desire to be self-willed and contrary just for the sake of being different. There is also the need to participate in group efforts, to the extent that one can best express oneself through such interactions.

Pisces by an extremely impressionable approach to life which can manifest itself either through the various arts or through a highly introverted and withdrawn nature. In any case, Pisces on the Ascendant tends to a surreptitious form of self-expression and makes for a strategist. Those individuals with Pisces rising will be drawn to environments which provide constantly changing emotional stimuli, so that they may express themselves through the many avenues which they feel open to them. There is usually an alteration between periods of great extroversion and equally strong introversion.

Homework: Learn the order of the signs.

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