Signs: Cardinal Cross—Aries

I come forth, and from the plane of mind, I rule

Achieving sufficient initial impulse to act: the primal intention to manifest

Aries: esoteric meaning

Aries is seen as preparing the way for (Electric) Fire to enter our solar system, a fire that “has in it the qualities of fostering and nourishing heat and also of the fire which burns and destroys”. (EA 95)

Details to follow.

Aries: rulers

• Orthodox: Mars
• Esoteric: Mercury
• Hierarchical: Uranus

Orthodox: Mars ⇧

Details to follow for Mars as orthodox ruler.

Esoteric: Mercury ⇧

Details to follow of Mercury as esoteric ruler.

Hierarchical: Uranus ⇧

Details to follow of Uranus as hierarchical ruler.

Decanates

See the notes about the inconsistency of decanates in Esoteric Astrology. For comparison, Stephen Pugh’s decanate rulers are listed, alongside current orthodox rulers and those given in the book.

Esoteric/developmental: conscious development (annual signs from Aries via Taurus to Pisces)

0-9°: Mars E: Aries, the struggle inherent in the growth process, or the “spiritual warrior”

10-19°: Sun A: Leo, personal integration and coordination of the inner self with the outer life

20-29°: Jupiter F: Sagittarius, mind and heart co-ordinated, expansion of consciousness as the successful outcome

Exoteric/experiential: humanity in general (precession from Aries via Pisces to Taurus)

29-20°: Jupiter F: Sagittarius, the successful satisfaction of desire and ambition

19-10°: Sun A: Leo, self-oriented integration of the personality

9-0°: Mars E: Aries, personal drive, leading to struggle

• Orthodox: Mars, Sun, Jupiter (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius)
• EAst e/o: Mars, Sun, Jupiter / Jupiter, Sun, Mars
• Pugh e/o: Mars, Sun, Jupiter / Jupiter, Sun, Mars (swapped?)

Jupiter, Sun, Mars are given as “the initiate and the disciple [culminate their] career in any of the signs with a final and dominant struggle and fight”. However these are reversed, because at this stage of development the “reversal of the wheel” back to the familiar sequence would have taken place. There is a hint to correct this with reference to Alan Leo’s assignation, putting Mars first and the Sun second for those on the Fixed Cross, who have “reversed the wheel” back to the familiar order. Alan Leo’s Venus echoes Ray 5 from Sagittarius which governs the third decan.

The exoteric decanates are explained as “conflict, revelation and the successful satisfaction of desire and ambition as the aeons pass away” but again, these (Mars, Sun, Jupiter) are in reverse order to what we would expect for those travelling backwards through the zodiac under the general influence of the Mutable Cross.

The decanates can also be dealt with in two ways, according to the direction [the individual] is travelling upon the wheel and therefore entering the sign, speaking in symbols. … [entering] Aries when on the Common Cross [brings] the influence of Mars, the Sun and Jupiter, according to Sepharial. This means conflict, revelation and the successful satisfaction of desire and ambition as the aeons pass away. When …[reoriented on] the Fixed Cross, [there is] influence of Jupiter, the Sun and Mars, for the initiate and the disciple [culminate their] career in any of the signs with a final and dominant struggle and fight. I would remark here that Alan Leo had a glimpse of the inner significance of the decanates when he assigned Mars, the Sun and Venus to the three decanates. He touched the truth of the inner subjective reversal upon the wheel which brings in other energies and influences when he substituted Venus for Jupiter. Mind and heart must be coordinated and brought into play when the great reversal takes place. (EA 105-6)

Esoteric Astrology: 105-6