The 3 planets veiled by the Moon
the Moon is usually regarded as ‘veiling’ or ‘hiding’ some planet and of these there are three which the Moon may be veiling. Here the intuition of the astrologer and of the esoteric student must be called out. These planets are Vulcan, Neptune or Uranus. These three create and influence certain aspects of the Mother principle [matter, represented by the Moon], which nourish and feed the life of the inner divine reality until the time comes when the [soul awakens]. They determine or condition the physical, astral and mental natures… creating the personality. They form a triangle of immense creative potency… (EA 219)
To simplify their role in personal development through the three signs in which the Moon veils:
- Z Vulcan: first initiation, physical
- Virgo: esoteric ruler
- The need to refine material experience and the body towards balance and health
- I Neptune: second initiation, emotional
- Cancer: esoteric (and hierarchical) ruler
- the process of refining emotional life, tempering reactions and overcoming fear
- H Uranus: third intiation, mental.
- Aquarius: hierarchical ruler
- the integration of the personality as a unified expression for the true inner self
Note that in Esoteric Astrology some allocations are unequivocal, while others suggest the “fluid area” that involves one or other of these three planets, according to the developmental needs of the individual. For instance, the Moon as hierarchical ruler may be stepped down via Neptune rather than Uranus:
It is also as difficult… for the average student… to grasp the mass-consciousness of Cancer as it is… to grasp the group-awareness or the universal consciousness of Aquarius and to this final development, humanity is hierarchically related by the Moon, veiling Neptune. (EA 321)
These three can also be related to the Mutable (Vulcan), Fixed (Neptune) and Cardinal (Uranus) crosses. For the individual undergoing the experience of life on the crosses, the three planets symbolise the experience and purpose of each, so it is worth noting any veiled rulerships with reference to the balance of the crosses in the horoscope.
Esoteric Astrology: 219, also see 13, 263, 273, 321, 446, 509