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Astrologer's Notes: |
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What do you need out of life?
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by Noel Tyl |
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Oh my! This is such an important question!! In every instance when two people meet to share knowledge and helpfulness within the human condition -- from a Tarot consultation to massage therapy against stress, from an astrological consultation and development and change to just having a nice dinner with a friend-"What do you need out of life?" is a focal-point question that can illuminate every problem, every fear, every strength and blessing.
The most important word in this question is not necessarily "what", but "need." Needs make things happen: each of us is born with a particular, highly-defined reigning need and a complex of energies within. The energies direct our behaviors forward in relation to the environment to find fulfillment in an individual way of living.
Long ago, I worked out how to adapt Psychological Need Theory to astrological symbology, and the results have indeed entered the learning literature in Astrology. Let me share some of that with you now; it is simple to understand and vitally important to every Meta-helper [if I may coin that label], even if you prescribe Flower Remedies, read the Tarot, do Music Therapy, give massages, do Reflexology, Horoscopes or Dream Interpretations. The point is undeniably that any knowledgeable, sensitive practitioner in the helping professions can improve their level of performance if they know what their client needs out of life.
Energies for living; Needs for focus.
Everyone knows her/his "Sun Sign," where the Sun was at the moment of one's birth. "I am a Capricorn" means that the Sun was positioned in Capricorn when I was born (between December 21 and January 20; all signs change usually on the 20-21st of each month in the series with which you are surely familiar).
And everyone should know the generalities associated with each of the Signs.
Let me list here the twelve energy-complexes for the twelve signs in their simplest and most relevant form, in order, starting with an Aries birth, March 21-April 20: Aries, the energy to lead, motivate, to exert force. Taurus, the energy to build, organize, maintain, with a touch of idealism thrown in. Gemini, the energy to diversify, communicate, be popular.
When the Sun is in Cancer (July 21-August 20), the energy is dedicated to create emotional security, to attract it. In Leo, the energy is typified as the energy to be recognized and respected, with a dose of self-dramatization included. In Virgo, the energy is to refine, discriminate, to know.
In Libra (September 21-October 20), the energy is to please others and gain their appreciation. In Scorpio, there's the energy to control by knowing, to plumb the depths and reach heights. In Sagittarius, the energy is for self-assertion, for what is right, to affect thought, to express high opinionation.
In Capricorn (December 21-January 20), the energy is to organize, strategize, and deploy resources (ambition). In Aquarius, the energy is innovative, intellectualized to all, serving others in their need. In Pisces, the energy is to feel and understand and sacrifice, to appreciate the amorphous and savor the ideal.
Each of us can identify to one degree or another with these energy labels according to the date of our birth, the position of the Sun in a particular Sign. -If the label simply does not touch any understanding within you, there is a developmental problem (shown by the Sun's relationship with other planets at the moment of birth, like a traffic jam or a wreck or a detour disrupting flow). Then the situation must be studied more discriminatingly to determine why the energy is smothered or siphoned off from your own life thrust; that's what skilled astrologer's do, relating the "traffic report" to the developmental realities in the early home years, etc.
The key point now becomes relating that energy to the Reigning Need complex symbolized by the Moon in its Sign! --For example, if you have the Sun (the life energy symbol) in Sagittarius and you have the Moon in the Sign of Leo) we can know the following. "The energy for self-assertion, for what is right, to affect thought, is wedded to the driving need to be recognized and respected. There is a tremendous thrust of self-dramatization that strongly needs to dramatize the self's position to establish points of ethics, honor and standards. [Jane Fonda, Winston Churchill are good examples.]
Notice how the general energy-terms description of the Sun's position is adapted into "need terms" in any Sign to animate the Moon's position in a particular Sign. When we feel the particular Sun-energy and focus it on the Moon's symbolization of the Reigning Need, we know a great deal about an individual's life development.
Try another one: the Sun in Capricorn (read above) and the Moon in Aries (read above under the Sun in Aries and convert that to need-language): the energy to deploy resources for ambition, to get things done, is focused on fulfilling the intense need to be numero uno, to lead, to exert force. [Katie Couric is a good example.] --One could be the world's greatest introvert (caused by traffic jams in the horoscope) but, with the Sun in Capricorn and the Moon in Aries, one would still feel this way deeply about self-importance, dream about it, even berate oneself or others for its not being in full bloom.
Developmental Problems
Throughout our life, we work with our life-typifying energy core to fulfill our individualized reigning need focus. We use many behavioral faculties to accomplish this [and astrologers learn much about this]. How we need to think (Mercury); to relate (Venus); to apply ourselves (Mars); to define opportunities (Jupiter); to internalize discipline (Saturn); to manage inspiration and idiosyncratic development (Uranus); to work with inspiration or confusion (Neptune); to manage personal empowerment or the empowerment from others ... these "departments" are the beginning of full astrological synthesis.
The inner environment is composed of all these dimensions. They (we) relate to the external environment hoping for reward and fulfillment in terms of our needs, in response to our energies. Sometimes, we must learn to manage frustration or even curtailment of the process; some wrong decision has caught us up in a traffic jam or on a wrong freeway! Stress mounts; we are bereft of our customary strategies; we begin to behave insecurely and uncharacteristically to others. More problems arise And it can be proved, we become ill in terms of the part of our bodies and their systems symbolized by the frustrated planetary symbols [Advanced astrologers, please see Tyl-The Astrological Timing of Critical Illness.]
Notice how we say so tellingly, "My job doesn't do anything for me!" --What a revealing statement! We expect our job to fulfill our needs, not to pay the bills, as much as to give a sense of fulfillment. -We hear "My wife/husband doesn't understand me! Or "I'm not on the right track." Same thing: our major need-complex and the energies driving it is frustrated, sometimes chronically.
The housewife with the Sun in Aries or the Moon in Scorpio, or both!, needs to have responsibilities, to be in control of something or many things in order to feel that she is important. The executive with the Sun in Gemini and the Moon in Aquarius must be in a job that has social significances, consequence, diversified in the innovative helping of others … or there will be great frustration. The retiree must continue energy expression and need fulfillment in activities that fit: perhaps the gentleman with the Sun in Virgo and the Moon in Sagittarius should find a way to be active with the local library, with programs to bring books and learning to others.
The point here is that the energies and the need system must be at work as properly as possible. -We talk about realigning the spine; getting straightened out; finding a new way; getting around the hurdles, etc. -All these things show our frustration with our relationship with the environment: our energies are not paying off with need fulfillment; we are not focused through our needs on the opportunities that will reward us. We must notice that, when we feel successful, we are rarely, rarely ill.
Diversion of all kinds can keep us from seeing these facts. When someone comes to see us for our knowledge, for help in clarifying parts of their lives, we can not project upon them what we think would be best. Rather, we must find out what energy resources they are working with and how those energies are focused in terms of needs driving behavior toward fulfillment. What is getting in the way at the moment? How can that be adjusted?
Therapeutic Use of the Information
I feel that every Meta-helper should have an Ephemeris (a booklet of the positions of the Sun, Moon and planets, for the past 100 years. Ask anyone who comes to you for help --and never overlook what is underneath "curiosity"- just ask when his or her birth was. Look up the date. Note the Sun Sign, recall energy keywords (above in this article), and then see the Moon in its Sign … printed right there … Put the two together, and ask about knowingly, "What do you need out of life?"
How's it going? What are the frustrations you feel" --To the Moon in Scorpio, "Are you no longer in charge of things as you need to be?" To the Moon in Virgo, "Why isn't what you know to be right paying off anymore?" To the Moon in Pisces, "What has gone wrong with the ideals? Why does it hurt so much? To the Moon in Aquarius, "How can we get your uniqueness recognized on the job?"
While this is simplistically presented here, please know the abbreviated capsule energy/need vignettes go very deep. -Perhaps the Piscean reticence is being extended under pressure out of habits taken on in the early homelife, developed under a powerful, even punitive mother. Perhaps the female Aries style is being rebuffed by men resenting her power, the way her father did! Maybe the Gemini focal points are too diversified, becoming shallow, scattered, not specialized enough. For the Libra, maybe the Cinderella or Cinderfella complex is being assumed instead of being earned.
There is nothing more important in a helpful relationship, a therapeutic atmosphere than sensitive conversation. Appreciating the spirit helps the massage therapist understand the muscle. Hearing the reality dilemma adds detail to the Tarot spread. -An evaluation of our particular talent must begin with an evaluation of our communication skills.
The art of communication is based upon relevance. "What do you need out of life? " --You can know the answer before you ask it; helpfulness, therapy have begun.
Noel Tyl
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Noel Tyl,
Astrologer |
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Noel Tyl (no-ell till) is one of the foremost astrologers in the world. His twenty-nine textbooks have led the teaching of astrologers for two generations.
Tyl has written the professional manual for the field, the 1,000-page text "Synthesis & Counseling in Astrology" that has securely placed astrology in pace with the most sophisticated disciplines of humanistic studies extant today.
Mr. Tyl is a graduate of Harvard University with his degree in Social Relations (Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology), lectures throughout the Western world, serves his clients from his office in Phoenix AZ, maintains perhaps the most sophisticated astrological teaching website on the web, noeltyl.com, and leads his highly esteemed Master's Degree Certification Correspondence Course throughout 16 countries.
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