The Journey of Psychosynthesis

 

Astrological Psychology and Psychosynthesis go hand in. Bruno and Louise Huber, who researched and developed the Huber Method - the innovative approach to astrology that I write about here - worked alongside Roberto Assagioli, the founder of Psychosynthesis.

*  *  *  *  *

Will Parfitt’s latest book offers a comprehensive and very readable overview of Psychosynthesis. But it’s more than just a book; it’s a well-structured treasure trove of insightful practical lessons and exercises for anyone seeking to increase their self awareness and make the best choices they can as they journey through life.

Based on his work and experience of more than forty years as a psychotherapist and trainer, Will has drawn on the Psychosynthesis distance learning course he created, and he shares it in this book. The reader is guided, at their own pace, on a journey to the centre of their true self. Travelling this path, the reader – who could more appropriately be called “the explorer”, since this is a journey of discovery – is encouraged at each stage to gently open to their unique wholeness. The journey is one to be savoured, not rushed, with pauses for review and consolidation along the way.

Regardless of whether you’re new to Psychosynthesis, or are an old hand at practising this approach to self awareness, the material for this journey is well-written, clearly laid out, and presented in a relaxed and engaging style. It hits the spot. Will doesn’t talk up or down; his words speak directly from his centre. Throughout the journey, readers are encouraged to take part in the practical exercises which can be both enlightening and challenging. A break and a period for reflection is recommended at the conclusion of each lesson. The reader is encouraged to record and consolidate what they have experienced before moving on.

Life crises and turning points are focussed on, as are sub-personalities – those different parts of us - which are the diverse aspects and roles of the personality with their own individual wants and needs. One lesson covers the art of self-identification, focusing on how we do this and how it colours and influences all we encounter in everyday life. Here, Will encourages the reader to disidentify from the different roles of these sub-personalities or selves, and become the driver in their life rather than one of the passengers. There are exercises that are both challenging and empowering for anyone who has ever asked themselves “Who am I?” as it is oh-so-easy to identify with and be attached to one of our many “selves” - our sub-personalities. Learning how to connect with our core self and choose to be attached or not attached to our various sub-personalities offers the reader freedom.

On disidentification from our thoughts, feelings, roles and mental attitude, Will asserts that if we are able to disidentify from a sub-personality “we will have it rather than it having us.” On a personal level, those words resonated for me, and I will use them as a reminder and mantra when I find myself coming from a sub-personality.

The Journey of Psychosynthesis is one which will lead you to your core, your centre and your soul. If you’re a newcomer to Psychosynthesis you may want to embark on this journey and see it through sequentially from start to finish. If you’re already familiar with Psychosynthesis I can think of no better way of refreshing your perspective on whatever is going on in your life by choosing an appropriate staging post from the book and focussing on that. Will asserts that once you have the basics of Psychosynthesis, you can work with what emerges from inside, not following a pre-set plan but making the best choices you can.

You can read about how Bruno and Louise worked, studied and trained in Psychosynthesis with Roberto Assagioli in Florence in Piercing the Eggshell.

 

The Second Time Around - some thoughts on moving from role to soul

 

"The Inner Work of Age - shifting from Role to Soul" formed part of the research for my recent co-authored book, The Second Tme Around, looking at life beyond age 70+, and the opportunities this phase of life brings for renewal.

It was a book I could relate to, understand and learn from. Not only was it an excellent read, it was a nudge and a reminder of things I'd forgotten. It flagged up things I'd either been mulling over or had received sudden insights about, and is featured in Chapter 3 - What other authors say about this stage of life, in The Second Time Around.

Author Connie Zweig, a retired psychotherapist, draws on her personal experience of being an Elder alongside her professional work with others, also Elders, travelling the path from role to soul. She likens Elders to teachers or mentors, those who willingly pass on the wisdom of their life experience, not from a place of ego, or of needing recognition for their know how, but simply because they are at ease with themselves just as they are and don't need to prove anything, or be how others might "expect" them to be.

Zweig suggests that as Elders, behaving in this way, give hard-won knowledge to the next generation, welcoming a new generation of seekers and agents of change. The ego is set aside; it has no place when role or roles, which might have defined us during our more active working life, are dropped as the essence of soul begins to find it's place.

Whilst reading the book and reviewing my own status as Elder (yes, I'm old enough for this) I had some significant, transformative experiences and insights as I'd been evaluating myself and my relationships, contacts and friendships – their value, importance and permanence. I examined the depth, richness and quality of my current interactions with others, and realised that I’d become far more selective and discriminating about who I choose to spend time with. No longer willing to waste time or energy or pussyfooting about with relationships which don't hit the spot for me, I’m far more comfortable now being straight, truthful and outspoken.

In this Elder phase of life, I’m far more perceptive and discriminating about who I can trust and who I can’t. As for my "role", I'm not really clear if I now have one. Yes, I'm a retired teacher and as such I can always seize what is called "the teachable moment" with children and adults alike, but retired it's a lot easier being a volunteer in the classroom rather than being in charge.

I’ve made personal and psychological changes to myself and my outlook over the past couple of years, and I’ve questioned what my role, if any, is meant to be – or if I even need a “role”. Volunteering is one way Elders shift from role to soul - they become more involved in sharing their skills and knowledge and energy in society, for the benefit of others. And of course, they get a lot back from doing so, quietly being themselves and not needing the ego boost.

Age Point echoes - 36 and 72 years

While researching my recent co-authored book - The Second Time Around - a number of contibutors to the book, who were sharing their own experiences of the Age Point moving around the chart for the second time, noted the "Echo Effect".

Using the chart as a LifeClock, the hand of the clock moves, in an anti-clockwise direction, around the lower half of the chart. Staring at the ascendant (AC/zero point/birth), it takes 36 years to reach the descendant (DC) which is opposite. In astrological psychological terms, this lower half of the chart relates to the unconscious. OK, we're not exactly unconsious from age 0 to 36, but we do have significant formative, shaping experiences which we are challeged to work with and through, surviving and establishing ourselves as indiviuals along the way. During this period we have the opportunity to learn much about ourselves through the contacts and relationships we make, and the responsibilities that go with making our mark in the world.

At age 36, the hand of the LifeClock crosses the DC and, like sunrise waking the earth at the start of the day, we "wake up" to a new perspective on life. Some people speak of finding this age and time of life like being "halfway there" (maybe to old age?) but many people experience an increased sense of maturity and a deeper understanding of their place in the world at age 36.

Even with no astrological knowledge, this age and period of life can feel significant and meaningful; people have described it as a time of waking up to the possibility of new horizons. There is an insight into the immensity of what this next stage of life can offer - I've heard it described by clients who recognised this time as the "world is my oyster" moment.

An echo effect is at work with the 36 year point of the cycle and it's second stage, the next 36 years, leading to one circuit of the circular chart at age 72. Sigificant psychological events that happened in childhood, or between ages 36 and 42, can ping back into consciousness as they are revisited from a new perspective at 36 years or 72 years later.

The 72 year period seems to be of particular significance as we re-enter the 1st house/area of life experience. We're there, literally, for the second time around and we have the first opportunity to experience consciously the energies and events encountered in early childhood, at a time when we had no possibility of assimilating potentially traumatic experiences.

Memories and echoes of this past, or from 36 years earlier, of events we experienced - good or bad, beneficial or painful - surface. Unresolved issues may demand attention and, with the wisdom of life experience to draw upon, it's possible - with some willing work on our part – to clear these. There may be insights, understandings, new perspectives, forgiveness and letting go of things from the past which are no longer relevant of useful – especially if we’re on an upward spiral and a spiritual path.

T.S.Eliot says it far better than I can, and in fewer words:

What might have been and what has been point to one end, which is always present. Footfalls echo in the memory down the passage which we did not take towards the door we never opened…..

Time past and time future, what might have been and what has been point to one end, which is always present.

Four Quartets: Burnt Norton

Rose of Heaven

                    Rose of Heaven 

          and other stories by Will Parfitt

I confess to not being a fan of short stories, always finding them, as a child and teenager, like a taster or snack, and never as satisfying as the full-blown meal of a novel. My view towards them changed when I learned that short story writing is a specific and exacting art, so with this in mind – and with an open mind too - I read Rose of Heaven and the other eight short stories in Will’s latest book.

I wasn’t disappointed. Far from being light snacks, each one comes with a meaty message elegantly seasoned with positive and/or thought-provoking ideas. Will draws on his experience of working for many years as a psychotherapist, and his own search for truth and meaning. The stories all have a psychological slant, which may or may not hit the spot, depending on where the reader is on their own life path

Characters come across as real, and there is a gentle touch of humour in several stories. Nothing Like a Hole in the Head had me intrigued and made my toes curl at the same time. It’s probably the one story which impressed me most, along with

Mabel’s Mindfulness, which made me smile, has a feel-good quality and an interesting punchline. The title story, Rose of Heaven, is possibly based on the author’s personal experiences and searches. It sets the scene, signalling (to me at any rate) that the reader will be in good hands in this book. “I love you for who you are, not what you do…..” says Rose to the anonymous character who is telling the tale.

I will return to read Rose of Heaven and the other stories at a later date. I suspect there is a mirror hidden in each and every one of them which will offer me insights and encourage reflections and connections.

Recommended reading? Yes!

 

Will Parfitt is the author of several non-fiction books on psychology and psychosynthesis. 

His most recent book, "The Magic of Psychosynthesis", is reviewed here on this blog.

This book and "Rose of Heaven" are available on Amazon.

The Moon's Nodes: what is your next step?

 

Where have you come from, where are now and where are you going?

Sometimes clients or non-astrologers will point to the glyph of the Moon’s North Node in the natal chart and ask “What does that thing like a headset with earphones mean?” This question offers an ideal opportunity for the astrologer to explain the significance of the nodal axis in the context of needing to “tune in and listen” to its message and bring greater awareness of what it indicates into everyday life.

The Moon's nodes are not planets and have no energy of their own. They are significant points in the chart and can be used as signposts pointing in two opposite directions. One points to an area of life experience and expression which is well-known and familiar. The other indicates where we could be heading on our own path of personal and spiritual growth - the "next step" point in the chart.

The message of the south node is “stay put, you’re safe here.” The message of the north node is “move forward and grow, even though it may feel scary.”

The nodes are best thought of as a nodal line, or axis - a path along which we can travel. Both ends of the line have to be included because the nodes can show us where we have come from. 

The nodes offer the potential for gaining balance within ourselves and our lives, and they can act as a correcting mechanism when we work cooperatively with them. Through a greater understanding of the nodes we can identify what we already know and have experienced and acquired in the past. 

We can do this from our stance in the present, where we are now, accepting our current situation together with all the challenges and opportunities it offers. At the same time, we can look towards the future and the direction we can take in order to grow, develop and unfold more fully. 

 

Í

The south node's position by sign and house indicates what we come into life already knowing well, what we are comfortable and familiar with, such our habitual responses, well-known and well-used habit patterns, ways of behaving, relating, responding and being. 

The south node has a Saturnian quality because it is about safety and familiarity. We may harbour doubts and fears about getting involved in new and challenging activities, and of stepping beyond the boundaries of our well-organised security system. The south node is like a cosy fur-lined rut or an old and comfortable pair of slippers that we’re loath to let go of – understandably so.

Ì

The north node leads the way into new and often uncharted territory. Its position by sign and house gives a clear message of what we can aim for as it shows the direction we can grow towards, if we so choose. 

It has a Jupiterian quality because it offers the opportunity to expand, open up and experience new things. It encourages us to move forward into areas which are less familiar and face the excitement and adventure of rising to new challenges in life. 

The north node in the chart is like a beacon indicating where and how we can develop ourselves through personal and spiritual growth. Following the direction of the north node may mean turning away from all that is safe, cosy and familiar as we move forward and break new ground. 

In astrological psychology, only the north node is included in the chart and the aspect structure. That's because the north node is considered to be an important feature for personal and spiritual growth, pointing the way forward to our next step along the path. 

The house/area of life experience will indicate where our next step might lie; the zodiac sign the north node is in will indicate how we behave and interact in that area of life. It will also give a nudge (if we take all of this on board) of what we might need to work on too!

As an example, actor Tom Hanks has the north node is in the 3rd house (comunication, learning, connected to community) and in the ruled-by-Jupiter sign of Sagittarius (being open to new things, expansion, taking risks etc).

 

 

 

 

There's much more about the  Moon's Nodes, 

and how to interpret and work with them, 

in my book The Living Birth Chart.

 

 

Moon Node chart

The Moon Node Chart is unique to the Huber Method, and is one of the three charts used in Astrological Psychology. The other two are the Natal Chart (used by all astrologers) and the House Chart, which I've previously written about. You can find out about the House Chart here.

The Moon Node Chart can be likened to a mirror - we can look into it to discover more about the shadow side of the personality, those things which might be repressed and that we don't like in ourselves, and it can also reveal to us the accumulated knowledge and life experience we bring with us to this lifetime.

Moon Node Chart

 

The Moon Node Chart shown here reflects the aspect patterns and shaping shown in the Natal Chart below.

The orientation of the aspect structure in the chart is different. In the Moon Node Chart it has a more vertical direction, and in the Natal Chart below, it's more focussed on the horizontal. This is significant.

Natal Chart

Also note that the positions of the planets are reversed, giving the mirror image effect, which makes looking at the Moon Node Chart rather like looking into a mirror, where what is seen is not really there.

The Moon Node Chart is always used alongside the Natal Chart and never on its own. The two are designed to be used together, and this particular technique was researched extensively by Bruno Huber. It can offer insights, for those who are on a path of self-growth and awareness, into where they are coming from. It can also highlight some of their more habitual patterns of response to everyday life - the well-used behaviour patterns. The beauty of understanding and working with this chart is that it can help us to see what is going on in ourselves, decide if we want to keep it or make changes, and then actively and consciously choose to leave our familar and habitual patterns of response and behaviour behind us and move on.

Finding out more about the Moon Node Chart

There are several ways of doing this:

• Read Moon Node Astrology by Bruno & Louise Huber (see sidebar). It offers comprehensive coverage of this specific and unique chart. Click on Books by the Hubers in the bar at the top of this page
  
• Read The Living Birth Chart which specifically features using the Moon Node Chart and gives worked examples using the charts of real people. Click on  Books by Joyce Hopewell in the bar at the top of this page
• Have a consultation with an astrologer trained in Astrological Psychology. They will really know their stuff and will treat you and your Moon Node Chart with the greatest respect, as use of the Moon Node Chart is not to be taken lightly.  
• Louise Huber says that when we look into the Moon Node Chart, we have to be completely harmless. This should always be borne in mind when working with this chart.
  

 

The Four-Fold Way

Some time back in the 1990s I came across the Four-Fold Way, which was referred to at a personal growth workshop I attended. The Four-Fold Way was attributed to anthropologist Angeles Arrien, and I was impressed by it’s four simple points of wisdom:

 

· Show up and choose to be present

· Pay attention to what has heart and meaning

· Tell the truth without blame of judgement

· Be open to outcome, not attached to outcome

 

This led me to read her book, entitled The Four-Fold Way - Walking the Paths of the Warrior, Teacher, Healer and Visionary. The book, its content and ethos have come back to mind right now. The times we are currently living in are full of change and divisions within society. Climate breakdown is not new, but the need to take on board and address the problems we're making for ourselves and future generations now have to urgently be addressed.

It's time for us all to start taking responsibility for ourselves and stop moaning.

Angeles Arrien suggests four paths we might take, and her opening sentence, way back in 1992 when the book was published, is pressingly relevant today. She says,

"Today it is imperative that we pay attention to ecological issues. Our planet, the house we live in, is in danger of becoming unliveable, due primarily to the neglect of our own industrialised society. It is clear we need to take action before it is too late."

She goes on to say that the word ecology comes from the Greek word oikos, which means house, in other words our "house", our planet.

The four ways she describes can be shown diagrammatically using the medicine wheel layout and includes the four points of the compass, and the four elements of fire, earth, air and water. Each Way has a single line description which more or less lays out what it's about.

The Way of the Warrior - Show up and choose to be present- the message here is to stip dillydallying about and do something, take action. The associated human resource is power, the way of living is right action.

The Way of the Healer - Pay attention to what has heart and meaning - this suggests don't allow yourself to get distracted (by smart phones, social media etc?) but remain in touch with what is really important and connected to your heart. The associated human resource is, unsurprisingly, love; the way of living is right speech.

The Way of the Visionary - Tell the truth without blame or judgement - here we have to remember to speak our own truth, be true to ourselves, and not take on board what others have tried to foist upon us. This can be a tough one as it's much easier to go along with things we don't really agree with in order to fit in, or keep the peace. And we have to remember not to blame or judge ourselves and others. The associated human resource here is vision, and the way of living, right placement.

The Way of the Teacher - Be open to outcome, not attached to outcome - the message is to stay open to the new and not have an end goal in mind. A good teacher will always be open to new ideas and viewpoints because so much fruitful material can come from staying open and learning more. Good teachers are always learning! The associated human resource is wisdom and the way of living is right timing.

Angeles Arrien’s work as an anthropologist, educator and facilitator of workshops aims to build a bridge between cultural anthropology, psychology and comparative religions, revealing how indigenous wisdoms are relevant to our families, professional lives and our relationship with the Earth itself. There is something in The Four-Fold Way for all who wish to develop themselves, their potential and their ability to live life creatively, and we need this approach more than ever right now, in our current times.

“Do all the good you can, with all the means you can, in all the ways you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can” - Angeles Arrien.

 

Piercing the Eggshell translated

 

It's less than a year since Piercing the Eggshell, the biography and life story of Bruno and Louise Huber and their Astrological Psychology, was published in paperback. It has also been published as an ebook.

I'm delighted to report that the book has now been translated into German and Spanish. The work of the Hubers, based in Zurich, was initially only available in German. The founding of first the English Huber School, followed by the Spanish Huber School - both teaching the Huber Method of Astrological Psychology to an increasingly interested audience in north and south America - ensured the dissemination of their work to what is now a worldwide audience.

Piercing the Eggshell isn't a stuffy biography; it's full of real life anecdotes as well as factual events, and it makes for an interesting read as it covers how astrological psychology was researched and developed. It also covers why astrological psychology, as a method of personal and spiritual growth, is not only significant, but is downright helpful and useful as well.

Piercing the Eggshell in English is available from all good booksellers, from Amazon and from the APA Book Shop. 

 

Fascinating Biography 

"Piercing the Eggshell" reviewed by Will Parfitt, Psychosynthesis therapist and author.

If you are an astrologer I would think this book is a must, even if you don't follow the Huber style of astrology; the story of how the Hubers created this new, very workable approach is interesting even to a non-astrologer like myself. 

Better still, for astrologers and non-astrologers, this is a tale of two people's indomitable will to create a new psychological science using astrological connections to include and raise consciousness to a deeper spiritual connection. A fascinating and most unusual biography, very interestingly illustrated with relevant photos.

I was particularly interested in the influence of Roberto Assagioli and Psychosynthesis on their work and the development of Huber astrology, and how whilst he fully supported them in their explorations, even giving Bruno Huber access to all his client notes, they worked hard to collate, edit and where necessary translate his writings into what became the key work in the Psychosynthesis world. 

 

You can read how the book came about here and another review of the book is here.

"Uranus is an instrument we use to pierce through the eggshell towards spirituality"

Bruno Huber

Billionaire Man and the Climate Emergency

Dead trees, parched earth, Lake Amistad, Texas

I'm reblogging this thought-provoking blog post from I Can't Believe it!, written by my other half. There's a question for you at the end - please feel free to comment and say what'd you'd do with a billion pounds.

 What would you do if you had a billion pounds?

Would you follow the technological dream of science and the colonial dream of new physical horizons, and fund a space program to take humanity another step down this road that has supposedly served us so well for hundreds of years – exploitation of supposedly virgin lands, ignorant of the life that is there? Become so convinced of the magnificence of your own ego and exceptionality, that you insist on being one of the first to go into space? Even model your spacecraft to resemble a large penis as you exhibit your contempt for lesser humans?

Or would you do something to help repair the earth and nature that has been ravaged by that technological/colonial dream, to the degree that our ecosystem is now under extreme threat, both in its loss of biodiversity, in its drowning in its own pollution, in the breakdown of its long-stable climate – all effects which have been made worse by you and your like, the rich and powerful extracting money from ‘the system’ to a degree that is surely obscene and has deprived the public purse everywhere of the means to ensure a decent life and environment for all, even undermining the democratic systems that of course put limits on your individual power.

Psychologically, the first path is chosen in humanity’s adolescence, the creation of ego that we all go through. Some appear to remain arrested at this increasingly narcissistic stage – ageing egos going in a circle of their multiple houses, yachts, private jets, exclusive parties, security obsession, separation from the masses. 

But modern psychological knowledge means we now know that this ego process is just the first stage of our development, as we grow to maturity, transcend our individual ego concerns and becoming co-operating adults and gradually becoming wiser and more spiritual. Our concern is wider than the individual; it is the good of the whole and all its parts.

Of course, this is also the perspective that will enable us to address all those problems that we have created in the world around us. Restoration of our living ecosystem becomes of paramount importance, the space ego trip seems somehow irrelevant. Not that we should not have more space programs, but that they are hardly today’s top priority.

So what would you do with your billion? And if you had more than one billion, why? What a weight of responsibility to have so much money, the weight of so much of the earth on your own shoulders? What on earth would you do, and why?

The ideas came to me after reading Prof Tim Jackson’s excellent post on The Billionaire space race; the ultimate symbol of capitalism’s flawed obsession with growth. Do read it.

 

I don't do predictions

 

Using Astrological Psychology, I have a unique method of timing to draw upon when looking at someone's chart. It's called Age Progression and it enables me to understand where that individual is psychologically in their own life journey. I can relate to the stage of life they're at and understand what kind of issues might be around for them. I don't predict what might happen; I look at what's going on for them right now.

 

Some time ago, an article with the title "I don't do predictions" in a newsletter for professional astrologers, set me thinking about this particular phrase. It’s one I've often used when setting up a meeting with a client. The saying “I don’t do predictions” was something that an astrologer had picked up on and it had jarred with him when he’d heard a graduate of the Astrological Psychology Association - not me - use this very phrase. His article  was about prediction of all kinds, and was not just aimed at astrology. It was well-reasoned and the points raised were clearly discussed. He was from a scientific background; the graduate from an arts background. Having used this same phrase myself countless times, I understood her stance - but could I understand his viewpoint as well? This set me thinking about prediction in general, both in the astrological context and in the wider framework of the scientific world.

Prediction and foretelling

If you look up the word “Prediction” in a dictionary, you will find its definition is “foretelling”. Literally, it means to “speak before” (pre-dict) an event. Most of us want daily predictions. We watch or listen to the weather forecast, and our lives are quite strongly influenced by predictions made by meteorologists. We will tuck an umbrella into a bag if rain is forecast without even thinking about it. But what about scientists who predict, for example, the effects of global warming? They have been doing this for countless years and yet it is only now that it is becoming more urgent and headline news. Yes, global warming is happening. Of course, scientists can only predict trends and suggest possible outcomes, which is what I suppose those astrologers who do predictions might say.

Now consider astronomers who always seem able to state categorically that the distance between Planet A and Planet B is so many billion light years ? They are predicting or foretelling in a way. As a child I could never understand how they could know such things, state them publicly and be believed. How could they know? No-one had ever travelled that distance before! It’s all based on scientific modelling and the knitting together of known facts. But don’t quote me on that.

Global events

 

I've read in astrological journals about the workings of the planets, where transits for the coming months are discussed and interpretations made on their movements and positions and how these might relate to worldwide events. I'm not trying to knock the skills and techniques used by the well-seasoned and experienced astrologers who look at global events from a historical perspective, which may usefully highlight trends.

Although I don’t do predictions, I don't sit in judgement of those members of the astrological community who do. I know astrologers who are skilled at predictive techniques, and I embrace “astrodiversity” even though some of it leads down paths I would not wish to follow. As a novice astrologer, I learned predicting techniques, and had to use and apply them as part of the course I was studying. I felt very uncomfortable when I tried to commit my findings to paper, in the form of a mock report aimed at the person whose chart I was looking at. Fortunately this was not for real, and was part of an assignment. I never did it for real. It just didn’t feel right. Stuck in a limbo where I could not progress further without embracing predictions, I heard Bruno and Louise Huber speak at an astrological conference in the 1980’s and what they offered in the way of person-centred astrological psychology struck a profound chord for me.

Four questions

Louise Huber spoke of four different questions about astrology. These were:

1) Future 2) Character 3) Development 4) Meaning of Life

• 

  Future: Louise suggested that Saturn rules questions about the future. People ask “What will happen to me?” or “What does the future hold for me?” There is a fear of the future, a need to know what is just around the corner, a need to be in control and a dependence on being told what will happen by the astrologer. Methods used in answering such questions are prediction, and the use of progressions and transits. It is a formative part of any astrologer’s learning experience to experiment with progressions and transits. 
   
• 

  Character: Louise saw questions about character traits being ruled by the Moon. People will ask the astrologer to elaborate on what problems they have, or what abilities they have. They are more in touch with their emotional needs and seek clarification for these areas of their lives. The methods used to answer such questions will be to apply character analysis together with some psychological methods, drawing perhaps of the work of Freud and Jung and using other techniques such as Gestalt and Transactional Analysis. 
   
  
• 

  Development: By this, Louise meant personal development. Here the Sun rules. Questions might be about independence, autonomy and freedom. The person will ask “What can I do to reach self-realisation?” Methods used to answer these questions would be Psychosynthesis and the Huber Method which involves the whole chart and person, the 5 levels of human existence, the aspect structure as life motivation, the integration of the three-fold personality, the Dynamic Calculations, the House Chart and Age Progression. Here we are moving away from the “stuckness” of Saturn and the emotional responses of the Moon. We enter the realm ruled by the Sun, which represents the mind, the decision-making process and the will. If we can claim our Sun, and become truly autonomous, we will not need to ask an astrologer “What does the future hold for me?” as we’ll be out there creating it for ourselves.
   
• 

  Meaning of Life: This is the area where the transpersonal planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto rule. The questions are deep and penetrating and include such topics as “Where am I coming from and where am I going?” and “What is the meaning of my life?” Methods used to answer these questions include esoteric astrology, which gives an understanding of the evolution of humankind. Transformation and spiritual crises would be considered along with the laws of spiritual growth. The circle in the centre of the chart would be used, plus the Low Point experience, the Moon Node chart and the use of all three charts in an astrological counselling session. These questions take us beyond the realm of the Sun and our own autonomy and move us towards asking “What can I do that will make a difference to my family, my society, and ultimately to the world?”
   
   

Code of Ethics

 

Still thinking of what set my mind turning over this “I don’t do predictions” statement, I am reminded of the APA Code of Ethics. Written by Bruno Huber and used by APA since it was founded in 1983, it includes the following clause:

 

“We regard astrology exclusively as a diagnostic tool, with which we recognise differences in character, problems of the human psyche and of psychological-spiritual development. Thus, astrological knowledge should above all be used to gain self-knowledge and as therapeutic help, as well as a means for solving conflicts - and not for prediction of the future.”

Did I get to understand where the scientists might be coming from?

 

Well, yes, in a way I did. I know many people with a scientific background and I listen to and respect the views and opinions of those with a scientific background – and in turn I expect them to listen to and respect me, and my astrology. But some aspects of the scientific do seem to smack of the sterner side of Saturn - certainty laced with a shot of rigidity, stirred well with plenty of facts. Then modelled to perfection to present a forecast or prediction which many people in positions of power hang on to tightly. The good news is that more leading edge scientists are beginning to agree that things cannot be so cut and dried, that science is not always right because there are things that can’t be explained - so those transpersonal planets are maybe doing their bit in ways we cannot yet begin to imagine.

As for astrological predictions, cue here the development of the Sun - the individual, the self, the will, the autonomy of the person, the ability to choose and create our own lives - and enter the essence of the Transpersonal planets which will help us understand what really is the meaning of our lives.

 

Freedom

"Freedom" comes under my understanding as being one of the transpersonal qualities - we know what it is but it's not always easy to pin down or define. We know it when we see it or experience it. And we know when our freedom is being compromised is when we can't do exactly what we want, or go where we want, say what we want, wear what we want or read what we want, just to give a few examples.

Right now, many people are finding their freedom is limited because of the various lockdown restrictions we're living under, depending on where we live. Extended family in France tell me that they're under a curfew from 6pm to 6am, so there's no chance of going out socialising; when you're in, you're in for the night. Not so difficult to deal with as we go through the dark days of winter, but still felt as a restraint of freedom. On the other hand, I understand that in France it's OK to travel around and visit family - but not during the hours of curfew.

Here in the UK we have different rules which affect our freedom of movement,  rules which are somewhat vague and open to interpretation, so deciding exactly what is "local" becomes a conundrum devised by our government to keep us guessing or confused. One person's definition and understanding of "local" might differ greatly from another's. 

Then there's Brexit and the changes to our freedoms. I've lost my smooth, easy, streamlined freedom of movement if I want to visit extended family in France. I have to take a gigantic retrograde step back to the early 1970s, with all the paperwork involved, if I want to go to Europe. I'm not pleased about that. 

My dog's Pet Passport is no longer valid, so if I want to take him too, I've got to go through the same beaurocratic hoops as I did with my previous dog, back in the  early 2000s, before the EU Pet Passport was introduced. I'm not pleased about that either.

And as I travel in a campervan, there are going to be restraints on the kind of food I pack into the cupboards and fridge in my van if I want to go to Europe (not possible right now anyway but that's beside the point). Customs will be checking on food being imported if it's dairy or meat; if it contains either, it will be confiscated. Crazy, like going back to the dark ages.

The only comfort I gain is that those who voted to leave the EU will be subject to the same regulations, restrictions and restraints, and their previously-held freedoms will be compromised too.

Back to freedom, as that's what this post is about. With freedom comes responsibility; some restraints are obviously needed to make society work and be safe, and many of the current restrictions in place are to help us overcome the current pandemic. Yet it's not hard to understand how difficult living under these restrictions is for many people. Go out, and walk past people talking (socially distanced of course) and you're likely to hear just one topic of conversation - coronavirus. There are concerns too about the mental health of those living alone, or who are shielding; compromised freedom affects everyone and is uppermost in their minds.

I've turned to the words of Roberto Assagioli, whose philosphy and psychosynthesis make a lot of sense in our current situation, where our freedom is compromised. Assagioli was imprisoned in Italy in1938 by the fascists for his anti-war and internationalist views. He put into practise his ideas about collaborating with the inevitable as he realised that the only an attitude of conscious acceptance would help steer him through this situation. He wrote about this, saying:

" I realised that I was free to take one of the many attitudes toward the situation, to give one value or another to it, to utliise it in one way or another....I could rebel inwardly and curse, or I could submit passively, vegetating; or I could indulge in the unwholesome pleasure of self-pity and assume the martyr's role; or I could take the situation in a sporting way and with a sense of humour, considering it as a novel and interesting experience.......I could make it a rest cure or a period of intense thinking....I had the clear, pure perception that this was entirely my own affair; that I was free to choose any or several attitudes and activities....and that I was fully responsible.........."

The Magic of Psychosynthesis

When I first wrote this post, I said "We are living in troubled, unsettling times, not just here in the UK where I sit and write, but in many countries around the world." It was the time of Covid and lockdowns and many of the other ills which seemed to beset the world we live in - and not much has changed for the better since.

I continued.... and please read to the end, there is some light at the end of the tunnel but we have to help create it.....

Since early 2020, Covid-19 has become the focus of our energy and attention, with lockdowns on a global scale which continue to disrupt daily life as people and economies struggle to adapt and cope. There is a small glimmer of light at the end of this dark tunnel of a year we've been going through with the success of the vaccines that have been researched. They are yet to be approved and rolled out, but in the UK, the  government, desperate for some good news, are positing Easter 2021 as the date for a return to "normal". I'm not so sure about that; there are other issues in the UK which could be stumbling blocks.

Brexit, largely eclipsed by the pandemic, is now exposed for what it could really mean for the UK. It has morphed into an unpleasant can of worms and the effects reverberate not only in the UK, but in other countries in the European Union which are involved in this mess. The negotiations with the EU continue  - I think! - but we hear little of them as time runs out, ahead of our scheduled departure on 31st December. Happy New Year UK? I wonder....As an astrologer and practitioner in astrological psychology, I can turn to my ephemeris to see what might be going on through an astrological lens, knowing full well that Saturn and Pluto have been in Capricorn for sometime now. Working alongside, they’re gradually grinding down and clearing out the outworn structures of the so-called “establishments” which are taking the hits. Like industrious workmen, they get on with their own jobs, coming together from time to time to combine both energy and effect. From April to June 2019 they rubbed along together for a while in conjunction; they touch base with each other again in December, staying in tandem until February 2020.

What, you’re probably wondering, does this have to do with Will Parfitt’s new book – The Magic of Psychosynthesis: initiation and self development? The answer is just about everything. The book is a treasure trove for anyone on the path of personal growth and self discovery - what the author calls The Work. Moving from the stage of Aspirant (as we all are) to Adept (what we aspire to) Will offers clear and detailed signposts for how to navigate, travel and develop our inner world, yet remain fully grounded and connected to the changing world and environment we live in.

The book acts like a spiritual satnav, gently guiding the reader through the principles of Assagioli's Psychosynthesis with a wealth of practical exercises to support the journey. Students of Astrological Psychology will already be familiar with the Egg Diagram, and with the analogy of the orchestra, the sub-personalities being different players within the orchestral whole, or Self.

Using reflective meditations based on Assagioli’s four steps in experiencing the will, readers are encouraged to explore their awareness and use of their own will, with techniques to build up muscle and strength here. In astrological psychology, developing the way the Sun - the sense of self - functions in your own chart could be worked on alongside this. I liked Will’s questions here: Who is running your life? Are you directing your life? Are you in control of your life? To what extent is the direction of your life determined by outer events?….

Other compatible approaches are introduced for use alongside the The Work, such as Kabbalah and Tarot. The practical exercises throughout the book can be taken at leisure; there is no pressure to work on them in a linear fashion and I for one will be going back to the section on training the imagination to do the suggested work on automatic drawing. The exercise on selling your soul I found particularly potent, with challenging and thought-provoking questions which hold up a mirror we may prefer to avoid looking in.

Developing the transpersonal qualities of Love and Will underpin much of Assagioli’s Psychosynthesis; both are required, and while it is important to engage with the will, without love there is no cohesion, connection or wholeness. The Work, Will asserts, is about travelling the path of self discovery...and the journey has to include love too. Focussing on and developing the heart is therefore equally important, especially in these times of change and uncertainty. Will suggests that the simplest and most profound way to deal with obstacles, difficulties, challenges, opposing viewpoints (very pertinent right now in our Brexit-splintered society) is to remain heart centred. That, using an astrological psychology prism, requires stepping beyond the personal emotional needs of the Moon - our emotional needs and feelings -  in the chart and taking the leap to connect with the pure and highest manifestation of Neptunian energy – of acceptance, inclusivity and non-judgemental love.

The text of Will’s book is richly supported by references to other psychological and esoteric traditions such as Crowley, Gurdjieff, Regardie and Fortune. These do not intrude on the flow of the text with footnotes but are listed in appendices at the end of the book, along with an index of Practices and Spells.

Drawing on forty years of is own personal and spiritual development and his experience as a therapist, Will writes clearly and with warmth, as though he is speaking personally. For every exercise he emphasises the importance of grounding in real life what the reader discovers on their own explorations of the inner world. He emphasises the importance of coming back to earth, of being here now, in everyday reality and to opening the heart to love in all interpersonal relationships. This, he suggests, is especially needed in these challenging times of global change and upheaval and relates to what we as individuals can do, which is to live with a deeper consciousness of our self, and to live every day with love in action.