Sun in Astrology

 

Typical serious astrologers often underestimate importance of Sun. They often cite how one person with Sun in Leo invented zodiac columns in newspapers that sort all people into 12 groups. Such astrological columns do over stereotype both signs and people. Many natives of this or that sign do not exhibit all or even most of the traits, typically associated with their sign.

However, for every skeptic there are often several believers, who things that astrology gets them, even if a lot of what is written about them hardly applies to them. There is a reason for that. Placement of Sun in your natal chart do not determine or indicate any of the traits associated with your sign. Things like ascendant as well as Mercury, Venus and Mars are primary sources of various traits that people may notice in a person. 

Sun has a different, higher role. It indicates your core motivation to do what you do, driving force behind your life. It also describes your values or a moral compass that guides your decisions, what you personally think right and what is wrong as well as what to do with your life. Such personal and often invisible to other people around you, but nevertheless crucial role that Sun plays in your life and natal chart.

Astronomically Sun is by far the largest celestial body in our solar system, all other planets revolve around Sun. Sun has another role, it emanates light and heat, without it we would live in utter darkness, and everything will freeze to death. Life would be impossible.

This does reflect on Sun's role in a natal chart of any given individual. Sun is a center around which everything else is arranged and without it nothing will work. Some people internalize its role and see it as expression of their personal will or calling in life. Other instead see Sun as God, they serve. The exact personal relationship with Sun depends person to person as well as on Sun's placement in one's chart. However, Sun is always the center to which the rest of the chart serves and answers to. 

That leads towards two primary roles, Sun plays in one's life. One is decision making. Here I mean particularly long-term lasting decisions that shapes one's life like what university to attend, what career to pursue, whom to marry and so on. Even if other traits indicate that one will make good teacher or lawyer this might not work out simply because Sun thinks it's not for me. Smaller decisions too are influenced by Sun but also by moon and other planets. 

Reading about your own Sun placement can give you a lot of insight into what you yourself is capable of. This is the part where people read about their sign and nod in agreement, saying that is really me. Reading about others will give you an idea what kind of things they will agree or not agree on. When someone suddenly makes a U-turn in life, their Sun sign can give you the answers why they did so.

Second is values. Parents and society often teach kids what is right and what is wrong. Early on one might live on, believing in what others told you. However, what do you personally see as right or wrong? Do you agree with your parents, or do you think they are wrong?

Here each placement of Sun indicates a different set of values (of things one sees as right or wrong). Humanity does not agree on these. That is why there are conflicts and wars. Two different sets of principles clash over one or the other issue. To be completely precise there are four rather than 12 distinct sets of values, each indicated by one of natural elements: fire, earth, air and water. Read my separate article about elements and modalities to understand these things.

In relation to Sun, individual placement of Sun, displays one's personal priorities in life. For example, Cancer and Capricorn are very tribal and see themselves and people around them as part of family or community. Aries and Libra are very individualistic and instead see themselves and people around them as atomistic individuals. Taurus prefers ideas that were time tested and rooted in tradition. Aquarius prefer ideas that make sense in theory in their head. Gemini likes new things in general and will try anything new. Pisces like old things instead and preserve "vintage" retro stuff. Leos like to be a center of attention as they think if people are looking at them, they like them. Scorpios prefer to avoid attention, instead thinking that people might hurt them if they notice them.

Sun is fundamental in determining how you get along (or not) with others. Differences in other planets can be worked out, but not the Sun. People would be much more willing to suppress traits from Ascendant or Venus if they get in the way of their relationship, but not the values of their Sun, these they may defend like their lives depend on it. Because of that Sun is fundamental to either building or breaking relationship.

No matter where your Sun is placed, it will trine two other signs, these would be of the same element as your own and are your natural allies. It will further square two more who will share your modality, these will be hardest for you to deal with as your values will clash in the most acute way. Finally, it will sextile to two others from a friendly element, with whom you might get along with as well. This is what you should use to help you decide who you should try to associate with or not.

As for examples of each sign mentality then here are some: Gemini will like new radial ideas, Aquarius makes in his head but will not like retro stuff, Pisces bother themselves with. Capricorn will not like selfishness of Aries or Libra, while they in turn will not like unreasonable undue obligations Capricorn would try to push on them. Capricorn will prefer conservative Taurus or rules minded Virgo. Aries or Libra instead would rather entertain himself with Leo's attention seeking antics or listen to Aquarian wittiness.

In conclusion I would like to re-iterate that in astrology, like in astronomy, Sun is a fulcrum around which the rest of the natal chart revolve. You need to understand it before you can start understanding someone's natal chart of psychology. Other planets do add to this in significant ways, but their role in individual chart is supplementary and supporting of Sun. Sun is the boss and the rest of the chart are his subordinates. Effects of other planets can be altered by the Sun's sheer mass and power. This article will help you understand how Sun functions better.

Elements and Modalities in Astrology

There are 12 different astrological signs that represent 12 distinct types of people. However, there is a neat system that break downs these 12 types into combinations of 4 elements and 3 modalities. Each element represents a set of values a person shares, and each modality instead represents role a person plays in a society. Together these two things make up for a person's type.

Each element has three signs. People with Sun in signs of the same element can mostly agree on values and principles. That allows them to cooperate and get along with each other. Moon and other planets are responsible for other individual traits, I will cover planets in separate articles.

Fire signs of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius can agree on one set of principles. Earth signs of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn on other set of principles. Air signs could agree on yet another set of principles and so on. This understanding within the group gives people an illusion that their values are universal and everyone agrees on.

There are four sets of values that fight for control over the world and shape its history. You can notice how decades where Earth and Water placements dominate are often conservative, chaotic, backward (nostalgic) and divisive. In contrast decades of Air and Fire domination are often forward looking, optimistic and often come with significant technological advancements in different fields. This is a reason why Fire and Air elements are called masculine and Water and Earth feminine.

Of all values it is said that Fire can get along with Air even if they have little in common. Earth similarly can get along with Water. In contrast Fire and Water have most disagreement and Air and Earth are not too far behind. In Air and Earth combination one can expect plenty of disputes over values where one would say that A is good, and B is bad and the other will disagree and insist that B is good, and A is bad instead. I can tell from my own experience.

There is also a final division that further divides or characterize each sign and that is modality, that can be either cardinal, fixed or mutable. Each element has one cardinal, one fixed and one mutable sign. Together elements and modality create a system than both divides and makes each individual sign.

Cardinal signs are often called leaders. Cardinal signs are self-assertive and self-driven. They are driven by their desires or a vision of reality that they want to implement. This is the type that wants to shape the world around them to their vision. They see issue or problem and think of a method to solve it to their satisfaction. Cardinal signs have "eyes on the prize" and see end results as the most important thing. They are willing to be creative with their methods of achieving results they want and would try variety of things to get where they want to get. Cardinal sings prefer smart and elegant solutions to problems.

Fixed signs are often called stubborn and inflexible. Unlike cardinal signs that prefer smart strategies, fixed signs rely on sheer force and stubbornness. Fixed signs do not think of better methods to achieve results but instead push through in force with their way of life. They can be either agents of change or opponents to change. For fixed signs methods can be as important as results. In general, fixed signs are easier to understand than cardinal ones, they are much more straightforward. They often say what they think. In Contrast cardinal signs often say what they think will get them best outcomes.

Finally mutable signs are flexible and adopt to situations around them. Instead of fighting for change or resisting it, they go with the flow. Some of them can figure out how to take advantage of any given situation. Most however just accept life around them uncritically and follow trends around them. Mutable signs dislike boredom when nothing happens and often value experiences no matter good or bad. They like various when things happening around them or with them. If cardinal signs are leaders, then mutable signs are followers.

Each element has one cardinal, one fixed and one mutable sign. The full team of 3 to work on their elemental agenda. 

4 sets of values and 3 modalities together create 12 distinct combinations that represent 12 distinct types of behavior. You can subdivide each sign's traits into those that comes from an element and those that come from modality. Doing that would allow you to not only understand each sign better, but also better understand where it fits into a bigger picture.

The same principle further applies to the rest of natal chart, where combining these 12 types with 10 planets produce a very large number of possible combinations, enough to cover pretty much every possible type of human out there. Human psychology may be a complex thing when you look at it as a whole. However, one can better understand it by breaking it down into smaller bits it is made of and study these individual bits separately. Astrology is just the tool to do so, tool proven to work by centuries of practice.

Meaning of Each Individual Planet in Astrology

 

Recently I finished reading Dana Gerhardt's series about meaning of different planets in astrology. I agreed with some, disagreed with other things that she claimed in her articles. Eventually I decided to make my own article about planets. Later I might do angles and houses as well.

I have not read just Dana's articles but many others. I also have experience of dealing with people of different astrological signs. Finally, I have great analytical skills, and I decided I should use them to put together a better explanation of gears of astrology.

I will post links to the individual articles in this one, as I finish them:

I will begin with the Sun.

Contemporary Hypocritical Parents

Recently in online comments I noticed hypocrisy and double standards of modern early Gen X parents. They consciously eschew justice in favor of favoritism. When their own kids or their age peers commit deliberate acts of vandalism theft and violence, they say it's nothing and we should "let kids play". However, when some guy accidently crushed his car into a kid's bicycle at very low speed, no one injured and nothing damaged, they create an online shitstorm, calling on their peers to launch a joint lawsuit to jail the driver for live.

That is unacceptable case of double standards. Not only that but this biased treatment of children contributes to recent youth crime epidemic. Parents not only ignore their role in explaining laws and boundaries to their kids but possibly even actively encourage them to break law. 

This is harmful and damaging for society as a whole and must be stopped. 

Some serious enquiries into parents and guardians of this kids are also a necessity. If they encourage kids to break law or say it's alright, then it is parents who should be jailed.

I hope an investigation into this phenomenon will happen soon.

You Either Die a Hero or Live Long Enough to Become a Villain

For example, Michael Schumacher was sympathetic underdog in 90s, He constantly had worse car than competitors but was determined to beat them with skill despite handicap. Sometimes worked sometimes not, but it was always enjoyable to watch.

In 2000s however he gradually became so called "red baron", who gets free victories using team orders even when there is no any real competition from any other teams and championship is all but guaranteed.

In Belarus Alyaksandr Lukashenka clearly lived longer than he should have. If Luka left in 2005, he would now be remembered even more fondly than Kuchma in Ukraine.

Instead, he became a villain. A puppet of Kremlin who destroys future of young people of Belarus to desperately cling to his power like Gollum to his ring.

That is why there are term limits on presidency. To prevent them from becoming villains.

Why Stereotypes Russians Believe in Makes Putin Favor Dealing with Either Latvia Like or Belarus Like Countries

 

People and nations are complicated things, to make them easier to understand people simplify and dumb them down to one or few easy to understand and use stereotypes. 

Americans do this too. For example, they like to think that Mexicans are lazy, eat beans, have small curvy mustaches and wear ponchos and sombreros. Far not every Mexican match any of these stereotypes but they persist. They also provide colorful contrast with say Canadians, whom Americans like to see as very liberal and progressive. They also believe that you can get free healthcare the moment you cross the border. That is not true, but cartoons like Simpsons and Family Guy keep showing that over and over again.

Why they do it? Simple, colorful and contrasting stereotypes are entertaining and easy to remember. These stereotypes however do shape people's worldview, as some actually believe in them. As much as they are untrue, certain people do base their opinions and even decisions on them.

Fundamentally from a psychological point of view, all these stereotypes are reflection of America's own internal psyche and desires. Stereotypes about Canada reflect the country, progressive Americans wish the Unites States were. Stereotypes about Mexicans let, conservatives to think better about themselves and justify their own better quality of life compared to Mexicans. 

Truth is Mexicans are not poor because they are lazier than Americans but admitting that would shatter the conservative psyche and mindset, destroy they self-justification for being better off than Mexicans. Without it they will start thinking they did not earn or deserve the lifestyle they have. That will crush their psycho and ego. It is the same for admitting that poor are poor not because they are lazy, but due to back luck and poor hand in life. So, they do not admit that and stick to their stereotypes like their life depends on it, because psychologically it does.

In the same way admitting that Canada does not give healthcare to anyone who cross the border would shatter progressive people hopes and dreams about some charitable paradise on earth that loves everyone unconditionally.

Because of that both stereotypes persist to reinforce people's psyche, mentality and worldview.

It is the same with Russia. The country is also full of various stereotypes that many people believe or choose to believe to. Just like for the US, for Russians these stereotypes reinforce the psyche and justify their believes and actions. There are few who are able to accept the truth, but majority indulge themselves in delusions instead.

Putin does indulge these delusions. In fact, pretty much everything he done ever since he became president 25 years ago was pamper to these delusions. His actions do not make any sense in the Western countries because they do not share the same delusions as Russians do. Because of that countless people wrote countless books, essays and such, trying to understand reasons behind Putin's actions. It's like when you think that some obscure traditions from a primitive tribe, like putting bones in their noses a stupid and savage but at the same time would defend your own ones no matter how strange they are like for example circumcision for Jews and Muslims.

I wrote a series of articles about stereotypes that prevail in Russia. Here is one about Europe and you can search more on my blog. In this article I will cover two countries that fit these stereotypes best, Latvia and Belarus. Because they fit stereotypes best, Putin has much easier time dealing with them than with say Ukraine that falls somewhere between the stereotypes and because of that cause conflict of understanding in average Russian's mind.

Latvia

Publicly relationship between Latvia and Russia could not be worse. Russian government accuse Latvia of violating human rights of Russophone residents, closing Russian language schools and treating them as second-class citizens. Russia further accuse Latvia of being Nazi sympathizer, honoring SS veterans and holding public parades for them, plotting genocide of local Russophones and what not.

There is some limited truth to these claims, but official Russian opinion grossly exaggerates the situation. For example, there is indeed a special non-citizen status that many Russophones have and a special passport to denote it. However, those with non-citizen status can obtain full Latvian citizenship and more than a half of the Russophones did so already. 

However, this non-citizen status is symbolic, and Russian TV will not stop rave about how racist, Russophobe there Latvians are with their "Nazi apartheid" regime.

That does not prevent Russian government from equating this practice with South African apartheid and Nazi policies. Despite being so horribly oppressed, most Russophones prefer their life in Latvia even if they dislike certain policies of Latvian state. They do not want to leave Latvia and move to Russia instead, even if Russia willing to give them citizenship no questions asked.

Despite that Russian government persists with these rather groundless accusations. Why? Because this is expedient for propaganda. Many Russians tend to believe that West think of them being savage barbarians who can never be as civilized as proper Europeans are. People actually want to be in Europe but believe that Europe will not accept them as one of their own. Inferiority complex.

Putin strokes this inferiority complex for his personal needs: offended by such a scornful and humiliating rejection by Latvians on behalf of the entire Europe, upset and full of "righteous indignation" Russians will in turn their back on the West and rally behind Putin as their savior and protector. Nationalism and Putin's popularity will take a hike and his position on the top will be secure once more.

Because of that the worse Latvians treat their Russophone population, the better it is for Putin. 

If Latvians instead decided to befriend Russophones and bring them into Europe, then Russians would turn to Europe. They will begin to question Putin's anti-Western ways, and he will lose power; Anti-Western nationalists would lose ground for their hatred of Europe. 

Because friendship with the West would mean end of political and possibly even biological life for Putin, he is opposed to that. To stay in power Putin needs a Russophobe Western country constantly hurting Russian feelings in one of the other ways. Latvia and to some extend Estonia fulfils this role.

Latvians even "play the ball" with Putin and in turn accuse Russia of illegally invading and occupying them prior to WWII, blame them for human rights violations during Soviet times, accuse them of trying to erase Latvian language and culture, demand large reparations as compensation for the occupation as well as claiming Pytalovo (Petsamo) rayon of Pskov Oblast as rightful part of Latvia.

Latvian claims are substantiated, USSR did only/mostly bad things to Latvia, USSR deprived them of independence, send many Latvians to Siberia, flooded country with people from other parts of USSR and many more. It would be reasonable for Latvia to ask for a compensation or at least an apology. However, Russians prefer to look at it as if USSR did only/mostly good to Latvia and Latvia fails to be grateful enough for what USSR did for them.

Publicly Putin several times ridiculed these claims and absurd and preposterous and even infamously promised Latvians "ears of dead donkey" instead. Privately however he is happy that Latvians constantly stocking anti-Western sentiment in Russia but constantly hurting Russian people feelings and keep people loyal to him.

Because of that behind the doors relationship between Latvia and Russia are better than public ones. Rich Russians buy expensive properties in Riga, driving construction boom and injecting lots of money into Latvian otherwise dysfunctional economy. Latvians enrich themselves with laundering Russian money, sure they hate Russians as well, but not their money. Around half of Latvian economy is so opaquely named "unclassified transactions". They even hold annual Russian musical festival in Jurmala, just short drive away from Riga, for Rich Russians to enjoy, but away from general public, both Russophone and Latvian, who would be puzzled why two sworn enemies are hanging out in such a friendly manner.

In Russian psyche Latvia fulfils role of an evil and treacherous boogeyman who betrayed Russia like Judas betrayed Jesus. According to official Russian government interpretation of history USSR "saved" Latvia from genocide and extermination by Nazis and Latvia "thanked" Russia by siding with its enemies, treating Russians like second class citizens, and destroying Russian monuments of WWII while honoring people who collaborated with Nazis.

This boogeyman is just what Putin need to sell his anti-Western ideology to people. Without the boogeyman like that People would question if Europe and the West really as Russophobe as Putin claims they are, and Putin's rule will fall apart. 

Belarus

The other extreme of this spectrum is Belarus. Belarus actually borders Latvia and even looks much like Latvia or Lithuania, but average Russian perceive them as two polar opposites. If Latvia is Russophobe hateful Nazi snob, then Belarus is Russia's best and almost only friend and brother in this cold hateful Russophobe world.

Back in Soviet times Soviet government used to portray USSR as whole and Russian people in particular as heroes who save weak and downtrodden people of the world from imperialism, capitalism, exploitation, racism, abuse and what not. Socialist countries, including Soviet Socialist Republics were portrayed as such saved countries. USSR propaganda never stopped saying how greatly all these "liberated" nations are happy that USSR saved and protected them. Many were sold to this idea of being "valiant heroes of the world" and grew attached to it, priding themselves for being "the force of good, contributing to fairness and justice in the world".  Even some people outside of USSR got sold on this ideology and defected to USSR or spied for it, even if defectors to the West were much more numerous.

However, when USSR collapsed and Warsaw pact and even Soviet Socialist Republics became independent, many started openly criticizing USSR and call it occupier and oppressor. Many Russians got a psychological crisis of sorts. "Are we the bad guys, Hans?" Many could not believe it or accept it. They desperately wanted someone to refuse all these "groundless accusations" and reaffirm that they were good guys just as Soviet propaganda use to tell them.

Here where Belarus and Lukashenka came in. Back in 90s, when Russian questioned their role int the world Lukashenka helped to affirm Soviet propaganda. On Behalf of Belarus and its people, he assured Russians that they were indeed heroes USSR told them they were. His message was something like that: "Even if various ungrateful treacherous Baltics chose to forget what USSR did for them and now shit in Russia in exchange for dirty American money, Belarus is not like that. Belarus remembers what Russia did for it and will never betray Russia and will fight together with Russia against Americans and NATO to the bitter end."

That is awfully hypocritical of a country that pays for Russian gas 6 times less neighboring Lithuania. Greedy and cynical Lukashenka would not remain as loyal if gas was the same price as for Lithuania. 

However Russian psyche needed someone "friendly" like Belarus and Yeltsin embraced Lukashenka to deflect from himself some of the blame for "destroying USSR" and give people something to believe in. Putin kept this special treatment of Belarus, even if more sober heads would point out that this "loyal brother" would be completely useless in case war with NATO and subsidizing him cost budged a lot of money. Lending him Russian riot police from all over the country to suppress protestors against his continuous rule is also a hassle as they are needed in Russia to prevent Russian opposition from overthrowing Putin himself.

However emotional and political cost of abandoning this "loyal brother" is too high and so Lukashenka and Belarus continue their role as Russia most loyal puppet, while using this emotional sentiment to extract various material concessions from Russia.

From Russian psychological perspective Belarus is Russia's little brother that Russia must protect because Russia is not the kind of hero who abandons family to their fate. If Russia would abandon even Belarus, many people In Russia would face psychological crisis. A lot of Russian identity is built around this concept of being hero of the oppressed and being protective older brother for Ukraine and Belarus.

Conclusion

In Russian psyche Belarus is Russia little brother whom Russia protects. In contrast Latvia is an ungrateful swine who now shits on a hero who saved them from genocide by Nazis. It's simple and convenient with these two. Russian government knows how to handle either of them and mostly happy with the role each of them play in post-Soviet reality and in keeping Putin in power.

Dealing with these two extremes is much easier for Russian government than with something that falls in between these extremes. Because Latvia is too Russophobe for anyone pro-Western in Moscow to reasonably suggest that it's something Russia should imitate. Belarus in contrast is too authoritarian and anti-western for such pro-Western people, so they do not wish to imitate it. 

That is how Putin wants it to be. He does not want any countries to be democratic enough for Russian Liberals to imitate, yet at the same time not Russophobe enough for Russian patriots to hate with burning passion. 

There are two extremes and an uncanny valley in the middle. Unfortunately, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine and Moldova do fall into this uncanny valley. Because of that Putin wants each of them to move to one or the other extremes. Among them Ukraine has a peculiarly unique place in Russian psyche, I will cover it in a separate article.

Final Word

As much as many in the EU want to see Russia join the block as long as Putin is in power it is unlikely. He is too cunning and alert to simply let EU communicated to Russians directly and convince them they can easily join the EU and live in Moscow like in Milan. That will work if EU could actually reach to common Russians, but Putin is too vigilant to let EU's message reach common Russians. Because of that unless EU has a way to bypassing this deliberate information blockade, they should postpone Russia for the time being and instead focus on Eastern partnership instead.

Women and Flowers

 

There is a reason why flowers are one of the most common gifts men give to women. Men do this because they prefer their women to be like flowers. Even some cultures, like Ukrainian make women wear a lot of flowers in their head to make them look more floral. Japanese too like to decorate women with flowers on their kimonos. 

Flowers are soft, fragile, pretty, flexible, inanimate, silent, pretty and smell well. 

Flowers are pretty but completely helpless before people. You can bend them, trample them or rip them off and there is nothing they can do about it. They also stay on the same spot and unable to move anywhere, they have no choice but to be subject of forces beyond their control. Also, they are quiet and unable to talk, they are seen, not heard. They have nice colorful petals and nice smell too, very pleasant as decoration.

All these are qualities very desirable in a female. Women should be like flowers to be attractive.