Dalai Lama XIV: Spiritual Leader (in Exile) of Tibet
July 6, 1935, 11:45 AM, Takster, Tibet. (Source: The Taeger Archives as quoted in The Mountain Astrologer June 1996).

(Ascendant, Libra; MC, Sun and Pluto in Cancer; Moon conjunct Neptune in Virgo, H12; Mercury in Gemini;  Venus in Leo; Mars in Libra; Jupiter in Scorpio; Saturn in Pisces; Uranus in Taurus)

The Fourteenth Dalai Lama, His Holiness, is perhaps the greatest spiritual leader of humanity working upon the physical plane at this time. He carries, and seems effortlessly to transmit, the energy of the Bodhisattva – the energy of Love-Wisdom and of Divine Compassion – the energy of the second ray. Like his predecessors, he is believed to be the incarnation of the Buddha of Compassion, Avalokitesvara. His message is to the all the peoples of the world. He sees humanity as one, for his Sun sign is Cancer, and in Cancer the “whole is seen as one” and the “One Humanity” is known. His message is one of peace and reconciliation – the meeting and cooperation of East and West, and of all those who have, formerly, stood opposed to each other. Thus, is his Ascendant, Libra, demonstrated in practical, world service.

His life appears to be one of great sacrifice and renunciation. He serves as a source of inspiration to all men and women of good will. He is certainly at least an illumined initiate of the third degree. He has received the equivalent of a doctorate degree from the theological university system in Tibet, in a program of academics far more rigorous and time-consuming than the nominally comparable educational program in the West.

Yet, for all his learning, he expresses himself as a man of simplicity – kind, approachable, concerned with the welfare of the average human being on this plane. Although he is open and honest about his human failings, the personality as an independent and wayward force center has clearly been subdued, its “ancient authority” ended. In fact, his life is so much an example for millions of human beings (no matter what may be their religion of birth or choice), that it is very probable that he is a fourth degree initiate – living the life of the Great Renunciation – his life a complete sacrifice to the elevation of the human race.

At the fourth degree, the power of the buddhic plane (the plane of harmony) is powerful in the life, and buddhi (or pure love-wisdom) has completely supplanted the normal desires of the emotional nature. Although his mind is sharp and exacting, it is clear that his major service is the transmission of buddhi through the astral vehicle. He is involved in the emotional regeneration of humanity. Although he would probably not publicly enter into a discussion that would confirm or deny the possibility, he is surely a great servant of the Maitreya Buddha (the Lord Maitreya – the Christ). The energy he projects is of a “friend to all”, just as does the Maitreya-Bodhisattva.

As an exemplary apostle of love and light, his soul ray is surely the second Ray of Love-Wisdom. His principal effect is to bring about loving understanding between diverse human beings, causing them to overlook their differences and separatisms in favor of those factors that unite them. Two aspects of the will – the Will-to-Unify (characteristic of the second ray), and the Will-to-Harmonize (characteristic of the fourth ray and the buddhi plane), express potently through his presence.

At his stage of development (presumably the fourth degree or very close to it), the monadic ray would also be, to a degree, an expressive factor. Probability points to the second or third ray for the quality characterizing the highest factor in his energy system. It is not possible for us to discern with definiteness. The Buddha, Himself, a great Lord of Light (conveying, it is said, a touch of the cosmic mental plane), is most probably a third ray monad. How much does the Dalai Lama’s message differ from that of his great Predecessor, known as Gautama, the Buddha? Yet, the principal transmission (exceeding that of the third ray of light) is of love, compassion, understanding, and wisdom – very much along the second ray line. At our stage of development, we will simply have to defer anything like a definitive conclusion.

Looking for astrological conduits for the energy of the second ray soul, we find that all the signs/constellations given as transmitters of the second ray of Love-Wisdom are active and tenanted in his chart. Gemini holds its orthodox astrological ruler, Mercury, and interestingly, Chiron – a planetoid of healing and guidance, which can, on one level of its expression, be reasonably associated with the second ray. The Dalai Lama is a great and healing (Chiron) communicator (Mercury in Gemini), and his thoughts convey a new and more illumined life perspective – as we might expect because Mercury and Chiron are placed in the ninth house of higher mind.

There is also a powerful conjunction of the Moon and Neptune in the second ray/sixth ray sign, Virgo, in H12, a house friendly to both these planets. As the Dalai Lama is certainly a true initiate, Neptune, the esoteric and hierarchical ruler of the Sun Sign (Cancer), must be considered unusually potent. Neptune, we realize, is, in its higher level of functioning, a planet of compassion, and distributes, monadically, the second ray. Virgo is esoterically ruled by the Moon which veils either Vulcan or Neptune (or both).

In this case, it would seem that the Moon veils Neptune. As the Moon represents all that is deeply instinctual in the nature, it can be said that, through karmic right, the Dalai Lama was born with an instinctively compassionate response. This Moon/Neptune conjunction in H12 is a deeply Christ-centered focus. It demonstrates a ready willingness to save and redeem in all manner of practical and even humble ways. It connects the Dalai Lama with the great “Mother Force”. The two most maternal zodiacal signs are Cancer and Virgo. The Dalai Lama’s Sun is in Cancer, and the two ruling planets of Cancer (the Moon orthodoxly, and Neptune, both esoterically and hierarchically) are place in the other maternal sign, Virgo – a sign in which these two planets rule as well. The aspect between the Sun and the Moon/Neptune conjunction is also the harmonious sextile, further emphasizing the cooperative ease with which the Mother Force flows.

The third second ray sign is Pisces, and it holds the “planet of opportunity”, Saturn. When Saturn is place in Pisces in the chart of a highly evolved individual it represents “spiritual responsibility” (cf. EA 333). The Dalai Lama is most Saturninely practical in all transcendental matters (Pisces). Between these three second ray signs, we find a wide T-Square, with Saturn opposing the conjunction of Moon and Neptune, and all members of this opposition, widely squaring Mercury in Gemini (and almost exactly squaring Chiron). The Dalai Lama has earned the right to speak as he does of higher matters because, through practical, compassionate service, he knows what he is talking about. His illumined words (Mercury in Gemini) represent deeply responsible experiences gathered through true Christ-like service. We can see how powerfully the second ray (whether only the soul ray, or both the soul and monadic ray) can express through this chart.

It should also be mentioned that the second ray planet, Jupiter (the chief planet of the soul ray) is almost exactly trine to the Sun in Cancer. Both Jupiter and the Sun express the second ray, and so this water-sign trine is extremely powerful for the good. It also reinforces the Dalai Lama’s “good nature” and sense of tension-dispelling humor. Saturn in Pisces, is also in trine to both the Sun and Jupiter, completing a grand trine in the sensitive water signs. In many ways, the Dalai Lama is a Jupiterian and solar being, but Saturn, chastening in the ways of humility and responsibility, balances his buoyancy. The ease with which he expresses himself emotionally (an ease based upon an achieved discipline), is a boon to all he encounters. Saturn in this grand trine shows that he has “done the work”, earning the right to make his pronouncements on happiness, constructive emotion and good-naturedness.

Another partial transmitter of the second Ray of Love-Wisdom is Venus (the planet of the love and light of the soul) place in radiant Leo, conjuncted to nurturing Ceres. Venus in Leo is also an indication of mental quality and can confer the fifth ray, but it is potent here, as well, for sweetness of disposition and good-heartedness. It is an indicator of the “joy of the soul”, which the Dalai Lama certain nurtures and cultivates (Ceres) in those he encounters. The out-of-sign trine from Uranus (H8) to Venus shows the deeply transformative power of the joyful soul-radiance which he expresses. It is as if that sunny smile and infectious laugh are two of the most transformative tools through which he works.

Therefore, all the distributors of the second ray are potent in this chart – admirably constituted to express the unifying force of the quality that animates both the Buddha and the Christ.

The Ray of the Personality: While it can be said that the Dalai Lama is unquestionably devoted to his mission, there are more reasons to think that he works through a fourth ray personality than a sixth. In his case, as in the case of any advanced initiate, the personality ray is very much a subray of the soul ray and, therefore, fused with that higher ray. We are used to thinking of the fourth ray as the ray of “Harmony Through Conflict” – a most apt description. Certainly, the Dalai Lama inherited a religio-political situation characterized by conflict of the most menacing and intransigent kind. While he may have some strictly personal conflicts (as he is a member of the Fourth Creative Hierarchy, the very nature of which is an inherent conflict moving towards harmony), he seems to have transcended personal conflicts of the more obvious kind. Instead, the Dalai Lama has become an agent of harmony within a troubled world. He is experienced as a reconciler, at war with none (not even with the Chinese oppressors who overran and now occupy his native country). His is, therefore, an advanced expression of the fourth ray, emphasizing its harmony aspect and invoking the energy of buddhi. He is a very vortex of harmony, into which actual and potential conflicts are poured and resolved with humor, joy and a refreshing wisdom.

Although Libra is not, in this World Period, a sign which distributes the fourth ray, there is much in the Libran nature which is reminiscent of that ray. The fourth ray seeks to bring peace and harmony out of often intractably difficult situations; Libra is the sign of the Spirit of Peace, and does likewise. The fourth ray enters through the three sign/constellations Taurus, Scorpio and Sagittarius, two of which are tenanted in the Dalai Lama’s chart – Uranus (esoteric ruler of the Libra Ascendant) in Taurus and Jupiter (the transmitter of the second ray—the proposed ray of the Dalai Lama’s soul) in Scorpio. These two planets (Jupiter representing the heart and Uranus, in the chart of initiates of at least the third degree, representing the head) are opposed to each other (the opposition being the aspect most related to Libra), and thus can be related synthetically – “married” to each other, as it were. Together, these two are planets of “beneficent organization”, and indicate fulfillment. Actually, they are said to be powerful in initiates of the fifth degree.

The blending of second ray Jupiter with fourth ray Taurus in the house of resources, speaks of the presence of a treasury of wisdom-through-buddhi. The Dalai Lama has rich spiritual resources at his disposal, won through lives of suffering and successful spiritual practice. He offers that abundance to fourth ray humanity (incidentally, ruled by Scorpio), so that its conflicts may be resolved into unity; so that humanity may experience the more abundant life. The fourth ray rules the Law of Sacrifice. How interesting to have the planet of abundance (Jupiter) in the house of physical and spiritual resources, with Jupiter placed in a potent sign of sacrifice. Gain through sacrifice is indicated.

Uranus, the transformer, is placed in the eighth house’a house of major transformations which is friendly to Uranus, because the eighth house corresponds to Scorpio in which sign Uranus is exalted. The transformation indicated here occurs through light – the gift of Taurus in which Uranus is placed. The light here is not just the light of the mental plane, but the light of buddhic wisdom, of which the Dalai Lama is so much an exponent. In an advanced soul, the axis of Taurus/Scorpio is particularly buddhic and relates as well to the clarification of the astral plane – the level on which this advanced soul seems so much to focus for the sake of a humanity that is largely polarized there.

Another fourth ray conduit is Mercury, places in second ray Gemini, and in a loose T-Square configuration with the opposition of Moon/Neptune and Saturn. The Dalai Lama knows how to speak to fourth ray humanity, and heal them (Chiron) with his words, which convey the blending of the second and fourth rays. Of course, he speaks from the perspective of wisdom (ninth house), but his speech is so practical (Mercury as the orthodox dispositor of the Moon/Virgo conjunction), that everyone seems to understand him. He has that “common touch” which is the gift of his Cancerian Sun Sign (Cancer, being the sign of “mass consciousness”) and his practical Virgoan Moon.

Another conduit for the fourth ray is the Moon itself, orthodox ruler of the fourth sign, Cancer, and relating to the four lunar vehicles which embody the fourfold exoteric nature of humanity. The Moon represents the “prison of the soul”, and the Dalai Lama is definitely one of those who is engaged with “freeing the prisoners of the planet” – in this case, benighted human beings subject to the demands of their fourfold lunar nature.

His major method for accomplishing this is through the transformation of the emotional nature of humanity, accomplished through the pervasion of compassionate love – Neptune. Neptune is also a planet related to buddhi and the buddhic plane, and in the case of the initiate is a definite redeemer of the usual energy associated with the Moon.

We can see how, in the case of the Dalai Lama, the proposed personality ray would become the vehicle for some very important redemptive energies. In a way, with his proposed second ray soul and fourth ray personality, he represents what humanity should become when it, too, is possessed of a second ray soul and a fourth ray personality. For now, humanity is said to have a fourth ray soul and a fifth ray personality, but at the end of its development, the rays will have changed, and humanity, as an Entity, will have become more harmoniously loving.

The Ray of the Dalai Lama’s Lower Mind: In the case of an initiate, the lower mind is capable of displaying a number of varied qualities. Such a ray will be the subray of the personality which, itself, is a subray of the soul – itself a subray of the monadic ray. There is no question of the Dalai Lama’s shrewd intelligence, but one has the impression that his thinking is guided by wisdom and is processed intuitively. So much of his response seems entirely natural and spontaneous. There is no sense (at least in his public appearances) of laborious cogitation or mental fixation.

Perhaps there is a hint (concerning the lower mental ray) in the fact that he seems to love to take watches apart to “see how they tick”. This represents the curiosity of the fifth ray, and its fascination with mechanism. He jokes that he has a lot harder time putting the watches back together. If the ray of the mind is the fifth, it serves the function of the illuminator – for the fifth Ray Lord is a “being of the intensest illumination”. The anecdotes about his relation to time-pieces simply serves as a hint concerning the quality of the ray.

One sign of the three that transmit the fifth ray (namely Leo) is active in the Dalai Lama’s chart. Here we find placed Venus, the orthodox ruler of his Libra Rising Sign. (Concerning the degree of this Libra Rising Sign, its most appropriate symbol is “A Man Teaching the True Inner Knowledge”). Venus is a planet proposedly ruled in its soul nature by the fifth ray, and this ray is reinforced by the fifth ray, transmitted through Leo. They are placed in the eleventh house, the house related to Aquarius, another sign that serves as a conduit for the fifth ray. There is an out-of-sign trine from Uranus (the planet of “occult science”) to Venus. Scientific Uranus has much to do with the fifth ray, and this trine reinforces the fifth ray’s power of illumination. We must remember that the exoteric and esoteric rulers of Libra are Venus and Uranus, respectively, and thus this trine makes of the Dalai Lama a true representative of the Libran energy. The illuminated mind is behind all that he does. Venus represents the effect of the Solar Angel upon the lower mind, and Uranus represents (for the initiate) the awaking of the mind through contact with the spiritual triad.

The Emotional Body of the Dalai Lama: At his stage of evolution, the second Ray of Love-Wisdom is pouring through what remains of the emotional vehicle. He tells us that he “gets angry” now and then, and there is a certain urgency and the feeling of emotional intensity in his speech. He is surely no stranger to the sixth ray (as both Virgo and Pisces – sixth ray as well as second ray signs – are strongly tenanted). Also, when he (like any good “politician”), “presses the flesh”, he really presses. Conjunctive Juno in urgent Aries gives this tendency. He seems, spontaneously, to leap into new relationships within the community of love and wisdom. He has also been known to weep openly. One feels him working through the solar plexus and using it (probably quite deliberately) to stir the people he contacts. His grand trine in water signs brings him in close relation to the astral plane, which is the sixth plane associated with the sixth ray. All the water signs emphasize the six in some significant manner. Thus, even though great love pours through his sentient nature, he certainly knows how to “move the crowd” by utilizing the sixth ray sentiently and emotionally.

The Physical Body of the Dalai Lama: This is difficult to assess. His Sun Sign, Cancer, distributes both the third and seventh rays. The Sun can stand for the physical body, and is trined by third ray Saturn. The seventh ray of monastic living is deeply ingrained in him, but the grueling schedule he keeps, requires a body with great endurance. Indeed, his constant traveling suggests the third ray, with its tendency towards “field work”. Although Libra, his Ascendant, is the seventh sign, it is principally a distributor of the third ray, as is Cancer (for the masses). Mars is another planet that represents the physical body, and its square to the Sun makes it even more representative of this lower vehicle. Mars in an expression, particularly, of the principle of activity, and by a number of associations is connected to the third ray. It is also placed in a third ray sign. Judging from his manner, the third ray is the more likely choice of ray to qualify the physical body.

Other Chart Features

When we consider the meaning of the Sun in Cancer we must think of the Dalai Lama as the foremost representative of his native country (Cancer rules native countries) – Tibet. All Tibetans are his family. His still wider family, is the “Human Family”, which he sees and embraces as one. Here is an instance in which the sign Cancer has a much wider meaning than as indicator of the usual physical family or more local group of relatives. Already a Capricornian initiate, the Dalai Lama has become the “crab Who clears the ocean of matter which flows around the soul of man” (EA 62).

The Libra Ascendant is entirely fitting for a man who has received the Nobel Peace Prize. A number of higher beings probably influence or work through the Dalai Lama. He seems especially resonant with the “Spirit of Peace”.

The three rulers of the Ascendant, Libra, are, each of them, important. The relationship between the orthodox ruler, Venus, and the esoteric ruler, Uranus, has already been discussed. Because the Dalai Lama is a true initiate, the hierarchical ruler of Libra, Saturn, placed in the sixth house of service and discipleship-training, is likewise significant. Libra, for the Dalai Lama, can represent a connection to the spiritual triad (over which Libra presides) and to the impersonal life. Saturn represents karma and spiritual duty. It would seem that in this incarnation, he is involved in bringing to a close some very ancient national karma. It would seem that he has transcended much of what could be called strictly personal karma. Saturn in Pisces, therefore, represents all that must be bravely faced at the end of a cycle. Since Saturn is also the orthodox and esoteric ruler of the IC, much of this karma involves his homeland.

Mars in Libra is an important planet as it is square to the Sun in Cancer and rising in the chart. The square represents the danger and opposition to which he has been subjected since his youth. This danger is exacerbated by the presence of Pluto within twelve degrees of the Sun. Mars is widely square Pluto as well as the Sun, and almost exactly square the midpoint between the Sun and Pluto. There are many who seek to eliminate him – some from within the Buddhist community. He has his definite enemies, who are also the enemies (Mars) of peace (Libra). Mars in Libra is in the sign of its detriment, which weakens Mars in the usual sense, rendering it less aggressive, more subservient to the principle of harmony. This position also makes one work actively and even aggressively to promote the ideal (sixth ray Mars) of peace (Libra). The Dalai Lama is not at all passive when it comes to promoting peace; in fact he is pro-active, taking the ideal of peace with him in his extensive travels and championing it.

Just as the Sabian Symbol for the Libran rising degree speaks of the impartation of inner knowledge, the symbol for the Sun Sign degree is also extremely telling: “A very old man facing a vast dark space to the northeast.” The Dalai Lama, spiritually, is a “very old man”. The North and the East are places of mystery and illumination, respectively. Further, when the Buddha returns yearly to the Wesak Valley, his image is said to appear in a northeastern section of the sky to the left of the great Mount Kailash. By facing the northeast, the Dalai Lama is facing his buddhahood, for he is said to be an emanation of Buddha of Compassion. This symbol speaks of his profound spiritual orientation – towards the luminosity of the East and the mysterious spirit-power of the North.

It is impossible to overlook the role played in the Dalai Lama’s chart by the two brightest stars in our local cosmic environment (i.e., those stars with the greatest visual magnitude) – Sirius and Canopus. Canopus conjuncts the Dalai Lama’s Sun within 51′ of arc and Sirius is conjunct his Cancer Sun with exactitude – only 1′ of arc from the degree and minute of the Sun. Given the role and spiritual status of the Dalai Lama, the conjunction with Sirius is remarkable to say the least. Canopus is the second brightest star (visually). In terms of absolute magnitude Canopus is well over a thousand times more luminous than Sirius. Canopus is the great navigator of the mythical ship Argo, and represents the “path finder” – those who find new ways and method. It is particularly associated with education, educators and those who travel much in search of education or for the sake of disseminating education. We can see how appropriate are these meanings in the case of the Dalai Lama.

As for Sirius, it is, with respect to humanity, visually the brightest and most potent star in the local sky. The energy of Sirius supports our solar system and serves as the inspiration to our planet’s Great White Lodge. Everyone who steps upon the paths of probation, discipleship and initiation is, essentially, guided by Sirius, and the Christ, Himself, is an example of the true Sirian initiate. Given these facts, it can be understood that the Dalai Lama is playing a pivotal role is preparing humanity, en large, for the first initiation – though he is certainly inspiring to potential actual initiates of the second and third degrees as well. Sirius is knows as “the Scorcher”, and burns away from humanity all that inhibits its spiritual progress. Alchemically, the Dalai Lama is having a huge influence on the psychological nature of present humanity, helping to change its desire nature, and sensitizing it to the reception and expression of true Love-Wisdom.

The nebula Aculeus in the “Sting of the Scorpion” is conjunct his Mercury in Gemini within less than one degree. Aculeus carries the meaning of successfully enduring attack. There are incessant attacks (both within and without), and the Dalai Lama has endured them remarkably. This position also gives him the power to “attack evil, slavery, tyranny, etc., without seeming to attack. His every positive word, engendering a huge global following, is an attack upon the forces of darkness and obstruction. His Jupiter in Scorpio gives him the power to contend successfully with the “counterforce”.

We find Jupiter contraparallel to Denebola in the back of Leo the Lion, closely conjunct Menkar, a difficult star representing the forces of the collective unconscious, and conjunct Zuben Elgenubi (the star of positive social change.) Denebola opens the individual to persecution for his beliefs, and because he is out-of-step with his society. Certainly the Dalai Lama is out-of-step with the society that the Chinese government would like to see rules the hearts and minds of Tibetans. Menkar shows the forces of ignorance and darkness with which he has to contend, and Zuben Elgenubi shows the positive results (“positive social change”) that his mission to humanity is accomplishing. Jupiter, planet of joy (joy in the midst of the darkness of Scorpio), shows the positivity of his influence, increasing the wisdom, light, and spiritual treasure of humanity (all spiritual meanings of the second house). Jupiter as the planet distributing his proposed soul ray, is of unusual importance, and in this case, shows him using its redemptive, uplifting power to counteract negative forces which are determined to stop him.

Venus is conjunct the “royal star”, Regulus. Regulus promises success if revenge is avoided. This is precisely the condition of the Dalai Lama. He has every human reason to resent and even hate the Chinese, but he does not, and thus serves as a brilliant (Venus in Leo) example of second ray positivity. Regulus rules, and the Dalai Lama rules through the light of the heart and mind (spiritual meanings of Venus). It is his luminous nature and warm heart which are winning the battle, and raising him to a level of radiatory authority (Venus in Leo) far superior to that of his enemies.

Yet another interpretation for the Moon conjunct Neptune in the twelfth house is exile. The Moon is “home”, and Neptune symbolizes the dissolving of locality. The twelfth house represents the Tibetan karma, which forced the Dalai Lama away from his ancestral home, into a condition in which his “home” was everywhere – a “place” without boundaries. The planet Saturn is the ruler of the Dalai Lama’s “home” – the fourth house. It is placed in a karmic sign, Pisces, in the house of service and servitude, and opposes the Moon/Neptune conjunction. Pisces is a sign friendly to Moon and Neptune, but has a dissolving effect on concrete Saturn. We can see how one sign (Pisces) and two planets connected to the watery element (Moon and Neptune) worked together to change the Dalai Lama’s “home” from definite to indefinite. This process had already begun when the progressed Moon crossed his Ascendant during the time of his “discovery” by a party of lamas sent in search of the reincarnation of the last Dalai Lama.

The twelfth house, generically considered, is esoterically ruled by Pluto, the planet of the exile. Jupiter is placed in Scorpio, and thus Pluto is the dispositor of Jupiter. The Dalai Lama has achieved “Freedom in Exile” – the name of one of his well-known books. Pluto (close to the karmic South Node in the sign of the home, Cancer, represents exile, and Jupiter, the freedom (especially in consciousness and expanded influence) achieved.

Some Interesting Factors from the Dynamic Chart

The Dalai Lama was born with the Moon in Virgo. By the time the Moon had progressed into several degrees of Libra, he was “discovered” by the search party seeking his new incarnation. This took place in 1937, presumably in the spring and summer months when such a party was able to travel in search. We notice that the Moon, representing the incarnational past, was crossing the Ascendant, representing, in esoteric astrology, the future and, thus, soul purpose and destiny. At the same time, karmic Saturn was transiting close to a conjunction of the seventh house cusp opposing the Moon within a few degrees. His karmic duties and obligations (Saturn and the Moon) were pressed upon him. At the same time Jupiter, bringing the influence of the soul, was transiting conjunct the North Node, giving wide opportunity for his future growth and development. Indeed, the Dalai Lama was destined for a fateful encounter which would change the nature of his life entirely. Transiting Uranus, as well, was fulfilling its exact opposition to natal Jupiter, and this helped to account for his sudden, beneficent elevation.

The young Dalai Lama was installed on the “Lion Throne” in 1940 during a period in which transiting Jupiter and Saturn were both in close relation to his natal Uranus, the esoteric ruler of his Ascendant. He was thereby placed in a position which, in the future, would allow him to become a transformative agent in a global society and an apostle of the “right human relations” – a quality which Libra represents. When we examine the eclipses for the period, we discover two involving the Ascendant during 1940. The Ascendant is important in defining the nature of identity and the relation of that identity to others (at the seventh). The identity meant, in this case, is soul identity, and with his ascension to the Lion Throne, a profound change of identity in line with his soul purpose emerged.

Mon   LEcl            (X)     Tr-Tr Mar 24 1940 04:48  03°Li02′ D   Sun    SEcl            (X)     Tr-Tr Oct 1 1940   21:44  08°Li11′ D

The Chinese invaded Tibet in 1950. T-Uranus was on the MC, shaking the authority of his political position, and T-Saturn was conjunct the Virgo Moon in the twelfth house – representing the suppression of his homeland. There was a solar eclipse quite close to this transiting Saturn and within a few degrees of his Moon/Neptune conjunction, showing the servitude of Tibet to the Chinese invaders. There was also an eclipse on the Ascendant/Descendant axis, with the Moon in warlike Aries at the Descendant – representing “open enemies”.

Sun    SEcl            (X)     Tr-Tr Sep 12 1950 12:38  18°Vi49′ D   Mon   LEcl            (X)     Tr-Tr Sep 26 1950 13:17  02°Ar31′ D

The Dalai Lama’s famous escape was made on a day (March 31, 1959), when transiting Mercury was conjunct the seventh house cusp, transiting Moon and Saturn were conjunct each other and the fourth house cusp (home) in Capricorn (representing difficulty and repression at home), the progressed Moon had just, less than a month before, moved into Leo (personal freedom); transiting Jupiter has moved into Sagittarius (movement towards a foreign nation); transiting Pluto was square to the progressed Vertex, representing a fate (Vertex) which called for exile (Pluto); there had been a lunar eclipse on the Ascendant/Descendant about a week before the date of escape, representing another focus on identity and relations with others (he became a leader in exile); there had been, about six months before the escape, a solar eclipse on the Vertex and Juno – his fate was in question and he had to collaborate closely with those who would help him escape; the escape occurred just a few months before a progressed lunation in the seventh degree of Leo – progressed lunations set the tone for the next thirty or so years. The degree of the progressed lunation reads: “The Constellations of Stars Shine Brilliantly in the Night Sky”, speaking of his brilliant spiritual future. At this period, Mars had also entered Scorpio by progression. His enemies were real and lethal. The war was on.

Mon   LEcl            (X)     Tr-Tr Mar 25 1959 05:11  03°Li26′ D   Sun    SEcl            (X)     Tr-Tr Apr 8 1959  12:23  17°Ar33′ D  Sun    SEcl            (X)     Tr-Tr Oct 2 1959   21:25  08°Li34′ D

Solar arc directions are also of interest at this time of voluntary exile. SA-directed Neptune was exactly on the Libran Ascendant at the time of the flight; his identity was changing and the future was uncertain. He “slipped away” – Neptune. Also, SA-directed Chiron was exactly at the proposed MC. He received a wound (Chiron) in relation to his temporal status and authority. He was forced to abandon the entire structure to which he was entitled, and choose a “new direction” (Chiron). He “went off on his own” (Chiron) rather than submit to Chinese pressure or the needless sacrifice of his life.

It is interesting to see that just a couple of years before the escape, the progressing MC had conjuncted natal and progressed Pluto. Presumably this conjunction coincides with a period in which Mao Tse Dung took an increasing interest in the Dalai Lama and sought by subtle means to coerce him (Pluto) into cooperation with China. The Dalai Lama realized, of course, that Mao was an “enemy of the Dharma”.

The Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize on October 5, 1989. This was clearly a Jupiterian event, acknowledging his great contribution to world peace. Not surprisingly, we find transiting Jupiter at the MC and SA-directed Jupiter exactly on the proposed IC. Since that time his status in the world (represented by the MC/IC) has risen dramatically.

The receipt of the Prize, also sees T-Saturn at the IC, firmly establishing him and anchoring him (Saturn) in world thought and anchoring the work of the Ashram in which he participates. As well a progressed Lunation in Virgo had just occurred – Virgo, the sign of service to the Christ. We remember that at the time of his progressed Lunation in Leo, about thirty years earlier, he had made his escape. Now, thirty years later, he was acknowledged as a major world-server, and became one of the foremost examples of living service before the eyes of humanity. It is impressive to note that barely a month before he received the Peace Prize, there was a solar eclipse on his progressed lunation in Virgo. At that eclipse, T-Jupiter was exactly on the MC (recognition and elevation). Not only was there an eclipse on the progressed lunation, but a lunar eclipse, also shortly before the award, involved Venus in Leo, which is the radiant orthodox ruler of his Libran Ascendant. The signs of recognition were emphatic; a great reward had come, making his influence in the world even more potent.

Sun    SEcl            (X)     Tr-Tr Mar 8 1989  03:07  17°Pi09′ D   Mon   LEcl            (X)     Tr-Tr Aug 17 1989          12:08  24°Aq12′ D Sun    SEcl            (X)     Tr-Tr Aug 31 1989          14:30  07°Vi48′ D

Conclusion

We have in the 14th Dalai Lama, a great soul. His astrological chart is remarkable for revealing his potentials, so many of which seem to have been fulfilled. Astrologically, he is admirably equipped to be a great servant of humanity. Could or would a lesser soul born with a similar chart respond as he has? Almost certainly not, but he has been in a position to draw from his chart its esoteric and hierarchical potentials. Is a great soul born at a moment favorable to the expression of that great soul? To some degree, it would seem so. The incredibly close conjunction between his Cancer Sun and the star Sirius, the “Star of Initiation”, is a case in point. Through his ministrations, he has led thousands closer to the possibility of taking initiation – even though he probably would not discuss spiritual progress in such a way.In

to see the manner in which esoteric and hierarchical rulers function, it is useless to study the charts of average people, or even the average spiritual aspirant. In the Dalai Lama’s case, however, the orthodox, esoteric and hierarchical rulers of the Sun and Libra are closely aspected. These are the three synthesizing planets (related to the spiritual triad), Venus related to the egoic lotus and the causal body, and the Moon related to the fourfold personality nature. We can see what an important alignment this would represent. The Dalai Lama has been able to incarnate some of the highest realizations and present them, simply and luminously to the general public – no mean feat. If he is an initiate of the fourth degree or nearly so, it remains to be seen what the higher powers have in mind to impress his incarnation upon the mind and heart of humanity. Already a strong impression has been made, and perhaps a stronger one is intended. A time of inner and outer fulfillment lies immediately ahead with transiting Jupiter (his soul ray planet) passing through Virgo and Libra. This will be accompanied by a time of testing as T-Saturn crosses his Sun. It cannot be expected that conventional astrology will apply in every particular to one at his stage of evolution, but the general trends should be visible. In sum, it is reasonable to think of the Dalai Lama as a major agent in preparing humanity’s heart and mind for the Externalization of the Hierarchy and (as a result of his Libra Ascendant) for the Reappearance of the Christ, the “Prince of Peace”.

Will this be his last incarnation? The teaching that surrounds him inform us that there will be no more Dalai Lamas. If he is a fourth degree initiate, the present incarnation may well be his final compulsory incarnation. Whether it is or is not, few lives have been as successful as his in serving and enlightening humanity and guiding it towards a better way of life.