Dear Friend and Reader:
Today you may have seen two words appear on Planet Waves that you will rarely if ever see — ‘malefic’ and ‘benefic’. These pertain to descriptions of planets from traditional astrology, that is, astrology that existed before the modern revival (and before the discovery of psychology), and which dates back about 3,000 years.
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These categories rank Mars and Saturn as ‘malefic’ (bad) and Venus and Jupiter as ‘benefic’ (good). Back in the day, astrologers were not interested in process. They were interested in getting a reading on fate. If you didn’t go to an astrologer to get your question answered, you might go to someone who would cut open a chicken and read their entrails for you — same price, same credibility.
Tonight the Sun makes an exact alignment with Saturn in Libra. Yes, some guys in togas thought that Saturn was a ‘malefic’ planet. To me this aspect is about help on the way, and offers us a moment where it’s possible to set ourselves free from the past and experience the benefit of true maturity. Conjunct the Sun in Libra, Saturn is a truly friendly influence — if you honor Saturn. That is, if you work with limits and not against them; if you know that energy needs to be contained and directed; and if you honor the idea that if you take authority over your life, others will not be able to do so for you.
Today, astrology is psychological in nature (mainly because psychology is such a crucial reference point, even in religion and science, and we cannot get away from it). Modern astrology involves understanding processes in the psyche. In those processes, we honor all the parts of what a person is, and the role that they play in our lives. It is tempting to want to predict the future or ‘read the fate’ of something, and I believe that it’s the job of modern astrologers to get people past those ideas and into a more reflective mode where we get to understand ourselves.
For those who are new to planetary meanings, I will give you mine on the four planets referenced.
Mars is the masculine or yang principle, and it’s about what motivates us. It represents a driving force in one’s life, which can be the drive to succeed, one’s sex drive, the impetus to make money, and the desire to build or achieve something. Any force can be turned destructive, either by applying it unconsciously, or by representing a toxic motive. Mars can be turned to violence, violation and warfare. Like a knife it can manifest as a sharp object. But we would never say that a knife is malefic. It’s what you do with it that counts. The question is, what do people do with their motivation? Well, we know it’s not always positive or helpful things; and we also know that the goal of growth is to turn motivation toward what is helpful. But that is an act of will; Mars is involved inherently.
Saturn is where we seek structure and focus. Saturn is a balancing force to Mars; it sets limits, which are crucial in the creation of goals. Saturn represents the most dependable structures in our lives, and in our minds. For example, it represents the buildings we live in, the bones and teeth in our bodies and our mental ability to structure our lives. Saturn in public charts, and in personal charts, represents our relationship to authority. It can represent an external authority that is imposed on us, and as we grow, our ability to take authority over our lives. How we relate to the Saturn principle tells us about our maturity level. Saturn can represent the principle of limitation, which is as often helpful as it is a problem. We depend on limits for many reasons. In our particular society, we need to pay a lot more homage to the concept of a limit.
Jupiter is the principle of expansion and knowledge. Jupiter and his Greek prototype Zeus were rapists (among other things), but we call Jupiter a benefic. Jupiter can bring gifts, ‘luck’ and hint at success — but Jupiter is nothing without Mars and Saturn. You can have all the luck in the world and get nowhere if you lack motivation, structure and discipline. So we can look to Jupiter for where help is available. Jupiter is a place in any chart where it’s possible to expand, stretch, grow and in a sense make a world of your own.
Venus is the feminine or yin principle, and it’s about what we draw to us. It too balances Mars and vice versa. Venus is alluring and attractive; she seeks comfort and balance, and can bestow power that people do not understand, that kind of charisma that influences people deeply. Venus is usually helpful if you follow your values. Venus can have a toxic side as well — for example, Charles Manson has Venus conjunct the Sun in Scorpio. That gives an image of the incredible attractive power he had. Lizzie Borden also had Venus conjunct the Sun. Nobody has her on their goddess altar. Elvis Costello has Venus conjunct the Sun — some people have him on the goddess altar. So too did the poet Emily Dickinson.
So as you can see, these planets are complex, and in reading any chart we have to be specific about where they appear — what house, what sign, what aspects — and what is the question we’re seeking to answer?
Part of why the new planets are not getting much traction in the astrological community is the concept of a ‘malefic’. Many astrologers assume any new discovery is a malefic. One of the first booklets on Neptune noted that a ship sank close to the time of the discovery and that this cannot be good. Now we understand something of the complex nature of how Neptune manifests. It can bring inspiration, or delusion. It can bring creative vision or self-destruction through alcohol.
With the new planets, the logic goes: well, in every centaur myth, the centaur dies. So why do I associate them with growth and transformation? In mythology, Eris loved war and bloodshed. So why do I associate her with marginalized women, and those who are looking to make contact with their drive to independence? In the myths, Pluto made himself invisible and kidnapped people, dragging them to the underworld. So why do we consider him the planet of the drive to evolve and grow?
Much of astrology is context, and much of context is: what time in world history is it? How do we handle ideas? What is the relationship between who we are and what those ideas tell us?
In handling astrological ideas, I suggest using as much observation, balance and creativity as possible. We need to question values handed to us from 3,000 years ago, particularly from a culture that didn’t know the Galactic Center existed. In some ways we are the inheritors of the astrology of empire, but we have to decide what to do with it — just like any inheritance.
Any astrological equation can be worked out for the greater good for all concerned — that’s why we have the chart to look at and the situation to consider. The planets have messages, and the job of astrologers is to interpret those messages in a humane way.
If it was all about getting whacked on the ass by fate, why would we need astrology anyway?
.and not speaking of Lizzie Borden….or maybe “yes” speaking of Lizzie Borden actually — I read an interesting in-depth bit on Eris yesterday which suggests that Eris has two distinct manifestations – one malefic and the other benefic — or the energy of jealousy and or versus the energy of competition.
http://mvtabilitie.blogspot.com/2009/04/astrological-eris.html
Considering this Sun/Saturn Libra conjunction in Libra is Opposite my Moon/Eris in Aries I guess they all have a thing or two to say to each other.
And I gather that this is a fairly common opposition amongst us considering fast moon and slow Eris.
XO
Disclaimer: I know not of the author save for this blog – interesting read, I have not the knowledge-base to refute or otherwise judge – my moment is about myth-info-gathering.
and speaking of the AXE:
“CNN fires host Rick Sanchez over controversial remararks”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20101001/bs_yblog_upshot/cnn-fires-host-rick-sanchez-over-controverial-remarks
“Sanchez called out Comedy Central host Jon Stewart as a “bigot” for mocking him, and complained that Jews — like Stewart — don’t face discrimination. He also suggested that CNN, and perhaps the media industry more broadly, is run by Jews and elitists who look down on Hispanics like himself.”
“He specifically called out Stewart as someone with “a white liberal establishment point-of-view” who “can’t relate to a guy like me.”
–establishment?
Actually, one of the women i work with has an illustration of Lizzie Borden as part of her desktop wallpaper. Always though it was a wry bit of humor even though i do not know her very well. Computer display screens are an altar pf sorts.
Eric,
THANK YOU for this most grounding article. I needed to read this NOW. I have felt so helpless for too long and you and all the PW writers and commenters have shown me the better way to live. I am making small baby steps in this but at least I am making them. I feel more connected with things than ever. Thanks so much.
Thank you for this Eric. I’m really glad you brought this up because it was actually on my mind some part of the day.
Although Sat. in Libra has issues for everybody in different ways, for me it’s not really that bad. I have 4 planets in AQ in my 6th (including my Sun) with my Moon in Libra in the 3rd. Now, compared to the ABSOLUTE HELL I’ve been through with Sat. in Virgo for the past 2.5 yrs. combined with Ur. in Pisces, this feels more like “grounding” for me personally. It’s been keeping me anchored without pulling me down. I know that Sat. in Libra demands that we honor the 10,000 baby steps required to get closer to the goal but that’s okay for me.
Taking a look at today’s political blogs, I see the reaction to Tyler Clementi’s suicide caused by his roommate and girlfriend outing him on the internet having a sexual encounter with a man — is really right in there with this Sun Saturn conjunction in the sign of equality, fairness, and relationship.
Those Rutgers kids are going through it, as well as the gay community online–and I can see the remorse and the recognition of the total lack of morality that has permeated these kids into thinking they can invade your privacy with their new fangled toy for kicks. And that this is a price for bullying.
I spent part of the afternoon on blogs discussing this topic and the fear felt by gay people came up like a PTSD episode. Everyone recalls some kind of bullying happening to them, and this suicide has triggered alot of feelings that have needed to come out for years.
Today felt like a real Medicine Day. And I mean that with a keen sense of relief.
“whacked on the ass by fate…..” !!!!!!! I love that…..and it even seems playful, which is easier to work with then ” set in stone”.
I like this stuff, I like how clear it is. thank you.
second time I have read the reference to grabbing the bull by the horns, first Len now Amanda. I like that image, I wish that I could literally grab a bull by the horns,…I read that and my hands tingle a little and i can see that they want to grab onto something.
I can see why people are drawn to motorcycles, easier to get your hands on than a bull.
I attract what I fear, which is a good reason to fear not.
Thank you Eric (and Amanda too). Somewhere in my toga is a note slate and a chisel, gotta write this down…
I was once working with a client through a forthcoming Pluto transit. She worked with me for two years. Didn’t know a lot of astrology…holistic doctor. Pretty much if you see a Pluto transit coming it can be turned into a huge positive, even if it’s inconvenient and stressful. The client didn’t know enough astrology for me to get into the technical interpretations, but she was consistent and came back every couple of weeks and we did great work.
Then she went to another astrologer.
Then a year later she called me and said: I’m back. My new astrologer told me I was going to have a bad year — and I did. Aaah, that Pluto transit. I didn’t even need to look at her chart. I asked my client: “so what do you think we were working on the past couple of years?” Her experience with the new astrologer went from conscious process to prediction.
Now if you don’t want to predict, if you know that’s not your karma and you honor the freedom that we have here, you have to be ready do either tune your mind to a wholly constructive frequency — or do some deep work, be it by yourself or with your clients when that time comes, or preferably both. It’s not easy for an astrologer to do this; I know how much energy it takes to work with people on their perspective. And a lot of people come to astrology looking for a prediction; looking for hope; looking for anything. But I don’t know what else astrology is for, except to open up the field of potential and consider the full event horizon.
What I do in my written “horoscopes” — which are interpretations — and my audio reports, which are interpretations and motivational information — is treat them like spiritual calculus and work out the equation for the greatest good for all concerned. Yes, shit happens and yes, we must deal with it one way or the other. But we have a lot of choices how, and astrology can help us focus the project and choose how we want to manifest any transit we see coming. So with astrology we look and see, and then with our mind and our soul, we consider and decide, and decide, and decide — we choose and choose again, till we find the right direction, the right vibe for us, and some level of understanding that allows us to integrate the past and move on.
Planet Waves has spent more than a decade challenging old beliefs in an effort to stop undermining people’s ability to make positive change in their lives. After all, what good is a spiritual/personal growth tool if it blocks you in your faith that you can move forward, however bumpy and circuitous the route?
Describing aspects in a way that leaves people afraid to take a step forward for fear of dire consequences is damaging; I have seen it at work in an astrologer friend of mine, a woman so convinced of the existence of “bad aspects” she was continually a victim of her own design. Sure, difficult circumstances beyond her control came her way, as they do for everyone. But watching her repeatedly convince herself there was nothing she could do but passively wait out an astrological ‘storm’ only drove me further to believe there was a better way to live, and that Eric was continually holding open that at Planet Waves.
Repeatedly I have seen that the more actively I grab the bull by the horns, notice which way the tide is flowing and row my boat with it or actually catch the ball thrown my way and start running (if you’ll pardon the mix of metaphors), the better I feel, the more creative the solution I find, the more i line with myself I feel. Sometimes it takes a huge effort to get out of my own way. But it does happen sometimes.