Unlocking The Archetype - Part 2

Part 2 has to do with using The Archetype as an ideal of human behavior. We do this by incorporating the Signs and Planets with the Houses. I learned from my teacher the concept of the Houses bringing these influences “down to earth.” What we have is a symbolic way of how you should relate to the world when you’re using the best qualities of each sign. And to note: The list of planets in honor and dishonor are limited to domicile, exaltation, detriment and fall. They do not include those in triplicity or peregrine in each sign.

The Ascendant, or 1st house, is you. It represents your goals, temperment, how you react to the world, your overall vitality, and how people perceive you. The sign on this vital house in The Archetype is Aries, indicating you should be fearless, courageous, goal-oriented in pursuing your ambitions, energetic, and independent. Mars (energy) and the Sun (ego) are in honor here, while Venus (deferring to others) and Saturn (fear) are not.

The Second House represents your resources, including how you earn them, how you use them, and what you value. It’s association with Taurus is that you should be conservative in your approach, working slowly and steadily to build up this area. Venus (the senses, beauty) and the Moon (survival instincts) are in honor here, while Mars (impatience) is not.

The Third House represents communication, early learning environment, teachers and other people you learn from, like siblings and other relatives. Gemini here indicates you should be curious, learn quickly, and facilitate the flow of information. You’re allowed to change your thinking based on newer or better information. Mercury (mental clarity) is in honor here, and Jupiter (exaggeration) is not.

The Fourth House represents your home and family, including your cultural and ancestral background and instincts for life. My teacher also likes to remind me that it represents the end of life or grave. Cancer’s link here is in the instinctual drive (goal) to continue life throught the creation of a safe, secure home and family. The Moon (survival instincts) and Jupiter (expansion) are in honor here, while Mars (aggression) and Saturn (isolation) are not.

The Fifth House represents love and the individual creative drive. This includes a healthy sex drive and desire for children (the 2nd of the 4th - the resources of a healthy home.) Leo here indicates the loyalty, consistency, and cheerfulness, as well as the need to love and be loved. Leo is about organization of the whole and creative freedom for healthy self-expression. It is conserving the energy of the will and using it to lead. The Sun (the will) is in honor here while Saturn (fear, hesitancy) is not.

The Sixth House represents service to others, daily habits, general health, and a job (as opposed to a career, which is the 10th house). Here we have the mutable sign of Virgo on the Archetype. How do you learn to take care of yourself or master the necessary skills for your job? By using the intellect for practical purposes. The idea is to “fall away”from the ego (Leo), learn from others, and do the work a little bit each day until it’s ingrained into your routine. You are allowed to change your habits, presumably for the better. Mercury (intellect) is in honor here, while Jupiter (exaggeration) and Venus (love) are not.

The Seventh House represents partnerships of all kinds, such as business partners, spouses, the public, and legal contracts. Libra’s goal of creating harmony is directed outside itself and aligns with the meaning of the Seventh House through the application of good judgement, diplomacy, and deliberation. The scales, or blind justice, is Libra’s symbol because the ideal is to weigh the facts and make an unbiased decision that benefits all. Venus (harmony) and Saturn (foresight) are in honor here, while Mars (aggression) and the Sun (ego) are not.

The Eighth House represents things that are hidden and the ability to transform one’s circumstances through the intense application of will. Scorpio here points to conserving emotional energy and directing it towards personal growth. The “mystery” of Scorpio has to do with the ability to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts. Mars (energy) and Pluto (intensity) are in honor here, while Venus (partnerships) and the Moon (softness) are not.

The Ninth House represents our philosophy, outlook, religious leanings, and lawsuits. It is the understanding gained through using our knowledge (Third House) in the real world. Sagittarius on the cusp here points to the need to explore and interact with the world around us in order to shape (and change) our philosophy. Note that the arrow in the symbol of Sagittarus points upwards, encouraing us to aim for higher principals. Jupiter (expansiveness, optimism) is in honor here, while Mercury (facts) are not.

The Tenth House, or Midheaven/MC, represents our honors and undertakings, including our career and outer reputation. Capricorn here shows the ideal of slowly and steadily building up to this elevated position through hard work. The goal of Capricorn is to reach the proverbial top of the mountain, where it can share its wisdom with others. Saturn (foresight) and Mars (energy) are in honor here, while the Moon (emotions) and Jupiter (exaggeration) are not.

The Eleventh House represents hopes and wishes, society, friends, and people we have in our corner. Aquarius here is about freedom, humanitarianism, and trust, qualities that help us connect with others. There are no clinging emotions here. Instead, it’s the conservation of mental energy and its application to ideas that benefit all. Saturn (foresight, discrimination) and Uranus (mental acuity, innovation) are in honor here, while the Sun (ego) is not.

The Twelfth House represents the unconscious, suffering, and imprisonment. Pisces, symbolized by two fish swimming in opposite directions, represents being pulled between the physical and spiritual, desiring complete spiritual union with another but unable to sever from its own physical needs. Pisces does possess the ability to change its circumstances through development of the spiritual ideals. Jupiter (expansiveness), Neptune (empathy), and Venus (harmony) are in honor here, while Mercury (logic) is not.

If we look at The Archetype as the cycle of human life on earth, we see the the self as a single entity (1st House/Aries) ultimately developing compassion and empathy for others (12th house/Pisces) before it returns to the unconscious.

Part 3 will look at further integration and how asking the right questions can give you intriguing answers.