Recently I was talking with some friends, one of whom is a novice astrologer, and she suggested that a person's sun sign may reflect their level of spiritual development. According to her, Aries and Taurus people tend to be young souls, Leos and Virgos are somewhere in the middle, and Aquarius and Pisces people tend to be "old souls." What do you think of this idea? Is it possible to determine one's level of spiritual development from a sun sign or from a full astrological chart? You guys are awesome!
- Brenda
Dreamchaser:
Well, you did ask for MY opinion, so I am going to give it to you. For me, the key word in your question was "novice."
I have heard all kinds of versions of this "formula." My mother called one day and told me she'd heard that Virgos are on their last life on Earth. She was so happy for me, as I am a (Recovering) Virgo.
Personally, however, I do not believe a word of it. I have seen all sun signs in various stages of "evolution" - or whatever you want to call it. Although I think your friend means well and is really trying to learn, she's way off base with this theory.
I don't believe it's possible to chart a person's spiritual evolution based on their sun sign or even their full astrological chart. You can evaluate a person's placement in the universe by how they live, act, speak, etc. - a person's essence can be seen in their daily life.
There are some basic spiritual lessons we all have to learn. One is unconditional love, not only for others but also for ourselves. Patience and faith are two more.
Now, I will say that I feel a person's life will help mold who they become. For example, I have carried anger throughout this entire lifetime as a result of not dealing with things that happened to me when I was younger. (For the record, I am continuing to address and heal this issue.)
None of this, however, has anything to do with the fact that I am a Virgo. It has to do with the choices I make, the lessons I allow myself to learn, and the actions I take while walking this journey called life.
I know where and when we are born is crucial to an astrological chart. It is basically a blueprint for what to expect in this life. For example, the majority of my stuff is going on in the lower half of the chart. That means that most of my lessons in this life are about internal stuff, and not about what happens on the outside or in the physical world.
Anger, as I used as an example earlier, is INSIDE of me. I have to deal with it on an internal level. However, I am not convinced that it points to my evolution/growth level. I believe that it shows what my soul chose to learn in this lifetime.
In my belief system, if we follow the Native American "Good Red Road," we will develop wisdom and move toward Ascension. The attributes of the Good Red Road include patience, knowledge, integrity, courage, determination, loyalty, experience, leadership, sacrifice, sharing, justice, compassion, kindness, morality, honesty, meditation, reverence, reflection, moderation, respect, cheerfulness, humility, appreciation and understanding.
I wish you continued growth.
*****
Astrea:
I've always been fascinated by astrology. I learned the signs of the zodiac when I was three, and I remember making my first calendar when I was about six. No one I showed it to knew what the heck it was! The months were all messed up because they started on day 21 or 22, and the names of the months weren't recognizable to many people. I even drew all the symbols for the signs.
Your Sun Sign signifies where the Sun was in the Heavens when you were born. Your Rising Sign, or Ascendant, is said to be the personality you present to others, and the only way to tell that accurately is to have the EXACT time and place of your birth.
The Ascendant usually tells me the most about your personality. While your actual birthday and Sun Sign are helpful, the time and place are more revealing. When I combine your Sun Sign and your Ascendant, I get a good window into who you really are.
As for spiritual development, my teachers weren't as concerned with the Sun Sign as they were with where the other planets were at the time of birth. Traditionally, the Sun does NOT show a person's spiritual development. That comes more from the position of the Moon and Pluto in someone's chart.
The Moon shows a lot about someone's emotional world, and Pluto shows (among other things) a person's attitude towards Death and the Afterlife. To me, these are more important in evaluating someone's spirituality than where the Sun was when he or she was born.
To determine past lives, I absolutely need to know where Pluto was when that person was born this time around, and where the Sun was at the time will usually tell me that. Pluto moves so slowly around the Sun that it's usually easy to determine where it was if I have a person's birth date. Unlike the Ascendant or the Moon Sign, this doesn't depend on the hour of someone's birth. Since Pluto stays in a sign for many years, it's usually easy to find its location.
As for your friend's "old soul" and "young soul" theory, I can see where she might get that as a beginner. Aries people can seem like very young souls, while Earth signs can appear to be older spirits, but I've seen lots of past lives and experiences in all twelve. Aries and Taurus are the first two signs at the BEGINNING of the astrological year, so your friend's conclusions are probably just unconscious assumptions.
In summary, one's Sun Sign does not usually indicate the age of their soul. Tell your friend to take a closer look at the other planets in the charts she's reading, for she'll find that using the Moon and Pluto is MUCH easier than trying to determine soul age from the Sun!
Astrea:
Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.
Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!
While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!
I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!
As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.
I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.
You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!
Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.
A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.
You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.