| Personal Stress |
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PERSONAL STRESS Stress is a generic term for many things, from aches and pains to relationship problems. If you Google the word stress you will get 391,000,000 results. There are over 2,000 definitions of stress but it is generally accepted that stress is a feeling or condition that a person experiences where he or she perceives that a demand or situation exceeds his personal and social resources. It is therefore a negative experience. It is important to realise that whether or not stress is experienced is not determined by the actual event or demand but by the person’s perception of his or her ability to cope with it. Without stress we would not have climbed up the evolutionary ladder. The ability to mobilise our resources when faced with a life-threatening situation such as coming face to face with a predator enabled our ancestors to survive. Their bodies released hormones and other chemicals so they could run faster and fight harder. This is referred to the ‘fight or flight’ syndrome. Fast-forward to the 21st century and the stressful situations are deadlines, traffic frustrations, fulfilling multiple roles, ambitions, etc. Long-term stress has numerous affects on our health and bodies. The over-production of the stress hormone cortisol can shrink cells in a specific area of the brain called the hippocampus and inhibit the formation of new cells, which means it can damage your brain. It can also leave your more susceptible to infectious diseases and result in more severe symptoms. Stress can also lead to high blood pressure, heart problems, insomnia, chronic fatigue, muscle tension, especially in the neck, shoulder and lower back, fertility and sexual problems, worsen asthma symptoms, skin problems, behavioural and interaction problems, conflicts, lack of concentration. There is also a link between stress and aging The type of stress an individual person can be susceptible to can be clearly seen in the birth chart. It is also possible to see whether the personality has enough resources to overcome stress points or whether their personality predisposes them to stress without the inherent ability to meet the demand. The Ego is made up of body, mind and emotions. It is very rare for someone to have a perfect Ego structure. Each of the Ego planets - Sun, Moon and Saturn has ideal locations in the chart and areas that bring life experiences. This presupposes the fact that the soul chooses it’s lessons before it incarnates and the birth chart shows what we unconsciously draw to us in order to gain the opportunity for the soul to grow and evolve. A person with the Moon (emotional needs) at the top of the chart will seek positions of authority and leadership but will then find that their personal needs are to be popular and appreciated. There is then the problem that having to make decisions can result in their being unpopular which causes anxiety. The Sun (individuality) in the 4th house identifies with their family and social background. This is often the person who is expected to work in the family business and then feels unfulfilled and constrained because he is not recognised for his own individual talents. Saturn relates to our physical security and when this is located at the top of the chart it brings the stress of trying too hard to do everything right as perceived failure can result in a loss of security. A person with the Sun in the 7th house finds that they have no awareness of their own personality and leans too heavily on their partner. Until they develop their own self-awareness they perceive this as a stressful situation as they become overly dependant on the relationship. Each planetary position has it’s own implications. A planet placed on a house cusp is very visible and in demand. It becomes a strength because it is seen early in life and therefore develops but it can also be over-used by other people. A planet located in the centre of a house is hidden and doesn’t get the stimulation to develop. It therefore becomes hidden to the person themself and is a latent talent. At a certain point in their life it can become activated by a transit and at times such as these the phrase ‘he’s not himself’ can be used. This often results in a deep crisis for the person concerned but properly perceived becomes an opportunity for integration and a new ability and a change of life direction. When evaluating for stress an assessment is made between the strength of the planet versus the strength of the planetary placement. Is the inner ability greater than the environmental demand or vice versa? Let’s look at some examples - Someone under the spotlight at the moment is Gordon Brown. This is written in the week of the ‘bigoted lady’ gaff. With four planets in Pisces in the 12th house Gordon is a very private person who has a desire to serve compassionately but who is uncomfortable in the spotlight. The decision to put all the party leaders on public show puts him at a decided disadvantage. Going out and meeting the public in a staged way was obviously a means of presenting him in a more favourable light. Gordon also has Saturn in a stressful position in the 6th house which forces him to learn new things and also gives a strong desire for co-operation, approval and security. Under stress he can demand a lot from others. Victoria Beckham is also experiencing considerable stress this week as she has been under pressure from her husband to reduce her public role and concentrate more on their home and family. Victoria has an Aries Ascendant with her Sun conjunct this. The Ascendant is a strong influence on the personality and shows the public face or persona. Victoria comes across as a very individual lady with a strong self-image and who needs attention and recognition. She also has a lot of innate talent for presenting a unique style. With a Capricorn MC she is also very ambitious. Her family is obviously very important to her but she also has other personality needs in order to feel fulfilled. The Ascendant presents a different kind of stress. The real personal motivation is shown by the Sun and often it is very different from the image shown to the public. This can cause problems in relationships, especially when a commitment is made too early, as what you see is very often not what you get. If there are planets on the Ascendant, especially the strong spiritual planets, this can cause problems. Pluto at the Ascendant presents a very sexual undertone and this can attract a situation where someone is raped. It has often been said ‘she asked for it.’ This can be the case at a very deep unconscious level, and I stress the word unconscious. A person with Pluto on the Ascendant is nearly always unaware of the vibe they are emitting. Properly understood and developed this planetary placement can indicate someone who has a strong inner strength and healing ability, especially in the area of abuse, which is a misuse of power. Marilyn Monroe had Neptune near the Ascendant. She could consciously project an image of glamour and then switch it off and become ordinary. This ultimately became distressing for her as she wanted to be taken seriously. She knew that she had many innate abilities as a serious actor, and this is obvious from her chart, but she struggled to be recognised for this. For an assessment of your personality from a psychological and spiritual perspective a chart interpretation is recommended. However, these essences are suggested for personal stress - First Aid - for times of stress or trauma. Can help to relieve associated fear and anxiety, and ease pain and tension. Psychic Protection - can help in detaching from negative thought forms or energies when feeling vulnerable, or in overwhelming situations or environments. Transformation - shining the light on what needs to be reformed or changed. Transforms and harmonises seemingly opposing parts of ourselves. Heart Support - for all issues with the heart and love. Feel supported during times of major life changes. Sweet Dreams - relax into deep sleep when worry, anxiety or tension overwhelms. Calm your energies and find balance and peace of mind. Bell Heather - when feeling victimised by circumstance, gives inner strength, resilience and a belief in oneself and one’s abilities. Elf Cup Lichen - for clearing deep-seated life patterns. Creates room for change and growth. Globe Thistle - when feeling victimised or oppressed. For patterns of dependency. Gives inner strength and endurance. Monkey Flower - for self-empowerment, self-assurance and self-confidence. Rose Water Lily - rise above the pressures and demands of daily life. Silverweed - when there is a lack of self-awareness. Helps one awaken to and understand deeper levels of oneself. Stonecrop - aids in times of personal transformation. Helps to break personal patterns. To embrace change and growth. Thistle - to protect yourself against attack. For self-empowerment and courage. by Jane Ritson |