Planets: Sun—ray 2 (non-sacred)

A Ray 2 (non-sacred planet)

Method: The established self as an integrated personality

Sun: general information

In our solar system, Ray 2 at the universal or cosmic level from Sirius is expressed in our solar system—at the systemic level—via the Sun, so the seven rays at the planetary level are sub-rays of this systemic solar second ray, just as the planets in our solar system orbit the Sun. Jupiter, therefore, is the agent of the second ray which the Sun expresses—cosmically and systemically (EA 143).

The rulership of the Sun in Leo connect it with Sirius (one of the big three, and the “dog-star” that appears before dawn during August) (see EA 299). In mythology, Sirius is held to augment the Sun during the hottest period of the year in the northern hemisphere:

[Helios the Sun] augments the scorching dog-stars’s… fires, close-pressing upon the Nemean Lion’s back [i.e. Leo, sign of midsummer]. (Seneca, Oedipus. From the Theoi Project. For a more recent esoteric view see Sirius, The God * Dog Star)

At the cosmic level, the Sun itself as a living being (in the occult philosophy behind Esoteric Astrology) hasn’t yet reached “sacred” status where its spirit and material body function as one, so is classed with the Moon as “non-sacred”. This represents its usual astrological function, when not veiling another planet.

For a long time during the during [the] cycle of reincarnations and periods of manifestation the human being is almost entirely by the activity of the [five] non-sacred planets:

• The Sun (veiling a planet)
• The Moon (veiling a planet)
• The Earth itself
• Mars
• Pluto (EA 53)

(see Sacred and Non-sacred Planets)

The Sun in esoteric astrology

The Sun plays multiple roles, from the cosmic (connection with Sirius), through the systemic (our second ray solar system), to the personal, as:

1. the conduit for for Ray 2 as the originating ray of this solar system, and as the source of the seven sub-rays embodied by the planets
2. one of the “big three” of any horoscope: Ascendant, Sun, Moon
3. one of the two “veiling planets” (with the Moon) in esoteric astrology
4. the triple Sun ruling Leo on all three levels, as a veil at esoteric and hierarchical levels

The triple nature of the Sun is central to understanding its Leo rulership, which summarises the entire journey of humanity’s expansion in consciousness through the three crosses:

1. Physical Sun - Form - Personality - Influencing Mutable Cross.
2. Heart of the Sun - Soul Consciousness - Influencing Fixed Cross.
3. Central spiritual Sun - Life - Influencing Cardinal Cross. (EA 111)

At the zodiacal scale, the three fire signs each carry one aspect of this “triple fire” for each of the three crosses. Apart from ruling Leo, the Sun is exalted in Aries, and Jupiter (transmitting Ray 2 from the Sun) is the orthodox ruler of Sagittarius. The overall quality of Ray 2 is consciousness, the stimulation and expansion of which is the objective of all astrological influences because:

the purpose of this solar system [with its Sun on Ray 2] is the unfoldment of consciousness, and if for the strictly human being self-consciousness is the goal, then the Sun must obviously rule, for it is the source of physical consciousness (exoteric and symbolic of the personality), of soul awareness (esoteric), and of spiritual life (hierarchical). (EA 294)

The triple rulership in Leo covers:

all expressions—exoteric, esoteric and hierarchical. It rules the personality, the soul and the fourth Creative Hierarchy [the human]. EA 147

The above quote hints at the statement that “Mercury and the Sun are one”, where Mercury is the mediator between spirit and matter and yet is the result of the union of these two (EA 263). The Ray 4 planet Mercury is Scorpio’s hierarchical ruler where it governs our “human hierarchy”, where spirit and matter come together in the consciousness of the individual soul.

These three aspects of the Sun are the factors which bring consciousness to the birth and make the ultimate goal attainable; they make all forms of consciousness possible because these are rooted in the Sun (symbolically speaking) and are an inherent aspect of the greater whole. EA 296

See Leo rulerships for more information.

Sun: Rulerships

• Orthodox: Leo
• Esoteric: Leo
• Hierarchical: Leo

Orthodox: Leo ⇧

In connection with the Mutable Cross [analogous to the Sun as Leo’s exoteric ruler], the rays of the Sun in a threefold form (combining the lowest energies of the threefold Sun) pour into and through [humanity], via Jupiter… the agent of the second ray which the Sun expresses—cosmically and systemically. (EA 297)

The implication here is that the Sun via Jupiter—the second ray planet of synthesis—aids the integration of the individual as a functioning and coordinated personality. At the fundamental level this will be either actively for deliberately selfish, or passively self-interested, purposes. In a chart where the individual is under the developmental process of the Mutable Cross, the well-documented “dominant Leo personality” is the result. The exoteric Sun-Leo function is well-known, but it is worth grasping Leo’s esoteric context within the archetypal sequence of signs around the zodiac:

Mass consciousness in Cancer gives place to individual consciousness in Leo. Out of the mass or the herd emerges the self-sufficient unit which becomes increasingly aware of its oneness, its aloneness and its isolated attitude as the “one in the centre” of its small cosmos. This attitude continues to develop and to become emphatic and dynamic … leading to the pronounced ego-centric consciousness of the selfish, intelligent [individual] and to the ambitious display of selfish power of [those who desire] place and position. (EA 292)

However, for all but the most willfully self-oriented, the esoteric rulership of Neptune will have begun to hint at a subtler and more empathic influence.

Esoteric: Leo ⇧

Here the Sun veils Neptune

The esoteric rulership is intimately bound up with the “Heart of the Sun” and the love-wisdom quality of the second ray as expressed through the refined Ray 6 qualities of Neptune:

…the real Sun under which our planetary life will eventually function … is the Heart of the Sun. When that is controlling, the [aware individual then lives] a dual life simultaneously (which is ever the problem of [those] illumined by the soul as well as by the light of day) [which consists] of our apparent experience and situations and our inner spiritual soul awareness. The personality will still respond to influences coming to it from the [orthodox solar rulership] but the motivated life activity and the subjective experience of the inner [self] will be conditioned by energies coming… from the “Heart of the Sun.” (EA 110-11)

Many will be familiar with the inherent tension implied by the above description, with the predominantly emotional and psychological conflicts that demand to be resolved. The esoteric rulership also begins to invoke the influence of Leo’s complementary sign (where Jupiter is the esoteric ruler and Uranus the Hierarchical) so that:

…eventually the time comes when the nature of the Fixed Cross begins to dawn upon… consciousness … and the influence of Aquarius … begins to balance that of Leo. Then there comes the gradual shift of … attention away from the “one who stands alone” to the environing group, and an equally important shift away from selfish interests to group requirements. (EA 292-3)

Hierarchical: Leo ⇧

Here the Sun veils Uranus:

…the planet of occultism, and that which governs group relations, organisations and the eleventh House. It relates the Leo influence to Aquarius. (EA 538)

The hierarchical rulership of Leo at the broadest level concerns the ultimate expansion of consciousness for humanity as a whole, as well as veiling Uranus for those beginning to respond to the transcendent power of the Cardinal Cross.

Under the freedom of the two this connects Leo and the polar sign Aquarius, in which the consciousness of humanity in general—and that of soul-aware individuals in particular—reaches a peak. According to the esoteric philosophy, integrated and aware individuals who have successfully extracted themselves from the thoughtless behaviours of “the mass” eventually become part of a “fifth kingdom of souls”—a collective state of being that transcends the current reactive state of humanity, and whose individuals—whether consciously or instinctively—work as a group for the good of the whole:

Leo and Aquarius, through the Sun and Jupiter, are related to Ray 2. Development of the individual consciousness into world consciousness. Thus a person becomes a world server. (EA 67)

The two signs are eventually blended into a functioning whole. For more on this process, and on the expansion of consciousness that dawns once the soul—rather than the personal self—becomes the focus of consciousness, see the Personal Points.

The connection between Leo and Aquarius is apparent in the current shift from the former to the latter in the Ray 5 triangle, and also in the key role of Venus in the origins and expansion in consciousness of the inner human soul.

Sun decanates

In conventional astrology, decanates simply follow the rulerships of each elemental triad, but Esoteric Astrology has inconsistent information. See notes about the decanates, and the “decans” tab under each sign.

Sun Dignities

• Exaltation: Aries
• Fall: Libra
• Detriment: Aquarius

Exaltation in Aries ⇧

The Sun is exalted in Aries. Here the Sun stands for the life of the spirit which comes to full expression as the result of the great evolutionary process, initiated in Aries. The life of God which in this sign is “swung into activity” eventually achieves consummation. Latency becomes potency and midnight merges into midday. God, the Father, rules. EA 104

Fall in Libra ⇧

The Sun “falls” in this sign because again neither the personality nor the soul dominates in the man who is a pure Libran; a balance is achieved and thus they esoterically “tune each other out.” Neither the voice of the personality nor of the soul is heard particularly but, as the Old Commentary puts it, “a gentle oscillation now proceeds…” EA 250

Detriment in Aquarius ⇧

the Sun (the physical Sun) is lessened in its power in Aquarius. The third initiation has been undergone [under Capricorn] and the light of the personality has been “put out” or dimmed by the light of the subjective Sun, influencing the soul. EA 147