Vulcanus in Astrology. The planet of massive energy potential.
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Vulcanus. A triangle with an arrow shooting upward resembling a volcanic explosion and alluding to massive energy potential.
In Greek myth Vulcanus was the son of Zeus and Hera. Deformed from birth he was exiled from Mount Olympus as a child and tossed into sea where sea nymphs rescued, raised, and taught him many skills. Vulcanus distinguished himself through his aptitude with metals where he used the energy of fire and became a smithing god. He served as the blacksmith to the gods and it is thought that almost any fine metalwork imbued with power that appears in Greek myth is to have been forged by Vulcanus. The Greek myths seems to sanctify in stories that Vulcanus had special powers to produce motion. He worked with his strength and an anvil where energies of massive proportion are channeled.
In a chart Vulcanus represents a very masculine energy, great strength, brute force, vitality and good recuperative powers, it’s the athlete with the powerful physique. Yet when it’s weak, or insecure and manifesting negatively, Vulcanus is capable of brutality and violence. So let’s take a look at Vulcanus operating powerfully in a few birth charts.
Oscar Pistorius
Oscar Pistorius. On first inspection in Pistorius’s chart we find just what we think we would find and that is Vulcanus, the planet of energy, might, brute force and power in alignment with his Sun, and remember the Sun is not only what we want to radiate and how we distinguish ourselves, but also it represents vitality and the physical body. And here’s another indication with the Sun/Mars which is the midpoint of energy, virility, determination and ambition in alignment with Vulcanus as well.
And so when we go to the Meridian this is where things really get interesting. Remember the Meridian is like a “snapshot” of the soul, it’s the point of individuality. Here we have Vulcanus in a midpoint structure with Hades, and the Hades energy tends to drag whatever it comes into contact with into the underworld. Hades often deals with primal issues, sickness, death, decay, and deformities. And indeed around 11 months of age Pistorius had his legs amputated midway between his knees and his ankles. Now this would have had a profound effect on Pistorius because between the ages of between 9 and 12 months is when a baby takes their first steps so there was a tremendous primal and primitive wounding. You can even see in the chart that around 11 months he was very impacted by this major change in his life. So when we have Vulcanus, that planet of energy, might and force dragged into the underworld by Hades, it’s taken on a very dark path and that Vulcanus/Hades can manifest as deep fears around his vulnerability which can turn to anger and aggression in expression. And the planet Pluto which is the planet of transformation, of death and rebirth, closely contacts his Meridian axis in his natal birth chart which means that it’s also contacting the Vulcanus/Hades. So this is another indication of a lot of transformation that is needed in this area around his emotional issues.
Tiger Woods
This next chart is of professional golfer Tiger Woods. Another athlete but the Vulcanus here operates quite differently than you would assume. While it still makes a connection as it is in strong aspect to the Sun, which is the physical body and expands his athletic prowess, where we find a more powerful structure is around two of the most important personal points which are the Meridian and the Ascendant (see chart below). The Meridian being the soul’s essence, the point of individuality, and the Ascendant his environment, the people in his environment, how he presents himself to the world and how others see him. It’s a point of personal relationship.