From
Six to Seven:
The
Harmonic Concordance and the
Transformation and
Spiritualisation
of Consciousness
Edward
Gillam
The
Harmonic Concordance, occurring at the Lunar Eclipse of 8-9 November 2003,
is a beautifully proportioned astrological moment.
When the eclipse is viewed from our earthbound perspective it shows
a closely formed grand sextile in earth and water signs.
This grand sextile pattern - six planets joined in the zodiacal
plane by angles of sixty degrees - is complete within the zodiacal frame
of reference. The six-sided
pattern does not rely on angularity - its rising, setting or culminating -
at a particular terrestrial location for its integrity and wholeness.
This immediately draws our attention to the planetary and
collective significance of the Concordance for growth and change.
At a
lunar eclipse, the Sun and Moon lie on opposite sides of the Earth.
They are close to the lunar nodal axis.
This axis is defined by the line of intersection of the planes of
motion of the Earth and Moon. A
lunar eclipse represents one of nature’s most awesome expressions of the
optimum balance between masculine - solar yang - and feminine - lunar yin
- energies. At a lunar
eclipse, these complementary energies meet on equal terms and are mediated
by the placement of the Earth, the ground of our experience, between them.
The
sextile pattern, highlighting the elements of earth and water, suggests an
opportunity for individuals and the collectivity to balance, ground and
transform modes of emotional expression.
It also suggests that we have a key opportunity to re-evaluate our
sense of relatedness and inter-connectedness - spiritually, emotionally
and psychologically.
At the
Concordance, the lunar nodes and the eclipse axis run through Taurus and
Scorpio. This polarity
focuses us on our sensual relationships with each other and with the
Earth. The polarity - ruled by Mars and Venus traditionally - also
highlights the material and emotional value systems that we use to
negotiate our way through life and human experience.
At the time of the Concordance there is an urgent need to realign
ourselves in our relationship with each other, with the Earth and with the
natural and psychological processes of birth, growth, death and
transformation.
In
this brief essay, I would like to address one of the key harmonic
resonances of the Harmonic Concordance - the seventh.
The seventh harmonic chart is the representation of the natal chart
in terms of the division of the zodiac by seven.
The seventh harmonic chart 'isolates' the septile potential of the
birth chart. The septile is a
little used, often ignored aspect in the astrologer's toolkit. It is formed by planets or points 51 degrees and 26 minutes
(or multiples of this angle) apart. In
the seventh harmonic, planets and points that are a septile, bi-septile or
tri-septile apart will appear conjunct.
The
seventh harmonic form of any natal chart often confronts us with what is
unspoken, hidden, or taboo in that particular moment of time.
The seventh harmonic chart can show us what must be changed,
psychically, for growth and development towards self-hood to occur.
When working with the seventh harmonic, it is helpful to ask:
"What is difficult here?" or "What might be unspoken in
this moment?" or “What is asking to be brought forth?“
The seventh harmonic chart can be a place of darkness and
uncertainty. In fact, it may
be interpreted as a graphical map of the Jungian shadow. However, by working through this darkness, towards light and
consciousness, the transformational potential of the seventh harmonic can
be fostered.
Working
gently with the shadow, and its astrological representation in the seventh
harmonic chart, facilitates psychological growth and integration, for
ourselves as individuals and for the collectivity.
Jung called this process 'individuation.' Individuation is the psyche's way of developing beyond the
polarising limitations of male/female, inner/outer, light/dark, good/bad,
yin/yang, and towards an integrated expression of the self.
It is a psychological process that leads to spiritual awareness and
deep insight into one's relationship with oneself, with others, and with
the cosmos. Individuation is
not about becoming more individual - alienated from ourselves and others,
from nature and society. Individuation
is about becoming more 'whole' and 'indivisible;' it is about
connectedness, integrity and unity.
The
seventh harmonic map of the Concordance Moment is one of the most highly
patterned of the harmonic charts at this moment. The seventh harmonic chart of the eclipse shows us the
underlying transformational potential of the Concordance.
The chart shows two distinct shapes involving eighth harmonic
aspects - semi-squares and sesquiquadrates.
The first pattern - a quadrangle - involves the eclipse axis with
Uranus, in hard aspect to the conjunction of Neptune and Pluto opposite
Chiron. The second pattern -
a triangle - is quite distinct: it involves Jupiter, Venus and Mercury. Mars is unaspected, and Saturn lies widely conjunct the nodal
axis and Pluto.
The first
pattern emphasises the transpersonal dimensions of the Concordance.
It brings the Sun and Moon, the principle symbolic representations
of the masculine and feminine archetypes, into relationship with the
transpersonal planets, Pluto and Chiron.
At the Concordance we are being called to grow psychologically
towards transpersonal dimensions of experience.
The involvement of Chiron in this pattern suggests that healing our
wounded selves, using transpersonal methods, is an essential part of this
process of growth towards wholeness. Pluto adds the “basso profundo” note, indicating the
depth from which this psychological transformation emerges.
The
transformational message of the Harmonic Concordance is tied into the
decade-long septile formed between Neptune and Pluto during the years
2001-2012. The close
conjunction of Neptune and Pluto in the seventh harmonic chart of the
Concordance emphasises the eclipse's importance in the process of
spiritual regeneration and resurgence that will characterise this decade.
The Concordance may be the point in time at which the wider
spiritual message of this decade enters collective awareness.
At
the eclipse, the Sun is closely conjunct Uranus in the seventh harmonic.
Checking the natal Concordance chart shows that the Sun and Uranus
are closely bi-septile. An examination of the ephemeris will reveal that Uranus has
also just turned direct within hours of the eclipse. The Concordance marks a fundamentally important moment in the
journey of Uranus through Aquarius and into Pisces - it occurs precisely
at the time that Uranus makes its last station in Aquarius before entering
Pisces for seven years.
In
a sense, the Harmonic Concordance is Uranus’ farewell to Aquarius.
And it points us to the awakening of human spiritual consciousness
that will occur as Uranus moves through Pisces.
A station direct or retrograde of Uranus always occurs in a seventh
harmonic relationship with the Sun. Hence,
the station of this planet always represents an opportunity to grow in
consciousness, to work with shadow material, to become more whole and
integrated. The glorious
integration of the eclipse, the grand sextile, and the station direct of
Uranus, marks the Concordance as one of the key moments in the escalation
of spiritual and transpersonal awareness in our time.
The
second pattern involves a triangle made of hard aspects involving Jupiter,
Venus and Mercury. This has
an aesthetical feel and perhaps makes reference to the application of
creativity in the process of individuation.
Jung himself used self-expression and creativity as part of his own
individuation process. He
encouraged his clients to paint and draw as a way of encountering and
releasing their shadow potential. Engaging
our creativity and self-expression, in the process of growth and change,
may be one of the most important dimensions of the Harmonic Concordance.
The
combination of Jupiter, Mercury and Venus also refers to ideals and
values. Mercury, the symbol
of intellectual analysis, and Venus, the planet of aesthetical evaluation,
are mediated by the planet of philosophical and spiritual understanding -
Jupiter. The inspiration of
this moment, established by the triangular relationship between these
three planets, is for the recognition of the importance of true
relationship between creativity, mentality, ideals and values.
These
two distinct patterns in the seventh harmonic chart make clear reference
to the number archetypes of three - trinity - and four - quaternity.
Whenever we experience the combination of three and four we have to
encounter the occult fact of the interpenetration and identity of spirit
(three) and matter (four). The
emphasis on hard aspects in the seventh harmonic chart indicates that one
of the challenges of the Harmonic Concordance will be to realise this
esoteric vision of the unity of spirit and matter in the world.
The deep
message of the seventh harmonic chart of the Harmonic Concordance is this:
the quality of our creativity, and the honesty of our values and ideals,
will inspire the material expression of renewed spiritual values.
This will occur for individuals and within the collectivity.
The new spirituality will have a clear transpersonal dimension and
its key emphasis will be on healing in the widest sense.
Our efforts to bring this message to consciousness, for ourselves
and others, using creativity , self-expression, vibrational and
complementary healing and other paradigms, will help us to work
effectively with the transformational energy of the Concordance.
A
lunar eclipse is a powerful astrological moment relating to increased
awareness, insight and emotional resonance.
Our state of preparedness, psychically and spiritually, for the
Concordance will help us to establish the particular roles that we can
play as individuals, and as a group, in the later stages of the decade,
especially in the crucial years from 2005-2008.
Let us
grow as One in Love and Light.
