A New Look at the Sun
By Tom Lescher

All manifest creation, all life as we know it, can be viewed as the Creator or Source realizing Itself.  The Source, or �All That Is�, at some point polarized Itself from total Unity into diversity to experience Itself; hence creation.  With this polarization all 3^rd dimensional duality came into existence.  The root, or basis of duality, then, is the Creator/creation, the Void/manifested life, Spirit/matter, Love/fear � the former existing eternally and the latter temporally.

When we, as Creator, Spirit, or Love incarnate into physical form we leave the realm of unity to experience ourselves through duality.  Our lives become a mirror through which we view our own creation.  In so doing, we take on the reality of 3^rd dimensional consciousness which includes the polarity of fear � that which we are not � the consciousness of separation. 

The Sun in the birth chart can be seen as the light, the energy, or the fuel that powers the entire chart (the reality we have created).  In one sense it is the transmitter of Divine intelligence, which not only powers, but also orders our experience of ourselves and the world around us.  The zodiacal sign in which the sun is located at the time of our birth is a key to unlocking our spiritual Self or God-within.  It is a unique point within both the birthchart and �reality�.  Consider it for a moment (I find it best to consider it as I watch it rise in the morning).  It is a huge nuclear reactor in space.  It has no �matter� like any other body in the solar system.  If you could take the heat you could fly right through it.  It is a sacred miracle of nature and it is no wonder the ancients worshipped it � it is the source for more than light and warmth to our planet.

As fire has always been associated with spirit, it is not a stretch to imagine the Sun as the closest access point to spirit while on this planet.  Therefore, when dealing with a birthchart the archetypes associated with the Sun are a powerful means for aperson to consciously realize the unity of all life (Spirit, Love) while existing within 3^rd dimensional reality (matter, fear). The quality of our life experience is dependent upon our ability to see through our fear, our physical reality, and into our Godself, our unity with all other aspects of creation and the Sun is in one sense, the polarity to fear = love/spirit.

Shamanic Astrology views each of the signs as its own mystery school illuminating a particular aspect of the total creation.  Of the twelve different schools, each has its own unique aspect, addition, or contribution to the circle of life.  As such, each sign has its own teachings, its own realm of expertise, its own �facet of self� to refine, shape, and sculpt. Each has its own different form of fuel to power the chart.  Each one of these different fuels can be highly efficient or lacking; nuclear power or coal, depending on the individual.

What defines the quality of a life?  Are you burning high or low-octane fuel?  Clearly, the amount of love/unity existing within a given experience, as opposed to that of fear/separation, is the deciding factor.  Therefore, we can say that people with less fear will have a higher-octane fuel powering their life experience, a higher quality of life. Further, each individual�s sun sign will indicate what fear needs to be surrendered, released, or given up in order to experience this unity.  It indicates the area the soul wishes to explore this lifetime to fully realize its connection with Source, Creator, or God.

Our sun sign shows us where we can most profoundly experience ourselves in total union with all of creation.  Vice-versa, it can indicate where we hold to our fear, diminish our power, and cut off our fuel supply.  This explains why we can observe individuals with the same sun sign exhibiting such diverse levels of conscious awareness and the resulting behavior patterns.

Since we are dealing with the sun, let us take Leo as an example.  An individual born with the Sun in Leo has chosen to experience the ego aspect of Spirit/God.  To fully do so requires the surrendering of the notion that the ego exists outside of, or separate from, the Creator.  They are therefore born with the fear that their conscious choices, their sense of power, is not God, is not OK.

Those with great amounts of fear will do anything in their power to be seen as great, to be adored and honored, and will desire to rule the �jungle� of earth, i.e. great egotists!  However, as they grow in consciousness and maturity, they have the ability to surrender this sense of separation thereby letting go of their fear.  They can then relax their grip, their need to be center stage, and simply be who they are regardless of external approval/disapproval.  As they surrender their separate egos and move into unity consciousness, they will see others as equal beings, all of whom possess egos in need of validation and support.  In this way they can serve as models using their ego as the fine-tuned instrument for the expression of their Spirit Self while simultaneously helping others to the same realization   In Shamanic terms we would say that their ego (once understood) is the medicine they carry.  They will have stepped out of the duality of me vs. them, (or me versus life!) and into unity with others and life.

Another example is Scorpio.  An individual born with the Sun in Scorpio wishes to experience the unity of earthly passion � the kundalini force or red energy � with Creator.  If they remain in fear, they will see their passion as not OK, fall further into separation, and not experience a high quality of life.  As they surrender the notion that their passion is not a part of Creator, but is instead their true power and gift (medicine), they will step into a whole different set of �positive� life experiences.  A high-octane fuel will power the rest of the chart enabling appropriate choices leading to a life of love.

Capricorn can surrender the need to control or bring order to all life experiences (and the world), thereby fully realizing the Divine order.  Taurus can surrender the notion that the body is not Sacred/Divine, thereby allowing the full enjoyment of all that the senses can offer.  Pisces can surrender the notion that this whole game of life (the whole show) is actually separate from Creator!  They can then clearly see the divine intervention and grace constantly occurring in their own and other�s lives.  Until then they could take the game all too seriously, trying to �win�, an instead,  experience disillusionment.  These examples are not intended to be all-inclusive, but to show how this approach can be applied to all the signs.  You are encouraged to contemplate all the signs and come up with paradigms that fit your experience. 

In no way does this application attempt to reduce the significance of the entire birthchart to sun sign astrology!  What we are speaking of when we refer to energy, or the �fuel� is the feeling of at-oneness we have when we are centered in our power.  We are speaking of the enthusiasm for life that is engendered by the absence of our basic fears.  The desire to get up out of bed in the morning and deal with the rest of our lives!  The excitement that comes from feeling our power and enables us to deal with the possible addictions symbolized by the moon and/or the south node.  The energy to take on the complexes of Saturn and the outer planets, to accomplish the inner marriage of masculine and feminine energies indicated by mars and venus.  The drive to manifest the future storyline reflected in the Ascendant and moon�s north node.  The Sun, in this view, is the great integrator, the power behind the rest of the horoscope.

In conclusion then, we can see the Sun as a great transmitter of Universal Intelligence, beaming it down to planet earth.  We are as antennae while in physical bodies.  As we tune our consciousness to the channel of our sun sign, we will receive the main information needed to power our lives.  It is then up to us to freely choose to reduce the static in the transmission by surrendering our fear of separation.  As we let go of our fear, we will experience an increase in our life energy (burn high-octane fuel) and enjoy a greater quality of life.  This higher quality of life is the realization of (already existing) unity and love, eventually leading to our �waking up� to our own Divinity and life purpose.