Understanding Karmic Complexes

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• Publisher: The Wessex Astrologer Ltd
• Year: 2009
• Print ISBN: 9781902405438
• eBook ISBN: 9781902405735

While studying Evolutionary Astrology with Jeff Green, regression therapist Patricia Walsh realised that the potent combination of the two disciplines could help to resolve current issues which have their roots in past life experiences. The types ofissues that arise in past life regressions to be healed are also the exact dynamics that Evolutionary Astrology aims to describe.

1

Aries/Mars and the First House

“The ONE, hidden by void,
felt the generation of heat, came into being
as Desire, first seed of Mind...”

Rig Veda

Keywords

Cardinal/Yang//Fire

Separation/anxiety of separation

Initiative

Anger/Rage

Initiation

Desires and Desire nature

Expression of will

Identity

Super human

Freedom

Zarathustra

Independence

Special destiny

War

Narcissism

Loner

Self interest

Self

Roman soldier

Warrior

Violence

Pioneer

Sexual Instinct

Manifestation

Impatience

Sexual Violence

Anger at Limitations

Intolerance for weakness

Destroyer

Instinct

Paranoia

Confrontation

Impulse

Primal

Pushing the limits

Spontaneous enthusiasm

Competition

The Natural Archetype

Aries as the first sign of the zodiac wheel is a primary, youthful energy. It is associated with the springtime and the beginnings of life. Aries as Yang/ Male energy moves outwards and emerges out of the Pisces archetype which is the end of the zodiac wheel. Pisces is the cosmic ocean where life arises from and eventually returns to. Dane Rudhyar attributes ‘the-will-to-be- manifest’ as a part of the Aries archetype and describes the Sabian symbol of the first degree of Aries as “A woman has arisen from the ocean; a seal embraces her”. The individual emerges from the collective and realizes ‘self’ for the first time. Without movement away from the source, there would be no individuality or diversity. The core urge within Aries is to become a separate, distinct being.

Aries can be likened to the ‘terrible twos’ that any parent is familiar with. In fact using this stage of childhood as a lens to look at some of the natural qualities of Aries is quite appropriate, as it coincides with the first Mars return.

As the child nears the age of two it bewilders the parents who perhaps just a few months earlier found him/her to be quite compliant and attentive to every word they said, but now, he/she stops listening. The child’s impulse is purely self motivated. It is what I want (desire) and I want it now! Being a toddler, the child now has a new sense of mobility, and wants to explore and discover new things; there is an essential need for freedom. This newly found sense of independence tolerates no limitations. The child is fully open to new experience and can be bold and daring in going about it, taking risks beyond what had been normal up to this point.

Here the child is making the first separation from the parents and is willfully developing a sense of self. This developmental stage is characterized by the child forcefully expressing its will, “MINE” and “NO!” become the child’s favorite words. This sense of self is instinctual and not premeditated. It is created by aggressive assertion of self and at this stage that point is made by angry outbursts. The child is discovering itself through confrontation and opposition. The anger in the terrible twos arises from impatience, and a frustration or intolerance of limitations. Again, because all of this is happening instinctually, we can understand that the anger can arise as a way to create an immediate boundary. In this case it is a boundary of ‘I’ and ‘Me’ in opposition to ‘You’. As the microcosm reflects the macrocosm, the stages of our life mirror the larger process of evolution and growth.

Mars and its relationship to Pluto is central to the foundational principles of Evolutionary Astrology (EA). Before Pluto’s discovery Mars ruled both Aries and Scorpio, and this shows us different aspects of Mars. Mars as the ancient ruler of Scorpio is where personal will eventually meets a higher will. Pluto in EA correlates to the soul and the force of evolution that it is subject to. Pluto as a symbol for the soul inherently reflects the desire nature that is at the core of every soul. There exist within two primary desires, one to separate from the source and one to return. Mars as ruler of Aries, with its outward yang energy represents unbridled personal will. The will is directed outward towards fulfillment of whatever is desired. The divine intention here is to separate, to become distinct and have a unique identity. As this relates to the desire nature, Aries/Mars is the personal will to act upon desires. But separation from the source and fulfillment of personal desires is not meant to be everlasting, at one point the wheel turns and it becomes necessary to forge a path of return. This happens slowly over the course of many lifetimes and is what evolution is about.

Throughout time all spiritual paths have intended to point a way back to the source. But the personal desire must be ignited to pursue such a path. It takes many lifetimes for this desire to awaken within and many more to complete the path of return. Mars as the lower octave of Pluto shows the struggle that happens when the personal will to remain separate clashes with the soul’s will to return to the source. Evolution nonetheless is a natural cycle, and is reflected symbolically, through the zodiac wheel as a progression of consciousness. In Aries, to separate from the source and become a distinct being is where the soul dies, and the small egocentric self reigns, but the cycle turns in the upper half of the chart at the cusp of Libra, as consciousness expands to include ever increasing circles of awareness of the world outside of the self. The polarity point to Aries is Libra, and that is where ‘the other’ is met. The challenge, and often the battle between oneself and others, is a turning point for soul consciousness to awaken and begin to eclipse the ‘small self’.

Mars’ relationship to Scorpio as its ancient ruler continues this awakening, as the battles that happen here challenge one to merge more deeply with others, and also to penetrate to the core of oneself, to find the soul within. Soul consciousness is ‘birthed’ by personal trials and effort in Scorpio and this is the true esoteric meaning of the death and rebirth cycles this sign is known for – the ‘small self’ – dies, so the ‘greater self’ can be born. In Scorpio the personal will combines with the soul’s and eventually divine will is realized. Within Scorpio desire is purified, intentions and motives are examined, resulting in transformation. This is why most Eastern traditions, being aligned closely with the evolution of the soul, teach about the purification of desires so that divine reality is realized. The Hindu practice called ‘Neti, Neti’, ‘Not this, Not This’, is a mantra that is meant to evolve consciousness to the point of its true identity (one with the divine). The repeating of ‘not this’ as thoughts, sensations, desires arise... is meant to eliminate anything that separates the individual consciousness from the all encompassing divine within.

This is like the parable of the prodigal son, who leaves the father’s house and becomes mired in all the pleasures and stimulations of life. He wanders far and wide, squanders his father’s fortune and eventually desires to return home. He is welcomed home lavishly by the father, who then says to the jealous brother who stayed home, “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is now found” (Luke 15:11-32). On an esoteric level this parable can be seen to reflect the exact intention of creation that is reflected in the zodiac wheel; leaving the father’s house (Involution, Incarnation); the adventures on the journey (many past lives) and then, satiated, returning home (Evolution). Like the prodigal son, the soul must first experience its separating desires and eventually exhaust them, before turning back home. Mars is the force that allows one to accomplish either intention.

Aries in Past Life Experiences

The Aries archetype is a part of the karmic axis when:

Pluto is in Aries or the first house or

The South Node is in Aries or the first house or

The ruler of the South Node is in Aries or the first house or

Mars aspects Pluto, the nodal axis or rulers of the nodes.

Identity

Because identity is at the core of this archetype, individuals with strong Aries often have a sense of rightness and purpose about their individuality and the will and courage to manifest it. In past lives, issues surrounding ‘identity’ come to the forefront. Having such a strong sense of self can leave one feeling lonely or singled out as ‘special’ by others. In times past, being the ‘chosen one’ was often not that much fun. Typical scenarios include being identified as special, chosen for some great work or destiny and being cultivated to fulfill that role.

Chart A (Porphyry houses)

Chart A

One client with an Aries SN in the sixth house was chosen in a past life as a young child to be an escort to the Pharaoh in his afterlife. Because she was only eight or so at the time, she had no idea what this meant, but felt very proud of her ‘special destiny.’ She was taken from her home, but that was not painful to her because she was overcome with excitement at what this new adventure was going to bring. She was taken to a palace and adorned with jewels and fine clothes, all the time being told what a special honor she was chosen for. She stayed there for few months, being adored and pampered, and loving every moment of all the attention, which was quite a contrast from her humble roots (Pluto and ruler of the SN in Virgo). One day she was told that finally she was going to meet the Pharaoh; she was adorned and given a liquid drug to drink (Neptune inconjunct SN). Feeling woozy and quite relaxed, she was laid into a sarcophagus and sealed in. She remained there for some time singing to herself, imagining what this meeting was going to be like. When she tired of this, she called out to the others and to the Pharaoh. She didn’t get any response and eventually panic set in. Inevitably, she died of suffocation in terror and with the deep imprint that being special or having a destiny is deadly. In her current life she had a deep need to be noticed, with a subconscious fear of the same. Psychologically she feared limitations and commitments of any sort (Saturn square the nodes, Pluto is also in the tenth) including relationships (Aries/ Libra). Physically, the fear of limitation manifested as actual claustrophobia. After working with this past life, the client was able to reclaim her essential need for freedom, yet not have it compulsively control her life.

When one has experienced a sense of a destiny that is unfulfilled, or it turned out to be not what was expected, the subconscious self will still be seeking a completion. There can be an over attachment to the ‘special’ identity, which stops one from participating in the ongoing process of self- discovery that is the healthy and unhindered expression of Aries. The natural square from Capricorn can cause a fear that tries to solidify this natural process and fixate on one identity. The natural square from Cancer adds the element of emotional security tied into a fixed image of oneself. But as Aries marches on, despite Cancer and Capricorn’s urgings, often an ‘identity crisis’ is the result. In past lives, if one was unable to fully form their identity or became overly attached to it, much of the current life energy may go into protecting even the slightest sense of self, even if it is not deeply felt. Constantly arguing to have one’s ‘own way’ can be a substitute for an authentic sense of being. Or because one may subconsciously fear losing their individuality, they may have an overly narcissistic orientation in relationship to others or may avoid involvement altogether.

Destiny and Mission

The imprint of the loneliness associated with being special often shows up in past lives spent as a leader or a person consumed with a mission (another version of a special destiny). In one past life, a young man with Mars conjunct a Gemini SN was a courier/messenger delivering war time commands in an ancient culture. He believed fervently in his mission and took great care and pride in his ability to evade capture through his physical agility and intelligence (Mars/athletics and Gemini/cleverness). The Mars conjunction to the SN signified this Gemini energy in overdrive. In that past life it seemed that he experienced an addiction (what we would call ‘runner’s high’ today), so much so that it was all consuming. Aries/Mars also rules adrenals/adrenaline. As he grew older, it became physically impossible to continue with this mission, yet he refused to acknowledge his own ageing body (both Mars and Gemini contain elements of the Puer – the eternal youth). When out on a mission he was ambushed and killed. He died angry that his body failed him and that he had to face the fact that he was not eternally young or invincible (Mars/Gemini). In his current life, his main complaint was that he couldn’t stay still long enough to accomplish anything of value. He felt he was always in ‘overdrive’ and described himself as having ADD (attention deficit disorder). Mars conjunct his Gemini SN added fuel to the diverse interests of Gemini not allowing him to focus on one goal – his Sagittarian NN. Once this past life self realized it was not invincible and was able to put to rest the ‘need for speed’ (Mars) he was able to embrace the qualities of his NN by maintaining a broad yet more focused approach to life.

Other ‘mission’ stories include being unable to complete what one set out for. Commonly one was too young or was ill equipped for the mission. Past life soldiers, crusaders and young initiates who failed their mission or died as a result of it can experience a present life fear of starting things. Another common scenario is the pioneer, either actual or someone who was ahead of his or her time in some way. Many pioneers set off on their own and never made it to their ‘manifest destiny’, being ambushed along the way or dying of illness or hardships. Additionally, people who ‘pioneer’ in other ways by being ahead of their time often suffer imprints of being persecuted or misunderstood. Those who blaze trails often have had to ‘go it alone’. People who have had such lives can find solace in actualizing their Libra NN potential. Finding not only love partnerships but creative or even intellectual partners that they can share their inspiration with, will broaden their ability to affect the ‘world at large’. But more importantly such partnerships, if approached openly, will soothe their lonely hearts.

Initiations

Initiation is a frequent theme in Aries involving either initiating action or actual initiations. Failed or thwarted initiations can leave people with the feeling that they constantly need to prove themselves in their current life, especially if they died mid-process in a past life. Anxiety can lie behind much of what they do in the current life, pushing them to achieve, to accomplish more and more, without being able to take comfort in what they have done already. There may also be extreme anxiety at the prospect of any test or competition, or a complete avoidance of such circumstances.

Chart B (Porphyry houses)

Chart B

A client with a Pisces SN in the first house (Aries’ natural house) was a young man in desert culture. He was given a message to deliver (ruler of SN is squared by three planets in Gemini), but with unclear directions (Pisces). He set off, regardless, feeling quite proud that he was chosen and full of confidence (first house and Pluto in Leo) but because of his youth, lack of clear guidance and experience, he got lost (Pisces) and ended up dying. This past life character died with the imprint that he failed, and in the after-life was merciless towards himself that despite his youth and unclear directions he should have been able to accomplish the task (ruler of SN in Virgo also Pluto in the sixth house – not good enough).

This imprint played out in another past life that reflected the aspects of pushing the limits and going too far - too fast. In that lifetime he was a young boy who set off on an initiation-into-manhood journey with another boy. This time the elders gave them clear instruction, they were to arrive at a particular location as fast as possible (Gemini planets square ruler of SN, and the first house SN – speed), complete several tasks, and bring back proof of each. They were told that the journey had to take place solely by land, but this young boy, filled with the spirit of competition, ended up arguing with his reluctant partner on the journey, convincing him through sheer force of will that they must take to the river in order to beat the other boys (Aries/first house).

Prior to this journey, the boy had felt quite unnoticed (Pisces) in his tribe and was seizing this opportunity to prove himself and gain recognition. They took to the river in a makeshift boat which ended up capsizing and drowning them both (Pisces). In the afterlife the boy met with the elders again in spirit form, and the first thing they said to him was, “You should have listened to us!” The past life directly reflects some of the lessons of this client’s current life, indicated by the seventh house NN polarity point. Being open to others is a general way to look at the learning for Aries/first house moving towards Libra/seventh house, which includes taking other’s needs into consideration and being open to listen and really hear other people.

Instinct

Aries is associated with instinct in that there isn’t much that is premeditated when Mars is involved; impulsive, immediate action is the natural expression of this archetype. The primal energy of Mars also relates to the basic animal instinct and when it has been wounded in the past it results in an alienation from an essential part of oneself.

A woman with Mars conjunct her Scorpio SN in the sixth house had a past life as a primitive woman. Her role or service (sixth house) was to find food sources for her community. She had a name in the tribe which pointed to this natural ability which roughly translated as ‘she whose feet know where to go’. She would instinctually (Mars) follow her feet to find game, the primary natural resource (Scorpio) of the time. One particularly hard winter she didn’t get the instinctive message about where to go. This resulted in all the people falling into sickness and starvation and eventually they all froze to death. She died with a huge sense of guilt (Pluto/Virgo and SN in the sixth house). In her current life she is a natural intuitive, and her intuition is based quite deeply in her instinctual nature. In order for her to bring this gift out fully in her current life as a healer (her nodes are on the sixth/twelfth house axis), she has had to heal many layers of fears, doubts and wounding relating to this ability.

Competition and Impatience

Predator and Prey is another theme that falls into the Arie...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright
• Contents
• About the Cover
• Acknowledgments
• Foreword by Jeff Green
• Foreword by Roger Woolger
• Introduction
• 1. Aries/Mars and the First House
• 2. Taurus/Venus and the Second House
• 3. Gemini/Mercury and the Third House
• 4. Cancer/The Moon and the Fourth House
• 5. Leo/The Sun and the Fifth House
• 6. Virgo/Mercury and the Sixth House
• 7. Libra/Venus and the Seventh House
• 8. Scorpio/Pluto and the Eighth House
• 9. Sagittarius/Jupiter and the Ninth House
• 10. Capricorn/Saturn and the Tenth House
• 11. Aquarius/Uranus and the Eleventh House
• 12. Pisces/Neptune and the Twelfth House
• 13. The Left Brain Approach to Reading Past Lives in the Chart
• 14. The Right Brain Approach to Reading Past Lives in the Chart
• Appendix
• Bibliography