| Esoteric Astrology differs from traditional astrology in that it is based upon the soul and its potential for evolution. Traditional astrology is focused primarily upon the personality and the somewhat fated aspects of life. When traditional interpretations of a natal chart begin to feel as though they are missing essential information for you, or completely miss your essence, it is likely time to search a bit further…and combine esoteric interpretations with the traditional. It is here that we begin to see the relationship between the soul and personality…and find how our Soul is urging us to transcend our natal blueprint… Much of the information Herein can be found within the works of Alice Bailey who wrote extensively as a channel for Djwhal Khul, the Tibetan, a Master of the Ancient Wisdom Teachings. Although these books were written beginning in the 1930’s through 1960’s , much of the teachings in regard to Astrology have been incorporated by relatively few modern astrologers. Alan Oken broke some ground in 1988 with the release of his book, Soul Centered Astrology, A Key to your Expanding Self, based upon his own studies of Alice Bailey and the Ancient Wisdom begun in 1967. I had attempted to read Alice Bailey before discovering Alan Oken’s book, and found it to be quite difficult and obscure reading, though I was very drawn to it. After reading Soul Centered Astrology, a book in which Mr. Oken brings down to earth and makes more practical the significance of these teachings in our lives today, I was able to go back to Alice Bailey and absorb the teachings much differently. Reference will also be made to the work of DH Baker, who has also done some astrological research and hypothesis based upon the Ancient Wisdom teachings. In Esoteric astrology there are three categories of ruler-ship of the signs…Traditional, Esoteric (also known as soul centered), and Hierarchical. The interplay of these levels of ruler-ship can tell one much about specific tasks/goals for this lifetime….A relatively few persons are responding consciously to the Hierarchical influences at this time, but there are many at this point in time that are becoming increasingly aware…and are manifesting as soul infused personalities, or on the way to becoming soul infused personalities, so that the esoteric ruler-ships and interpretations of signs and houses are increasingly more important. By soul infused, is meant that the personality takes a back seat to the higher self…one is no longer driven by earthly desire, but is urged to merge with divine will…that is not to say that the lower self never shows itself, as all of us are human beings, but the desire to overcome the lower self is increased and a higher level of awareness and consciousness is achieved. Things that were once personal begin to be experienced as impersonal, {such as the little dig someone saw fit to throw your way}…and the impersonal becomes much more personal…{the desire and increasing ability to see beyond the personality manifestation and into the soul of that individual}…there comes a greater awareness of cause and effect…a growing detachment {attachment to the Soul}….one begins to be co-creator of destiny, rather than at the mercy of the forces…there is a greater urge to individualize, but not in the egocentric sense…there comes a realization that the more individualized we become, the more Universal we become…and for many of us here and now, this is an essential element of the journey round the wheel, or as it is called in the Native American tradition, the Sacred Hoop. |
Another element in esoteric astrology that differs from the traditional is that the Earth and the planet Vulcan are essential in the interpretation of a natal chart. The earth is always directly opposite the Sun, and its sign and placement indicate our dharma, or the place in which our earthly service will be given and the ways in which it will be best achieved. So, if one had the Sun in 3 degrees 27 minutes of Pisces in the 11th, the earth would be 3 degrees 27 minutes of Virgo in the 5th. Vulcan poses a bit more of a problem , because as yet there is no foolproof way to locate it. There are several hypothesis…2 of which are incorporated into the Solar fire astrology program…by DH Baker, and LH Westin…and other esoteric astrologers like Alan Oken claim that they do not rely on any calculation yet available for Vulcan, but rather upon intuition to place the planet…most do agree, however, that Vulcan lie within 8 degees of the Sun…my own intuition and after playing around with placing Vulcan, is that it indeed can lie on either side of the Sun as Alan Oken states., not necessarily between the Sun and Mercury, as others have postulated. . The importance or validity of the energies expressed through us by this planet, though still classified by many as hypothetical, could not be denied by those who have Vulcan as a significant player in their chart. Vulcan is responsible for the meltdowns and reformulations…the alchemy we experience when shifting from one level of awareness to another…Vulcan sees to it that we are faced with just the right vulcanic crises that challenge us to grow as souls, and urges us to leave the past behind…interestingly enough, the symbol for what is known in Alchemy as Nigredo, or the breaking down of matter for its eventual reformaulation; the point at which a “death” occurs,….is very similar to the glyph for Vulcan. Vulcan is Esoteric and Hierarchal ruler of Taurus. |
 |
 |
| Nigredo |
| Vulcan |
| Thoughts On Esoteric Astrology |
| Only after Vulcan has successfully done its work, or one has gone through Nigredo, can rebirth occur. The ascendant is the key in esoteric astrology, whereas the Sun sign is the greater focus in traditional interpretation. The Ascendant in esoteric astrology is the soul’s goal for evolution in this lifetime, not merely the instinctual way in which one responds, the mask one wears, or the way in which one presents themself. The Sun is seen as the equipment one brings into incarnation with them, as well as the current problem of an individual, and the vehicle through which the soul will work.The seven rays also come into play in esoteric astrology. These are the seven lines of force, or energies, that form the basis of the teachings; each with their own positive and negative polarities, and qualities that express themselves through the planets and signs…then through us here on earth. Each human being has a soul ray, a personality ray, a mental ray, a physical ray, an astral ray, and a Ray of Monad. The Ray of Monad is our never changing Divine spark…our essential divinity, .and the quality through which our Soul evolves. It can be only one of the 3 primary rays or rays of attribute…1, 2, or 3…the other 4 rays, known as rays of aspect, emanate from the 3rd ray…a synthetic ray, synthesis of the 1st and second… These three form a triangle of force that are analagous to the Trinity…in whatever way you see these three aspects of divinity of the One, and linked through the constellations, The Great Bear, Sirius, and the Plieades…the great Cosmic triangle that influences our galaxy. The first ray is Will/Power…the associated signs are Aries, Leo, Capricorn The associated planets are Vulcan and Pluto… This Ray is linked to Sirius On a soul level, first ray energy is expressed as the use of spiritual will to benefit the collective. It is a vehicle for creative initiation on all levels. On the personality level this ray may express as limitless ambition, use of will for selfish personal gain, manipulation of others through abuse of power, with a strong sense of personal pride. The second Ray is Love/Wisdom…the associated signs are Gemini, Virgo, Pisces Associated planets, Jupiter and the Sun… This ray is linked to The Great Bear On a soul level there is an urge to bring about a loving wholeness…and bring about healing for self and others. There is an ability to see beyond differences into unifying principles. On the personality level, this ray may express as misplaced affection, a negative victim/martyr focus, a “why is this always happening to me” attitude…and if the wisdom aspect is emphasized, a certain indifference to others. The third ray is Active Intelligence…the associated signs are Cancer, Libra, Capricorn Associated planets are Earth and Saturn…This Ray is Linked to the Pleiades On a soul level, this ray expresses as mental illumination, the building of structures to allow for group energies to flourish, objective intelligence ready to be used in service to humanity… On the personality level this ray may express as overly nervous and active, intellectual pride, selfishness through isolation, mind games, and over attachment to materialism. Each one of us has one of these three as a ray of Monad…that essential spark…upon whose lines of energy we evolve, and make our way back to the Source. There are also at least several theories on how to determine ones rays…if any of you are interested in these ray determinations, and their use in astrology is relatively new…it is interesting to hypothesize….intuit…discern……as it is in this way that new understandings arise… The Soul Ray can be any one of the Seven rays, as can the personality Ray…The personality ray changes from incarnation to incarnation, whereas the soul ray remains throughout a series of incarnations, evolving along a line of force until its lessons are integrated. There is some thought that the soul ray remains constant as well, but those that think it changes as lines of energy are completely integrated. I tend to agree with the latter at this time. Use your own intuition…and discern its validity for yourself… The Tibetan in a statement from 1934: {regarding his teachings and words as put forth} “If they present truth in such a way that it follows sequentially upon that already offered in the world teachings, if the information given raises the aspiration and the will-to-serve from the plane of the emotions to that of the mind, then they will have served their purpose. If the teachings call forth a response from the illumined mind of the worker in the world, and brings a flashing forth of his intuition, then let that teaching be accepted. But not otherwise. If the statements meet with eventual corroboration, or are deemed true under the test of the Law of Correspondences, then that is well and good. But should this not be so, let not the student accept what is said.” |