A Fulfilling Vocation

In the midst of our busy lives, worn out by the endless repetition of meaningless tasks, it is difficult to appreciate Kahlil Gibran's poetic image of work as a soul-making sphere. In a technological environment work and soul seem worlds apart. The outer rewards of career - prestige, status, vacations, salary packages, job security - conceal the urge to express soul through our vocation. When we are no longer anchored by values and images that remind us of a meaningful life, emptiness permeates the working atmosphere, contributing to an epidemic of dissatisfaction, depression and insecurity in the workplace. This report is aimed at helping you reflect on your vocation or calling. It is not meant as a quick fix, but rather as an aid to self-understanding and awareness which in turn helps your vocational choices.

Vocation is from the Latin vocare, to call, and in early English this referred to a spiritual calling. In modern terminology we can conceive of vocation as the calling to one's authentic role in the world. As an aspect of the individuation process, our vocational path is not predetermined but forged through the interrelationship of our inner self with the outer world over time. Carl Jung suggested it was vocation, which induced an individual to follow his own soul and become conscious. He suggested vocation was 'an irrational factor that destines a man to emancipate himself from the herd and from its well-worn paths. True personality is always a vocation'. To follow the voice which summons one on their authentic path demands that the individual be spirited enough to forge their own way in the world. As Jung reminds us, 'Creative life always stands outside convention'. Vocation demands we risk being unique.

When you were a child what was your answer when adults inevitably asked 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' As children we are uninhibited in our career choices, not yet influenced by cultural standards and values that judge professions. Still unaware of what work entails, the answer springs from our imagination. How we shape these soulful images of who we may be in the world is our vocation and a large part of the individuation process. These impressions are already inherent in us and often accessible to us through the imagination, and certainly through images in the horoscope. However one of the main obstacles in our vocational search is literality. Mistaking an internal image for a concrete career perpetuates the myth that vocation is something existing outside of us, already established in the world for us to find, not something that unfolds over the course of our lives. The illusion that the right career path, a creative job or our own business will dissolve our job dissatisfaction hinders the discovery that vocation is already present in us.

A complexity of external factors influences our career choices: familial awareness, educational opportunities, financial resources, parental support, and encouragement. Role models whom we admire as children, experiences that capture our imagination and the breadth of exposure to the world around us impress us. Another major influence on career choice is parental expectations. Whether it is overt or not, we are subjectively influenced by the unconscious expectations of the parents, the ancestors, and the culture. This pressure contributes to moulding our careers whether we yield or rebel to it. Yet instinctively we are drawn to certain courses, beliefs, and theories, experiences that are all part of the process of helping our careers unfold. Ultimately the vocation is like a large tapestry woven with the threads of all of our life experience and choices, not a well-trodden career path with guaranteed superannuation.

Unfortunately, vocations do not come with job descriptions, opportunities for promotion or a guaranteed income. No doubt work and career are an aspect of vocation, but we often confuse the longing for self-fulfillment with a literal job. Vocation, like individuation, is a job, it is a task; it is the 'opus' of one's life. Therefore the task of vocation continuously unfolds throughout our lifetime and its success depends on our ability to courageously follow its call. Vocation is an aspect of our fate, a force deep inside that pushes itself to be expressed in the world, therefore is intimately bound up with the course of our lives. Yet because work is how we 'make a living' we often identify work as something we do rather than something we are. Because some professions can bestow such prestige and status we may be drawn to a profession because of what it can offer materially, not creatively. Some careers offer the financial rewards that provide a wealthy lifestyle; however, at a critical point in our lives it becomes evident that career bonuses are never enough if vocational urges are still unmet.

A vocational analysis utilizing astrology is very beneficial in revealing an individual's calling. The astrological horoscope does not supply literal details, but it does offer suggestions as to the features necessary to make the vocational journey fulfilling. Vocation may also be found in hobbies, volunteer work, and courses of study, not always presenting in the form of a career. This report will help you to reflect on the qualities of your character that create an empowering effect on shaping a meaningful vocation. Using your horoscope as the personal guide this report will offer suggestions to help you consider a fulfilling vocation. As you read about the vocational images from your own horoscope you will find that many repeat similar themes, reminding you to be alert to these patterns. In other cases you will find that there may be contradictions. Human nature is full of paradoxes and it is of equal importance to have an insight into the nature of our own ambiguities and inconsistencies. This report will introduce you to the archetypal forces that underpin your personal search for a fulfilling vocation.

The Lunar Nodes

In the Hindu tradition the Nodal axis is symbolised by a dragon. The North Node is the dragon's head; the South Node is the dragon's tail. This archetypal image is an aspect of many culture's myths. In western mythologies it is the hero who comes across the dragon at some point in their journey and must battle this monster to gain the sacred treasure. This encounter is a psychological story depicting our battle against the forces that keep us from following our own path. Astrologically, it is along the nodal axis where we encounter this dragon and experience the incentive to confront our own destiny.

In considering this axis we can envisage the North Node or Dragon's Head as the calling to be heroic, to develop an identity in the world, or in other words, to follow our vocation. The North Node points to what can be developed through valuing and cultivating innate faculties. The South Node, known as the Dragon's Tail, is the container of talents, skills and aptitudes gleaned from the past, lying untapped and undifferentiated. Without recognition or consciousness they remain stagnant, unable to be directed advantageously. Hence a heroic act needs to dislodge and distribute this energy so it can be of service. In circulating this energy the potentiality of the North Node is heightened. Each time this energy is liberated, destiny is petitioned and vocation is more conscious; therefore the South Node is a vital key to unlocking the treasure chest of vocational talent.

Another way we could think about the North Node is that it is an invitation to participate and cooperate in the life journey. The North Node is where effort must be exerted. This is an opportunity to learn what needs to be developed and made conscious. For vocational purposes we could view the North Node as a symbol of what demands to be anchored and directed in the world. Unlike the South Node it is not instinctive and therefore needs to be recognised before it can be applied. In striving to realise the potentiality of the North Node, satisfaction and meaning will be derived.

The South Node in the opposite sign suggests an innate quality that needs to be disseminated and used freely in pursuit of a vocation. It is providence, a gift of inherited qualities from the past that can be used as resources for the future. The South Node suggests that well developed residues need to be dispersed and shared or they may threaten to entrap you. It symbolises what must be utilised in the conscious attempt to fulfill one's destiny. The South Node acts as a dissemination point for what becomes conscious at the North Node. In a way the South Node brings to mind the need to contribute this energy to the familial and social realms, the world at large. Since this energy is instinctual it is not necessarily always consciously directed or purposefully used.

The Lunar Nodes are important to consider in a vocational analysis since this polarity in the horoscope represents an axis of destiny. The issues involved in the nodal axis seek conscious expression and reconciliation, which are often sought through vocation. The nodal axis is intimately connected to the individual's path in life and therefore the nature of this polarity is often drawn into the pursuit of a fulfilling career. The sign position of the Nodes reveals an essential aspect of the individual's destiny. The polarity of signs embraced by the North and South Nodes describe important qualities necessary to both develop and disseminate in the vocation.

The house position of the Nodes will illustrate the environmental factors that help to shape and influence an individual's destiny. The North Node's house position directs us to be aware of an important arena of our lives. It is important to consciously participate in the area of life described by the house position of the North Node. This is an area where both the inner and outer worlds collude to lead us into an encounter with our destiny. It is a part of life that beckons and invites us into its experiences. Since the North Node is often the place where we momentarily may experience the transcendent and spiritual aspect of the self, its house position maps the place where these experiences happen. The North Node does not have a cumulative effect; in other words experiences at this place are not sequential, but more arbitrary, and may seem to happen out of the ordinary. The random nature of the North Node is more to do with its subjective nature and entanglement with the spiritual world. Hence the house position of the North Node may suggest the setting where the encounter with the spiritual self occurs. The South Node is in the opposite house and may describe a familiar place, an area of safety, and a comfort zone which supplies an anchor. However it is also a place where we can become rigid, caught in the safety zone of our complacency. Therefore it suggests an area we must leave to develop and explore our life's pathway. Another metaphor we could use to define the nodal axis is that the North Node is the destination, the station where the path is headed, while the South Node is like the departure point, the station where we embark. The Nodal axis is like a track with the well-worn grooves of the path near the South Node.

Combining both factors of sign and house establish a more individual profile of the essence needing to be to recognised and developed to actualise an individual's potential pathway. Planets aspecting the Nodal axis will also demand attention especially if conjunct either pole of the axis. Planets that square the nodal axis suggest the need to incorporate this energy into the vocation. Therefore these planetary placements in reference to the nodal axis will also be analysed. Following is the description of the lunar nodes in your natal horoscope to help you reflect on your own vocational pathway.

The North Node is in Pisces

You have the North Node in Pisces and the South Node in Virgo, the astrological polarity that finely balances the natural schism between chaos and order. Innately you have inherited this polarity more tipped toward order and your conscious task is to move towards the opposite to revel in the creative possibilities. Innately when you recognise that you are ordered your fear of chaos will subside and you will become more prepared to embrace uncertainty. However you will be unable to heed the call if you keep waiting for the right time. It is perfect as it is, even if the fault lines are exposed. In letting go of details, a larger picture will be exposed; in embracing the wisdom of a higher intelligence, the details seem to fall into place. Innately you have a knack for detail and spotting the one error on the page, but you are prone to becoming obsessed by perfection and anxious about imperfection, unless you let it go in the service of the larger story. Compassion has no flaws and sympathy is perfect as it is. Therefore you are impelled to go in the direction the water is flowing to find your vocational path.

The creative, intuitive and artistic temperament of your North Node in Pisces seeks to find its voice through vocation. While your career needs to incorporate the spiritual aspect, this is often difficult to achieve in the world of work. Hence your creative work could be done behind the scenes, emerging in its own time. One of your main frustrations may be bridging the creative world with the literal world. Poets, painters, photographers, filmmakers, writers, musicians all hear the calling of the muse. Your invitation is to locate your creative vocation in the external world. To do this you need to fight the dragon of self-criticism as this masks the heroic part of the self that is ordered, balanced and contained. These are aspects of your dowry that need to support the magical and spiritual urges in the world.

Since you are receptive to the atmosphere and prone to taking on too much, the need for time out, retreat, privacy and space away from the intense demand of other's expectations and feelings is important. In any vocation the need for privacy is high and scheduled retreats are necessary in order to reconnect with the spiritual energy and divine support which fuels so much of your creative and caring nature. Without consistently tapping into the internal spiritual springs you feel exhausted by the demands of life, confused and directionless in your work, disappointed the world does not reflect their compassion. But your invitation is to apply boundaries and control in the service of your creative, spiritual vocation.

The North Node is in the Ninth House

The North Node is in your 9th house with the South Node being opposite in the 3rd house. This contrasts the sphere of ideas and information with meaning and imagination. You might be instinctually able to gather together statements, pieces of evidence, figures, statistics and information but in your vocation you will be called upon to infuse these facts with meaning and insight. With the North Node in the 9th you are called to expand your horizons, remove yourself from your familiar surrounds and look farther afield. There are broader issues, wider social parameters and cross-cultural attitudes that want to be developed vocationally. Therefore you might become involved in travel and adventure that exists outside the normal bell curve, find yourself drawn to the study of different religions and cultures to understand others' philosophy of life, or you might be challenged to learn human values and ideals becoming educated in the ageless traditions of human aspirations. Your soul urges you to take flight into the search for meaning and the pursuit of higher values. To do this you need to develop a vision and not get trapped by the details of the smaller picture.

Your comfort zone may be become involved in detailed information and ideas rather than exploring the larger picture. However your vocational probably calls you away from the safety zone of your neighbourhood and all its familiar connections. Vocationally you might be challenged to step away from your schoolmates, your friends and familial surrounds to find what feels missing. What you need to discover is outside these familial and cultural safety sectors. While your career may lead you into information technology or the world of ideas your destiny will be to infuse this area with meaning and imagination, educating and awakening others to greater meaning. Your nodal invitation is to become an educator, inspiring others to become more of who they are. Your gift is that you have an instinctual and intuitive way of being able to express this in a language others understand. Your strategic capacity provides maps for others to follow on their journeys through life.

The Sun is Conjunct Northnode

The Sun in your horoscope is on the northern pole of the nodal axis, which suggests that the heroic impulse to move forward, leave behind the restrictions of the past and shine in the world is strong. In a vocational sense this implies that you have a strong urge to make your mark on the world; you want to be known, seen, acknowledged and creative in your career; therefore it is important to recognise your innate strength and the strong drives that propel you into the spotlight, sometimes against your own feelings. You associate strongly with your profession, as your identity is fundamental to your vocation. Whether that is being identified for your passionate views, your leadership, your creative output or even your name on a designer label, your path through the world is linked to your name. Your adult work life shapes your identity in the world out of your unique creativity.

When the Sun is so close to the nodal axis this indicates you were born during an eclipse season, highlighting your sensitivity to cycles associated with the nodes and eclipses. In a developmental sense there will be times when you may feel eclipsed by others professionally, yet psychologically these mark the periods of encountering the negative aspects our personality, the metaphoric dragon that inspires you to be heroic. Your life course encourages you to be valiant, courageous and champion your creativity in the world. These cycles occur every 18 to 19 years and it would be wise to pay attention to these patterns in your life. The ages 18 to 19 might mark an important turning point in your vocation, even the first illumination when you encountered what you wanted to do in the world. Age 37 to 38 is a defining moment in your career when you can shape the next cycle to experience the fullness of your potential. Age 56 to 57 is the time for recognition when the fruits of your labours culminate. Take note not only of these larger cycles but the dates of eclipses each year.

With such a strong placement in your horoscope the stage is set for your appearance. Your heroic task is to become the central actor on this stage of your vocation.

Jupiter is Conjunct Northnode

The Northern pole of the Nodal axis suggests what could be developed to advance your vocational journey. The planet Jupiter is near this point in the horoscope indicating that the archetype of meaning plays a dominant role in your vocation. You are called to question and search for meaning. From a young age you probably recognise the impulse which led you into the exploration of ideas and beliefs. Therefore in your vocational path through life it is important to recognise the necessity of meaning in what you do; you urge to make a difference and contribute to life in a significant way, leaving behind the details and dreariness of an ordinary life to quest for something greater. What you seek will lie beyond the perimeter of your culture of origin and away from the horizon of possibilities that were offered to you by the family of origin. Your destiny may lie beyond the shores of your native land, away from the edicts of what is familiar and far away from the dialect of your natural experience.

What calls you is beyond what is known. You have an urge to share your vision with others therefore are just right for educating, instructing or teaching. You are also able to motivate others with what you are passionate about and be a guide for those who have not yet travelled the roads you have. Therefore education, travel, albeit, any form of learning, is in your best interest. Whether you take up a foreign language, study ancient history, become devoted to a different religious point of view or travel the world, you are destined to shape a life that is multi cultural and coloured. In front of you lies a wide horizon of possibilities and therefore it does not really matter which one you choose as long as the chosen one allows you to be limitless and expansive. Ultimately Jupiter is a social planet, and what you are destined to do contributes to the society around you.

The Ascendant and Angular Planets

From the moment of your first breath, your fate was sealed. The Fates that spun the thread also measured its length and then cut the cord to free the spirit. The patterns woven at birth by the Fates were embedded in the soul and it is these soulful designs that have become the template for your human journey. Your genesis is a map for your life. This map is the horoscope, a vibrant multi-layered design of character, potentialities and persuasions.

This moment of birth has defined your orientation to life through four directions known as the angles of the horoscope. Like a compass pointing you along the right path, each one of the four angles plays a major role in defining the direction of your life. Direction and vocation are entwined as along the angles we find the course of our lives.

Your four angles form two planes of experience. The first plane of experience is your individual and personal orientation to the world detailing your personality, your outlook on life and your natural inclination towards partnership. This is the angle of the Ascendant, the degree of the zodiac rising at the moment of your birth. This helps describe your motivation to life and therefore what personal traits you can bring to your vocation. The polar position on this plane is known as the descendant, the degree of the zodiac setting on the horizon when the Fates cut the cord. Here the astrologer reads the patterns and potentialities of merging your personality with a soul mate. In a vocational analysis this is also important to read in terms of co-operation with others.

The second plane of experience is an inherited view of the world, shaped by ancestry and familial lines. Along this polarity of angles you experience the impact of your family or origin on your direction as well as the expectations and influences placed upon you. Embedded in this plane of experience are familial patterns and fate shaping your direction and vocation. The angle of the IC reveals the atmospheric conditions of your early familial experiences while the opposite angle suggests your destiny in the world, strongly influenced by parental and societal expectations.

Therefore to familiarise yourself with these influences will add to your understanding of vocation. The Ascendant marks the birth point and is metaphoric of your natural disposition and outer image. This describes your natural outreach and personality traits that are spontaneous; in fact this is the person we first meet, the face turned out towards the world. However in the natural wheel of the horoscope the sign on the Ascendant is at odds with the signs that rule the cusps of the houses that describe vocation. Therefore as a more integrated self begins to emerge we often experience what we do in the world to be in conflict with whom we feel we are. This is a human challenge to learn to adapt your personality to your vocation. Following is a description of the signs on this axis. Reflect on how these qualities might need to be utilised and adapted to your vocation. If you have a planet that was rising or setting at your birth then this energy needs to be acknowledged as a powerful guide and influence on your vocational path.

Each angular planet could be seen as a guiding force, a daimon or soul force seeking expression through you. If you have more than one angular planet they will have different needs and likely will contradict or conflict with one another. The key as always is to find the right time and venue to be able to express both as fully as possible.

First House Cusp is in Cancer

At the time of your birth the sign Cancer was rising over the horizon. Tentatively you came into the world. You might still be a bit tentative about stepping out into the world but you've probably matured enough to know how to feel safe and secure enough. You also have a knack for making others feel safe and secure in themselves. Once you have a safe nest, a support group or a place to call home you can do almost anything. And this is how the world will challenge you to come out of your shell, as your calling will involve your own personal creativity and self-expression. While your personality might be more inclined to stay at home, vocationally you are called to be adventuresome and explorative. In fact many of your jobs might call on you to reach beyond your comfort zone and cross a cultural line into new ideas, new beliefs and ethics. So it is wise to remember that while you like to play it safe and maybe stick close to home, life beckons you farther afield from home base and familial attitudes.

It is helpful to recognise that the sign Capricorn was setting at your birth, colouring others in your life with an authoritative and capable aura. You are attracted to mature qualities of worldly wisdom and competence in others, suggesting that you can learn from them how to manage and structure your life more successfully. On the other hand, however, you might be inclined to surrender your vocational quest to care for someone who is able to navigate the wide world much better and support you in the process. This would be dangerous for it is these very qualities of authority and competence that you need to develop in order to become more independent. Ironically for someone who would like a traditional and family-orientated life, your vocational path might leads you into brave new worlds to explore to find yourself. Along the way you also help a lot of others to find more meaning and security in themselves.

Uranus is Conjunct The Ascendant

Unexpected Uranus was rising at your birth endowing you with a unique perspective on life and an independent will that seek to find expression through your personality. Your originality and ingenuity, along with your need for independence, are high priorities on your life path. The highly charged nature of Uranus stresses the physical body; therefore it is important to channel your nervous energy towards practical goals. To feel successful you need to find enough space to be able to do your own thing, feel free enough to express your radical views and feel comfortable being different. The fates have mapped out a road that few will travel, therefore you need your adventuresome and independent spirit as a guide.

Chiron is Opposite The Ascendant

Chiron was setting at birth casting its influence over the realm of relationships in your life. Part of the pattern will be the recovery and healing of emotional wounds through relationship. You are drawn to those who are emotionally in need to understand how your hurts keep you from being emotionally available. Vocationally you have an aptitude for working with others in a therapeutic way, empathetic to the addict, compassionate to the bereaved and nurturing of the homeless. With Chiron angular your destiny is to be involved with the complexes of others in order to facilitate healing.

Considering the Sun and Moon

Whatever Heraclitus meant two and a half millennia ago is a mystery. However, this phrase has captured philosophical attention ever since, as its truth is evident. We do contribute to our fate through forging our character. It is that personal mix of our habits, rituals, values, beliefs, ideals and morals that all inform our character and contribute to our deeper layers of personality. Through time these become forged into who we are; our character becoming our fate. While the world may acknowledge our achievements from work well done, our greatest success lies in self-fulfillment and the satisfaction of a life well lived

Again the astrological horoscope becomes a useful guide to understanding personality characteristics that shape character. Astrologically the three aspects of your horoscope, which are the most relevant in considering your own individual character, are the Ascendant, which we have explored in the last section of this report, and the Sun and Moon. Character is fate and expressed through our life journey. Through examining your Sun and Moon it becomes clearer what you need to identify with and need on your vocational path, and therefore what is necessary to develop and nurture in character. Your Sun sign reveals the virtues that are part of your potential character while the Moon sign suggest what needs are important for you to feel safe in the world. Each individual's character is unique and your description of the Sun and Moon sign will be personalised through other astrological factors. However this is an entrée to begin to consider the virtues and needs of your character.

THE SUN: Virtues of the Essential Self

In the final analysis, we count for something only because of the essential we embody, and if we do not embody that, life is wasted.
C.G. Jung

The Sun is the central focus of its system and therefore represents a multi-dimensional symbol. On one level it is the essential self and the twelve signs of the zodiac, which mark its apparent path through the heavens, represent spiritual concepts and virtues. Each sign characterises qualities of the human spirit. To the ancients the path of the Sun in the sky was akin to the hero's journey and each sign designated a heroic labour. Astrologically we can present a case for each one of the twelve signs represents a soul state. Therefore when we are in touch with the virtues underpinning our Sun sign we become closer to its spiritual essence and feel closer to the true self. Psychologically this suggests a more soulful and meaningful experience of who we are.

On the other level the Sun is symbolic of our identity, the passport of the self. Of course one of the important considerations of identity besides sex, age and nationality is profession. The Sun is essentially what we might identify as important, what helps us feel vital and good about ourselves. The Sun suggests what we may be skilled at. It might not be easy at first, but as we grow we naturally become more aware of our solar impulse. Therefore in many ways the Sun sign helps shape the vocation, as it hints at what is important to be identified with and qualities that help us excel.

The Sun is in Pisces

Piscean virtues are numerous as the sign is attuned to the spiritual. Therefore you are familiar with heavenly qualities like compassion, sympathy and thankfulness. To turn the other cheek, and to feel blessed to give rather than to receive, are the great selfless acts associated with Pisces. While you might become enraged at being 'ripped off', you do accept it as the way it was meant to be. Certainly, as Mahatma Gandhi suggested, forgiveness is an attribute of the strong, not the weak. Forgiveness is one of many soul states you are experienced in, so no wonder you are drawn to the realm of mystics, healers and prophets.

In a personal way your imagination is what allows you to access the soul and give meaning to your life. When you have no room for the imaginative process then everything that is mysterious or unknown becomes projected onto matter and begins to happen outside you, rendering your inner world barren and lifeless. Imagination allows your soul to breathe and brings you back in touch with your own mysteries and unconscious processes, restoring meaning to your life. You are fluent in the language of the imagination, which speaks through images, dreams, symbols, signs, omens, oracles, hunches and feeling responses and are also the medium through which the spiritual realms are made accessible.

The unconscious realm is the phantasmagoria where the colours, shades and sensory experiences are alive with meaning. You know this realm of creativity and spirituality well. You easily navigate journeys to the other world to be reinvigorated by contact with the spirit world. You are an artist who seeks this expression on a canvas, in a song, through movement or in a sonnet. Your imagination allows the soul to manifest through their creativity. An impressionistic atmosphere pervades your life and you are able to escape from the banality of an ego-driven life to feel encompassed by something much greater. Your imagination is the gear that takes you to someplace higher.

Without imagination you are a fish out of water and life becomes soulless, dull and meaningless. You have the ability to re-inspire your life through acts of compassion or creativity. Whether you are expressing the music of your soul through helping others, volunteering at the local hospital, dancing in the dark or journaling your dreams there is a great necessity for you to be actively engaged with the imagination. Your great gift is the ability to lift the veil of illusion through activating your imagination and allowing the compassionate act of serving others to legitimately flow out of you. Through imagination you are able to enter the soulful place to serve creative possibilities in yourself and others. To find your vitality and spirit and to feel soulful in the world, you need to strive to be compassionate, forgiving, sympathetic, thankful and understanding.

THE MOON: Caring for Your Soul

Care of the soul asks us to observe its needs continually, to give them our wholehearted attention.
Thomas Moore

The Moon is the archetype of care and nurture. From a general overview the Moon reveals what needs are important to satisfy in our vocation. The Moon sign can help to identify what basic requirements are necessary to care for the soul at work. In a vocational capacity the Moon corresponds with the nurturing professions and if the individual is drawn to one of these professions, the Moon sign helps to differentiate what kind of caring could suit its temperament. The planetary sign acts as a filter for the archetypal urge when it seeks expression through the vocation.

The Moon is in Cancer

Your Moon is in Cancer, its natural home. As the governess of the tides you too are aware of the constantly changing moods, the fullness of feelings and the letting go of attachments. Therefore you are highly sensitive to the subtle textures and colours of the feeling life, especially when you are in a closely-knit group. You respond to others in your environment and can feel easily hurt when they are unresponsive or withdrawn. Therefore in your daily work and rituals it is important to feel emotionally safe and secure. You prefer your work environment to be like family and instinctually might try and recreate a familial environment. It is important to be aware of your security needs at work and strive to have these met or protect yourself when you feel unsafe. Building both emotional and financial security in your vocation is important.

From an early age you recognised your tender touch. You might have imagined being a nurse, a vet, a carer or a teacher. While your life path may have veered away from your childhood images you still need to feel engaged and attached to what you are doing. Much of your need to care can be fulfilled through parenting. However if you do not choose this path then you might find yourself drawn towards professions where care is highlighted. To care for your own soul, however, you need to feel supported by close friends and provide a safe nest for yourself.

If you are called to the nurturing professions then your Moon in Cancer might lean towards caring for the dependent, such as aged care, childcare, becoming a paediatrician or specialising in infant illnesses. Women's issues or family orientated concerns may also appeal. Nurturing professions such as health care, nursery or day care, primary teaching, social work, nursing, counsellors and helpers of all kinds like family therapists and social workers would be part of the wide spectrum that you may feel drawn towards.

The Rich Resources of Your Life

Traditionally the 2nd House is associated with money and the accumulation of assets. In a vocational sense the 2nd house details our earning capacity, income and resources. Psychologically this is the sphere where self esteem and personal values are shaped by our early experiences. It is where we learn what is 'mine', how to share, trade and exchange articles of value. Self worth, the impact of familial values, the substance and significance we place upon our efforts, income received or value returned are all intimately interwoven into the fabric of this house. In the modern climate of the corporate world, pay replaces satisfaction in the workplace; yet the secret of the 2nd house is that fulfilment is intimately tied to the expression of our skills and resources, not wages. Having found the wellspring of our talent, money follows. Pleasure is experienced through apprenticeship and mastery of our skills and talents, not through economic management.

The 2nd House suggests innate resources, which can be developed and valued. In a literal sense these are 'traded' for income or other rewards which support us in the world. This area suggests our innate strengths, skills and talents that must be utilized in earning our living. Psychologically these are our personal assets and resources, which sustain and support us in our career. Talent not only refers to our natural abilities and capacity for success, but also in ancient times was a weight of gold or a monetary unit. The secret of the 2nd house is to recognize that it is our innate talents and skills that bring our wealth and living. This house also describes what we value and also what gives us value. In a way it describes what we like to do. Consider what you appreciate and desire. Your 2nd house is indicative of what you desire and planets in this house reveal what you might attract because of your values and desires.

The sign on the cusp of the house symbolizes aspects of the assets you need to use in a resourceful way. The sign suggests what needs to be valued in your vocation, the natural style of earning an income, as well as your attitudes towards wages and money. 2nd house planets reveal the earning style and literally may suggest how you earn your living or your patterns and relationship to money and possessions. These are the archetypal urges needing to be expressed in a skillful and resourceful way in your career. Planets here are the forces that shape your sense of worth and value and help you tap into your innate resources. It is important that you use these skills and resources in supporting your own sense of self-esteem. Symbolically, understanding this archetypal presence in your life can help unravel any damaging patterns that support an impoverished sense of self or a disapproving attitude towards money and possessions. Forging an alliance with this energy helps you create a supportive and positive approach to your sense of worth which in turn influences the way the world values you.

Second House Cusp is in Leo

How much are you worth? This is a difficult question to answer but an important one to consider with Leo on the gateway to your 2nd house of resources. This combination suggests that your personal creativity, charisma and self-expression play a leading role in feeling satisfied with work and earning a living. This may be inharmonious to your personality, which might be self conscious, preferring to be behind the scenes or reserved. However destiny suggests that making a living and feeling satisfied vocationally will draw your personality to the front of the stage. Whether you take on a role of educator, spokesperson, trainer, healer or entrepreneur there is something about you that makes a difference to what you do. What makes your contribution unique is not as simple as following a formula, a map or a job description. It is your own brand of self and creative passion that makes a difference.

Qualities necessary to maximise your resources are confidence and self-expression. Vocationally you are in a position to capitalise on entrepreneurial projects, technological advancements, educational reforms or corporate changes if you are able to find your own creative expression and confidence. You need to stand out to be seen. If your destiny is to be self employed or an independent practitioner then the development of your own pride in what you do, your warmth and generosity are great assets in securing your place in the world. You need to be able to feel conformable selling your product, publicising your talents and displaying your creativity. As an artist you need to promote yourself. Innately your generosity of spirit, your warmth and charisma are great assets you bring to your tasks.

Psychologically it is imperative to come to know the self and what it desires. If not you might be prone to inflating your sense of self and becoming out of touch with what you do; equally you might underestimate your sense of creativity and feel undervalued. Your secret is that earning a living can be fun. You need to tap into your playfulness and spontaneity to recognise that your work is a playground where you can express yourself. Work and fun need to be aligned. Once you find the rhythm of being engaged in the creative self, you find joy and pleasure in what you do. Therefore a healthy attitude to money is that it is a game and you find the way to enjoy playing it. This enjoyment is innate in you when you find the courage and heart to support your talent. And with Leo on the 2nd house when you hit the jackpot, you will probably get the biggest prize! It is worth the gamble.

Pluto is in the Second House

In ancient Greek plutus meant wealth and it is this association with riches that was transferred onto Pluto. As lord of the underworld he ruled over the vast domain of resources hidden in the earth. Psychologically the deity reminds us of the wealth in our own underworld, the untapped resources and riches awaiting release. In your 2nd house this suggests that you have innate wealth and power to be mined. First and foremost, it is necessary to know what feeds the desire for wealth and capital, as money will confront you with deep issues in the self. Being in the 2nd house, Pluto has shaped your sense of worth and value, therefore this suggests your best assets are your honesty and integrity and your innate resource is your ability to work therapeutically with crisis and change.

One recurring pattern I have seen is the confrontation with one's sense of worth and power through money. In other words you may unconsciously find yourself close to losing your assets which drives you into transforming and rebuilding your possessions. However, you do not need to lose everything to know that you have the power to restore and rebuild your capital. You have a powerful sense of wealth creation which will work for you when you recognise that you would like to be more critically involved in your work and that you are worth it. Or you also may fear losing your money, be haunted by images of not having, which are ways you confront your own sense of worth. It is important to know that these feelings are not prophetic but psychological, forcing you to honestly confront your own sense of worth and find the resources that promote a valued sense of self. You also have the knack of transforming what others have discarded or undervalued and make it an object of worth.

Invest in the things that are of worth to you, not others. Wealth is a subjective experience and while others may objectify money and possessions, to you it is different. What may be invisible to them is often a great asset to you. Therefore, you have a gut instinct for the right shares to purchase and a feeling about the best house to buy; this valuable resource needs direction. Income could come through mysterious ways, inheritances but of course vocationally professions involving research, medical or psychotherapeutic work, crisis management and consulting or with any underground link could also be possible. What is important to know is that your resources are the depth of your perceptions, the integrity of your convictions and the power of your honesty. But perhaps the greatest asset you have is the ability to trust yourself in times of decision making about resources and to know that you have made the right choices. You will eliminate what is not necessary; however, you will also bring the hidden treasure to the surface.

The Labours of the 6th House

Astrologically, the 6th House is an eclectic territory associated with many facets of daily life. All these components of the 6th House suggest everyday routines that are necessary to maintain order and coherence in order to contain the chaos of life. The 6th House recommends ways to remain focused and cantered. When we lose touch with this thread of continuity, chaos fills the void with stress, loss of direction and purposelessness. The 6th house also indicates the areas of the body susceptible to carrying the stress when work is not nurturing or fulfilling. When we are not able to en-soul our everyday life with our work, then we are reminded of our distress by complaints of the body and the mind. Literally work makes us sick.

Vocationally the 6th house symbolizes what is compatible with our nature and what we need in our work to feel fulfilled, therefore less stressed. Traditionally the 6th house describes occupation; it illustrates the routine conditions of the job, the daily responsibilities and activities involved in performing job tasks that contribute to personal satisfaction. It also describes the atmosphere and those who share the workspace. Astrological wisdom has always suggested that work and well being are one and the same; to be well we need work that suits our soul. However, 6th house issues can become confused. In our workaday world often duty replaces satisfaction, the process of work is sacrificed for outcome, and ritual becomes obsession. The work instinct is to be productive; however when this turns to duty or perfectionism the enjoyment of work is lost. Analysing the 6th house reveals the most satisfying work environment and routines, and profiles the most rewarding way an individual can be employed. The 6th house is often referred to as a house of service. However, it is where we best serve ourselves through the quality of our employment.

Following is an analysis of your 6th house as described by the sign on the cusp and any planets that occupy this sphere. You will be able to maximize your fulfillment with work by recognizing the routines and tasks that are incompatible with your temperament and therefore create stress. Through becoming aware of daily rituals that support your natural disposition you will feel more satisfied and rewarded by your job. The sign on the cusp of the 6th house is the first clue to rewarding work. Planets in the 6th house are archetypal energies that need to be accessed daily and integrated into your lifestyle. They are life forces that you are fated to meet in the world of work and vocation. In a perfect world we would use them productively through our daily tasks and labours, giving them an expression in the continuity of our daily rituals. Metaphorically work is the way we honour the archetypal force that underlies the planetary expression.

Sixth House Cusp is in Sagittarius

Sagittarius, the sign on the cusp of your 6th house, describes what you need in the routine conditions of your job to feel satisfied. Being a sign associated with freedom and wide open spaces it is important to consider what this might mean for you in a working situation. Probably this suggests you need lots of choices and a lack of routine in your job description. You are not inclined to follow the straight and narrow, and therefore a lack of restriction and independence would suit you best. Sagittarius is a far-sighted sign and occupations that permit a sense of adventure, learning, travel, cross cultural experiences and stimulation would be ideal. While this may seem too good to be true, it is important to note that you bring your own fortune with you in your positive attitudes, your optimism and your philosophies. Your luck in securing the right job is proportionate to the attitude you bring to the situation.

Needless to say your vocational arrow falls far away from where it was released, as the celestial archer influences your sphere of employment. The nature of Sagittarius is to explore farther afield, beyond known boundaries. In literal terms this might mean that you may work interstate or overseas, are employed in a career nothing like other friends or family members, be appointed to a newly created position, or take up a post in a developing field. Education and dissemination of information underpin your work. Whether you are an instructor, tutor, liaison, translator or work in education, publishing, teaching or interact in the global community you bring human values, ideals, principles and ethics into your orbit. It is important that your work supports your philosophy of life and that you are free enough to be able to discuss your beliefs with your co-workers. On the other hand it may be through working overseas or with foreigners that you are introduced to new beliefs which shape your thinking.

Inspiration, expansiveness and optimism are other important facets of your working life. You need to feel inspired by what you do. It must be expansive and meaningful enough to engage you. Without this you might become restless and uninterested, leaving work on a whim and unable to settle down to a regular position. Therefore it is imperative to know that you need your ideals and ethics to be matched in the workplace, that travel, freedom, learning and advancement are all important. You cannot settle when work does not allow you to move and express your ideas or work in an environment that is not growing and expanding. If these vocational needs are unrecognised or ignored, you might be gripped by inflation and unrealistic expectations. Without focusing on the right career for you there is a tendency to drift and 'dream' in an unproductive state. And if you become stuck in a rigid job with no possibilities you are at risk of depression. Therefore access the spirit of employment enthusiastically, take the challenge and recognise your ability to go farther than you might have imagined possible. The spirit you bring to work is enthusiastic and infectious.

The Status of the Tenth House

The cusp of the 10th house is the Midheaven, the highest point on the ecliptic at our moment of birth. Its elevation in the horoscope suggests a complex of factors: it is the most public area of the horoscope and represents our relationship to and experience of the world; this represents the goal posts which are not only set by ourselves but have been put in place by our ancestors; the MC and 10th house represent the parental expectations and values influencing our career choices. Therefore the 10th house is a very important sphere in considering a fulfilling vocation. In essence it suggests our fate in the world.

Traditionally the 10th house is associated with career. Since career suggests a course of one's life, the 10th house will play a prominent role in helping to navigate the career path. The 10th suggests where we need to find our authority and autonomy in the world and where we strive to be successful. As the peak of the horoscope the 10th house suggests what we would like to achieve in our relationship with the world. It also suggests the public sphere and how we are recognized in that sphere, either through our professional titles, our achievements or contributions. It is in this arena where we strive to contribute to the world in our own unique way

The sign on the cusp of the 10th house (the Midheaven) suggests the career paths which may be fulfilling and lead to success. The sign also indicates what we want to achieve and where we need to strive for authority. Planets in the 10th house are in the public sphere and seek to be expressed through vocational pursuits and are also heavily influenced by both parental and societal expectations. Planets in the 10th house are the archetypes encountered along your professional path. They represent both resources and challenges met in the career as well as characterize images of a fulfilling vocation.

Tenth House Cusp is in Aries

Aries is the sign on your MC ruling the gateway to your 10th house and the course of your career. The spirit of Aries needs to feel free to take action without relating to authority or being bound by rules and regulations. Its need for independence, including the need to make its own decisions, is high therefore you will thrive in a vocation that encourages your independent and enterprising personality. The need to feel able to act independently in the world is paramount, a high priority in any Arian career description. Working freely and instinctively is suggested. You like to be out front and in the firing line, leading rather than following. Your career path is consistently changing and reshaping and constantly presenting challenges. Your vocational outlook recommends careers that are not fixed or static, but have a high degree of uncertainty and risk. Therefore you could choose a career as an adventurer or in a sporting arena. You may seek your fortune in mining unexplored territories, or in fighting fires or police work. If you choose a more risk-free work environment then your pioneering spirit is likely to express itself in self-employment. You enjoy the risk of working independently, for yourself, freelancing or perhaps even starting up your own business.

An essential aspect of Aries temperament is its need for activity and its impatience with waiting. Therefore in any vocation you yearn to let your spirit of discovery soar; you need to trail-blaze, to adventure, to pioneer, to charter virgin territory and explore what has not yet been discovered. At heart you are an adventurer and risk taking is an aspect of this. Challenges ignite your spirit. At the end of the day you crave to have accomplished the impossible or at least be farther ahead from the place where you started. As the cardinal-fire sign is ruling the highest point in your horoscope, you are called to adventure and to be heroic along your career path.

Self-image is important and personal identity needs to be a focus. Vocations utilising and encouraging personality and identity are appropriate, as you need to be out there. You learn by making mistakes, breaking rules and dealing with consequences rather than through books. Being self-motivated you thrive on competition and challenges from others. The fire spirit also needs to push itself, therefore physical work or work requiring courage, nerve, adrenaline and stamina suits you. Occupations having a goal, a deadline or a risk factor encourages the driving spirit of the Ram. Aries likes to be first. You like to initiate projects, but not necessarily see them through to completion, therefore vocations, which involve planning, brainstorming, vision, and entrepreneurial skills suit your personality best. Without these vocational urges being fulfilled, frustration and boredom could be prevalent igniting an aggressive and self-defeating attitude. Therefore it is important to recognise that you need to harness your competitive and industrious instincts towards a successful and fulfilling occupation.

Mercury is in the Tenth House

Mercury is in your 10th house. As ruler of the intellectual signs of Gemini and Virgo, Mercurial occupations involve both the gathering and the analysing of information. The Mercurial archetype inclines towards professions that involve data, ideas and information technology, such as the information industry which now involves computers and the Internet. Statistical analysis, statisticians, scientists, accounting and economic analysis and librarians are also Mercurial occupations that involve research and processing of data.

Mercury was the messenger of the Gods and its astrological function is to deliver the message and to communicate. Therefore there is a host of Mercurial professions that include lecturers, teachers, writers, interpreters, journalists, radio announcers, editors, postal workers, the computer and information industry, the media and news reporting, advertising which might be of interest when contemplating career. Mercury is also the patron of travellers, their guide, and astrologically rules 'short trips' in astrology; therefore occupations involving the travel industry, drivers, couriers, tour guides and organizers, interpreters, flight attendants, cab drivers are consistent with this placement. Mythological Mercury was also the god of commerce and vocations involving trade, negotiation, contracts, verbal skills, argument and persuasion are akin to his nature. You might consider the field of commerce, commodity trading, or the stock exchange. These might also be an appropriate sector to help consume some of your abundant nervous energy.

The analytical side of Mercury also combines with the urge towards health in professions such as clinical psychologists, psychiatry and psychiatric nursing, dieticians, health care workers and medical analysis. The Virgo side of Mercury is also important in all industries that provide services to their clients. With this archetype atop your horoscope it is important that you have flexibility and continuous change in your vocation. Without adequate movement or variety in your career you may become anxious, stressed or scattered. However, with the influence of youthful Mercury you are destined for many interesting assignments and positions in your chosen career. You have the knack of being able to reinvent yourself and see things afresh.

Venus is in the Tenth House

In your 10th house you have Venus, the archetype connected to art, harmony and the urge to beautify. Therefore Venusian professions include specialists in art, art museum workers or curators, art or beauty therapists, models, fashion designers and promoters, perfume or cosmetic industries, the music industry, singers, interior decoration and design, gifts and crafts, florists, potters and theatre and set design. You innate style and culture could lead you into a myriad of professions that deal with fashion whether that is buying clothes or home furnishings or redecorating homes.

Venus is also inclined towards the development of social skills and interaction and is linked to professions which highlight these traits. Hospitality industries, community relations, hosting industries, hotel management, receptionist, wedding planners and caterers are under the domain of Venus. Professions which include diplomacy and protocol such as diplomats, ambassadors, customer services, lawyers, social arrangements, and personnel managers are also ruled by Venus, all careers which might be worth your consideration.

Venus is also connected with partnerships and working in a one-to-one situation. Venus in the 10th house suggests careers that involve partnerships, as a counterpart to another, working in close affiliation with others or in a profession which complements others. These could include counselling especially career counselling or relationship therapy, tutors, business partnerships, personal recruitment, personal assistant or secretarial work. You may also be inclined to work in industries that promote a sense of worth, whether that is in a psychological or economical way. For instance you may have innate skills at personal coaching or investment strategies. You might find that you have an innate skill in dealing with money, helping others to become more financially aware and/or secure.

As the ruler of Taurus and the 2nd house, Venus is also linked to professions involving finance as well as agriculture. Using the senses and the creative flair are also important a vocation and Venus in the 10th may derive satisfaction from massage, aromatherapy, food and wine merchants and connoisseurs. You might be drawn to working with the senses. Whatever your passion is you will incorporate your own sense of style and grace into whatever you do

Mars is in the Tenth House

Mars is in your 10th house, suggesting that any occupations promoting an independent and entrepreneurial spirit are important. Goal-orientated occupations encouraging your competitive drive and allowing you the freedom to express your self are imperative. Mars is strongly placed in your horoscope suggesting you need to express your competitive nature; you have a high ambition and natural drive. If the competitive spirit is stifled then you might experience aggression being displaced in your work environment either through your clients, your co-workers or your superiors. Mars rules the head and needs to be first, so administration and supervisory careers are more suitable for your enterprising spirit. You excel when you are challenged or when you have the opportunity to pioneer a project. You also do extremely well through invention and exploration, especially when you are encouraged to use your entrepreneurial spirit.

Careers involving the sense of danger, adventure and adrenaline are governed by Mars. This archetype feels the need to participate and be challenged therefore competitive or adventure sports, the fire brigade, the police force, paramedics and ambulance work are good outlets for this. Mars is also physical and sometimes using physical energies either in competition sports, training or labour may play a role on your vocational path. Physical education trainers, coaches, dancers and dance instructors, gymnastics, athletics, coach, physical education, physical labour, construction workers are all images that resonate with Mars in your 10th house. Physicality will probably play a key role in your career.

Classically Mars's professions have been associated with 'sharp' objects or tools linking them to careers such as surgeons, dentists, or occupations using mechanical instruments such as machinists, mechanics, and carpenters. As the god of war, Mars is linked with military professions like the armed services, the National Guard, security services and providers. Rigorous training, discipline, focus and being alert are aspects of a Martian vocation. Statistically Mars has played a leading role in horoscopes of sports champions. Therefore it is not surprising that this placement might lead to a sports-orientated career either through playing sports themselves or working in associated professions, such as physiotherapy, coaching or training. Whatever way in which you encounter Mars in your profession it is imperative that you feel you are independent enough to strike out on your own and are able to be self-regulated and motivated. Without challenges or motivation you may become restless and bored, becoming your own adversary. If this happens, remember action is more powerful than positive thinking, so just get out and move and do something.

Fulfillment in the world is more a product of who we are, not what we do. Our vocational nature implies a path of individuation, a road 'less traveled by', and in some ways, a road still under construction. Hopefully this astrological consideration of your vocational potentialities has helped you reflect on a fulfilling career path.

Astrological consideration of a vocation also needs to be placed in the context of the life cycle. Adolescents greatly benefit from a traditional examination of the vocational patterns in the horoscope to help confirm and inspire their career plans. However in adult years, especially when on the verge of mid-life (36+), the urge to find meaning and purpose through vocation is more the issue. Vocation is a lifelong task and one that is at the heart of the individuation process and the lenses through which we view vocation need to be re-examined and rechecked at every new stage of the life cycle.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brian Clark is the co-founder of the Chiron Centre, a multi-disciplinary centre in Melbourne, Australia where he is one of the main tutors of a four year program in applied astrology. This comprehensive program is also available by distance learning (www.AstroSynthesis.com.au). He has written numerous articles on psychology, mythology and astrology, is a contributing author to Intimate Relationships (Llewellyn: 1991), the author of The Sibling Constellation (Penguin: 1999) and Celestial Tarot (U.S. Games, Inc. 2006), as well as a series of astrological publications for students published by Astro*Synthesis. His books and articles have been translated into Japanese, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Dutch. Brian also teaches mythology for the Nexus program, co teaches a course on Tarot and leads tours to the sacred sites of ancient Greece through Odyssey. Brian also lectures internationally. He has a private counselling practice utilising astrology from a psychological perspective. He has his Masters in Classics and Archaeology from the University of Melbourne.

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