alchemy

These are troubled times. Never has there been a time in which it is so crucial for people to avoid their personal and moral weaknesses and contact the best in themselves. Don’t wash out on the Apocalypse. Never sell out what’s good in yourself.

In the Apocalypse, these pitfalls can have extremely dire results. These pitfalls may each be specific vulnerabilities for people who have the sign indicated dominant in their birth chart (including if they have an Ascendant, Sun, Moon, or chart ruler there), but as I often say, everyone has all the signs present up there in the sky and in the wheel of their chart, and we do feel them. Everyone should really avoid all these pitfalls; they’re extremely bad ones. The sextile sign of each sign (any sign that can be found 60° away, like Aries and Gemini, Taurus and Cancer, and so on) may also be particularly vulnerable to its pitfalls as well as their own.

Esoteric Astrology (the astrology of the self when focused on spiritual development) addresses the soul or spiritually evolving self and its needs, and provides a good counterpoint to the pitfalls that can emerge from tendencies found within the signs exoterically.

Aries: In Alice Bailey’s Esoteric Astrology, esoteric Aries (i.e. Aries energies experienced in the context of advanced spiritual development) is known as a place “where the will of God is known”. At its very and highly advanced best, Aries energies give us access to claircognizance, which is a very potent wisdom experienced through a sixth sense (and here is one example of a good place to remember that everyone has all the signs up in the sky). But Aries at its worst gets arrogant about its fast twitch ideas and confuses them with wisdom. Aries also has a pitfall where it sometimes tries to be different for the sake of showing off to others, which isn’t what being different actually does. Corrupted Aries energy has a tendency to get confused about this. Really, Aries has a longing to be a visionary, which requires a clear head and judicious perspective, whether one ends up concurring with the crowd or not. Cultivate that with sincerity for long enough, and you may end up standing out in a very authentic and exciting way. All signs should avoid being the bully, and this is absolutely true of Aries. They forget how to play if they slip into a bullying persona, and can lose themselves with dizzying speed.

Taurus: It’s said in Esoteric Astrology that Taurus is meant to find and journey the Path of Light, which is the ongoing creative experience of choosing right over wrong and depth over the kind of surface flash that’s built to fail. It’s important for Taurus not to lose its relationship with spiritual light. All energies do very poorly wrapped in corruption and darkness, and this is very true of Taurus. What’s absolutely terrible for Taurus is getting selfish, getting mean, getting pigheaded, getting resentful, and getting indifferent enough to be lazy or warped. Taurus’s exoteric ruler Venus is dead set against all such things, and wants to be kind, sprightly, affectionate, and productive of good in the sign of Taurus. Taurus should also avoid pedantry lest they become obtuse, and because it weighs everything down without doing any real good. It is not satisfying, they just sometimes want it to be (of course it’s still fine to advocate for correctness when appropriate, don’t be pedantic with me right now). Taurus must take care not to be dangerous. They can be daring in a lot of ways, but dangerous (or menacing) to others doesn’t agree with them whatsoever. And never dare to do worse to people than common decency dictates. Of all people, certainly Taurus has the aptitude to comprehend that daring to do worse than common decency is an act of extreme cowardice.

Gemini: In the esoteric sense, Gemini becomes human to seek understanding and learn to relate to the inner twin that is the soul. The exoteric ruler of Gemini is Mercury, but its esoteric ruler is Venus. The first of these paints a portrait of Gemini as precocious and full of interest, while the second paints a pretty picture of Gemini in harmony with self and others, blooming with true creativity and altruism (fused together they make a profound esoteric image that communicates much about Gemini). Gemini in its corrupted manifestations likes to seem and talk about these things more than it cares to be them and do them. Gemini can create a lot of trouble for itself by not following its own advice. For instance, people born with dominant Gemini energies can frustrate others by being those people who talk a good game about communication, but don’t actually communicate. In fact, they often avoid higher level conversations, where the parties zoom back from banter, fact sharing, and gossip, and speak collaboratively and unguardedly about what it is that they are really doing, and what it really means. This avoidance can create a situation where their relationships have an expiration date because no positive life force gets invested in them. Cruelty is never good, and important parts of Gemini wither when they are cruel. Geminis should never lie, or they won’t deserve the reputation for honesty and candor that they crave.

Cancer: Esoteric Cancer is extremely motivated to become a highly advanced spiritual presence on Earth. Its ambitious, sparkling cardinal water traits manifest very directly and powerfully in that context. An advanced spiritual presence is attained by virtue. It is. Cancer cannot cut corners there. Vices must be minimized, and practical virtues emphasized as well as real spiritual awareness. What are some pitfalls? Cancer does tend to try to cut corners too often, and it adds up to no good. Lies and manipulation are bad news. Cancer’s lying is often about trying to cut corners. Sometimes Cancer uses lying and manipulation to hide, but it actually makes them very vulnerable. They usually don’t forget the truth, and it becomes very important to live in an atmosphere of truth and forthrightness so that advancement can take place. When Cancer energies allow themselves to have a temper reaction, they tend to not know how to discharge their aggression, which is best done through play (not a cruel pretense at play). Note that Cancer can be charming at childlike, but never pulls off childish well. If Cancer uses aggression to be passive aggressively violent or otherwise violent, their every facet is compromised. They become some of our least favorite people this way.

Leo: Esoteric Astrology says that a Leo dominant lifetime is extremely concerned with developing a self that is whole and feels whole. Have you ever seen a lion get something wrong? They get embarrassed and it can upset them for a very long time. Learning and internalizing the difference between right and wrong (including inside specific skill sets) and choosing to do the right thing consistently is very fertile and helpful territory for Leo. It is intrinsically satisfying to do right. They are lost without this practice. There are many ways that Leo energies have trouble if they lose dignity, and it’s the moral wrongs that really erode dignity most of all. At the same time, Leo should avoid hypersensitivity and petty punishment moves, as should every sign. Despite how they feel, Leos do not make good autocrats, and should not believe that their emotions are infallible sources of information. They can have trouble interpreting things, and mess up catastrophically when they project themselves mentally into the center of all things while failing to learn to center themselves in self-mastery and self-control.

Virgo: In the alchemy of transmutation, medieval alchemists knew that it was harder to get any metal to become silver than it was to turn silver into gold. The Moon represented silver and the Sun represented gold. Silver represented spirituality and high attainment while gold represented a glorious end point in a long process. The Moon rules esoteric Virgo. Alchemists and Virgo find purity and purification highly necessary. Purity is not anything arbitrary, it is an extreme yet attainable point of integrity. Corrupted Virgo is a tragic thing. Plaintive Virgo isn’t as dramatic and sympathetic as they think they are. They do not come off as pleasant when whiny. Similarly, tragedy is not as exciting as they think it is. It is a feeling that arises when something has been ruined. It’s very rare for anyone at all to pull off ghoulish palatably, and it’s never Virgo. Being habitually mean or nasty turns Virgo into a fallen apart contraption of a person. Potential is squandered when Virgo doesn’t bother to be good. Delusion never becomes them. Silver makes for a stark mirror. The Moon does not smile upon lunacy.

Libra: Esoteric Astrology tells us that Libra seldom incarnates without a soul mate, and that searching for a soul mate may be some of the best life’s work they can do. It also advises Libra to hone itself to a system of perfected judgment, which Libra has a natural aptitude for if they stay honest and sweet-natured. These are lofty goals, and they can take courage to achieve. Craven Libra is a broken Libra, and they usually feel it. Libra maintains integrity (even including the many structural integrities involved in living life) by placing extra focus on the moral realities of right and wrong, veering steadily toward what’s right again and again. They must be brave and conscientious in their correct judgment, but also be open to learning. Good judgment doesn’t make anyone a know-it-all. In general, it’s really important that Libra not suck; they don’t find it all that tolerable. Libra droops quickly from any wrongdoing. Libra should never get carried away with any wrongdoing. Too far is way too far.

Scorpio: Scorpio is sometimes called “the sign of the Disciple” in Esoteric Astrology. The fixed water sign of the Western zodiac, if Scorpio’s fixed energy can be said to resemble a type of water found in nature it would be a waterfall, which is often associated with purification. In a similar vein, Scorpio should take extra care to never allow itself to get filthy. Scorpio is said to often have a solid chance to spiritually advance to become a soul-infused person in their current lifetime. They can often even progress to become a holy person (e.g. a saint, a sage, etc.) if they walk their path scrupulously and reverently. But problems can arise in Scorpio nature. Scorpio often experiences things with extra intensity, and they create problems when they spin out or get carried away as a result. The proper response is to use the intensity as a prompt to examine what decisions should be made in the situation, and to make the right ones, which is what eases the tension in the intensity and provides the euphoria desired. Note that it is never reasonable to expect other people to provide euphoria; it really does come from within. Scorpio can too easily get caught up in complication (including sneakiness) and end up thinking that’s life. It’s not. It’s tiring. They should refresh themselves by getting straightforward and honest, and allowing the moral absolutes that deal with harmless versus harmful to direct them. Esoteric factors in Western Astrology teach that high quality Scorpio energy feels more like an eagle to us than it feels like a scorpion. Scorpio must absolutely rise above evil. The battle between good and evil is within. Never let that battle break your inner boundaries to unleash evil upon the world.

Sagittarius: The esoteric ruler of Sagittarius is a unique point called Esoteric Earth, which is always at an 180° opposition to the placement of the Sun. Esoteric Earth has to do with the interplay between Earth and the concept of a divine Creative force or Creator. It also carries messages about Earth’s destiny and evolutionary process and the life paths of the individuals here. Sagittarius can really thrill to these themes. And they need to commune with the nature here on Earth periodically, otherwise they become ungrounded and can lapse into an existence with no sense of peace. Esoteric Sagittarius has special interest in the Higher Self, which is a record and manifestation of one’s devotional service and divine connection over multiple lifetimes. Sagittarius has a tendency to be boisterous, and must take care not to be overbearing. It isn’t good for them to force things too much; they love to learn and have things to learn. The sign of Sagittarius is represented by a centaur (a half man/half horse), and people holding a lot of this energy at their best remind us of good knights (noble men who ride horses, and preferably protect a worthwhile status quo from evil, right wrongs, etc.). Sagittarius resonates very strongly with accepting and navigating sacred quests, where protecting what is good is paramount and spiritual attainment and refinement are the just rewards. Much like Arthurian knights in stories, though, they must strive for right and avoid the raping, the wanton violence, the pillaging, the vices of power that chivalric codes sought to avert. They have to avoid being scary. Things become such a dismal mess when they are scary. Sagittarius becomes obviously horrible once they stop trying to be good.

Capricorn: Saturn is Capricorn’s esoteric and exoteric ruler both, and in Esoteric Astrology Saturn is known as the Lord of Karma. Saturn wants (and can often force) Capricorn to confront karma (from their current lifetime and sometimes from previous lifetimes as well) often and well, cleansing through legitimate means as they go, so that their wrongs do not calcify into torture devices and cages for others and self. Exoterically, Saturn shows us where we have to toughen up. Capricorn often needs to learn how to be tough enough (in the right ways) to be good-natured while weathering hardships and delays, but to not be so tough on others. The worst thing (besides the aforementioned torture devices and cages, of course) is if Capricorn, who can enjoy becoming an honest high achiever, refuses to accept responsibility for wrongdoing or in general. It’s almost as bad when Capricorn can’t be honest with themselves (or about themselves), which wastes time but also just about everything else.

Aquarius: Esoteric Astrology says that Aquarius is an agent of light, even when it has to shine it through the darkness. This is a tendency and mission, but not a guarantee, and definitely not fodder for boasting. Aquarius must learn the lessons of the previous air sign, Libra, and its developed ability to judge correctly, in order to shine the right kind of light, the durable light: good intentions and good humor are not quite enough to hold someone in proper stead through the Apocalypse. Aquarius must be conscientious all through life, guiding itself to stay motivated and on task, and must watch itself and not pick up the bad habits of others or indulge bad habits in general, despite what direction the energy of pure acceptance may lie in. A person is not a group. Aquarius must never lose sight of the fact that as human beings, it’s our business to learn things and then really know them. Not everything is abstract. Confusion and ignorance are obstacles too costly to allow to stand, and Aquarius of all people knows that confusion and ignorance carry no treasure. It’s important to hold onto the most stable truths available for support, and to stay friendly to the right ideas. It’s also important for Aquarius to be willing to suspect liars of lying, it isn’t rude. But don’t be rude, as rude Aquarius gets to be uncivilized too easily. And if Aquarius gets mean and doesn’t bother to care about it enough to stop themselves in time, they go too far astray. They risk becoming the darkness, where is their light?

Pisces: According to Esoteric Astrology, it is in Pisces that the Victory of Love is achieved. Well, can be achieved. The love indicated is very broad-spectrum and immersive, and includes personal and impersonal love for people as well as love for self and God (or Goddess, Great Spirit, the Universe, etc., things good and enormous), and love for what is good. Chaos is the enemy here, and more specifically entropy, disintegration in life and purpose. What entropy threatens that is good, love seeks to hold. Entropy enclosing evil and destroying it is more like the order of justice than it is like chaos, but of course there are quicker and surer paths to justice. Water signs: why be lazy? Good must be protected and promoted. Pisces needs to develop and maintain a feel for this. Without an active conscience they become something intolerable. Pisces must remember that there are reasons to get angry, when injustice is found and when evil is nurtured. They must get angry at evil and support the destruction of evil without fail. The point is not to demonstrate anger in an exhibitionist manner, but to take the right stand. And then to rediscover and recenter one’s own ability to love as necessary.

──── by Lync Dalton ────

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