Spirituality in the Natal Chart © 2000 Ruth Brummund, Dipl Psych

To illustrate this theme, the Hamburg School section of the DAV (German Astrologers' Association) has provided the data for 

Pope John XXIII

born 1881.Nov.25 at 09h36 UT (GMT) in Sotto-il-Monte, Italy (09°30' East longitude, 45°43' North latitude).

In issue 3/99 of the Hamburg School's ASHS Forum, Udo Rudolph sought to clarify the concept of spirituality.  In the philosophical dictionary published by Alfred Kröner Verlag it states simply: "Spirituality, spiritual; opposite of materialism, physical manifestation".  Yet we also deal with the non-material component of the individual, i.e. the ethical disposition or outlook which explains his way of living.  We recognize this facet of a person as the Elixir of Life, which the Chinese refer to as "Chi".

Friedrich Sieggrün held Poseidon to symbolize spirituality, wisdom, trust, sincerity, realization, lucidity, truth, candor, and insight.

Thus the position of Poseidon in the chart of Pope John should play a special role.  In relation to the question of spirituality, it is essential to investigate the position of Poseidon in connection with the personal points.

Figure 1:  Natal Chart of Pope John XXIII

 [ OM-Rom = Local Meridian of Rome; OA-Rom = Local Ascendant of Rome; Vp = Aries (Vernal) Point  ]

We immediately notice on the 90° dial that a cross is formed between Poseidon and Moon horizontally, and Aries, Zeus, and Neptune vertically.  This could be interpreted as: Emotionally compelling spiritual substance is produced for the general public of the future.

The Moon is the only inner, rapid-motion planet in this configuration, and it stands for personal interaction with the public.  MC/JU=MC/KR=AS/UR is an indicator of his successful leadership position by means of which he incites others in implementing reforms.

The entire midpoint axis reads as follows:

Pope John's spirit was subject to invisible guidance.  He mobilized the public out of its indecision and uncertainty with his enthusiasm.  Such success led to self-assurance while he built trust in his spiritual leadership.  He carried out his reformist ideas in an inspiring manner.  He roused the public by approaching them with openness and candor.  His metaphysical interests engendered a drive to champion futuristic goals.  He worked vigorously to implement his ideas and stimulate discussion of metaphysical matters.  With psychological skill, he knew how to formulate his ideas about the importance of spiritual communion when focusing on worries and concerns.  He was however personally distressed by resistance to the development of his reforms.  Through persistence he deepened his understanding of openness in relating, the power of love, and religious influence.  He was capable of using all his power to make his conception of the future understandable.

This one view alone gives us many indicators of his spirituality.  Yet if we investigate further with the MC/PO axis, to see if it brings us even more evidence.

His understanding of the frailties of the human body and of humanity transported him through many mistakes.  His ideas about positive upward development in his public stance were governed by the process of learning to struggle with impasses with all his might.

An indicator of his spiritual leadership of the Catholic Church should also show clearly through the midpoints in his chart.  Thus we look at the KR/PO axis for personal factors.

As a spiritual leader he knew his way upward among beneficial private contacts.  In cooperative efforts he felt calm and composed while contemplating personal progress and inner felicity.

It might also be interesting to investigate what a relationship with a wife would have brought him.  Thus we take a look at the SU/MO midpoint.

His emotions pertained to the spiritual.  He dealt with love in discussions of partnerships with women, yet he rejected this for himself.  With body and soul he experienced a partnership in the religious realm while in Rome.

We already see many indicators of his spirituality.  His election as Pope took place at the solar arc of 78°13'.  In order to make a connection, NO and ZE would be selected to symbolize this event. 

By investigating this midpoint directed, we see it at this time triggering his Poseidon axis and thus the beginning of his destined mission. 

What motivated him to take this life path?  The Mandala helps us to recognize this.  We subsequently count the frequency of factors on 3 specific axes: those of the Sun, of Mars, and of the Mercury/Jupiter midpoint.

Figure 2:  Personalized Mandala for Pope John XXIII

At first glance, we notice a rather even distribution between rings outside the circles and the dots within the circles.  These indicate the absent and emphasized factors.  Hades is noteworthy in that it is both emphasized and absent in different axes, and this indicates an ambivalence in its functioning.

The left side of introversion shows factors emphasized at all levels of consciousness,  Apollon indicating a rich emotional life, blessings, and capacity for devotion.  With Jupiter emphasized, he stood for justice and frankness.  This is supported by Saturn, which builds a solid base of seriousness and stability.  The absence of the Moon could be understood by his denial of a wife.

His extroverted approach showed in his self-confident appearance in dealing dealing with matters of progress and motivating others.  However, with the absences of Zeus, Sun, and Vulkanus, the power and influence to reach certain objectives remained inoperative.

Through social commitment he sought to bring his rich inner life in harmony with the demands of the outside world.  Yet he was probably never free of indecision.

When looking at the levels of consciousness, we begin with the subconscious component of the collective unconscious, which indicates what is brought from the past into our current experiences.  Mars and Saturn would lead him to focus on problems which are shaped by his role models in the current lifetime and motivate him unconsciously toward justice and progress.  Consciously he experienced harmony in personal associations and with superiors.  This gave him the self-confidence to engage himself in a public-spirited manner and benefit from his experiences. 

If we look further at the Trinity of the Body, Soul, and Spirit, we determine that a relative degree of balance existed with his personality.  Yet the Body (4) is accentuated over the soul (3) and the spirit (2).  Those who remember Pope John XXIII were impressed by his imposing appearance.  At the same time, his blessings were coupled time and again with new surprises.

In this chart we have an extraordinary example of the status of Poseidon as a Transneptunian represeneting the esoteric spiritual realm. 

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The Mandala can be drawn automatically on the Special Uranian astrology program by Aureas Software, designed in cooperation with Ruth Brummund.  For more information, click here.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES ON THE MANDALA:

R Brummund: Introduction to the Uranian Mandala (Meditation Wheel)

R Brummund: Evolution of the Uranian Mandala

R Brummund: Work with the Uranian Mandala

R Brummund: The Dalai Lama: An Assessment via the Uranian Mandala

C G Jung: Comments on the Mandala phenomenon

R Brummund: "Carl Gustav Jung and the Mandala"