The Moon in Esoteric Astrology
The Moon in Esoteric Astrology
Esoteric Ruler of Virgo
Planet of the Fourth Ray
The vast majority of humanity is still quite fully focused on the life of the personality. Attachments to one’s biological karma, instinctual emotional responsiveness, patterns of early family conditioning and conformistic sociological behaviour (all lunar influenced) are still very strongly integrated into the mass consciousness {Cancer}
From the ~soul centred~ esoteric perspective, the Moon has no essential life value. It is a storehouse for the past - especially that past which is characterised by outworn and discarded astral images and desires. Although our attunement with the essential wholeness of life is steadily growing, a number of us are still struggling with the relationship between our soul awareness and our involvement with our physical, mental, and especially our emotional lives. This is the ~cross~ that we bear, is it not? And it is this ~cross~, and the sacrifices and re-orientations that it requires, which lead us more assuredly to a place of greater consciousness. As we move towards the fixed cross we are moving through the illusion of the Moon, trying to perceive beyond the maya of pre-conditional forms of body, mind and emotions, and into the reality that is Love/Wisdom.
When an individual has learned how to detach himself from the magnetism of his lunar past, one of three planets can be substituted for the Moon’s placement and traditional function in the natal chart: Vulcan, Uranus or Neptune. The Moon is then said to ~veil~ that planet’s effects.
When a person is leaving the Mutable Cross and is about to mount the Fixed, the effects of Vulcan are very noticeable. Vulcan rules that process which ~breaks the chains~ to form.. As the ~Blacksmith of the Gods~ Vulcan forges new tools for the expression of consciousness. Past patterns of behaviour are dissolved in favour of a growing awareness, which leads ultimately to detachment from the desires and compulsion of form.
When the Moon veils Uranus, the individual becomes a vehicle for the birthing of new archetypes of human consciousness. One is freed from the past - Uranus the ~revolutionary~ has seen to that. A new focus for form , one more appropriate to the current evolutionary stage of life, appears.. when the energies or Uranus are substituted for the position of the Moon in the natal chart, the individual consciously acts as part of a group effort working to bring in these new archetypes for the betterment of humanity.
This is a predominant theme at the present time, as the majority of people on the Fixed Cross are becoming increasingly responsive to the incoming Aquarian Age, its association with Uranus, and the unfolding of intuition and group consciousness. One of the greatest transitions in the evolution of human consciousness at the present time is the shift from intellectual awareness to an intuitive perception of reality.
The nature of the soul-centred, esoteric energies of the planets does not negate their personality-centred exoteric indicatives. A blending is taking place - one which gives rise to an ever—increasing inclusivity. The nature of the interrelationships between the energies, forces and ray qualities of the planets and signs reveals to us these patterns of unfoldment and their directions. The soul-centred individual has neither forgotten or abandoned the past.
The effects of the Moon and its sign placement, as we understand them to be from the angle of personality centred and psychologically oriented astrology, are still valid in this respect. But there are other, more refined or highly evolved influences which the Moon ~veils~. These esoteric inferences and effects dominate and supersede the earlier, lunar based ones in the consciousness of the soul-centred individual.
As we study these deeper, more esoteric aspects of astrology, we will find that our own intuition expands accordingly. This is one of the gifts of astrological studies - they expand our consciousness.
The third, and probably the most esoteric lunar veil, is that which concerns Neptune. When the Moon ~veils~ this planet’s effects, it may be said that Neptune rules all life on the astral plane - the entire feeling-sensitive nature. The average person is unaware of the vast majority of impressions which bombard his consciousness and to which he responds unconsciously (yet nevertheless storing many of these impressions). The Moon, that is the form nature, blocks and veils these impressions from revealing themselves as it would be extremely disturbing to have total access to the collective astral plane without the properly structured tools of perception. The construction of the ~tools~ for the channeling of awareness is within the province of Vulcan.
The various levels of the permeating energies of Vulcan, Uranus and Neptune through the Moon, as representative of the past and the formative nature, are quite important. This is especially so to those working upon the Fixed Cross. We are moving through the illusions of the Moon, trying to perceive beyond the maya of preconditioned forms of body, mind and emotions, and into the reality that is Love/Wisdom.
Neptune is operative when the Disciple is switching from the Fixed Cross to the Cardinal Cross. It’s function is to dissolve the sense of separateness whilst maintaining the sense of individualised Self-hood. Neptune, in this respect is connected to that process which we might call the ~redemption of life form~ and the bathing of matter in ~The waters of the Life~, which is, Love. This connects the Moon, the Fourth Ray, and the Fourth Kingdom (Humanity), to the nurturing substance of the Mother, and reveals yet another facet of Neptune’s esoteric rulership of Cancer.
Moon through the Signs
The following Moon in Sign interpretation is meant specifically for those individuals who still relate to the emotional side of personality, but who are influenced by the energies of Vulcan and/or Uranus in their relationship to the form life. The Fourth ray quality of the moon will remain very important in this respect, as it is ~Harmony Through Conflict~ which conditions one’s approach to the impersonal life and to the life of one dedicated to serving humanity.
MOON IN ARIES
Mercury the esoteric ruler of Aries, is on the same Ray of manifestation as the Moon, the Fourth, thus bringing it into greater activity.
Soul level purpose
To re-orient the emotions so that they come under the dominance of the mental body. The subsequent creation of form will then be the proper vehicle for "the birthplace of ideas". Naturally the crisis of the reorientation of the emotional/form nature is under Vulcan, while the expression of these new ideas comes through Uranus Therefore it is necessary to consider the relationship between Mercury and Uranus in the light of the above.
MOON IN TAURUS
When the Moon is in this sign, the individual has a powerful ability to create any form of manifestation required for the fulfilment of personal desire and self-interest. Such needs may be altruistic and magnanimous, but they are based on the motivations of personal emotions.
Soul-level Purpose
When Vulcan, the esoteric ruler of this sign, is seen to be in operation the form nature, as a vehicle for the fulfillment of desire, is transmuted by the Will-To-Good and becomes a vessel for the expression of the power of the First Ray. Thus the Moon {form life} becomes exalted as it serves the purpose of the Plan. Uranus serves as the vehicle for the birth and release of new human and social archetypes. Thus, when the Moon veils Uranus in this position, the individual would strive to serve humanity through the creation and nurturing sustainment of the new archetypal patterns.
MOON IN GEMINI
This combination provides a tremendous potential for the communication of harmony and for the use of form by the mind in order to help foster the Law of Right Human Relations. This can be seen by the interplay of the Fourth Ray quality of the Moon and the Second Ray energies of Gemini. Venus, esoteric ruler of this sign, as well as the vehicle for the Fifth Ray of the Concrete Mind, is also very active.
Soul-level Purpose
To create patterns of relationships and communications which either break down outworn models of social inter-change (Vulcan) or instigate new ones in most original ways (Uranus).
MOON IN CANCER
Exoteric ruler
On the personality level this provides the strongest link to the past, allowing the individual to create an environment that may nurture but does not necessarily provide an opportunity for evolutionary growth.
Soul-level Purpose
Neptune emerges as the planet most often veiled by the Moon in this position, as it is Cancer's ruler on the Soul level. The Sixth Ray devotional aspect predominates so that through the combination of Cancer's Rays - Three and Seven - the mind is used to create those ideas that sustain a potent quality of loving nourishment. Such an individual would be quite willing to foster those social circumstance that would support any and all humanitarian efforts. The effects of Vulcan in this sign would serve to release the individual from personal needs and concerns so that universal purposes could better be served.
MOON IN LEO
On the personality level, the Moon in Leo represents the epitome of emotional egocentricity. Self-consciousness is centered through the formative nature of instinctual response to environmental circumstances. When the moon is in this sign, even more advanced personalities still center their deeply passionate feelings (in a most personal manner) on those whom they love.
Soul-level Purpose
To transform the form life as an expression of self-consciousness into the proper vehicle for group consciousness through individualised efforts and talents. Leo and Aquarius are both signs of the Fifth Ray, making for a natural ease of movement of the energies which pass between them. The Second Ray quality of the sun, on both the personality and Soul levels, makes a most potent focus for the creative use of form with this position of the Moon. The effects of Vulcan are utilised to re-orient personal needs to those of the group, Uranus and its affinity to Aquarius would aid in the expression of individual efforts for the purposes of the collective.
MOON IN VIRGO
Esoteric Ruler.
As the Moon is the esoteric ruler of this sign, its placement herein gives the person a great potential toward world service. The Moon in Virgo masks or veils the presence of the Christ within, the child of Heaven.
Soul-level Purpose
To reveal the indwelling purpose and function of Love within the forms of life. The work the individual undertakes would involve a very strong loving devotion to service, thus bringing forth the characteristics of the Second and Sixth Rays through which Virgo manifests. Such endeavours might entail caring for the lower kingdom in nature, such as the vegetable and the animal, as they too are representatives of the Light which is Love. Vulcan would serve to help break down patterns of selfish service and the manipulation of matter for one’s own ends. The actions of the energies of Uranus when in this position easily lend themselves to the creation of those innovations and inventions which serve to unite mankind, making the awareness of our essential wholeness that much easier to perceive by the mass consciousness.
MOON IN LIBRA
On the soul-level, the most natural affinity that this combination holds is with the planet Uranus, esoteric ruler of Libra.
Soul-level Purpose
To expand human relations into the impersonal networking required to unite humanity into a consciously working whole. On the personality level, personal emotional security is anchored by partnerships. But on the Soul level, the Seventh Ray qualities of Libra and Uranus become very potent. Thus the focus for the creation of form it to be a vehicle for the synthetic blending of humanity, and for the harmonious externalisation of the principle of unity in diversity. The function of Vulcan in this position would be to instigate those crises or reorientation that would transform the individual’s attachment to relationships from the personal/emotional level to the impersonal collective level, and eventually to the transpersonal/universal level.
MOON IN SCORPIO
In traditional astrology, the Moon is said to fall in Scorpio for several reasons.
(1) It is difficult to get in touch with the feeling nature when the Moon is in this sign.
(2) A person can be quite un-loving and un-nourishing when the Moon is manifesting through the Scorpion.
(3) There is a tendency to "cut people off", and abandon them from any kind of personal sustenance at the least provocation. But from the soul-centered perspective, the Moon falls in Scorpio because the personality is ~killed~ in this sign! The function of form loses all potency and power, as the final victory in Scorpio is the emergence of the ~triumphant Disciple~, and the externalisation of the Soul.
Soul-level Purpose
To use the form life as a ~total expression~ for the healing properties of the Higher Self. The power of Vulcan to create the crises of transition required to bring about this reorientation of one’s attachment to the desire/form life would be very marked. Look to the house position of the Moon to see where in the life such upsets would come about.
As Scorpio is the sign through which the transformation of energies from the personality to the level of the Soul is tested, the placement of the Moon in this sign when veiling Uranus is quite important. The dynamic force of the Fourth Ray - Harmony Through conflict - is at its strongest, as both the Moon and Scorpio are of this Ray energy. Through the forceful breaking down of old, instinctive, non-regenerative emotional habit patterns in the life of the lower self, the potent release of the new archetypes (Uranus) for service to humanity comes forth. Uranus, as a vehicle for the Seventh Ray, stimulates the interplay between Spirit and matter for further creative manifestation.
MOON IN SAGITTARIUS
The personality centred indications of this position express the dual expansion of the form/desire nature; that is, the need for emotional fulfilment through the physical senses, and through the formation and achievement of one’s ideological goals.
Soul-level Purpose
The Earth and the Third Ray become the rulers, giving rise to the awareness of humanity’s practical needs. In addition, there is the ability to structure people, events, and ideas so that the most good may be distributed where it is most needed. Altruism takes on a pragmatic modality; idealism merges with practical considerations in order to sustain humanity’s well-being. This is a very encompassing position for the Moon. It involves a very strong initial Fourth Ray (Human) orientation insofar as the Moon and Sagittarius both manifest on this line of energy. The Fifth Ray, and thus Aquarius and Uranus come into play. One should keep in mind that Jupiter, the exoteric ruler of Sagittarius, is also the esoteric rule of Aquarius. Finally, the Sixth Ray and Neptune (another of the Moon’s veiled planets) also add the dimension of nurturing self-sacrifice to this complex pattern of influences.
If the Moon veils Vulcan in this position, it requires detachment from one’s personal beliefs as universal truth, so that humanity’s needs can be met with true wisdom. The Moon veiling Uranus in this position would inspire a universal philosophy which would be used to anchor the new archetypes for the betterment of humanity.
MOON IN CAPRICORN
As one evolves, the power of the form to control ones motivations in life lessens, until all material attachment ceases, and one moves on to the various initiatic states of the Cardinal Cross. The Fixed Cross is that state which establishes the relationship between the two extremes of total attachment and total detachment.
Soul-Level Purpose
(for one on the Fixed Cross with the Moon in Capricorn) to awaken awareness of this dualistic frame of reference. This is accomplished through the structuring of those personal and collective resources for which one is responsible, so that they may be used for group purposes. Vulcan, when veiled by the Moon in this position, gives rise to the tensions which the first steps towards this detachment necessitate. The combination of Capricorn and Uranus allows for the structuring of the form life for greater use by the will-to-Good, as the Seventh Ray of this sign and planet is in direct contact with Ray One and the Purpose for manifestation.
MOON IN AQUARIUS
On the personality level, this position is not the warmest or most nourishing due to the rather impersonal qualities of the emotions when working through the Water Bearer. But It is precisely this impersonality which makes the Moon in Aquarius very potent for Soul-level work.
Soul-Level Purpose
To arm oneself with the tools {shaped and sharpened by Vulcan} for world service. This is an excellent position for the Moon, as it lends itself so easily to the transitional operation of the unveiling of Uranus and the Soul-centered rulership of Jupiter. The rulership of Jupiter activates the Second Ray and adds that most important ingredient of all, Love, to the nature of impersonality and detachment.
MOON IN PISCES
On the personality level, the undisciplined emotional responsiveness of the Moon in Pisces can lead one into unending mutations of desire, thus perpetrating life on the Mutable Cross. Yet when the individual begins to orient himself onto the Fixed Cross, several very potent forces come into play. This can be one of the most valuable positions in a horoscope for Soul-focused activity. The Moon unveils Vulcan and Pisces reveals its Soul-centered ruler, Pluto, thus bringing about a tremendous emphasis of he First Ray quality of Will/Power. In addition, the Sixth Ray energy of Pisces evokes Mars, and the Moon then unveils the other planet of this Ray, Neptune (now expressing itself as illumination, rather than illusion). Jupiter, the Sun and the Second Ray also contribute their loving potentialities to this combination.
Soul-Level Purpose
To harness the Will in order to activate the Plan of Love/Wisdom, through never-ending compassion and devotion. The work or a person with this position would, first of all, be to break his or her attachment to the thralldom of emotional sensation and stimulation {Vulcan}. After this process has occurred, the form nature can then be used to integrate and distribute a new orientation {Uranus} toward universal compassion and understanding {Neptune}
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