Contemplations on the spirit of Liminal time'In this liminal time, we can evoke what really matters to us. In this blog I contemplate the means to understand one self and the motivation that moves us to unfold in heart and soul.'
Astrological Family patterns
Astrological family patterns
The way I always describe this to clients:
Astrologers before us have found there are specific hereditary features in the birth chart which we call family patterns. These Astrologers observed birth charts of several generations within the family line. Here they found certain themes and /or needs and abilities which stood out due to specific conflict and or challenges visible in the constellation. These themes kept on repeating trough generations. At one point there is a child born, within that family line that has this certain theme and/ or need and ability strongly represented in the chart (i.e. psyche); simply impossible to ignore. In other words, this child will
live this! No matter what!
Drs. Karen Hamaker writes in her study on family patterns
(1)
in the birth chart that these are often patterns that transmute a vital role in development of certain themes, traditions and convictions within family's that are past along trough generations.
In short: a certain ability and need that has been suppressed in generations past, either consciously suppressed, vallen into oblivion or simply due to limited circumstances.
There are several ways in which family patterns accure in the birth chart, showed in the image above;
1. A planet*
doesn't aspect**
any other planet in the birth chart: Un-regulated planets
2. Two planets* only aspect**
each other in the birth chart: a Duet****
3. 3 planets, corners*****
or nodes******
are connected in the birth chart trough an aspect**
constellation: a YOD***
Even tho it is impossible to be complete in describing the various outcomes and effect of family patters, below you find a summary on what one may experience when one has family pattern in ones chart:
• You feel different from others, but you can also take a unique path of life.
• Your life is characterized by a permanent "seeking" quality.
• Your life is less easy to plan.
• Totally unexpected turns and / or peak experiences.
• It is not uncommon for the second half of life to be very different from the activities or approach
first half of life.
• YOD, as a hint of God, often point to exceptional talents or can point to one
special role.
• You don't really notice the utterances of YODS yourself.
• People with YOD figures often play an important role in turning points in the family
companies, in science and in society. If a company undergoes radical and unforeseen changes in the coming years (i.e. comes to a turning point), it will unnoticeably attract more employees with YOD figures and un- regulated planets.
With Un-regulated Planets it's the same general tonic, but:
• One-pointed: the dynamic takes place around a planet (also as a house owner) that is neither
neither stimulated nor inhibited and can therefore show extremes.
• In a Yod we see a constant interaction of conflicting energies with the result
uncertainty and search.
• With un- regulated planets we see a search for oneself.
• You evoke reaction that you do not understand.
• You maneuver yourself in intangible circumstances.
• You experience things that you feel have no connection with you. Those things seem like
outside, but have consequences for you.
• The things that come your way often come with a shock, uncertainty or different
uncomfortable situation.
• You have the feeling that you cannot influence it in any way, it simply happens to you.
• You often have the feeling of stalemate and a sense of injustice.
• If something in the environment needs to "go wrong", it will happen to or around you,
most likely without any influence and or responsibility on your part.
• You often encounter situations in your life that are an exception to the rule and end up,
getting negative projections.
• With a Yod you have to make "impossible" choices
Yods and un-regulated planets also have very special talents!
• You are often not aware of those talents yourself, in fact: you doubt them.
• They are often evoked or evident in "impossible" situations or situations where one feels cornered.
• They may be talents that are also of (great) significance to others.
In my practice...
I have met many people with family patterns in the birth chart. There is not one thing that ties these life stories together as a whole, apart from the features described above. I found that people often felt a deep sense of relief and conformation when learning about this topic. The lives of people with family patterns are deeply ingrained with lessons, treasures and challenges. I've heard clients give examples and effects of their family patterns that I could have never made up myself. Ones personal motion in the celestial dance and their own personal magic in life is one we can't make up. And yet I found that trough practicing astrology, we are able to read a realm of possibilities which can bring clarity on the road to Self realization or as Carl Jung calls it; the path of Individuation.
*A planet: one of the actual planets in our Solar system (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) and/ or the Sun and/ or the Moon
**An aspect: is an angle that the planets make with each other in their orbit around the Sun visible from Earth. I.e. one of the Major Aspects in psychological astrology (conjunctie 0 degrees, sextile 60 degrees, square 90 degrees , trine 120 degrees, quincunx 150 degrees, opposition 180 degrees)
***A Yod is an aspect constellation formed by two quincunx and one sextile. YOD comes from the Hebrew word hand. The YOD in the birth chart is also referred to as A hint of God. It looks like a pizza slice: see image above
****A Duet is two planets in one Major aspect with only each other.
In the reading we read the psychological effect of this similar to an Un- regulated planet.
*****The corners of the birth chart are; Ascendent, Descendant, Medium Coeli & Imum Coeli.
******The nodes are the point where the ecliptica and the orbit of the moon meet in a 45 degree angle. The North and South node are always opposite to each other. In the chart they are displayed as two black horseshoes.
1. Here is referred to the study material on family patterns in the birth chart from Karen Hamaker- Zondag at her school, Astrologie College
Saturn Now first off, I practice to read astrology and life as a meaningful bundle of symbols. In astrology, Saturn is our primal need and ability to structure, learn by cause and effect, develop a sense of responsibility and awareness of our own inner (and outer) limitations. Saturn was until the 1700’s the last planet visible form Earth and therefor represented the keeper of the gate to infinity/ death. Saturn was often referred to as water time as its distance from Earth is far and the course trough the zodiak very slow. (approximately 27-30 years) Once Saturn has finished its frist round trough the zodiak we often experience a sense of crisis or at least a deeper understanding of how our time here in this body is limited. This is the notorious “Saturn return” and I like to refer to this as the stage in life where we become an adult. Well, by that time we’ve had the chance to grow into and take responsibility for our life. We see the course of Saturn trough the astrological houses as a means to learn where we need to take responsibility and structure life. Often this results in a (minor) crisis due to the fact that Saturn within an astrological house tends to stir up un- resolved issues regarding the current house. Sometimes, issues that where (consciously) ignored or repressed. When Saturn enters an astrological house it will appear so as if a huge snow shovel scrapes off all the loose ends, bits, pieces and dirt for you to renown it. Yes, we all leave loose ends here and there that’s okay. But sooner or later we all need to take full ownership of our lives. Taking responsibility for what’s ours is empowering, even if it’s ugly and dirty. Taking ownership of our lives, hence at the same time being confronted with limitations. The imposter syndrome Don’t you just hate it when you know you have all that it takes to fulfill the tasks requested and still you hear the squeaking voice in the back of your head reminding you of all your limitations. More often we see this “inner critic” strongly represented with a dominant Saturn in the birth chart. Now, what is a dominant Saturn? In my next blog I will go deeper into the rulership and housing system. For now; Saturn in its domicile Capricorn Saturn in its exalted sign Libra Saturn aspecting the lights of the chart (Sun and Moon) especially conjunction, opposition, and square but any connection works Saturn aspecting (one of the) four corners in the birth chart ( ascendant, descendant, IC and or MC ) When and if you know you’re sensitive to this “inner critic” like me, we might take comfort in acknowledging our need to take time to grow into things. Acknowledging our need to make sure we have our task, assignment, day or moment well prepared. Every planet (according to the theory of microcosm/ macrocosm is a need and ability within us that needs and wants to be lived! What we can gift ourselves is to learn more about what Saturn in our birth chart holds and create the space to express it. This inner critic is a great theme to study in consultation. Very insightful most of the tim e. The Klesha's An other thing that we can look into are Patanjali’s yoga Sutras. Especially Sutra 2.3-2.10* Here the structure of the Klesha's is explained. (this deserves a whole separate blog, this is just a mere reference) According to the sage and saint Patanjali there are 5 root causes of human suffering of 5 root obstacles. Avidya: Ignorance (perceiving the impermanent as permanent) Asmita: Egoism (thinking that the world revolves around you) Raga: Attachment to pleasures Dvésa: Aversion/ resentment Abhinivesha: Attachment to bodily life/ fear of Death We can apply this structure of the klesha's as narrative whenever the inner critic I.e. the imposter syndrome comes up. Ask yourself: Is this permanent? Is it really about me? Am I looking for any kind of sense gratification? What us there to dislike/ resent? Will I live? Acknowledgement of the function of the need for structure and the realisation that most of life is impermanent. We learn trough cause and effect and, n the bigger picture there is no such thing as failure. Thanks for reading this blog. Take care! Image: Harvest of this mornings walk, Ganesha the remover of obstacles. *p 80-86 ISBN 978-1-938477-07-2
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