|
||
 |
List of Terms and Definitions |
|
|
|
||
|
List of Terms and Definitions |
|
THE PLANETS One of the three major personal placements in an individual's horoscope, along with The Moon and the Ascendant, and arguably the most important. As with all the planetary energies, the Sun will occupy one of the twelve signs of the Zodiac at any given moment. The sign where the Sun is found at the time a person is born determines, obviously, his Sun Sign – and this is what it means when we say a person is an Aries, or he is a Scorpio – that the Sun was found in Aries or in Scorpio respectively at the moment he was born.
To an astrologer, the Sun's position describes the qualities of your basic ego, your individual self-expression, your personal identity. The metaphor of the Sun, therefore represents your core personality, your essential self, your ego, your sense of personal identity, your inherent focus, your overtly expressed urge to manifest your destiny or importance in life.
One of the three major personal placements in an individual's horoscope, along with the Sun and the Ascendant. Traditionally it is considered the second most important placement, but in practice, I don't find this to be a hard-and-fast rule. Some people will show their Moon Sign energy more overtly than their Sun Sign energy. The Moon changes signs approximately every 2 and a half days – travelling through all twelve signs of the Zodiac in the course of a month.
The energy of the Moon Sign will most definitely color the basic personality type of a Sun Sign . . . making this one of the many, but more significant, "reasons" why personalities can vary so much within each Sun Sign category. In other words, obviously, not all Leos or Capricorns are alike – and the different combinations of Sun Sign and Moon Sign energy are a significant part of the astrological "reasons why" this is true.
The Moon represents the emotional self, the inner self, your instincts, habits, automatic reactions and your sense of personal heritage and history. Most people "feel" their Moon Sign energy very strongly – some even to the point of identifying with their Moon Sign (once they know what it is – and without having their horoscope chart done, there is really no way to know for sure) more than with their Sun Sign. This is a very valid feeling, in fact, for the Moon represents who a person is "on the inside" . . . and this is where most people feel they are most strongly "their real selves."
Represents your ability to take assertive action; your capacity for aggression; your outward sexual expression; your use of energy, force and willpower to achieve your ambitions and desires; your ability to be direct and independent; your competitive spirit.
Represents your philosophical and ethical structures; your ability to claim and express your "authoritative knowledge" – often through teaching others by the example of your own life; your ability to expand your sphere of personal influence; your involvement with law and religion – and the "basic rules you live by;" your ability to share benevolently with others – thus your capacity for charitable contributions to promote the overall social progress you favor; your ability to envision "the big picture" of life and commit yourself to expansive undertakings; your involvement with positive karma and the benefits you derive therefrom.
The Zodiac is an imaginary belt in the heavens approximately 20 degrees wide, containing the path of the Sun the Moon and that of the principle Planets in this Solar System with the occasional exception of Pluto. It is divided into Twelve equal parts or signs, of 30 degrees each across its circumference. Each sign is named for a different constellation found therein . . . and these comprise the list of astrological signs: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. THE ASPECTS
Theoretically, a conjunction occurs when two or more planets occupy exactly the same degree and minute of arc in a sign – as part of the circle of the Zodiac. As a practical matter, there is about 8 to 10 degrees of latitude in the definition of a conjunction. (In other words, planets less than 8 to 10 degrees apart in a sign are still considered to be "conjunct" with one another.) Metaphorically, this represents a uniting, blending and combining of the different energies involved.
In Astrology, two planets that are "in conjunction" influence each other's expression to a tremendous extent. They operate like Siamese twins – the operation of each impacting and affecting the other in an inescapable, inevitable way. Each planet involved in the conjunction will assume the colorings, qualities, and characteristics of its partner so that the unit is literally inseparable.
A conjunction thus represents a strong, unbreakable alliance between the characteristics, assets, and methods of the two or more planetary placements. Because the planets operate in this united fashion – the personality matters and life concerns designated and governed by one cannot be considered without taking all the personality matters and life concerns designated and governed by the other(s) into account at the same time.
A sextile is an angle between two planets of approximately 60 degrees + / - 8 degrees. The planets situated in this way are considered to be in a benevolent, advantageous relationship to one another, each offering the other opportunities to work together for mutually favorable expression.
A sextile indicates that the "personal qualities" each planet represents support each other harmoniously in the character of the person whose chart contains them.
A person with the Sun sextile to the Moon, for example, has an "essential personality" that works well with his "feelings and instincts." He will, as a rule, be even-tempered, comfortable with his emotions and able to express feelings that help demonstrate to others "who he really is."
A person with the Sun sextile to Mars, on the other hand, has an "essential personality" that works well with his "ability to take assertive action." He will, as a rule, easily take decisive and appropriate action to achieve his goals, actions that are very demonstrative and revealing of "who he really is."
A person with the Moon sextile to Mars, to show the subtle difference then, is a person whose "feelings and instincts" work well with his "ability to take assertive action." This latter person is one who will act reliably on gut feelings and hunches and who has an obvious knack for "doing the right thing at the right moment."
SQUARE A square is an angle between two planets of approximately 90 degrees + / - 8 to 10 degrees . . . such that the planets are at approximate right angles to one another in the circle of the horoscope chart. The planets situated in this way are considered to be in a difficult and challenging position, each seeming to block, impede, frustrate and hinder the complete or positive expression of the other.
The energies (or the symbolic inner selves) such planets represent seem to push and aggravate each other, rather like two actual people who, because of their different values, needs and personal chemistry just “don’t get along.” In my experience, squares often seem to represent “imposed expectations,” as I will try to illustrate in a moment.
There are actually two types of squares, although this is not well acknowledged in many texts, nor does it mean anything except to an actual astrologer . . . but the working dynamics of each will manifest somewhat differently in a person’s character. In one type, the “problem” seems to originate in an individual’s family history, background, habits and in the often counterproductive beliefs he holds about himself and his life. In the other type, the “problem” seems to originate in what a person feels he must do to exert himself publicly, to fulfill his career or professional requirements, to support his public reputation, and in the often counterproductive beliefs he holds about what “society” imposes on him.
For example: A person with his Sun square to Mars in the first instance, often comes from a family situation or background where there is a chronic sense of struggle, conflict, in-fighting, and activity “performed under pressure.” This makes it hard for him to just “relax and be himself” . . . and, therefore, he will tend to “overcompensate” for both the energies involved by being vain and grandiose on the one hand, and touchy and combative on the other (because he has to exert himself vigorously as a rule in order to defend himself and establish his boundaries even in “familiar” situations. Maybe especially there.)
A person with his Sun square to Mars in the second instance, often feels driven and pressured to make a name for himself in his career and public life by an ambition so powerful and contentious that almost “anything goes” in terms of fulfilling that need. Again, this compulsive energy will corrupt his free expression of “who he really is” because he will “come on too strong” in his tactics for acquiring the honor and prestige he craves. He will provoke situations where he gets into unnecessary (and perhaps quite dramatic) struggles and scraps in order to properly “establish” himself. And so, while he may also be self-centered, arrogant, aggressive and defiant . . . the reasons why are different than in the first example, as are the goals he’s trying to achieve.
The energies expressed by planets in square to one another are often compulsive, too forceful, and often rooted in feelings of resentment or vulnerability. Obviously, these circumstances tend to bring out the less pleasant qualities of the energies involved. The energies represented by planets in square aspect can be very dynamic and productive – rather like an athlete who can objectively accomplish more because in training he must constantly work with a handicap . . . like running uphill, but they are not comfortable – either for the person who owns them, or for the people who have to deal with him.
TRINEA trine is an angle between two planets of approximately 120 degrees + / - 8 degrees. The planets situated in this way are considered to be in a benevolent, advantageous relationship to one another, each offering the other outlets for mutually favorable expression – qualities that amount to genuine "natural talents" in the character of the person whose chart contains the trine.
A person with the Sun trine to the Moon, for example, has an "essential personality" that is able to take remarkably powerful advantage of his "feelings and instincts," often through some obvious creative or artistic ability – and whose "emotional inner nature" utilizes the abilities of a "spiritually evolved essential personality" to reveal itself to others, often in some formal or informal teaching capacity.
A person with the Sun trine to Mars, on the other hand, has an "essential personality" that routinely and easily "takes creative action" to achieve his goals and objectives. He will, as a rule, have very inventive and highly individual ways of "getting what he wants" and otherwise acting, consciously or unconsciously, as a "good example" for others to follow.
A person with the Moon trine to Mars, to show the subtle difference then, has an "inner emotional nature" that easily and automatically supports his ability to "take action" to achieve his heartfelt desires. This latter person has the ability to outwardly express his "inner self" – often through art, literature or drama. He will show an unusual capacity to act with compassion and empathy and to create supportive, nurturing situations for both himself and others – in ways that express an intuitive "psychic" knowledge of what is needed in given circumstances and how to achieve the desired results.
An opposition is an angle between two planets of approximately 180 degrees + / - 8 to 10 degrees . . . such that the planets literally "oppose" one another across the circle of the horoscope chart. The planets situated in this way are considered to be in a difficult and challenging relationship to one another, each seeming to require one's "full attention and compliance" . . . often creating a feeling of having to "serve two Masters at once."
A person experiencing oppositions in his chart is almost always dealing with "relationship issues" . . . as one of the planets will represent "disowned energy" that "other people" are bringing into his life. Oppositions require you to "take other people" into account as a way of trying to integrate your own energies . . . and yet the feeling that "someone else is doing this to you" is usually strong and inescapable. Working out the compromise that an opposition requires is always very challenging, requiring tremendous empathy, insight and the ability to keep potentially incompatible circumstances in very delicate balance.
The energies involved in an opposition are frequently experienced as very unpleasant and problematic and it is extremely easy to slip into the negative expressions of the personal qualities the planetary metaphors represent.
A person with the Sun in opposition the Moon, for example, is literally a "person divided against himself." Metaphorically, he has disowned his feeling, emotional nature . . . and split that part of himself away so that he now has to experience it through the mirror of his relationships. He will, therefore, "magentize" and attract into his life relationships with people who are OVERLY involved with their feeling, emotional natures – and therefore the person has to "put up with other people's emotions" . . . as a way of trying to reintegrate and understand his own.
As a practical matter, such a person finds himself in relationships with people who seem chronically whine-y, moody, self-pitying, passive, compulsive, fretful, anxious, high-strung, dependent, insecure, touchy and often paranoid and hysterical. The person himself will frequently demonstrate these same qualities while not realizing it and while not admitting it even to himself. In relationships, he is therefore likely to overly identify with and emphasize his Sun energy . . . appearing to those "other people" who have to deal with him as being arrogant, self-involved, unsympathetic, dictatorial, pretentious, vain and overbearing.
You can certainly see how this arrangement would cause "chronic problems." Oppositions, as I said, can be extremely uncomfortable . . . until each party involved learns how to better integrate and emphasize the true nature of the energies involved and find a bit more sympathy for one another's circumstances, difficulties and ways of operating.
All the major planets used by astrologers to "decode" the spiritual language of the cosmos exhibit a phenomenon known as "retrogradation." In VERY simple terms, there are times from the perspective of Earth when each of the planets seems to "back up" in its orbit, to actually reverse course for a time, before eventually going forward again. This is caused by the differing orbits and the differing speeds of the elements involved.
Metaphorically, and as a practical matter, this represents a time of "doing something over" – perhaps multiple times – as described by the energy and concerns of whatever planet is in retrograde. Periods of retrograde motion can be very productive on an objective level, but they can also feel frustrating and stagnant, because metaphorically, the "forward motion" of the planetary and its energies have been stalled and you are having to "backtrack" and redo things you thought were already completed and in place – but now find are inadequate for your present needs or are wrongly focused and thus need to be restructured and realigned.
For greater detail on this subject, please see the entire article "Planets in Retrograde – an Explanation" as well as the extensive explanations of specific planets in retrograde ("Mercury Retrograde," and "Mars Retrograde" are presently available) here on the site.
Metaphorically, a time of "doing work over" – usually work you thought was already accomplished and complete, but now find is inadequate or wrongly focused to meet some new or expanded need in your life. Mars Rx is also a time of refocusing ambitions, of discovering different ways to apply your energy in the pursuit of goals, of literally "backing up" and formulating new approaches to solve problems – often problems involving personal expression, matters of personal drive and determination, personally important creative projects or desires, or your need to take personal initiative and operate independently according to your own designs and visions.
When Mars is Rx, the urges and aspirations you were pursuing prior to this pause in forward motion may be just as strong, but your direct path to completion and success is not available, or not possible in the ways you originally planned – and you are having to discover and formulate new avenues of approach to achieve your goals. These new structures will open up, or be more demonstrably in place, when Mars goes direct again.
Mars stays in Rx motion approximately 2 ½ months and occurs about once every two years.
Please visit
these other areas of Enchanted Spirit
Click on our logo to return home!
 |
||
 |
PO Box 1080
Sandia Park • NM • 87047 |
|
Contact Us at [email protected]