URANUS, the planet that brings
us in a new condition
The astrological meanings
of Uranus compared to myths about Ouranos and physical facts of the planet
URANUS
AND THE MYTH The implications of Uranus in the
chart seem to be reversed in comparison to the mythical meaning of Ouranus. Uranus
is the sun of the earth goddess Gaea. And at the same time her husband. The
children born out of this relationship were imprisoned but one of them, Cronus
(later called Saturn) was able to castrate his father (encouraged by his
mother). The genitals fell into the see and so Aphrodite was produced (Venus).
Some story! And how does this relate to astrological symbolism?
Saturn is the mythical son of Uranus. Saturn is the rebel, but Uranus is
prominent in the charts of disasters, revolutions and rebellious people. It is
Uranus who locks in his children and yet Uranus is the symbol of liberation. I
must add to this that afflictions with Uranus are seen at the time of arrest
and loosing freedom or being robbed of freedom. Like in the case of Jeanne
d’Arc and Ringeard (one of the trappist monks murdered
in Algeria).
Sometimes Uranus makes free, but the person concerned is dead, like with Tookie
Williams as a side effect. Saturn is the law, but Uranus is the shocking
arrest. In short: the myths of Saturn and Uranus seem to be twisted and turned.
Or we might consider the fact that the relationship Uranus had with his mother
was abnormal and extraordinairy and Saturn (Cronus) ended the incest.
URANUS
AS A PLANET The way Uranus is seen as a planet is full of
symbols you find in the astrological meanings of Uranus. The planet has not
only got an axis pointing at the sun, Uranus is also turning the other way
around compared to the other planets. That makes Uranus a double
obstructionist! The revolt and the uniqueness of Uranus comes
back with every test of Uranus meaning.
URANUS
AS OCTAVE AND MIRROR My very first serious study
of astrology was based on the ideas of the astrologer Ram. What I learned there
is that Uranus mirrors Saturn and is the octave of the Sun. In the word ‘octave’
is the Latin word for the figure eight. Now this interpretation only fits when
there will never be another planet found between Sun and Neptune.
The octave works with the same tone, but one octave higher. (on a higher level). In the eyes of Ram the invisible planets
work on a more impersonal level (for the benefit of a group, for example). I
must say that in my eyes these planets can hit hard on a personal level in
progressions.
(For those interested: the octave of Venus is Pluto, of Mercury Neptune,
the mirror of Mars = Pluto, of Jupiter = Neptune).
If we consider Saturn as the conventional and formal element then Uranus
is the eccentric one who wAnts to be different then the rest (but possibly IS
not). Saturn is solid, Uranus is the altered condition
of f.ex. water (like ice, steam or damp). Uranus
brings us from being awake to sleep and vice versa and that is all Uranus does:
bringing us in a new condition.
Personally Uranus brings a human being to the group and to social
conscience (or collective egoism for a certain group). A strong impersonal good
Uranus want to make the world a better place (so Uranus in the tenth in a
chart, well aspected: the goal is to improve the world). I = we all together.
PRACTICAL
URANUS The way Uranus presents himself in practical terms: in
electricity and direct and indirect applications of electricity, like starting motors,
the spark and 'invisible’ communication like used to get radio and tele. And
everything that involves electricity or automatons (robots), like technicians,
engineers, obstruction, malfunction.
PROGRESSED
URANUS In progressed charts or as a transiting
planet Uranus is the ‘newsflash’. Not seldom a celebrity in the news has a
progressive or transit aspect with Uranus. The newspaper and the web are places
where Uranus’ aspects come forward.
On the news page and in the archives of the news page you may find
several examples of how Uranus works related to the daily news. But the
discovery of the planet itself (13th of march
1781) also marks the beginning of a new period in history. Freedom,
equality and brotherhood. That was the slogan at the time of the French
revolution. That slogan pushed the declaration of independence of the United States of America.
The new world on the move…
Uranus plays the part of the renewer. Not always this is considered a
pleasure. Sometimes something or someone is taken away from you. Something else
replaces this that at first is considered ‘strange’. But looking back you might
realize that these changes produced a liberation insight. When Uranus is making
a hard aspect with the MC your position might change in many ways. By resign,
changing jobs, death of a parent or sibling (changing your place in the family)
and maybe even a physical move or emigration. Strange thing is that aspects
with Uranus can be seen at the time of someone’s death also: Uranus brings you
in another condition.
There is another meaning of Uranus: the ‘unexpected’ or ‘the accident’.
Indeed a progressive aspect of Uranus can surprise you, positively or more in a
negative way. During such an aspect you might already by nervous and so hyper
alert or not at all alert. Saturn is the planet that symbolizes concentration. Uranus the disturbing one. C.E.O. Carters’ book about
accidents and astrology shows the importance of this planet when it comes to
disasters. When the first (!) atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima Uranus was on top
of the chart (that you can view HERE). This event marked a new period in
history, too.
POLITICAL
URANUS Given the idea that Saturn is for
conserving and Uranus for renewing having a look at the charts of politicians
is very interesting. The new pope (Benedict 16th) has Saturn on top
and is known for being conservative. Hitler had Saturn on top as well and at
the same time Uranus close to the ascendant. Dutch murdered conservative rebel
Pim Fortuyn had Saturn on top and the Sun trine Uranus. Ruud Lubbers
(conservative politician who wanted to make a change in the United Nations):
Sun conjunct Uranus and…Saturn on top. President Kennedy and Mao Tse Tung had
Saturn on top also (and on the revolutionary midpoint Uranus/Pluto). Mahatma Ghandi had Uranus highest. Maybe
Saturn indicates the ambitions and Uranus the willingness to make a change
(positive/negative). Uranus seems to be important for many politicians and
world leaders. (And so are Saturn and Pluto, of course). Most intriguing is
that Angelika Merkel (German conservative prime minister) has Sun conjunct
Uranus (like Ruud Lubbers): in her election period she stated she wanted to
make a change.
Uranus is there where the rebel is. Opposed to
Mercury: free thinking, independent mind. Richard Pryor had it, for
example. And in the old days and in those countries that disapprove of
astrology: astrologers had and have it. Uranus is considered to be the astrologers planet. And yes, when I started learning
astrology I happened to have Sun opposed to Uranus in progression. When I
joined an international forum I had Uranus entering the first house. Uranus
does have a link with astrology, but also with ‘international’ and ‘new’.
URANUS
IN THE SIGNS Uranus is now in the astrological ‘sign’
of Pisces. Pisces is the period for church and religion, especially the Christian
belief and then specifically the roman catholic church.
Uranus is the planet of renewal and weak in the sign of Pisces. The last time
Uranus was in Pisces was in the first half of the 19thcentury. Romantic people
like Karl May, Rodin, Dvorak and Zola were born at the time. And Belgium separated
from the Netherlands.
I do not know if that is related to Uranus in Pisces but thought it was nice to
mention it.
Uranus should be strong in Aquarius. Uranus was there in the nineties. Uranus
was in the 22nd degree of Aquarius at the time of the attack on the Twin Towers. And on
august 31 1997 (death of Diana) Uranus was in the 6th degree of
Aquarius. Who can indicate in what way Uranus was stronger than even in this
sign is welcome!
Mar Bervoets
december 2005
ASTROMARKT
