In Jungian Psychology, the personality temperments include 16 different personality types, each of which has certain traits and behavior patterns. The personality types include four different aspects of personality. One measurement is that of introversion and extroversion, and it helps explain how we are energized. For example, one who is strongly extroverted gains energy and is nourished through through interaction and relationship. One who is introverted, is energized and renewed through time alone and in seclusion. Both are aspect of each of us, however, we generally tend to favor one over the other. In order to grow and function as a whole human being, we must, however, develop both aspects so that we are better able to function in the world and cope with challenges outside our zone of comfort and familiarity. Knowing the differences helps us understand not only ourselves but also others.
The second aspect of one's personalty temperment has to do with how we take in information. Do we gather information primarily through our physical senses and observations or do we intuit and sense the hidden and unspoken aspects of our environment and in our relationships? One who primarily functions on the sensate level, may tend to notice details and be able to recall specifics more readily than one who operates primarily on their intuitive senses. The goal to health and wholeness would be to develop both the ability to observe and notice details (remembering people's names, noticing physical details, remembering placement, colors, positions, and other attributes perceived by one's senses) and to pay attention to one's intuitive, inner knowledge and sense of what is unspoken, unseen, and below the surface (for example relying on inner wisdom, intuition, warning signals). To live as a fully functioning human, we need to develop both aspects of ourselves. We may rely and favor our intuition, however we need to learn to pay attention to the details and learn to be keen observers of life as well.
The third aspect of one's temperment had to do with how we process information we have taken in. Some of us rely heavily on thought and analysis, while others depend on their gut instincts or their emotional truth. Again, we need to learn to pay attention to what different parts of our bodies and minds tell us, but we also need to trust that we understand how we arrive at our understanding of what is true for us, what makes sense to us, and what we feel/think is the right decision.
The fourth aspect of temperment has to do with how we respond and react to order, organization, and the idea of completion. Some of us are very comfortable with a wide variety of projects going on at the same time, with an open ended type of schedule or plan, and with not much time urgency related to getting to completion. Others of us require a sense of order, a less flexible, open-ended life style, and a more predictable, sense of organization. Some of us are comfortable with several projects going on at once, and others of us want to do one thing at a time. Some of us celebrate completion; others of us mourn the endings. Some of us are happy with the process alone; others prefer to work toward a specific goal. Again, we need to be able to operate with the wide spectrum of these skills, but we usually work best when we are operating out of our primary function.
What does this have to do with astrology? The basic idea of the Jungian personalty temperments is based on archetypes and archetypal ways of behavior and interaction. So too is astrology.
These models have been developed out of observation of human behavior and personality. And they each attempt to provide us with ways to deal with those gifts and challenges that make our life journeys more meaningful, less confusing, and more fulfilling.
When you read or hear about some aspect or transit of a planet, the Sun, or the Moon, take some time to consider how a challenging aspect may be operating in your life already. Consider how a beneficient aspect or transit could enrich or support you and your life goals. Learn something about how your astrological chart helps inform you about what you already know about who you are, what you understand about yourself and your life, and what you know to be true and right for you.
Avoid letting others frighten or upset you with dire predictions and warnings. You have within you, all you need to understand, communicate, decide, and do what is best for yourself and those you love. If you use astrology, learn how you can benefit from challenging aspects and transits, based on what you already know about how you operate. One thing I find reassuring about astrological information is that it reminds me that we are all living in the world together, and we each have gifts, we each have talents and skills, we each have challenges, and we each learn from our experiences. And if we didn't know it before, we now know that life is always changing, and we are as well. We continue to grow from the moment of our conception to the the end of our lives.
Today Venus in Gemini, began her retrograde transit, and while some have made dire predictions for this period, it is really quite a special time, a time we are called to revisit those pending decisions, choices, relationships, and projects that are underway. For some of us, those with our Natal Venus in retrograde, we are entering a special period when unlike much of the time, we are moving with the flow (the retrograde flow) rather that fighting the current or adapting to fit the conventional patterns.
About 1 in 15 people is born with Venus in retrograde as the Morning Star, and 1 in 30 is born with Venus retrograde as the Night Star. Those with Venus as the Morning Star were born with Venus moving in retrograde away from their Sun. These people are often devoted to the arts, and dedicate their lives to new ideals. Often drawn to ascetic practices and ideals, these people are often far ahead of their times. Their ideals, practices, and devotional traditions are rooted in ancient traditions.
Those born with Venus retrograde as the Evening Star were born with the retrograde Venus ahead of their Sun sign. This finds Venus moving towards the Sun during the retrograde phase, making for a very creative and beneficial time. This is a time when a new set of values, goals, dreams, motivation, and desires is awakened and must be expressed. This signals the threshold of a new phase of a journey that finds you converging on a road that goes well beyond anything you have experienced before. You now see your way to become part of a greater cycle of cycles, and uncharted territory. Whhile remaining grounded in traditional values, fundamental beliefs and ideals, and a strong sense of artistic form and manifestation, your journey now opens to a much more directed and intentional series of goals. Self expression, for its own sake, is not the goal. You must experience and understand that there is a deeper and more enduring value to anything that you are part of. Though you may appear to be more reserved externally, your soul burns with passion and desire that must be expressed. Hardworking, diligent, self sacrificing, and highly dedicated, they are often artists and push the limits of whatever fields they seek full expression in. Often involved in the avant garde and/or unconventional, exotic, they often do not fit into the conventional constructs and constraints.
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