As Above, So Below

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Astrology, with great precision, calculates the cyclical movement of celestial bodies in relation to the Earth and human life and acknowledges that there is a meaningful relationship between the two. But what exactly is that relationship? I think it is a very important question to ask ourselves if we are going to be responsible, educated consumers of astrological knowledge. And, understanding the relationship between human life and the movement of heavenly bodies allows us to get the most out of that  relationship and out of astrology.

The first thing to understand is that the relationship between the two is not causal. In other words, celestial bodies, i.e. planets, stars, asteroids, etc., are not responsible for causing things to happen here on Earth and in our lives. That’s not to say that they don’t exert a powerful energetic influence or that we don’t feel the energy that they transmit. We definitely do whether we are conscious of it or not and we respond to and manifest those energies in a way that is determined by our level of awareness or consciousness. More on that in a minute.

To understand the aforementioned relationship through example let’s take a look at Mercury retrograde, for instance, which is a planetary influence that is commonly known. I hear people anticipating the onset of Mercury retrograde with great dread as if their lives were about to be seriously cursed. I’ve also noticed that there is a tendency to blame Mercury’s reverse motion for every mishap or misdeed that occurs during its backward trek in the sky. I’m not saying that there isn’t a correlation between the two or that feeling a sense of dread isn’t valid. There is something to the dread people fee, but it’s not because Mercury, appearing to go backwards in the sky, has it out for us or is making difficult stuff happen in our lives.

Annoying stuff does tend to happen during a Mercury retrograde but I believe that has to do with our lack of understanding of how to best use the energy and thus make wise decisions during that time. Maybe we do lose our keys, drop our phones in the toilet, miss our flight, misunderstand or cause misunderstanding. All things that could possibly be prevented or at least mitigated if we were more aware of what the energy of Mercury retrograde is really all about.

As I said earlier, the planets don’t make things happen but instead where they are and what they are doing in the sky reflects what is going on here on Earth and in our lives. Have you heard the adage, “As above, so below”? In a nutshell what ancient and current philosophers, spiritualists and even modern scientists have postulated is that everything in the Universe is connected creating a direct correlation between what goes on above and what goes on below. Correlation is very different than causation.

That being the case, astrology and its ability to track and interpret the meaning of what goes on in the sky (based on observation over thousands of years,) can be a powerful tool, an incredible gift for helping us mere mortals understand ourselves, the people we are in relationship with, our communities, countries and the world at large. With understanding we have the opportunity to respond in a way that is in alignment with the energy that is being reflected.

Let’s go back to the example of Mercury retrograde for a minute and look at what the energy of Mercury all about. Being a “personal planet, Mercury has something to do with day to day living and survival. In Roman mythology Mercury was the winged messenger; the God of language and communication. So anything to do with communication falls under the influence of Mercury. It also has to do with navigation of our lives through time and space and how we make connections, put things together and make sense of it all. Naturally then, Mercury has to do with learning and education. It also has something to do with trade and commerce and short distance travel. And because of Mercury’s rulership of the sign of Virgo , it also has to do with health and health matters, daily routines, habits and work.

When Mercury is traveling full speed ahead or in what we call “direct motion,” all things related to the planet seem to move forward which is how we tend to like it but consider the following: When you’re in the process of learning something new, do you achieve full understanding of whatever it is you are learning by constantly gobbling up the information and not going back to review it more than once in order to digest it fully? Or have you ever made a plan and later realized that maybe it needed to be more carefully thought through before trying to implement it? Or do you ever feel like you have so many balls in the air that you can’t ever give your complete attention to one thing or get something to the finish line? If our lives were always moving full steam ahead there might be a greater chance that our experiences wouldn’t be fully understood and processed, that we would make significant errors in calculation, miss something along the way or scatter our energies so much that we don’t accomplish anything or perhaps burn ourselves out with too much thinking and doing.

Mercury retrograde reflects a period of time that the Universe has allotted for us to slow down which affords us the opportunity to revisit, review, refocus, revise, reform, redo, redefine, reappoint, remake, reestablish and I think most importantly, REFLECT on what we have or have not learned, what we have said, what we have set in motion, where we have gone, etc. and how we might best proceed after the period of Mercury retrograde is over. By paying heed and taking the opportunity that Mercury retrograde affords us we can align with the energy so that there is less of a chance that we will drop our cell phones in the toilet, lose our keys, miss our flight, misunderstand or cause misunderstanding with others.

There’s that idea of alignment again. It’s an important idea. Evolutionary Astrology understands that the whole purpose of our lives here on Earth is to align with the highest possible manifestation of any given celestial energy that is being transmitted by the planets, stars, etc. especially ones that have a direct correlation with our natal chart and thus our life lessons and greatest potential. When we are able to do that there is a greater chance that our lives will run much more smoothly, we can be happier and find a greater sense of peace. Easier said than done, right? Maybe we don’t want to slow down. Maybe we feel impatient and want to “get on with it.” Alignment requires that we accept what is and not always push an agenda. That is almost always a function of the ego. Alignment with higher energies usually involves a surrendering of ego’s needs and desires. Our growth and ultimate well-being depends on our ability to surrender and align with higher energies. Astrology can show us the way.

Our ability to align with the highest potential in our charts is directly linked to our free will.

We humans have been given free will which gives us the power to choose. But just because it is given doesn’t necessarily mean that all of us are cognizant of it and its full potential. Cognizance or consciousness is earned. Before we are fully conscious of the power we possess there is a tendency to either give it away unknowingly and or to think that we are being maneuvered and manipulated by outside “forces, be it other people, our families, religious institutions, the society we live in and even the planets and stars in the sky. In truth we are not powerless victims of outside forces. That awareness is hard-earned requiring a lot of learning through trial and error over many lifetimes. What it is we have been learning, are here to learn, and what our greatest potential is if we learn the lessons and align with the highest manifestation of the planetary energies can all be seen reflected in the natal chart.

Celestial bodies don’t have the power to make us do anything. They simply radiate energy that can manifest in a myriad of ways depending on the zodiacal sign they occupy, relationship with other celestial bodies, and, most importantly, our level of consciousness. Every planet and every sign of the zodiac can manifest on a spectrum ranging from more evolved to less evolved, positive to negative and all shades in between. Let’s consider the whole idea of “as above, so below” again. Think about a mirror and its ability to reflect. If the mirror is smudged and dirty, the reflection will be distorted. If we want to experience the more positive manifestation of the planetary energies then we need to work at cleaning and polishing our mirrors. It’s up to us.

As mentioned above, planetary energies are modified by the different signs of the zodiac that they are traversing through but how they manifest will always depend on our level of consciousness. Let’s look at an example of how this might play out. We will look at the sign of Aries and the planet that is associated with Aries which is Mars. On the more shadowy or less-evolved side, Mars can exhibit a warring energy. It creates tension, inflames, is expressed as impatience, anger, aggression, and dominance.

The lighter, more-evolved side of this energy can manifest as courage, creativity, the ability to defend oneself and others, and the ability to be focused and engaged. It’s all a matter of how we choose to manifest the energy and how we choose is determined by our level of consciousness.

Someone’s level of consciousness cannot be determined by studying the natal chart. What we see reflected in a person’s natal chart are possibilities and potentials on a spectrum from light to dark. We only see a person’s level of consciousness by observing that person’s life. Even souls who share the same chart like identical twins won’t necessarily share the same level of consciousness. Identical twins can manifest their charts in entirely different ways, have two entirely different life experiences and two entirely different approaches to life. Why? Because even those with near identical astrological charts will most likely come into this life having achieved different levels of consciousness in former lives.

Astrology, arguably, if used for self knowledge and self improvement can be incredibly helpful in increasing our awareness. Our natal charts do tell us something about the lessons we have been learning in previous lifetimes and are here to continue learning in this lifetime. That’s why astrology can be such an amazing gift/tool, much like a good road map that helps us to navigate our lives better.

The natal chart is like an intimate portrait of our lives reflected in the exact position of the celestial bodies on the day, time and place that we were born. It remains “active,” so to speak, for our entire lives. And although it appears to be static, similar to a photograph, it is actually teaming with life, possibility and potential for growth and change. As I said earlier, how we live out our charts is up to us. If we use them as a mirrors of our soul’s evolutionary journey and purpose in this lifetime, we can gain a larger perspective on our lives that can help us know the course and stay the course. Having astrology as a guide in life is like having a wise mentor to whom we can always refer.

That’s not the whole story though. The sky is always changing. Cycles begin and end as planets, stars, asteroids, etc. continuously revolve around the Sun (though from our vantage point it appears that they revolve around us on planet Earth). The current planetary positions reflect ongoing shifts and changes in the collective and when they form aspects or are in some kind of direct relationship with our natal chart they reflect current and future trends, possible developments and opportunities for growth in our own lives. In order to take full advantage of what astrology has to offer it behooves us to pay attention to the current sky and especially to how it is and will be pinging our natal charts. This is known as forecast or transit reading. I recommend having a transit reading at least once a year once you have had your natal chart read.

I would like to reiterate once again that celestial bodies, though able to exert influence on human life, do not cause us to do anything or cause things to happen to us. They simply reflect what has been, what is and what could be in the future. The rest is up to us. If we take the information that astrology provides to heart, we can use it to make positive changes in our lives. We can make more informed and wiser decisions about how to proceed with our lives. I’ll say it again and again. Astrology is an amazing gift that allows us to see our lives objectively and clearly.

When I reflect on the greatest potential of what our relationship with astrology can be I’m reminded of a book written by Kamala Silva about the relationship between her and her beloved guru, Paramahansa Yogananda. The title of the book is, The Flawless Mirror. The title says it all. A mirror that is flawless will always clearly reflect the truth. In a way, the sky is like our flawless mirror. The placement of the celestial bodies in the sky when we were born and through their continuing cycles, will always reflect back to us the whole truth about our lives; both the light and shadowy parts.

You might be thinking that maybe a reflection of our shadowy side isn’t all that appealing. But then think about all the times you may have averted embarrassment or were motivated to change something you didn’t like because of what you saw reflected back to you in the mirror. Just as the disciple looks to the guru for the unbiased truth, guidance and wisdom to help transform their life and expedite the journey, we too can look to astrology for the same.

Look to the Moon

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I recently read that the use of astrology in parenting has become popular among millennials. Young parents are seeking explanations for their child’s personality and behaviors. I find myself having a mixed reaction to this news. On the one hand I’m thrilled to hear that young people are turning to astrology and I admire, respect and applaud any parent that wants to learn more about who their children are and how to work with them more effectively. Astrology is a powerful source for that kind of empowerment as it can offer in depth, revelatory insight that otherwise might remain hidden.

On the other hand, there’s a part of me that cringes when I hear that something has become popularized. In my experience what that usually means is that whatever that thing is becomes dumbed down losing its greatest potential for significant meaning and value in the process. Astrology is an ancient science whose origin dates back thousands of years. It is an in depth study of the relationship between the cosmos and human life. Like any science or art, it takes time and serious study to master. Even well educated, seasoned astrologers would not say that there is always more to learn. One of my favorite astrologers, who has been around for a long time, and has a substantial following on the internet and YouTube, is now broadcasting his weekly forecasts from his home. Looming large in the background is a wall of astrology books that probably spans 12 feet from floor to ceiling. I’m sure he doesn’t own every volume that’s been written on the subject either.

It is my understanding that this popularized version of astrology for parenting focuses mainly on Sun sign astrology which has been part of the mainstream for quite some time. Can you get valuable, helpful information about the inner workings of a person, their personality and soul’s journey/purpose in this lifetime from looking at a person’s Sun sign? Yes, but you are certainly not getting the whole picture. Humans are complex, multidimensional creatures as are the astrological charts that reflect who they are, who they have been and who they are becoming. The Sun in the natal chart reflects a core function in a person’s consciousness. But unless we know what house the Sun is in and what aspects it makes to other planets, we miss out on a lot of pertinent information. When taken out of context and therefor out of relationship with the rest of the chart, a lot of meaning is lost. I’m reminded of the saying, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” In this case I would say that a little information is simply not enough to understand a person.

Many astrologers will say that the Sun represents our ego. In Evolutionary Astrology the Moon is seen to represent the ego. We will look at that in a minute. Both the Sun and Moon, otherwise known as the luminaries in a person’s chart, along with the Ascendant describe something of our core essence and core evolutionary lessons but, again, it is important to look at these very important elements within the context of the entire chart. Now, when we are looking at a child’s chart and if I had to choose one of the three to look at, it would be the Moon. Before looking more closely at the Moon, let’s first get a clearer understanding of the function of the Sun. Think about the Sun in purely physical terms. We wouldn’t survive without it. We need the Sun for life to exist and flourish, right? I have a nephew that lives in Alaska and I sometimes imagine what it would be like to live in a place where the Sun doesn’t come out from behind the clouds for weeks or even months at a time or what it would be like to experience short days and long nights or visa versa. Too much Sun can also be challenging. I don’t think I could do it. Personally, and maybe because my Sun is in the sign of its rulership, Leo, I depend on the Sun to boost my spirits, to not only warm and comfort my body but also my soul. The Sun gives me a sense of hope, well being and feeling of aliveness. It is a powerful source and generator of energy in our lives physically but also emotionally and spiritually. I’ve heard some astrologers say that the Sun is the integrating factor that ties the whole chart together and I believe that to be true but first we have to understand the rest of the chart before we can grasp how and why that is. No doubt, the Sun is central in our lives and as an astrological symbol it represents a core principle or function in our consciousness.

From an Evolutionary perspective the Sun in a person’s chart plays a key role in our soul’s ongoing development and evolution. Here’s why:

  • Through the Sun we find our sense of purpose and meaning in life.
  • The Sun describes (along with the Ascendant) our character and personality (not to be confused with the ego.)
  • The Sun shows us something about our goals, how we promote those goals and how we perform in order to achieve our goals.
  • The Sun is our source of inspiration and, in turn, how we can inspire others and because it is our source of inspiration it indicates to a large degree what motivates us to get out of bed in the morning and go about our day.

Based on what it is that inspires/motivates us and where then we find a sense of purpose and meaning, the Sun describes what it is that we can give back to life to make sure that life continues. It is our gift to life, to God, to the Divine, however you want to look at it. It reflects our potential to be generous and “pay it forward.”

  • The Sun shows our capacity to create and express ourselves creatively.

In medical astrology the Sun is our heart and on a spiritual level it is our heart center. It is through the heart that we feel and share love. The Sun is our love of life and the love we radiate out to others. When our hearts are open we experience generosity.

Because the Sun has to do with life, giving, creating, it naturally has to do with human reproduction, fertility, our children (prodigy) and our lineage as it unfolds and moves into the future.

  • The Sun describes the relationship between parent and child or even mentor/apprentice, leader and follower.
  • It reveals something about our leadership capacity, potential and qualities.
  • The Sun represents the father in our natal charts and the relationship with the father.
  • The Sun in a child’s chart will describe interactions with the family, particularly the parents.
  • The Sun in the parent’s chart describes the approach taken toward their child/children.

If you’re wanting to understand your child and how you can best serve and help them navigate their childhood so that they are prepared to embark on their journey to discover and manifest their Sun, look to the Moon.

In the most general sense the Moon represents our feeling nature, our vulnerable inner self, our emotional life and emotional needs. The Moon rules the sign of Cancer, a yin/feminine water sign, receptive and more passive in nature. The Moon also shows how we process our emotions. It shows how we personally connect to life, what we attach to and identify with. That is why the Moon represents the ego in Evolutionary Astrology. Most spiritual traditions, or at least those originating in the East, describe the ego as that part of our consciousness that is attached and identified with whatever it is that we are attached to. The ego tends to get a bad rap but the truth is that we all need strong, healthy egos in order to function, face challenges and access and express our innate strengths and talents in this life. We need our egos to serve us and our soul growth. What helps build a strong and healthy ego is having our fundamental emotional needs met in childhood. The Moon describes what it is that we need in order to feel safe, nurtured, and held in this life. The Moon helps us find our place in the Universe, to establish a solid foundation for ourselves through our attachments. The Moon represents the mother and we know that the relationship with the mother, her role and influence in childhood is vitally important in helping build a strong emotional foundation and ego. Difficult relationship dynamics with the mother lead to attachment disorders and a whole host of other psycho/spiritual problems. Hopefully, by now, you understand the importance of understanding a person’s Moon by sign house placement and aspects to other planetary bodies.

Understanding your child’s Moon is vital. But there’s something else to consider. Sometimes, we, as adults and parents, have unmet needs or other challenging issues reflected in our own natal charts that might get in the way of being able to address our child’s needs. Or we may simply have different emotional natures than our child that can cause tension and misunderstanding. That is why, in my practice, I focus on astrology for the family. If you want to understand your child and your relationship with your child, understand yourself first.

Let’s look at an example of what I’m talking about. Let’s say your child has their Moon in Cancer and you have your Moon in Aries. A Moon in Cancer child is going to need to be held, cuddled and nurtured more than most. The Moon and Cancer need intimate connections, warmth and a strong support system; a solid home base and sense of belonging. Family and family relationships are extremely important to the Cancer Moon child. They will also need lots of time to process and digest life experiences and therefore needs to be sheltered from stress and pressure. Their development may be slower than other children’s which will require greater patience and understanding. The Moon in Cancer child is very sensitive and has strong emotions but those emotions tend to be of a more vulnerable nature. That’s Moon in Cancer in a nutshell.

If you are the parent of a Moon in Cancer child and you have a Moon in Aries, the two of you will have very different emotional natures and needs. Aries is a fire sign. Fire is masculine, yang and outward focused. The Moon in Aries person, like the Moon in Cancer person also has strong emotions but unlike the Moon in Cancer person who holds on to their emotions and needs time to process them, The Moon in Aries person will not tolerate any thing that might inhibit the expression of emotion. Feelings are usually exhibited without any processing time. Aires’ emotions are raw, powerful and immediate. There is nothing warm and cuddly about Aries. Aries is all about action and expression. What they need is a lot of emotional and physical space and freedom; freedom to move, to express themselves and to change.

I’m not going to go into all of the issues that might arise from the meeting of these two signs. It is obvious that the emotional nature and needs are not compatible but does that mean that the relationship would be doomed to failure? No, not at all. There is a creative tension between the two signs that can actually lead to growth for both parent and child. By understanding your own emotional needs better you could find ways to get your needs met and still meet your child’s needs at the same time. For instance, making sure you get breaks and that you have a good back up support system that the child feels comfortable with from an early age. Aries needs to move their energy through the body. It helps them to feel more balanced, satisfied and able to cope emotionally. Scheduling exercise every day would be very important. The Cancer Moon child will need to learn to toughen up a little and learn to be less dependent. With awareness and sensitivity positive change is possible for both parent and child as long as they are getting their needs met. For relationships of any kind to succeed awareness is needed and with awareness adjustments can be made, balance can be struck, change can occur. It is also important to understand that there is a reason we are born with the charts that we are born with. Our birth charts reflect lessons to be learned in order to grow and evolve our consciousness.

In my next post I will be writing about the Nodes of the Moon in the birth chart and particularly the South Node of the Moon. Without going into much detail about what the nodes are I will just say that the nodes of the Moon are a very important part of chart analysis in Evolutionary Astrology. The South Node describes past life experiences that are brought into the current life. A young child will often express traits of the South Node of the Moon because they are still close to that past life experience. Understanding the South Node can help a parent understand certain unexplained behaviors, reactions and memories. Tune in to find out more…

Meanwhile, if you are a parent seeking better understanding of your child through the insights that astrology has to offer, my hope is that you will look beyond what is popular and either seek the services of a reputable astrologer or at least educate yourself by reading quality books on the fundamentals of astrology written by seasoned astrologers. One recommendation is, “Astrology and the Evolution of Consciousness” by Maurice Fernandez or “The Inner Sky” by Steven Forrest. Both authors are well known masters of Evolutionary Astrology.

The Pluto in Capricorn Generation

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The Pluto in Capricorn Generation, 2008-2024

A generation is defined as a group of people/souls born within a certain period of time whose shared age and experience describe a distinct worldview and purpose. Understanding the times and shared experience of any given generation helps create a context or foundation from which we can begin to build an understanding of the members of that generation. From an astrological point of view think of a generation as a group of souls incarnating during a specific time into a specific set of circumstances in the world that will present those souls with the kinds of challenges and opportunities they need to continue to change, transform and evolve their consciousness and also to make a impact of some kind to the evolving consciousness of the collective.

In astrology we look to the placement of the outer planets, by sign, to describe a generation. There are three outer planets, Pluto, Uranus and Neptune. They are also known as the transpersonal planets and move much more slowly than the personal planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars.) Their slower motion means that they can stay in a sign for up to 30 years whereas the personal planets stay in a sign anywhere from a few days to a few months. Of the three transpersonal planets, Pluto is the slowest. Pluto takes about 249 years to orbit the Sun. It remains in a sign anywhere from fourteen to thirty years. Pluto is the planet most closely associated with the soul’s evolution. It brings about the deepest, most profound changes like that caused by the constant dripping of water on a rock. Eventually the constant drip will wear away and change the shape of the rock forever. Pluto has the same effect on our emotional body and it is through the emotional body that we evolve our consciousness. Neptune and Uranus, their placement and relationship by aspect to one another and Pluto adds even more layers of meaning and influence but for now we will be focusing just on Pluto.

I wrote a brief description of what characterizes the Pluto in Scorpio generation in my first post about parenting with astrology. Now we turn our attention to the current Pluto in Capricorn generation to begin to understand our young ones. Pluto entered Capricorn on January 25, 2008 and will not leave the sign of Capricorn until 2024 meaning that the oldest member of the Pluto in Capricorn generation is about 13 years of age. The kids born before them are part of the Pluto in Sagittarius generation born roughly between January 1995 and 2008. In an upcoming post I will spend some time looking at this older generation of kids and along with the Pluto in Libra generation born between 1971 and 1983. That should cover most all of you that are parents/guardians and your children.

What is Pluto in Capricorn about?

We are going to look at it from two different perspectives. First we will look at the collective influence of Pluto in Capricorn as a transit experienced by all. This will help us to understand the energetic atmosphere and circumstances that this generation will be born into. Then we will look at Pluto in Capricorn from the perspective of those that have it in their natal charts. These would be our young members of the Pluto in Capricorn generation.

Let’s start with Capricorn. The sign of Capricorn is an earth sign. It is the third and last earth sign in the zodiac. Being of earth, it has to do with what we can experience with our senses; the tangible world, physical manifestation/reality and understanding the laws that govern our physical reality making it a highly pragmatic and practical sign. On a collective level, Capricorn has to do with systems, institutions, and structures; structures of government and politics, religious structures, business and economic structures to name a few. It has to do with the laws and regulations created by and that govern those structures.

On a collective level Pluto functions as a force of change and transformation.
It breaks down and removes all that is limiting, stale and outworn; whatever it is that no longer serves or is relevant in our lives, to make way for something new that is relevant and will empower us to continue on the journey. Pluto being the ruler of Scorpio is associated with the cycle of life and death. We know, from experience, that there always comes a time when something in our lives must die, when we need to let go to make way for new life, for life to continue. Just like with the seasons; one giving way to the next, life and death describes a natural cycle.

On a personal level Pluto reflects the process of soul growth and empowerment coming from past lives into the present.
Pluto shows where we have experienced a feeling of lack in our lives and what it is we have been and continue to be drawn to that we feel will fill the void, enrich and empower us. But, Pluto at the same time is about impermanence. It shows us that nothing can ever remain the same or static. The thing that filled the void and enriched us has a shelf life and eventually that too will have to go in order for us to continue the cycle of soul growth.

When you pair Pluto the planet of change and transformation with an earth sign there tends to be a lot of resistance because Earth is about building something solid and stable. It doesn’t like change. Look at what has been happening in the world since Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008 and especially now. We are in the throws of major worldwide upheaval. We are discovering that not all of the structures we built after the last time Pluto was in Capricorn between 1762-1777 (at the time of the American Revolution,) are still relevant, reliable, trustworthy, or sitting on solid foundations. Not all are in alignment with the higher principles of equality, fairness, security for all, tolerance, interdependence and sustainability. Those structures who’s foundations are questionable are now cracking in a major way and as they begin to deconstruct fear and chaos are on the rise throughout the collective. There is so much uncertainty about the future but one thing that is most obvious is that a change is inevitable.

So, this is the world that the generation of souls with Pluto in Capricorn in their natal charts are being born into, the world that they will inherit, the world that they will have to deal with, the world that they will be tasked with the responsibility to rebuild. That’s pretty weighty stuff. It would be a pretty depressing thought but for the fact that the Universe is so intelligent. It is sending in souls who have already been working on developing exactly what is needed to lead us out of this mess. Some will be ripe and ready for the task. Many will have what it takes for the rebuilding process. It’s a huge and overwhelming undertaking. Others will continue to learn and grow in the ways of Capricorn. So much depends on the individual placement of Pluto in Capricorn in the natal chart, other planetary configurations and the individual’s level of consciousness which is always the case no matter what generation a person is born into.

Why might we lay our hope for the phoenix to rise out of the ashes in the hands of this generation?

Let’s take a look at the most redeeming qualities of Capricorn for the answer. Capricorn is all about alignment or living rightly by the laws of nature. It is about living according to what works instead of what is desired; bringing our desires into alignment. Naturally then, Capricorn has to do with discipline, strength, maturity, reliability, credibility, responsibility, and integrity. It is all about the importance of being able to walk one’s talk. At its best Capricorn represents the wise old sage. And at its best Pluto in Capricorn seeks empowerment and success by finding ways to meaningful integrate into society, and to become a positive role model; a benevolent, compassionate and caring authority like a good parent. Capricorn has an innate understanding of what works and what doesn’t. Pluto and Capricorn for that matter, are the consummate BS sniffers and are able to quickly detect and attempt to correct that which is out of alignment. Pluto in Capricorn is powerful, determined and resilient; a real force to be reckoned with.

I have described the highest potential of this signature but that potential is only realized when the polarity point of Capricorn is successfully integrated. It is the energy of the opposite sign of Cancer that will need to be accessed and developed by these souls to achieve the mastery that they seek. Without the Cancer energy Capricorn on its own can be cold, hard, rigid, judgmental, and driven. Accessing Cancer’s energy helps to temper with kindness, compassion, humility and forgiveness. It makes room for acceptance, nurturance, tolerance of weakness.

These kids will be looking outside of themselves for reliable, trustworthy, wise mentors/authorities who can hold and guide them forward. That’s part of the Pluto in Capricorn m.o. As parents/guardians/grandparents, we need to look at ourselves, examine our own credibility. We need to make sure that we are living in integrity, that we are doing our best to align our own desires and are creating a life that works. We will be called upon to demonstrate accountability, responsibility and all the other Capricorn qualities while honoring and tending to our emotional needs when they arise. We need to do the right thing and strive to be the best role models we can be while remaining humble and open to admitting our mistakes. Tall order? Yes! Opportunity for our own soul growth? YES! That is the gift of this generation should we choose to rise to the challenge.

The Gift of Detachment in Parenting with Astrology

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In this post I want to continue sharing some thoughts about parenting with astrology. I talked about how Evolutionary Astrology can help you to see your child, really see into their souls, understand their evolutionary needs, appreciate their talents and strengths, gain the detachment necessary to develop greater patience for their shortcomings and challenges and find ways to support them to grow through their challenges.

It is the importance of detachment in parenting that I would like to discuss further in this post. I believe it takes a certain level of healthy detachment to be an effective parent.

What do I mean by healthy detachment?

First, let’s define detachment. Collins English Dictionary defines detachment as, “the feeling of not being personally involved in something or of having no emotional interest in it.” We all know that having and raising children requires personal involvement and emotional interest. Otherwise there is the possibility of neglect. A healthy detachment is simply the ability to maintain greater objectivity with our children. In other words to be detached not from our children or caring for them but from our own biases, prejudices, and most importantly, the expectations that we have of our children. When any of those are operating, we cannot see our young ones clearly for who they are, where they are going and what they need.

I’ll share an example from my own life that perhaps some of you can relate to. I have two sons and when my sons were reaching the age when I had to make a decision about where they would go to school, I got very excited about the possibility of sending them to a Waldorf school in town. I had become familiar with Waldorf education through a close friend and the more I learned about it the more I fell in love with it because the philosophy and the aesthetics fit my own likings, personality, emotional nature, etc. I had to convince the boys’ dad that it was the right choice and he finally conceded. Kindergarten for my older son proved to be a good experience and a delightful one for me. I felt at home and nurtured in the Waldorf environment.

When my son got to first grade things began to change. He started to become really disruptive in the classroom and no matter what we tried it didn’t get any better. It only continued to get worse. I kept giving the benefit of the doubt to the teacher and the system instead of my son. I don’t recall what prompted the change but I’m grateful that I was able to muster up enough detachment to see clearly what needed to happen and that I was the one that belonged in the Waldorf school, not my son. I moved him to a public school and he settled right down. Granted, we lived in a small, close knit, progressive community in Northern California where, for the most part the public schools were really wonderful. The kids got a lot of personal attention and there was a strong emphasis on the arts. Had he been placed in a setting that was more impersonal and rigorously academic I don’t think he would have faired as well.

So, let’s take a look at the astrology of this situation. When I look for how a child learns and what kind of education would best suit that child, I look at the overall gestalt of the chart but I zero in on a couple of important placements that describe the child’s emotional temperament and more specifically the way they think and learn. For the temperament I look at the sign and placement of the Moon and I look at Mercury and the 3rd house to determine more specifically what kind of education would be most suitable.

I can’t discuss the particulars of my son’s chart but suffice to say that his emotional temperament and learning style weren’t suited for the Waldorf approach to education beyond kindergarten. I can, however, discuss my own chart, and the personal draw to Waldorf education.

The Moon in my natal chart is in Sagittarius in the 3rd house and Mercury is in Leo in the 10th house. For a child with a Moon in the 3rd house, knowledge and learning is highly emphasized. Knowledge provides a sense of safety and security and the learning environment needs to reflect the connection between emotional safety and security and learning so it is important that there be a resonance or synchronization between the child’s personal rhythm, emotional well being and that of the environment (educational environment in this case) in order for them to feel safe enough to explore their curiosities and to express themselves. Pressure from a “non supportive” environment to adapt will feel quite stressful to the child with a third house Moon. This child is more sensitive than most to impressions from the environment. It is very important that they feel cared for and nurtured within the learning environment.

The Sagittarian influence indicates a need to understand the meaning behind things. An educational environment that would support this need would be one with a strong philosophical and possibly even spiritual foundation. There is also a need to be in an environment that encourages authentic expression and exploration of the environment and one that supports exploration and learning from interactions with nature. At the same time there is also a need for something more relaxed, casual and playful.

Mercury in Leo in the 10th house indicates that this child is a creative thinker and that creative self expression and learning in a creative setting and manner would be most important. Leo and Sagittarius share an emphasis on the importance of purpose and meaning. The 10th house among other things has to do with the authorities in one’s life. It would be of paramount important to have the child’s creative learning style and need for creative expression accepted and encouraged by important authority figures in the child’s life. The 10th house is also about alignment so learning needs to also have a practical application and be useful and productive. Caution would need to be taken to ensure that the child was in an environment that would encourage these things but not to the point of rigidity.

There’s always a lot more that can be said on this subject. In fact it could be the subject of an entire reading but you get the picture. My tendency as a young parent was to project my needs on to my child. I think in the end it was my sensitivity to the possibility that my child felt repressed by a system of education that didn’t resonate with his needs that allowed me to see clearly and detach from my own needs.

Having insight into our attachments to how things should be for our children, how they should behave or what they should be doing is not an easy task. Being able to step away from ourselves and examine with objectivity our personal preferences, biases, prejudices and expectations requires conscious awareness; an open-minded curiosity and desire to know who we are first. Only then are we able to see our children as the individuals they are instead of extensions of ourselves. If we don’t know ourselves, understand our motivations and personal desires, we don’t stand a chance at knowing our children.

For those of you that are “air” challenged objective thinking may not come naturally. What I mean by “air” challenged is having a low number of planets occupying air signs in your own natal chart. It is the air element that gifts us with the ability to reflect on our inner reality, be objective in any given situation, relationship or with ourselves. Air promotes open mindedness and creates opportunity to look at and suspend our own biases, expectations and projections. Air offers us perspective and perspectives other than the ones that we have and are attached to. It is through the function of air that we can gain self-understanding. This is where astrology serves as a powerful tool. With Evolutionary Astrology the knowledge needed to see our children as individual souls with unique evolutionary needs is immediately accessible. Taking advantage of astrological insights gifts us with the detachment needed to allow our children to have their needs met and have a greater chance at a happy and fulfilling life.

Parenting with Astrology

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Let’s explore how astrology can can assist you in becoming a more effective, understanding, patient, supportive and loving parent.

Take a minute to think back in time to your earliest memories. Recall the relationship you had with the key adults in your life. Did you feel seen, heard and understood? Did you feel supported and truly cared for on a deep soul level? Did you grow up feeling safe and and secure with a sense of belonging? Did you feel valued for who you were?

Experience tells me that most people tend to have a mixture of both positive memories and ones that are more challenging, perhaps even traumatic in nature. In my own life the positive childhood memories I have center mostly around my relationship with nature and not the adults in my life. But then, I grew up in the 50s and 60s during a time when the prevailing attitude was that children were to be seen and not heard. The family system was hierarchical with the adults holding positions of greater importance and the father in the top dog position as the all important bread winner. The focus was on creating an economically secure life that looked good on the surface. Of course there were exceptions. There are always going to be those that are more enlightened or ahead of their time in every generation.

Attitudes towards children and parenting have changed a lot over the years and the world is a very different place than it was when I was growing up. Assuming that you are currently a parent, you are likely a member of the Millennial generation or otherwise known in astrological terms as the Pluto in Scorpio generation.

Briefly, the characteristic hallmarks of your generation are the need for radical change on both inner and outer levels which is born out of a profound awareness of your limitations, the need to overcome those limitations manifesting in an insatiable desire to learn, grow and empower yourselves and the impetus to heal all underlying trauma incurred in this lifetime and even in past lives. You are willing to look into the shadows, to shine the light on, root out and eliminate all that is holding you back in any way. The status quo holds no interest for you because you see with deep, piercing insight that the status quo and the values held by the status quo are not a true reflection of real empowerment nor do they reflect the kind of relationship you want to have with society, the environment and especially the people in your life. You recognize old, stale ways of being and doing in the world that do harm and that are in need of overhauling and transformation. In short, the Scorpio archetype that motivates and animates your generation demands nothing less than deep transformation, empowerment and evolution. As a generation you have what it takes to bring about real change.

Naturally, as a member of the Millennial generation, parenting in the most empowered way possible is more important than in any other generation so far. You are hungry for new information that can help you achieve your goal. You don’t want to do it the way your parents did and you are willing to take risks, open yourself to new experiences and passionately pursue your relationship with your child/children in more meaningful ways. You want to understand your children’s needs and what it is that motivates them and makes them tick. Just the fact that you want to know and understand your children, increases your chance of being a more effective parent. No doubt, you will make mistakes along the way, as every generation has their blind spots.

Before we explore ways in which astrology can help you understand your children better, I want to acknowledge anyone else that might be reading this who is not a member of the millennial generation or not a biological parent but perhaps a foster parent or grandparent. All are welcome.

Let’s start with an explanation of what a birth chart is.

I have heard many astrologers describe the birth chart otherwise known as the natal chart or personal horoscope, as a snapshot or still image of the sky at the moment that a child takes their first breath. That snapshot captures the placement of the planets in the sky from the vantage point of the person’s birthplace on earth. The placement of the planets forms a unique pattern of relationship to one another and that placement and pattern describes something about the person and their life. This is based on the idea that human experience is inextricably linked to the larger universe and that one reflects the other.

What can that snapshot reveal about a person? It can reveal a person’s inner qualities, nature and temperament. It can describe a person’s physical and psychological makeup, what motivates them, what they value, how they see and react to the world around them. The birth chart is a reflection of a person’s unique character, deep feelings, concerns and desires. It can reveal innate gifts and talents and, at the same time, that which could be challenging to the person. Evolutionary Astrology takes things a step further.

Evolutionary Astrology recognizes that human consciousness is evolving and that the process of evolution can be identified in the birth chart.

It places importance on an individual’s emotional and spiritual growth as being paramount to the evolutionary process and it recognizes that emotional and spiritual growth takes a very long time; longer than just one short lifetime. Therefore, one of the main tenets of Evolutionary Astrology is reincarnation. From this perspective the emphasis shifts from the personality to the soul and the soul’s evolutionary journey through lifetimes. The birth chart is seen to reflect what the soul’s purpose and intentions have been in the past that led them to the current life circumstances and experiences, what the soul’s purpose and intentions are in this lifetime and what lessons the soul is likely to face in this lifetime that can help further their evolution.

Evolutionary Astrology offers the kind of insight and awareness that empowers and creates opportunity for you to be more objective and understanding at the same time compassionate and loving in any relationship whether it is with yourself, your significant other or your child.

The following is a short list of questions that can be answered with Evolutionary Astrology:

  •     What is your soul’s purpose/intent in this lifetime?
  •     What has been your experience in past lifetimes and how might that be effecting you in this lifetime?
  •     What life lessons is your soul focusing on in this lifetime?
  •     What are your gifts/strengths and challenges?

These are some of the most important questions that can be looked at in a reading but more specific questions regarding relationships, career, health, etc. can also be addressed.

To help you better understand your child in addition to the questions above, the following questions can be addressed:

  •     What kind of foundation does your child need?
  •     What are your child’s emotional needs in order to feel safe and secure?
  •     What can be expected with regards to your child’s development?
  •     What kind of learner is your child and what kind of educational setting would best serve their learning style?
  •     What are your child’s strengths and challenges in relationship with others?

Now take a minute to imagine what it might have been like if the adults in your life had consulted with an Evolutionary Astrologer. I believe that my early life would have looked a lot different had the adults in my life been equipped with such precious information. At the least I believe I would have felt seen and heard. Who knows how that might have made a difference but I’m pretty sure it would have been a positive one. How about you?