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

As one of …four signs which are signs of birth, of beginning and of renewed cyclic realisation (Aries, Cancer, Leo, Capricorn) the general influence of Aries is as:

the “birthplace of divine Ideas,” whether these ideas are souls brought into incarnation and controlled by Mars until they reach the point of reorientation and become sensitive to the influence of Mercury, or whether they are the birth of the ideas of [divinity] in the form of the hierarchical plans to which the initiate becomes sensitive. (EA 102)

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 ⇧

Clarity of mind, the ability to cut through illusion, incisive perception and the combination of the dissimilar in order to form fresh insights and connections.

Through the fiery processes of war and strife, brought to the individual through the influence of the planetary ruler [in Aries], Mars, the God of War, a needed purification takes place. The same purification, but this time through vision, comes to the developed [individual] through the activity of the subjective ruler of the planet, Mercury, who is the illuminating principle which releases the mind, directs [our] way… through life and enables [us] to become aware of the divine Plan which underlies all [our] fiery experience. (EA 95-6)

When conflicts—inner or outer, personal or global—are honestly faced, there is the opportunity for resolution or at least an agreement to disagree yet continue to communicate with the likelihood of finding common ground.

Hierarchical: Uranus ⇧

Shared between Libra-Aries: The methodical instigation of new structures and necessary conceptual change, the establishing of inner templates and mental patterns for coming developments.

The background to Ray 3 and Uranus as polar pair Aries-Libra esoteric and hierarchical rulers:

Alcyone impregnated the substance of the universe with the quality of mind. As a consequence of this most ancient activity, the same force was present at the time of individualisation in this solar system, for it is in this system, and primarily upon our planet, the Earth, that the major results of that early activity have made themselves felt. Two of our planets, the Earth (non-sacred) and Uranus (sacred), are directly the product of this third ray activity. (EA 200)

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