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The Festival of the Hidden Glory [part three]
In this the last part of this article, Malvin Artley examines the faculty of human resolution in the light of the esoteric path between Saturn and Venus. Malvin also publishes a regular astrological newsletter, to which you can subscribe by clicking the link at the end of this article.
The aim for each person born in the sign of Capricorn or with Capricorn rising is to rise above the restrictive and repressive thinking as represented both by Saturn and by the solar degree of this figure and to shine forth the brilliance of the Soul through the perfected and redeemed persona-- like the Sun shining through the archetypal perfected diamond on the mountaintop, casting its brilliant, multicolored rays down onto the darkened paths below so the weary pilgrims following after can find their way up the mountain as well. The way to this state of being and resplendence comes first through Saturn as the ruling planet of Capricorn and finally through Venus. Capricorn and Libra are very closely related because they both have the two aforementioned planets in common as rulers. It is of interest, too, that the levels of rulership are exactly reversed in those two signs. As we know, there is a strong emphasis upon choice in Libra. The choice as exemplified through Libra is always to function in accordance with a greater Law or Archetype. What we are not so likely to pick, though, is that there is likewise a strong element of choice and reorientation through Capricorn as well. The choice in Capricorn is all about love - the love of our fellows or the love of money and/or power. Capricorn has been said to express all that is best within humanity and all that is worst as well. Capricorns can be the most materialistic people in the zodiac when they are focused upon the cult of personality, the lust for power and retention of the status quo through Saturn. Likewise, they can be towering pillars of the community (although its natives are known to generally be physically short in stature) when they are spiritually focused through Venus and thus be exemplars of the fact of brotherhood in Nature and the power of love, rather than the love of power. In this respect, Venus and Saturn would seem to work in opposite directions through the Capricorn native and, sometimes, they do.
Such a test may be awaiting some people with Capricorn strong in their charts at this full moon. In the full moon figure we see that Mars is in a T-square to the Sun and Moon, indicating a very strong conflict between the forces of the past and materialism and the urge toward liberation from those things on the other side of the coin as represented by the Sun/Moon/Saturn opposition. The symbol for Mars is: "A serpent coiling near a man and woman"  This is a brilliant symbol for any initiatory phase of experience, representing the polarization between Spirit and matter, Soul and persona and the Ida, Pingala and coiled serpent power Kundalini at the base of the spine. Initiation always brings with it an attendant period of trial, testing and readjustment, with the result that the person is transformed through the process and stands always in a greater measure of Light. In stark contrast to such a conflict, though, we see also Jupiter trining the Sun and sextiling the Moon, indicating that a great expansion and amelioration of conditions can come about if the right choices are made and the battle for control is won in the name of Light. In all, this is a brilliant configuration for the testing of our mettle and the gains that can come from a battle well fought. Capricorn is also the sign of the Initiate, who has fought the hard (internal) fight, has mastered the lower nature and knows him/herself as one with all. At the same time, this same configuration holds the promise that by overcoming our limited thinking (the Sun's degree) we can add to our progress on the Way in a large measure, as represented by Jupiter.
There is one final point I want to make here regarding Saturn, and it relates to this idea resolution. Every year at this time we are always asked: "What are your New Year's resolutions?" It is no anomaly or fancy that causes us to make such resolutions. Every year we repeat in miniature what the Guides of the human race do on a world scale. Saturn always brings with it this idea of evaluation, resolution, planning, execution of the plan and final restitution. We glibly call this sort of process by the name "karma", but that process is essentially the modus operandi of karma. Every year at this time, whether consciously or otherwise, we look back over our lives for the preceding year and inevitably see things that we want to change - things that limit our full expression as human beings. Essentially, we re-evaluate the state of our own personal karma, our progress in its resolution and our progress in general, and we then resolve to make our lives better - then our resolve gets tested. The fact that so many New Year's resolutions fall rather quickly by the wayside simply points to the rather weak condition of the human will in most cases, or to the fact that, "well, maybe it wasn't such a good idea anyway. Maybe next year." But, the fact that we make resolutions at all is a cause for hope. It shows that, for all our human failings, we do manage somehow to tap into the energy of the times and cycles and get a sense of what is going on at a world scale. It shows that at some level the human Soul is still there, giving us reminders now and then and working at making our lives better and more in tune with the greater dynamic in which we find ourselves. Eventually we will get the whole process correct. In the meantime we keep plugging away. Many of us suffer such a sense of guilt and failure when our resolve is broken. But, that is how we learn. Trial and error is never wasted. We call that sort of thing "experience", which it is. And, just as the good parent is patient as their child goes through such learning, so the Soul and our Mentors on the inner planes stand patiently by, waiting until we make the needed effort and finally succeed. "Not failure, but low aim, is sin." (Robert Browning) It is effort for which the Soul ever watches, for effort produces will, endurance and eventual success. Whether we succeed or not in the interim is immaterial. The fact that we exert ourselves in the needed direction and make progress is all that is needed. The cult of perfection in personal terms is anathema to the desires of the Soul. All perfection is relative anyway, and all of us eventually achieve relative perfection as people throughout the long series of our lifetimes. But, we do so through service to others and in forgetting ourselves in that service. Saturn also governs hard work and success through dint of personal effort, a fact to which anyone with Saturn aspecting their Sun or ascendant can well attest.
Capricorn brings with it the Light which clears the way to the mountain top and produces Transfiguration - the ultimate achievement of the human persona. Yet, that Light must be used to illuminate the way for others to follow. Whatever your goals are for this year, I wish you every success - and may they add to betterment of our little world. As we resolve to make our own lives better we seldom realize that in the working out of those resolutions and our success with them we help everyone around us as a result. Every time we achieve a higher goal, everyone benefits. There is much solace and joy in that, for we can all do our part in our own small way. Happy New Year, my friends! Let the hard work and the blessings to all that come through that go onward undismayed. May your journey up the mountain be a smooth and fulfilling one. Many blessings,Malvin. 4 Jan 2004 Return to part one of The Festival of the Hidden Glory 
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So, by all means, make your resolutions each year. But, it is good to make resolutions throughout the year if the need arises. The planets and our own Souls are with us always. We simply have to be sure that the resolve suits the need and that we are being realistic both about what is needed and about our capabilities. Again, these realizations come through experience. I will definitely be putting some resolutions into play myself on this full moon. It will definitely be a good one for such things. I will also fully expect to see how realistic I have been in fairly short order, given the dynamics of this full moon figure.
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