“This is the Royal Snake of Egypt, the giver of Life and Death. If you will not allow him to create, he will devour.”
* Evangeline Adams, 1930
Dramatic stuff for a greenish, icy outpost 1.8 million miles from the Sun. Uranus was discovered in 1781, though his influence is a primary mover in our modern society. The age of inception into our consciousness is associated with the American and French Revolutions, but his mythological origins are ancient. One thing for sure, Uranus has always been tied to upheaval. He powers cataclysmic changes that inevitably lead to a new way of life- that’s home field for this revolutionary.
Evangeline Adams was one of the major trailblazers of astrology in the 20th century. She successfully defended her practice in a court of law by accurate and deft prophecy, and her words are still a hallmark of astrological teaching. In reading her description of Uranus, I am struck by the occult connotations. I have always been impressed by Uranus’ powers of eccentricity and individuation. Ms. Adams sees Uranus from a darker perspective. This column will discuss both aspects of our unearthly companion otherwise known as “The Great Awakener”.
Genius; anarchist; Kundalini energy. These are all key definitions of the erratic energy of Uranus. Even the physical appearance and orientation of the actual planet is odd. Uranus has an extreme 90 degree tilt of axis, so that the north and south poles orient to the Sun. If one could live on the North pole of Uranus, you would see the Sun constantly for 42 years, and then experience the same period of total darkness. This extreme axis tilt makes it unique, different from the other known planets in our solar system.
Uranus is the ruling planet of the sign Aquarius. The symbol for Aquarius, the “Water Bearer” shostyle a human form holding a vessel and pouring the waters of life out for all of humanity. That is the life giving aspect; old Ouranos not only poured out the energy of creation on his lover Gaia, he co-created her flowers and vegetation. Loving Venus is also said to have burst forth from his spilled semen. But wait, so did the vengeful Furies. He is fecund, unruly and wild.
Ouranos comes to us as the mythological father of Saturn. In ancient Greece he was known as the first child of Gaia, Mother Earth. He first nourished her with gentle rain, and then became her consort. As their varied offspring gained vitality and power, Ouranos become jealous and so tyrannical that Gaia persuaded their youngest child, Chronos (also known as Saturn) to castrate him. Other myths portray Saturn as the jealous son eager to seize power from his father. Either way, these tales portray the inception of historical animosity between a son and his father. Symbolically, this story also speaks of the jealousy of time (Saturn) over instinctive creative ability.
Evangeline Adams also describes Uranus as ” the planet of genius, the . . . secret magical power in man that lies (according to the Indian mythology) coiled at the base of the spine like a snake, ready to strike up and illuminate the whole, or downward to damnation. Genius may break; it will not bend.”
The image of genius not bending is one of the most fascinating aspects of Uranus. I am intrigued by individuals who labor tirelessly to create their unique vision in whatever field calls them. Be it art, music, gardening; some people are called forth to create tirelessly. Individuals who march to an inner drummer, feeding an inner call and not caring what others think. These are the ones with Uranus placed at an active position in the natal chart. Uranus conjunct the Ascendant is a perfect example. (Remember the Ascendant is our mask or personality) This genius cannot bend, it sees not need to. There is a vision born not only of self confidence, but a deeper need. Vincent van Gogh suffered a wretched life, but continued to paint though rarely sold his paintings. I much admire pure creative spark; the ever flowing source that fills the well.
Self individuation follostyle creative spark. It is that voice that claims “I Am”, and “This is what I do!” Then we become separate from our parents or peers, on the road to mastery. Individuation also speaks to unwillingness to compromise, hence the revolutionary aspect. With Uranus, it is principles as well as ensuing lifestyle changes which follow. Uranus awakens you to the fact that there is more to living than food and warmth. As the “Great Awakener” Uranus helps open the door between our conscious and unconscious minds so we learn our true purpose for this lifetime.
Uranus transits are notoriously unsettling. Think of Uranus as a catalyst, an agent that causes or speeds up chemical reactions. It is like the hardener in super glue. Working subtly, Uranus can disrupt your everyday life and force you to develop unexpressed abilities. A perfect example of this type of Uranian influence is light bulbs popping or computers crashing when you touch them. One can learn to feel this energy, and even use it. But then, everything in your life goes off like a broken bulb. This touches on the occult aspect, the beginning of Serpent energy that Evangeline Adams addresses. When I see certain aspects in astrological charts, I flash to Egyptian temples. These visions are almost always prompted by Uranus aspects.
During a major transit, such as aspecting Moon or cardinal point, Uranus can transform the foundations of your life. In these times, resistance to change is a futile effort causing only more turmoil. And, things can change in a big way. We are being called to discard the old self and create a new improved version. This, I suspect, is expressed in symbolism of the real kundalini experience.
Uranus is presented as a major player in my hierarchy of astrological importance. I choose the title “The Facilitator” because he will help speed us all on our journey to higher consciousness. Mother Earth and Father Sky. They both nourish us, but this rebel also heralds the age of machines and technology that release us from toil. Uranus will take us back from whence we came, but as a new and improved version.
