Astrology and Individuality

One of the beautiful things about astrology is the philosophical questions and thoughts it inspires. Contemplating Mercury’s synodic cycle recently, and the upcoming Station and Retrograde phase reminded me of the nature of our individuality and how a birth chart reflects that in so many ways. Even two people with the same chart placements can have qualitatively different experiences, albeit within the same archetypal themes.

I’ve reflected on this before, so many times, as I think any astrologer does (you can’t not think about it as an astrologer). Astrology enhances compassion and empathy for the individual path, reflects our unique place in the world, and shines a light on who you are and what you can be through the symbology of the planetary placements at your time of birth.

Sometimes reflections on this are triggered for me again through some words I’ve come across, or through something I’m learning or experiencing, which brings these thoughts yet deeper within.

Take Mercury’s phase for example. The relative position of a planet to the Sun contributes to the expression of that planet. Mercury Cazimi (when Mercury is conjunct the Sun) is considered a powerful position for Mercury, with a purifying effect, as though Mercury is being reborn anew. A few days later however it enters a qualitatively different part of its phase, going combust (0°- 8° from the Sun). Here it’s weakened, and can be challenged to express itself in a way that’s supportive.

But what if you were born a few days or weeks earlier or later? The energies of the planets can change in that time, according to phase, sign or dignity, thereby symbolically representing something different about the circumstances, traits, people, or events likely to arise in your life. What if you weren’t born under a Mercury Cazimi but the combustion phase instead, or with Mercury in a different sign?

We are each born at a specific moment in time. It emphasises how unique we are. If you were born on a different date, or at a different time in the day, you might express different qualities, or have qualitatively different experiences. Who would you be? How would you be?

But you weren’t – you are ‘you’, born at a specific moment in the unfolding of the cosmos, and all that implies in terms of being an individiual, with your own unique qualities, experiences and path to travel in life – your place in the ‘all’.

There’s a quote which profoundly touched me when I first heard it. Unfortunately I can’t remember where I heard it or who said it, or the exact phrasing, but it goes something like this:

It speaks to the unique part each of us plays in the dance of life, even if we don’t realise it. It’s easy to undervalue who we are, what we do, and our part in the cosmos. Embrace, value and honour the unique essence of your being.

Photo courtesy of whitedaemon-girl at Pixabay