THEMES
OF DEPRESSION -
SOME IDEAS AROUND MARS, SATURN AND PLUTO
Maggie Kerr
(AAT.Dip.Couns.)
One of the most common themes I find myself counselling in the course
of my daily practice as an Astrologer is the
“Big D”…Depression. Now this might
not sound like a very exciting or interesting topic for an article, however
during the course of my investigations into this area I’ve found
some very basic ideas which have actually led me to understand that the
Big D. is actually a very fascinating aspect of the human condition, which
definitely warrants both exploration and discussion.
Indeed depression in its’ varying degrees is actually something
which we all have in common! It is also a piece of territory in our culture
which still holds a taboo, as very few people admit to experiencing it
or understand much about it - much the same as grief. They both get labeled
as “bad” feelings and consequently largely denied and repressed,
and therefore not valued or utilised in any sort of meaningful way!
I have included here an illustration
of the Planetary Tree - click here as I perceive
the relationships between them on a psychological level. As you can see
there are the male and female “lines” with the neutral or
mental planets between them. It isn’t my purpose to explain the
whole link up here in depth - however a brief outline goes along the lines
of:
The potential for wholeness in each of us requires that we integrate both
the yin and yang lineage of archetypes within us. The yang path to individuation
of the Sun must be supported by the energy of the will (Mars), the capacity
for self responsibility and authority (Saturn), which in turn leads to
true empowerment both on an inner and outer level (Pluto). Ultimately
for the true Spiritualisation of our Solar ego the Plutonian “Higher
Will and Purpose” must be brought into alignment.
The yin path within the wholeness process requires that we become “Soul
Centered” and learn to respond to our true intuitive feelings (Moon),
and become “safe” in them so we may link this function within
the authentic Self. This requires clearing and healing our lower emotional
nature, where we are at the mercy of our emotional reactions. Venus serves
the Moon by attracting who and what we need, thus developing our sense
of worth. Jupiter brings us opportunities for growth based on our sense
of meaning and faith in ourselves, and in turn inspiration and clarity
(Neptune) so we may have a true relationship with our Soul.
Mercury is the messenger who links the male and female aspects within
the whole person - Chiron contains the crisis which leads to the Uranian
awakening of our potential for conscious evolution…again forging
the link to the transpersonal energies of Neptune and Pluto in turn. Ultimately
we are here to open the Solar Heart Centre so we may feel the Lunar Soul
essence and “come from love”!
O.K. so there’s the game plan as I perceive it (bearing in mind
these ideas originate from many other Esoteric teachers far greater than
I!) So now back to the theme of said article. The two types of folks most
prone to depression in Astrological typology are Capricorns and Scorpios…
i.e. it is the Cap. and Scorp. components in each of us which enact this
experience. So there’s a Mars/Saturn/Pluto thing going on here,
which places us in the yang lineup in my model. Thus my simple reasoning
tells me that at the heart (Sun) of themes of depression, lies a belief
that the individual does not have the right to express their true and
free will and take responsibility for this expression.
So let’s explore Mars for a minute. Mars is the principle of energy
in action. Mars serves the Sun so we may take action and assert on our
own behalf - the archetypal warrior. The first Mars return at age 2 sets
the scene for establishing an individuals’ capacity for self will,
and depending on how a little person is responded to at this vital point
will set the stage for later will expression. This is known as the “anal”
stage in Freuds’ development model, which he describes as “active-aggressive
development”. In Eriksons’ emotional development model he
describes this stage as “Separation - Autonomy versus Shame &
Doubt”.
The successful outcome here is meant to be “Self Control and Will
Power”. The keynote themes here are expressed through toilet and
food - and I’m sure all of us who have been through the delightful
stage of raising a two year old can easily remember our own feelings of
rage and impotence, when said toddler is raising hell attempting to impose
their will over ours! Interesting to realise that our own power and control
issues are literally in our face during this process, and it isn’t
hard to see how the transference system operates here, as our child responds
to our own “stuff” accordingly - thus fulfilling (i.e. taking
on board unconsciously) the core issues of the family system into which
it has arrived.
So if the small persons’ will is overruled by one or both parents
(Moon Mars hard aspect if it is Mum, and Saturn Mars for Dad), then feelings
of rage, shame and impotence are buried within the psyche, and expressed
as behaviours which either under or overcompensate the true feelings.
So on the one hand we may meet the very compliant and seemingly pleasant
personality type, who has tremendous trouble dealing with aggressive or
angry people, and experiences many projections of their own disowned rage
(I’m so nice…they are so angry!). Conversely the person may
become overtly aggressive, but still be incapable of cleanly asserting
their will.
In the Transactional Analysis Model
Eric Berne offers us the 3 Ego states of Parent, Adult and Child. The
3 Ego States are drawn as follows: > click
here -
We can see in this model that Mars represents the “Free Child”
which is the part within us which has the right to express its’
will - it is also the part which contains joy/fun/wicked and the “wild
child”. Hence the acting out of wicked/wild/angry if the child in
us believes it is impotent - or if this rage is denied or suppressed…you
guessed it…depression results. So Mars passes his now frustrated/blocked
energy down to Saturn and Pluto in turn. So Mars becomes “dirty”,
and spirals down into a cycle of using up all the nice fresh clean energy
in frustration and immobilsation!
This leads to another important idea here, which says that depression
is a signal from the psyche that old feelings which have been denied need
to be felt and released - grief, guilt, shame…the whole box and
dice. Hence for many folks accessing these old feelings is essential to
“shift” the energy which is blocked. Rebirthing and various
forms of active psychotherapies are appropriate here. The deeper and older
the depression the greater the work may have to be - however, I feel that
even in the case of chronic cases, mobilisation of the will is the key.
Our Saturnine fears also contribute to the immobilisation of the will
- these fears keep us powerless and feed our Plutonian unconsciousness.
Impotence on both physical and emotional levels, is the shadow side of
clean and potent expression of our Solar urge to be “the self who
we truly are”. Redecisioning old belief systems, and putting our
energy into creating new ones is obviously also essential if we are to
access our clean Mars energy and become this true and authentic Self.
In terms of the psychospiritual whole Self, work is usually required to
open some level of faith and trust in a sense of belonging - i.e. accessing
the yin lineage of planets - thus enabling the Soul to nurture and support
the healing process.
This can only be a brief attempt to discuss an area which is complex to
say the least. I make no claims to being an expert in this area, I am
simply aware as the result of my own, and observation of so many others’
journey through fields of depression, that I have come to understand it
as an experience which can be rich and ultimately very rewarding. Depression
phases are often the precursor to new life stages - very balsamic in nature
- gestative and developmental. If we can understand that these deeply
introspective phases in our lives, are the time for releasing the past
feelings which are part of a phase in life which is drawing to a close,
and quietly nurture ourselves whilst our Soul is preparing us for the
next phase of growth, we can contain the feelings of loss and separation.
From this place faith and trust can be born.
May you all shine and grow in this new Millennium - Maggie Kerr
References:
Howard Sasportas The Astrology and Psychology of Aggression Dynamics of
The Unconscious
Liz Greene Depression Dynamics of The Unconscious
Roberto Assaglioli The Act Of Will
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