Talkin’ ‘Bout a Dissolution: How your rising sign can get rid of your ego for good

The Sun is now in Pisces, and on FemCentral, we’ve been focusing on the Piscean topic of “the dissolution of the ego.”  But, I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to write about for today’s AstroFriday post. I had some ideas but nothing was fixed. I decided to go for a walk and was working through all the various possibilities, when today’s topic came to me seemingly out of nowhere. Arrived fully formed. When that happens to you, me, or anybody, it is coming from an EGOLESS place. This is where the richness of life abounds.

Earlier this week, we explored the meaning of “ego“. In my own experience, it’s the false beliefs we’ve accumulated about ourselves, and our role in society, since we were born. Actually, since before we were born, as I’ve discovered some of my ego is made up of beliefs from prior incarnations as well.

Did you know that your ego feeds you messages all the time, and you may not even be aware of them? I discovered this when I first saw a psychologist four years ago. She guided me through visualization meditations of particular difficult periods of my life, and in most, there was a shadow figure in the background (a person that I recognized), spouting off derogatory comments towards me. Giving me directions. Yelling. I had no CONSCIOUS idea he was there but I was reacting – physically and emotionally – to his messages. Ever have a completely out of the blue reaction to a situation? Over-react to something? That’s probably due to a submerged voice or belief.

Dissolving your ego, so the real YOU can emerge, isn’t always easy. Well, for a few people it is, but I’m not one of those people. Buddhists, and now many psychologists, use the practice of mindfulness to observe the thoughts that come and go in our minds. With practice, these thoughts can simply evaporate. Formal meditation also helps, as does free-writing and guided visualizations and psychic guidance. I’ve used all of these tools.  Additionally, my astrological chart provides a blueprint of my true personality; something I can look to when the ego tries to obscure who I really am.

Pisces – the sign of ego dissolution – rules the twelfth house of your astrological chart. The first house is your IDENTITY. The line that separates these two houses is the “ascendant,” and the astrological sign that this line hits is your “rising sign.” (Most astrologers use “ascendant” and “rising sign” interchangeably. You need your exact time of birth to find your rising sign.) What came to me, as I walked, is that this rising sign is the key to the way you dissolve your ego (twelfth house) and let your true, wise self emerge (first house). I will likely refine this idea in the upcoming months (it did JUST come to me) but here are my initial thoughts about what will start the ego dissolution process for each rising sign.

Remember, your North Node, Sun and Moon reveal your life’s purpose and the true you but it’s hard sometimes to clearly see that person beneath the ego. Use these tips to begin dissolving what obscures.

Aries Rising: Keep trying new things. When you get stuck doing the same thing over and over – whether it’s watching the same TV shows or eating at the same restaurant, or always driving the same way to work – your ego can easily take over. Try something new and see what pops up. (She will be the real you!)

Taurus Rising: You need stability. The more stable your living circumstances, relationships, finances, the better chance of seeing your true self. For you, instability is like an agitated sea, obscuring the beauty below. Stability calms your sea, and you can see straight to the very depths.

Gemini Rising: Mental stimulation. Puzzles and games of all kinds can keep your “monkey mind” (chattering ego) busy, so it doesn’t have time to drown out what you really think. Reading texts about the ego (Eckart Tolle is a good start) works for you as well.

Cancer Rising: Stay in touch with your emotions. Journal about what you are feeling. No need for analysis. And, most importantly, RETREAT inside your shell on a regular basis. Spend a weekend at home alone, or alone in a room that’s just for you. Meditate, journal, feel what you are really feeling. (Don’t distract yourself with TV or the phone!)

Leo Rising: Lucky you! HAVE FUN. Go to an amusement park. Run through sprinklers. Finger paint. While doing this, be prepared for the real you to emerge as if from nowhere!

Virgo Rising: You know how some people say that cleaning is a meditative experience for them? Have you ever said that? Give it a try. It will be. Filing. Organizing. This all will occupy your “monkey mind” (chattering ego).

Libra Rising: You get great insights about yourself through your relationships with others. Look for your “golden shadow” in your relationships. What do you like in others?  That’s a hint at your true self.

Scorpio Rising: I have this rising sign, so I feel free to be brutally honest. This is the “oh shit why is my life falling apart” sign, which LATER turns into, “wow, I can’t believe how much better my life is now that I realize that everything I thought I wanted wasn’t what I really wanted at all.”  I was in the “oh shit” phase when I decided to see that psychologist. Wanna guess what stage I’m in now? (Scorpio is the opposite sign from Taurus. Taurus needs stability. Scorpio needs change.)

Sagittarius Rising: Travel. Subject yourself to culture shock on a regular basis. It will shock your ego right out of existence. Also, read ancient Buddhist texts (like the ones that Eckardt Tolle quotes regularly in his books).

Capricorn Rising:

Climb every mountain,
Search high and low,
Follow every byway,
Every path you know.

Climb every mountain,
Ford every stream,
Follow every rainbow,
‘Till you find your dream.

Aquarius Rising: This one is somewhat simple. Instead of going inward, you go OUT. Think about how you can serve Humanity, Universal causes, and get out there and do it. Your wise self emerges on its own. Might even surprise you when she’s suddenly right there, holding the protest sign or picking up litter!

Pisces Rising: In the fourth paragraph of this post I wrote, “Dissolving your ego, so the real YOU can emerge, isn’t always easy. Well, for a few people it is…” You are one of those few people. Your ego may be quite weak to begin with. Throw in a spiritual practice of some sort, or stare at a stream, and POOF, it’s gone completely.

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