Your Shadows handicap, or even stop you cold, on your Spiritual Path, relationship path, and personal growth path. Its characteristics also make you not very pleasant and highly defensive, perhaps aggressive, or other less than desirable traits.

When your whole personality is in-synch, or in-phase, you function holistically well in a pretty balanced way so that you grow emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and probably get on reasonably well in your behaviors and events as well. You probably do well on the Physical Plane because what you have within yourself, you pour out, or out-picture, to the world that you meet.

Spiritually speaking, I deem the Shadow a highly Spiritual part because it helps us know what’s blocking AND what is suggested in its opposite. We are spirits of Light, but VERY identified with Mind, Ego, and senses—to the point that we have forgotten ourselves as Souls, as Spirits.

When we are deep in the forgetting, the Shadow parts, the inverse of our positive parts, dominate. When we turn to ourselves selfishly, we instigate in ourselves the Shadow which is as false as the Ego, yet it or they MUST be dealt with.

How to identify Shadow(s) and deal with this part of our psyches? Actually the Shadow subject is too huge in us and in Astrology to address adequately in this hour because dark characteristics are found in our 4th, 8th, and 12th Houses (for those of you who’ve studied some of this Sacred Art). One of its purposes is to empower us—by illustrating the *wrong end of power* in such things as anger, resentment, guilt, aggression, and the like. These are identifications with which everyone has experience.

Although the Shadow is hidden in ourselves (indicated in the 3 Houses just mentioned) it is out-pictured around ourselves sometimes or frequently, depending on our attitudes and Profile. Out-picturing means that a person or situation comes to face you in some way in your daily life—prompting you to deal with what seems to be “out there.” Someone with planets in the 8th and 12th Houses will encounter those Shadows often and be regularly challenged—until what must be learned is learned.

More well-known to most of you is your Sun Sign in which Shadow selves exist. Most likely your friends and family are familiar with yours, while you may be less conscious of this disagreeable or even horrid part of you. Let’s look at these in the Signs while suggesting ways that such dark parts can be integrated to your light.

Aries illustrates a dilemma for identifying its Shadow. Its very nature is to be self-concerned in its drive for autonomy and self-creation. Here is the pioneer in his interest launching out to set new standards or instigate a different approach. S/he so bold, so courageous, so noble—when in-synch with himself or herself, but the Shadow part may sneak up behind for acknowledgement.

As I said Aries’ virtue becomes his or her black beast, as occurs with many of the Signs. Aries grows so impressed with his or her pioneering achievements that s/he HAS to drum it in to whoever can stand to hear the sermon. Of course all the things I’m saying today will have variations, for Astrology reflects the continuum of experiences. Everybody’s individual uniqueness is seen. So the harangue may just be a confident certitude that makes the other person feel foolish, or it may come out as smugness.

The overlooked subtlety is that the Shadowy Aries is struggling with a likely lack of confidence down inside—brought over from the opposite side of the Zodiac in Libra. (Though there are 12 Signs, we best learn them as 6 Pairs or Polarities which share and exchange Shadow parts in infinite array. We can even draw some shadow usually from the Sign that precedes—in this case Pisces in which self-doubt is quite strong too.) And most Aries don’t even know they lack confidence till much later in life.

So we’re seeing the reverse or inverse of the lively energetic Aries to the point where sloth can predominate! Not the sloth of laziness but the apathy of one who doesn’t think HE or SHE should have to do THAT work or job. No sir, that’s for the peons. S/he’s got a vision, and as the marvelous Liz Greene has pointed out about Aries parts: For Aries, there’s only one part—him or her—and the whole contains him and his vision.

HUMILITY then is a profound antidote for Aries, but have you known many who have this trait—perhaps but only with a huge amount of self-work and dedication to his or her spiritual path, for humility is a steep way for all of us but those with prominent Fire Planets the grade is mountainous indeed.

One more final point. The deflated can’t-get-up-in-the-morning Aries has an even deeper dose of Shadow. This person, probably from overbearing parent(s), has succumbed to believing the down-putting from the voices, and has kinda given up. S/he needs to read biographies about successful Arian achievers to get back in the saddle . . . then later learn humility. Therapies of empowerment are needed. One must have an Ego first to be able to give it away for spiritual purposes.

Taurus is a huge Sign full of many different qualities in persons who have planets there. Ruled by, which means having the same vibration as, Venus or Aphrodite, it is rich in matter and represents the most profound Earth-nature of the 12 Signs. It luxuriates in the pleasant things of life: sex, gardens, sweet and pungent smells of the soil and the body.

Taurus actually craves these 2nd Chakra items to the point of collecting them by quantity, so we quickly run into the first bête noir, it’s possessiveness and even hording. It represents the energies of self grasping on to things as a baby does with its first rattle. Perhaps its Shadow here is from, and takes the shape of, insecurity; perhaps it is needful of owning all the good things of this Plane so that they don’t go away.

Taurus is spontaneously a preserver, the sustainer, the builder, the artist, the giver of gifts, but the Shadow can reduce this to greed unless s/he’s willing to tackle qualities like self-value, self-esteem and knowing that wealth is within, rather than material things outside. Ours is a highly Taurean society, making it harder for the aspiring Shadow-bound Taurean to rise above the cloying nature of her or his Shadow.

With any luck Taurus can bring to bear other personal abilities such as patience and steadfastness (the bright side of the often destructive stubbornness—one other black beast) to stay the course and integrate this menace to any spiritual hopes; however, even Spirituality can become a Shadow for this hapless materialist.

With a hidden Aries within, Taurus can take on the dark garb of a fanatic, or at least a person who KNOWS the truth. Look at Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud. Among my friends I know one who’s into Oahspe adamantly, though can’t tell why—and another who tries to drive Isabel Hicks and Abraham down anybody’s throat like a Jehovah’s Witness, though she does it with a very charming voice.

Obviously the emphasis on humility will again be a remedy and on other spiritual values that admit there’s more to the world than most scientists are willing to measure. Just breaking from the materialist viewpoint can expand the Taurean Shadows to integrating such hidden strengths to the person’s advantage, because, remember, there is power in Shadow parts, albeit the power of vanity and negation.

Then there are Gemini and Gemini. Who knows which will show up? Geminis are generally appreciated at parties, dances, and social affairs. They keep the conversation, or at least their end of it, very lively. The topic may not usually be of spiritual development, for most Geminian types like to keep things on the surface, thus for all their intelligence, may be quite superficial.

Taken to the extremes of his or her Shadow, the Gemini not only keeps his/her bountiful amount of friends and associates guessing and confused but also may do so by evading and even lying. At the least there will be exaggeration. You can’t pin down the shadow-filled Gemini because there’s an emptiness caused by the loss of the other half—either higher or lower, lofty or material.

Often you get the Eternal Child, the Peter Pan who refuses to commit or grow up, with a gillion reasons for the disconnecting behaviors and words that conceal rather than enlighten. Lots of words, little content, in one set of shadows; lots of high-falutin concepts but no feeling or pertinence in the other type of dark Gemini. What s/he says is designed for distancing and protection, though s/he seldom knows this—but may have an inkling. In fact s/he can even reach the low level of becoming wily and sneaky.

You can see why married Geminis often cheat on their partners, even a Jack Kennedy, until they actually make some sort of synapse—which can be with another person, a serious belief (perhaps religion or spirituality), or an internal self-recognition of something of great value from within the Gemini bosom. Notice all three of these have to do with some feeling or emotion, which Gemini generally eschews. Genuine feeling for someone or something NOT his or her own thought is a major life raft for the Gemini who may kick and scream to avoid submitting, yet it will be the best act s/he’s ever done.

Known as the social butterfly, along with another Air Sign, Libra, Gemini needs to consolidate, to step down the amount of social contacts to get centered. Instead of multiple sex partners, several computers, splintered types of jobs, and two dozen interests, s/he needs focus and take on the willingness to not have to know everything. This will be different for each Gemini, but will take a form that could be called metaphorically monogamy or monotheism and a dethroning of his or her preoccupation with, and exaltation of, his/her mind and thoughts.

One has to speak gently of Cancer because s/he is likely to be highly fragile when in the grips of the Shadow side. Cancer’s Shadow may often be worn on the sleeve and be readily apparent as part of even the pretty healthy Water woman or man, so it’s difficult to separate this moody, swirling down energy from the typical Cancerian collection of emotions.

Those emotions that are positive are like the harvest full Moon, radiant, compassionate, gentle, kind, caring, nurturing, mothering somewhat get turned inward and subtly cantankerous. The Cancer Shadow can come up mean and quite likely manipulative. Often there is a kind of smouldering attitude that makes another person feel as though s/he’s done something wrong to the Cancer—and s/he has! S/he did not give Cancer what that Cancer needs—and probably never will. For the Cancerian need well is deep and requires almost endless attentiveness and offerings.

Though large amounts of love would seem to be the succor that the Cancer needs, it’s questionable whether the love will be interpreted well or received. Therapist spend large amounts of billable hours trying to show Cancer she or he is loved, to no avail.

I suspect that it’s only through the family (and maybe specifically the mother) that Cancer can find some shadow redemption from the innuendo of You-don’t-love-me-adequately syndrome. And unfortunately it may have to be through some trauma, like an accident, or near-death experience of a member of a sister or son. Some sort of wake-up call. Perhaps the Cancer himself or herself goes through some incapacitating experience, and gets to feel the persistent and present love of others and gets it. Yes I am loved. And the insecurities drop off during the ensuing time.

Short of some spontaneous intervention, probably the only challenge to this Cancerian Shadow is continuous being there and taking the quiet blows until the Cancer eventually trust that you REALLY care. That will take a high spiritual path on your part, to say the least.

For the dedicated self-rising Cancer, I urge some therapy that diminishes resentment, and this can get rounded up to emphasizing intention to be emotionally self-reliant, independent of the positive or negative mother-memories. Intention and/or Prayer are probably needed for this Water sign since the emotions are so bottomless.

Curiously due to the lack of emotional certainty perhaps, Cancer has an almost belligerent assertion of what s/he KNOWS is correct—Astrologically described by Cancer’s preceding 12th Sign, Gemini. Again, opting for humility helps this Shadowy part—plus being honest. Cancer is so often persuaded by the emotions that its intelligent appraisals are often off. Being ready to see one’s mistaken perception will go a long way to elevating Cancer’s Spirituality.

The second Fire Sign, Leo, may also manifest Shadows that’s quite entrenched in his or her psyche, and like Aries takes two distinct forms of inflation and deflation. The inflated Leo is arrogant beyond your dreams. For example the Rosicrucian Astrologer Max Heindel who was a racist, Mussolini, or George Bernard Shaw, but of course that personal fiery assertion has the greatness of persons who had dominated the Shadow, like my fave, Carl Jung or Amelia Earhart.

Leos are generous, maybe magnanimous like kings, considerate even dispite their regal position. And many more great attributes: idealistic, humane, and beneficent. Yet when the Shadow is in a dominating position in the Leo’s psyche, they get immensely full of themselves.

One personal example happened to me when my partner and I rented a place on the land of a Leo friend whom I admired for his knowledge of off-planet beings. Twice I went to him to confirm the price we had agreed on for the cottage. My partner and I enthusiastically cleaned the let-go dwelling, installed new carpeting, painted everywhere, and trimmed it up beautifully. We then invited the Leo and his wife over for dinner on the night before we were officially to move in. Happily I handed him the first month’s check. He didn’t take it and said that he’d been meaning to say that the place was now worth double the amount (since we had done such nice work), and would I write a check for that new figure.

What! My Capricorn was in horror. Could he be serious? He was, and had alook on his face and later in conversations affirmed that he couldn’t understand why I would question the decision. Didn’t understand what they were doing here?!

What! I guess I didn’t and never did find out—though we lived there for a whole year—paying the exorbitant and unfair rents every month. Meanwhile he treated me like a peasant that had insurrected.

Most of Leo’s Shadow parts rise from self-reoccupation, rather like Aries. Fire get self-intoxicated like a New Ager knowing that God is within—but confusing God with the Ego and getting carried away by the self-identification. All this self-centeredness leads to possible boastfulness or pompousness, or perhaps quiet snobbish superiority—in other words some sort of overbearing and intolerant demeanor and/or behavior.

My friend needed to actually hear the music of my words and reasoning, rather than his own drum of certainty. Leos need to listen to a council, rather the believing in the divine right of kings. Once again, humility.

However, the Leo without an ability to shine somehow in the world, or one who was heavily attacked in childhood by Dad, may retreat and be highly reluctant to shine her or his light because s/he doesn’t think s/he has any, or is fearful of rejection. S/he is a sad dog indeed, one thinks s/he’ll never get off the rope. S/he might stay in the cellar playing video games (where s/he can triumph over bad guys), or sink under the control of a dominating partner.

Children can save both these types, revealing ingenuous behavior, acceptance of others, and revitalize then natural Leonine capacity for fun and laughter. Most children can appreciate their size and accept that the others who are so much larger need to be heard—AND they can enjoy their own current abilities quite joyfully. Leos have a natural inclination towards children and thus have a way out of their cave.

What’s the story with Virgos? They are the workers, engineers, nurses, and service figures of the Zodiac. They can get a job done, or write the magazine, or landscape with diligence and efficiency. They are the first Sign in the circle that is learning not to be caught up with I-me-mine, so there’re many spiritual Virgos making their humble ways through life—unless they’re caught up with the 12th sign Leo’s self-inflation that we just reviewed.

Taking a virtue to its extreme breeds first fog, then darkness as the inner emotion grabs a tighter hold on the psyche. The naturally driven qualities of Mercury of intelligence and facile perceptions become twisted into an hauteur (12th Sign Leo) that not only dominates the relationship but makes it hellish with nagging, superiority, diminishing what you might presume to know. If you’ve seen films or read of the 18th Century man of the salon like Alexander Pope, you know what I mean—a William Buckley type, splashing his reading all over the dismayed ears of the less intelligent family. There’s a certain diminishment in the smile that might make you shiver with ignorance.

Quite possibly he’s insecure about what s/he dos NOT know, so clings tightly to the known past experience. Caution and detail crunched into doubt you know anything and fussiness about shoes lining up in parallel rows. On Virgo styled herself as a Recovering Critic, and that describes a Virgo on the way to divesting herself of the Shadow grips.

The criticism goes inward and outward; both are deadly. Both can gain from forgiveness for all the past (mostly imagined) misdeeds so that a new lease on the self and others can be attained. One Teacher taught, Don’t be the FBI of God. We might add: Mind your own business. Live and let live. Do your best and leave the rest to God. Nice aphorisms for the Virgo to internalize.

Since Virgo is naturally prudent, you would imagine s/he would figure these things out, but the psyche caught in the Shadow doesn’t work so unblindfolded. The Shadow as fostered by the Ego will fall into the same hole repeatedly, and grow worse, even stretching cautiousness into guile.

So systematically Virgo has to withdraw from the tendency to make things so orderly or predictable. S/he need to allow the burgeoning Spirituality to take hold and be willing to let others do things their ways and NOT mutter inside about perceived ineptitude or inefficiency. Also be willing not to put a price or measurement on things—I scrubbed the house, and he expects me to make love when I deserve to be taken out to dinner. Or people are only paying me 8 cents for teaching them for an hour. Many things can’t be measured. Karma measures. Virgo could choose not to do that too.

Libras are very social, artsy, and friendly. Aren’t they? Yes, but why are so many such social adepts and so eager to be friendly? The Shadow answer is that the darkened Libra is hungry for your approval and offer of affection.

You see, Libra is the 7th Sign and corresponds to the 7th House, both of which are about relationship, marriage, and connecting with the “not-self”—that one who is out there and liking you or not.

Shadowed Libra wants your vote and will do most anything to get it. Usually that means not just friendliness but promising you a rose garden or making you feel like the best gf/bf around. Anyway, personally I’ve come not to trust a Libran date or agreement. They’re worse than the other Air sign, Gemini, and they’re really bad. Expect to reschedule or not have the arrangement happen at all.

Perhaps you already got added to the listed of “That person likes me,” or maybe this particular Libra can’t say no. Such a Libra doesn’t want to offend—and SO much depends on your good graces.

Remember, Libra is about learning balance, IMbalance is the natural Shadowed side of things. This Ego doesn’t trust himself or herself and needs you in his/her quiver with the other arrows.

Usually though Libra has a mental acuity that recognizes fairness and unfairness, so it’s possible that when confronted with certain fawning behavior in himself or herself—or challenged to be honest—Libra might just accept the Golden Rule as a fair ideal to reach for. Libra is mentally bright and might force the internal issue to being adopted by a higher standard than another person’s viewpoint.

By the way another Libran dark side is not to give a hoot about the other person while taking pride in dominating with facile words. We can see where that one goes after coming this far in our survey. Same motivation turned sour grapes, and a grasping at what else s/he does best. This shadow is harder to work with because usually this Libran IS smarter than most around, so directing it to an area of life where the brilliance can be appreciated can be a key. Art, flowers, and beauty require more wisdom than knowledge, and don’t fight back.

But the best remedies here deal with marriage and possibly the divine marriage (syzygy), which represent a real balance for the 7th Sign and House. Genuine love for the partner may still contain a desire to give her or him the store, the ring, and love forever, but it will be genuine, not based on faulty (hidden and disowned) emotional need for an approving other. A true love from the new found heart (not the head) will embrace the Beloved while increasing both of them. This is the Sign where true selflessness can flower—and for the right “reasons.”

The Dustbin of the Zodiac—so Scorpio has been called. The British term for garbage can—because here is where ideally all the lessons from the selfish parts of the 7 previous Signs gets dumped or has accumulated. This is the Sign where a major transformation must occur from the spew from the Shadow (which is very much at home here in the 8th House and 8th Sign) to the ebullient openness of the next Sign, Sagittarius. Scorpio takes on the role of sluicing the decayed and dead matter from our Souls so that the ego diminishes enough to permit Spirit and light into the Psyche. Scorpio is the darkness fore the dawn, in one sense.

So here is a quote from Liz Greene on the subject of the Scorpio shadow. She calls it the Othello syndrome.

“SCORPIO WOMAN: Where were you tonight? You said you’d be back at eight. It’s midnight.
(This is invariably said in an accusing tone of voice, making it perfectly clear that whatever explanation is offered, only one will be believed)
AIR MAN: Sorry, dear. I had a frenetic day at the office. Then the car broke down, and I spent two hours trying to fix a leaking radiator. It’s just been one of those days.
(A note of defense creeps in. Resentment about being mistrusted. Preparation for becoming cagey if pressed)
SCORPIO WOMAN: (Silence. The atmosphere becomes visibly chilly. Icicles form around the dinner dishes. When he tries to touch her affectionately, she recoils. She is thinking to herself He’s cheating on me. Bastard, they all do it in the end. I’ll be damned if I let him use me like that. Right. No sex for a month.)
AIR MAN: What’s wrong, dear? I told you, I couldn’t help it.
SCORPIO WOMAN: Nothing’s wrong, dear. (Stony glare. She imagines he knows she knows, and is trying to make him feel suitably ashamed. He hasn’t the vaguest idea what is running through her mind.)”

Othello killed Desdemona because he had it on rumor from deceitful Iago that she had cheated on him, and the subjectivity of the Watery mind doesn’t brook other people’s objective suggestions (shades of 12th Sign Libra). Actually subjectivity, emotions filtered through personal perceptions, plague every human, and none worse that the three Water Signs. We’ve seen Cancer, and Pisces is right in there too.

I had a friend here on 2ndLife get pissed at me because I challenge her opinion that all men should be treated like pets because they’re only good for sex anyway. Subjectivity of the right brain is a good thing and leads to great art, but needs also to be tempered with the left brain in matters of emotion so that Scorpio doesn’t go off half cocked.

What has happened to another Scorpio client of mine is that she has been accosted by a completely freaked out couple accusing her shocking of many outrageous and false misdeeds in a most subjective way—and taking her to court to take away her midwife license. Perhaps she’s coming to grips with her own subjectivity and slanted viewpoints and is being forced to transform in this highly painful scenario. Perhaps she was unwilling to relent when people around her made mistakes and felt that they deserved what they got in a harsh world.

At any rate Scorpio must learn to trust and to forgive—trust in 12th sign Libran objectivity and other people’s viewpoints; forgive us hapless human for our shortcomings so that s/he can forgive herself for hers or his. Perhaps emotionality, and especially holding on to past hurts is not the best avenue for solutions.

I’ve already hinted about the up-role of Sagittarius who is known for jollity and big ways of running things well. He’s known for all the traits of sharp-mindness, seeing the big picture well, being funny, adventurous, etc, etc. But his zeal for independence and going where no traveler has gone before sooner or later can bring his face-to-face with his Shadow which is demanding at least a pound of flesh.

Since some roots of all his flamboyance is a fear of failing, he might just fail, or worse, ridicule those who do. I made it; what can’t he!? So he can become highly domineering—even socially at a party by just controlling the conversation and not hearing anyone else (see how the opposite Sign can contribute to the Shadow and our understanding. In this case, Gemini).

Of course he can’t let others know he’s failed or MIGHT fail, so he boasts or gets extravagant in some manner—gambling, drinking, telling shady stories. He and the fiery Leo can take on very ugly sides quite opposed to their fine unshaded parts.

What a Sagittarian was built for was delivery of either high-minded professional information, or religious/spiritual ideas and enthusiasm to help people rise above this Plane, when bogged down by fear, Ego, Shadow, we can get an ego-maniac in the seminar or fanatic who rules the church or home, pushing the only religious way upon their children.

Committing themselves to a spiritual path, or at least a field of endeavor, and persisting wholeheartedly and steadfastly can go a long way towards redemption for Sagittarius, thus gaining people’s admiration for a meaningful journey, instead of the trip of “Hail fellow, well met, let’s have a drink” or “How come you haven’t been up to snuff in sales lately?” Actually meditation for some Sagittariuses is possible and valuable because of the calming and focusing effect on this mutable Sign.

Finally the shadow aspects of exaggeration and debating need to be combated and integrated by accepting the personality with no frills or defenses. Sagge can do this because there’s strong potential faith built into the character here. Faith which doesn’t have to be defended or proselytized can carry Sagge to the heights s/he long to go to.

The commencement of the last 4 Elements sets the tone for the spiritual achievements that take a person off the Wheel of Births and Deaths.

Let’s ground all that Fire in practical Capricorn and make it useful on this Plane so that people can demonstrate the spirituality they’ve just learned when having planets in, or lifetimes in, Sagittarius! You are of course noticing that the Shadow cripples the personality and makes advancement for the Soul, as well as the social illustrations of love, quite impossible. The blackened face of the Ego when dominating makes for most of the film industry.

You’ve also been seeing the intended progression for the Soul through the ideal states of Growth that we use Astrology to map, and it does a magnificent job showing us ways upon our individual Paths while indicating the obstacles that can gather to a complex in ugly form we’ve seen as the Shadow.

Capricorn, the last Earth Sign, is expected to make Spirituality tangible in a metaphorical activity on this Plane as the 10th House illustrates the career. The career should be the Soul’s out-picturing in this Plane, and for Capricorn that would look like a Minister, architect, construction engineer, a builder of an organization, a rehab clinic, a jewelry business. Whatever it is, for all Signs, it should reflect the soul’s achievement or its area to achieve.

Capricorn is the leader when it comes to working relentlessly for Soul attainment. Personal growth gets somewhat set aside—unless the energies slither down to the vibrations or frequencies of the Shadow. Then Capricorn takes on extremely unpleasant characteristics—driving task-oriented behavior that cares nothing for the feelings of those around him or her. That may be an advantage for the stock holders and the erection of a dam, skyscraper, or government, but it’s horrible for the people involved—just think of Russia under Capricorn Joe Stalin!

Such a person in the grip of the Shadow usually has a strong Inferiority Complex that goads them to achieving beyond what would make common sense. They nurse bitterly any wound or challenge, keep it festering like a Scorpio, and quite often seek revenge, perhaps ruthlessly.

They’re also prompted by a fear of being without that coincides with their personal fear of not being enough, so they attempt to guard what they consider necessities while working arduously to improve themselves—or make other people seem less than the Capricorn. In other words they can rival the Earthy Virgo in criticism and telling the “best” way to do things.

This particular Shadow is insidious because since Capricorn has a gift on the material Plane for the practical, his or her insights are usually quite good. This makes the unending correction and standards nearly impossible to listen to because the other person seems endlessly wrong.

So Capricorn has a deserved reputation, for pessimism, though this just takes on dire circumstances in the Shadowed individual—who might give up the whole project if his negativity leads him towards large self-doubt or fear of failing. Then there’s the horrid scene of a bitter, sullen, person isolating himself or herself, while being very pissed at anyone who unlikely comes around.

Ugh! Not so nice. What can integrate these energies? A strong does of remembering what we saw above. The mountaintop the Goat climbs represents soul growth rather than personal growth. Once a Capricorn is made aware of this, setbacks and obstacles diminish.

Frankly in the final Earth Sign, the attraction to the Physical Plane should be as a “tool” for the Capricorn, not a representation of her or his success. It’s only a tool (like the body) for scaling higher up the mountain towards the spiritual Goal, and when this perspective is in place and steadily practiced then the egoistic requirements can drop away.

Additional gains come from drawing on its opposite Sign (of the other side of the Coin), Cancer—and bringing in Very needed concerns for the relationship. REAL relationship that includes feelings and love. Goats are great at sex but it can be just a token of themselves and not meaning anything or reach through their skeletons to the softer organs inside. The Goat who really gets marriage is one who shares the trek up mountain with the fellow traveler, and both benefit from the association.

Most students of Astrology don’t remember that Aquarius is co-ruled by Saturn. Most of us think of the wildly independent, innovative, avant-garde Uranus as the same vibration as Aquarius, and of course it is—when in-phase or in a well lubricated state. Abraham Lincoln always stands out as our Aquarian example of the far-sighted statesman leading the nation with his Aquarian vision, unconcerned with the opinions of those who can’t see so distantly.

Enter the clutching fingers of the Shadow, and the statesman turns bigot, trumpeting his philosophical high-minded ideas around while living the personal life of the autocrat. S/he may find the mate and children too emotional and of course entwined with the trivial mundane concerns of daily living and growing up. S/he may spout aphorisms and suggest models of ideal behavior that have little to do with food on the table or life at school (think of such a talker as the hapless Mr. Micawber from Dickens Great Expectations). Idea-spinning has to be grounded with realistic this-world focus for those ideas to be useful for awakening people.

Thus idealism that may drive a nation or instigate excellent inventions deteriorates to tactless, eccentricity, and silly rebelliousness. He like the Capricorn is even more prone to becoming isolated since Aquarius set himself or herself apart or aloof in the natural state to begin with. Mark Twain ended up in a hotel alone and quite bitter about humanity that he tried so hard in his works to entice to broader thinking. He blamed a heartless God.

Getting that the real ideal of bringing nations together in unity, or bringing people together in groups, is to foster interchange of positive feeling and love so that individual Spiritual goals can be fostered. Charity or compassion are in essence two other names for love, and Aquarius must draw those positive qualities from its obverse side of the Zodiac, Leo. Then Aquarius becomes whole.

Naturally, Aquarius is broadminded and intuits democratic and individual thought, so emphasizing these positive and inherent traits can spring her or him up from the wallow of self-inflation and aggrandizing personal ideas to the detriment of those of others. We need the Aquarian awakening Vision but heavily tempered with sensitive heartful.

Pisces on the other hand is ALL heart, all feelings, a walking barometer of the emotions in herself/himself and probably in the people around the room.

S/he is naturally geared to the Collective Unconscious and to seeking to merge in the Oversoul of the Divine or Supraconcious. S/he is therefore adept at feeling that divine in each person and animal, so is quite frequently a Mother Teresa to all. S/he is compassionate, caring, loving, solicitous, and gentle. S/he’s this and much more—unless again superimposed by the Shadow.

And a great many Pisces unfortunately are quite trapped because it is extremely difficult for them to handle these forces constructively. Some will seek to escape these pressures through eating, alcohol, drugs, and other excesses.

Escapism is the nature of the beast here. The escapes and excesses can take many forms—for example major immersion in films, both large amounts of time watching, and/or identifying so much as to become a groupie, a Trekky, a part of a Vampire group because they loved the TV show _Forever Knight_, etc.

Other forms of escaping the dreaded requirement to live up to the Spiritual urges inside can take on not-noticeable shapes like taking care of a brood of cats—or a brood of children—or a brood of homeless people. Not doubt important and selfless activities, but the Shadow will make them excessive. 11 cats; children who are in their 20s and 30s; working down at the homeless shelter 16 hours a day, living no time to meditate or eat well.

Another aspect of the Piscean Shadow is quite common and hardly bearable to those who have to hear his or her “Woe is me!” The I’ve-got-it so bad” syndrome can dominate nearly everything the shadowed Pisces says, and that gets wearisome to the auditor for sure.

Again one answer is to reaffirm the spontaneous Piscean tendencies in her/his heart so that s/he does not reduce to looking for a back door to meditating or whatever s/he can whole-heartedly endorse as good for her Spiritual growth. Eyes on the Prize, so to speak.

Also Pisces can emphasize the inherent compassion for others, thus getting off the pity pot, and stop the whining. S/he probably doesn’t have it so bad, and recognizing that can help considerably.

Then Pisces like the other Mutable/Changeable Signs, Sagittarius and Gemini, goes two ways, and the second way may be towards the Shadow. Both Signs can compensate for the nice social demeanor by plunging headlong into the opposite, or by being so scattered that there is no path, but only several looping trails that lead nowhere.

That’s why looking at the Saturn energies for grounding can be helpful for all three of these Signs (Virgo can ground in its own Earth). Saturn can provide needed steadiness and focus on matters at hand that Pisces, Gemini, and Sagge desperately need. You can look for their placements in the chart, or watch for their transits in the sky to select a venue for acting in a centered fashion, or bringing in the needed grounding.

Since there are SO many Shadows and Remedies in the chart, I’ve tried in this paper to give some different illustrations in one Sign that can be applied to other Signs as well. For instance, using Saturn to counteract Pisces negativity, or implementing Venus to balance Mars.

That’s why knowing even the Basics about your chart is advantageous. And of course your resident Astrologist is a big advantage. Other helps are the large amount of materials here in Astropath Hall—3 types of books, videos, and slides. These keep increasing every day, and this Talk will soon be one of the items.

Come frequently to boost your awareness—unless you identify your Shadows, face them, own them as part of you, and take patient, deliberate steps to transform them. AND you need your Shadow side for your Spiritual increase—its power. Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus help, but still require your dedicated attention to your Growth.

The Egg Diagram on the screen shows the complexity of your psyche which greatly exceeds your brain. It helps you to see What’s REALLY goin’ on inside yourself. There is a book here that is the first chapter of a thesis I wrote. Please spend some upcoming time to understand how your psyche includes many dimensions.