Discover Your Life’s Calling – Vocational Astrology Simplified

Discover your life’s calling through vocational astrology. In this article we’ll discuss the art of guiding ourselves and our clients to fulfillment and success in our vocation, in our careers, in our creative projects and endeavors, in the path of our heart’s desire. All astrologers, no matter what school we follow or what methods we utilize, advise people about how to find their way in the world of work and vocation, where most of us spend much of our adult lives, earning money, serving others, performing roles in society, and investing our energy in creative activity.

Vocational Astrology: A way to discover your life’s calling

It’s through our success in handling our practical affairs that we demonstrate the ability to apply astrology in a grounded way, in real life. Vocational astrology guides us in what Hazrat Inayat Khan called the path of mastery through accomplishment.[i] To illustrate this I’ll discuss some case examples, and a few examples of famous individuals. [ii] 

What is My Calling in Life?

In vocational astrology we’re concerned with two distinct tasks—finding a way to earn our livelihood, and finding our calling, our true vocation. Sometimes these tasks are synonymous, so that we learn to translate what we love doing most into our source of income. But in many cases the path of our calling is not the way we earn our living. Our 10^th house calling may be different from our 6^th house job or trade. A calling or vocation isn’t necessarily our profession. It’s the central project (or projects) of our life, a path or an activity that’s intrinsically fascinating and satisfying to us. A vocation is an intrinsically rewarding activity that we want to pursue regardless of whether or not we earn money or recognition for it. This intrinsically satisfying activity is most often an expression of the true self, the natal Sun, in alignment with our solar zodiacal soul path, and the evolving pattern of progressions and transits, as I’ll illustrate below.

 There are four core texts in vocational astrology that I think everyone should study. The first is Charles Lunz’s classic, Vocational Guidance by Astrology,[iii] first published in 1942, now reprinted in Noel Tyl’s excellent volume, Vocational Astrology for Success in the Workplace.[iv] Also, Tyl’s Vocations: The New Midheaven Extension Process[v] is essential reading. The fourth book I recommend is Joanne Wickenburg’s How to Find a Fulfilling Career. Lunz says to pay special attention to planets in the tenth house, and planets near the Midheaven, also planets in the 9^th house but within 5° of the Midheaven; and planets aspecting the Midheaven. He writes:

If Saturn has not already appeared in one of the above categories, viz., in or within 5° of the tenth, ruling the tenth cuspal sign or aspecting the M.C., he should next be considered, as he is normal planetary ruler of the tenth. Examine the sign he is in. . . . If Capricorn has not similarly appeared, his sign is now up for consideration together with planets occupying it. Capricorn is the normal tenth house sign. . . . We must then look to the sixth house and its affiliates. The sixth house governs employment, whereas the tenth is concerned with the nature of the occupation. In the horoscope of an employee the sixth house represents the employers. If and when he becomes an employer it then has reference to his employees.[vi]

To discover your life’s calling and begin the process of vocational assessment, we look at what planets were dominant in the sky at the birth moment. We look at what planets were aspecting the Ascendant, or the Midheaven, closely aspecting the Sun or its dispositor, and the Moon. We look at any planet that is the “final dispositor” of a group of other planets. For example, if you have a stellium of planets in Sagittarius, Jupiter is the final dispositor of those planets because it governs Sagittarius. With a stellium in Taurus, Venus is the final dispositor. With a Capricorn stellium the final dispositor is Saturn.

 

Sign Emphasis

General vocational indicators are found by examining the zodiacal sign emphasis of the chart, such as placement of the natal Sun or other prominent planets in a particular sign, especially planets in the 2^nd, 6^th, and 10^th houses. Each zodiacal sign can be expressed though characteristic occupations. For example, planetary emphasis in Aries (such as Sun in Aries or several planets in this sign) or a prominent placement of natal Mars may be expressed through any occupation allowing individuality, initiative, energy, and assertiveness, or expression of physical strength and agility.

Planetary emphasis in Taurus suggests pragmatic, down-to-earth occupations, such as accounting, banking and finance, farming, architecture, lucrative business enterprises, or interest in biology, ecology, the physical environment.

With planetary emphasis in Gemini we seek variety and stimulation, and prefer occupations emphasizing language, information, communication, typing, writing, speech, linguistics. Storyteller and monologist Spalding Gray has Sun, Mercury, and Jupiter in Gemini.

Planetary emphasis in Cancer shows interest in real estate and property, work related to families, or caring, nurturing occupations, including cooking, counseling, massage, working in hotels and restaurants, providing hospitality, or emotional presence and empathy.

Leo emphasis suggests work involving creativity, self-expression, children, play, acting, dance, and performance. Here Wickenburg notes a “need for self-expression and ego fulfillment” in an occupation,[vii] as well as a need to project charisma, warmth, and dramatic flair. Actor Robert DeNiro has Sun-Jupiter-Pluto-north node conjunct in Leo.

Virgo emphasis may indicate careers involving healthcare, medicine, nutrition, meticulous attention to detail, analysis, classification, systematizing, diagnosis—any highly technical, skilled occupation.

Libra emphasis may indicate interests in music or the visual arts, fashion, design, decorating, marriage counseling, mediation, or diplomacy. A woman with Sun conjunct Saturn in Libra in the 9^th house is a professor of art history who has demonstrated an ability to mediate between department colleagues involved in contentious disputes. Another woman with Sun-Venus in Libra is a cosmetologist who enjoys talking to her clients about their relationships and marriages.

Scorpio emphasis may indicate interest in occupations involving research, investigation, psychology, chemistry, surgery, dentistry, plumbing, or involving mysteries, sex, trauma, or death. Sagittarius emphasis often indicates careers involving teaching and education, publishing, law, travel, international matters, journalism, philosophy, religion, preaching or teaching, promotion, advertising, or foreign trade. A woman with Sun-Venus-Mars in Sagittarius traveled around the world in her twenties on a quest for enlightenment, and now works in educational publishing. Professor Noam Chomsky has Sun-Mercury-Saturn conjunct in Sagittarius, an apt symbol for this towering intellectual genius.

Capricorn denotes striving for achievement, authority, and security. Planetary emphasis here suggests ambition and interest in positions involving management, responsibility, and authority, and affording status, reputation, respect, recognition, and prestige.

Planetary emphasis in Aquarius denotes interest in science, technology, invention, humanitarian causes, unions, social activism, group activity, and promoting progressive values. Here there’s a concern with achieving something of value to society, involvement in social movements, or being a force for world change. Bob Marley had Aquarius Sun in the 10^th house, opposite Pluto, as well as Uranus rising. Aquarius emphasis can also indicate interests in media, radio and TV, electronics, computer science.

Pisces emphasis may indicate a focus on spirituality, mysticism, and human services, or water-related careers. Pisces careers might involve faith, trust, compassion, altruism, service, hospital work, welfare agencies, psychic abilities, volunteering, or nonprofit organizations. I once met a championship swimmer with natal Sun-Mars conjunct in Pisces.

 

Discover Your Life’s Calling: Planets as Vocational Indicators

Regardless of what vocational path we choose, it’s essential to awaken the powers associated with each planet. Mercury: good language and communication skills. Jupiter: expansion through education, planning, goal setting, and taking advantage of moments of opportunity. Mars: energy, drive, initiative, motivation. Moon: Caring and showing our concern for others, sustaining emotional attachments, and being in our emotional center in whatever we’re doing. Venus: having good people skills, dressing well, and exhibiting tact, diplomacy, and social appropriateness. Highly skilled or talented individuals with underdeveloped Venus functions may be severely hampered in their progress simply because they don’t know how to mingle easily with others and make a positive impression. And of course it’s important to develop the Saturn functions of focus, commitment, hard work, choicefulness, and organization. To discover your life’s calling, awakening the functions associated with each planet is essential.

 

The Sun as Primary Vocational Indicator

Of all the planets, I consider the natal Sun the most powerful element in vocational astrology. In addition to studying the dispositors of the Ascendant and Midheaven, and the sign and house emphasis of a chart, I examine the natal Sun’s house and sign position, its aspects, and the placement of the Sun’s dispositor. Let’s take a brief tour of the house placements of the natal Sun. Along the way I’ll introduce some brief examples and note the influence of transits on the process of discovering your life’s calling.

With Sun in the 1^st house we can strongly project our distinctive personality to the world. A man with Scorpio Sun in the 1^st house was a radio talk show host with no particular achievements to distinguish him except having an exceedingly funny and sarcastic personality. Kristine, a woman with Sun-Mercury-Venus-Neptune conjunct in Scorpio on the Ascendant, is a former model (Venus), and now a spiritual artist and educator who makes a strong impression through her colorful and expensive wardrobe. She has spent a lot of money on facials, plastic surgery, and body sculpting. To her, image is everything (Venus conjunct Ascendant). With Sun in the 1^st house we’re concerned with showing the world a personal demeanor or style that’s congruent with who we are.

With Sun in the 2^nd house we pursue careers in which our self-worth is validated by solid earning. A man with Leo Sun in the 2^nd house focused on earning money to support having children. The Leo focus on dedication to children was part of his calling. Also, he made creative use of resources. He spent big money to construct an elaborate display at the Burning Man festival. A retired man with Sun-Venus-Mercury in Leo in the 2^nd house was a successful salesman, who, according to his wife, is obsessed with money and investments.

 The natal Sun in the 3^rd house often prefers writing, reading, and a career in which we can communicate a lot. A man with Gemini Sun in the 3^rd house is a poet, motivational speaker, and monologist, a non-stop talker and raconteur. 3^rd house emphasis can also indicate a career focused on transportation or driving.

A man named Fred has Jupiter in Taurus in the 10^th house. In alignment with Jupiter’s rulership of Sagittarius (law), Fred works as a legal secretary, a position he found in 2000, when transiting Jupiter and Saturn were conjunct in Taurus at his Midheaven, conjunct his natal Jupiter. That’s when he became successful. He does this job to make good money (Jupiter in Taurus). But his natal Sun is in Libra in the 3^rd house, closely conjunct Saturn and Neptune. Fred’s true calling is to become a novelist, musical composer (Libra), and songwriter (Sun in the 3^rd house). With Sun in Libra (sign of relationships) conjunct Saturn-Neptune in the 3^rd house, he writes romantic love songs, usually about his tragic love affairs and unrequited attractions to married men, and he is working on a novel about relationships. He has interesting observations (3^rd house) about people and their relationships (Libra). Fred asked me if he should quit his job, which bored him, to pursue his writing. I responded that his job allowed him to live comfortably to pursue his writing. I noted how his career in the legal field had developed and advanced while transiting Jupiter-Saturn were conjunct in his 10^th house. This had been a fortunate opportunity enabling him to establish the professional and life structures needed for long-term financial growth and prosperity (natal Jupiter in Taurus in his 10^th house). These weren’t structures he should abandon. Rather, he could utilize the financial comfort he enjoyed to further his dream of being a writer (Sun in the 3^rd house). Sometimes we need to be practical and find a viable way of sustaining ourselves financially so that we can pursue our true calling.

With a 4^th house emphasis one’s career path may be influenced by family heritage, or there may be interests in real estate, or land and property development or management. A woman with Sun-Venus-Mars in Cancer in the 4^th house found a fulfilling career in hotel management.

A man with Taurus Sun in the 4^th house is a contractor who buys, renovates, and sells houses, and specializes in designing and constructing bathrooms and kitchens. He’s an expert on home improvement. The natal Sun in the 4^th house may indicate emotional work, working from the home, working from our deepest center, or strong ties to the family that influence our vocational path.

Una and Raul, recent immigrants from another country, called to consult with me. Una has Saturn in Cancer in the 1^st house, closely conjunct her south node, thus family and home (Cancer) are her core values. She also has a natal Sun-Pluto conjunction in Virgo in the 4^th house. Her father is a very controlling patriarch (Pluto in 4^th). Una works in the family business—geographic mapping (4^th house: the sense of place). This is an occupation requiring great Virgo precision and attention to detail. She very much wants to buy a house (4^th house Sun, and Saturn rising in Cancer), but she and her husband have no money. At the time of consultation, transiting Saturn is conjunct her Ascendant. She needs to face the reality and limits of their situation, be patient, slowly save money, and make the best of their current small dwelling (Saturn in Cancer), which at least is safe and quiet, she said. During her upcoming Saturn return in Cancer, perhaps she and Raul can fulfill their hopes of buying a house, possibly with some financial help from her family.

 With Sun in the 5^th house we’re drawn to careers involving fun, play, performance, creativity, the arts, places of entertainment, or working with children. A musician with Sun-Venus in Leo in the 5^th house and Mars in Capricorn in the 10^th is driven to success. He has the drive needed to get ahead in the competitive field of entertainment.

 A highly accomplished composer and concert musician named Jim has natal Sun-Mercury in Aries in the 5^th house (performance) and a Venus-Jupiter conjunction in Aquarius in the 3^rd house—an apt symbol for someone with abundant musical ideas. Jim’s Sun-Mercury and Venus-Jupiter form quincunx aspects to Saturn in Virgo in the 10^th house, which has brought a strong dose of the reality principle; and the reality is that his work in music doesn’t bring him much income. Indeed, Jim complains bitterly about his lack of money, and the way American culture doesn’t value the arts. Jim has to bear the tension of the fact that he needs to hold various day jobs (waiter, taxi driver, night security guard), none of them glamorous, but necessary for his survival. With Saturn in Virgo in the 10^th house, quincunx his Sun-Venus, his path is not only to be a musician but also to be a worker, to sustain himself while he continues to pursue his music. He’s buoyed by the observation that Uranus is now entering Aries and will soon pass over his Sun-Mercury in the 5^th house, which may bring more opportunities to express his talents as a concert performer.  

A woman named Tula has Virgo Sun in the 5^th house. I began her consultation by asking if children were central in her life. Gwen replied that she has three children, and six stepchildren! Indeed, kids are the center of her life. She works as a child advocate, promoting children’s health and nutrition (Virgo Sun in 5^th house). More on Tula later.

Sun in the 6^th house suggests having the identity of a worker, being identified with one’s workplace role or trade. A man with Scorpio Sun in the 6^th house was known to everyone as Todd the Plumber. Sun in the 6^th house may represent a strong concern with health, an urge to purify, detoxify, and achieve maximum health. A woman with Sun-Pluto conjunct in Virgo in the 6^th house is a disciplined practitioner of yoga, and is very health- and diet-conscious. Her day job is as an auditor and investigator (Pluto) for a large health insurance company (Virgo).

The 6^th house has special importance in vocational astrology as the house that governs the workplace and our need to acquire and enhance our work-related skills. This is the house of training and apprenticeship. Transits through the 6^th house denote changes in workplace conditions, changes in relationships with coworkers or employees, or a desire to develop one’s skills. A graduate student in psychology found a paid internship working with children when transiting Sun-Venus-Jupiter were conjunct in Leo in her 6^th house. A woman experienced notable stress in the workplace while transiting Mars was retrograde in her 6^th house. A man fell in love with a coworker when transiting Venus-Mars were conjunct in his 6^th house.

With Sun in the 7^th house, we can cultivate our talents in working with others, for example, having close ongoing relationships with clients. Our vocational path may be shaped by partnerships, friendships, or marriages. A woman named Brenda, with Sun-Venus in Capricorn in the 7^th house, managed her husband’s medical practice. Ed, a record producer with Sun-Moon in Leo in the 7^th house, helps other people, his friends, to realize their creative aspirations. More on Ed later.

A man named Dave with Sun-Venus in Taurus in the 7^th house, square natal Saturn in Leo in the 10^th house, made a good living in computer technology sales. His wife loved the money he earned, and he felt that his calling was to provide all the comfort and luxuries she desired, as well as to provide for the security of his children (Saturn in Leo). Dave built his success by working tirelessly to cultivate lasting relationships with his clients (Saturn square Sun in 7^th house). In 1992–3 Dave had progressed Sun conjunct Uranus in Gemini. I suggested that he might become involved in a new business venture (8^th house) focused on communication and information technology (Uranus in Gemini). I told him, “You may become involved in a technology that will change how the society at large handles information. Also, look for an opportunity to become vested with stock in the business” (Uranus in the 8^th house). Dave got in on the ground floor of a major internet software company and made a fortune on company stock.

With natal Sun in the 8^th house we may work in areas related to sex, death, trauma, or any field related to business, credit, investment, or sharing of assets. Management of trusts, estates, or other shared funds can be a focal point of vocational activity. A prominent oncologist has natal Sun-Pluto conjunct in the 8^th house. A sex therapist has Sun-Mars conjunct in Scorpio in the 8^th house. A man with an 8^th house Sun in Sagittarius used family inheritance money to start a chain of fast food restaurants. A woman with Sun-Mercury in Gemini in the 8^th house is a data clerk (Gemini: data processing) for a statewide Worker’s Compensation fund. She manages the funds of others on a large scale.

Sun in the 9^th house often indicates an intellectual focus or a career involving education, travel, or law. A woman with Sun-Mars in the 9^th house is a university administrator who exercised decisive educational leadership. A woman with Sun in the 9^th house, trine Jupiter in her first house, is a librarian who also loves to teach.

A man named Chris, with Capricorn Sun in the 9^th house squaring Neptune in Libra and Mars in Aries, is a brilliant but impractical intellectual. He never finished his graduate work or any of the writing he started years ago. With Sun square Mars in the 12^th house, his intense preoccupation with psychedelic drugs has sidetracked him from fulfilling his solar purpose. Chris has squandered energy on fruitless endeavors, impractical dreams, and illusions. With Venus-Saturn conjunct in the 8^th house, he lives off the generosity of his family, girlfriends, and wealthy friends.     Ted has natal Sun-Venus in Leo in the 9^th house, square Jupiter-Neptune in Scorpio in the 12^th house. He’s an imaginative, visionary photographer, interested in filmmaking. With Sun-Venus in the 9^th house, Ted is an artist, interested in the philosophy of art and film. With his Sun in the 9^th house, he’s an intellectual, but with his Moon in Taurus in the 6^th house of trades and workers, Ted supports himself using his practical skills as a carpenter and handyman.

A woman named Ann has natal Sun in Cancer in the 9^th house, opposite Saturn in Capricorn in the 3^rd house. As a child, she was physically abused by her two brothers (Sun opposite Saturn in the 3^rd house). As an adolescent she became a truant from school, which she detested (Saturn in 3^rd house of school), and she got in trouble with the law (Sun in 9^th house). With Neptune in the 1^st house, Ann became an alcoholic, but later went into recovery. With Neptune in Scorpio in the 1^st house, she expresses a powerful aura of sexual mystique. Her natal Neptune opposes Mars in Taurus in the 7^th house. Ann works in the sex industry, as a dominatrix. She evokes strong desire and sensual excitement in others—Mars in Taurus in the 7^th house. Her daily life is full of sensuous and aggressive exchanges. But Ann has other aspirations. She’s finishing her college education and wants to become a lawyer specializing in family law: Sun in Cancer (family) in the 9^th house (law).

Sun in the 10^th house can denote a career in which one seeks or gains notoriety and visibility. People with Sun in the 10^th house can attract prominence, exceptional reputation, and visibility in career. Jack Nicholson has Taurus Sun conjunct Uranus in the 10^th house. Musician Tom Petty has Sun-Saturn-Neptune in Libra in the 10^th house. Singer-songwriter Richard Thompson has Aries Sun in the 10^th house conjunct Mercury, Venus, Mars, and north node.

Pam, a film and stage actress with Sun-Venus conjunction in Capricorn at the Midheaven, quincunx Pluto in Leo in the 5^th house, enjoyed a period of fame and success but later withdrew from the public eye because she disliked the egotism and ruthless competitiveness of the entertainment industry (Pluto in the 5^th house), and the childish petulance, vanity, and image-consciousness that this world evoked in her. She struggled with a narcissistic streak, a desire to be treated as special (Pluto in Leo in the 5^th house). This made it hard for her to endure the pressure, competition, and frequent disappointments of auditions. She felt she should be chosen for roles without having to audition, because of her past work and reputation. After several years of retirement she made a successful comeback when transiting Jupiter passed through Cancer, opposite her 10^th house Sun-Venus. Her talent naturally drew attention from the public. She won auditions for several excellent theatrical roles.

Sue has Sun-Mercury in Aquarius in the 10^th house, opposite Pluto. Sue is a highly paid administrative secretary at a large corporation, serving upper management. She has a very visible position, and is a well-known figure at her company. Within her corporation she’s a star. With Sun opposite Pluto in Leo, she takes pride in working under powerful people, and within her sphere of influence she’s a powerful person. One day Sue called to tell me that she was quitting her job after thirteen years. Transiting Uranus was exactly conjunct Sue’s Aquarius Sun. She’d had a revelation after a weekend workshop where she walked on hot coals. She said, “This experience woke me up. I realized I had to break free in order to realize my teenage dream of becoming a great writer.” Note how Uranus acts here in its classic role as the awakener. Sue decided to go back to college to complete her BA, studying creative writing (Sun-Mercury in the 10^th house), with an emphasis on futuristic science fiction (Uranus conjunct her Aquarius Sun). She was individuating rapidly. With Sun-Mercury in the 10^th house, opposite Pluto, Sue wanted to have her own career and life’s work, and to be recognized for her own ideas.

While we’re discussing the 10^th house of career, let’s quickly consider a few of the other planets in the 10^th house. Moon in the 10^th house may signify careers involving caring, cooking, feeling, nurturing, empathy. It’s not uncommon for mothers to have natal Moon conjunct the Ascendant or Midheaven. A man with Moon in Cancer in the 10^th house is a psychotherapist known for his emotional depth and sensitivity. Mercury in the 10^th house often symbolizes a career involving writing, communication, and speaking. My mother has Mercury in Gemini conjunct the Midheaven, and she has been a professional journalist and editor since the 1930s. Venus in the 10^th house is sometimes seen in the charts of bookkeepers, financial planners, or anyone with a career in which people skills and maintaining business relationships are essential to success. Venus in the 10^th house may also signify careers in music or the arts. A successful pianist has Venus conjunct south node in Aries in the 10^th house. He was a child prodigy who went on to tour internationally and recorded many CDs.

Allow me a brief digression on the charts of musicians. Musical talent can be indicated by strong placement of Venus near the angles or in prominent aspects to other planets. Jazz guitarist John Scofield has Venus conjunct Pluto, an apt symbol for his intense, biting, bluesy sound. Guitarist Jeff Beck has Sun-Venus conjunct in Cancer. Eric Clapton has Venus in Taurus opposite the Moon in Scorpio, square Pluto in Leo in the 10^th house, and sextile Mars in the 5^th house of performance and creativity. Free jazz pioneer Ornette Coleman has Venus-Uranus conjunct in Aries. Donald Fagen of Steely Dan has Venus in Aquarius exactly square the Moon’s nodes. David Crosby has Venus closely conjunct the north node in Virgo. Miles Davis had Venus in Aries square the nodal axis, trine Neptune in Leo. Jimi Hendrix had Sun-Venus conjunct in Sagittarius, opposite Uranus and Saturn. Rickie Lee Jones has Venus-Sun conjunct the Midheaven in Scorpio. Thelonius Monk had Sun-Venus-Mercury conjunct in Libra. Willie Nelson has Sun-Venus conjunct in Taurus in the 5^th house. Gypsy jazz virtuoso Django Reinhardt had Venus in Pisces semisquare Saturn, sextile Mars, square the nodes, trine the Moon, and sesquare both Neptune and Jupiter.

This type of relationship between a focal Venus and a career in the arts can also be applied to other planets. For example, a prominent Jupiter placement (aspecting the Sun, in the 10^th house, or strong by house or sign placement) is commonly seen in the charts of people involved with law or education. Prominent placement of Mars, such as Mars near angles, aspecting the Sun, or placed in the 10^th house, is often seen in the birth charts of mechanics, plumbers, engineers, fighters, people employed in law enforcement or the military, athletes, firemen. It may signify any occupation involving bravery, heroism, and valor, or strong motivation and initiative. A salesman with Mars-Mercury in Taurus in the 10^th house is a tireless worker who has won Salesman of the Month awards eighteen times. Mars in the 10^th house denotes energy for the pursuit of career and ambitions. A similar profile is seen in those with other strong placements of Mars or planetary emphasis in Aries, which denotes energy, physicality, competitiveness. A woman with Mars-Saturn conjunct in Virgo in her 10^th house is a hard-working carpenter.

Now let’s complete our tour of the Sun through the natal houses. With Sun in the 11^th house, we may be strongly drawn to politics or social activism. Here one’s vocation may be defined through commitment to a cause, social movement, collective enterprise, or through involvement in the activities and agendas of a particular group or organization. A woman with Sun in Taurus in the 11^th house is a fundraiser for a large spiritual organization.

Jen, a yoga teacher with a natal Sun-Jupiter conjunction in Cancer in her 11^th house, was asked by her guru to move to a distant city to start a yoga center. For her, Sun-Jupiter in the 11^th house symbolized teaching and leadership in a community. However, things were not going so well. There was a transiting Saturn-Pluto opposition across her Gemini/Sag Midheaven and Nadir. She was facing obstacles, classes were not filling up, she was losing money. Jen asked me if I thought she should accept defeat and close the center. I noted that nine months in the future transiting Saturn in Cancer was going to be conjunct her natal Sun-Jupiter. The unfolding of her goal of becoming a teacher and creating a vibrant yoga community could most confidently be expected to come to fruition at the time of this transit. We discussed how astrology teaches us patience, faith, and right timing. It was also pertinent that Jen had a progressed Sun-Pluto conjunction in Leo in her 12^th house. She was burning with resentment and hurt pride (Leo) because other yoga teachers who were more glamorous got all the public attention, while she felt unappreciated and overlooked (12^th house). I suggested that, as part of her training as a yoga teacher, she might strive to release false ego pride (Sun-Pluto in Leo). She could also develop her own feminine, Great Mother, Cancerian style as a teacher—for example, by having food at her yoga center, seasonal celebrations, child care, a family environment, and warm hospitality. Her calling was to create family and community: Sun-Jupiter in Cancer in the 11^th house. She implemented many of these suggestions. Nine months later Jen’s center was written up in the newspaper and suddenly became the most popular yoga spot in her city. Astrology affirmed her path and gave her faith in a positive outcome, if she’d remain committed to her goal and work hard to make it happen. This is the best response to any Saturn transit—focus and sustained effort. This example also illustrates the practice of visualizing the most desirable outcome of upcoming transits, a topic discussed in Astrology and Meditation.[viii]

Sun in the 12^th house may symbolize an orientation toward service and charitable activity, occupations in which one can remain behind the scenes, or interest in metaphysics and spiritual practices. One is less motivated here by egoic strivings, and spiritual aspirations may be central to one’s calling. Raul, the husband of Una (discussed earlier) is a software engineer. With a Sun-Neptune conjunction in early Sagittarius in the 12^th house, Raul isn’t highly ambitious and enjoys quietly doing his job, then dedicating the rest of his time to meditation. Spirituality is a growing interest for him, which has grown even stronger recently with transiting Uranus square his Sun-Neptune. With natal Sun in the 12^th house, spirituality and self-realization have become central life goals. Here is yet another way that astrology exceeds any other comparable tool for personal guidance, because it can illuminate how a path to God and enlightenment are valid life goals. Raul has Jupiter-Mercury-Venus conjunct in Sagittarius near the Ascendant. I said, “You need to find your work intellectually interesting, and you’ll advance in your career as your intellectual understanding grows.” He asks, “When will I get a more stable job, more financial security?” I note that transiting Saturn is currently in the 7^th house. I suggest that what’s most important right now is to cultivate his interpersonal contacts and business relationships in his field (Saturn in the 7^th house). He should position himself by establishing trust and by demonstrating his competence and reliability. “Show them you can get the job done and there’ll be more than enough work for you.” Several months later, Raul called and said that everything was unfolding as we’d discussed.

Timing in Vocational Astrology

Another advantage vocational astrology has over other methods of vocational guidance is the wisdom it teaches us about timing. For example, the monthly lunation cycle and the progressed lunation cycle are important indicators of seasonal phases and rhythms of life and career. We don’t expect peak activity or momentum toward our occupational or vocational goals during the monthly waning moon or the progressed balsamic phase; things are likely to be winding down. Similarly, during major 12^th house transits, or during transits or progressions involving Neptune, our work may slow down noticeably. It’s as if the universe wants us to look inward, and external activities may diminish or contract. We have to wait out those times with faith, prayer, and surrender. We might characterize these Neptune, 12^th house, or waning lunar phase periods as dormancy periods. We also recognize that there are effortful, structure-building periods, often during major Saturn transits and the waxing phases of the progressed lunation cycle. More active or culminating periods of professional activity can be anticipated during transits of the outer planets to the Midheaven or its dispositor, or to the natal Sun and its dispositor, as well as during the progressed lunar trine, and the progressed Full Moon, as well as transits or progressions to the Midheaven or its dispositor, the Sun or its dispositor. We could characterize these as periods of fruition. Especially important in understanding timing in vocational development is the Jupiter-Saturn transit cycle, discussed below.

Vocational astrology teaches us how the seasons of business and professional life are correlated with planetary cycles and transits. This awareness is especially important when working with business owners, private practitioners, and self-employed people, who face the issue of fluctuating income. By following our transits we can understand when the well is likely to be full, and when the well may be less full. For example, during Saturn-Pluto conjunctions, squares, and oppositions, business tends to be slower for everyone. It’s a more difficult time in the economy. Periodically we need the lesson of survival, focusing on bare essentials, cutting away unnecessary attachments and luxuries, and sharing, to some small degree, in the survival stresses affecting many people around the world.

In any vocational path there are likely to be long periods of gestation of creative work, or total obscurity or lack of recognition. These periods require that we sustain ourselves as best we can, and continue to work, create, and emanate light through whatever activities make us feel happy: music, writing, astrology, sports, flying airplanes. Whatever we love to do, we do it for it own sake, not to win accolades from the world.

The person’s true life calling is discerned through understanding the whole chart, not just the rulers of the 2^nd, 6^th, and 10^th houses. Our goal is to fulfill the whole chart, not just the career indicators. Career isn’t everything, unless you have a chart indicating that career is everything. For example, my father was a sociologist with a Sun-Jupiter-Saturn conjunction in Virgo in the 2^nd house. Tireless work, extensive travel, lifelong study and learning, earning money (2^nd house), and gaining a prominent reputation were important life goals for this highly accomplished man. With Sun conjunct Jupiter-Saturn, he was fully identified with his career and social role. But not everybody is like that. There are some people whose calling in life is to devote themselves to children, music, community organizing, cooking, scholarship, art, gardening, poetry.

 

Neptune

Neptune poses some unique challenges in career and vocational development. Neptune inspires us with a vision of what’s possible, and causes us to aspire to idealistic goals. But usually the price of Neptune’s vision is passage through periods of fog and murky waters. At these times we need to cultivate faith, imagination, and trust in the unknown. For example, any time transiting Neptune is conjunct, square, or opposite natal Saturn we can expect to pass through a period of uncertainty about our goals and ambitions. We might have to accept delays or defeat of our ego strivings. The same is true during major 12^th house transits, such as Saturn in the 12^th house.

A woman named Dorya lost her bearings for a year, while transiting Neptune was conjunct natal Saturn in Aquarius in the 12^th house, and she felt like she was going crazy because everything in her life was up in the air. She was advancing in her work as an artist, allowing her imagination to take flight, and she was deeply studying dreams, meditation, and astrology. But Beth felt she needed some concrete plan for getting her life together. I noted her natal Venus-Neptune conjunction in Scorpio in the 9^th house, and natal Sun-Mercury in Sagittarius on the Midheaven, squaring natal Moon-Jupiter conjunction on the Ascendant in Pisces. I asked Beth if she’d ever considered becoming a teacher. Beth’s chart repeats the Sagittarius-9^th house theme three times. She has Sun-Mercury in Sagittarius, the sign of education. Jupiter, the planet of teaching and education, is on the Ascendant. And Venus-Neptune are in the 9^th house of teaching and education. Beth said yes, her vision is to become an art teacher (Venus-Neptune in the 9^th house). She has a strong intellectual nature, and needs further study and education. It’s not enough for her to just make art. Beth came to understand how the Neptune transit to natal Saturn was allowing new goals to emerge from within, which she could pursue during subsequent transits, now that the Neptune meltdown period was almost over.

Neptune can also represent compassion, and interest in mental illness and mental health. Ella, a psychiatric nurse, returned home to care for her aging mother while transiting Saturn was conjunct her natal Moon-Saturn in Cancer. Also, transiting Neptune was conjunct her IC; she was shocked to find her mother living in a dilapidated, rundown house. Ella came to grips with the reality of her relationship with her mother, who was a severely withdrawn schizoid personality, symbolized by Ella’s Moon-Saturn square Neptune in the 12^th house. She came to understand how her career choice originated in her desire to help her mother, and others like her.

The most difficult Neptune cases involve profound confusion, delusions, lack of commitment to concrete goals, or the occasional extreme space cases. Let’s take the example of natal Saturn-Neptune aspects. I sometimes see these aspects in cases of people who feel strong disillusionment with their place in the world, disappointments with their fathers and with their own achievements, a lack of focus or an inability to commit to a course of action. But at a higher level of expression, Saturn-Neptune aspects can blend vision and reality, potentiality and concreteness. Ed, the record producer with Sun-Moon in Leo in the 7th house I discussed earlier, has Neptune in Scorpio at the Midheaven, opposite Saturn in Taurus. Ed deftly weds vision and imagination, and his practical skills with money (Taurus) and investment to make big things happen. Ed develops album concepts, hires the musicians, engineers the recording sessions, presses the CDs, and markets them, from vision to final product: Neptune-Saturn.

Neptune symbolizes a process of deconditioning that frees us from parental voices, societal norms, and religious beliefs and dogmas, and that makes us receptive to guiding symbols of the unconscious and the inner voice of our higher spiritual nature. During Neptunian periods of confusion the best thing we can do is to meditate deeply, work with our dream symbols, and take time to listen within. This may be an ideal time for the vision quest. Under the influence of Neptune it’s important to quiet down and do whatever centers us—for example, gardening, walking, yoga, praying, incubating a dream, and studying our birth chart in a meditative state of mind.

Astrologers who understand the Neptune principle recognize that there are times when not much is happening in career. These may be gestation periods, times of internal reorganization that precede a later shift of focus and priorities. There have been periods in my life when there wasn’t much growth externally but inwardly I felt I was following the path of my calling. During my early twenties, when transiting Saturn was in my 12^th house and transiting Neptune was conjunct natal Saturn, I discovered my calling to be an astrologer, at a time when everything in my life was very chaotic and uncertain. But I was living my dharma, my right road, my truth. An outside observer might have looked at me and saw somebody going nowhere. I wasn’t employed much at that time. I sat in the woods, praying, meditating, writing songs, studying my chart, reading books on astrology, writing down dozens of elaborate dreams. But that was the right thing to do at that time, and it led me to a vision for my life. This is when I became an astrologer, following a spiritual profession: Neptune-Saturn. Vocational clarity often emerges out of the dark night and the valley of confusion. The symbolism of Neptune helps us understand the creative principle of chaos, allowing confusion, formlessness, and uncertainty, trusting that something will be revealed. In time, the Neptune transit or progression will end and one of Saturn’s regular, periodic transit phases will kick in, requiring us to get focused and grounded.

 

Saturn

During transits or progressions involving Saturn we get involved in the formative structure-building processes that lead to progress, advancement, and success. Saturn teaches us that great things grow slowly. The Saturn part of the vocational process involves making practical decisions, structuring our efforts, working hard to advance. Saturn represents concrete steps such as getting credentials or developing our skills by going to school, or through job training, apprenticeship, or self-education. Sometimes this means accepting the slow process of climbing the occupational ladder and gaining experience and seniority.

Once we understand our natal Saturn placement we can strive to fulfill it. We need stability, maturity, and gradual mastery in the areas of life indicated by natal Saturn’s house and sign. We learn to live consciously within the framework of the Saturn transit cycle, especially the conjunction, squares, and opposition of transiting Saturn. Study of the Saturn cycle teaches us to find viable ways to be in the world and to embrace our responsibilities with a mature and serious attitude. There’s no path to vocational success that doesn’t involve persistence and hard work, focus, commitment, organization, and striving for tangible goals. Saturn is thus the prime significator of steady occupational advancement.

 

Discover Your Life’s Calling: Using The Jupiter-Saturn Cycle

The Jupiter-Saturn cycle helps us understand the long cycles of progress and advancement in discovering your life’s calling. The 20-year Jupiter-Saturn transit cycles represent phases of the process of defining and pursuing our goals and intentions. The conjunction corresponds to moments of new projects and formative commitments. Examine your own birth map, and find where the May-June 2000 conjunction of Jupiter-Saturn at 23–24° Taurus fell in your chart. This is a place of formative commitments, where we ‘ve hopefully been focusing our energies and sustained efforts since 2000. The sign, house, and aspects of this conjunction marked the beginning of a major new cycle of activity. The Jupiter-Saturn square in December 2005 (Jupiter 11° Scorpio, Saturn 11° Leo), was a time to take decisive action to carry forward whatever emerged at the conjunction, with expectancy of the cycle’s fullness at the opposition in 2010–11. There have been three Jupiter-Saturn oppositions in this current cycle: Jupiter 28° Pisces opposite Saturn 28° Virgo, May 2010—just as Uranus enters Aries; Jupiter 3° Aries opposite Saturn 3° Libra, August 2010; and Jupiter 15° Aries opposite Saturn 15° Libra, March 2011. The third quarter square will begin August 2015, with Jupiter at 29° Leo square Saturn, 29° Scorpio; Jupiter 17° Virgo square Saturn, 17° Sagittarius, March 2016; and Jupiter stationary direct, 14° Virgo square Saturn retrograde 14° Sagittarius, May 2016. The next Jupiter-Saturn conjunction will occur in December 2020, at 1° Aquarius.

The house and sign placement of the Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions, squares, and oppositions are major transiting events. At the 1980 Libra conjunction in my 12^th house I became an astrologer. At the 1986 square with Saturn in Sagittarius and Jupiter in Pisces I pursued graduate education in psychology and advanced yoga teacher training. At the opposition, with Jupiter in my 10^th house and Saturn in the 4^th house, I received my license to practice marriage and family therapy, and started my psychotherapy practice, procuring an advantageous office location (Saturn in the 4^th house). At the closing square I began teaching in universities and published several books. The Jupiter-Saturn cycle delineates a basic rhythm of growth that teaches us the practical strategy of success and advancement in our work.

 

Uranus

In calling attention to the importance of Saturnian work, form, and structure-building I don’t mean to suggest that this principle reigns supreme, or that our goal should be to maintain our existing life structures at all costs. We need to honor Uranus, the principle of reorganization and the need for new direction. Periodically our structures will change. Psychologist Daniel Levinson says that our lives alternate between structure-building and transitional, structure-changing periods.[ix]

Prominent placement of Uranus (for example, Uranus in the 10^th house, or aspecting the Sun, or Ascendant, Midheaven, or 10^th house dispositor) brings qualities of innovation and uniqueness to a person’s vocational development. Bill Gates has Uranus in the 10^th house square Sun. Wally, a man with Sun-Uranus opposition, is a refrigerator repairman, a very friendly, quirky guy. Those with close Mercury-Uranus aspects often have strong abilities in science, math, or computers; they are often brilliant, wizards, techies, and original thinkers. Uranus emphasis may show a strong streak of individualism or an uncommon life path that’s outside of mainstream society. It can indicate inventiveness in pursuing an alternative lifestyle, or a maverick career. A man with Uranus conjunct the Midheaven in Cancer makes his living as a tree trimmer and running a plant nursery (Cancer). He’s a regional plant expert who publishes a newsletter about horticulture. With natal Mercury-Saturn-Pluto in Leo in his 10^th house, he’s an inventive man (Uranus) with much practical intelligence (Mercury-Saturn).

 

Pluto

If Pluto is prominent as a vocational indicator—for example by placement in the 10^th house or aspecting the Sun—one’s calling or occupation could involve being a powerful, intense person or involve investigation, assessment of crimes, or work with transitions around trauma, death, or bereavement. My mother has Sun conjunct Pluto in Cancer in the 11^th house. She began her career as an organizer in the labor movement (Pluto in the 11^th house). She worked in the corporate world for nearly sixty years. She was adroit in navigating the frequent power struggles, hostile takeovers, and organizational purges of corporate life. Sun-Pluto aspects are often found in the natal charts of people of influence. Ken Wilber has Sun-Mercury-Mars in Aquarius opposite Pluto. A man who is very influential in the field of computer science has Sun conjunct Pluto in the 11^th house, and Uranus in the 10^th house. On a completely different note, I once met a proctologist at a party, and of course I couldn’t resist asking for his birthdata. He was born with a Sun-Pluto conjunction in the 8^th house. Another man with Sun-Pluto conjunct in Virgo in the 10^th house was a health insurance actuary. I once read a chart for a coroner who had natal Sun opposite Pluto. A woman with Sun-Moon in Scorpio, square Pluto in Leo in the 8^th house is a pastoral counselor whose work involves providing emotional support for bereaved individuals and families.

Commitment to Service

Now I’d like to say a few words about the importance of commitment to service in our process of discovering your life’s calling. An example I discussed earlier was Tula, the woman with Virgo Sun-Venus in the 5^th house who had three children, and six stepchildren. I noted how children are the center of her life and that she works as a child advocate. Tula’s Sagittarius Moon in the 8^th house is square Sun-Venus in Virgo in the 5^th house. She’s a very loving mother, and has great relationships with all of her kids. Motherhood is a key part of her life path (Moon-Venus). Tula discovered a strong service orientation in 1992–4 when transiting Uranus-Neptune were conjunct her Midheaven. She felt that the purpose of her life was revealed—to dedicate herself to something beyond herself, to child welfare. In response to her current period of vocational transition, I suggested that she internally renew that commitment: “Ask for all that you need, not just for yourself, but so that you may serve the good of all sentient beings.” This attitude of self-consecration is crucial in evolving a transpersonal consciousness. When I work with clients seeking a meaningful vocation, I often recommend that they cultivate this inner attitude of service.

 With Jupiter rising in Taurus, square Mercury-Pluto in Leo, in the late 4^th house, Tula had been a foreign correspondent for a news magazine for over a decade (Jupiter: journalism). Also, fundraising is a big part of her work (Jupiter in Taurus). She writes grants and gets large sums of money for children’s organizations and schools. Currently transiting Saturn is in her 2^nd house stationary retrograde, opposite natal Moon in the 8^th house. Tula is depressed and crying frequently, which is surprising to this confident, self-possessed professional. It’s reassuring for her to learn how this Saturn transit to natal Moon correlates with her suddenly dark mood. On a practical level, she’s trying to refinance her home and pay off some debts (8^th house). Solar arc Saturn is sesquare natal Uranus in 3^rd house. I ask Tula, “Are you learning about new information technologies, computers? Also, are you considering getting a new, experimental motor vehicle, like an electric car?” She says she’s buying a new computer and just the day before had looked into buying a new hybrid car. Over the next several months Tula launched an environmental education project for elementary schools that made use of computers and the internet (Uranus). Her career’s spiral evolution continued to unfold in this direction. Part of how Tula was able to do this is that her credit situation (8^th house Moon) improved immediately when she cleared up her debts. All facets of our evolution are interconnected. When we respond appropriately to any transit, such as transiting Saturn opposite Moon in the 8^th house, it can affect our vocational path.

Life Calling

The goal of vocational astrology isn’t necessarily to achieve fame and wealth, unless horoscopic factors indicate this possibility.[x] Most people won’t be famous superstars, and that’s as it should be. Our path as astrologers is to affirm all conditions of life, including those in which we do our jobs well without receiving acclaim or recognition. What matters most is our attitude toward whatever work we do in life. For vocational success, being in alignment with the Tao, the way of things, is most important. The path to the mountain peak may be slow, but if we live in alignment with our inner truth, if we follow the path of our individuation, then we’ve already achieved success.

 

[i] H. I. Khan, Mastery Through Accomplishment (New Lebanon, NY: Omega, 2000).

[ii] Some of these ideas were explored in G. Bogart, Finding Your Life’s Calling, op cit.

[iii] C. Lunz, Vocational Guidance by Astrology (St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn, 1942).

[iv] N. Tyl (Ed.). Vocational Astrology for Success in the Workplace (St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn, 1992).

[v] N. Tyl, Vocations: The New Midheaven Extension Process (St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn, 2006).

[vi] C. Lunz, Vocational Guidance by Astrology, op cit., p. 231.

[vii] J. Wickenburg, How to Find a Fulfilling Career, op cit., p. 18.

[viii] G. Bogart, Astrology and Meditation, op cit.

[ix] D. Levinson, The Seasons of a Man’s Life, op cit.

[x] N. Tyl, Astrology of the Famed (Minneapolis: Llewellyn, 1996).