Italy - esoteric astrology

Again, in Italy, you find Leo appearing, thus relating Italy to France, to Great Britain and to Berlin - all of which have Leo as a ruling sign, either of the nations themselves or of their chief city. There is, consequently, no possibility of any of these four powers being able to evade relationships. Italy is more closely related to Great Britain than she is to France, because Rome is ruled by Taurus and by Leo which ties her to Great Britain through identity of vibration. This France will have to recognize as well as Italy and Great Britain.
The personality of Italy is ruled by Sagittarius, the sign of the one-pointed disciple, and it is owing to this that we have the undeviating aim of the Italian state and its refusal to be moved from certain attitudes and determinations. Italy sees more clearly than Germany the principles involved at this time, and though Rome is blinded at times by the Taurian influence which leads to a blind rushing forward towards a goal, irrespective of consequences and implications, yet essentially the inner straight line of foreseen and planned activity will hold Italy true to the objective.

The following conditioning forces make the story of Italy sufficiently clear: [87]

Leo - with its ruler, the Sun (the Nation).
Sagittarius - with its rulers, Jupiter, Earth and Mars (the Nation).
Taurus - with its rulers, Venus and Vulcan (the Capital).
Leo - with its ruler, the Sun (the Capital).
Soul ray - Ideals, Devotion - 6th.
Personality - Harmony through conflict - 4th.
Ray influences of an indirect nature, coming through the planetary rulers:
Ray 2. - Love-wisdom, via the Sun and Jupiter. This again relates Italy to the second ray soul of Great Britain and tends to a basic understanding. I would here point out that in this second ray influence it is the wisdom aspect more than the love aspect which is dominant. Love is in reality, understanding wisdom in active expression.
Ray 3. - Active Intelligence, via the Earth. It was this Earth influence which, in the past, gave Italy her world dominion and which swayed the Italian personality towards the thought of another worldwide empire.
Ray 6. - Devotion and Idealism, via Mars. I would remind you that the soul ray of Italy is also the sixth ray. You have, therefore, the influence of Mars dominating Italian and Roman history, and it is this martian tendency which lay at the base of the German Italian axis. It, however, is not today the controlling factor.
Ray 5. - Concrete Knowledge or Science, via Venus. This influence is also dominant in Great [88] Britain and again closely relates the two countries. Of this there is one curious little instance, which demonstrates an almost uniform working of this scientific bent for the good of the entire world (Venus in relation with Jupiter). That is the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell and the development of the radio by Marconi.
Ray 1. - Will or Power, via Vulcan, the forger and the worker in metals whose influence in this case closely associates itself with the undeveloped aspect of the Leonian influence.
In the above hints you may find much that is explanatory and much that will clarify British-Italian relations. The destinies of the two countries are closely allied and together they can potently affect the German race and influence it towards a better adjustment to life and a wiser discrimination. It will require the backing of France, when the soul of that country controls.

The Destiny of the Nations, Alice Bailey