Pulled Into Dramas
Moments in the Flow…A Few Lessons in Leo South Node
Hello again,
Looking back at the week with a total Solar Eclipse in Leo shortly after the Nodal Shift made Leo a south node sign, I can see myself and others being pulled into the dramatic nature that is one of Leo’s attributes; one that can go overboard Jupiter in Leo can also exacerbate situations and bring in the quality of judgement. This activates the Leo need for attention versus its ability to give warm, generous, affection.
The controversy in the Astrological Community continues with demonstrations of power from those who are quickly breaking ties that deeply affect other people and organizations who have not expressed rejection and disdain for a person who had been a popular teacher and writer. In response are the conciliatory reactions of people who fear the loss of their own students, organization, and customers.
This makes astrological sense because what happened to engage the anger also provoked a deep sense of betrayal which is a sensitive Leo issue. This royal sign expects, and in some cases, demands loyalty. And that loyal commitment to nurture and support students was broken. It matters. And if others support or just don’t condemn people who betray us, we feel hurt and react to this, too. And in this case, the betrayal of one teacher became the rejection and attack on all the teachers (and people?) of his generation, whether they supported this person or not.
So we see Jupiter in Leo expanding both drama and judgment. With the Sun Ruling Leo and Jupiter the King of the Gods as ultimate judge, we are also looking at outer authority and the authority within us.
Identity
Leo has a lot to do with our Identity. It is the home of the ‘personality’ ego self and that has gotten a good and thorough bashing throughout the past few decades. But a sense of our individual self is important for relating to the world and becoming known. Leo, the sign of creativity, actors, entertainment, and self-expression also creates a personal role to play. Like the fixed quality of this sign, we need a fixed persona to recognize in our mirror each day. It is also important for others to know us and be able to predict our behavior.
Having an ego and recognizable persona is not a bad thing that needs to be destroyed, but it can be examined when negative and hurtful manifestations need to be understood and overcome. And this is not overcoming only for the good of others, but ultimately for ourselves. And one of those “cues” to observe can be when we experience times of anger and drama. What we might examine is not the ‘right/wrong’ sense of judgment but a recognition of how identified we are with these feelings. The more identified we are the harder it becomes to move on to the next space and regain peace within.
In my own life, I became involved in another betrayal drama; learning that the way our healthcare systems treats a widely experienced issue for women over 50 is not effective and in fact can cause unexpected complications. After all this time, it would seem the doctor wouldn’t want to use this treatment, but their hands have become tied by what insurance will and will not cover. And when you think about it, this is a serious betrayal from someone who took the Hippocratic Oath.
Fortunately, I have already been living outside these restrictions and choosing alternative health ways. This project just took up a lot of my time, researching the ways outside of the healthcare system that have proven effective, and I found one, backed by the results of a medical study. I found that focusing this way lets me bypass the drama and feel empowered instead. I can feel less identified with the situation that needs treatment which also leads to less stress and more potential for positive results.
Using the creative quality of Leo can yield benefits, and benefit is another one of the positive qualities of Leo, more so when our creations are positive, too.
Our Leo lessons may have come in with a bang…and things may taper off a bit when the Sun enters Virgo. I would imagine a new area may capture our attention when fiery Mars enters Leo on September 27th. There is a potential for activation with Mars in Leo in Mid-late November when Mars has caught up with Jupiter and the Sun is square from Scorpio.
See you next time!
Yes, the ego is an inescapable tool we all need if we are to function on this earth plane, just like we all need a body, an astral body, and a mind. The relevant issue is not whether we have an ego, but how much we are controlled by our ego. Left to itself, the ego will frequently make spiritually unwise decisions. My experience is that, if we are aware, then we often find ourselves embarrassed when ego takes over. One particularly humiliating phenomenon is when we make a decision or adopt an attitude from the standpoint of the ego thinking we are more important than we actually are. In those circumstances, I've felt like the butt of a joke, with the cosmos laughing at the ego's folly.
This gets us to a quality that demands that we put our ego aside - compassion. Compassion does not mean that we ignore, justify or accept as okay the frailties of others or the actions that result from those frailties. It does mean that we eschew judgment or self-righteousness. Typically, compassion is not a strength associated with the fire signs. It is something that takes effort, awareness and discrimination to develop.
I do not know the individual around whom this controversy has developed, nor have I read his writings. I can understand the need of those who have been close to this gentleman to disassociate themselves from the offending action. It is one thing to have been racially insensitive 40 years ago. It is quite another to be so tone-deaf as to bring such actions up now in a context that is not reflective and apologetic for them. I can also see how those for whom his actions are a personally felt micro-aggression would feel betrayed and compelled to speak truth to power. For others, who know him and if they have come to be anti-racist, this could be a teachable moment, an opportunity for discussion about embedded racism, white privilege, and the need for honest awareness of these issues. On the other hand, for those jumping on the bandwagon of condemnation, well, what can I say?