Twelve Steps To Enlightenment

Glenn Perry

Topics We’ll Cover

Astrology as a developmental model • Three general forms: signs, planets, houses

Signs as stages & time-space perspectives • A sign’s psychology is linked to its

developmental task and time-space orientation

Planets are maturational capacities • Linked to specific stages of development

Houses are social contexts or Forms • Provide a vehicle for developmental processes

Developmental Astrology

Developmental theories and models

• Investigate psychic structure formation

• Innate givens, maturational sequences, and individual experiences

Consequences of developmental trauma

• Psychic structure formation is impaired

• Developmental arrest or “fixation” occurs

Astrological Epigenesis

Epigenesis = “upon” = “emergence” • Each stage is built upon previous stages

• Succession of potentialities

Evolves from simple to more complex • Each stage signifies a predominant need

and capacity

• New self-regulatory & adaptive capacities emerge over time

Hierarchy

There is a natural hierarchical structure to the zodiac. Each sign includes but transcends the achievements of the

previous sign; thus, a sign is a subject for itself, and an object for every

succeeding sign.

“We don’t know who it was that discovered water, but were fairly

certain it wasn’t a fish.”

~ Unknown

Holonomy

Immature forms of a later stage exist in earlier stages and continue to evolve through yet later stages.

In general, earlier functions become increasingly

subordinated to the concerns of later stages.

Perspectives of Time-Space

Signs are segments of time and space • Have a temporal-spatial orientation

• Signs are developmental perspectives

Consciousness expands; time accelerates • Narrow perspective, slow subjective time

• Broad perspective, fast subjective time

• Each sign-stage is progressively longer in real time

The psychology of each sign is linked to its time-space orientation. Accordingly, behavioral traits are

consonant with time-space perspectives and developmental levels.

Aries and the Newborn

Separation-Individuation process • Birth to 2 Years

“Me, here, now! I am the world!” • Illusion of omnipotence

No frustration tolerance, no “later.” • Impulsivity, aggression, & splitting

Developmental goal is “basic trust” • Failure may lead to psychopathy

Taurus & Toddlerhood

Awakening to “otherness”of world • Two years to five years

• Concept of “object permanence”

The capacity to retain is born • Bowel and bladder control -- retention

• Concept of ownership of possessions

Self and object constancy • Self-soothing and frustration tolerance

Failure = borderline personality disorder • Insecurity and instability of functioning

Gemini & Schooling

Developmental period of 5-9 years • kindergarten through 3rd grade

• Acquisition of language, reading, writing

Birth of mental self; “I am what I know” • Obsessive questioning and reporting

• Concrete operational thought

Awakening of objectivity (threeness) • Resolution of Oedipal conflict

Difficulties center about learning • Learning disorder, distractibility, ADHD

Cancer & Latency

Developmental period of 9-14. • Freudian “latency” phase, quiet interlude

• Superego consolidation and self-inhibition

Birth of the emotional self • Capacity to contain & articulate feelings

• Ability for reversibility & conservation

Difficulties include lack of support, inadequate mirroring, and feelings of not belonging • Impaired capacity for self-reflection and emotional

connection with others (compensatory hysteria)

Leo & Adolescence

Developmental stage of 14-20 • Birth of identity, self-concept, self-esteem

Self-consciousness; concern with image • Popularity, courtship, performance issues, heroes

and role models, rejection of parental authority

Birth of the will; choice-making • Validation contributes to pride and confidence

Difficulties reflected in low self-esteem • Narcissistic vulnerability causes compensatory

grandiosity and self-inflation

Virgo and Apprenticeship

Developmental period of 20-27

• Skills development; joining the work force

• vocational school, college, internship

Birth of the worker-self; novice stage

• Modest, humble time of life; struggle to become a functional individual and succeed at adult tasks

Difficulties entail lack of competency

• Overcompensation may lead to OCD

• Inefficiency due to fear of making a mistake

Libra & Social Equality

Libra is the need for harmony and balance • A striving for love (affection, relatedness), & beauty

Developmentally, it signifies 27-35 • Emergence into full adult status as a social equal

• Recognizing other’s equality; prime marrying years

Intimacy & solidarity versus isolation • Highly social period, networking, connections

• Danger is social retreat – or, overcompensation into hypercompliance and Dependent Personality Disorder

Scorpio & Midlife Crisis

Developmentally signifies ages 35-44 • Dark decade of the soul…facing mortality

• Seeing the dark at the end of the tunnel

Facing one’s shadow (unlived self) • Moving toward true integrity

• Self-renewal and becoming authentic

Owning one’s power and influence • Social and financial power; transformation

Fear of death and failure to transform leads to • Paranoid Personality Disorder

Sagittarius & Wisdom Years

Developmentally ages 44-54 • Age of increasing influence and wisdom

• Time for teaching, advising and guiding

Increased ethical and moral sense • Desire for truth and justice paramount

• Expansion: faith in the future, belief in the species

Difficulties may be stagnation • lack of hope, meaning, and growth

• Self-absorption, self-indulgence, cynicism

• Or, overcompensation leading to inflation/mania

Capricorn & Authority

Developmentally ages 54-65 • Period of highest career achievement

• Zenith of one’s life (climacterium)

Building something of enduring value • Appraisal and judgment of accomplishments

• Question: lasting impact on future generations?

Acceptance of limitations, “I’ve done my best.” • Antithesis is despair, regret and guilt for failure to

make the most of one’s life

• Depression (involutional melancholia)

Aquarius & Retirement Years

Developmentally ages 65-77 • Pulling back, seeing one’s life as a whole

• Detachment from from prior identifications

Openness to experiment, changing one’s life • Identification with collective humanity

• Participation in groups, causes, movements

Danger is withdrawal, detachment, isolation • Overwhelmed by too many changes & upsets

• Eccentricity and schizoid personality disorder

Pisces & Surrender

Developmentally ages 77-90 or death • Decline, passivity, and victimization of age

Imaginal self predominates; retreat inward • Blurring of space-time, confusion, disorientation

Humbling period of life, loss of vitality • Time of loss, grief, suffering, endings

• Dissolution of body, possible institutionalization

Increased spirituality and compassion • Time for forgiveness and letting go of the past

• Or, dementia, senility, psychosis

Summing Up

Zodiac is a natural developmental model • Sign, planet, and house dimensions

Psyche evolves from simpler to more complex forms of functioning • Developmental trauma leads to fixation

Consciousness expands as time accelerates • Increased psychic unity, identification with the

whole, and surrender to flow

• Culminating in oneness of time & space, or “enlightenment”