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| Lesson Two: The Cast of Characters |
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Each one of us is a reflection of the entire cosmos
as it exists in space and time at the moment of our birth. This means
that each one of us contains the pattern of the entire cosmos within.
The archetypal [19], or universal, symbolism of each
planet is modified and personalised according to its placement in our
birth charts. In this way, the planets will function as a unique, personalised,
cast of characters. Each planet has its own personality, motivation,
attitude, desires, goals and expressions, right down to its own way
of walking and talking, its own body posture and the particular clothes
it wears! Roberto Assagioli, the founder of Psychosynthesis, believed
that we each contain a multiplicity of selves, or 'sub-personalities'. [20] "Each
of us is a crowd...and in every corner of my soul there is an altar
to a different god." [21] The
problem, as Jung pointed out, is how to find ourselves in the crowd.
The astrologer's task is to assess how the archetypal meaning - or 'eternal pattern' - has become modified and personalised for each individual. This careful analysis lies at the heart of the art and craft of psychological astrology, with its goal of promoting self awareness and psychic integration, since almost invariably, at least a few of our planets, or sub-personalities, will have become distorted along the way, and will be functioning in a negative, defensive or self-destructive way, or will have fallen into the unconscious so that we are unaware of the power they hold over us. We need to honour all the planetary gods on their own terms, lay our offerings on the steps of each of their temples in order to appease them and gain their support. The psychological astrologer attempts to identify which planets may have become distorted or degraded. It is possible to enter into a dialogue with all the planets in order to promote a deeper, more profound and empowering relationship to them. At the core of each planet lies its pure archetypal quality, along with vital and creative elements of our being. We do have the potential to access the 'gifts of the planetary gods', however negative they may seem to us at first.
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First published 2005 by the CPA Press, BCM Box 1815, London
WC1N 3XX, United Kingdom, www.cpalondon.com. |
by Clare Martin, Volume I
- currently out of print
Mapping the Psyche, by Clare Martin
Order at Midheaven Bookshop
Please note: Mapping the Psyche, vol. I, is currently out of print.
