QUESTION:

Quick follow-up question from your lesson today.

As you were teaching, I couldn’t help but think of the natal chart and a native’s Sun position within the chart (Sun representing one’s ego and consciousness); and how that can possibly relate to the native’s ability to discern and accept their dharma and humility related to their mortality. Am I thinking in the right direction by pondering these things? Do you think a native’s Sun placement (in addition to the other planetary placements and strengths) could greatly influence what you taught tonight re: dharma and mortality?

My Reply

As you know, I just released the translation of the first four chapters of Phaladīpikā (here it is). There it says the Sun concerns dhairya. This means “constancy” and implies “integrity” and dharma.

It also says the Sun concerns homa-kārya, which means the inclination to follow laws and adhere to morals and religion – dharma.

If the Sun in a chart is strong, the native should have a clear concept of “who I am.” That is the most important first step in being dharmika, because dharma means “being who you are.” Conversely, if the Sun is weak, the person may adopt many different concepts of self at different times in life, or under different circumstances, with different people. This fluidity may make it difficult to follow a consistent dharma.

The particular circumstances the Sun is in should describe the specifics of “who I am.” Sun in Libra for example, leans towards “I appreciate things”, while Sun in Aries leans towards “I accomplish and sustain things,” etc. etc. (knowing exactly what each basic position signifies takes contemplation and sensitivity).

The most important factor should be the conjunctions and aspects to the Sun. If the Sun is aspected by Jupiter, for example, the person probably considers it very important to be dharmika – to have integrity and reliability. If it is aspected or conjoined Mars, on the other hand, the person much more easily gives up one dharma for another. For example, I have a tight Mars / Sun conjunction in Leo. I gave up almost all of my dharmas at a very young age, to pursue a dharma that was very foreign to my upbringing. It was very easy, almost unavoidable, for me to do this.

Regarding awareness of mortality… If the Sun is in the 7th, 8th, or 12th or with /aspected by those lords or Saturn – the native should have much more mortality-awareness than the average person. The effect of that awareness remains to be interpreted based on how those lords/houses, etc are doing. A person with mortality awareness may be debilitated by phobias (if the planets involved are strongly affected by nodes and have little bala), or they may be able to live a very moral life, focusing on eternal spiritual gains.

The Sun is not the only focal point for dharma and morality-awareness. An influential Jupiter, for example, depicts a moral person. Influential 12th and 8th lords (etc) depict a morality-aware person.