A mounted Indian with scalp locks

This universal idea is best expressed through planets in

24th degree of Taurus (23°- 24°)

SURVIVAL INSTINCT
During early stages of development it remains crucial to establish identity, of self and tribe, by fighting for it if needed

One side of human nature that needs to be channelled properly instead of being denied is the natural aggressiveness and potential for violence that can arise when survival is in doubt. Those who are foreign to each other are often fearful and feel threatened by the other; it is a fact of life that must be faced. It is not at all unusual for this to spill over into competitiveness within own's own tribe.

Rudhyar:
AN INDIAN WARRIOR RIDING FIERCELY, HUMAN SCALPS HANGING FROM HIS BELT

An Indian warrior riding fiercely, human scalps hanging from his belt

Command

Conquest of the lower self leads to mastery and the power of command

The power of command is a quality of great worth and found in only a few exceptional people. Often such people take a pride in their appearance as a tool to convey this quality – although in the modern Western culture it is more likely to be an expensive suit than scalp locks.

There are other personal attributes that support command, and these include the power of attention. At the highest levels of attainment, senses are honed and brought to the full service of an individual’s aspirations and ambition.

Taking a position of leadership in no way removes the possibility of heart empathy – but there is a temptation often to ride roughshod over the feelings of others, and even behave ruthlessly with complete inhumanity.

The lesser person will be content to achieve conquest over an enemy – even enjoying the momentary supremacy – while the master will develop an unimpeachable conquest of the lower self, through a life path of constant discipline and self-control.

What arises as a direct result of such self-discipline is the facility to discipline others. Indeed, the ability to take a measure of control over both Nature and the future can actually unfold. Exceptional authority is the result.

In less dramatic terms, in ordinary life, we find ourselves pushed and pulled by external forces – social and physical. To deal with them satisfactorily and take command of our life requires discipline.

The greater our power of self-control, the luckier we seem to get. It is not luck in fact – it is simply the echo of the work we have done on ourselves. Rewards come in the form of both material acquisition and development of spiritual qualities.