The polarity of human consciousness in the six astrological axes, part I

Why do people have a psychic shadow?

Let us imagine that the universe held only light and no darkness at all. How, then, would a shadow form? The answer again lies in the presence of matter, which light cannot pass through and which therefore leaves a shadow behind it. And is not everything on our planet some form of matter? Our bodies are made of dense matter; the things we wish to own are matter. Whereas in the unity of the universe there is no division into subject and object, and no longing to possess something outside ourselves, since everything is one whole and an “outside” does not exist.

Looking more closely, we see that the very working of our consciousness is polar — the waking state gives way to sleep, day gives way to night. The human psyche is unable to remain in waking consciousness for very long, and so each day it needs to fall into sleep or unconsciousness in order to surface into awareness again, and so on. You can read more about the shadow and the polarity of human consciousness in The path of self-knowledge.

The polarity of the human brain

The human body is built of two mirrored halves with two limbs each, just as the human brain consists of two mirrored hemispheres, each governing the opposite side of the body. Each hemisphere has different functions: the right is responsible for creativity, emotion and intuition, the left for logical and linear thinking, for handling facts and mathematics. If the right is linked more with the unconscious, the left answers to consciousness. A great deal of research shows that these two parts of the brain can function entirely independently of one another. Depending on what a person is doing, one hemisphere takes the lead over the other.

For centuries humanity has deliberately used and developed the functions of the left hemisphere, focusing on facts, rational thought and the scientific approach. Entering this two-poled model, the capacity to imagine, to create, to work with emotion and intuition has been left underdeveloped, and the consequences are increasingly visible. Recent research into treating children with what are called modern conditions — autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — shows that symptoms decrease considerably after activities designed to develop the individual’s less developed hemisphere, bringing both into balance. This is a beautiful illustration of how balancing the opposites can lead to inner healing.

The principle of polarity in astrology

Balancing the opposites works in much the same way in astrology. It draws on a wide range of ideas which, separately and in relation to one another, represent the different faces of the Unity of Life. Its guiding principle is the contrast held within these ideas. Every sign of the zodiac, every planet, every house — in short, every element of the astrological framework — is a two-sided, two-poled unit. To understand the qualities of a given sign in depth, one must also come to know its opposite, and so consider both sides of a single unit.

For this reason the twelve signs are treated as six axes of paired opposites. To understand a sign deeply, one must look at the sign that plays the part of its shadow and mirrors it on the opposite side of the zodiacal wheel. In this way, through becoming aware of and integrating our unconscious qualities, the two polarities become a single Whole.

The six pairs of opposing signs in astrology

The first axis, Aries – Libra, is called the axis of Identity and represents the most clearly expressed polarity of Self and Other. The main emphasis in these two signs falls on relationships and partnership. The opposition forms between asserting the ego to the point of isolation, and the need for connection which, at its extreme, can lead to a loss of identity. Aries most often consciously sees itself as impulsive, self-centred, standing up for itself and for its own wishes regardless of how this affects the Other. It has a strong sense of identity and does not hesitate to enter into conflict in order to reach its goals. Its opposite sign, Libra, holds and expresses the qualities that form the shadow of Aries and therefore remain unconscious to it: the striving towards perfection and equal partnership, an objective mind and consideration for others, along with a ceaseless search for balance and beauty in everything around. The conscious and unconscious traits of Libra are considered in the same way. The meeting of these two archetypal energies is usually experienced as the manifestation of two utterly different worlds, but in the end they are two expressions of the sense of identity and connection. If Aries needs to learn to accept differing points of view without trying to change them by doing battle with the other, Libra needs to learn to hold a personal position and stand by it — and so, through its own wishes and opinions, to build a stable sense of its own identity.

Next comes Taurus – Scorpio, the axis of Possessions, which answers to the building of a more stable and solid ego through the development of the senses and the feelings. Here Taurus marks the beginning of matter, of our physical nature, while Scorpio governs the themes of the breaking down of what has been built, of transformation as a freeing from the old, and of the death after which the new is born. If Taurus consciously wants to possess things, skills and people, and likes to remain in its comfort zone and take no risks for fear of losing all this, then unconsciously it carries within it the qualities of Scorpio. These include the ceaseless impulse towards change and the going to extremes; and the wish to possess, in its lower expression, becomes the wish to hold power over someone emotionally and psychologically.  If Scorpio needs to allow itself rest in order to be human — since no one else can endure its level of intensity for long — then Taurus must learn to undertake change, stepping out of its own zone of comfort and pleasure. Both signs govern sex and money, but where in Taurus these have a more material dimension, in Scorpio they answer to the content hidden beneath the outer form: the deep world of feeling. Everything Taurus connects with as possessions and qualities passes, in Scorpio, through the fire of inner transformation, burning away the old and unnecessary so that only the true, renewed essence remains. You can read more about the Taurus–Scorpio axis through the lens of the myth of the abduction of Persephone here.

The axis of Information holds the pair Gemini – Sagittarius and, being the furthest from the first axis, presents the least pronounced conflict between two natures. The polarity between these two signs describes the extreme expressions of the themes of education, mental development and travel. If Gemini is the student, answering to the quick, combinatory mind that is focused on detail but often lacks depth, then Sagittarius develops the intellect from a more philosophical and spiritual perspective. It is the teacher, able to observe any situation from above and to touch higher truths and ideals beyond the limits of the individual human mind. The pure knowledge and inclination towards observation and analysis in Gemini becomes, in Sagittarius, ethics, intuition and faith in what cannot be grasped by the five human senses. On this axis, school education and short journeys are not so much opposed to higher education and long journeys to lands of different culture and outlook as they are their natural continuation. If Gemini needs to learn to go deeper in handling information, refracting it more through a personal view, then Sagittarius must learn not to believe in everything that seems sufficiently distant and unreachable, and to pay more attention to observable facts — and in this way to connect with individual human truths.

The remaining three axes — Cancer – Capricorn, Leo – Aquarius and Virgo – Pisces — are covered in The polarity of human consciousness in the six astrological axes, part II.

If you would like to explore your own astrological portrait of opposites, do not hesitate to get in touch.