The Astrologer’s Shadow Glenn Perry Lecture Objectives Define what “shadow” means Locate the shadow in the chart Explore the astrologer’s shadow Give a case example Suggest how to work with shadow Why Be An Astrologer? Is this a wise career choice? • Astrology is discredited in our culture • Only a few make a living at it • We are regularly attacked What motivates our career choice? • Psychological issues and wounds • Reflections in the birth chart Awareness of shadow issues may be… • The key to career success What is the Shadow? Intensely negative feelings • What is reprehensible, primitive, or inferior • Constitutes a motivation to eliminate or suppress Collective dimension • Actions, out groups, belief systems • Astrology is persona non grata Personal dimension • Potentialities we deny and/or renounce • Compensate by emphasizing “light side” Shadow as Moral Problem Projection of “badness” and “evil” • Demonize in others what we cannot face • “projections change the world…” An impulse to attack and reform • Hatred as lack of empathy and compassion • Masquerades as righteous indignation Impulse to seek “power over” • Manipulation, intimidation, coercion • Oppression, tyranny, murder Enantiodromia Tendency for things to revert to opposite • Psyche has innate tendency toward wholeness • Lack of balance causes reversal • “Falling into one’s shadow” Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde • The pure and noble physician • The corrupt and ignoble Mr. Hyde Shadow erupts during times of crisis • Stress and weakened ego opens the door • “Slips” remind us that shadow is always there Facing the Dark Side Looking backwards into the shadow • Traits we have tried to eliminate • Atavistic tendencies we have left “behind” Everyone has a shadow • Rejection flattens the personality • Loss of depth, passion, and erotic intensity Awareness reduces fear/power of shadow • Tolerance and forgiveness is key • Gain power, integrity, depth, humor Finding The Shadow In The Chart Pluto is a major shadow indicator • Symbolizes the dark side and power issues • Integration requires death & rebirth Pluto always associated with something • Our wound and our capacity to heal • The wounded healer archetype Wounds are first projected, then… • Fearful avoidance or hostile confrontation • Flight or fight response to “crisis” Pluto & Extremism Crises produce a tendency toward extremes • Either of the two things situated at opposite ends of a range constitutes the extreme. • Extremes imply polarity Every planet contains a polarity • Archetypal roles, inner and outer • Psychological polarities Hard aspects to Pluto produce fear & loathing • Can create pathological extremes • Ruptured archetype = light side/dark side Shadow Possession Growing hair of the dog that bit you • Rationalization of one’s behavior • Compensatory contrariness Erotic attraction and preoccupation • Falling into your shadow • fear, negativity, and coercion are the result Ruptured (injured) planetary archetype • Rubber band stretched to the breaking point • Light side is flattened out, counterfeit version Wounded-Healer Polarity Woundedness as an existential given • Natural counter-pole to health • True healer recognizes own woundedness Helper-healer associated with power • Power of life & death; relief of suffering • Clients become childish and regressive Any planet can be split into halves • Extreme good healer-side • Extreme bad wounded-side The Astrologer’s Shadow Saturn-Pluto: Choosing a forbidden career • Career & authority associated with taboo • Splitting superior/inferior, adequate/inadequate Jupiter-Pluto: Believing in a taboo doctrine • Astrologers may be acting out a Jupiter shadow • Wounded faith and forbidden beliefs Pluto as unifying theme; the dark glue • Issues with authority and wisdom • Applied to profession as helper-healer Saturn’s Shadow Splitting Saturn’s natural polarities • Superior/subordinate; success/failure • Difficulties with or as authority • Fear of inferiors (sabotage) or fear of superiors (oppression) Fear of success/failure • Expectation of humiliation; avoidance of success • Fear of one’s own authority/dominance • Extremism – the despot, autocrat, or tyrant The Saturn Deflation Factor Reduction of status; devaluation and negative self-perception Avoidance of success due to shame Status of astrology has been downsized Lack of academic credentials & licensing establishes our status as a non-profession Perception of being fraudulent The Imposter Syndrome Subjective sense of being a fraud • Feelings of self-doubt despite outer success • Success attributed to luck, contacts, personality… Mistakes taken as proof of imposter status • Cover-up & externalization of responsibility • Success brings new “tests” of competence Procrastination and perfectionism • Never feel “ready” to be “a professional” • Reluctance to promote oneself in any way Two Imposter Projections Negative projection of imposter syndrome • Animosity toward astrologers who are perceived as incompetent, poorly trained, or untrustworthy • Bickering and internecine battles within the field Positive projection of ideal astrologer-self • Attribution of positive Jupiter-Saturn traits • Extraordinary authority and wisdom • Extreme faith and projection of power Inflation & The God Complex Abundance of super-positive RSV traits… • Perfect healing wisdom; the all-powerful, supremely wise consultant Saturninan pretense of superiority • Workaholic, control freak, overachiever is compensatory to a fear of failure and inferiority SR hard aspects may create • Fear of scant wisdom; lack of faith or education • Compensatory need for indubitable truths Inflation & The God Complex Rw contacts = splitting of Jupiter polarity • True/false, wise/foolish, and faith/doubt • Wounded faith and shadowy doctrines • Fear that truth may be destructive and dangerous Jupiter inflation compensates one’s fears • Always right, never wrong; try to convert others • Closed system, dogmatic, paranoid ideology • Fear of client’s uncertainty and unknowingness • Need to subjugate clients with total knowledge The False Prophet Jupiter’s dark side is the lying hypocrite • Use of astrology to gain influence and power • Presenting oneself as wiser than one really is • Illusion of perfect, undeviating faith Identifying with our client’s projections • Client’s want the astrologer to be omniscient • How we mask a discomforting uncertainty • Folie a deux is an unconscious collusion The Charlatan & Hypochondriac Charlatan is the true imposter • Elaborate, fraudulent claims to skill or knowledge • Unconscious motive is power and prestige Splitting the Pluto archetype into opposites • Healer/wounded, power/powerlessness • Healing requires recognition of one’s own wounds Projecting SR wounds onto our clients • Becoming powerful through psychological failure • Seeking power over the client via pseudo-solutions Wrestling With My Shadow A bit of personal history • Alcoholic mother/family system • Deceit and denial of my reality = NU shadow 8th house shadow M= wound to dependency • Distrust of feelings and emotional vulnerability • Associated with I issues of truth, morality, faith Mars opposition 8th house Moon • Splitting of courage and dependency • Fierce defense of emotional reality My Jupiter Shadow Jupiter in 10th comes from the 8th • Wounded Moon catalyst for career aspirations • Promotion of a forbidden truth – astrology • Zealotry is symptom of an inflamed, inflated Jupiter Balancing faith with doubt = RJiSF • Admit uncertainty about my knowledge claims? • Overcompensation, perfectionism & procrastination • Abhorrence of astrological false prophets Healing The Shadow Awareness of shadow’s existence • Notice extremes of thinking and feeling • Righteous indignation, power struggles, hatred • Indicate a fear of becoming the hated thing “There, but for the grace of God, go I” • We have potential to do what we would not do • Compassion for others starts with self-forgiveness • Recognizing limits of one’s power and wisdom Would You Like To Know More? For information about Glenn’s Mentorship Program, Tapes, and Books, contact: Glenn Perry, Ph.D. 360 Quietwood Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903 415-479-5812 [email protected] www.aaperry.com.