The inscription at the entrance of the temple at Delphi sums up this approach: "Know thyself." Esoteric astrology studies the basic energies, invisible yet making us who we are: the soul, the personality, and the personality's vehicles of expression, the physical, emotional and mental bodies.
Astrology of the personality, astrology of the soul
| Conventional (exoteric) astrology | Esoteric astrology | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Events, circumstances, personality | Consciousness, the soul, the growth of awareness |
| Sun sign | Basic character | The present state, a summary of past lives, the line of least resistance |
| Rising sign | Appearance, first impression | The purpose of the soul in this life |
| Planets | Orthodox rulers | Esoteric and hierarchical rulers; sacred and non-sacred planets |
| Basis | Signs and houses | First the seven rays, then signs and houses |
The rising sign comes first
In esoteric astrology the rising sign carries far more weight. It is set by the exact moment of birth, the first breath, and represents the incarnation of the soul. Because the soul comes before the personality, the rising sign comes first. In its symbolism lie the life problem and the life achievement; it shows the highest quality a soul can unfold in a lifetime. The Sun sign is the line of least resistance and the integrating force of the personality. Once the personality is sufficiently integrated, the soul can express itself through it far more easily.
When a spiritual seeker reaches a certain stage, the personality rulers have less effect and the response to the soul rulers increases. The planets are the same, but they work in a higher octave.
Destiny, not fate
According to esoteric astrology a person is not the victim of the chart. There may be karma to work through and lessons to learn, but there is always a choice, and a person can become a conscious co-creator of destiny. This is also why advanced souls often respond poorly to conventional readings: their chart is now working on another level.
New techniques
Esoteric astrology gives new meaning to some old concepts. Exaltation, detriment and fall are reconsidered as "three phases of the Path". A correct reading of the decanates is said to reveal the immediate life opportunity, the nature of the next spiritual step, and the nature of initiatory tests. The distinction between sacred and non-sacred planets allows more specific guidance.
The science of initiation is an integral part of this approach. Initiations concern the coordination and control of the physical, emotional and mental bodies. One of the hardest is the initiation of the emotional body, symbolised by Scorpio: Mars and Pluto put a person through the crucible while Venus, Neptune and Jupiter strengthen the love principle, and the emotions of the solar plexus are raised to the heart and become love. Relationships are where this transformation is lived most intensely.
What do "esoteric" and "occult" mean?
"Esoteric" means understood by those who are prepared; it is not elitism. What is esoteric eventually becomes mainstream, yet there is always a core waiting to be unveiled by each generation of seekers. "Occult" means hidden, beyond the bounds of ordinary knowledge; it does not carry the negative meaning the media has given it. "Science" here includes not only concrete analysis through the five senses but also the knowledge of the higher mind, which grasps the whole intuitively.
A science of relationships
A human being is not a lone individual living on a small planet, but an energy centre within a greater solar life. The solar system, with its planets, people and all kingdoms of nature, is a living being. Esoteric astrology studies the relationships between these lives, the exchange of energy between signs, rays, planets and people. That is why it is sometimes called "the science of sciences".
The language of symbols
Signs, planets and houses are parts of the same symbolic language. The higher mind works on the archetypal level and presents symbols to consciousness as images. Plotinus distinguishes three degrees of knowledge: opinion from the senses, science from reason, and illumination from intuition. Esoteric astrology asks for the third: the chart opens its real meaning when the astrologer's higher self takes part in the reading. A saying attributed to Aristotle puts it well: the soul never thinks without an image.
The purpose of the soul
Many people feel they have lost their way and cannot find what they would call "my thing". Esoteric astrology holds that each person brings an innate soul purpose, which time and circumstance can make us forget. The chart is read as a key that recalls this purpose: the signs show spiritual needs and paths of evolution, the planets the energies that set learning in motion, and the houses the areas of daily life where these energies appear.