Autism
an Esoteric Perspective

Through Esoteric Psychology, Numerology & Astrology (V2)

Leoni Mckinnon Hodgson April 2009

PMAFA, MSE Esoteric Psychology, PhD Philosophy in Esotericism

Autism is on the increase, but as yet, the world’s medical experts are unable to conclusively point to any particular factor as being the cause. They are baffled. In order to try to understand what is going on, I have referred to Esoteric Psychology specifically the writings of esotericist Alice A. Bailey[1]. Esoteric Psychology is the Science of the Soul (the higher love and wisdom aspect of man’s nature). The Soul initiates each new incarnation, building its vehicles of expression – the physical, emotional and mental bodies. Then through the ages it strives to develop and integrate them, and raise consciousness from the emotional level to the mental, so that it has an intelligent and disciplined channel (man or woman), to work through. This creates stress and crises in a person’s life, and as a consequence, psychological problems appear. It is from this perspective that I approach this article.

1.     The Nature of Autism

There are many levels to the disorder and severity of impairment, which is why the condition is now being called the “Autism Spectrum” disorder.” But all are characterized by delays in the development of multiple basic functions including socialisation and communication The Spectrum list is: 

a.     Conditions which do not quite fit the following groups, of which Atypical Autism is the most common (symptoms occur later than early childhood, etc).

b. Autism, the best-known;

c. Asperger syndrome;

d. Rett syndrome; and

e. Childhood disintergrative disorder (CDD).

This is what medical experts know about autism.

a. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder, an impairment of the growth and development of the brain and of brain function which affects emotion, learning ability, memory. Wikipedia

• There are differences in the way the brain processes information.
• No activity in a key part of the brain's mirror neuron system (which) fires when a person observes others performing an action and when he or she carries out the same action.
• The parts of the brain that bring things together are far less active.. the autistic brain is out of synch (disordered connectivity).

b. Symptoms appear within the first three years after birth, these are generally:

• Delays in social interaction
• Delays in language as used in social communication
• Delayed development of symbolic or imaginative play.

In summary, progress which appeared to be developing normally in small children – physical, emotional and mental, slows down, comes to a halt, and then goes into reverse. This may happen rapidly or slowly. Social skills such as language, eye contact, and interaction with others, is impaired. It is apparent that the desire to relate with the outer world has closed down, and in extreme cases just enough contact is maintained for physical survival purposes. Autistic sufferers seem content to live in their own world. Sometimes early diagnosis and appropriate intervention can stop the slide, so that partial mind function is restored (mild autism), or the slide stops of its own accord. There are also reported cases of full recoveries. But in many cases the withdrawal seems irreversible, and the mind and its intelligent interaction with and through the brain is been severely affected. The numbers of those affected are escalating rapidly, and to date, no cause has been found.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidemiology_of_autism

2.     The root cause of Autism – the races tendency to “Introversion”

Since Carl Jung first popularized the terms introversion and extraversion, the world has accepted and recognised these two personality types. Extroverts are outgoing, while introverts are always looking within, and each group produces it own set of diseases through either over-expression or inhibition. [2] Autism is a disease whose root cause is found in this tendency towards introversion.

Introversion as a pathology increased markedly in the early part of the 20^th century, because of the violence of the world wars. This traumatised man, causing many to search within for answers or to try to escape from the horror of war. This phenomenon is described by esoteric writer Alice Bailey in 1942.

“The present world problem, the fear and deep anxiety, and the suffering and pain which are so widespread, are producing a dual result.. the extraversion of the mass consciousness; and a pronounced introversion of the individual.. The effect of this "pull" in two directions is having a serious effect upon sensitive individuals. They are pulled.. outward by the pull of the mass consciousness, and the force of the political, economic and social life of the race; and inwards by the pull of the world of higher values. [3]

The momentum of this dual action – one force pushing people outwards, and the other drawing them inwards, has intensified since the 1940’s, and causes a psychological problem called “cleavage” [4], where people are torn in two directions. Most of us suffer from a cleavage-type condition at some stage of our life. This is normal and natural as we integrate our bodies and seek union with the Soul, and for most it is not a serious problem. But when in a cleavage tug-of-war one side wins, then we find that focus is either upon the physical plane to the detriment of inner growth, or upon the inner self and contact with the outer world is minimal. Both conditions are undesirable, but the latter is dangerous to mental health if taken to extremes, because then it creates the opportunity for a variety of psychiatric conditions to arise, such as for example schizophrenia (“split mind”) aka bi-polar, or autism. Devotional and sensitive types are those who are particularly susceptible to diseases arising from introversion. Bailey said:

“What is the real nature of a true mystic or introvert?  He is one whose soul force, ray or quality is too strong for the personality to handle. The man then finds that the path to the inner worlds of desire-emotion, of mind and of spiritual vision are, for him, the line of least resistance, and the physical plane integration and expression suffer as a consequence.” EP I p160

Mystics of the middle-ages were particularly susceptible, and many died because their yearning for spiritual ascension was stronger than their desire to live in the physical world. Their bodies – deprived of energy nourishment, just wasted away. For spiritual seekers, it is important to establish the difference between being an introvert – and being spiritually balanced and living subjectively. Bailey explains:

“To be an introvert really means that you, as a thinking personality, are always looking in to your inner feeling and thought life. That is not living subjectively; it is living as an outer observer who looks within. To live subjectively means that the focus of your consciousness is within and that from that point you look in two directions: outward at the personality upon the physical plane and inward at the soul.” [5]

In summary, we have two conflicting forces playing upon consciousness, disrupting the psychological integration of sensitive people; and of these, the inward-pulling force (created by the pull of the Soul and the increasing numbers of people who are responding) is increasing in potency. This makes it easy for those who do not want to participate in the world, or who are fearful, to retreat within psychologically. This is a background factor to be considered, in the study of autism.

3.     Autism fits a description given by Patanjali, as “Passivity” or “Sleep”

Patanjali was an Indian sage who lived in pre-Christian times, and wrote a spiritual development guide focusing particularly upon the development of the mind, and its enlightenment in the Raja Yoga Sutras[6]. He describes a dangerous condition which occurs in the mind because of an incorrect meditation technique. I believe there is a close parallel to be drawn with this pathological “sleep” condition as it affects adults, and with that which occurs in autism in children.           

Book 1-10: Passivity (sleep) is based upon the quiescent state of the vrittis (or upon the non-perception of the senses).

Vrittis Defined: The vrittis are those activities of the mind which eventuate in the conscious relation between the sense employed and that which is sensed,[7] those mental perceptions which have relation to the five senses,[8] they correlate man with his environment, through the medium of the senses and the mind [9].

If we replace the word vrittis with “electrical impulses”, the definition could come straight from a modern textbook on mind activity, such as below:

 “Our senses depend on the nervous system's use of electrical signalling to convey to the brain what we are seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, and tasting.” www.lcmedia.com/mind163.htm

The sutra warns meditators, to avoid making the mind blank, or to endlessly rote-chant one thought or phrase such as a mantram, because this activity will stun the mind rhythms and its circulations (of thoughts, imagination, memory) into inaction, a very serious condition. Some important quotes are below.

“Some people, by their sheer strength of will.. directly inhibit the processes of the lower mind… (they try) to quiet the mental body by inhibiting or suppressing all movement.. stopping circulation.. This inhibition has a direct effect upon the physical brain.” [10]

“When the mind is stunned into inaction by inhibition or persistent repetitions (of the same thoughts).. by making the mind blank, is dangerous.” [11]

 “By withdrawing himself from active sense perception, by no longer utilising the "outward-going" consciousness, and by abstracting that consciousness from the periphery to the centre, he can bring on a condition of passivity,—a lack of awareness.. which is a form of trance. This self-imposed quieting (can be) excessively dangerous.. with the sense relations cut off or atrophied.. a man is open to hallucination, to delusion, to wrong impressions and to obsessions.” [12]

In short, inhibiting the processes of the mind, mutes the electrical nerve impulses which relay information from the senses to the brain and mind, effectively cutting off its owner from any meaningful interaction with the outer world, and laying the person open to serious delusional or obsessional states (if taken to extremes). This could be a description for autism.

        This mental disorder is not new – it has been around for thousands of years. But we have yet to discover why this condition is affecting a rapidly increasing, number of babies and small children. Is there a parallel to be drawn between the adult who holds the mind blank or endlessly and mindlessly chants mantrams, and that which goes on in the mind of a child at the onset of autism? There does seem to be an uncanny similarity.  We can understand now, why early diagnosis of autism and intervention is crucial. Untreated, mind and brain activity will atrophy.

4.     Oversensitivity is another cause – (Numerology and the Seven Rays)

“God geometrises”, said Pythagoras. Numbers are symbols of living energies, the outer forms of creative inner forces, which mould and shape all that is found within the universe. There are seven major creative forces – the Seven Rays, represented by numbers 1 to 7. [13]

       Of these, the Second Ray, and the number 2, have assumed major importance recently, due to man’s transition into a new millennium which has 2 as its base number. Instead of year numbering beginning with “1” such as in 1105 or 1989, it now begins with “2”. This means that the force of the “1” which bathed the consciousness of man for a thousand years, has been superseded by the power of “2” or the Second Ray of Love Wisdom. The two different energies are described below.

Ray One of Will and Power (#1): it is the creative-destroying force of the universe, the energy of Father-Spirit. It gives life to the form through which Spirit works, then destroys the form, continuing this process until the Spiritual Spark completes its voyage through the human worlds, and ascends back towards its Source. It produces people such as leaders, rulers, managers, politicians, law enforcers, explorers, the matriarch who rules the family with a rod of iron. Selfishly applied it gives rise to the dictator, the bully and controller, and ruthless, aggressive behaviour.

         The goal of “1” in the previous millennium, was to develop the human personality to the point that it became self-aware, intelligent and self-willed. In astrology, this goal is symbolised by the sign Leo. The goal for man in this new millennium is to develop Soul consciousness, and the values of Ray Two or “2”. In astrology, Aquarius represents this goal.

Ray Two of Love-Wisdom (#2):

“2 equals the quality of love-wisdom, working under the Law of Attraction and drawing man from one point of attainment to another.. and 2 is the number of the spiritual hierarchy.” [14]

Ray Two or “2” is the attractive and magnetising force of the universe, which draws all together – life and matter, to build the stars, planets, man, and all form life – as a means through which consciousness can arise and evolve. It gives love and wisdom to human character, kindness and understanding, and produces people who are healers, teachers, scholars and lovers. More than any other force, (and along with its lower reflection ray six or “6”), it greatly sensitises human consciousness, and herein lies a problem for those who are already sensitive or in a fragile state. The negative effect of Ray 2 is that it softens (weakens) character, permitting fear, anxiety, a feeling of being unable to cope, hopelessness, and a desire to flee and find a safe place to hide away in, to enter consciousness. Some of these traits are described in the following Direction which the Soul gives to the personality. The parallel with the problem of introversion, and of autism is clear.

The Direction of Ray II. "Surrounded.. and sheltered in the world of thought, he burrows like a mole, and finds his way into the darkness.. He dwells within his world in deep content. Detail on detail enters into the content of his world of thought.. // Sudden a spade descends.. destroying fast the storehouse of the mind, the safe security, the darkness and the warmth.. All is removed. The light of summer enters in and the darkened crannies of the mind see light.." [15]

The Direction of Ray VI. ".. seeing naught but that which lay before his eyes.. Only the long and narrow tunnel was his home.. He had no vision except of that which was the space before his eyes. He had no scope for sight,—no height, no depth, no wide extension. He had but room to go one way. He went that way alone.. the world of thought was lost…Pendent he seemed. He hung with naught below, before, behind, above. To him, naught was. // From deep within the temple of his heart, he heard a Word.. 'Look, deep within, around on every hand. The light is everywhere, within the heart, in Me, in all that breathes, in all that is. Destroy thy tunnel, which thou has for ages long constructed. Stand free.." [16]

The changeover effect on man’s consciousness from #1 to #2, is extraordinarily powerful. Ray 2’s action sensitises and spiritualises consciousness, as a consequence, babies born in the 1990’s, and Ray Two babies born from 2000 onwards, are highly sensitive little souls, and none more so than the "seed group"[17] born in this first decade. Their problem is made more acute because of the presence of two zeroes in their birth-year number, indicating even greater sensitivity than normal for their group. [18] They are being born into a world which has been marching to the warlike drumbeat of the Will and Power Ray for a thousand years. They find themselves surrounded by tough "1's". Being super-sensitive and with an innate urge to go within, the slightest shock or upset in their environment, may cause them to flee in the only way they can in the first years of life – through the mind.

If I am correct, then from 2011 onwards, we should start to see a levelling out of the numbers being affected. All souls from this point on will have greater coping strategies, and this is indicated by numbers other than “2” and “0”, being present in the birth number. This assessment of was based upon numerology. But another reason is that the race is learning more about the condition and its treatment. The collective mind is becoming wiser (positive effect of Ray 2), and is seeking a solution, and this should bear fruit.

5.     The Incoming Seventh Ray and its Effect

As the Piscean Age withdraws and along with it the 6^th Ray, the 7th Ray of Ceremony, Order and Magic is streaming into manifestation, and bringing with it, a fleet of Ray Seven Souls and personalities[19]. We are told that this Seventh force dominated that ancient civilisation Atlantis for a very long period of time[20]. Spiritualism was the religion of Atlantis, and trance mediumship and lower forms of magic were widely practised. These have become established again on earth as souls from that period come back into incarnation. Esotericists such as Helena Blavatsky and Bailey, have long advised against lower forms of mediumship, because the trance condition separates the medium from his soul and exposes him to the control of lower forces[21] – the solar plexus web is ruptured by the practise, and the door to the Astral Plane is wide open. This enables the medium to easily pass out of the body, go into a trance and function on the Astral Plane.[22] When such a doorway has been opened, then it can become a route by which to escape from the “harshness” of real life. Bailey describes this as follows:

“When the doorway out into the other worlds is discovered and becomes, not a door for rightful and proper use, but a way of escape from the difficulties of life and a short cut out of conscious physical experience.. the connection between the mystic and his physical vehicle becomes less and less firmly established and the link gets looser and looser until the man spends most of his time out of his body in a condition of semi-trance or a deep sleep condition. EP2 610

These practises were wide-spread in Atlantis. Ray Seven types are streaming in now, and many of them will be old magicians and trance mediums from that ancient place, bringing with them the tendency to escape through a wide-open solar plexus.

           Ray Seven types love order and peace, and find it difficult and confusing when surrounded by chaos. They are arriving to find a world in rapid change and conflict. Perhaps the spiralling numbers of autistic children also has something to do with this. They spiral in, find it not to their liking, and find it easy to spiral out again – onto the Astral Plane. It is another factor to be seriously considered.

6.     In summary  

I believe that the appearance of “new” mental diseases which are associated with man’s tendency towards introversion – such as the Autism Spectrum Disorders, is a consequence of evolutionary progress.

·         Progress firstly, in that man is becoming increasingly mentally polarised – primarily a result of the west’s drive for 100% education of children. This is a great success, but it is also bringing with it, a whole spectrum of new disorders associated both with introversion and extraversion.

·          Secondly, progress in that it appears that a sizeable proportion of the race is now reaching inwards towards higher spiritual values, and towards the Soul nature, forcing the doorway to the inner worlds to open wide. Consequently, the inward flowing current is strong, making it easier for people/ children, to opt out of physical plane life inappropriately, if so inclined.

·         As a consequence of the two previous points, Soul illumination is increasing, and the race is being subject to high vibrations which are disturbing normal earthly rhythms. Add this to the fact of the chaos caused by the problems which beset man, and it is not surprising that the incidence of anxiety based disorders is rising rapidly. Many are finding it difficult to cope.

·         At the same time that chaos is increasing, the race is becoming more sensitive, and no more so than with our babies. The “2” and “6” make us supersensitive, and all babies being born now carry “2” in their birth date. These little souls are supersensitive, and they are coming into a world which is filled with chaos. Many are displaying symptoms of being shell-shocked.

·         Additionally, Ray Seven types are streaming in now, and many will have practised astral travelling in Atlantis. This makes it very easy for them to “escape” and go into a trance like state, being content to live in their own world. This latter is one of the basic characteristics by which autism is identified.

So this is the list of factors which is contributing to the problem of autism in my opinion. The race is more mental and also more spiritual – the momentum to “go within” is increasing in strength. The world is chaotic and conflict filled. Then, because babies born now are supersensitive, and many know unconsciously how to escape to the Astral Plane, when a trauma is experienced, they close down. Consequently the brain and mind atrophy.

7.     A few suggestions for parents

Prevention:

• Endeavour as far as is possible to provide your child with a stress free birth, and provide a loving and nurturing environment. In case your child is a Ray Seven type, (as best you can) ensure family routines are ordered and well organised, and the atmosphere is calm, they thrive in such an atmosphere. [23]
  
• Fill the child’s space with beautiful music.
  
• Educate yourself in the symptoms of autism. If you have doubts, see a professional who has skill in the area. Early diagnosis and treatment is vital. The opinion coming from experts now, is that autism is treatable if diagnosed and treated early enough.
  
• Contact a good astrologer, and ask if there are indications of severe communication difficulties, in the periods in the first three years in which trauma might be experienced. Then surround the child with love and protection during those periods. If your child is at risk, remove television from the house. Small children cannot differentiate between reality and what they see on screen. Seek out videos which are filled with funny, happy and beautiful images and scenes.
  
• Watch your child from an early stage to see if he or she has a tendency to hold in the breath. Introverts do this when they are anxious, and it slows down energy flow and activity in the mind. Regularly take the child outside into the sun and do fun play, breathing strongly in and out, mirroring this for the child to see and copy. Endeavour to generally evoke the imagination and fun play. Try to interest the child in hide and seek games – searching and delving stimulates the brain cells. Evoke interest if you can in a variety of (pleasant) smells because this sense is related to mental discrimination.

If autism is diagnosed:

• Join a support group, and find out where resources and information can be found. Put your child into the care of the best trained professionals you can find. Select only those people you like, to work with your precious child – trust your intuition. Contact all surrounding schools, and find out which is best equipped and has the resources to help your child, then do all you can to get your child into that school or centre.
  
•  “Contact the Monroe Institute in Virginia – website www.monroeinstitute.org / Hemi-Sync for children and young people with autism and Deep Development Syndrome.  New Reports. They have excellent case studies presented online, and show the effectiveness of the Hemi-Sync technology.  Having been a member of their professional division of the Monroe Institute,  for a number of years, I would highly recommend their services as an effective treatment of Autism.”  Robert R. Spaulding, D.C., PhD spauld19557@comcast.net
  
•  If the child permits it, give regular very gentle massages, on the top, back and sides of the skull, paying attention to the base of the skull. Align with Soul/ God and send love through the fingertips.
  
• Dress the child in beautiful shades of yellow which is Mercury’s colour. Colour therapists may try playing yellow light upon a child for a few minutes each day.
  
• Meditate regularly and send love to your child. Imagine love is restoring healthy mind and brain function, is stimulating the electrical impulses, visualise thoughtforms moving healthily in the mental ovoid. If you can organise a spiritual or esoteric healing group, to do this so much the better. See your child as a child of God, a vital and healthy Soul – for this is true in fact, even if the condition exists. Continually send God’s/ Christ’s/ Jesus’/ Allah’s/ Buddha’s (whoever is spiritually inspiring) – blessings to your child. Imagine the child sitting in this sacred person’s lap, being gently held. Be creative.
  
• Sit quietly, and talk to your child non-verbally, by visualising and sending to him or her, beautiful but simple images such as mother kissing the child. Hold the image for a period. Be creative. When your child is asleep, sit quietly beside him / her and non-verbally tell the little one how much he/ she is loved.
  
• Search the web for a list of vitamins which will build up the immune system and which will help autism.
  
• If in spite of your best efforts, the condition does not reverse itself, console yourself with the fact that you tried. Try to accept that the experience is part of the life-plan of your Soul, the life-plan of your child’s Soul, and a learning experience for all affected – perhaps to demonstrate care and compassion. We are told than often in cases where consciousness is severely impaired, the situation is related far more to the karma of the parents or of carers, than to the patient. [24] In your child’s next life, another opportunity will be offered for a healthy life. In the life of the Soul, no time is wasted, and everything unfolds as it should.

8.     Finally, following Autism through Astrology

I start this section by stating that – “we are what we have been before.” By this I mean that, physical death does not stop the evolutionary growth of the Soul. It streams from life to life – picking up vehicles, moulding them, using them to learn through, dropping them off, then repeating the cycle over and over as it progresses back towards the Source. But nothing is lost. Generally speaking, life is picked up again at the level of growth achieved in the previous life. If the emotional nature used to dominate before, it will again in the new life. If mental brilliance had been achieved this is inherited again as a rightful gain. If there has been a pattern of morbid introversion in a previous life, then the seed of that will be transferred to the current life. Or if talent in art or music was achieved for example, this will come over as an innate talent. Sometimes however, the Soul will inhibit certain gains from the past for rounding out purposes in the new incarnation. This all is based on the Law of Rebirth, and of Karma – the Law of Cause and Effect.

The psychology of a person, incorporating the gains of the past, and indicating the potential
for growth in the current life and beyond, is revealed in the astrological chart.

a. The Sun, the Moon, Mercury, and Saturn

Mercury – God of the mental processes.

All human beings who experience communication difficulties will have this condition clearly shown in the natal astrology chart, and in all cases, Mercury is the primary indicator. The affliction to Mercury may be obvious or subtle, but it will be there – by sign, by ray, by aspect or lack of, by house, by degrees, by parallel or counter-parallel. This condition is then triggered into action by eclipses, transits or progressions.

          Mercury’s primary role is to develop the lower concrete mind, and carry messages in the form of electrical light currents, between the Soul, the mind and the brain. It represents Mind on all levels – the intuitive mind of an initiate; the wise and intelligent mind of the disciple; the full functioning and versatile concrete mind most prevalent in the west; a mind which is undeveloped and ignorant of the inner life; plus all grades in between. The level at which it operates, is identified by studying the way the mind is used in the outer world. The chart shows potential, life demonstration reveals what man makes of the opportunity.

       Another very important point to take into consideration, is that a person who has an afflicted Mercury, but who is a somewhat more advanced Soul, will approach communication difficulties in a more positive and successful manner. This is because the mind is more highly developed, alignment with the Soul is stronger, and therefore the inner fortitude required to push through obstacles, is in place.

The Sun – the conscious self or “personality”

In human psychology, the Sun represents the conscious self, and personality integration or lack of. A strong Sun will strengthen a child’s ability to fight off the pull of the unconscious and stay grounded in the present. The activities of the house in which the Sun and Mercury are located should be actively encouraged and promoted in a child, in order to counterbalance the pull of the Moon (the unconscious).

The Moon – the Mother of all Forms [25]

The moon is the primary symbol of matter, the mother of form who unfolds form life – and definitely rules the physical body [26] (along with Mars and his connection with the 1^st house).

          In psychology it represents the unconscious mind or unconscious state, the “prison of the Soul”, the particular unconscious habits and patterns brought over from past lives which greatly impede the Soul’s progress – these are the negative patterns of the Moon Sign. The Moon’s house and its aspects will give further detail. An afflicted Moon would increase its morbid effects.  

Saturn and the Brain

The only planet rulership which is given to the brain in Esoteric Astrology, is Saturn.[27] Mercury-mind builds a thoughtform of an idea, then passes it to Saturn-brain who structures it and clothes it with denser energy so it can be expressed to others on the physical plane. The sign Saturn is in gives the clue to the flexibility or otherwise of the brain. Thought transmission will be faster if Mercury and Saturn are in the same element, and slower if the two elements are incompatible as with air and earth. The 1^st house is related to brain substance and development, and the Moon is traditionally associated with the brain. The Soul is the Thinker [28], the mind is the instrument of thought and creates thought, and these the brain receives and expresses.

b. Look for Trauma as a Cause of Autism

I believe, that in most cases (if not all), autism is caused by a trauma which challenges the child beyond its capacity to cope. The seed of a trouble inherited from a past life – repeated introverted lives, astral travelling, a weakness in the psyche – brought to life by a transit or eclipse. The cause of the trauma may be obvious, or it could be so subtle that parents remain baffled as to the cause. For example, the birth process itself; or the child is super-sensitive and finds living in the noise, stress and demands of life too much to bear; the pain of a vaccination injection or something repellent in the serum; very subtle anger or abuse directed to the child or to others – these children are supersensitive and can “read the ethers”. More obvious causes of trauma would be overt abuse or major disruption and disharmony in the family life.

Astrology Case study – Female child X born in 2000 – diagnosed with “mild” autism.

Inoculation: The baby was not vaccinated because mother specifically wished to avoid the possibility of the baby contracting autism.

Background of events: Progress was normal until about 12 months old. At that time the parents went through a conflict ridden separation – the dreaded trauma! Then the symptoms began to appear, a period of regression (one year perhaps) which levelled out into the symptoms of “mild” autism. This lasted for two or three years. Diagnosis of autism had still not been made at this point, and one reason was that the child was discovered to have a middle-ear infection, affecting hearing, and this was thought for a period to be the cause of her slow progress.

           This stage lasted until around 5 years, when the child went to a private “normal” school with few students and caring teachers – but who were not professionally trained to deal with autism. Then the diagnosis was finally made. For the next few years there were small but gradual improvements until at age 8 she was using small sentences, and could finally make occasional eye contact. [A major factor in this improvement I believe is the loving concern and protection given to X by her parents.] But emotionally and socially she was definitely behind in development compared with other girls her own age.

          One thing I will add is that, although physical and verbal coordination, and social interaction was slow, there was always a light of intelligence in X’s eyes, and a knowingness, which indicated that she was aware of events transpiring around her. This gave hope of a recovery.

The astrology chart.

It is easy to find a medical condition in the chart after it has arisen, rather than predict one before it occurs. Most times serious afflictions are offset, especially if the Sun, Mars or Jupiter are well placed. I will be looking for the most obvious negative aspects, and later looking for the positive.

        Examine the Sun – is the personality strong?

The personality is given strength because the Sun rises in the 1^st house – Aries’ house, the sign in which the Sun is exalted. This is the best possible place for the Sun in this situation, and this should help consciousness with its struggle to emerge into the light (in time). It is also in Scorpio which is the sign of the warrior. The spirit of this child will not give up without a fight.

       Conversely it is weakened by the square to Neptune, which indicates super-sensitivity, and a morbid tendency to “dream” and withdraw, triggered by unstable and confusing conditions in the home.

       Ordinarily, when the Sun is combust Mercury, the latter is consumed by the solar fire. But in this case, the pull to introversion was too strong, and retrograde Mercury (the inward looking mind) assumed an unnatural dominance – probably as a consequence of Neptune’s debilitating effect.

Examine the Moon for morbid past life patterns.

The actual power of the unconscious and its patterns is strengthened by the Moon’s aspects to Saturn and Uranus, and by the fact that it is also in the 1^st house. At the beginning of the life, it is actually stronger than the Sun, indicating that the unconscious aspects of mind – living the life by habit and routine, clinging to the past, plus the points made below, these will all fight the conscious self for control of the life.    

       It was very fortunate that X’s slide did not withdraw to too deep a level, and that there were small gains, because this enabled consciousness (the Sun) to rally. It needed to draw on the power of Mars (representing Soul force as esoteric ruler of Scorpio) and Pluto (co-rulers of the Sun, which are reasonably well aspected). This integration would be vital to help her move forward, and this is currently happening.

       The Moon falls in Scorpio: potential conflict with the environment and problems with the current form – especially the brain. (The Moon is in the 1^st house which is related to brain development, and is opposed to Saturn, primary ruler of the brain structure itself.)

       The Scorpio “prison of the Soul”: introversion has been ‘carried over’ (Moon opposite Saturn); powerful desires which distort reality; and the use of magical practise (Moon in Scorpio [the occult]) square Uranus which carries the 7^th Ray.  This is a Seventh Ray type child.

       Saturn indicates the potential for brain function atrophy. However, keep in mind, that Moon–Saturn challenges in the chart represent opportunities to overcome challenges and adversity, and the great majority of people born with such a pattern will not develop a serious mental problem. But they may be morose and at some time develop depression, a condition rampant in the race of man. Most succumb at one time or another. The positive potential outcome of this aspect is a strong sense of structure, time, and responsibility; a form which is grounded in reality and on the earth plane (Saturn is in Taurus though weakened by being retrograde), hard work will bring success (Moon trines MC).

       These two planets Moon and Saturn, represent the parents opposing each other in battle, and it was this which triggered the trauma leading to the withdrawal.

 Does Mercury’s situation indicate communication difficulties?

Yes it does. Mercury is retrograde, a phenomenon generally interpreted as the soul's need to go over a lesson which was not learnt in the previous incarnation. This leads to introversion and is a major indicator of communication difficulties. Mercury is in Scorpio giving a tendency to withdraw and hide psychologically. It is also at a critical degree (9^o Scorpio), which renders it potent and prominent in the psyche. Mercury also squares Neptune, loosening the mind’s grasp on reality, the withdrawal tendencies.

Does the chart indicate trauma in the early years?

Yes it does. The periods in which a child could experience trauma, are shown by impacts of transits, progressions and eclipses, upon sensitive or conflicted points in the chart (psyche). In X’s case, the following astrological events occurred to her chart, mirroring traumatic events in her outer life. It started when she was 4 – 5 months (m) of age.

4-5m       (PMexactly bS) A sense of hopelessness confirmed.

7m         (Lunar eclipse IC -14J) triggering unconscious, past life stuff.

4-13m     (TT exactly dM) Shock, trauma.

4-13m     (TV aW) Deep wounds (from a past life?) being rooted up, tremendous suffering.

12m       (Solar eclipse 3rdH dQ12H – 23I) Triggering a desire to withdraw

By 12 months of age the damage had been done, and when Neptune exactly squared her Mercury at 1 years of age, the slide inwards started. Interestingly, it probably halted, and the condition steadied, when the Neptune transit ended at age 2.

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