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Archetypal Zodiac

THE EIGHTH CONSTELLATION
 
AND STARHOUSE - SAGITTARIUS

December16-January15

The planet Jupiter rules the 8th and 11th starhouses. The 8th starhouse is one of the Occult houses, the word “occult” meaning that which is hidden or secret. The mythic symbol of Sagittarius is the centaur: a creature, which is half man, half horse, and leads us to realize that Jupiter / Zeus is a dual being - on the one hand the first amongst the gods and semi-divine beings, on the other hand a participant in wild and passionate exploits. Jupiter / Zeus causes Destiny by virtue of his innate Character.

If “character is destiny”, we must look long and deeply into the 8th starhouse to comprehend in what specific way this is true of the individual chart. Opposite the 8th we find Gemini ruling the 2nd starhouse of Ego.

The well-known legend of the Gemini twins, Castor and Pollux, throws real light upon the unhidden side of the 8th starhouse. A duality is apparent: one twin is immortal and the other mortal. The immortal twin, Pollux, out of brotherly love, beseeches Zeus that he make his mortal brother also immortal. Zeus lets Pollux share his immortality with Castor. So, they spend half the year in the dark of the Earth’s interior and half the year in heaven. This myth speaks of the spiritual life of each human being who has a light-filled higher self and a dark earthbound lower self.

The 8th reveals the inner nature of the native’s Karmic theme. If Saturn is the past, then Jupiter is the future - a definite future, already living as presence in future time - a future time towards which the human being moves by the very force of that future seeking to become presence as the present. Saturn reveals what the human being has made of themselves in the past - for good or ill. Jupiter reveals how the destiny of the current lifetime has been decided and how it will unfold as a central Karmic theme.

Astrologers in the 20th century have realized that Jupiter is not always a benefic. Jupiter, being the “thinking sphere”, should be looked to in order to gain understanding of the way in which the native’s destiny impinges upon their consciousness. The astrologer’s own Jupiter determines his/her capacity to penetrate to the deeper layers of the client’s destiny.

Another aspect of Jupiter is that it determines agreement and reality. Each individual human being experiences the reality of a “world” to the extent that they are able to find themselves in agreement with it and able to share this agreement with others. As a general principle of existence: the more people agree with something, the more real it becomes.

Destiny is an undeniable reality with which the native finds himself in agreement in the depths of his/her being. Wisdom is the final nectar of the flowering of knowledge. Suffering brings wisdom in a way that no other form of human experience can. When a human being has a true vision of their destiny they are willing to undergo any amount of suffering in order to bring that destiny to its full consummation.

When we take note of the fact that the 7th starhouse of Scorpio is the setting Sun-self point or western horizon, it is easy to see its relationship to physical death. The relationship between physical expression of sex and death is well known.

When we look into the traditional meanings of the 8th starhouse we can see that it has to do with psychological death and the world of the dead:

Eighth house traditional meanings: death/dissolution/losses of the wife’s or husband’s possessions/the partner’s property/legacies/bequests/wills/the property of the dead.

Here again we how overwhelming the evidence is for the archetypal zodiac. It was a confused astrology that insisted upon attributing munificence to a Mars-ruled 8th house and, at the same time, describing Jupiter as a “great benefic”. The ancient tradition has the 8th starhouse rule, among other things: death and fortune, which can be taken as the extremes in the destiny of a human being. Let us call the 8th starhouse the “Karmic account” and, further, note that the beings existentially present in the Jupiter sphere are known to us as the spirits of wisdom.

The spirits of wisdom - Jupiter - integrate the destiny of the individual within the wider destiny of the world in the context of contemporaneity. The individual has no control over this - freedom exists for the individual in response to, not in the negation of, destiny.

Those unenlightened individuals, who like to think that this is their last lifetime on Earth, are ignorant of the fact that the decision does not rest with them, but with the spirits of wisdom in the sphere of Jupiter.

Destiny is character in historical context. Whatever sense the individual may have of the congruence of his own life in tune with the stream of contemporaneity - the times in which he lives - is to be perceived in the 8th starhouse, its ruler and the aspects to it.

The outcome of suffering is wisdom. The outcome of wisdom is well being. Wisdom is the profound understanding of the true relation of one being to another. The 8th starhouse reveals the nature of the individual’s capacity to transform suffering into wisdom. The 11th, in turn, reveals the individual’s ability to wisely overcome suffering in the fulfillment of collectively relevant acts of all kinds.

A very heavily afflicted 8th house can indicate more suffering than the native can withstand. If the chart is otherwise weak, and the ruler of the ascendant is implicated in the heavily afflicted 8th, then suicide is the probable outcome.

It would seem obvious then that the 8th has everything to do with the depth and nature of the individual’s connection or relation to others. The kind of intimacy and what the native seeks or is forced to experience is indicated. The planetary ruler and its aspects will reveal all in this instance.

JUPITER: Any angular position of Jupiter injects a feeling for the lighter side of life, encouraging enjoyment in the here and now and hope for the future. Jupiter tends to ease your general circumstance into more palatable channels and usually represents opportunities of all kinds. If Jupiter is also near the natal angles, or the natal Sun, as well as return angles, you may experience once-in-a-lifetime elevations of influence, prestige and status. In general, your position in your own eyes and in the eyes of your peers is upgraded. If changes of residence are made under this Jupiter position you are likely to improve your conditions and move into better circumstances than you left behind. This is an excellent influence for outpourings of concern, interest and acts of kindness directed toward you or from you. You may increase your material possessions because of such actions by others. The overall Jupiter influence indicates a feeling of prosperity or some kind of gain, help, success or relief from burdens. Jupiter can indicate opulent or progressive conditions in your philosophy, home or family life. Under Jupiter, you can advance and improve close relationships. An element of celebration or the impulse to rejoice may be relevant. Jupiter angular by location or transit frequently indicates increases in your material assets in some way, adding to your possessions, indicating optimism and a feeling of hopeful expectation. If Venus aspects JUPITER, the receipt or giving of expensive items or gifts may follow. Jupiter enlivens the atmosphere and conditions around you, and your home or backyard may become the center for happy occasions that upgrade your status in the local community. You may feel like thinking of positive new beginnings that lay the groundwork for future material growth and expansion. Raises, praises, and promotions sometimes occur with this placement. You, your home or family life can experience welcome breath of optimism and high spirits. With Jupiter you experience a lift in spirits, feelings of luck, jubilation, of having a good time, and of being of value to yourself and others. You mood radiates with expectations, enthusiasm, hope and confidence as everything seems to go your way. This is a time when you are apt to be rewarded for past favors or services rendered. You are given a boost in self-esteem as business, social, friendship or financial interests take on new vitality. Cares and responsibilities seem to fall from your shoulders as you don the garb of humor, geniality and good cheer and good will to all. If you can keep from feeling too relaxed to do anything because everything is coming up roses and already going your way, this is a fine time to go out and actively promote your interests. This is your best of all times in the best of all worlds.
 

ARCHETYPAL ZODIAC

THE EIGHTH CONSTELLATION
 
AND STARHOUSE - SAGITTARIUS

December16-January15

Element: Mutable Fire.

Ruling Planet: Jupiter.

Exaltation Planet: None.

Detriment Planet: Mercury-Venus.

Fall Planet: None.

Sense Of: Taste.

Philosophical: Biologism.

Traditional 8th House Meanings:

 Death, dissolution, losses; the wife’s or husband’s wealth and possessions; the partner’s property; legacies, bequests; the property of the dead; will. investigation, after-life.

Age Of Sagittarius: . B.C.E. -221. C.E.

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