Black Moon and Black Sun Axes as Process of Enlightenment

One question often posed with regard to the Invisible Luminaries is how these points can be seen in relation to and integrated into the rest of the birth chart. It would be a mistake to isolate the interpretation of the Black Moon or the Black Sun. To begin with, both of the these luminaries form an endpoint to each of their respective axes: the point opposite the Black Moon is Priapus, and the point opposite the Black Sun is the Diamond (see my earlier articles on these axes). But just as the Invisible Luminaries are both included in their respective axes, so too do they have a relationship with each other, just as the (White) Sun and Moon are inextricably bound to each other astrologically in the birth and development  of forming ones emotional and psychological identity.

         However, the process in which the Black Sun and Moon are involved does not unfold in the physical, psychological or emotional realm, but belongs to the metaphysical level of existence. Along with the Moon’s Nodal Cross, the Black Moon and Sun axes describe development of the Soul or Consciousness. The points belonging to the Invisible Luminaries reveal this process at the level of experience, whereas the Moon’s Nodal Cross describes the meaning the experiential level has within the whole. Thus not only can the individual’s flowering as a unique embodiment of the whole of Existence  be understood (Black Sun and Moon process) but also the purpose that flowering has within the entirety of Existence itself (Moon’s Nodal Cross process).

         The experiential process of Consciousness recognizing itself begins astrologically  at birth with the Black Moon. This point represents the elevated, pure form of wisdom, ability and insight which the newborn brings with him or her to the physical incarnation. The Black Moon shows quality of Consciousness through which something can be known without thought process of physical evidence. It is also knowledge which refuses to submit itself or conform to the  norms and expectations dictated by  society, community or family. The Black Moon thus also engenders rejection. As a child is dependent on others, she quickly learns what forms of expression are acceptable, and repeats these conditioned forms in the manner represented by Priapus in the horoscope. Obviously, this artificial behavior wins friends and family, but, certainly by the time (young) adulthood is reached, begins to chaff  the Soul. Surely there is more meant for human consciousness than living within the confines of socially-accepted forms?

         At his point the individual begins investigating the infinite forms of manifestation and possibility in Life in the arena described by the placement of the Black Sun in the horoscope. The immense vitality, exuberance, and potential experienced at the undifferentiated source of Consciousness and Life reveals all that the individual is part of and himself is. Through the natural process of attraction, the individual concentrates on certain aspects of the wide variety of expressions within Consciousness. He or she develops and refines these aspects in an ever higher expression of his or her essential being. This development or refinement of consciousness to its ultimate expression is represented by the Diamond.  The Black Sun is the recognition of the individual consciousness in Everything, the Diamond is the expression of Everything in the individual consciousness.

         It is at this point – at the recognition of being Everything, all forms – that the individual can return, and embrace, the inner wisdom of the Black Moon – the wisdom stemming from no form, of Nothing. In this sense, the process described by the four points of the Invisible Luminaries is the process of Enlightenment referred to by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj:

hen I see that I am Nothing, that is Wisdom,

When I see that I am Everything, that is Love.

My life is a process between these two points.