Chiron at Aries 2

The Sabian Journey of Magical Chiron – Aries 2

It would be false if we thought that a particular planetary placement has a definitive meaning that is always the same for everyone. People, and life, are much more complex than that. As astrologers we are observers and we study human behaviour to check out whether our ideas prove workable.

The closer, visible, planets have been studied for thousands of years so we have had more time to observe and understand their impact. But that said, a lot of commentary had been strongly influenced by morality, philosophy and conditioned expectations – for example Saturn and Mars were not always at all well thought of.

Pluto and Chiron are Newly Discovered

Recent discoveries like Pluto and Chiron have not even completed the whole Zodiac cycle since they were first seen, so really we are still learning about them, and our interpretations are rather more speculative and philosophical than we might want to admit.

We Participate in Discovery

Our special study of Chiron as it passages through each Sabian degree is actually an aspect of its discovery. We are not yet so much learning and confirming what it means as we are finding out and co-creating its meaning, which is inevitably a function of humanity’s current and limited state of awareness.

This is no less true for Sabian Symbols, whose influence within astrology is only now starting to be felt widely. As we try to grasp their meanings we stand at the leading edge of esoteric knowledge.

Evolution of Knowledge

This position, the horizon of consciousness, is the territory of Chiron. In mythology Chiron was the first astrologer, first teacher of the mysteries. Even more than for the other planets, Chiron’s meaning can never be complete because it is always evolving, that is its very purpose - to evolve our knowledge, to bring us to new understandings. The wisdom of Chiron can be captured in the phrase ‘the meaning of life is to discover the meaning of life’.

After 18 days in Aries 1, on March 6th it moves into Aries 2 where it stays until March 25th.

Aries 2, the Comedian

The Sabian Symbol for Aries 2 is “A comedian entertaining a group”, which Marc Edmund Jones explains with the keyword ‘Release’. Rudhyar offers his version, “A comedian reveals human nature” with keywords ‘Objectification of Consciousness’.

​If the first degree represents the un-met seed, vulnerable and by no means certain of survival, then the second degree is its accommodation, the womb or matrix that responds and holds it, and offers the possibility of potential furtherment.

The secret of Aries 2 is that ‘whatever is an aspect of human nature must be revealed’. There is also the strong hint that this revelation is not likely to be reverent and sacred but the opposite: we will experience aspects of our personality being ridiculed for their silliness and lack of grace.

Who we really are will certainly be revealed at some point in our personal evolution, and we will be shown – and shown up! Generally comedians tackle us for our ego-pride, and by doing so they reveal shadowy facets of personality that actually need to be looked at, accepted and released.

Sometimes we take ourselves much too seriously – we are attached both to self-congratulation and self-blame – yet to be free is to be free of such attachments. The comedian helps with this, as does the light-hearted psychotherapist.

My Sufi teacher taught: ‘If you take a person’s problems seriously you are not taking the person seriously enough’. In other words a little bit of humour is worth a lot of sympathy. (However we must remember that the chuckle works better than the aggressive, blaming ridicule!)

Release of Pain and Distortion

In order for us to break new ground, to step forward rather than repeat old patterns, we must release some of our distortions and pain. There is no choice about this, no negotiation. No new initiative will find an accommodation within us unless and until we make space for it by releasing what must now move out of our field of self-image.

Examination

Whatever has presented itself to us as opportunity during Aries 1 will stimulate in Aries 2 the process of emotional clearing needed to allow a new perspective to take root within us. This is a type of examination wherein we are asked the question: “Is our commitment to find our spiritual path backed up by our willingness to face up to our imperfections of personality, and release some of the more negative qualities we have been holding?”