Studies in Astrology
by
Elman Bacher
Volume II
Chapter IV
Uranus Commands "Release!"
As a keynote to this discussion of Uranus, we offer
the following definition of spiritual liberation: those points in evolution
when the Ego, having completely and perfectly fulfilled the requirements of
Saturn--relationships, responsibilities, works, utilizations--automatically
begins to function on progressively more impersonal phases of experience.
The vibration of Uranus provides this process of
"progress after fulfillment." He is the disintegrator of forms, the antidote
to crystallization, the opener of doors. Because of the intensely dynamic
functions that he represents on the emotional plane, Uranus symbolizes the
alchemist, the magician, and the creative artist. He represents the
astrologer, whose impersonal wisdom is the distilled result of alchemical
processes made during the course of wide and varied experiences in love and
relationship.
Of all abstract terms, the word "transcendent" most
concisely describes the nature of Uranus. He transcends blood-relationship
because he himself is the fusion of the fires of polarity which create
relationship in human experience (the ultimate of the emotional triad). He
transcends materiality because his realm is that of the Soul--the "Inner"--
and, as such, is beyond and above those illusions of reality which are so
often ascribed to the material phases of life. He transcends possessiveness of
things and people in any form, for his vibration makes possible that type of
consciousness which recognizes soul power as the only real possession. The
flowering of his vibration represents the transcendence of fear because Love-
Wisdom, the result of experience, abolishes fear.
Aside from the synthesis of sign-position, house-
position, house-rulership, and aspects of Uranus in a given chart, there is
another--and very important--study of his vibration to be made: in
relationship or contrast to the influences and powers of Saturn. The two
planets, by nature and purpose, are antipathetic. Saturn, afflicting,
crystallizes, condenses, limits, and frustrates the possibilities of other
planets. The position of Saturn indicates the path toward inertia. Uranus,
however, provides release as the logical and natural progress following
fulfillments, but when stagnation threatens, he forces open the paths which
have become congested and his electrifying power creates a charge of renewing
life. It is in his afflicting effect on other planets that he seems to act as
a "smasher-up," a destroyer-by-violence, a disrupter and a disorganizer. The
person who does not, or will not, keep in line with progressive measures of
living must, by the laws of progressive evolution, be forced to do so.
With this thought in mind, the astro-analyst will
realize that Uranus does not afflict any planet in a chart unless there is a
karmic tendency toward crystallization to be counteracted. Uranus does not
"shake us up" unless we need to be shaken loose from our inclination to "cling
to form" in some part of our experience. Therefore, to interpret the function
of Uranus, and get the complete picture of his significance in a chart, we
must compare his patterns with those of Saturn.
The perfect example of this conflict is seen in the
aspect of Uranus squared by Saturn, a pattern symbolizing the old versus the
new, bondage versus transcendence, fear versus liberation, the instinct for
safety versus the urge for adventure, creed and race versus universality, the
tribe versus the individual, and orthodoxy versus realization.
The following are a few "pointers"--suggestions for
reading this aspect in different combinations:
1. Both planets otherwise unaspected: In this case,
the two planets must be compared from the standpoint of comparative
"strengths"--dignity, exaltation, elevation, angles, and planetary
dispositorship. Further, either planet gains in power to the degree that the
sex-polarities (masculine: Sun and Mars; feminine: Moon and Venus) and the
solar-lunar polarity are dynamic (Uranus) or passive (Saturn). This must be
found by careful synthesis of sign-quality and aspect-quality. Either Saturn
or Uranus will be found to be the more influential and must be taken as the
"key" to the square aspect, and will be regarded as an "evolutionary
barometer" of this incarnation. The person concerned either clings to the form
side of life and resists change, or he rebels against forms in his search for
broader experience and wider realizations.
2. Saturn otherwise well-aspected: The consciousness
is well integrated in the form side of life. Saturnian virtues; patience,
practicality, utility, etc., have been developed in the past and the urge to
security is strongly developed. Uranus is here seen as a threat to the
orderly, accustomed processes of living, a disturber of the peace, a "defier
of morality," impractical, disreputable, and unreliable. This is how a Saturn
person feels about Uranus people--they just don't fit into his neat, tangible,
"two-times-two-equals-four" universe. In fact, a Uranus person sometimes feels
that two-times-two doesn't make much of anything that's really interesting
3. Uranus otherwise well-aspected: This is a person
who has "lived and loved much." Inner freedom is his range of understanding,
independence of mind and action. The square from Saturn shows that in this
incarnation he must fulfill a certain area of responsibility. In one respect,
at least, he has been "foot-loose" too long. He has abilities--he must
use them; he has knowledge--he must make it available to others; he has
relationship-responsibilities--he must learn to fulfill them willingly
and lovingly. Until he does so, Saturn will hold him in ever-tightening
bondage.
The persons represented by Saturn in the Uranian's
chart will seem, to him, to be "trampers of his style," "millstones around his
neck," and, in general, burdens and crucifixions.. And they will continue to
seem so until he realizes that they serve to give form to his dynamic urges,
to keep him united to the stream of constructive living, to give purpose and
direction to his abilities.
(Incidentally, the Crucifixion and Resurrection of
Christ Jesus symbolize, perfectly, this "conflict" of Saturn and Uranus.
Saturn symbolizes the crystallization of fear and ignorance possessed by the
"world" that sought to kill the Teacher and destroy His influence; Uranus
symbolizes the Divine Purpose of liberation which must, and inevitably will,
release the consciousness of man from stagnant concepts and slavish
ignorance.)
4. Both planets variable: this pattern is best
approached, after synthesizing, from an astro-dynamic standpoint. Either
planet may have been emphasized the more strongly during the years of growth
and maturity. The counteractive agencies to the afflicting aspects will show
as possible neutralizations for the unregenerate qualities of both planets.
The sextiles to each are particularly important, since they show avenues of
potential alchemical developments.
Uranus is electric, magnetic, and the most dynamic of
all the planets. His "conditions," for this reason, must never be interpreted
as superficialities. His conjunction with any planet intensifies the quality
of experience represented by the planet, and a quality of "extremeness" is
shown in that part of the life.
The position of Uranus in the chart shows the source
of potential genius; the benefic aspects, the opportunities for developing
that potential, and the culmination of those developments. The malefic aspects
indicate primarily the need for control and direction, for Uranus, by nature,
is all "out-going," and his urges, if uncontrolled, can result in wastage on
all planes.
Interpret Uranus' conditions from a "largeness"
standpoint. His sorrows are soul agonies; his punishments are catastrophic;
his loves have nothing to do with man-made ceremonies and regulations. They
are volcanics of the heart, the power of which can disrupt any set emotional
pattern and hurl the lover into an entirely new universe. Uranus represents
the intense fusion of emotional polarity which we call "creative power," and
under the stimulus of his electrification, new forms of art, philosophy,
fields of research, etc., are projected into human affairs. Continents are
discovered, concepts of time and space are revised and elaborated, and man,
himself a dynamic unit, finds ever-new worlds within himself.
Uranus stands for our response to that which is new to
us. He is "the way we walk to the opening door, "our ability to see farther,
deeper, higher, lower--and to welcome any form of change (newness) which comes
into our lives. That which was ten years ago called radical, extreme, and
"brand new" has by now been poured into the mold of experience and is
commonplace. That which is really new is that which we recognize as an
unfoldment of areas of consciousness which have never before been tapped.
Since liberation (progress) is a life principle, and
no respecter of sex, Uranus shows in the charts of both men and women as the
urge to freedom. His position shows in which department of experience
the person must have "elbowroom;" where "limitlessness of self-expression" is
sought and obtained. It also shows, since it is the potential of genius, how
the person seeks to assist others in their search for liberation.
In line with the above statement, trines to Uranus
can indicate channels of precocity in children. It is evident that many
children are, in their very early years, clearly aware of some knowledge or
talent which was brought to a high peak of development in the past. These
youngsters don't even have to wait until physical or chronological maturity
takes place--they just abolish time and give vent to these amazing abilities
while still in knee pants and pigtails! Trines to Uranus, regardless of the
evolutionary status of the person, indicate that he is in advance of his time
and place and background.
Squares and oppositions to Uranus from other planets
show to what degree his energies need controlling and directing. Conversely,
the squares and oppositions that he makes to other planets show how his
vibration can throw the other planets off center, make them express in
confused and chaotic ways. Whenever Uranus and Sun, Mars, or Jupiter (the
dynamic planets) are in discordant relationship, then check carefully to find
the degree in which Saturn holds a controlling influence in the chart. Saturn,
in this case, can form the patterns for fulfillment into which the dynamic
energies must be poured.
The astrological student or astro-analyst tunes in
with the vibration of Uranus every time he, or she, studies a horoscope. That
study must be used, and the Uranian vibration directed for the purpose of
helping a fellow being to understand his life-patterns more clearly and
impersonally. In this way, astrology is used as a channel of liberation and,
as such, stands as one of the highest expressions of this mighty and spiritual
vibration.