What I Learned in Astrology Class: Part Two

For part one, click here.

The second great revelation of my astrological studies came a few months after the first, when I was studying intermediate interpretation. We wee discussing planets in dignity and debility, which planets are at home in which signs, which planets are strong or weak in particular signs. More specifically, we wee talking about charts in which lots of planets are in their "weaker" signs, the signs where they are less comfortable. My natal chart is one of those charts. I have the Sun in Aquarius, where it is in detriment (the opposite sign to the Sun's home sign of Leo), Mercury in Pisces, also in detriment (Mercury rules Virgo, the opposite sign to Pisces in the zodiac), and Mars in detriment in Taurus (Mars is the traditional ruler of Scorpio). So I stuck my hand up, because after my experience with the Chiron discussion, I'm practising not being the quiet one in the corner any more. I found myself saying that having those three personal planets in "uncomfortable" positions meant that I trivialised or paid less attention to what was deeply important, and made a big deal out of things that were actually quite trivial.

Once again, a door opened in my mind. I had never articulated that to myself before, much less out loud to a room full of people. Who were suddenly asking me to repeat my exact words, writing them down. Not only did what I said resonate deeply for me, my fellow students could feel the truth of it too. Astrology was helping me to articulate my truth to myself, and also showing me that I had something meaningful to share with others. Like any learning journey, I was gaining confidence and self knowledge as well as learning the subject I was studying. With my chart ruler Uranus in the ninth house, and Jupiter in the first house, life is always going to be a journey of learning and expanding the self.

Since that day in class, I've deepened my awareness of how I work with those planetary energies, and how I can use them in a positive way. Mars in Taurus is unlikely to be the fastest runner in the race, but I've developed a love of a long slow run through the woods which keeps me sane, and grounded, and gives me mental, physical and even spiritual space. Mercury in Pisces may struggle with facts and figure (thank goodness for Saturn in Gemini to help me out there!) but learns a lot through meditation and makes sense of the world through poetry. And slowly slowly I am learning to seek myself, my Sun, through service to the collective (Aquarius). Having planets in their less comfortable signs brings challenges, but also learning experiences. My teacher all those years ago said that having planets in detriment or fall is a gift, because it gives us the most space to grow. I rolled my eyes at the time (easy for her to say!), but she wasn't wrong.
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