THE CLOSET MYSTIC

Hey all. 

I wanted to share some thoughts on astrology as it relates to Jung’s ideas. 

One note before I begin, though: I can respect that there may be people in this subreddit who are not in favor of astrology in any regard — as a means of divination, nor as a reflection of the psyche. However, I would gently remind them that astrology does fall under the umbrella of Jung’s work. From C.G. Jung on Astrology (a book that compiles all of Jung’s thoughts on astrology by Saffron Rossi and Keiron Le Grice) is a letter from Jung to B.V. Raman, one of many that confirms his interest in the practice:

“Since you want to know my opinion about astrology I can tell you that I’ve been interested in this particular activity of the human mind for more than 30 years. As I am a psychologist I’m chiefly interested in the particular light the horoscope sheds on certain complications in the character. In cases of difficult psychological diagnosis I usually get a horoscope in order to have a further point of view from an entirely different angle. I must say that I very often found that the astrological data elucidated certain points which I otherwise would have been unable to understand. From such experiences I formed the opinion that astrology is of particular interest to the psychologist, since it contains a sort of psychological experience which we call “projected” – this means that we find the psychological facts as it were in the constellations. This originally gave rise to the idea that these factors derive from the stars, whereas they are merely in a relation of synchronicity with them. I admit that this is a very curious fact which throws a peculiar light on the structure of the human mind.” (p. 26).

There are many more treasures just like that one in this book. However, the fact remains obvious that Jung incorporated astrology into his work, and granted it credence. So, all of that being said, the reason why I wrote this post:

As an avid student of astrology, I have come to appreciate the study as a means of mapping the psyche. The Hermetic principle, “As above, so below; as within, so without” holds true with the study of the heavens as it relates to the soul.

I’d quite specifically like to comment on the natal chart as containing portraits of both Jung’s Anima and Animus, represented by the Moon and Sun respectively. These luminaries — the lights — are known to represent the primary feminine and masculine forces of the psyche. When exploring one’s natal chart, one can examine the placement and aspects of both bodies to determine the way in which the Anima and Animus will present themselves in life. 

In an Animus/Sun-dominant man, one would expect the significant women in his life to embody the Moon on his natal chart, complete with the archetypes fused with the Moon — again, through placement and aspect. The inverse is true with the typical Anima/Moon-dominant woman in the significant men she may attract in her life. 

Examining one’s chart, then, can grant a roadmap for the specific themes one may need to work with in fully integrating the whole of their psyche. 

For example, one broad theme in my own chart is that my feminine planets (largely the Moon, but also Venus) are in strong, significant aspects to Saturn. This would mean that my personal Anima holds the traits of Saturn, and that all of the significant women I attract in my life — dominantly my own mother and serious romantic partners — tend to strongly embody Saturnian themes. 

This would suggest that I then tend to project my own Saturnian Anima onto them — and also that my road to wholeness and integrating the Anima also necessarily means integrating the themes of Saturn. (In case you were curious, Saturn as an archetype can be spoken about practically forever, but it represents such things as seriousness, ambition, work ethic, conservatism, restrictions, rules, limits, bounds, consequences, et cetera.)

My point of this post? Perhaps consider dabbling with astrology to get a personal and unique look into your own psyche and potentially the way your Anima and Animus present themselves. This can grant hints, clues, and even concrete steps for how to move towards integration of the whole and total psyche, and thus individuation. 

Thanks!

I need to achieve, I need to achieve,

I cannot eat, I cannot breathe,

My eye is set on the mountain’s peak

I’m hell bent, a downright freak

So much to do

So much to be done

SO many desires

I cannot pick one

I just need to become

Something

I just need to be

Someone

I am hungry

I want to feel satisfied

I want to work and work and work and work and work and work and work

I need more

Give me more

I’m ready to fight

Give me more

Set me ablaze, a star in the night

Give me more

I’ll pull myself up

Give me more

For I’m dissatisfied 

in the most glorious of ways

No contentment

but why would I have such

I know what I want

And I know the work it will take

And I’m eager to do it

No more running away

No

Fuck no

It’s time to become

All I’m meant to be

So much potential within

My spirit a seed

And I am the soil

It’s time to take the scythe

And work

Here it is

Let’s go for it

Saturn says, “Tend your harvest,”

Saturn says, “Tend your harvest” — 

Well here I am,

working my hardest,

How far can I run, 

can I run the farthest?

Earth’s thy muse, 

thou art an artist —

Look back, be glad — 

Look where you started.

Here you are, 

one peak of many — 

Though you’re dissatisfied,

Know you’ve done plenty — 

Be glad, my son,

You’re far from prodigal — 

You’ve lived from the heart,

You shine, so honorable — 

Give yourself a hug,

Though you’re not perfect,

Your desire to improve,

Has always been earnest — 

If you ever thought,

The work’s unnoticed,

Know your God’s eye

Always is open.

So I love you,

And all that you’ve done,

Go take some rest — 

You’ve earned it, my son

Change, change, change. What a beautiful constant.

For so long did I fight, fight, fight, hold on, so desperately. For so long did I battle the inevitable.

But now. What has become of me?

I have realized that I fought losing battles. I funneled my energy into wars that were doomed from the beginning. A mere man shouting into an apathetic hurricane.

I fought against that which could not be controlled, and at times neglected those things that could.

No more. Adulthood, wisdom… perhaps it is about accepting which battles are losing battles, and surrendering. To honor such limits and bounds. The foolishness of our youth seemingly necessitates us running head first into those brick walls incessantly. No, no matter how much stronger you get, that wall is there. You fool, did you not realize you could simply walk around it and side-step it? Were you so prideful that you simply wished to prove to yourself that it could be done, that you were so mighty that you could demolish it with your momentum alone?

I digress. I lay down my sword, because I recognize that there are areas of life where I am one man against legions.

I have instead chosen to focus my energy on that which can be improved, on that which can be changed by my will and effort —

Instead of hurtling my seeds against brick walls, I have chosen to plant them in fertile soil, to tend to them kindly, diligently, and patiently over time.

We are asked to indulge asceticism’s seeming deprivation that we turn to the omnipresent abundance of the natural world

the mere presence of a lily, the sight of a flower, or a patch of grass should be enough to inspire the deepest gratitude and overflowing euphoria

we must become re-sensitized to the miracle of every moment

yes, every miraculous moment is full of the impossible divine mystery of all that is — if you look at a garden and are not struck by wonder, then you are not seeing the garden for what it is. The impossible miracle of life is everpresent and wondrous and mysterious and sublime.

asceticism asks us not to give up pleasure, but to find extravagant luxury and overflowing bliss in the seemingly simple.

I have said it before: ascetics are the greatest hedonists of us all, for the pleasure that they find in life never ends, never leaves, is not dependent on anything — and what power is in such an attitude and way of living and being.

they rediscover the garden of Eden. Paradise, reconstructing it post-fall.

you know how they reconstruct it?

not with the hands, but with their eyes

a mere matter of observing what is.

we needn’t need, for we already have.

The ultimate answer is our lack thereof

And in there is ultimate freedom

An ancient manuscript contained in my heart

Long forgotten

Calls out for attention

Do I give it?

What might it contain?

Some sacred truth

To conquer the profane?

On its cover is a seal with a symbol

Familiar

Hermes Thrice Greatest’s caduceus

I can feel his eyes

On the back of my neck

…

I am a goddess with a garden abundant

Come eat of my fruit

For I grew it for you

The soil is my heart

Its produce called kindness

And I’ve worked the Earth well

Ensuring sustainability

And that I may eat too

my desire to immerse myself in the arts isn’t even a desire for the art

it is a desire for the subtle, that which the art is a receptacle for

it isn’t a desire to immerse myself in art but a desire to immerse myself in feeling. the art is a stepping stone, a key, a doorway to the realm of the subtle that I long for.

art is a cruise liner to allow us to traverse seas of feelings and emotion.

art, to me, is the reclamation of the human spirit. we shape the outer world into what suits our own souls, rather than shaping ourselves to suit what the outer world demands of us. art is the greatest act of the sovereignty of the human spirit.

it is as if we are constantly faced with the problem of the singularity: that point in which the created outsmarts the creator. this world was made to be shaped by our hearts! instead, too often have we allowed ourselves to contort ourselves to its whims, to be subjugated.

the true spirit and soul of every man and woman is the King and Queen of these realms, yet instead we have permitted ourselves to be made less than, dishonoring the grandeur of that which exists within.

do you not understand those divine sparks that exist within you were made to be poured forth? and yet we fear. we fear. we fear, why? why do we fear, why do we feel as if we need permission to shine?

this should make you angry. why has anger become a taboo? fuck that. purify your anger that it become a flame of justice and truth. champion justice, champion truth. champion an ideal, every hero needs a sword. every dragon secretly craves its own demise.

rise up and claim the beautiful sovereignty of your own spirit. the princess held hostage by the dragon represents the ideal, the values of our own hearts, and we must rise up as the heroes who fight gloriously to rescue beauty, true beauty of what is good, right, and true.

rise up you beautiful bastards and live a life worth living ❤

creativity is the act of making the outside reflect the inside

to shine what’s within forth, to pour it forward, to allow the outer realm to receive it and reflect it back. to put our own personal stamp on the external world. every life must do this in some regard to reach any sense of fulfillment. the secret of fulfillment is this:

it is not ourselves that we are seeking to fill. we are not seeking to fill our inner selves with something in order to feel fulfilled.

instead, the true secret to fulfillment is in filling the outer world with ourselves. the mistake is in thinking we must absorb something to fill what’s within. no — we must pour forth what is already in us outward, filling the outer realm with our light.

this is the satisfaction of a life well-lived.

…

similarly, it is not always love we seek, nor necessarily the experience of receiving it, but a place for us to place our love, a heart for us to shine it into and see its fruits reflected back. the experience of giving, of nurturing, and of doing the loving can often time be more healing than receiving nurturing and love.

Your love was a seductive miasma,

Oscillating regularly from siren to banshee.

Was it my heart’s destiny or condemnation?

A world flipped upside down can make a valley look like a mountain peak…

Poisons oft feel like medicine in the right dose.

those endorphins released in cell death,

that hypnotizing light at the tunnel’s end,

they can make your finality

look like birth.

but, awake!

awake!

…

now,

A calmness and serenity boundless

Courses through my being,

Every neuron, cell, axon, and synapse,

Electrified in an oracular renaissance.

an eye turned inward,

will create a lighthouse.

come, all lost at sea.

the prodigal son returns home —

welcomed into open arms am I!

By the eternal,

By the maternal —

My lunar epithet,

reclaimed.

make me once again

pure and demure

for this is the greatest story

of rags to riches

–

born again

will I become virgin

from having been everyone’s

to my own only

–

I belong to the celestial

though I’ve sold myself

in an act so absurd

I’ll laugh till I cry

then cry till I laugh

in its recollection

–

an oxymoron

to assign a price to the priceless

I sold myself, I sold myself

I sold myself

why?

–

make me pure and virgin

if I could take it all back

I would

–

Goddess, teach me

how to honor sexuality as sacred

For I gave myself

and I feel tainted

I feel soiled and unclean

–

but no more,

wash me

–

another great joke

to make me howl in laughter:

how can I go

from this extreme radicalism

having thrown myself

into our collective Bacchanalia

our widespread Dynosian mania

with closed arms

a closed heart

…yet open legs

–

to now opening my heart

wide open

determined to save myself

for one who can meet me

truly meet me

on every level but physical

first

that our consummation be symbolic

a living form of art

reflecting the oneness of our hearts

I want nothing else

I want nothing else

I want nothing other than this,

Which to me is everything

–

Make me pure and virgin once again

to respect myself

and my worth

for I’ve made the two one

In the most peculiar of ways

that in opening my body

my heart too does open

so when I give to you my body

My heart is also presented

that priceless jewel

it wasn’t meant for the hands of the masses

to be tossed around for sport

–

Make me Excalibur

All my suitors come up

seeking to pull me from the stone

but only they who are pure of heart

truly pure of heart

can retrieve me

–

The hilt of the sword meant only

For the hand of one

and together will we ride

for the rest of our days

–

in my self-conservation have I found liberation.