Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: a Testament To the Hard Link Saturn and Mars / Pluto

Article by Alejandro Christian Luna

In a ghostly London 18 … the respected Dr. Jekyll achieves a potion that transforms him into another person, someone who meets and expresses the baser instincts, those which should be suppressed and hidden from others. Over time, the second self, Mr. Hyde, he begins to take control, creating such a climate of terror that forces them to make a final ruling: suicide. This article explores the famous mystery play from a psycho-astrological. To deepen it will touch various subjects, including mythology, Psycho synthesis, the concept of shadow and the core energy, as well as the chart of the humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer. We’ll see Saturn, Mars and Pluto can give us clues to understand the tragic dissociation of personality that led to Jekyll to death, but also might have in store a vitality of overwhelming power.

“ Though so profound duality, I was not hypocritical, my two sides were completely spontaneous, not least I was when sections of the brakes, I plunged in shame, when I worked in the light of day in the progress of knowledge or to relieve the unfortunate and suffering (…) Every day, from both sides of my intelligence, the moral and intellectual, was moving steadily toward that truth, whose partial discovery I sentenced to such a terrible shipwreck: that man is not really one but two. I say two, because my knowledge has not gone beyond this point.”

Henry Jekyll’s confession
Robert Louis Stevenson

Introduction

On numerous occasions, the literature shows great psychological truths clearly a glaring reality. Through the use of symbol and metaphor, these stories make us have feelings and experiences that are essential in humans, and reveal our innermost nature in texts considered as pure “fiction.”

Astrology is a language which derives also in the bottomless pool of symbol and metaphor, and discipline is perhaps the best game out of them, because there have been profound and vital insights from the similarities between planets, myths, signs legends, issues, stories and novels.

It is as if astrology was a decoder of all realities, from the concrete to the more subtle. It is tuned to a frequency where there is something that looks interesting or perhaps that which, depending on our “antenna” could only grasp.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky said that the human soul is the battlefield where they fight the forces of good against evil forces, I am sure there is no better map of the battlefield than a chart.

And The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one of the novels that has best exemplified the archetypal struggle between good and evil, a theme that haunts humanity since the very moment that rose on two legs to look like for the first time the starry heaven, conscious of his own conscience and responsible to their own actions.

But what do we mean by good and evil in the context of astrology? Many astrologers cling to a medieval vision of the planetary energies almost dogmatically assert that Venus and Jupiter are good, while Mars, Pluto and Saturn are evil. And certainly have a point. However, this is a look a bit dull, because in themselves these “authorities” are neither good nor bad; it is our limited view that inevitably gives them this or that character.

If we understand the planets and features that make the process can take place, let the dual good / evil definitely back or at least temporarily put aside and enclosed in parentheses.

Our objective here is to discover in the famous book of Robert Louis Stevenson something that allows us to reinterpret the relationships established between Saturn, Mars and Pluto. We will see that there is something important that lies behind the darkness of Hyde and Jekyll bonhomie, since both in fiction and in real life things are not as simple as they seem.

The inner life of a natal chart

With regard to the analysis and interpretation of a chart, we could say that each master astrologer with his methods. While some steps are basic and there is a protocol that is widely accepted, the analysis of the chart will not be neutral because it will be influenced by human qualities and professional astrologer, as your particular ideology, beliefs, training, sensitivity and other various etc. . .

Among other things, the chart is a map showing our different character traits and how these qualities are alliances and feuds among themselves.

When planetary or zodiacal energies are related both by function as by quality tend to clump together, creating something like a “core” which summarizes the type of energy in question.

Perceiving the chart astral in this way, we can see that consciousness tends to make an archetype from these “energy centers.”

Since there are three ways:
Identification of the consciousness with one of them.
No identity and projected it in another.
or integrates them.

To assemble the core energy we need to look for the stronger planetary influence in the chart, taking into account the elements, fixtures, aspects, angularity, etc..

Consciousness we will try to put together or far apart, the astrologer should do is develop a synthetic view that allows accounting for the similarities, repetitions and game that develops between them.

Each core will respond to a power or function, as well as an appropriate archetype.

Tensions between functions exemplify the tensions between the different cores. If there is a harmony between the roles will be a harmony between the nuclei.

Let’s see an example either. If a birth chart we see an excess of the element Earth, three planets in the sign of Capricorn and Saturn in the house X, is valid to think that the quality of Saturn is prominent. And this implies coldness, hardness, crystallization, structure, limit concentration. As psychological correlates have to do with responsibility, effort, should be the superego, maturity, rigidity, etc.

These energies or qualities give the archetype in the figure of the old scholar, the scientist, the hermit, and the head of household.

If in addition to the core “saturnine” we have, for example, a Scorpio Ascendant, Mars in Scorpio square Pluto in House Leo I, we would be talking about a core “Scorpio” or a “Mars / Pluto.” Its qualities are those of transformation, power, destruction, disruption, release, density, etc. Involve psychological manipulation, sexuality, obsessive desires, power, and violence.

As archetypes they could speak of a kamikaze, a magician, a surgeon or a phoenix.

Obviously there may also be other types of nuclei, such as solar, lunar, Venusian, Aquarius, mercury, etc.

Having defined the core can make different assumptions about the likely game: the solar core can ally with the Martians and the Neptunian moon, for example. After all it is natural sympathies or antipathies.

If a hard aspect (square, opposition, and quincunx) relates the two nuclei, the tension forces them to talk, in the previous case, for example, if Saturn and Pluto were in conjunction (1). But although they are not connected by point, the saturnine nucleus on one side and the Mars / Pluto on the other, will that consciousness is polarized, creating a game that, a priori, unknown.

During the first half of the twentieth century the Italian psychologist Roberto Assagioli implemented a therapeutic method named “Psycho synthesis”. Among the main concepts, that he uses, are the sub-personalities or inner selves. ” Each of us is composed of different selves that live within our psyche. And every time I have needs, wants, projects, his own personal history, and his shadow.

Given this fragmentation of the personality is unavoidable to reach a Psycho synthesis, achieving the integration of all these sub-personalities so to achieve a common objective, positive and favorable for all but mainly for the integrated personality.

The My point for now is simple: each core energy of the chart is a sub-personality, and the virtual case of Henry Jekyll would have a Saturnian sub-personality and other Mars-Pluto.

Elaborating on Mars and Pluto

In Greco-Roman mythology, gods both have a leading role. However, today we would say that they urgently needed an image consultant. After all they are the most unpopular of the twelve Olympian. Mars (Ares),because it is clumsy, rude, violent, bloodthirsty, ruthless, intolerant, stubborn (2). It is better the image of Pluto (Hades), as contained in the bowels of the earth, surrounded by dark, souls and monstrous partners.

Pluto is the only one who seems to have some appreciation for Mars (except for Venus, who feels a libidinal attraction to him), it is the people in charge of his dark realm with the victims in every war or argument favors him.
Mars was the son of Jupiter (Zeus) and Juno (Hera) and nephew of Pluto. Remember also that Pluto was the one who fought side by side with his brother Jupiter to bring the old Saturn, its voracious father.

At one time Mars made him a great favor to his uncle. It turns out that Sisyphus, the cunning king of Corinth, captured in a dungeon at the very death (Thanatos) long time no one died in the world and Pluto was desperate. Mars released Thanatos and his first victim was Sisyphus who, deceived by a stratagem Pluto, managed to escape from Hell for a long, long time. At death, the aged, Sisyphus fell into the realm of Pluto for the second and final time, meeting with a task that Pluto had been concocted long. And the punishment is well Capricorn symbolism: even today Sisyphus pushing a boulder up the mountain, he is always out of hand when it is near the top. So, ever goes down the hillside to take up the stone and the ascent, without rest or purpose whatsoever.

In astrology, Mars and Pluto are the rulers of the sign of Scorpio. Some authors argue that Pluto is the higher octave of Mars. Dane Rudhyar says “intensely personal to the action of Mars, Pluto will respond with a collective thrust of activity”, meanwhile Stephen Arroyo says “Pluto symbolizes a kind of energy that can be used creatively only when the wearer is adequately oriented in order spiritual. ” Robert Hand does not seem to be so under the regency of Mars for Scorpio, pointing out that Mars is fiery and extrovert while Scorpio (and Pluto) is introverted and intense. Howard Sasportas equates to Mars with Pluto and personal will to the will of himself deeper.

It is generally agreed that both have to do with momentum, action and will, in one case will be personal (Mars) and the other transpersonal or collective (Pluto).

Therefore, the two planets are consistent among themselves and what they do is to free energy (that would function within the Zodiac Scorpio), the issue is that energy is externalized and exaggerated as compulsive as it tends to cross all boundaries and collapse structures. But who says that is compulsive and excessive? For Saturn, and that this manifestation of energy threatens its very essence.

They begin to generate two poles in the consciousness that reinforce each other. Saturn will want to regulate or block the virulence of Mars / Pluto, as contained feel will do nothing but intensify the virulence, to triple its rigidities Saturn … and so on in a spiral of tension. Thus, the cruelty of the “jailer” is directly proportional to the fury of the beast. ”

Mars and Pluto represent the most critical levels and the most basic instincts of life that should be censored by Saturn. Wild impulses that are understood as “evil.” It is the destructive power at its best, terrorism astrology expressed and kills. So also has to do with suicide bombers, with Al Qaeda and all that implies wishing or wanting to die the death (especially when you have an inclination towards the transcendent).

In general, both rulers of Scorpio: Mars / Pluto spend most of energy trying to retain their own power, because they sense that if you unleash can destroy or destroy themselves. But operating a Saturn will destroy only what is necessary, otherwise it will destroy … or excessively. We want “timing” and sense of proportion.

Perhaps the first thing to do is record to “everything.”
Like Dr. Jekyll confesses:

“And indeed, the worst of my faults was a restless disposition and cheerful, it gave happiness to many, but to me it was very difficult to reconcile with a burning desire to excel and tuck with the severity of the common distinguishing people. Therefore say to hide my pleasure … “

Henry Jekyll obviously found it almost impossible to integrate these two “sub-personalities.” A very vital and should be hidden, given to the pleasures and excesses (Mars / Pluto), while the other was inclined to work and eager to excel in social and professional (Saturn). It is he who does not know of his two personalities, but could not synthesize them in a larger personality, and the impossibility of integration, Jekyll had no choice but to dissociate completely.

“It was in the moral realm and in my own person I learned to know the full and early human duality, and saw that the two natures that contended in the field of my consciousness could separately be me, just because I was radically both; and from very early, even before my scientific discoveries make me a glimpse of the very possibility of such a miracle, I learned to shelter with pleasure, as one who cherishes a dream, the idea of ​​separating these elements. “

At this point, the dissociation between Saturn and Mars / slut is transformed into antagonism. The intimate enmity appears in another passage from the novel by Stevenson: When Jekyll Hyde refers to the hatred towards him:

“… Hence the ape-like tricks that he used against me, scribbling blasphemies on the pages of my books, taking advantage of my own handwriting, burning letters and destroying the portrait of my father …”

It is the only time he mentions his father Jekyll throughout the book. Saturn feels attacked all the time on Mars / slut.
What we can say in favor of Dr. Jekyll (and Hyde) is that it is extremely difficult to maintain simultaneously both energies, be rationality and responsibility on one hand and the greed and the anger on the other. Alchemy had been given only keeping the tension between these two conflicting forces in order to achieve a possible synthesis: release the desire in a frustrating situation.

Hyde’s emergence is the result of not being able to channel pent-up domestic violence itself, not allowed to express the accumulated rage.

Sasportas Howard makes a distinction between anger of Mars and Pluto’s will. The first is the anger of the ego, anger more circumscribed and differentiated itself from a state of consciousness that at least has structured a “me” separate from the environment. The will of Pluto called the will of it, typical of a previous state of consciousness, which still has not established a unique self; living  as a global and undifferentiated rage. Once you have a personal self, we can have a reaction “own”, otherwise it will be an unconscious and uncontrollable.

But the anger is a quality of degradation, is also action, courage, resolution, enthusiasm, wanting to change the status quo. In this sense I would differentiate between anger and other transpersonal this pre-personal (3), (although we agree that the latter could no longer call it anger).

Pre-personal Will is that the baby feels when, for example, are hungry and do not give the breast. Your emotional self is not yet differentiated emotional environment and believes that what you are feeling is what the world is feeling. His anger is not theirs but is a universal anger. But why should we conclude that the plutonic rage “not personal” manifests itself only in the form pre-personal? because if we consider Pluto as a planet facing the transcendent, the more logical to assume a higher energy, a determination transpersonal .

This type of anger transpersonal may take the form of a “righteous anger” that which reacts hotly against injustice but never in the form of violence against people. It is the anger he felt when he saw Jesus merchants profaned the temple of the Father, or when he says “I have not come to bring peace but war,” or when St. Paul addresses the Ephesians: “Be angry, but not sin: do not let the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. ”
The outrage may promote actions to change the circumstances that led to this outrage. When asked Florence Nightingale (founder of nursing homes and hospitals and creator of the first school for nurses) which had been the motive for his exceptional humanitarian efforts, said “Fury!”.

Roberto Assagioli reminds us that one of the essential characteristics of the spirit is energy and power, that progress and spiritual development is obtained through a series of battles and conquests, and which can transform the combative energy will elevate and sublimate power. To do this you should change and refine the motivations that drive us to the struggle, the methods with which we fight, the very quality of the struggle and its field of manifestation.

Returning to the anger of Hyde, undoubtedly it is a pre-personal this anger.

“… And I can at least say to God that no sane man could have committed this crime by a provocation so innocent, and hitting in a state of no sensible reason that the sick child who breaks a toy. But I had voluntarily stripped from any regulatory trends why even the worst of us continues behaving with some degree of balance between the temptations in my case, be tempted even by a minimal stimulus, was dropped. Immediately gave me a raging infernal spirit. Bludgeoned unarmed body in an ecstasy of joy, savoring every stroke with delight, and before the fatigue began to catch up; I attacked the heart, the fit of my delirium, a sudden shudder of fear. “

Everything is beyond Saturn imply a loss of control, an excess that fascinates and frightens at the same time. In Stevenson’s story does not seem to be many options to resolve this inconsistency as Hyde decides to commit suicide (and suicide in Jekyll), but this may be the best resolution? Of course not.