Empathy in the Birth Chart, Part 2

 In Part 1, we defined empathy and saw how, when we are in defensive mode, empathy is not always possible. Concluding that empathy itself can’t be seen in the birth chart, we discussed, with an illuminating case study, how our chart aspects suggest where our empathy-blocking defences can kick in. In Part 2, more signifiers for defence mechanisms in the birth chart…

Saturn aspects suggest defence mechanisms because Saturn tests, blocks and controls. It represents where we have fears and doubts and lack confidence. All of these are fuel for our defences.

With Venus-Saturn, for example, there might be defences against getting hurt in relationships, manifesting in a fear of letting others get too close. The Venus-Saturn person therefore might un-empathetically hurt and reject someone else before it can be done to them. (See Part 1 for a case study example of how a generational Mercury Square Saturn played out).

Lack of empathy can also come through some of the aspects we might think of as easier. Jupiter types, for example, who are confident, upbeat and optimistic, can sometimes lack tolerance and empathy for those who are struggling with low self-esteem or who, for whatever reason, lack the faith, courage and self-belief to pursue their dreams and ambitions.

Aspect patterns are also a good place to look for defences, especially T-Squares, which so often describe the nitty gritty issues in a person’s life. Grand Trines are also associated with defence mechanisms, because they represent where we hesitate to step out of our comfort zone.

If we think about the zodiac signs, Aries types might lack empathy for those who aren’t fast-paced go-getters; Taurus or Libra might disapprove of Aries' need to be numero uno and label them as aggressive or selfish, not understanding the Aries mission to go through life as a warrior. A Gemini type might be unfairly labelled as someone who can’t commit to one thing, with others not getting that Gemini is here to experience variety and needs to keep their options open. And so on, through the signs…

Back to those sensitive Water signs mentioned in Part 1 and why they might not always necessarily be empathetic. It’s because that emotional sensitivity, if it gets too much, can be defended against to protect the Water person from pain and suffering. I recently watched a Netflix show about teen fairies learning to harness their powers. One of them was an empath, who wore headphones constantly to protect herself from becoming overwhelmed by the feelings of others. Sensitive humans can also feel overwhelmed by their empathy at times and that’s when their psychological defences can kick in, which while offering protection, but can also block empathy.

The Cancerian retreating into their shell is a well known astrological symbolism. Cancerians need to feel safe and at home. They are drawn to people who help them to feel comfortable and once they find them, they seek to keep them close. Whether it’s their blood family or the ‘family’ they choose, Cancerians need to feel cushioned by their relationships. However, this can lead to clannish cliques and those who don’t make it into Cancer’s close circle might feel rejected. This is where a defence might make someone else feel the hurt that the defended person is trying to protect themselves from. The hurt doesn’t go away, it’s just passed on.

Scorpio of course has its famous defensive sting. Using that sting to point out others’ flaws, often with merciless honesty, is Scorpio’s way of protecting themselves from such searing scrutiny. Last of all, we have compassionate, empathetic Pisces; but feeling everyone’s emotions as if they are their own can make porous, sensitive Pisces retreat into victim mode. When Pisces feels that nobody’s problems are as bad as theirs, it’s hard for them to feel empathy. Conversely, Pisces, with a genuine desire to stop someone’s suffering, might go into full rescue mode, but if this is done with pity rather than real empathy, the support they offer can feel dis-empowering.

These examples show that while you can’t judge levels of natural empathy from a chart, you can see areas where empathy might potentially be blocked. Astrology can help with self-understanding and the recognition of where we fall into our defences. We all need defences of course, they are very useful, but by becoming more aware of them we can potentially see where they have become unhelpful and where we might be unwittingly hurting others or not recognising when they might need support and compassion and empathy.

Click here for Part 1 - Empathy in the Birth Chart?

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With love,

Mandi

 

Jupiter in Scorpio: everything looks big under a microscope

Jupiter goes into Scorpio today…here’s a short video introducing some of the major themes: 

Or click on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9539a2csbM

Also, check out Rod Chang's excellent new article on Jupiter in Scorpio, discussing the economic, cultural, political and social impact of this ingress against the background of the other current significant transits:

Jupiter will soon move into Scorpio on 10th October. This undoubtedly will unfold a year of Jupiter-in-Scorpio experience, in which our society, culture and politics will focus on Scorpion issues including crisis, fear, darkness, withering, death, transformation, reintegration of resources, reallocation of power, reorganization of affairs, and issues of safety, control and protection, etc. When considering what might come up in this upcoming year, we should never overlook those other planetary placements that happen within the same time-frame. From October 2017 onward, there will be various powerful planetary ingresses and patterns besides this Jupiter ingress – Saturn will enter Capricorn on 20^th December 2017, Chiron will move into Aries on 17 April 2018, and more importantly the ingress of Uranus into Taurus on 15^th May 2018. All these ingresses symbolise significant changes on economic, cultural, political and social development.

Before the discussion of Jupiter ingress into Scorpio, we must make sure that we understand one thing – the ingress of a single planet or a single aspect often only gives us part of the whole picture. We should take into consideration the placements and aspects of other planetary transits in order to have a clearer vision of the global situation before us. At the moment, we need to pay attention to these following transit aspects: Jupiter-Uranus opposition, Uranus-Neptune semisquare, and Saturn-Chiron square Carry on reading>

With love, Mandi

http://www.academyofastrology.co.uk

Scorpio Quotes ~ No Stings, Just Deep Things

As the Sun settles into its yearly transit of Scorpio, here are some lovely quotes from some famous Scorpios that also reflect their Moon sign...

As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.

Bill Gates, businessman

Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Aries

Do you seriously expect me to be the first Prince of Wales in history not to have a mistress?

Charles, Prince of Wales, British royalty

Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Taurus

The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.

Roseanne Barr, actress/comedienne

Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Gemini

A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards

Theodore Roosevelt, American politician

Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Cancer

Be careful what you pretend to be because you are what you pretend to be.

Kurt Vonnegut, author

Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Leo

By the first week of shooting, you know exactly where your film is heading based on the psychology of your director.

Jodie Foster, Actress

Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Virgo

I was a queen, and you took away my crown; a wife, and you killed my husband; a mother, and you deprived me of my children. My blood alone remains: take it, but do not make me suffer long.

Marie Antoinette, French royalty

Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Libra

And so we remained till the red of the dawn began to fall through the snow gloom. I was desolate and afraid, and full of woe and terror. But

when that beautiful sun began to climb the horizon life was to me again.

Bram Stoker, ‘Dracula’ author

Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Scorpio

Art is the elimination of the unnecessary. Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth. Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.

Pablo Picasso, Artist

Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Sagittarius

Even if I died in the service of the nation, I would be proud of it. Every drop of my blood... will contribute to the growth of this nation and to make it strong and dynamic.

Indira Gandhi, Indian politican

Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Capricorn

There's an edge to real rock 'n' roll. It's all that matters.

Neil Young, musician

Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Aquarius

A scientist in his laboratory is not a mere technician: he is also a child confronting natural phenomena that impress him as though they were fairy tales.

Marie Curie, scientist

Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Pisces

Birth details from Astrodatabank

Quotes from Brainy Quote

New Moon in Scorpio: The Soaring Eagle

The New Moon is the darkest time of the lunar cycle, a time when Lady Luna disappears from our sky. Of course this is merely an illusion, she is there we just can’t see her. This reminds me of Scorpio’s ruler Pluto who, in mythology, must wear a helmet of invisibility whenever he surfaces from the Underworld. Unseen he does his work, so that when we finally see the results of his actions, they appear as forced changes and big transformations for which we do not feel suitably prepared.

Like Pluto, Scorpio is also a transformer who prefers to operate imperceptibly. Scorpio’s realm is the realm of the emotions, where s/he scours the hidden depths of feelings, often going to places that lesser mortals would fearfully shy away from. When the scorpion finally emerges, it brings with it the deepest and the darkest emotional detritus, offering it up to the light, where it can be cleansed and healed.

It is therefore reassuring to see today’s Scorpio New Moon connected by aspect to the Jupiter-Neptune-Chiron Conjunction with its promise of hope and healing. In the detached, fixed sign of Aquarius it symbolizes the healing we receive when we are able to let go of outdated ego attachments. As we begin to let go and heal, as appropriate to our own individual circumstances, we feel compelled to help others along their own healing path.

We may feel unsure of our ability to help, but we can no long carry on waiting until we feel balanced enough/experienced enough/old enough/wise enough etc. We need to let go of our fears of inadequacy and understand that our time is now.

If we are also able to channel the higher energies of Saturn in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn, we can truly work to balance, restructure and transform our relationship, not just with ourselves and our significant others, but with our wonderful, beautiful world as a whole.

This is the space of positive transformation and the space where Scorpio embraces its nobler identity, the soaring eagle, king of birds.

Mandi
http://www.mandilockley.com/

An Investigation into Scorpio

The Sun has begun its yearly investigation of the wondrous sign of Scorpio.

Think passion, think depth, think mystery.

Scorpio is one of the emotional water signs. In Pisces water runs freely, but is at risk of becoming tainted as it flows indiscriminately. In Cancer water is contained and used resourcefully, but is at risk of becoming stagnant if held for too long. In Scorpio, water is held in solid form, as ice. As such, it is not easily accessible, but once thawed, is pure and crystal clear. So, while Scorpio is a cool customer, he holds the power to transform that which is dark and dirty into that which is cleansing and healing.

Scorpio is ruled traditionally by Mars, the planet of assertive action. Filtered through Scorpio the energy is controlled, it is used strategically and purposefully, behind the scenes. The mantra for Scorpio is I Desire, reminding us that Mars is also the planet of passion and that Scorpio possesses the strength and willpower to get what it wants. Scorpio if it so wishes, knows how to hold you in its thrall.

Scorpio’s modern ruler is Pluto, God of the Underworld. In Pluto’s realm much is hidden beneath the surface. Pluto tells us that it is Scorpio’s life purpose to use its powerful energy to scour the hidden depths, along the way transforming emotion, purging feelings and finding the light within the darkness.

On this journey, Scorpio investigates, controls, uncovers and penetrates. It is not uncomfortable with exploring the dark side of human life. Scorpio types are our psychoanalysts, investigators, researchers, occultists, alternative healers, sex therapists, alchemists, morticians and spin doctors, whatever their day job might be.

If you see a Scorpio looking deep, serious and dark-eyed smile at them, pay them a compliment, show them a kindness, lighten us their day. Do it sincerely, always sincerely! Watching a Scorpio thaw is a beautiful thing. Release their desire, feel their passion. If they don’t respond to you, either they’ve spotted you as a fake or they are storing your kindness for payback some other time. Then, one day you will find that the famous Scorpio sting in the tail is not always poisonous, it can just as easily be healing, ambrosial and in the right context, very sexy.

This blog is dedicated to Riikka, Dolores and Nusse, who between them have Sun in Scorpio, Moon in Scorpio and Scorpio Rising. Three true friends who are always there for me when I am in need.

Who keeps an arrow in his bow
And if you prod, he lets it go?
A fervent friend, a subtle foe –
Scorpio*

*Quotation from Shorthand of the Soul by David Hayward, Flare Publications, 1999.