The Sequence of the Aspects
26.3
page 3 of 7
The aspects on the outgoing arc (continued)
In the outgoing square, a first awareness of the environment emerges and the Self now begins to manifestly react to the situation in which it finds itself. However, in the square aspect, the balance between effort and result still needs to be found.
Often the person does not feel like taking the action that is required. The environment is experienced as huge and overwhelming, and he does not see how he could bring about any change in the situation. With this aspect, it will take some time before the person decides that things can’t go on like this. The vital tension of the square forces him to deal with the resistance. The situation prods him into action. Yet, lacking in Self-knowledge, he overestimates the resistance and takes it on too strongly. Because of this excessive adaptation, he overdoes it, which increases the risk of failure, so his undertakings often will need to be redone. This aspect brings struggle and misunderstandings, as well as twice the amount of work. His unfamiliarity with himself makes the person restless.
In the outgoing triangle, the balance between effort and result is attained. In this aspect, there is a natural differentiation between the Self and its environment. There is a well-balanced Self-awareness: the person is aware of his own attitude and contribution, and is capable of attuning himself to the intended result. The Self presents an unconstrained, appropriate image of itself to the environment. He comes across as an authentic person and his undertakings lead to the intended result.
The opposition aspect contains a strong tension. The Self is standing in the Center, in line with both aspect points on the circumference. It now gets directly involved in the arc of tension that it has cast out on the circumference, as well as in the manifestations of that tension.
On the outgoing arc, this aspect leads to doubt and hesitance within the soul. One finds oneself unable to choose. This doubt has a paralyzing effect. Ultimately, it can get to the point that neither pole can be brought into action. One solution for this dilemma is suppressing one pole and overcompensating the other (26.3.a).
Bridging by other aspects
However, the opposition aspect will become productive if another planet, as a third factor, bridges the tension. This bridging provides a drainage system that enables the Self-tension to influence the outside world in a productive and creative way. The environment will experience this as the central issue in that person’s life.
So the opposition, by providing this charge and tension, also leads to Self-realization. In a philosophical sense, it is this aspect that brings, via the bridging (Lunar) third factor, the Center into the world (circumference) (6).
Turning point
The opposition aspect also forms the turning point between the outgoing and incoming arcs. At this point, the Self takes over control, instead of its vital nature. The development on the outgoing arc was an unconscious process, pushing outwards from within, but after having passed this turning point, the Self is now awake and aware of its own manifestation at the circumference and expressing this consciously. That vital nature now turns the beam of its focus inwards and begins its reflection journey from the circumference back to the Center (25.3.a).
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