Conflict Aspects?
Maritha Pottenger
We continue our focus on learning through challenge aspects which was begun last issue. I wish to remind readers that the assumption is that challenge aspects are a challenge to our ingenuity and self-discipline to find ways to incorporate ALL the different sides of life. We are learning to make our various needs and drives complementary and fulfilling rather than contradictory and conflicting. Once conflict aspects are blended in a reasonable manner (or we learn to take turns between the drives symbolized by the sky), they can be helpful and supportive of one another. Life is movement toward more wholeness.
This issue will examine conflicts to the earth letters (2, 6, 10) of the astrological alphabet. We will take up air and water in future issues (fire appeared in Virgo 1986). The natural conflict aspects (square, opposition and quincunx) point to areas of life that—despite their conflicts—do NEED each other. Often, an overdose in one area can best be served by expressing the themes of the natural opposition, square or quincunx. Examples will be of both mundane (outer world) possibilities and psychological principles. The outer reflects the inner. If we experience conflicts involving certain individuals, they are keys to the associated issues in our lives. Once we reach an inner balance, the outer balance follows naturally.
LETTER TWO
Natural conflict aspects to Letter 2 show other sides of our psyche which must be balanced with our desire for pleasure from the sensual and material world. Balance requires enough pleasure from life, without depending solely on material enjoyment, but also without depriving ourselves.
Enjoying money, possessions and beauty (Letter 2) must be balanced with the rights of others to money, possessions and pleasures (opposition to Letter 8), the urge to do something exciting, risk-taking and ego-gratifying (square to Letter 5), and the attraction for the new, different, unusual and unstable (square to Letter 11). Pleasure from physical resources and sensual pleasures (Letter 2) must be balanced with pleasure from people and relationships (quincunx to Letter 7) and meaning and inspiration from the spiritual/religious/philosophical side of life (quincunx to Letter 9).
In the following table, think of each line as a sentence, such as “The material focus of Letter 2 must be balanced with the spiritual focus of Letter 9.”
LETTER CONFLICT ASPECTS LETTER
2 opposes 8
|
self-indulgence |
self-control |
|
“mine” |
“ours” |
|
personal pleasures |
joint pleasures |
|
self-earned money |
money through other people |
|
physical focus |
emotional focus |
|
comfort |
confrontation |
|
easygoing |
intense |
|
material ease |
intimacy needs |
2 squares 5
|
security-oriented |
risk-taker |
|
practical |
emotional |
|
down-to-earth |
dramatic/exaggerative |
|
pleasure |
love/self-esteem |
|
indulging self |
indulging loved ones |
|
complacent/satisfied |
wanting to do more |
|
sensuality |
sexuality |
|
focus on possessions |
focus on love & self-esteem |
2 squares 11
|
concrete |
abstract |
|
personal possessions |
humanitarian goals |
|
self-indulgence |
self-proportion |
|
security |
risk |
|
stability |
change |
|
ease/comfort |
excitement |
|
sensuality |
intellect |
|
predictability |
unpredictability |
2 quincunxes 7
|
pleasure from things |
pleasure from people |
|
sensual beauty |
visual beauty |
|
down-to-earth |
theoretical |
|
stubborn |
fence-sitter |
|
self-focus |
other-focus |
|
possessions |
partners |
|
stick with known |
balance opposites |
|
self-contained |
sociable |
2 quincunxes 9
|
material |
spiritual |
|
possessions |
philosophy/beliefs |
|
safety-oriented |
risk-taker |
|
practical |
intellectual |
|
status-quo |
expansive |
|
things |
grandchildren/in-laws |
|
down-to-earth |
grandiose |
|
comfort, ease |
high expectations |
LETTER SIX
The natural conflict aspects point to parts of life which must be balanced with Letter 6 for a fuller human experience. The desire for effectiveness in the work and health (Letter 6) must be balanced with a sense of inspiration and unconscious faith (opposition to Letter 12), with a burning curiosity which wants to know everything (square to Letter 3) and a quest for meaning (square to Letter 9). Careful, painstaking attention to details and doing everything just so is not always appropriate; sometimes quick action (quincunx to Letter 1) or innovative or rebellious impulses (quincunx to Letter 11) save the day.
LETTER CONFLICT ASPECTS LETTER
6 opposes 12
|
precise, exacting |
mystical/unclear |
|
logic |
intuition |
|
hard work |
help from Above |
|
pragmatics |
faith |
|
focus on flaws |
seeing the best |
|
physical routine |
dreams |
|
health habits |
unconscious agenda |
|
workaholic |
saint/savior/victim |
6 squares 3
|
quality |
quantity |
|
disciplined focus |
scattered inquiry |
|
colleagues |
siblings/neighbors |
|
results from mind |
pure curiosity |
|
focus on flaws |
casual, flippant |
|
work-oriented |
sociable |
|
serious |
lighthearted |
|
ant |
butterfly |
6 squares 9
|
learn by doing |
higher education |
|
coworkers |
grandchildren/in-laws |
|
everyday routines |
grand dreams & ideas |
|
physical reality |
Higher Truths |
|
testing/skepticism |
faith/trust |
|
dedicated worker |
wheeler-dealer |
|
details |
overview |
|
work duties |
quest for meaning |
6 quincunxes 1
|
painstaking, exacting |
rapid, quick |
|
finish up, thorough |
pioneer & move on |
|
work |
self-expression |
|
duties |
impulses |
|
needs of coworkers |
personal desires |
|
order, discipline |
freedom, spontaneity |
|
endurance |
initiative |
|
pragmatist |
risk-taker |
6 quincunxes 11
|
cautious, studied |
experimental |
|
work |
humanity/causes |
|
colleagues |
friends |
|
discipline |
unconventionality |
|
focus on flaws |
breaking out/loose |
|
step-by-step |
sudden insights |
|
sensible |
rebellious |
|
wants physical results |
wants new options |
LETTER TEN
Natural conflict aspects point to areas requiring attention, so that we can integrate our various motivations and create more fulfilling lives. Our practical, realistic, status-oriented side (Letter 10) needs to keep room for our emotional, compassionate, home-oriented side (opposition to Letter 4), our desire for self-expression (Letter 1), and our need for close, interpersonal interactions (Letter 7). Career aspirations and the drive for power/authority (Letter 10) must be balanced with our lighthearted desire to explore ideas (Letter 3) and our need for love, attention, approval and admiration (Letter 5).
LETTER CONFLICT ASPECTS LETTER
10 opposes 4
|
career |
home & family |
|
dominance |
dependency |
|
“bottom line” |
compassion |
|
father [archetype] |
mother [archetype] |
|
mundane achievements |
emotional security |
|
authority/control |
nurturing support |
|
practicalities |
feelings |
|
place in world |
place in family |
10 squares 1
|
cautious, careful |
spontaneous |
|
authority/control |
self-expression |
|
father (figures) |
“me” |
|
responsibilities |
personal desires |
|
working way up |
“do it now” |
|
career |
personal hobbies |
|
social rules/roles |
doing one’s own thing |
|
thoroughness, endurance |
initiative, pioneering spirit |
10 squares 7
|
career |
partnership |
|
authorities |
partner |
|
hierarchy |
equality |
|
work/effort |
ease/harmony |
|
power/control |
sharing |
|
focus on physical results |
focus on process (harmony) |
|
hard & fast rules |
seeing both sides |
|
material success |
relationships |
10 quincunxes 3
|
serious, dedicated |
flippant, casual |
|
ambitious careerist |
dilettante |
|
physical reality |
consensual reality |
|
work responsibilities |
siblings/neighbors |
|
rules & regulations |
flexible, adaptable |
|
dealing with limits |
insatiably curious |
|
authority [figures] |
peers |
|
concern with results & efficiency |
concerned with process & information-seeking |
10 quincunxes 5
|
power=responsibility |
power=joy |
|
work |
love |
|
cautious, careful |
risk-taker, speculator |
|
self-inhibiting |
self-confident |
|
executor of laws |
King or Queen (declaring laws) |
|
parents/parental |
children/childish |
|
linear |
creative outbursts |
|
work |
play |