In part two of my four-part webinar series on the elemental Moon, I describe the concept of the “homeopathic Moon,” the idea that a restriction of the developmental need creates a wound and a potential for illness that can be healed by returning to address the original need.
Here we see a central insight into almost all sincere therapeutic work: that unmet developmental needs will back-seat-drive your life until you turn around and listen to them
In my next masterclass in Wales, The Sacred Marriage (3 Sep. 2025), I will explore the nature of the Sun and Moon relationship. The Moon is change while the Sun’s light conveys constancy. Herein lies a central paradox at the heart of the human psyche between the developing self, which grows and changes through life, and the mysterious awe of light that remains unchanging in the deepest centre of the human being.
This mysterious unchanging light is central to the symbolism of the Christmas story. The unusually bright star that the distant Magi follow echoes the sense of spiritual light of a divine child being born in the darkest time of the year, in the days after the winter solstice.
Let’s briefly follow the symbolism of the Magi – astrologers seeking the meaning of the strange lights in the heavens. They are spiritual seekers following the inner light.
Their search takes them to the innocence of radiance within the child. In this sense, the child symbolizes the unconditioned essence, or light, of your original or authentic self.
In the homeopathic principle of healing, highly refined essences of certain substances are used to energize the component part of the human psyche.
Homeopathy only works when there is a highly attuned response to an individual’s unique condition (and as such doesn’t hold up well in “clinical” trials).
The theme of the last newsletters has been that there is a sort of background homeopathic crisis; that the psyche of millions are missing a connective thread to the larger cosmic meaning.
I have argued passionately that our engagement in astrology, at least in part, represents a recovery from this collective condition.
In the book Facing the Gods, James Hillman following the key thread as laid down by Carl Jung, said “the Gods are now in our diseases.” Both Jung and Hillman picked up the point I have been making as a continuing theme in these recent posts, of the loss of presence in the overly rational explanation of phenomena that occurred during the Enlightenment’s “reason-only” project.
Now I a fourfold vision see,
And a fourfold vision is given to me
Tis fourfold in my supreme delight
And three fold in soft Beulahs night
And twofold Always. May God us keep
From Single vision & Newtons sleep.
– William Blake
This famous quote refers to the restriction of psycho-spiritual meaning as well as felt participation in the world that accompanies a vison of reality where only the intellect reigns supreme, the “single vision” of Newton’s sleep.
Why is it so important to transcend the intellect’s single vision?
For those interested, the doctor and clinical psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist, in his magnum opus The Matter with Things vol.1 and 2, explores this question at great length.
Taking as an origin, split brain research, he reframes the left brain right brain question into the idea of single vision. The left brain seeks to “apprehend” reality; to literally grab hold of things for exploitation and survival purposes.
It is the role of the right brain to provide the context to “comprehend” the world. i.e engage with reality in order to understand it.
As astrologers we are clearly allied to the more inclusive vision of the right brain’s attempt to understand things rather than simply manipulate them for our own ends.
To put this issue much more directly, but also more poetically, we could say that the issue of going beyond the intellect’s single vision is central to the issue of human healing and happiness.
What do I mean? In the business of our day-to-day lives, in our confusion and self-doubt, our concerns about making a living, our insecurities about our abilities, our sensitivity to the suffering we see in the world, we forget our true nature and purpose.
Hassled by the queues on public transport, tired, stuck in traffic on a long commute; struggling to relax after a long hard day, we forget the original light of our being.
We forget. The soul always remembers. There is a part of our true nature that never forgets the love and gratitude we have for the miracle of life and the divinity of creation.
From that place we rise above the stresses of the workday, the relationship crisis, the issues with friends or lack of friends, stress with our families.
From this place we stand surrounded by the original light of our true being.
From this place we are able to follow the star wherever it may lead.
Merry Christmas and blessing to all,
Mark