Astrology Blog
OCTAVES in ASTROLOGY
The Relationship between Personal and Transpersonal Planets in Astrology
The discovery of planets invisible to the naked eye came with the advent of telescopes, expanding our view and understanding of the solar system and the universe. The newly discovered planets made big waves in the astrology world and added a completely new layer to our chart analysis, and a greater focus on identifying the evolution of consciousness. Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune were coined the Transpersonal Planets.
Transpersonal Planets: Higher Octave to Personal Planets
In this essay, I will discuss the interrelationship between the Transpersonal Planets Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune, and the Personal Planets Mars, Mercury, and Venus, respectively.
Octave definition in music:
In music, an octave is a series of eight notes occupying the interval between (and including) two notes, one having twice the frequency of vibration of the other.
Octave definition in astrology:
When a planet is considered a higher octave of another, it elevates the common themes they represent from personal to transpersonal application.
Pluto is the higher octave of Mars. Common theme: the forces to power our lives – Active principle.
Uranus is the higher octave of Mercury. Common theme: the mental capacity to navigate life and solve problems – Mental Principle.
Neptune is the higher octave of Venus. Common theme: the desire to find solace, well-being, and value in our lives – Passive Principle.
The Discovery of Transpersonal Planets – When the Invisible became Visible.
While the cycles of Transpersonal Planets were always influencing astrology irrespective of whether humans knew about them or not, the two gas giants, Uranus and Neptune, and the body in the far reaches of the solar system, Pluto, were discovered at times when historical events captured their influence on global culture in most dramatic ways.
URANUS (1781) – The Higher Mind and Human Civilization
The time of Uranus’ discovery also coincided with the Age of Enlightenment.
Uranus was discovered on March 13, 1781 during the Industrial Revolution, when steam engines could facilitate production with greater speed and accuracy. This movement precipitated the growth of urbanization.
This time period also saw the decline of monarchies and the emergence of democratic systems of governance, notably through the United States revolution (1776) and the French revolution (1789).
The time of Uranus’ discovery also coincided with the Age of Enlightenment in Western culture when science and intellectual movement favoring reason and empiricism became most prominent, diminishing the faith-centric influence of religion and animism in culture, governance, and education.
NEPTUNE (1846) – The Natural World, Fate, and the Eternity of Spirit
…the migration of spiritual philosophies and practices mostly from India, introducing Western cultures to yoga and meditation, and concepts such as reincarnation and karma.
Neptune was discovered on September 23, 1846 (though spotted earlier by Galileo) during the time when the extraction of oil as a natural resource and refineries isolating kerosene spurred the Age of Petroleum.
The California gold rush (1848) spurred new dreams and new frontiers for adventurers conquering new grounds near the West Coast, extracting naturally available gold, as they hoped for quick wealth. Interestingly, in France, the period of “La Belle Epoque” (1871 – 1914) represented a return to innocence and optimism with focus on the arts, well-being, and entertainment, and an absence of war.
Charles Darwin (astro twin to Abraham Lincoln) published the Origin of Species exploring the natural developmental and adaptive trends of nature and the animal world (1859).
This time period also marked the disintegration of slavery in France (1848), and in the United states with the Emancipation Proclamation (1863), precipitating new social justice in America and beyond. Slavery is associated with Neptune, while emancipation with both Neptune and Uranus (Emancipation movements had begun in Europe and the Caribbean in the early 1800’s). This was however contrasted by the Age of Imperialism, as European powers took over African, South East Asian, and Oceanian territory.
The late 19th century saw the migration of spiritual philosophies and practices from Asia, particularly India, introducing Western cultures to yoga and meditation, and concepts such as reincarnation and karma, contrasting the heavy scientific bias of the Enlightenment age.
The growing interest in Eastern philosophies spurred a revival of astrology after having fallen out of favor during the Age of Enlightenment. A whole movement of astrologers adapted a growth oriented approach to chart analysis, contrasting the earlier fated/deterministic approach.
PLUTO (1930) – The Shadows and the Necessity of Transformation
Pluto’s emergence brought the threat and risk of of absolute destruction not only with fascism taking over in the world, but the development of the Nuclear bomb.
Pluto was discovered on February 18, 1930 between the two World Wars and the rise of the Soviet Union, more specifically the brutality of Stalinism (1927), the rise of Hitler in Germany (1933), and the catastrophic stock market crash (1929) and ensuing years of depression. Pluto’s emergence brought the threat and risk of of absolute destruction not only with fascism taking over in the world, but the development of the Nuclear bomb.
Following the utter devastation of WWII, the promise of rebirth and transformation saw the formation of the United Nations as an agent of peace and collaboration, the formation of modern Israel from the ashes of the Holocaust, and the baby boomer generation who catapulted economic development and prosperity.
Study Astrology with Maurice Fernandez
CATEGORIZATION of PLANETS in ASTROLOGY
The 10 planets associated with the 12 signs are grouped into categories, reflecting their development function.
The LUMINARIES: The MOON and the SUN
The Moon (ruling the sign of Cancer) and the Sun (ruling the sign of Leo) represent in our astrology charts the personal filters through which we process all of life’s impressions and create personal meaning. They represent our ‘control room’ through which we internalize (Moon) everything we go through, give each experience a personal interpretation, and then externalize our life purposes (Sun) and take leadership of our own destinies. The luminaries represent the foundation of our self (ego), our personal consciousness, and the way we matter as individuals.
The PERSONAL Planets: MERCURY, VENUS, and MARS
Personal Planets are rocky bodies with a solid surface (astronomically we could include Earth in this category), positioned between the Sun and the Asteroid belt. Astrologically, the personal planets represent how we organize daily functions to guarantee survival, health, stability, and productivity – make our life function.
Mercury (ruling the signs of Gemini and Virgo) represents our mental ability to figure things out, learn and prevent mistakes, navigate our environment, and organize our lives in routine functions.
Mercury gives a sense of security by knowing and being prepared.
Venus (ruling the signs of Taurus and Libra) represents our ability to discern, find, and utilize resources in order to secure supplies for our survival. Resources can be internal (talents), material (land, food, materials), and can be traded with others (Venus represents relationships and exchange). Venus represents our ability to stabilize our lives, appreciate what is available, and feel satisfaction.
Venus gives a sense of security by having continued access to resources such as food, fuel, and alliances to make our lives safe and pleasant on a continual basis.
Mars (ruler of the sign of Aries, traditional ruler of the sign of Scorpio) represents our most primal self-preservation instinct, the spark to exist and overcome challenges and threats/predators. This includes our fighting spirit and pro-active involvement to make things happen, reach goals, and succeed at our endeavors. Mars represents our energy supplies, physical strength and resilience, and defense capacity.
Mars gives us a sense of security by being strong to withstand adversities, and courage to take risk in order to make our life happen.
The SOCIAL Planets: JUPITER and SATURN
Once we have established our personal life through the Luminaries and Personal Planets, Social Planets represent our incentive to integrate into the larger framework of society, explore larger meanings, and more collective dynamics. They represent the systems we operate through and how we are conditioned by the greater collective of our culture.
Through Jupiter and Saturn we find our role models who can be reliable and provide guidance, and the ethical/moral references to our actions and behaviors. In other ways, we may say that the Social Planets represent the teachers in our lives, including how we ourselves become teachers and role models for others.
The TRANSPERSONAL Planets: URANUS, NEPTUNE, and PLUTO
They bring doubt, change, sometimes destruction, and awakenings, by exposing the limitations of our lives.
The Transpersonal Planets represent the evolutionary forces of life, which engender the evolution of our consciousness.
While the seven visible bodies (Sun to Saturn), represent in astrology how we build and establish our lives, the Transpersonal Planets prompt us to go beyond the confines of our current identity and comfort zone. They challenge our security and attachments and take us into the beyond, the unknown, so we may realize the greater Truth of life.
They bring doubt, change, sometimes destruction, and awakenings, by exposing the limitations of our lives. When we thought we were done, stable, and reached our goals, the Transpersonal Planets expose the cracks we did not see or denied to make us realize that the work is not done, that there is more to life than what we thought.
A common mistake is to believe that Transpersonal Planets have no effects on personal lives (only global trends). It is critical to understand that the role of the transpersonal planets is to elevate the consciousness of the individual, and therefore, they will have an immediate influence on personal circumstances, as described above. Even when the transpersonal planets make no aspects to Luminaries, they are part of our personal experience.
Pluto became the modern ruler of the sign of Scorpio. It represents the necessity to shift our awareness from ego to soul, serving as the gateway between the personal and the transpersonal.
Uranus became the modern ruler of the sign of Aquarius. It represents the incentive to elevate our perspective to gain a more objective and comprehensive understanding of life. This higher perspective requires that we emotionally detach (de-personalize) from our biases and wishful thinking to be more neutral and clear-minded. This dynamic is akin to a scientist doing research without imposing wishful thinking on the results—the art of observation from a high vantage point.
Neptune became the modern ruler of the sign of Pisces. It represents the incentive to harmonize with the totality of life, acknowledge and accept both the “good” and the “bad,” to ultimately make life a happy experience. We learn though this influence that life is not about our wishful thinking, but about a higher all-encompassing Truth, albeit one we can only understand partially. We cannot change or influence this higher Truth, but realize it, accept it, and align with it. It is fate and beyond our control. Neptune represents the need to remember the bigger picture, the larger meanings of life in our day to day material life
Study Astrology with Maurice Fernandez
PLANETS RULING SIGNS
True to their own nature, the discovery of the Transpersonal planets disrupted this [rulership] order and caused doubt in the established formula.
The term rulership of a planet over a sign ties both of them archetypically. A planet can travel in any sign as it goes through its revolution around the Sun, but it will represent the themes of the sign it rules anywhere it goes—it is a form of ambassador of the sign associated with it.
For example Mars spends about 6 weeks in each sign, but it will always represent the sign it rules, Aries themes, in those signs.
Traditionally, the rulership of the visible planets (Sun to Saturn) was neatly organized to follow an order expanding from the Moon and the Sun. The Moon and the Sun were ruling the signs where the Sun travelled during the warmest and longest days (Northern hemisphere perspective), hence with the signs of Cancer and Leo.
From there, following the order of natural astronomical distance of each Personal Planet from the Sun, Mercury was associated with the signs of Gemini and Virgo, Venus with Taurus and Libra, and Mars with Aries and Scorpio.
Kaboom! True to their own nature, the discovery of the Transpersonal planets disrupted this order and caused doubt in the established formula.
Uranus named after the sky God, representing innovation was more comprehensively representing Aquarius than Saturn did.
Neptune named after the God of the seas, representing the eternity of spirit and unconscious forces was more comprehensively representing Pisces than Jupiter did.
Pluto named after the God of the underworld, representing death and rebirth, shadow work, was more comprehensively representing Scorpio than Mars did.
Notwithstanding, many astrologers are reluctant to use modern rulerships and prefer to keep the original model, considering the Transpersonal Planets to be unaffiliated with a specific sign.
It may indeed seem odd that Pluto, the most distant planet to date (at the time of discovery), would rule the sign of Scorpio placed somewhere in the middle of the sign order, but with everything in astrology, we need to test our theories and verify whether they work in actual reality, even if at times they seem odd.
PLUTO is a Higher Octave of MARS – Outsmarting Death
Pluto and Mars are the powering forces in astrology;
Activators, confrontational, destructive, and givers of new life.
Mars ruling Aries – The Ignition of our Spark
The sign of Aries begins the zodiacal order of signs and represents our birth into the material world—the ignition of our separate consciousness. The separation from the womb to become autonomous beings turns us from passive beings into active beings. The energy to support us was initially provided through our mother, but with Aries and Mars, we now learn to generate our own supply and survival strategies.
Mars engages us to stand vertical and do our lives
Life begins as a battle. Looking at wildlife, we quickly realize how survival is threatened from the moment of birth. A foal needs to stand on four feet and be able to follow the herd, baby turtles hatching need to rush from their eggshell and dodge predators before reaching the ocean, (and then dodge the marine predators). This extraordinary self-preservation instinct requires a tremendous amount of energy. The adrenal glands are associated with Aries and Mars, and provide us with short emergency supplies of strength to confront danger and overcome challenges.
Another illustration for this dynamic can be experienced the moment we wake up and open our eyes every morning, similar to the birthing process, we transition from passive sleep to active engagement. Mars engages us to stand vertical and do our lives. Every day is a victory over death, a new goal reached.
Pluto ruling Scorpio – Gateway to the Transpersonal
Mars took us through life to secure our survival and achieve our goals. Reaching the sign of Scorpio and its modern ruler Pluto, a sense of lack emerges and we start to see the cracks of what was once solid and strong. We now may feel vulnerable, breakable, and diminished—the initial life force from Aries/Mars that got us going is now all the way up to Scorpio is at its last stretch—now we may be depleted. Scorpio and Pluto confront us with a crisis that exposes our limitations and the blind spots in our lives. For example, the marriage we thought was solid can now feel uncertain. We risk losing battles, facing rejection, losses, and self-doubt. We realize in this phase that we may not have all it takes to prevail, and (symbolic) death now looms.
Through Scorpio, our Mars functions need a recharge that only Pluto can provide. As Pluto represents shadow work and the need to dive deep into all our vulnerabilities, it makes us realize that something needs to change if we are to continue this journey. The transformation that occurs through Scorpio opens us up to the transpersonal consciousness—we realize we are part of a larger life meaning and forces. Opening up to the transpersonal provides access to new sources and types of fuel and recharge. We are prompted to change our ways through these deeper truths, and thus revitalize our life force. The shift from our personal perspective to a more comprehensive transpersonal perspective saves us from death.
Explore this video to understand the full scope of
the MARS/PLUTO OCTAVE relationship:
URANUS is a Higher Octave of MERCURY – Uncovering the Logic in Chaos.
Uranus and Mercury are the problem solving forces in astrology;
the mental power of deduction, control, and tool development,
advancing humanity beyond survival routines into civilization.
Gemini Mercury – Learning Life
The sign of Gemini represents our impulse to collect information from around us in order to figure life out—information helps us find our way and know how to proceed in the maze of existence. As we learn and become more knowledgeable, we identify patterns and phenomena. When we find out about things, we can name them, and by expanding our vocabulary, we not only are able to communicate but also connect the dots of life—for example: bees, flower, pollination, are different words that come together to form a whole concept: fertilization. Things are interconnected.
As we listen, take notes, read the signs, we find more pieces of the puzzle of life. Mercury, ruling Gemini, stimulates the urge to move around, explore the world, and examine the diversity of life forms. Exposure to life stimulates the mental gymnastics to uncover the logic of life—connecting the dots.
Knowledge gained through Mercury’s functions helps us gain better control of our lives and prevent crises. The more we know, the better our decisions are, the less mistakes we make. Mercury enables us to be informed and anticipate, and thus seize opportunities, and navigate our lives more successfully.
Virgo Mercury – Pro-actively managing life
Once we have explored the vast world surrounding us and developed an elaborate vocabulary and a library of information, the Virgo expression of Mercury represents the need to empirically validate our knowledge by putting it into practice: Gemini as an Air sign is mostly theoretical, whereas Virgo as an Earth sign focuses on the practical use from the data banks. In this phase, the intention is to test and apply our knowledge to enhance the function of our lives.
The more we know, the better we can control and manage resources. Resources are finite, sometime scarce. We only have one body, one piece of land, a limited amount of daylight to work—how can we maximize use and diminish waste? The knowledge gathered helps us build tools to be more accurate and precise, live healthier lives, and increase our yield with most efficient investment. A constant work in progress.
Mercury here represents how we use our knowledge to improve the function of nature and use of resources – organizing, processing, maintaining, improving yield. Without our intervention, decay, dust, mold, and disease may take over. We intervene to care for our hygiene, cut our hair and nails, prune our trees for better growth, discourage parasitic growth, fertilize arid land. Our involvement in managing resources is essential to life and creation; we are not here to be passive observers of life, but actively intervene for betterment.
Uranus ruling Aquarius – Reaching for the Stars
The transpersonal nature of Uranus elevates Mercurial mental ability, analysis, and dexterity, to the higher mind. From the personal knowledge we gather through our encounters, Uranus takes us to a transpersonal understanding of life as a whole. The higher mind is without bias and personal expectations. Through the Uranus, 11th House, and Aquarius functions we detach from our emotional attachments to do research and analyze results with more neutrality—we become more objective and clear-minded.
Uranus, Aquarius, and 11th house dynamics elevate us to higher grounds to gain better and broader perspectives – the bird-eye view not only helps us see our lives “down here”, but explore what is “up there;” the place of our planet in the larger cosmic eco-system in space.
From physics to astrophysics, Uranus represents the sum of all sciences that can help us progressively decode all life’s functions and origins. We break the mysterious riddles of life, and accordingly, gain greater control over life with the aim to enhance civilization and improve conditions for our existence.
Perhaps the most important transpersonal function of Uranus is to elevate our function from successfully managing and improving our lives (Mercury) to inventing new things that nature did not initially create. Uranus opens the gate to intellectual creativity where humans gain the ability to enhance and upgrade their own world. It manifests in technological invention, computer sciences and the creation of Artificial Intelligence to accelerate and improve tasks and functions.
Explore this video to understand the full scope of
the MERCURY/URANUS OCTAVE relationship:
Neptune is the Higher Octave of Venus – The Integration of Spirit into Matter for Well-Being
Neptune and Venus are the harmonizing forces in astrology;
the faculty of appreciation, acceptance of fate,
with the intention to make life a satisfying experience.
Taurus Venus – Incarnation of Spirit into Matter
The sign of Taurus represents our physical incarnation, the descent of spirit into matter. The body becomes the temple of the soul, while land and nature produce food to sustain our physical existence—The cow, symbol of Taurus, represents the nourishment of milk and meat, while cattle were commonly used as currency (value). Taurus represents our resources for longer term sustenance, safety, and well-being.
Through Taurus we develop our senses, in particular smell, touch, and taste, allowing us to discern what is good for us from what isn’t. Through the senses we can appreciate and evaluate, choose what to keep and what to seek. The physical geometry of nature captures what is beautiful to our senses; accordingly, proportion and balance are key to feeling good. Through Taurus, we can find comfort, satisfaction, and pleasure to help our spirit better integrate into the density of matter.
Taurus represents what resources are available to sustain us. Since food is essential, we learn not to only to find food but to cultivate it and secure longer term survival. This can entail owning land and becoming more sedentary to tend to it. Through Taurus we learn to rely on what we have and become as self-sufficient as possible.
Libra Venus – The Balance of Opposites
Once we have established survival and value in what we have through Taurus, Libra represents the awareness of what we lack, and what we may need from others to improve our odds of well-being and survival. Self-sufficiency reaches its limits when new challenges confront us with the need to find new resources. We become aware that people living in different environments and conditions have developed means and talents that we could not generate, but need. Thus, the incentive to connect, trade, and form partnerships becomes essential for survival.
Through Libra we find value in supply and demand. If we need what others have, do they value our yield in return ? For a fair trade, we need to first value ourselves through Taurus before we engage in an exchange with others through Libra. The strength of our currency can lead to a healthy partnership and mutual satisfaction.
Sharing resources and joining forces through Libra strengthens us, as long as the exchange remains balanced and fair. Our sense of satisfaction through the Libra side of Venus is in fairness, balance, and enrichment.
Neptune ruling Pisces – Existential Well-Being
Neptune represents our relationship with life as a whole. We realize that our individuality is interlinked with everything else, and that in order for us to thrive (personal), the whole eco-system must thrive (transpersonal).
Neptune represents our common origin, the fact that we all were born from the same universal womb. Therefore, despite our visible differences, we realize that we are made of the same materials and share common goals—whether we are tall or short, animal or human, we all yearn for the same need for survival, health, and well-being. Even plants and minerals seek health and sustainability.
Through Neptune, the 12th house, and Pisces, we find the common denominators that unify everything beyond space and time. While Venus represents our personal sense of satisfaction and sustainability, Neptune’s transpersonal quality represents the larger meanings of life and global well-being. Neptune represents the eternity of Truth: what is true for all, everywhere, everyone, and always.
Neptune represents the higher forces of life, the vastness of how it all came to be, and all that is provided from nature and the universe: light, oxygen, food, water, among them. Every living thing relies on these resources, they are naturally available to all beings, but cannot be owned by any.
View Maurice’s book on Neptune and the 12th House
While we live in the material world (Venus), Neptune represents our spiritual nature and origin. Venus in its sensual beauty represents the material manifestation of the divine and spiritual.
Explore this video to understand the full scope of
the VENUS/NEPTUNE OCTAVE relationship:
Book: Astrology Fundamentals by Maurice Fernandez
Study Astrology with Maurice Fernandez, including how to analyze: Octaves in Astrology and the Elements.
What is Evolutionary Astrology
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For personal use only. No quoting or copying the contents without written permission of the author.
OCTAVES in ASTROLOGY
The Relationship between Personal and Transpersonal Planets in Astrology
The discovery of planets invisible to the naked eye came with the advent of telescopes, expanding our view and understanding of the solar system and the universe. The newly discovered planets made big waves in the astrology world and added a completely new layer to our chart analysis, and a greater focus on identifying the evolution of consciousness. Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune were coined the Transpersonal Planets.
Transpersonal Planets: Higher Octave to Personal Planets
In this essay, I will discuss the interrelationship between the Transpersonal Planets Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune, and the Personal Planets Mars, Mercury, and Venus, respectively.
Octave definition in music:
In music, an octave is a series of eight notes occupying the interval between (and including) two notes, one having twice the frequency of vibration of the other.
Octave definition in astrology:
When a planet is considered a higher octave of another, it elevates the common themes they represent from personal to transpersonal application.
Pluto is the higher octave of Mars. Common theme: the forces to power our lives – Active principle.
Uranus is the higher octave of Mercury. Common theme: the mental capacity to navigate life and solve problems – Mental Principle.
Neptune is the higher octave of Venus. Common theme: the desire to find solace, well-being, and value in our lives – Passive Principle.
The Discovery of Transpersonal Planets – When the Invisible became Visible.
While the cycles of Transpersonal Planets were always influencing astrology irrespective of whether humans knew about them or not, the two gas giants, Uranus and Neptune, and the body in the far reaches of the solar system, Pluto, were discovered at times when historical events captured their influence on global culture in most dramatic ways.
URANUS (1781) – The Higher Mind and Human Civilization
The time of Uranus’ discovery also coincided with the Age of Enlightenment.
Uranus was discovered on March 13, 1781 during the Industrial Revolution, when steam engines could facilitate production with greater speed and accuracy. This movement precipitated the growth of urbanization.
This time period also saw the decline of monarchies and the emergence of democratic systems of governance, notably through the United States revolution (1776) and the French revolution (1789).
The time of Uranus’ discovery also coincided with the Age of Enlightenment in Western culture when science and intellectual movement favoring reason and empiricism became most prominent, diminishing the faith-centric influence of religion and animism in culture, governance, and education.
NEPTUNE (1846) – The Natural World, Fate, and the Eternity of Spirit
…the migration of spiritual philosophies and practices mostly from India, introducing Western cultures to yoga and meditation, and concepts such as reincarnation and karma.
Neptune was discovered on September 23, 1846 (though spotted earlier by Galileo) during the time when the extraction of oil as a natural resource and refineries isolating kerosene spurred the Age of Petroleum.
The California gold rush (1848) spurred new dreams and new frontiers for adventurers conquering new grounds near the West Coast, extracting naturally available gold, as they hoped for quick wealth. Interestingly, in France, the period of “La Belle Epoque” (1871 – 1914) represented a return to innocence and optimism with focus on the arts, well-being, and entertainment, and an absence of war.
Charles Darwin (astro twin to Abraham Lincoln) published the Origin of Species exploring the natural developmental and adaptive trends of nature and the animal world (1859).
This time period also marked the disintegration of slavery in France (1848), and in the United states with the Emancipation Proclamation (1863), precipitating new social justice in America and beyond. Slavery is associated with Neptune, while emancipation with both Neptune and Uranus (Emancipation movements had begun in Europe and the Caribbean in the early 1800’s). This was however contrasted by the Age of Imperialism, as European powers took over African, South East Asian, and Oceanian territory.
The late 19th century saw the migration of spiritual philosophies and practices from Asia, particularly India, introducing Western cultures to yoga and meditation, and concepts such as reincarnation and karma, contrasting the heavy scientific bias of the Enlightenment age.
The growing interest in Eastern philosophies spurred a revival of astrology after having fallen out of favor during the Age of Enlightenment. A whole movement of astrologers adapted a growth oriented approach to chart analysis, contrasting the earlier fated/deterministic approach.
PLUTO (1930) – The Shadows and the Necessity of Transformation
Pluto’s emergence brought the threat and risk of of absolute destruction not only with fascism taking over in the world, but the development of the Nuclear bomb.
Pluto was discovered on February 18, 1930 between the two World Wars and the rise of the Soviet Union, more specifically the brutality of Stalinism (1927), the rise of Hitler in Germany (1933), and the catastrophic stock market crash (1929) and ensuing years of depression. Pluto’s emergence brought the threat and risk of of absolute destruction not only with fascism taking over in the world, but the development of the Nuclear bomb.
Following the utter devastation of WWII, the promise of rebirth and transformation saw the formation of the United Nations as an agent of peace and collaboration, the formation of modern Israel from the ashes of the Holocaust, and the baby boomer generation who catapulted economic development and prosperity.
Study Astrology with Maurice Fernandez
CATEGORIZATION of PLANETS in ASTROLOGY
The 10 planets associated with the 12 signs are grouped into categories, reflecting their development function.
The LUMINARIES: The MOON and the SUN
The Moon (ruling the sign of Cancer) and the Sun (ruling the sign of Leo) represent in our astrology charts the personal filters through which we process all of life’s impressions and create personal meaning. They represent our ‘control room’ through which we internalize (Moon) everything we go through, give each experience a personal interpretation, and then externalize our life purposes (Sun) and take leadership of our own destinies. The luminaries represent the foundation of our self (ego), our personal consciousness, and the way we matter as individuals.
The PERSONAL Planets: MERCURY, VENUS, and MARS
Personal Planets are rocky bodies with a solid surface (astronomically we could include Earth in this category), positioned between the Sun and the Asteroid belt. Astrologically, the personal planets represent how we organize daily functions to guarantee survival, health, stability, and productivity – make our life function.
Mercury (ruling the signs of Gemini and Virgo) represents our mental ability to figure things out, learn and prevent mistakes, navigate our environment, and organize our lives in routine functions.
Mercury gives a sense of security by knowing and being prepared.
Venus (ruling the signs of Taurus and Libra) represents our ability to discern, find, and utilize resources in order to secure supplies for our survival. Resources can be internal (talents), material (land, food, materials), and can be traded with others (Venus represents relationships and exchange). Venus represents our ability to stabilize our lives, appreciate what is available, and feel satisfaction.
Venus gives a sense of security by having continued access to resources such as food, fuel, and alliances to make our lives safe and pleasant on a continual basis.
Mars (ruler of the sign of Aries, traditional ruler of the sign of Scorpio) represents our most primal self-preservation instinct, the spark to exist and overcome challenges and threats/predators. This includes our fighting spirit and pro-active involvement to make things happen, reach goals, and succeed at our endeavors. Mars represents our energy supplies, physical strength and resilience, and defense capacity.
Mars gives us a sense of security by being strong to withstand adversities, and courage to take risk in order to make our life happen.
The SOCIAL Planets: JUPITER and SATURN
Once we have established our personal life through the Luminaries and Personal Planets, Social Planets represent our incentive to integrate into the larger framework of society, explore larger meanings, and more collective dynamics. They represent the systems we operate through and how we are conditioned by the greater collective of our culture.
Through Jupiter and Saturn we find our role models who can be reliable and provide guidance, and the ethical/moral references to our actions and behaviors. In other ways, we may say that the Social Planets represent the teachers in our lives, including how we ourselves become teachers and role models for others.
The TRANSPERSONAL Planets: URANUS, NEPTUNE, and PLUTO
They bring doubt, change, sometimes destruction, and awakenings, by exposing the limitations of our lives.
The Transpersonal Planets represent the evolutionary forces of life, which engender the evolution of our consciousness.
While the seven visible bodies (Sun to Saturn), represent in astrology how we build and establish our lives, the Transpersonal Planets prompt us to go beyond the confines of our current identity and comfort zone. They challenge our security and attachments and take us into the beyond, the unknown, so we may realize the greater Truth of life.
They bring doubt, change, sometimes destruction, and awakenings, by exposing the limitations of our lives. When we thought we were done, stable, and reached our goals, the Transpersonal Planets expose the cracks we did not see or denied to make us realize that the work is not done, that there is more to life than what we thought.
A common mistake is to believe that Transpersonal Planets have no effects on personal lives (only global trends). It is critical to understand that the role of the transpersonal planets is to elevate the consciousness of the individual, and therefore, they will have an immediate influence on personal circumstances, as described above. Even when the transpersonal planets make no aspects to Luminaries, they are part of our personal experience.
Pluto became the modern ruler of the sign of Scorpio. It represents the necessity to shift our awareness from ego to soul, serving as the gateway between the personal and the transpersonal.
Uranus became the modern ruler of the sign of Aquarius. It represents the incentive to elevate our perspective to gain a more objective and comprehensive understanding of life. This higher perspective requires that we emotionally detach (de-personalize) from our biases and wishful thinking to be more neutral and clear-minded. This dynamic is akin to a scientist doing research without imposing wishful thinking on the results—the art of observation from a high vantage point.
Neptune became the modern ruler of the sign of Pisces. It represents the incentive to harmonize with the totality of life, acknowledge and accept both the “good” and the “bad,” to ultimately make life a happy experience. We learn though this influence that life is not about our wishful thinking, but about a higher all-encompassing Truth, albeit one we can only understand partially. We cannot change or influence this higher Truth, but realize it, accept it, and align with it. It is fate and beyond our control. Neptune represents the need to remember the bigger picture, the larger meanings of life in our day to day material life
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PLANETS RULING SIGNS
True to their own nature, the discovery of the Transpersonal planets disrupted this [rulership] order and caused doubt in the established formula.
The term rulership of a planet over a sign ties both of them archetypically. A planet can travel in any sign as it goes through its revolution around the Sun, but it will represent the themes of the sign it rules anywhere it goes—it is a form of ambassador of the sign associated with it.
For example Mars spends about 6 weeks in each sign, but it will always represent the sign it rules, Aries themes, in those signs.
Traditionally, the rulership of the visible planets (Sun to Saturn) was neatly organized to follow an order expanding from the Moon and the Sun. The Moon and the Sun were ruling the signs where the Sun travelled during the warmest and longest days (Northern hemisphere perspective), hence with the signs of Cancer and Leo.
From there, following the order of natural astronomical distance of each Personal Planet from the Sun, Mercury was associated with the signs of Gemini and Virgo, Venus with Taurus and Libra, and Mars with Aries and Scorpio.
Kaboom! True to their own nature, the discovery of the Transpersonal planets disrupted this order and caused doubt in the established formula.
Uranus named after the sky God, representing innovation was more comprehensively representing Aquarius than Saturn did.
Neptune named after the God of the seas, representing the eternity of spirit and unconscious forces was more comprehensively representing Pisces than Jupiter did.
Pluto named after the God of the underworld, representing death and rebirth, shadow work, was more comprehensively representing Scorpio than Mars did.
Notwithstanding, many astrologers are reluctant to use modern rulerships and prefer to keep the original model, considering the Transpersonal Planets to be unaffiliated with a specific sign.
It may indeed seem odd that Pluto, the most distant planet to date (at the time of discovery), would rule the sign of Scorpio placed somewhere in the middle of the sign order, but with everything in astrology, we need to test our theories and verify whether they work in actual reality, even if at times they seem odd.
PLUTO is a Higher Octave of MARS – Outsmarting Death
Pluto and Mars are the powering forces in astrology;
Activators, confrontational, destructive, and givers of new life.
Mars ruling Aries – The Ignition of our Spark
The sign of Aries begins the zodiacal order of signs and represents our birth into the material world—the ignition of our separate consciousness. The separation from the womb to become autonomous beings turns us from passive beings into active beings. The energy to support us was initially provided through our mother, but with Aries and Mars, we now learn to generate our own supply and survival strategies.
Mars engages us to stand vertical and do our lives
Life begins as a battle. Looking at wildlife, we quickly realize how survival is threatened from the moment of birth. A foal needs to stand on four feet and be able to follow the herd, baby turtles hatching need to rush from their eggshell and dodge predators before reaching the ocean, (and then dodge the marine predators). This extraordinary self-preservation instinct requires a tremendous amount of energy. The adrenal glands are associated with Aries and Mars, and provide us with short emergency supplies of strength to confront danger and overcome challenges.
Another illustration for this dynamic can be experienced the moment we wake up and open our eyes every morning, similar to the birthing process, we transition from passive sleep to active engagement. Mars engages us to stand vertical and do our lives. Every day is a victory over death, a new goal reached.
Pluto ruling Scorpio – Gateway to the Transpersonal
Mars took us through life to secure our survival and achieve our goals. Reaching the sign of Scorpio and its modern ruler Pluto, a sense of lack emerges and we start to see the cracks of what was once solid and strong. We now may feel vulnerable, breakable, and diminished—the initial life force from Aries/Mars that got us going is now all the way up to Scorpio is at its last stretch—now we may be depleted. Scorpio and Pluto confront us with a crisis that exposes our limitations and the blind spots in our lives. For example, the marriage we thought was solid can now feel uncertain. We risk losing battles, facing rejection, losses, and self-doubt. We realize in this phase that we may not have all it takes to prevail, and (symbolic) death now looms.
Through Scorpio, our Mars functions need a recharge that only Pluto can provide. As Pluto represents shadow work and the need to dive deep into all our vulnerabilities, it makes us realize that something needs to change if we are to continue this journey. The transformation that occurs through Scorpio opens us up to the transpersonal consciousness—we realize we are part of a larger life meaning and forces. Opening up to the transpersonal provides access to new sources and types of fuel and recharge. We are prompted to change our ways through these deeper truths, and thus revitalize our life force. The shift from our personal perspective to a more comprehensive transpersonal perspective saves us from death.
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the MARS/PLUTO OCTAVE relationship:
URANUS is a Higher Octave of MERCURY – Uncovering the Logic in Chaos.
Uranus and Mercury are the problem solving forces in astrology;
the mental power of deduction, control, and tool development,
advancing humanity beyond survival routines into civilization.
Gemini Mercury – Learning Life
The sign of Gemini represents our impulse to collect information from around us in order to figure life out—information helps us find our way and know how to proceed in the maze of existence. As we learn and become more knowledgeable, we identify patterns and phenomena. When we find out about things, we can name them, and by expanding our vocabulary, we not only are able to communicate but also connect the dots of life—for example: bees, flower, pollination, are different words that come together to form a whole concept: fertilization. Things are interconnected.
As we listen, take notes, read the signs, we find more pieces of the puzzle of life. Mercury, ruling Gemini, stimulates the urge to move around, explore the world, and examine the diversity of life forms. Exposure to life stimulates the mental gymnastics to uncover the logic of life—connecting the dots.
Knowledge gained through Mercury’s functions helps us gain better control of our lives and prevent crises. The more we know, the better our decisions are, the less mistakes we make. Mercury enables us to be informed and anticipate, and thus seize opportunities, and navigate our lives more successfully.
Virgo Mercury – Pro-actively managing life
Once we have explored the vast world surrounding us and developed an elaborate vocabulary and a library of information, the Virgo expression of Mercury represents the need to empirically validate our knowledge by putting it into practice: Gemini as an Air sign is mostly theoretical, whereas Virgo as an Earth sign focuses on the practical use from the data banks. In this phase, the intention is to test and apply our knowledge to enhance the function of our lives.
The more we know, the better we can control and manage resources. Resources are finite, sometime scarce. We only have one body, one piece of land, a limited amount of daylight to work—how can we maximize use and diminish waste? The knowledge gathered helps us build tools to be more accurate and precise, live healthier lives, and increase our yield with most efficient investment. A constant work in progress.
Mercury here represents how we use our knowledge to improve the function of nature and use of resources – organizing, processing, maintaining, improving yield. Without our intervention, decay, dust, mold, and disease may take over. We intervene to care for our hygiene, cut our hair and nails, prune our trees for better growth, discourage parasitic growth, fertilize arid land. Our involvement in managing resources is essential to life and creation; we are not here to be passive observers of life, but actively intervene for betterment.
Uranus ruling Aquarius – Reaching for the Stars
The transpersonal nature of Uranus elevates Mercurial mental ability, analysis, and dexterity, to the higher mind. From the personal knowledge we gather through our encounters, Uranus takes us to a transpersonal understanding of life as a whole. The higher mind is without bias and personal expectations. Through the Uranus, 11th House, and Aquarius functions we detach from our emotional attachments to do research and analyze results with more neutrality—we become more objective and clear-minded.
Uranus, Aquarius, and 11th house dynamics elevate us to higher grounds to gain better and broader perspectives – the bird-eye view not only helps us see our lives “down here”, but explore what is “up there;” the place of our planet in the larger cosmic eco-system in space.
From physics to astrophysics, Uranus represents the sum of all sciences that can help us progressively decode all life’s functions and origins. We break the mysterious riddles of life, and accordingly, gain greater control over life with the aim to enhance civilization and improve conditions for our existence.
Perhaps the most important transpersonal function of Uranus is to elevate our function from successfully managing and improving our lives (Mercury) to inventing new things that nature did not initially create. Uranus opens the gate to intellectual creativity where humans gain the ability to enhance and upgrade their own world. It manifests in technological invention, computer sciences and the creation of Artificial Intelligence to accelerate and improve tasks and functions.
Explore this video to understand the full scope of
the MERCURY/URANUS OCTAVE relationship:
Neptune is the Higher Octave of Venus – The Integration of Spirit into Matter for Well-Being
Neptune and Venus are the harmonizing forces in astrology;
the faculty of appreciation, acceptance of fate,
with the intention to make life a satisfying experience.
Taurus Venus – Incarnation of Spirit into Matter
The sign of Taurus represents our physical incarnation, the descent of spirit into matter. The body becomes the temple of the soul, while land and nature produce food to sustain our physical existence—The cow, symbol of Taurus, represents the nourishment of milk and meat, while cattle were commonly used as currency (value). Taurus represents our resources for longer term sustenance, safety, and well-being.
Through Taurus we develop our senses, in particular smell, touch, and taste, allowing us to discern what is good for us from what isn’t. Through the senses we can appreciate and evaluate, choose what to keep and what to seek. The physical geometry of nature captures what is beautiful to our senses; accordingly, proportion and balance are key to feeling good. Through Taurus, we can find comfort, satisfaction, and pleasure to help our spirit better integrate into the density of matter.
Taurus represents what resources are available to sustain us. Since food is essential, we learn not to only to find food but to cultivate it and secure longer term survival. This can entail owning land and becoming more sedentary to tend to it. Through Taurus we learn to rely on what we have and become as self-sufficient as possible.
Libra Venus – The Balance of Opposites
Once we have established survival and value in what we have through Taurus, Libra represents the awareness of what we lack, and what we may need from others to improve our odds of well-being and survival. Self-sufficiency reaches its limits when new challenges confront us with the need to find new resources. We become aware that people living in different environments and conditions have developed means and talents that we could not generate, but need. Thus, the incentive to connect, trade, and form partnerships becomes essential for survival.
Through Libra we find value in supply and demand. If we need what others have, do they value our yield in return ? For a fair trade, we need to first value ourselves through Taurus before we engage in an exchange with others through Libra. The strength of our currency can lead to a healthy partnership and mutual satisfaction.
Sharing resources and joining forces through Libra strengthens us, as long as the exchange remains balanced and fair. Our sense of satisfaction through the Libra side of Venus is in fairness, balance, and enrichment.
Neptune ruling Pisces – Existential Well-Being
Neptune represents our relationship with life as a whole. We realize that our individuality is interlinked with everything else, and that in order for us to thrive (personal), the whole eco-system must thrive (transpersonal).
Neptune represents our common origin, the fact that we all were born from the same universal womb. Therefore, despite our visible differences, we realize that we are made of the same materials and share common goals—whether we are tall or short, animal or human, we all yearn for the same need for survival, health, and well-being. Even plants and minerals seek health and sustainability.
Through Neptune, the 12th house, and Pisces, we find the common denominators that unify everything beyond space and time. While Venus represents our personal sense of satisfaction and sustainability, Neptune’s transpersonal quality represents the larger meanings of life and global well-being. Neptune represents the eternity of Truth: what is true for all, everywhere, everyone, and always.
Neptune represents the higher forces of life, the vastness of how it all came to be, and all that is provided from nature and the universe: light, oxygen, food, water, among them. Every living thing relies on these resources, they are naturally available to all beings, but cannot be owned by any.
View Maurice’s book on Neptune and the 12th House
While we live in the material world (Venus), Neptune represents our spiritual nature and origin. Venus in its sensual beauty represents the material manifestation of the divine and spiritual.
Explore this video to understand the full scope of
the VENUS/NEPTUNE OCTAVE relationship:
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