Living Astrology: The Essential Archetypes
10 planets, 4 elements and 3 contexts

Below are the essential components (Astrological archetypes) that are the basis of a Living Astrology Reading. The interaction of these characters and energies represent the essential patterns of your unique Cosmos. Living Astrology views these patterns as describing your 'energy context' rather than your 'fate' - the qualities that they represent are secondary to your ability to make choices based on your experience, ideals and conscience. Once you understand the essential archetypes, you can derive the meanings yourself without having to rely on traditional associations.

Element -->	Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)	Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn)	Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius)	Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces)
Context:	Energy, Stimulation Creativity, Motivation Confrontation	Practicality, Groundedness, Resistance, Solidity Structure	Mobility, Adaptability, Distribution, Understanding, Communication	Sensitivity, Empathy Mixing/Merging
Personal	Motivation (Aries)	Self Possession (Taurus)	Adaptability (Gemini)	Nurture, Empathy (Cancer)
Interpersonal	Performance (Leo)	Skillfulness (Virgo)	Diplomacy (Libra)	Interpersonal Bonding (Scorpio)
Collective	Leadership (Sagittarius)	Organization (Capricorn)	Inventiveness (Aquarius)	Collective Emotion (Pisces)

The 4 elements -  Fire, Earth, Air, and Water

Fire:
Fire inspires us, motivates us, gives us the spark that gets us moving into action. When we have a creative impulse or vision, we are being 'ignited' by the fire element. When we are unable to find creative outlets, fire can take the form of anger and confrontation. In its physical form, fire is found in flames, electricity, fuels (fire and water or air). Competitive sports, martial arts or performance of any kind are good ways to connect with the fire element.
A person with a predominance of Astrological fire (Sun, Moon, Ascendant or other planets in Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius) responds to excitement, challenge, growth, visionary ideas and being in the spotlight. If their fire element is healthy and well balanced, this individual would also be receptive to incorporating the other elements - practical issues (earth), a wider perspective (air), and emotional/spiritual implications (water). If their fire qualities are blocked or frustrated, they will tend to be confrontational and argumentative or play 'one-upmanship' in order to show their strength.
An individual with an overabundance of fire can be reactive without patience, inspired without follow-though, and addicted to excitement.
An individual with a lack or blockage of fire will can have difficulty getting motivated and can be be overly fearful and cautious.

Earth:
Earth requires us to stay grounded, to be practical and results oriented, to stay focused on the details, to build structure to support our impulses and ideas. Earth tells us, 'I'll believe it when I can hold it in my hand'. When frustrated, earth takes the form of resistance to input and the attempt to control circumstances with force. In its physical form, earth is related to mountains, rocks and soil - mountain climbing and gardening are a good way to connect with earth.
A person with a predominance of Astrological earth (Sun, Moon, Ascendant or other planets in Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn) responds to solidity, practicality, consistency, things that they can touch and hold, structures and plans. If their earth element is healthy and well balanced, this individual would also be receptive to incorporating the other elements - inspiration and creativity (fire), a wider perspective (air), and emotional/spiritual implications (water). If their earth qualities are blocked or frustrated, they will tend to be skeptical or stubbornly resistant to ideas or interaction in general.
An individual with an overabundance of earth can be rigid, controlling and fearful.
An individual with a lack or blockage of earth can be spacey, unreliable, inconsistent.

Air:
Air opens up space for freedom and movement. Air is present when we are thinking or communicating in systems or languages, abstracting or comparing, connecting ideas or people. Air 'widens our horizons' or 'blows us away' with understanding and insight. When frustrated, air avoids dealing with reality by flying off into worlds of nonsense or fantasy. In its physical form, air is found in wind and sky (and birds, which can navigate these) and breath.
A person with a predominance of Astrological air (Sun, Moon, Ascendant or other planets in Gemini, Libra or Aquarius) responds to communication, clarity, intelligence, adaptability, inventiveness. If their air element is healthy and well balanced, this individual would also be receptive to incorporating the other elements - inspiration and creativity (fire), practical issues (earth), and emotional/spiritual implications (water). If their air qualities are blocked or frustrated, they will tend to be argumentative or distracted.
An individual with an overabundance of air can get caught up in thinking and communicating without principle or purpose.
An individual with a lack or blockage of air can have difficulty communicating or understanding complexity or abstraction.

Water:
Water is the element that nurtures all of life. Our bodies are 50-70% water. The health of our elemental water effects our emotions and our overall sense of well being. Water can bring tears of joy or sadness, nourishment or poison. When frustrated, water will create emotional and physical pressure until it is released, if not voluntarily through disease or emotional outbursts. In its physical form, water is found in streams, lakes and oceans, in food and drinks and in chemicals that act as containers for various forces.
A person with a predominance of Astrological water (Sun, Moon, Ascendant or other planets in Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces) responds to sensitivity, sharing, compassion, nurturing, feeling, intensity. If their water element is healthy and well balanced, this individual would also be receptive to incorporating the other elements - inspiration and creativity (fire), practical issues (earth), and a wider perspective (air). If their water qualities are blocked or frustrated, they will tend to be moody, withdrawn or 'stewing' in their emotions.
An individual with an overabundance of water can be oversensitive, tending to addiction, lacking in boundaries.
An individual with a lack or blockage of water can be insensitive, unfeeling, dried up.

The 3 Contexts: Personal, Interpersonal and Collective
The 12 signs of the Zodiac represent a progression from birth and individuality (Aries - Virgo) to social participation and finally death (Libra - Pisces). This progression goes through 3 phases:
Personal: a focus on the individual and their immediate surroundings (Aries->Cancer) - being true to oneself, strengthening intuitive connection and intelligence.
Interpersonal: a focus on interaction with other individuals (Leo -> Scorpio) - developing self through interacting with others, having the courage to venture out and share oneself in order to grow.
Collective: a focus on groups and society as a whole (Sagittarius -> Pisces) - contributing and sometimes sacrificing personal and interpersonal achievements for the good of the whole.
None of these are any better than another, every sign has a unique and necessary role to play in the overall energy dynamic of the Universe. Individuals that are too focused in the personal can become isolated, too focused in the interpersonal obsessed and distracted, too focused in the collective, lacking in creativity and individuality. Every sign is a unique combination of an element and a context.

Planets: Mental Abilities and Talents
The Edgar Cayce material on Astrology correlate astrological influences with and individual soul's 'sojourn' on a particular planet in between lifetimes: these experiences are undertaken in order to develop the specific energy characteristics of that planet, similar to the way we would attend a University to prepare for a specific career. The purpose of Earth life (called the 'testing phase') is to apply these lessons to meet the challenges of everyday life. Planets that are rising or culminating (at the Midheaven) at the time of our birth are most likely to be the most recent planet we have visited, but there are usually 3-5 or more planetary 'degrees' we have earned, all of which can be utilized in choosing how to respond to circumstances or other individuals. Notice the emphasis and aptitude you have for each of these issues and you will get a sense of your planetary emphasis.

Planetary Cycles and Groupings
The length of one full orbit around the sun (a 'year' for that planet) also helps us to understand the meaning of each planet. The moon is the only celestial object that revolves around us - it takes one month to traverse the zodiac and correlates to our changing moods. Sun, Mercury, and Venus are all close to one year and Mars 2 years and relate to our personal energy. Jupiter is 12 years and Saturn 29, relating to our social context (Jupiter relates to expansion - ages 12,24,36,48.60,72 and Saturn to responsibility and fate - ages 29 and 58). The outer planets Uranus (84 years), Neptune (164 years) and Pluto (248 years) relate to collective trends that extend beyond the boundaries of individual lifetimes. Whether your spiritual approach is religious (ie soul growth and/or reincarnation) or secular (individual contributions to family and society), the longer planetary cycles represent energy that transcends individual concerns.

	Sun: Vitality, Creativity. We all must learn to 'radiate' the energy or our Sun placement - according to Cayce very few souls actually sojourn on the Sun yet it remains a strong influence because of its prominence in our Solar System.
	Moon: Sensitivity, Moodiness. A person with a moon emphasis is naturally sensitive to others' needs, but can be very moody and prone to getting pulled into emotional entanglements. Like the Sun, the moon is not as common as the other planets as a destination for sojourning.
	Mercury: High mental abilities, ability to solve puzzles or deal with complexity or abstraction, adaptability (i.e. acting or comedy). A person with Mercury emphasis is good with seeing multiple dimensions to experience, at being objective. They might be challenged by a lack of purpose or commitment or not being completely honest with others or 'true to themselves'.
	Venus: Love and Beauty. A person with a Venus emphasis is loving towards others and attuned to beauty in nature and everywhere. They have a gift for appreciating and attracting others. They might be challenged by sexual attractions, difficulty in committing or frustration at not being appreciated themselves.
	Mars: Assertiveness and Anger. A person with a Mars emphasis gravitates to strength both physically and in their interaction with others. They are energetic, motivated and quick to respond. They might be challenged by being short tempered and getting caught in confrontations with others.
	Jupiter: Universal attitude (win-win), Optimism, Generosity. A person with a Jupiter emphasis tends to be socially influential and to have their share of money and possessions. Their success is a result of their natural tendency to see their own good as the good of all. They can be challenged by overextending themselves, by trying to be too generous, by trying to solve everyone's problems.
	Saturn: Contraction, Solitude. Cayce spoke about Saturn as the planet 'where all insufficient matter is cast for its return', in other words, the place that is reserved for souls that have all but lost touch with their purpose for existence so they won't do any further damage - like prisons on Earth, Saturn sojourns are intended for rehabilitation and 'getting a new start'. Individuals with a Saturn emphasis are often lead to endure tragedy or loss in order to prove their faith in a higher power and to be given an opportunity to overcome their skepticism and resentment. A Saturn 'crossroads' can be among the most difficult life challenges, when we are forced to face our fears 'or else'...
	Uranus: Psychic Insight, Extremes of Behavior. A person 'entering' from Uranus is capable of extraordinary psychic insight (like Cayce himself) and 'genius' - inventors like Nikolai Tesla or Benjamin Franklin (especially those related to electricity) were channeling Uranian energy. They can be challenged by having erratic, manic energy, extremes of mood and behavior.
	Neptune: Mysticism, Spiritual Union, Ecstatic Experiences. Souls entering from Neptune are highly sensitive to occult energies, to dreams, and to the archetypes of the collective unconscious. They can be challenged in finding ways to translate their idealism and sensitivity into concrete forms that make a difference in the world and are vulnerable to being overtaken by glamour (either their own or that of others).
	Pluto: Consciousness, Transformation. Souls entering from Pluto are highly energized to transform human consciousness by stripping away materialistic and fear based pretense. Christ and Gandhi are examples of Pluto energy - willing to absorb violence for the sake of peace. Pluto individuals can be challenged by the solitude of not being understood by their peers and having to live up to a 'superhuman' standard of behavior while others around them do not and can get pulled into darkest of shadow realms (Pluto was the 'God of the underworld') like a Hitler or Jim Jones.

Aspects: the interaction between planetary energies.
Like the notes of a musical scale or the interaction between light or magnetic forces, the aspects either harmonize or bring conflict between the energies of the planets. Aspects in an individual's birth chart set up energy dynamics which continue in some form throughout a particular incarnation. What we have a choice of is how and on what level of being to express these interactions. An opposition or square on the physical level could correspond to an accident or injury - modulated to a mental form it might correspond to an argument or a feeling of frustration - raised to a spiritual level, it might be the impetus to overcome difficulties or act in service to a higher principle.
Conjunction (0-10 degrees - same sign): When two planets are conjunct, their energies tend to fuse and in many cases confuse the functions they represent. When the Moon is conjunct Mars, nurturing (Moon) would take on an energetic or aggressive quality (Mars), while confrontation (Mars) would have an emotional quality (Moon). With Mercury conjunct Saturn, communication (Mercury) would take on a very serious and organized quality (Saturn), while self-discipline and anxiety (Saturn) might be rationalized or the subject of communication (Mercury).
Opposition (180 degrees - compatible element): Here the same two planets are in a relationship of 'forced balance'. As 'two sides of the same coin', they tend to invoke and energize each other through challenge and confrontation. In many cases, the opposition is acted out through interaction with other individuals who we 'cast in the role' of the other planet (what psychology calls 'projection'). In my experience, most individuals will tend to switch from one side of their opposition to another, at first over the course of years, then months and finally, on a moment to moment basis, realizing they are both sides of the issue. With the Moon opposite Mars, the individual would feel their comfort (Moon) was threatened by the aggressive behavior (Mars) of others and that their ability to assert themselves (Mars) was blocked by the emotions (Moon) of others. The Mercury Saturn opposition person might find their curiosity and communication (Mercury) being shut down by skepticism / worldly concerns (Saturn), then find themselves being the skeptic or authority (Saturn) in relation to the less serious ideas of younger, more carefree individuals (Mercury).
Square (90 degrees - conflicting element): Dynamic tension. Two individuals come up to traffic light at right angles. Both must 'check in' with each other before moving or an accident will likely ensue. The two energies must work together, but never comfortably, like partners or siblings that argue but are loyal and stick up for each other in public. Mars square the Moon would mean the person's assertiveness would depend on their being emotionally stable and their emotional security would depend on their ability to get motivated. Mercury square Saturn would indicate a person who would be very careful in their communication and aware of the validity and authority behind what they were saying and/or would be prone to voicing their fears or difficulties (i.e. frequent sighing).
Trine (120 degrees - same element) - ease, creativity, potential for complacency and overconfidence. The trine is like two friends who are so much like each other that they can cause each other problems. A person with an abundance of trines is prone to saying, 'I can do whatever I want, so I don't have to do anything.'
Sextile (60 degrees - compatible element) - comprehension, awareness, relative harmony, same general direction. The energies involved tend to bring awareness, make each others tasks easier by pointing the way to 'working smart instead of working hard.'

Summary:

Astrological energies are the context for your individual experience of the world, a context to help you progress through your current earthly 'lesson plan'. There is no force stronger than your ability to choose: to act in harmony with Universal Law or against it. The details of how this plays out into the world is up to each of us to discover and co-create from the inside out. Astrology can aid the intention to grow in Wisdom, to serve others and to live up to our Ideals. It helps us to understand the subtle distinctions and deep underlying connection between the vibrations of the physical universe, our own minds, and the Universal Energy of Life (in whatever way you understand or experience it).

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