"Because we put astrological knowledge to work for a
certain specific enlightening or regenerative objective, we must learn how to
apply to the individual horoscope these picturings of 'zodiacal points and
their counterparts.' In other words, we must always seek to make our
philosophical conclusions practical — in astrological interpretation or
in living."
"Do unto others what you would that they do unto you."
This Great Commandment was given as a directive for
conduct so that humanity could become aware of the action of the universal Law
of Cause and Effect in its experiences, relationships, and affairs. By
adherence to it, the self-preservative impulse is appealed to in such a way
that consideration of the well-being, happiness, and success of other people
is stimulated, and the natural, normal desires for fulfillment of the
individual are extended into the higher octave of fulfillment for the self
and for the "other self" — which means "all people."
In considering the "self and the other self," let us
re-word the Commandment slightly into: "I do unto others; so do they unto me:"
and combine this phrase with the following simple mandala: a circle with
horizontal diameter; the symbol for the sign Aries at the point which
corresponds to the Ascendant; the symbol for the sign Libra at the point
corresponding to the seventh cusp.
Place the point of a pencil on the Aries cusp as you
say "I do;" as you say "unto," let the pencil-point travel around the
circumference of the wheel passing (what would be) the cusps of the second,
third, fourth, fifth, and the sixth houses, arriving at the seventh cusp as
you say "others;" let it remain there as you say "so do they;" let it travel
over the upper semi-circle — the cusps of the eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh,
and twelfth houses — as you say "unto" and arrive back at the Ascendant when
you say "me." Repeat this action several times to alert your consciousness to
a greater realization of the continual, rhythmic functioning of the Law of
Cause and Effect in human evolution; in short you are performing a motion-
picture of the Golden Rule.
The horizontal diameter of the horoscope-wheel is one
of the most important phases of astrological symbology because it is the
"arch-symbol" of such as: the esoteric essence of the opposition aspect; the
picturing of the self and the other selves; the picture of action
and reaction, force and counter-force; marriage as fusion of male and
female qualities and expressions in love-relationship; marriage as the
magnetic attraction between the individual and any or all
complementary relationship-patterns, whether single or collective; the
challenge to the separative self by the vibratory forces which seek to
decrystallize the separativeness into the larger Life and Consciousness
through union, exchange and blending; the mirroring of the individual
through his feeling-reaction to those who complement him, either
unregeneratively or regeneratively; it is the astrological picture of the
physical Law which is started: every force automatically sets up an equal
opposite force; this, in physical terms, is Life's way of establishing
equilibriums after stress and tension.
Since planets are the active focuses of principles,
and planetary positions and aspects depict our individual consciousness of
principles, then it is clearly shown that every planetary focus has its
counterpart in the zodiacal degree opposite to its position in the natal
horoscope. Give this careful attention — it will help you to understand much
more clearly why some people who may not be specifically identified by
your seventh-house patterns may appear — in your feeling-reactions — as your
counterparts; something in their charts may oppose a point of one of your
planetary arrangements. In other words, the other person's planet may serve to
mirror the counterpart of something in your own chart. He is then, in part, a
reflection of yourself, either to pull you down further into your
congestions — through reactions of temptation, friction and
enmity — or, by his regenerate
quality, to lift you out of your congestions — to love and ideality.
Since I am and I do comprise the "song of the
individualized self" as illustrated by the Ascendant of the abstract
horoscope, the Golden Rule refers specifically to humanity's "being and
doing." It is the start of travel around the wheel through experience-patterns
and development-levels. The Rule says, in effect: life is to be lived; I show
you how it can be lived in terms of neutralizing inner frictions and
establishing harmonies and integrations each step of the way. Let us see how
the mandala can be amplified to illustrate the Rule throughout the
wheel.
Add the other diameters, thus picturing the twelve
houses; add the symbols appropriate to the house-cusps (Aries through Pisces);
perform the "ritual" of reciting the Rule — as we did with the Aries-Libra
diameter — starting with each cusp in turn. For example, when you "start the
motion-picture" with Taurus you are impressing your consciousness with the
value of the Rule as an underlying basis of conduct in all of your experiences
pertaining to material stewardship and financial exchange and toward all
people who are involved in your life through these experiences. So it is with
all of the other houses and signs; the Rule directs your conduct in
relationship to all people who figure as "vibratory expressions" in
your experience-patterns — past, present, and future.
Since every zodiacal point in the first six signs of
the abstract horoscope is counterparted by the opposite point, the following
is suggested as an exercise for becoming more fluently acquainted with the
"opposition pattern;" place the pencil-point on the cusp of the first house
and draw it along the horizontal diameter, saying: "Aries is counterparted by
Libra;" then turn the wheel so that Libra is on the Ascendant, draw the
diameter again saying: "Libra is counterparted by Aries." Follow out this
procedure with each pair of counterparted signs until each pair is established
in mind as "two parts of the same thing" rather than as "two different
things."
Each of the twelve signs is then seen to be a
potential starting point for a journey around the wheel. The cusps of
the twelve houses — as the horoscope is constructed — form what appears to be
six diameters; actually the cyclic action of the "life within the
wheel" indicates twelve diameters representing the polarity-action of
the horoscope as a picture of the Law of Cause and Effect in action throughout
humanity's evolution. These diameters are not complete in themselves until the
return is made, since each is simply a short cut between one zodiacal point
and its opposite; the two opposites form a structural segment on which the
complete circle is built. So, from Aries to Libra and back to Aries — via the
diameter — is the short-cut picture of traveling around the wheel from Aries
through Libra and back to Aries on the circumference of the horoscope. Cyclic
action is implied by both.
Because we put astrological knowledge to work for a
certain specific enlightening or regenerative objective, we must learn how to
apply to the individual horoscope these picturings of "zodiacal points and
their counterparts." In other words, we must always seek to make our
philosophical conclusions practical — in astrological interpretation or in living.
We must learn to recognize our patterns of
consciousness by identifying our reactions to other people and
synchronize these conclusions with the picturings in our horoscopes. When — if ever — this is accomplished we have put our astrological knowledge to
constructive, practical use toward lifting reactions of envy, hatred,
jealousy, fear, and the like from our minds and hearts. We cannot love our
neighbors (humanity) as long as such qualities remain in our "inner." Not
loving (the Light in) our neighbor means not fulfilling. Your Light is his
light also and the dark congestions of down-pulling reaction must be
dissipated if the Light in yourself and in him is to become a living reality
in your consciousness. So, let us study our natal charts from this basis of
"counterpart" and come into a clearer realization of the fact that our
reactions to others form the vibratory barometer of our Consciousness; we will
approach this study by renewing our realization that planets are expressions
of principles; therefore they are the "goodness of Life in action;" it is our
Life-purpose to learn how to live these principles as unfoldment of divine
potentials.
Life gives us many opportunities to deal with each
planetary pattern and these opportunities are presented to us through our
contact with other people whose planetary arrangements synchronize with ours
in different ways. We are now concerned with "problems" so we will deal with
the "counterparting" of the opposition aspects.
Until such time as you recognize that your Light is
one with humanity's Light you tend to "classify" other people in three
principal ways: (1) the bad — those who stimulate your unregeneracies; (2) the
bad-good — those who stimulate both your unregeneracies and your regeneracies;
(3) the good — those you love because they stimulate only your best in
consciousness. The "envelope" doesn't matter — relationship, sex, age — we are
now considering the "other fellow" only as a vibratory mechanism, expressing
in human incarnation, as a factor in your vibratory experience.
Recognize that every opposition aspect between
planets in your chart forms an active polarity-pattern; until those elements
in consciousness are harmonized by regenerating each factor, a condition of
inner tug-of-war prevails. Any person who comes into your life in a
significant way whose ruler — planet ruling the Ascendant sign — is conjunct one
of your opposed planets is personally identified by that planetary vibration
in your consciousness and fits into your life in one of the three above-
mentioned classifications. Any person who has any other planet but the chart-
ruler conjunct one of your opposed planets might be called a secondary
identification or variation of that vibration. Regardless of how the other
person is identified, his being in your life is to give you an opportunity to
regenerate your expression of the two opposed planets; stimulation of one
automatically stimulates the other. If his planet is unregenerate in quality
the lesson is clear: you must use the spiritual principle represented by that
planet in order successfully to harmonize and fulfill the relationship. If his
planet is "bad-good" in quality then you must express the best of both your
opposed planets — in other words, you must fuse the best elements of both
planets in order to establish greater harmony with all of his planetary
conditions represented by that particular planet. If his planet is entirely
regenerate, then he is an "agency" for making you aware of the best of the
particular planet in your pattern with which he is identified, and he helps
you to express the best of the other planet of your opposition. His planet
being regenerate, he is your "friend" because his quality stimulates you to
express your Light; if otherwise, he is your "tempter."
Therefore, since the opposition-aspect seems to pit
one planet against another, the solution is not "working on one planet at the
expense of the other;" it is found in translating or transposing the quality
of planetary expression into a higher octave, thus redeeming the weakness
implied by congestion and friction from darkness into a greater expression of
Light. This can be done by different approaches: (1) using the regenerate
quality of a third planet which favorably — by trine and sextile — aspects the
two opposed planets; (2) using the regenerate quality of the planets which
disposit — rule the signs of placement of — the two opposed planets; (3) direct
translation — by applying the Golden Rule — of the quality of the two opposed
planets. This is a direct philosophical discipline, since the quality of the
two planets is dynamically projected from your "Light-center."
In the illustration above, the alleviating planet
which helps the opposition may be congested by square aspect from a fourth
planet. If such is the case, pay careful attention to the zodiacal point which
is opposite to the alleviating planet. Any person in your life whose ruler is
within orb of that point will stand, through his regenerate qualities, as a
living symbol of the "higher Self" of the alleviating planet. Study that
person with great care. Why do you love that person? How does he "lift" you?
Why do you feel that you need him? The answer is clearly shown astrologically
and can be perceived in personal relations; the best of that person is the
higher self of the planet that makes possible a regeneracy of your two opposed
planets That person is personally identified as one of your principal "Light-
showers" in this incarnation. Don't waste a moment of your time in envy of
that person; seek to emulate his good as much as possible. So doing, you will
be learning from your own higher self. Assiduously cultivate every quality in
your own nature that inspires that person with feelings of love and respect
for you; in that way his Light and your Light blend into an "inner-plane-
marriage" and the fused Light of both adds to the Light-expression of
humanity.
The person whose primary (chart-ruler) or secondary
planet squares your opposed planets is also your teacher, but from a different
"level." If his planetary quality is negative his effect on you is to ignite
or frictionalize the negative quality of your opposed planets. Such a person
gives you a stiff examination of your ability to regenerate your opposition;
his negatives tend to "take hands with your opposed planets and pull them in
his own down-going direction;" since this person's planets can square your
opposition from two points — the signs which square your opposition — is it not
feasible that the planets in your own chart which rule the squaring
signs may be the vibratory power by which you can free yourself from the
"effect" of this person's down-pulling effect on you? In other words, by using
regenerate expressions of these two planets in your own chart you release
yourself from his patterns and you establish your own regenerate
counterparting. He no longer appears as your enemy because you have raised
into a higher octave of expression the vibratory quality which you have in
common with him and in so doing, you make yourself — if the relationship-
pattern is a close one — a "Light" for the regeneracy of his planet. You
established "up-lift" for yourself but you also extend the up-lift to your
neighbor and the regenerating process is seen to form a "complete circle" — it
includes him — it doesn't just stop at your own regenerating. The person whose
uncongested ruler or planet squares your opposition has the effect of "brakes"
on you; his vibratory quality serves to try to protect you from continuing in
your frictional or down-going path. He, consciously or unconsciously, serves
to show you the error of your ways. Since you are two people, that planet in
your own chart being expressed regeneratively is the way your Light "takes
hand with his Light." In other words, his unafflicted planetary vibration
alerts you to that which in your own nature regeneratively counterparts your
opposition. Let yourself open, in consciousness, to the good in that person;
he is your friend, your teacher, your guide, your way-shower; he is
not — as you
may subconsciously tend to feel — your enemy or your antagonist. Take hands
with this person in willingness to learn from him and his power will be seen
as an agency of raising your opposition planets into a higher octave of
expression.
Another form of "counterpart" is seen when you
contact a person who has two planets in trine aspect which you have in square
or opposition. This might be called "counterpart of aspect-quality;" he
"counterparts" you in representing a regenerate fulfillment of something in
your consciousness which needs regenerating. He, then, foreshadows the
fulfillment you are to make, sooner or later. Particularly if one of his
trined planets is opposition one of your squared ones he will stand as a
personification of your own Higher Self; he then by aspect-quality and
polarity-pattern counterparts you in a higher level of expression. If he has
any trined planets opposition a squared planet in your chart that planet, in
its regenerate quality, is counterpart of your aspect. Pay attention to that
planet in your own chart and provide, from within your own chart and your own
consciousness, the redemption and regeneration of your square aspect.
Let us meditate more and more on the great principle
of polarity, not from the standpoint of ourselves being "versus" everyone
else, but that we are all reflections of each other. The worst and the best of
each is counterparted by the best and worst of others; the established
recognition, in consciousness, of our joint participation in the one
white Light is the goal of all.
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