ASTROLOGY, SYNCHRONICITY,
SPIRITUAL TRANSFERENCE
AND THE KUNDALINI

Planetary Energies and the Initiations
At the different initiations different planetary energies and the energies from the constellations affect individuals differently.
Table 12.1 Planetary Rulerships and the Initiations
First Initiation Vulcan and Pluto. Vulcan reaches deep in the person's nature while Pluto brings to the surface for transformation.
Second Initiation Neptune, Venus and Jupiter. Involving the solar plexus, heart and throat centres.
Third Initiation Moon (veiling a hidden planet, possibly Vulcan), Mars. Brings about conflict but the result is release from personality control.
Fourth Initiation Mercury and Saturn. Bring about great changes and unique revelation.
Fifth Initiation Uranus and Jupiter. Brings about an organisation of the totality of energies found within the initiate. Then there is no more need for earthly incarnation.
Source: Esoteric astrology (1982), A. Bailey, p.70-71.

Astrology and the Kundalini
The kundalini is spiritual energy in matter and is partly activated by the descent of Vulcanian or Uranian energy (representing the light of the soul) into matter. Pluto (the Goddess Kali in Hindu mythology) is related to the kundalini. When activated a relative degree of kundalini force ascends up the spine and triggers memories and patterns that we have formed bringing them to our conscious awareness. These previously unconscious habits, emotions, fears and repressed desires need to be transcended in order to grow spiritually.
The real power of the kundalini lies dormant at the base of the spine and is not triggered by the spiritual will until the third initiation. However, increasing degrees of kundalini energy are released at the first and second initiations as well as the gradual ongoing transmutation experienced when faced by past issues again and again until they are transcended, preparing the personality to become a suitable vehicle for soul expression. As desires and fears are transcended, the spiritual energy that was trapped is released and is available for our creative use.
The combined energies of Sirius, Leo and Uranus helps to bring about the conditions required to enable humankind, as well as the individual, to take the first initiation and "give birth to the Christ" revealing the hidden, spiritual person. Thus the person becomes self-conscious and exhausts and overcomes the desires of the lower nature. He orients himself towards the spiritual path making a conscious re-orientation and begins to stand in "spiritual being." The influence of Uranus and the seventh ray produces the awakening required for the first initiation. Humanity now stands at that point as do many individuals.
The latent aspect of the Kundalini is located at the base of the spine and until arousal is largely dormant. Pluto rules the base of the spine for both the average person and the disciple/Initiate. It is therefore reasonable to assume that Pluto is involved when unconscious material hidden in the depths is brought to the surface and this is likely of the kundalini as well.
The kundalini relates to the creative energy or power of the universe. Pluto is found on the first ray and is therefore likely to be related to the power aspect of the kundalini. As the kundalini is related to the power aspect found within the energy of matter it must also have a connection with the third ray. Michael Robbins, author of a forthcoming book on Esoteric Astrology, suspects that Pluto may have a third ray Monad and thus its connection with this aspect of the kundalini too. Pluto transforms the physical nature of one's existence. Life patterns are upset through such events as, death, divorce, job changes, etc. One's psychological past is also brought up so that one is impelled to make the changes to one's physical existence. Pluto is also considered to be related to atomic fission (ray 1).
Vulcan is also linked in with kundalini arousal and is a ray 1 planet. The interplay between Vulcan and Pluto is likely in an active arousal, with Vulcan ruling the head centre and Pluto the base centre. Mercury rules the ajna centre (for the advanced disciple) and is associated with the act of will required from the ajna centre for the arousal to take place. Vulcan is associated with the "heart of the sun" that needs to be activated for a true kundalini arousal and not just spasmodically or accidentally.
Kundalini is the gross manifestation of cosmic or spiritual energy, 'electric fire.' It is generated by spirit meeting and fusing with matter, thus the link with Vulcan. Vulcan is also related to atomic fusion (ray 1) 'forging fire.'
Neptune affects the emotional body allowing reorientation of the desires with wisdom and allows the emotional body to accept new patterns. It appears that Neptune is indirectly related to the kundalini, linked with the changes initiated by Uranus.
Uranus is the higher energy of Mercury and is related to electric fire. Uranus is related to the prana of the etheric body being its electrical vitality. It can be associated with the head centre as well as the sacral centre. Uranus distributes first and seventh ray energies and thus its association with the base centre. Uranus changes the mental body in a way that can be very subtle. Although not traditionally associated with the kundalini it does influence the way we think (e.g., Mid-life crisis) and by opening up the mind to intuition and insight into soul's purpose, can prepare the path for kundalini awakening. If resisted, the kundalini may rise anyway and create the many difficulties associated with kundalini arousal. At mid-life a transiting Uranus in opposition to natal Uranus helps to create a polarity change within oneself that ultimately helps to balance the yin and yang energies.
The Uranus-Uranus opposition can be interpreted as a crisis involving the sacral centre and the reorientation of creativity, which for the first 'half' of one's life, was sexually oriented towards a partner and with a creativity directed towards manifestation of outer results. During the Uranus opposition the impulse for orientation towards the soul is found. Without an understanding of this, the increased desire for union with 'The Beloved' may result in an increased desire to look for the love in the material world. This may vary depending on one's ray type but for example a disciple with a ray 2 soul may find an increased tendency to be in 'love with love.' This may or may not result in an increased attraction for younger sexual partners. However, the impulse of Uranus here is towards greater soul knowledge (Uranus is related to the head centre in which the consciousness thread is anchored).
Saturn is a significant planet in the fourth initiation. Saturn is a ray 3 planet and is connected with the energy of matter. As the fourth initiation is important for the fusion of spirit and matter the importance of Saturn and ray 3 relating to Shakti and the physical universe can be seen
Jupiter does not appear to have any direct relation with the kundalini. It is an important planet at the second initiation due to its rulership of the heart centre and is also important during the fifth initiation..
Mars rules the latent aspect of the kundalini. Mars is associated with ray 1 (kundalini) and ray 6 (aspiration). It is particularly important during the third initiation. Mars possibly rules the kundalini in its latent aspect and may be related to the intense desire for spirituality that one feels prior to kundalini arousal between the second and third initiations.
Venus does not appear to have any direct relation to the kundalini. Venus seems to be an important planetary period, using the Vedic system of astrology, under which a kundalini arousal may take place. This could well be due to its importance at the second initiation, an initiation that would be predominant for many of the case studies looked at earlier.
Mercury rules the active aspect of kundalini and is a significant planet in the fourth initiation. Mercury is the hierarchical ruler of Scorpio and is likely to be important for assisting in the raising of the kundalini once illusion is conquered. It is worth pointing out that although there is kundalini activity at the third initiation, arousal to the head centre is not complete until the fourth initiation. By the fourth initiation the duality of spirit and matter, Shiva and Shakti, is completed and spirit is fully conscious in form. The ajna centre, representing form, and the head (crown) centre, representing the spirit, are now fully functioning.
The buddhic plane is also likely to be associated with kundalini arousal as the buddhi is the 'life' and this plane is associated with Mercury. For advanced disciples Mercury rules the ajna centre and it is an act of will from the ajna centre that arouses the kundalini. Mercury is a ray four planet and thus is also associated with the four petalled lotus at the base of the spine (the base centre) as well as the fourth plane, or buddhic plane. Here, therefore, can be seen the communicating aspect of Mercury linking the life with the base chakra and its association with kundalini arousal.
The Moon is more likely to have an indirect affect on the kundalini by veiling a hidden planet such as Vulcan which as a ray one planet is more obviously associated with it.
The Moon's nodes allow for a cycle of transformation within the cycles of activity brought about by Pluto, Neptune and Uranus as they unfold the soul's purpose. As the polarity shifts on the Nodal Axis the soul's purpose being brought about through the outer planets is slowly brought into one's awareness. Chiron assists in this through its purpose of unfolding and healing.
As yet Chiron is still relatively new but does seem to have an important influence on one's path or 'quest.' It is also 'the healer' and as such could be prominent during the spiritually healing process of a kundalini arousal. The Chiron return seems to bring the possibility of a transition from the physical/emotional grip of the personality towards the lighter touch of the soul and spirit.
The Midheaven - IC axis has a symbolic link with the spine and the connection between the head and base centres. A significant number of the case studies had aspects to this axis during kundalini arousal.
Synchronicity
Reading over the personal experiences of kundalini awakening I was struck by the number of cases that reported an increase in synchronistic experiences. Adding synchronicity to the list of symptoms of kundalini arousal was intriguing as it included a dimension in the experience that could not be explained by the rational/logical mind. Synchronicity means the coincidental occurrence in time of two or more causally unrelated events which have the same or similar meaning. Simply speaking synchronicity refers to a meaningful coincidence in time and can refer to the link between psychic content (including dreams) and objective manifestation whether occurring at the same moment, separated by time or separated by distance. Much kundalini research is being done into the physical manifestations of kundalini and attempting to devise methods for measuring the bioenergy. In analysing the actual experiences of kundalini such as blissful states of awareness, expansive consciousness, and a oneness with surrounding people, objects or the universe, then of course we have moved beyond the current realm of science. It may be possible to statistically measure the frequency of occurrence of such experiences, but it is not possible to actually measure the experiences themselves. So it is with synchronicity.
Carl Jung was fascinated with the concept of synchronicity and even attempted to find a model for the phenomena. He was a strong believer in the dictum 'As above, so below' and delved deeply into astrology, developing his psychology of archetypes. The results he found as he researched the concept of synchronicity, were somewhat unexpected, to the point that it appeared that synchronicity itself seemed to play tricks on his research.
An example was when he was trying to statistically analyse the birth charts of married couples to see if there was a preponderance of Sun conjunct Moon, Moon conjunct Moon and Ascendant conjunct moon. These were traditional factors from Ptolemy said to indicate marriage. He asked three subjects to each analyse one batch of material. The first batch showed a high contact of data supporting the Sun conjunct Moon. The second batch showed a high proportion of Moon conjunct Moon, while the third batch showed a high contact of Ascendant conjunct Moon. Statistically each batch on its own may have proved significant yet overall the results were not. However, each of the three sets of configurations looked for had turned up in each of three batches. It seemed that his own subjective state had influenced the results in that they mimicked what he was looking for. When Jung tried again with three new subjects whose psychological state was known to him, the charts which they drew by lot mimicked to a large extent the psychic state of the subject.
In the 'Celestine Prophecy,' a story of adventure in South America acting as a guide to spiritual growth, the first of the nine insights is that of coincidence. It refers to 'a Golden Key, a magical stranger, a meaningful dream, or an unexpected clue that appears to guide us effortlessly to the treasure or opportunity we seek' (Redfield & Adrienne, 1995, p2.).
Yogananda, in his autobiography, described the coincidences which occurred in his life that guided and supported him on his spiritual path (Yogananda, 1987). In his case the coincidences came about through his absolute faith and trust that he would be 'looked after.'
Coincidences occur all the time but when the kundalini is more active our awareness increases and with it the noticing of coincidences. The symbolism occurring in the coincidences may be mirrored in the astrology of the moment but astrology is not likely to give symbolic reference to the kundalini. The kundalini in its Shakti aspect underlies the whole of creation so in effect the whole of astrology is indirectly representative of the kundalini. Circumstances surrounding kundalini may be symbolised through astrology. Astrology can also give an indication of the chakras which are being activated but not to the Shakti which is the cause of the activation. Traditional astrology can pinpoint personality 'events' only; the symptoms rather than the cause.
When we are truly in touch with our Soul and living in the Now, then we feel and experience the connection between Soul and personality which become the 'one' that they really are, without judgement or reaction. When we are living in the moment we are connected to the source, or energy which is Shakti, and the stronger the kundalini is felt. As we experience this energy our awareness is expanded and becomes more inclusive of soul and personality realms. Coincidences acknowledge this increased connectivity.
To be truly successful at astrology requires an intuitive wisdom to interpret the coincidence between what is happening and the astrological symbolism portrayed in the chart. One is taken beyond the mechanical interpretation to the realm of archetypes and myths and the link between the conscious and the super-conscious.
Jung was convinced that archetypes were essential to synchronistic events. He relates synchronistic events and archetypes to a collective psyche that has conscious and unconscious components. He saw a pattern, order or meaning to life which transcends individual understanding and which is projected onto the external world by the unconscious. It is not unreasonable to assume, therefore, that there is a connection between the individual kundalini and a collective kundalini or kundalini of humanity as a whole. This being the case, when an individual kundalini is awakened the collective kundalini is raised a little too. Accordingly when the collective kundalini is raised it must, of necessity, also raise all the individual kundalini to some extent. When an individual's kundalini is about to rise it is quite likely that there would be coincidences happening for the person involved and perhaps also for persons associated in some way with that person.
One would expect or at least hope that some of the synchronistic events surrounding a kundalini arousal would contain archetypes relevant in some way to the process occurring. Case D referred to in Chapter 8 gave the following example of synchronicity:
"One day I attended a party held in my honour after quitting a job. I hugged my friend Robin - & we both expressed concern about staying in touch. That nite, I had a hard time getting to sleep. I laid awake in bed with my eyes closed, "watching a beautiful rose unfold (which now I believe to be my third eye). That nite I had a rare dream about my grandmother, Rose. On the way to a job interview the next AM, stopped in traffic, I noticed the licence plate ahead of me: It said ROSEBUD. I parked in a very remote, unfamiliar parking lot in downtown Denver, & after going thru a maze of places, pulled into a tight spot - right next to Robin, with her boyfriend Robert! (Still not sure what the R-O spelling vibration was about, but found it fascinating!)
Since then, have had hundreds if not psychic, then synchronous, experiences."
Case A gave his explanation of how we somehow create our own realities when he said:
"I was little by little, being given a description of a world or plane of existence tied to ours - two worlds that are dependent upon each other. We create thought. We are thought manufacturers. Our thoughts chain together like DNA molecules - thought molecules. They chain together in infinite combinations. These combinations are ingested by higher forms of consciousness which in turn manifest what they ingest. We therefore, in a round about way, create ourselves. We are all one. Infinite expression in infinite dimensions. On and on and on and on."
Case H referred to the fact that "I often feel as if this is all part of a plan. It's as if I've always known that this would take place. It seems familiar somehow at times, almost a deja-vu sensation."
Case K said "ongoing and impossible coincidences that would knock your socks off!"
Case O referred to "having visits by real hawks consistently for 4 years, this past Christmas morning being very spiritual with 3 hawks present.
When researching solar returns and the kundalini, I asked Case K if she could tell me where she was on the birthday prior to the kundalini arousal her reply took me by surprise. She said "Can I EVER tell you where I was on that birthday. It was the most stunning day of synchronicity I have ever had in my life…….my 49th birthday, was the day I became convinced that something incredible was happening, and I had to turn in my skeptic's badge." This confirmed for me that not only was synchronicity linked in with kundalini arousal but also of the validity and importance of solar returns in the process.
Spiritual Transference
Following on from synchronicity, which Carl Jung has already demonstrated as being important in his astrology sessions is a concept that I have termed 'spiritual transference.' Transference is a common condition in which the client transfers onto the counsellor a similar role to that of father, mother, lover, or another important figure. Likewise, countertransference is when the counsellor transfers a significant role such as daughter, son or lover onto the client. Spiritual transference is similar to this but goes one step higher to the transference of one's own higher self or soul onto the counsellor. It can also be found in the need to have a guru or spiritual teacher. Spiritual transference, although likely to be rare, can take place during psychospiritual counselling. When the client is definitely on a spiritual path and is facing a psychospiritual crisis and is searching for answers of a more spiritual nature, then it is possible that transference may take place at this higher level. Instead of transferring the role of father or mother the client may transfer the role of their own Higher Self. The very fact that the client is seeking spiritual help from an external source rather than from the higher self within can lead to this transference of their own spiritual attributes onto the counsellor.
When this is the case, how should the counsellor respond? In studying spiritual transference, there is transference of two different kinds. Firstly, there is the transference of the role of spiritual teacher to the counsellor, and secondly, there is the transference of one's own soul awareness to the counsellor. The real problem lies in the client's difficulty to attain soul contact for guidance and thus believes that the only possible way to do this is to seek the help of someone believed more able to do this. This also brings into focus the eastern concept of the guru-disciple relationship.
Following a guru can be fraught with problems unless the 'guru' is at least a third degree initiate. Until such a level of awareness is attained it is likely that any spiritual guidance given will be fraught with personality understanding and interpretation, and thus liable to error. When the guru or spiritual teacher is a third degree initiate, or higher, then it can be accepted that the real teacher is the soul or spirit within the guru, an outer reflection of the soul within the disciple. The guru-disciple relationship is a means of helping the disciple towards Self-realisation.
A psychospiritual counsellor would normally accept that the encounter between the counsellor and client has been 'arranged' at the soul level and is beneficial for both. When a client says "Somehow I know deep within myself, and it's something I can't explain, that I have been brought to you for a reason and at this point in life you are to be my 'teacher' my 'guru' and I need you to be there totally with me and experience my pain and fear, my hopes and aspirations, and to guide me to the next level of my growth," the normal boundaries of a counselling situation seem to disappear, all the text book material lose their impact and the counsellor realises that something has happened which goes beyond the ability of his personality to understand. The last thing he wants to do is to get caught up in something which seems to be moving beyond his conscious control and yet such a spiritual opportunity needs to be accepted in some way as it has potential for his own spiritual growth too.
By turning the client away the counsellor could be forfeiting an opportunity from the soul to move into a different level of counselling from that which he has ever experienced before. The soul may be saying "Are you ready for this." When do we need to set aside all the logic and procedures of personality based counselling and move into the realms of a spiritual based counselling. In effect, when do we truly become psychospiritual counsellors. The answer could be "When we surrender to the soul and allow it to take control of the situation and acknowledge that we don't know the answer, we don't know where this is leading but will trust and have faith that all obstacles will be removed as the soul does its work." Are we ready for this, are we strong enough to do this? We are not the guru, the soul is. The guru is not only in the counsellor but is in the client too. We are both clients and only the soul is the counsellor.
It requires that the counsellor explains this to the client and points out that they are both clients with respect to soul purpose. Both clients will need to draw on their own resources. The counsellor may be able to draw on his experience of psychospiritual techniques to assist the process and this is probably why the client has been drawn to the counsellor in the standard client counsellor framework with its various procedures, etc. The counsellor still needs to stand by the code of ethics expected of a counsellor. This is the framework within which the encounter has taken place. The whole process of counselling, however, will not follow the standard text book format.

Copyright © Charles Attfield, 1999-2002

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