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Astrologer's Notes:
AstroDPsychology:A Synthesis |
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The Protean Nature of Astrological Archetypes |
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by Glenn Perry, Ph.D., MFT |
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I have always been fascinated with the language of astrology and how it is constructed from archetypal principles. In this column, I would like to briefly introduce a way of thinking about astrological archetypes, which are the root metaphors of our language.
First, I want to differentiate what I mean by "astrological archetype." Jung referred to an archetype as "the self-portrait of the instinct," by which he meant that archetypes, as primordial images, were symbolic of structural elements of consciousness. This is a pretty good way to think about astrological archetypes, too, except that in astrology an archetype can be further differentiated into various related parts. Terms such as sign, planet, house, and aspect are all facets-differing manifestations-of a single astrological archetype. A sign is the archetype in its motivational mode, a planet is its action mode, a house is its contextual mode, and an aspect is its relational mode.
All but planets derive their meaning from angles, e.g., the meaning of Libra is derived from it's position in the zodiac as a 30 degree segment of space that is 180 degrees opposite the vernal equinox, which is where the earth's equator intersects the plane of the ecliptic, thus signifying the beginning of a new year or that point in time when days become longer than nights (in the northern hemisphere). The 7th house, likewise, signifies a 2-hour period during the earth's axial rotation that occurs just prior to sunset - or, 180 degrees opposite sunrise, the beginning of the day. An opposition is a 180-degree angle between two planets, and signifies a quality of relationship that is similar in meaning to Libra and the 7th house. Note all these meanings are based on the same 180-degree angle. This principle repeats itself with the remaining signs, houses, and aspects; all derive their meaning from the nature of the angle to which they correspond. In effect, we could say that astrological archetypes are actually angles that produce varying manifestations.
Although each manifestation of the 180-degree archetype is referred to by a different astrological term, each term is similar in meaning. Libra can be thought of as a motive, or the need for harmony; the 7th house is a context within which harmony is the prime concern; and an opposition signifies a relationship that requires a harmonizing of separate but related functions (planets). As the ruler of Libra, Venus is the 4th version of the 180-degree archetype, for it signifies the action of harmonizing, and may also manifest concretely as an event that gives concrete expression to the principle of harmony, e.g., a work of sculpture. Because astrological archetypes can manifest in diverse ways across the entire spectrum of human experience-from inner motivation to outer event-they are protean entities that serve as unifying psychological princi-ples.
We recognize that signs and their ruling planets are closely related in meaning. Accordingly, I like to think of them as pairs, or systems, e.g., the Aries-Mars system. Psychologically speaking, signs and their ruling planets are inseparable. Aries provides the motivating need/drive for Mars, and Mars provides the action to satisfy the motive. When a certain state or emotion is attained, the self recognizes that the need has been satisfied, e.g., an individual performs a daring action and his need to feel "alive" is, for the moment, satiated. In this way, a sign-planet system actually depicts several different parts of psy-chic structure, i.e., motive, function, and emotion.
Generally speaking, we can divide the language of astrology into two broad areas: process and content. Process constitutes the psychodynamics of the birthchart and has to do with the underlying motives, beliefs, goals, and choices that characterize a person's inner life. Because process can be defined as a series of operations conducive toward a goal, it is dynamic; it is the active movement of consciousness as it pro-gresses from motive to action. Content, on the other hand, is the outcome of psychological functioning. It shows up in a person's lived experience -- relations with other people, things, and events. Whereas proc-ess is psychological functioning, content is the con-sequence of psychological functioning, an epiphe-nomenal by-product of psychic life.
Process has four inner dimensions: motive, func-tion, emotion, and target state. For example, Capricorn is the need for control, and Saturn is the function of controlling. As an emotion, Saturn may signify a fear of failure that stimulates the action of controlling, and may also signify the target state (a sense of control) that conveys fulfillment of the originating motive. Likewise, content has four outer dimensions: person, place, thing, or event. For example, Saturn can signify an authority figure (person), a presidential suite (place), a clock (thing), and an event (a delay). Behavior is the ninth dimension and has qualities of both proc-ess and content, for behavior is the connecting link between inner and outer experience. Any behavior, by definition, involves some sort of interaction with an outside environment.
Since the same astrological variable can symbolize any of nine dimensions, a key idea is that content mirrors process; intrapsychic dy-namics are reflected in the nature and quality of one's outer experiences. Jung's theory of synchro-nicity is central to astrology because it provides an explanatory mechanism for how inner and outer ex-periences are related. Synchronicity, in turn, rests on Jung's concept of the archetype, which he described as having psychoid properties, i.e., an archetype can manifest simultaneously as both an intrapsychic fac-tor and an environmental condition.
The protean nature of astrological archetypes is what gives astrology its enormous flexibility as a language. In Greek mythology, Proteus was a sea God who could change his shape at will. To be protean refers to something that can readily take on varied shapes, forms, or meanings. A protean entity, in other words, exhibits considerable variety or diversity. Just so, a single sign-planet system is capable of depicting at least four inner dimensions, four outer dimensions, and a ninth dimension - behavior - that bridges the gap between inner and outer. In subsequent installments of this column, we'll explore some further entailments of this idea.
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"Astrology is a religion inasmuch as it reveals the anatomy and psychology of God."
~ Manly Palmer Hall
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Glenn Perry,
Ph.D., MFT
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Glenn Perry, Ph.D., MFT
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Director of the Association for Astrological Psychology
Board Member of the International Society of Astrological Research
Glenn Perry lectures and conducts workshops throughout the world on the application of astrology to the fields of counseling and psychotherapy.
He has written four books, including "Essays In Psychological Astrology," and teaches classes in Astro-Psychology at various colleges on the west coast.
Information on Glenn's books, tapes, and on-line mentorship program can be obtained at:
www.aaperry.com.
E-mail: aaperry@attbi.com
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