Germany - esoteric astrology

Germany is ruled by Aries, bringing in the powerful influences of this first sign in combination with its fourth ray soul (the Ray of Harmony through Conflict). The simple interpretation of this is that we are watching the beginning of a new phase and cycle in the history of the country which emerges into prominence through conflict but which is essentially a process of releasing the soul to fuller expression. It is ruled also by Pisces, cooperating with the influences of its first ray personality, which is the Ray of Power and the Ray of the Destroyer. The whole problem of French-German relations is tied up in this fact for the Piscean soul of [77] France and the Piscean personality of Germany must eventually come to terms and it is obvious, is it not, that the real solution lies in the hands of France, which must let its soul control? It is because of this that, at the close of the Piscean Age, this whole relationship has come to a focus. France has an integrated personality whilst Germany has not; France is mental whilst Germany is predominantly astral; France is, therefore, essentially more potent, and its Leo personality can control with force to the detriment of future world understanding, or its soul can control to the furthering of the ends of the Hierarchy. As you know, Berlin is controlled by Leo from the personality angle, and there again comes out the relationship between the two countries. They are both powerfully influenced by this sign of self-interest and of individuality as well as by Pisces. They cannot escape this relation. Hence the constant clash of these two countries through the dominating self-intensest of Leo (ruling both personalities). Engrossment with present attitudes should not lead to forgetfulness of the past. France should not forget the Napoleonic wars, nor Great Britain the Boer war. All nations have much in the past which is apt to be forgotten, particularly if the lessons of greater spiritual growth have been learnt. The United States must not forget either that she is a section of the entire European continent transplanted across the ocean and that European history, successes, mistakes and sins are here also - a thing that many people are very apt to do, thus shifting responsibility. What is happening in the world today is a world happening, not a continental and local occurrence.
Germany is therefore controlled by the following energies and forces, and a study of the consequent interrelations should prove interesting to the detached and open-minded student. [78]

Aries - with its rulers, Mars, Mercury and Uranus (the Nation).
Pisces - with its rulers, Jupiter and Pluto (the Nation).
Scorpio - with its rulers, Mars and Pluto (Berlin).
Leo - with its ruler, The Sun (Berlin).
The soul ray - Harmony through Conflict - 4th.
Personality ray - Will or Power - 1st.
Ray influences of an indirect nature, coming via the planetary rulers:
Ray 6. - Idealism or Devotion, via Mars which rules Aries and is the double ruler of Scorpio. This produces the fanaticism and unreasoning devotion and blind acceptance of conditions, so distinctive of the country at this time. It is virtue misdirected.
Ray 4. - Harmony through Conflict, via Mercury, thus cooperating with the soul ray intensifying the conflicting conditions and leading to a pull between idealism and facts, between France and Germany, and between the groups within Germany itself.
Ray 7. - Ceremonial Order or Ritual, via Uranus. This affects the masses as a whole, as it is the hierarchical ruler and (because of their point of evolution) leads to their facile standardizing and regimenting. The 7th ray also focuses or "grounds the first ray" and leads to the power direction which is given them.
Ray 2. - Love-wisdom, via Jupiter and the Sun as the ruler of Leo. Thus the personality ray of [79] the nation and the personality ray of Berlin tend at this stage to express self-love.
Ray 1. - Will or Power, via Pluto as the ruler of Pisces, governing the personality of the nation in cooperation with the death giving power of Scorpio which it rules and which governs Berlin. This tremendous activity of the destroying agent as far as Germany is concerned is offset by the influence of Jupiter. It is not nevertheless very potent.
Everything tends to show that the German people, not being an integrated race, are very largely victims and should be just as easily guided into right ways as they have been, at present, guided into their present activities. They did, however,The provide a good medium through which the ancient Atlantean conflict could be precipitated and brought to the surface, and the ancient feud between materialism and the Forces of Light be finally resolved for this particular world cycle. Germany is mediumistic, as was its dictator, as I have earlier indicated; it is the Aries-Leo influences which produced the dictator. The Piscean personality of Germany (which is the sign governing mediumship) accounts for the apparently fluid grasp of essentials and the inability of its people and ruling government to stand by pledges. The influence of the sixth ray, coming via Mars, martially applied, and the lack of true spiritual love as it is diverted into sentimental personality devotions, account temporarily for the mass negligence to assert itself on behalf of the oppressed and in the interests of the higher principles. The need for this assertion is realized by many in Germany but the negative Piscean personality attitude provides a great obstacle and accounts for what has puzzled all who know and love the German people. At present, the [80] influence of Mars, of Leo and of Pisces in their lower octave or connotations, are dominant. That which can offset this unhappy situation is the influence of Scorpio, the sign of discipleship and one of the death signs in the zodiac.

The struggle for the soul of the people and its emergence into control is really taking place today in Berlin and upon the decision of this conflict much depends. France whose soul is governed by Pisces, the world Savior, can do much to release the Piscean personality of Germany. Here lies the crux of the world problem. Great Britain, with her soul ray ruled by Gemini (which understands both the soul nature and the personality nature), can do much to help.

I cannot elaborate this further beyond pointing out that both for nations and individuals the first great crisis in Scorpio upon the path of discipleship is determining in its effect upon the future.

The Destiny of the Nations, Alice Bailey