Elements & Evolution: The Spiritual Landscape of Astrology

Eric is planning to release his next book, Elements & Evolution: The Spiritual Landscape of Astrology, on July 8th. This work is filled with many fresh ideas, an integrative philosophy, and a meaningful way to understand spiritual growth. It is for those who seek a "big picture" understanding of astrology and want insight into the evolutionary purposes of the facets of the system. You are invited to take a sneak peak at this exciting new book, by reading the Introduction, below:

Evolutionary astrology is rapidly growing in popularity as an increasing number of people are becoming interested in a spiritual understanding of astrology. There is a variety of approaches currently being presented, each with different areas of emphasis. This book offers another voice to this growing chorus. My intention is to contribute to the building of a philosophical consensus that would help this exciting field be as engaging and useful as possible. Astrology is an incredibly powerful tool that can expand our self-awareness, help us have compassion for others, and reliably guide us through the most challenging arenas of our lives. Making the spiritual component more explicit can make it even more powerful.

Consensus is best found by building on what is already most agreed upon. The main contributions of this work stem from two universally recognized ideas—one from science and the other from religion.

Science informs us that there are two distinct ways in which we approach the world. The left brain analyzes bits of information through rationality. It logically dissects with its objective razor, cutting through any sentiment to get to facts. Realms of language, mathematics, and reason appeal to its precision.

In contrast, the right brain understands in ways that aren’t so linear. Intuition, inspiration, artistry, and emotion all color its subjectivity. It naturally flows with a sense of timelessness and engages with the ethereal and the transcendent. These realms, which also include dreams and expansive contemplation, evade the meticulous clockwork of left brain sensibilities.

This is the fundamental duality of our world: content and process, science and art, structure and essence, objective and subjective. Most anything can be split up using this left/right dichotomy—business and pleasure, technical merit and aesthetic presentation, the masculine and the feminine. Though these pairings seem obvious to the modern mind, the tradition of astrology we’ve inherited has not included this division, and rightly so. Astrology is far older than our understanding of brain hemispheres and their respective functions. In the West the world was approached more subjectively before the so-called Enlightenment; the objectivity of left brain perspectives wasn’t yet part of the picture. In the last few hundred years, science has aggressively pushed the pendulum toward the rational/objective end of the continuum. As a result, we have advanced technologically, but we have marginalized and discounted the validity of right brain functions. Collectively, we are currently finding a greater balance between these two necessary and complementary approaches.

We are at a time when many are learning to honor and skillfully employ both left and right brain functions. Now is the time to incorporate this basic division into the field of astrology. The left/right dichotomy adds layers of nuance, in some ways profoundly impacting our ideas about the components of the astrological system. By classifying earth and air with the left brain as neutral elements and water and fire with the right brain as charged elements, new perspectives emerge that can impact and vitalize the entire system of astrology.

The second universal idea that this book is rooted in comes from religion and the world’s wisdom traditions. Though there has been a plethora of divergent spiritual views expressed throughout history, there has in fact been some significant agreement. There is a central idea held in common that God or Spirit (call it what you will) divides from oneness into separateness and then gradually learns to reconnect the separateness back into oneness. Furthermore, this process of division and subsequent re-unification involves movement through the distinct levels of the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Spirit descends through progressively denser levels and then ascends and evolves back through increasingly lighter levels on its journey back to unity. This idea is found in all of the major religions and within many other spiritual paradigms. It has been termed the “Perennial Philosophy” and has been commented upon by numerous philosophers and religious authorities for centuries.

Correlating the physical with earth, the emotional with water, the mental with air, and the spiritual with fire is a framework that’s well-known by most astrology students. However, conceptualizing each of the elements as a level of reality is not a part of the usual discourse. Astrology has been widely understood as a symbolic system, which is within the mental (air) domain. This book expands on this traditional understanding and offers a multi-leveled philosophy which addresses these four levels of reality.

The neutral/charged division can be thought of as adding to the breadth of our philosophical understanding of astrology; and the levels of reality can be seen as adding to the depth. Both of these new ideas feature the elements as the central players. Earth, water, air, and fire interact in dynamic and fascinating ways. We will examine how they structure and catalyze both cyclical and progressive evolution.

The first half of the book addresses cyclical evolution. There is a procession from Aries to Pisces (thematically consistent with the motion through the twelve houses), which conveys an evolutionary path for each of us to travel. The various aspects (opposition, trine, etc.) connect the twelve stages and thereby provide specific evolutionary lessons.

The second half of the book concerns progressive evolution—the development of consciousness through the elemental levels. From the inspiration of fire (soul), to the understanding of air (mind), to the embodiment of water (emotion), to the materialization of earth (physical), Spirit manifests in our everyday world. And as part of evolution, we develop from matter (earth), to life (water), to advanced cognition (air), to spiritual realization (fire), as we liberate Spirit from separateness and realize oneness. These manifesting and liberating channels inhale and exhale in a continual rhythm of evolution.

The elements are everywhere—all around us as well as within us. They are the building blocks of life. They dance with each other, support, challenge, synthesize, and transform—never leaving us for an instant. The four elements similarly permeate the astrological system, giving articulation and meaning to all of the planets, signs, and houses. The elements encompass all facets of our experience by creating, and partaking in, our evolutionary circumstance. Together, they combine to illuminate the spiritual landscape of astrology.

Eric Meyers, M.A.

Uranus Enters Aries: Ready to Rumble!

Uranus enters Aries on May 27, 2010, only to retrograde back into Pisces on August 14, 2010. It settles into Aries for good on March 11, 2011. The ingress from Pisces to Aries renews the planetary relationship with the zodiac. A new 84-year Uranus cycle through the signs is about to be born—the spiral has circled back. At this level of evolution, we address personal concerns. Uranus in Aries manifests behaviorally. Are we living our truth? How brave are we willing to be? What can we do to take an active, hands-on role in changing our lives and, therefore, changing the world? The intention of this transit is to reinvigorate our assertive function so that we sculpt reality in ways that reflect the visionary processes of the Pisces period.

The movement is from the impersonal, transcendent, dreamy, and passive Pisces to the driven, passionate, leap-before-looking, and fiery bravado of Aries. Pisces is prone to deception, a collective suspension of critical thinking, and blind trust of authority. Like the tsunamis and hurricanes that are prevalent while Uranus is in Pisces, many people may feel impotent, surrendering to forces that appear too great to surmount. A collective malaise or alienation occurs when breakthrough (Uranus) is out to sea (Pisces). Since few are skilled at contemplative or mystical practices, accessing the promise of Uranus is difficult in the sign of the fishes.

Uranus entering Aries is like returning from the recesses of consciousness, sitting on a Harley and ready to rumble. The purpose is self-empowerment after the dystopia that many may have been experiencing. The reclamation of autonomy, with a renewed sense of personal entitlement, is the idea. The primal, red-meat flavor of rugged individuation lurks just out of grasp (Uranus), coaxing us to grow towards its instinctual urgency. It is as if a faint smell of blood will be detected, and like sharks, we ready ourselves to satisfy previously dormant appetites. There is a return to being blunt and unapologetically direct. Free will is championed, though the hazards are plenty.

Overcompensation results in unchecked, competitive, impulsive, if not aggressive, behaviors. Fueled by the desire to assert itself, Aries can pick fights or unnecessarily ruffle feathers. It is important during this transit to courageously right what has been wronged, but choosing the proper battles is essential. There may be uprisings, erratic displays of rebellion, experimental sexuality, and eruptions of violence. Many times explosions can and should be avoided. Uranus has an affinity for explosions, so this time period does promise a certain degree of recklessness, if not outright mayhem. The prospect of conflict and war is chilling to consider. Through this, we may learn more judicious uses of Aries functions.

The last time Uranus entered Aries was 1927-1928 and it similarly was in conjunction with Jupiter (as it will in 2010-2011). This correlated with the “Roaring 20s,” or Jazz Age. There were magnificent advances in science, including the discovery of penicillin. The quantum revolution peaked that year, with significant advances put forth by Heisenberg and Bohr that were captured in the Copenhagen interpretation. Charles Lindberg made his historic Transatlantic flight; the first motion picture with sound—The Jazz Singer—debuted; and Ford Motors unveiled its Model A. The 1927 Yankees, known as Murderer’s Row and widely regarded as the most offensively potent lineup ever assembled, swept the World Series. The spirit of this time was living large, advancing confidently and not looking back. However, this conjunction is short-lived and quickly gave way to the applying Uranus/Pluto square that was about to form. Nevertheless, Uranus entering Aries in the late 1920s did correlate with a time of seizing new opportunities, taking bold leaps and feeling enthused by possibilities.

The current Uranus/Saturn/Pluto T-Square is heavy stuff—necessary, but not a walk in the park. The addition of Jupiter to the mix allows us to feel like progress is actually being made! We will see expansion, the opening of doors and successful innovations. The Jupiter flavor of optimism and hope, the “can do” mentality, will balance the edginess and conflict of the other planetary clashing. The best comparison is 1969, when Jupiter joined the separating Uranus/Pluto conjunction. This year brought the Moon Landing and Woodstock among other BIG events. In 2010 and 2011, though, the inclusion of Saturn to the T-Square configuration suggests that governmental, institutional or other structural reforms will take similar dramatic big steps.

Eric Meyers, M.A.

Ceres and Pluto: Cry of the Goddess

The asteroid Ceres, who represents the nourishing qualities of the Great Mother Goddess, has been moving through the same region of the sky as Pluto, God of the Underworld. Here we see a powerful dance between energies that can sustain life or destroy it. The meeting of Ceres and Pluto in the sign of Capricorn (ruling the Earth’s geological structures as well economic and political structures) has strong correlations with our current environmental crisis. One example of this dynamic can be seen in the astrology of April 20, 2010, the day the Gulf oil spill began. At that time, Ceres and Pluto were in Capricorn (within a one degree orb) and opposed by the Moon in Cancer (vulnerability). We will experience similar energies on October 28, 2010, when Ceres and Pluto meet again in early Capricorn and conjoin the Capricorn North Node, while the Moon in Cancer is opposed them yet again.

A thorough analysis of the astrology for April 20, 2010, involves taking a look at more than the placement of Ceres, Pluto, and the Moon. For example, Chiron (need for healing) had just moved into Pisces (the seas) that same day. However an understanding of the myths related to Ceres and Pluto may provide important keys to understanding what is going on in our relationship with Mother Earth.

The Great Mother Goddess is known by many names in many cultures. Ceres is her Roman name, and she was called Demeter by the Greeks, Isis by the Egyptians, and Inanna by the Sumerians. In each of these cultures, the Great Mother was associated with fertility and the sustenance of life. She is intimately involved with the entire life cycle, from birth, to death, to rebirth. In astrology, the asteroid Ceres is associated with how one is nourished, and how one may be confronted with issues of attachment, loss, death, and renewal.

Pluto is the Roman name for the God of the Underworld, and in mythology, there is a powerful dynamic between Ceres and Pluto. Pluto abducted and raped Ceres’ daughter, Persephone, and forced her to live in the land of the dead. In the depths of Ceres’ grief, she became unable or unwilling to focus her life-giving energies on the Earth, and the crops began to perish. But when Ceres and Persephone were reunited, life on Earth thrived once more. In astrology, Pluto brings us to our inner depths and shows us what parts of ourselves need to die so we can be reborn into a more evolved version of ourselves. Both Pluto and Ceres have powers of regeneration.

We can see these themes reflected in the oil spill, with the devastation (Pluto) of ocean life impacting the entire food chain (Ceres). There was also loss of human lives and the grief of their loved ones. It is time for the death of the corporate greed, oil-dependent economics, and poor governmental oversight (all in Capricorn’s realm) that set the stage for this environmental disaster as well as the broader, global environmental crisis we are facing. With Ceres and Pluto in Capricorn, we can hear the Goddess’ cry of anguish over the rape of the Earth. It is a screaming wake-up call. We are being called to let go of our destructive ways and create new economic and political structures. We are being called to live in harmony with Mother Earth, so that our beautiful blue planet can experience a renewal and provide abundant nourishment for human life for many generations to come.

Sajit Greene, M.A., L.P.C.

Venus Takes Flight

Taurus is a Venus-ruled sign, and has a strong affinity for the pleasures of the senses, including an appreciation for beauty, harmony, and the arts. Let’s take a look at how Venus may influence our aesthetics, values, and creative processes as she glides through the sign of Gemini from April 24 through May 19. Venus in Gemini has a light, airy quality that can be witty, curious, and childlike. While Venus in Taurus can get stuck in indulgences, Venus in Gemini seeks change, variety, new ideas, and new experiences. This energy brings stimulation and inspiration to the creative process, and may encourage us to experiment with new ways of expressing ourselves, whether that is through writing, painting, song, dance, or other modalities. It can also help us to lighten up, if we’ve been feeling bogged down.

As Venus journeys through Gemini, it makes significant aspects with the opposition between Saturn in Virgo and Uranus/Jupiter in Pisces. These dynamics can provide grounding and focus for the development of our creative and technical skills (Saturn in Virgo), a strong connection to the imagination (Pisces), as well as opportunities for creative breakthroughs (Uranus/Jupiter). Many people are experiencing the opposition of Saturn and Uranus as a feeling of inner tension and an intense desire to make a big leap forward in sharing their gifts, in service to the world. We get some help, in this regard, as Venus sextiles Mars in Leo, which can give us the courage to go for it, especially in terms of our creative self-expression. Perhaps the inquisitive Venus in Gemini can infuse us with a fresh perspective that supports the radical shifts we are yearning for on the personal and creative levels, as well on the collective level.

While Venus is in Gemini, let your creative mind lead you into new territories, network with those who can offer inspiration as well as information, and see the beauty of the world with a childlike innocence.
--Sajit Greene, M.A., L.P.C.

Saturn/Uranus Opposition

Saturn and Uranus are directly opposed—an event of significant cultural and historical importance. The last time these titans faced off like this was between 1964—1968. This event tends to expose the resistance to necessary reforms and innovations while inviting us to make efforts towards updating methods and mindsets to be more sustainable and inclusive. To simplify—the past squares off with the future. Either we create a new world, or point fingers at others in blame for the failure to do so.

The onslaught of astrology events here, now, and immediately ahead these next few years, aggressively challenge Saturn to modernize. Like we saw in the mid 1960s, the dominant power structure is being petitioned to loosen its hold. Then, the Civil Rights and Feminist movements demanded more inclusiveness for minorities and women. Now, we have an African-American president likely to nominate his second female appointee to the highest court!

The dominant power structure in the U.S. has largely been white, male, Christian and heterosexual—which is also a description of who is organizing, and largely populating, the Tea Party. On the other side of the divide is the reality that we live in a very diverse culture with demographics showing a trend toward even more diversity in the years ahead. Either the doors of power are busted open so we can come together, or the social fabric unravels and comes apart. We are likely to see elements of both.

This weekend I went to a festival in Asheville where I saw a performance by two musicians: one a gay man, and the other an African-American. Immediately following was a ceremony in recognition of young innovators in a variety of fields. It was called “HATCH” and the point is to welcome diversity, fresh ideas and give publicity to those who want to change the world. The young innovators had more established mentors to learn from, and to network through, in ways which support their work. It was a wonderful illustration of how the Saturn/Uranus opposition can be managed.

The broader world has forces which are not so eager to change. This time around, the Saturn/Uranus opposition will expose any remaining divisiveness or prejudice towards those who differ from the dominant power structure. The bitter health care debate has currents of providing universal coverage (Uranus) vs. preserving a more exclusive status quo (Saturn). Necessary financial regulation to make the playing field fairer is being debated now, while propositions for Gay Marriage will be on the ballot this fall. For a climactic event, immigration reform will be addressed soon. This will expose elitism, fear and discrimination like no other issue.

Until there is openness and acceptance of the Muslim, the Hispanic, the Native-American, the poor, or the transgendered, this Saturn/Uranus event will highlight the resistance to such inclusiveness in dramatic ways. The reality that the dominant power structure will soon be the minority is irrefutable. I believe that this Saturn/Uranus opposition is ushering in this reality to the collective consciousness. It is threatening and considered unacceptable to those most passionate about preserving their hold on power. In response, they may choose to act in threatening and unacceptable ways. If civility and peaceful dialogue are not maintained, this time frame may bring in some version of a Civil War (the early 1860s positioned Saturn square Uranus). For more information, please see Uranus: The Constant of Change, which discusses this current time frame in greater detail.
--Eric Meyers, M.A.

ARIES NEW MOON

Happy New Year…well, kind of. The New Moon, and Aries, both concern beginnings. Though the spring equinox is when the astrological year is renewed, the New Moon in Aries launches the first of twelve lunar cycles. It is the optimal time to launch new projects or to actively declare one’s intentions. Whatever is put into motion now will be growing on some trajectory towards its realization. Having passion, decisiveness and clarity are the keys to manifestation.
Maintaining this level of empowerment is crucial as there are plenty of challenges in the current astrological climate. With Saturn exactly opposed Uranus, structures are destabilizing in order to reform. New realities are becoming concretized; tensions between conservative and progressive are heightened. The old guard needs to make room for new innovations. Those who are able to light the way forward must summon the courage to lead. If not, we may feel anxious, disempowered, and find ourselves wondering what is going to collapse next. The wave of earthquakes happening around the globe reminds us that the ground is indeed shifting. We can approach it with strength or fear.
The North Node of the Moon tells us what we need to be striving for. As it currently resides in Capricorn, we are being called to get serious about creating new structures and to mature from emotional patterns that inhibit effectiveness. With Saturn in Virgo, this is a time to be focused, steadfast and specialized with honing new skills and potential contributions. Then, we can each play a part in creating more sustainable and conscious ways to live on this planet. If not, we may fear that it’s too late, we’re passing the tipping point, and only consequences and hardships await us.
With Pluto in Capricorn, the status quo of operations is ready to be completely transformed. This time frame will usher in complete facelifts to the dominant power structure. Outmoded methods, paradigms and even institutions will be collapsing. The question being asked is, "What do we want to build?" At this New Moon in Aries, the onus of responsibility is on every individual to play a role. What’s yours?
The times will be a’changin in a big way these next several years. At this moment in the process, we can meet these challenges with will, direction and power. It’s time to work hard and ultimately be satisfied with our efforts, or clamor in anxiety as the earthquakes continue to rumble the ground. Soul Vision is available to assist you in finding clarity of purpose in these most uncertain times.
Blessings,
Eric & Sajit

Pisces 2010: Wade in the Water

Slip in to the boundary-less ocean of Spirit, and peer through the veils of separation, as the Sun, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, and Mercury swim, float, and drift through Pisces, this month. The Sun, Venus, and Mercury are on their annual voyage through this sign of spiritual vision, psychic communication, and Divine union. For Jupiter and Uranus, their meeting in Pisces is much less frequent: the last occurence of this configuration was way back in 1334, and it won’t occur again until 2093! Uranus and Jupiter, together, can catalyze big breakthroughs. In Pisces, these breakthroughs may be of a spiritual nature.

In the past seven years since Uranus entered Pisces (in March 2003), we’ve witnessed a quickening of the spiritual awakening of humanity. Contemporary spiritual teachers have noted that spiritual awakening, once a rare experience even for sincere spiritual practitioners, is more common, now. More people are waking up from the dream of separation and fear, into the reality of unity consciousness, and fully embodying the True Self. For some people, like Eckhart Tolle and Byron Katie, awakening happens suddenly and unexpectedly. For others, awakening is experienced as a gradual process of unfolding, perhaps after years of devoted spiritual practice.

Now that Jupiter is adding its expansive energy and sense of purpose to support this global awakening process, should we expect everyone on the planet to suddenly become enlightened, in the next couple of months, while Jupiter and Uranus are connecting in Pisces? Probably not. These cosmic energies influence each person differently, and in accord with the current level of his/her soul development. Many people are still deeply asleep in the ego dream, hence the continued appearance of personal and political conflicts, religious wars, and destruction of the planet.

What we can expect from this wonderful influx of Piscean energy is the opportunity to become even more aware of our ever-present connection with Spirit, our immersion in the holy waters of unconditional love, and the eternal goodness of our True Nature. This month is a mystical time that encourages us to engage in meditation and prayer. The veil between physical reality and non-physical realities is very permeable, right now, so reach out to connect with your guides and helpers in the spirit world. The light, love, truth, and peace you seek are here, now, and always. And, right now is a time when you are more sensitivie and able to feel their presence.