Character Insight from Spiritual Astrology...
Albert Einstein
The 3rd Decanate of Pisces is pictured in the sky as the Constellation, Cassiopeia, the Seated Lady. Its rulership spans from March 10 to March 20.
Keyword:VICISSITUDES
Oxford Languages: A change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.
Spiritual Text: It is possible to pass from this life to the next — even through death — with no more interruption to one’s growth and purpose than moving to a new city and continuing one’s work among new companions.
Cassiopeia
Alexander Jamieson’s, Urania’s Mirror, public domain
The Cloak of Death or the Tree of Life
Cassiopeia, the Seated Lady, symbolizes the soul entering a new cycle. She removes the cloak of the physical body and lifts a branch from the Tree of Life, expressing that consciousness continues and can unfold beyond the material world.
In the Scorpio decanate of Pisces, the message relates to the astral realm, where the soul meets the results of its emotional and spiritual attachments. These bonds may restrict and weigh it down, like Andromeda’s chains, or become a source of renewal and ascent — the Tree of Life raised in her hand.
Vicissitudes are the turning changes of experience. Cassiopeia’s image teaches that each turning point holds both danger and opportunity — limitation when we cling unwisely, renewal when we refine and release.
Einstein as an Example of Vicissitudes
With his Sun in the tenth house of business, honor, and reputation discordantly aspecting his Moon (Domestic Urges), sharp twists and turns reshape his career path, domestic life, and the legacy he left to future generations:
Early setback to later triumph: Failed his first Polytechnic entrance exam despite exceptional ability.
Obscurity to breakthrough: Worked as a patent clerk while developing relativity outside academia.
Personal upheaval: Family strain, divorce, financial sacrifice, and lifelong separation from a son.
Rejection to recognition: His bold theories were resisted; his Nobel Prize did not come for his revolutionary concept of relativity. Instead, it is for the photoelectric effect.
Persecution to exile: Nazi threats forced him to leave Germany permanently.
Pioneer to dissenter: Later stood apart from mainstream quantum theory while pursuing a unified field theory.
Together, these episodes show a life defined not by a smooth ascent but by repeated upheaval—classic vicissitudes that redirected both his path and his impact.
We all benefit from his tenacity (Cancer Rising) and adaptability to environmental changes that ultimately resulted in revolutionizing how we think and know the physical world - seen and unseen.
For greater insight into the decanates of spiritual astrology, click here for more about Pisces and the VICISSITUDES decanate in Course VII or here for “The Second Eighteen Decanates Analyzed” in Course X-1.
Pisces: The 12th Sign of the Zodiac
February 19 thru March 20
I BELIEVE
“Love is the Tree of Life, and its Fruit is Universal Brotherhood.”
The Eternal Tie That Binds
The knot binding the two Fish symbolizes the shared Ego, the divine spark that energizes both souls. Together, these two souls and their Ego create a unique spiritual system—one that, when fully realized, becomes a true spiritual cell within the greater cosmic body. Once this soulmate connection reaches a permanent state, it takes on a distinct form in higher realms and is often referred to as an angel. At this stage, it transcends four-dimensional existence and embodies the essence of the truly spiritual, or five-dimensional, plane.
Even as they unite to form this higher spiritual being, each soul retains its individual identity—just as Venus and Mars remain distinct while existing within the same solar system. Each soul maintains its freedom of action, but before they can permanently merge into this elevated five-dimensional form—much like the two Fish sharing one shape while still moving independently—they must first awaken to their collective purpose within the greater Cosmic design.
— paraphrased from CSVII, Spiritual Astrology
Click here for more of this meditation and a companion exercise.
Quotes from H.S.D. Starnaman's Prayers of Purpose.
Pisces is a Dual Sign with Two Components of Energy —Jupiter and Neptune
Harmonizing Jupiter's Discordant Religious Urges
For use at times of poor judgment, over optimism or personal conceit.
Constructive Religious Urges express as Benevolence, good will, and charity towards opinions of others.
“O Thou Eternal Spirit, in Whom I live, move, breathe and have my Being! Bring to me the realization that my intellectual powers are meant for use. Let me appraise life fully and analyze completely, with sound judgment and good sense the experiences the environment brings to me. Inspire me to take pleasure in being an efficient thinking member of the Universal Order.
— So Shall It Be.”
Harmonizing Neptune's Discordant Utopian Urges
For use at times when we tend to be vague, negatively imaginative, and unduly sensitive.
Constructive Utopian Urges express as Idealism and in the practical expression of the plans and schemes the imagination can picture.
“O Thou Eternal Spirit, in Whom I live, move, breathe and have my Being! Aid me to attain calmness when emotion would threaten my poise. Aid me to be reasonable when I would feel hurt and unreasonable. Aid me to know that others will give love to me only as I radiate love to them. Inspire me to face reality courageously, confidently and calmly.
— So Shall It Be.
In Elbert Benjamine's classic series, he explains the astrological significance of the sign Pisces and its relationship to Arcanum XII, The Martyr tarot card.
The Martyr card expresses:
In the spiritual world—the revealed law.
In the mental world—understanding duty—the moral force binding you to reponsibilities that promote the greater good.
In the physical world—sacrifice—giving up something that is valuable to you in order to help someone else.
ADMONITION paraphrased from The Sacred Tarot:
Remember, seeker, that sacrifice is a sacred law that touches all lives—no one is exempt. Do good without expecting gratitude from others, and keep your soul prepared to answer to the eternal.
If Arcanum XII appears in your horoscope, it may signal the presence of great trials, even the possibility of a sudden or violent end. Yet, if fate tests you in this way, meet it with acceptance, not fear. Let go of resentment, even toward those who wrong you, for forgiveness is the key to spiritual freedom. Those who refuse to forgive in this life may find themselves trapped in isolation in the next.
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The Brotherhood of Light Lessons and the Aquarian Age
A new spiritual dispensation is at hand, where the love and compassion of the Piscean Age are enhanced by the wisdom that comes from a deeper understanding of the Nature of Reality brought by the new Aquarian Age and thus Religion is wed to Science. Our Brotherhood of Light lessons are the bridge that caries us into this New Age by combining the best of the Ancient Teachings with the wonders of our new discoveries. Nothing stays the same we must all adapt to the flood of new information.
Why Astrology and the Tarot are so important to understanding Traditional Knowledge
The word Kabala signifies traditional knowledge. It thus refers to the Oral Law, as handed down from antiquity; and embraces the occult traditions of all lands and all peoples. Often it is used merely as referring to the esoteric doctrines of the Jews; but in its broader sense it includes also the secret doctrine of other races. This secret doctrine, common to many lands, was jealously guarded from the profane, and was never permitted to pass into writing except in such ambiguous terms as to baffle the uninitiated as to its true purport. In this sense the sacred books of the world, including the Avesta, the Vedas and the Bible are largely kabalistical; for they set forth traditions that are capable of an inner, or esoteric, interpretation. In fact, there are usually several interpretations possible, each more inner version revealing a deeper truth to those who have advanced along the path far enough to comprehend it.
And this seems the proper place to point out that the unwritten kabala, like the written kabala, is set forth in symbolical language, with purposeful blinds and subterfuges to confuse the uninitiated; so that of the few who undoubtedly exist at the present day who have received it, most remain in as much ignorance of its true interpretation as the majority of students do after studying the more accessible written kabala. This unwritten kabala has been transmitted only through certain secret schools. Those receiving it well merit what is given to them. They are left to their own devices in the matter of interpretation. And because the real keys to its interpretation—astrology and the tarot—have been largely ignored, or distorted, they have floundered sadly in arriving at its meaning. Whether written or unwritten, the kabala is a philosophy correlated to esoteric astrology as exemplified by the tarot; and it can only be comprehended fully by those who perceive the true relation between astrological energies and their pictured tarot exemplification.
Excerpts from The Sacred Tarot by C. C. Zain
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Astrology of World Affairs by Hermetician Dennis Sutton
ancient wisdom — modern science
Sharing knowledge of Hermetic astrology, the birth chart, astrodynes and global astrology
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What does the Holographic Theory of the Universe and Quantum Theory have to do with our Hermetic teachings?
In this article we will attempt to present aspects that pertain to the Hermetic Teachings of the Church of Light. We also encourage you to investigate these theories for yourself...
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Nature manifests through Diversity.
Diversity is the key to survival..mastering its many facets is the means by which we thrive.
Fear of the unknown and that which is different from self manifests throughout nature.
Through Cooperation we express the Will of Deity,
gain the freedom that results from transformation,
and achieve a sense of personal fulfillment, harmony, balance ... spirituality.
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