INTRODUCTION TO SOUL BASED OR ESOTERIC ASTROLOGY

Soul based or esoteric astrology emphasizes soul growth and the development of consciousness rather than personality growth.  Soul-centered astrology was first introduced in the book, Esoteric Astrology, published in 1951.   Esoteric astrology is not a new astrology; it just adds another dimension to astrology as it has been traditionally practiced.

The basic differences between spiritual or esoteric astrology and traditional astrology are as follows:

(1) THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SOUL AND THE ASCENDANT.  Spiritual or esoteric astrology teaches that the Sun sign represents the personality, and the Ascendant represents the soul, or the soul's purpose.  Traditional astrology teaches that the sun sign is the most important, and so is personality centered.  Esoteric astrology teaches that the Ascendant is the most important and is therefore soul-centered. 

(2)  ORTHODOX, ESOTERIC AND HIERARCHICAL RULERSHIPS.  The rulerships of the signs differ as we travel along the spiritual path.  Those of us who are just beginning can use the traditional or orthodox rulers in interpreting our charts.  Those of us who are a little further along the path, and are beginning to respond to our soul or higher self, can use the esoteric rulers in addition to the orthodox rulers in interpreting our charts.  Those of us who are quite advanced along the path would use yet another set of planetary rulers in addition to the orthodox and esoteric rulers in interpreting our charts. These are called the hierarchical rulers.

The relation between the esoteric and exoteric rulers of the Sun sign and Ascendant in a chart will give an indication of the connection between the personality and the soul, and also the problems that the person is likely to face as he attempts soul integration. 

The orthodox, esoteric and hierarchical rulers of each sign are as follows: 

Aries:  Mars, Mercury, Uranus

Taurus:  Venus, Vulcan, Vulcan

Gemini:  Mercury, Venus, Earth

Cancer:  Moon, Neptune, Neptune

Leo:  Sun, Sun, Sun

Virgo:  Mercury, Moon, Jupiter

Libra:  Venus, Uranus, Saturn

Scorpio:  Mars (Pluto), Mars, Mercury

Sagittarius:  Jupiter, Earth, Mars

Capricorn:  Saturn, Saturn, Venus

Aquarius:  Uranus, Jupiter, Moon

Pisces:  Jupiter (Neptune), Pluto, Pluto

(3)  THE SCIENCE OF THE RAYS.  There are seven rays or energies which affect us and they are indicative of psychological tendencies.  These ray energies are transmitted via the planets and signs or constellations and are more basic than our astrology.  Esoteric Astrology, therefore, includes the influence of the rays in astrological chart interpretation.  The Seven Rays are as follows:

Ray 1:  Will, Power and Purpose  

Ray 2:  Love, Wisdom and Inclusiveness

Ray 3:  Intellectuality, Adaptability and Activity

Ray 4:  Harmony through Conflict, Beauty and Art

Ray 5:  Knowledge, Science and Factuality

Ray 6:  Devotion, Idealism and Intensity

Ray 7:  Organization, Ceremony and Magic

The Constellations which transmit each ray are as follows:

Ray 1:  Aries, Leo and Capricorn

Ray 2:  Gemini, Virgo and Pisces

Ray 3:  Cancer, Libra and Capricorn

Ray 4:  Taurus, Scorpio and Sagittarius

Ray 5:  Leo, Sagittarius and Aquarius

Ray 6:  Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces

Ray 7:  Aries, Cancer and Capricorn

The Planets which transmit each ray are as follows:

Ray 1:  Vulcan, Pluto

Ray 2:  Jupiter, Sun

Ray 3:  Saturn, Earth

Ray 4:  Mercury, Moon

Ray 5:  Venus

Ray 6:  Mars, Neptune

Ray 7:  Uranus

(4) THE SCIENCE OF TRIANGLES.  The science of triangles is the study of the major triangles of force in our universe.  These triangles emanate streams of energy which pour into our solar system.  They are subjective in nature and condition the consciousness or soul unfoldment of humanity.   Esoteric astrology therefore incorporates the science of triangles in the interpretation of astrological charts.   These triangles can be formed by constellations, planets, and signs.  An example of a major triangle would be the triangle formed by The Great Bear, The Pleiades and Sirius. 

(5) SACRED AND NON-SACRED PLANETS.  In esoteric astrology, there are seven sacred planets and five non-sacred planets.  The sacred planets, which have more relation to the soul and soul growth, are Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus. The non-sacred planets, which have more relation to the personality, are the Sun, Moon, the Earth, Mars and Pluto. In esoteric astrology, the Sun and Moon veil other planets, either Vulcan, Uranus or Neptune. 

(6)  LESS EMPHASIS ON HOUSES AND MORE EMPHASIS ON ARMS OF THE CROSSES.   Spiritual or esoteric astrology teaches that as a person becomes more soul-centered, the houses will lose importance and will be replaced by the arms of the crosses, and that this will be how planet placement will be interpreted. Esoteric astrology also teaches that eventually, we will be able to access the energies of the other three arms of the cross in which our Sun sign and Ascendant are placed.  The three crosses are as follows:

Mutable Cross:  Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius

Fixed Cross:  Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius

Cardinal cross: Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn

The Mutable Cross is concerned with personality integration and is therefore the cross of change and fluidity so as to give the person ample opportunity and experience.  The Fixed Cross is concerned with the integration of soul and personality, and so is the cross of fixed intent.  The Cardinal Cross is concerned with the integration of the soul-centered personality with divinity, and so is the cross of beginnings, the beginning of a new state of being.   

(7)  ALL IS ENERGY.  While this concept has always been implied in traditional astrology, in spiritual or esoteric astrology, this concept is emphasized.   The study of astrology is the study of energies, how they affect us, and how we can learn to use and control them rather than being used and controlled by them.

ESOTERIC MEANINGS OF THE HOUSES, SIGNS AND ANGLES

In addition to the traditional meanings of the houses and signs, the spiritual or esoteric meanings of the houses and signs are as follows:

FIRST HOUSE:  The causal body, appearance as a reflection of the soul, head center, ray type and qualities.

SECOND HOUSE:  Spiritual values, true treasures, contents of the causal body, true wealth, acquisition of spiritual powers, illumination, use of energy, prana, throat center.

THIRD HOUSE:  Spiritual forms of communications, telepathy, spiritual brothers and sisters, messages from inner planes.

FOURTH HOUSE:  Spiritual home, spiritual roots, spiritual foundation, ashram, rooting oneself in spiritual work, the permanent atoms.

FIFTH HOUSE:  Higher Self, soul gifts and talents, soul powers, soul expression, divine joy, spiritual generosity, heart center.

SIXTH HOUSE:  Spiritual work, spiritual healing, discipleship service and training, purification of the personality, mundane spiritual work and responsibilities, solar plexus.

SEVENTH HOUSE:  Spiritual marriage, marriage of soul and personality, right human relations, the sacral center.

EIGHTH HOUSE:  Death to lower life and desires, spiritual death, karma, wealth from spiritual resources, center at base of spine and sacral center.

NINTH HOUSE:  Higher mind, wisdom, intuition, spiritual quests, laws of the soul, soul knowledge.

TENTH HOUSE:  Spiritual initiation, highest spiritual achievement or goals, soul or spiritual career, spiritual authority, the "heavenly father."

ELEVENTH HOUSE:  Esoteric group work, one's friends in service or group work, group brothers and sisters, brotherly love, etheric body, nadis.

TWELFTH HOUSE:   Release from bondage, release from karma, world savior, psychic sensitivity, higher spiritual guidance, collective unconscious.

ARIES:  Soul commences a cycle of activity.

TAURUS:  Soul learns to illumine the lower self so as to free itself from lower level desires and attachments.

GEMINI:  Beginnings of communication between the soul and the personality.

CANCER:  Physical form is prepared for the soul.

LEO:  Personality or little self, becomes fully integrated.

VIRGO:  Personality refines and purifies itself for soul expression.

LIBRA:  Beginning of balance between the Soul and personality.

SCORPIO:  Soul wages war on the personality; death of the personality or lower self; soul triumphs.

SAGITTARIUS:  One pointedness towards the spiritual goal or vision. 

CAPRICORN:  Personality completely fuses with the soul.

AQUARIUS:  Service of the soul freely given for the benefit of humanity.

PISCES:  Sacrifice of the soul to redeem humanity.

References:

Bailey, Alice, Esoteric Astrology, Lucis Publishing Company, New York, NY, 1951.

Beckham, Carole, Cycles of Opportunity, Source Publications, Mariposa, California, 1998.

Robbins, Michael, Tapestry of the Gods, University of the Seven Rays Publishing House, Jersey City Heights, NJ, 1988.