Here is Part II of an excerpt from Alexander Ruperti's book Cycles of Becoming. (See Part I) This is one of the best astrology books I've come across but unfortunately it is out of print. From the humanistic viewpoint, Uranus acts positively as the revealer of greater worlds and more inclusive truths. Uranus is the inspirer, that force which forever tries to transform the autocratic and set ways of Saturn. The universal values of which Uranus is the symbol cannot be reached today except through some kind of revolt against the privileges and the domination of crystallized Saturnian behavior patters. This revolt, however, need not be based on hatred or feelings of revenge which would lead to negative expressions, such as anarchy and revolution on the social level, and bizarre behavior and eccentricity for its own sake on the personal level. These are manifestations traditionally attributed to Uranus. When Uranus challenges, one must seek the means to give a new purpose, direction and meaning to life from a frame of reference larger than the personal ego. Passive subservience to the dictates of an unquestioned tradition and way of life must be changed into a dynamic, positive and creative search for new and more encompassing values and goals. In doing this, the individual must not destroy the Saturnian boundaries of the self, but try to make them more adaptable and less limiting. He must be willing to allow what seem alien elements to enter. One must question the belief that one's personal set of traditions, both racial and cultural, are inherently and spiritually superior to all others. He must be open to the possibility of acting in unprecedented ways and of undergoing a basic change of attitude in order to relate to others according to more-than-personal values. The natal House position of Uranus will indicate the field of experience in which one will most likely have to undergo a deep personal change, where in fact he will often work consciously with Uranus, to learn to understand and welcome the purpose of this metamorphosis. Without this conscious effort to use Uranus in the matters of the natal House, no transformation will be possible, and Uranus will work through social circumstances to bring upheavals that will seem meaningless and have a disintegrative effect.
Because an increasing number of people experience a complete Uranus cycle of 84 years in the course of their lifetime, individual characteristics can be given to Uranus, which is not possible with Neptune or Pluto. "Individual", however, does not mean "personal". Positive Uranian action presupposes individualization as its foundation, a consciousness open to what is new and more-than-personal in its implications. Unlike Jupiter and Saturn, which refer to a person's progress within the limitations of the values established by his birth - his racial, national, cultural and religious framework - Uranus opens the door to the collective unconscious. It is the path to what Jung called "individuation", to that metamorphosis which enables one to realize that his ego is not the central ruler of his personality.
Uranus provides a clue to the type of genius an individual may have; on more ordinary levels, it points to an adventurous spirit or a strong restlessness. This may mean an inner urge to break away from the life conditions which have brought dissatisfaction or failure. It is the power the start anew. As long as a person seeks happiness or success along established, socially acceptable lines and limits himself to the Jupiter-Saturn level of consciousness which leaves no place for spiritual or social metamorphosis, the Uranian energy within him will make him experience such dissatisfaction or failure. Only when a person becomes dissatisfied with the status quo and begins to search for different values does Uranus become active within him, shaking him out of his life-rut and urging him to initiate the changes which some new vision or goal presents. When Uranus begins to function, the conscious ego, conditioned as it is by Jupiter-Saturn heredity and environment, is filled with "divine discontent". One realizes that the values of his conscious ego are too limiting and limited, and that he must seek the means to free himself from the life-pattern established by his family and social milieu. The vision of more universal values enters one's life, a vision which will enable him to understand himself in a new light.
When significant transits of Uranus to the natal Sun, Moon, Saturn or ruling planet occur, the astrologer must interpret the social or familial disturbances in terms of a personal metamorphosis which will be the purpose behind those outward events, keeping in mind any natal aspects between Uranus and the Sun, Moon, Saturn or ruling planet. If there are no significant contacts at birth, then the transit of Uranus over those natal placements will not necessarily have a deep, personal significance. However, whatever Uranus touches in the birth chart by transit will tend to be highly stimulated or upset. The potential challenge will always be presented for a person to use the planetary function thus stimulated at a more universal, less personal level. If one does not succeed in giving this transcendent goal to the transit, then it will simply coincide with some insignificant external change or meaningless upset. The transiting aspects of Uranus to other planets provide individual opportunities for growth, or can lead to the partial loss of one's personal integrity if the challenge of Uranus is not constructively met. This mysterious power within the psyche seeks to transform the essential character of the personality, to make one a fundamentally different person from what he was before the Uranus challenge. This difference will oblige one to test the validity of his earlier state of affairs, both within and without. Social ideals and values will be seen in a new light, and probably as limiting factors in terms of the new vision. One will therefore take steps to radically alter his relationship to them.
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The image above is "Illumination" by Philip Straub
These excerpts (Part I and II) were copied from the first three pages (of 26 pages) of the chapter on Uranus Cycles in the book Cycles of Becoming by Alexander Ruperti.
