The Sun archetype
(Global Heart | Jonathan Waller) The Sun archetype: The Sun illuminates and clarifies whatever it interacts with, bringing warmth, light, and energy.
Sun
“O the sun of the world will ascend, dazzling, and take his height— and you too, O my Ideal, will surely ascend!”
— WALT WHITMAN ( Sun trine Jupiter)
the light of our star; there for the basking as the butterfly perches, charging
up its wings with heat, warming up its blood— so it is with every eye that feasts on sunbeams photons bouncing into retinas
a world made of light, constructed and consumed afresh in every moment
a flowering hope, the promise of creation the clambering up of great ambition
as a vine, driving ever onwards, towards the shining firmament up to meet the loyal sun photosynthesizing; climbing
The Sun archetype
The archetypal principle associated with the Sun has to do with creativity and illumination, passion and drive, willpower and vitality; the human desire and ability to make changes in the world, with a particular (but not exclusive) emphasis on our intellectual and rational capacities. Just as sunlight drives the growth of plant life up towards the sky, so the solar principle relates to the human qualities of aspiration and ambition; the will to achieve, to be in the spotlight, to be recognized, to elevate and rise above, to praise and be praised, and the impulse to celebrate uniqueness or individuality. It is the locus of agency, the driving force of the will to be; the “I am” principle. It is associated with masculinity, with fatherhood, and with all mythological masculine hero figures.
The Sun illuminates and clarifies whatever it interacts with, bringing warmth, light, and energy. When it comes into contact with other planets by personal transit, the Sun also helps us to identify with those archetypes and integrate them into our own sense of self. Your outer personality and the way you are perceived by others is also reflected by the aspects that the Sun makes with other planets in your chart. Think of your personality as the means by which you illuminate your own unique blend of archetypal resonances, making them visible to others through your words and actions.
Gifts
The Sun does a lot for us. Its gravity holds the dynamic energy of our solar system together. Its pervasive warmth brings us joy and keeps us alive. Its radiant light allows us to behold the many wondrous forms of the day world. Even the fossil fuels that we burn to power the lightbulbs in our homes are only the ancient remains of organisms that ultimately depended upon the Sun’s energy for their existence. All power, in some sense, is solar power. The position and purpose of our life-giving star in the solar system is also reflected in the psyche. Just as the Sun’s gravity extends to the very edge of our solar system, so the psychological centre of your sense of self also extends beyond its egoic core; your immediate experience of being seems to reach out beyond itself, bringing disparate and unfamiliar elements of existence within your sphere of influence. From a solar perspective, you are able to place yourself in the middle of things and encounter the world as a field of materials to be integrated or absorbed. Just as the Sun’s warmth and light have set in motion the flowering of life on Earth, so your own energy and creative aspirations are part of a never-ending chain reaction through which the universe co-creatively unfolds. As the Sun’s miraculous power drives and empowers all things, so it is that your own sense of life-force and willpower gives you the audacity required to believe that any idea or desire you have might be made manifest, formed, forged, and made real.
Challenges
The more problematic dimensions of the solar archetype are easiest to see at the cultural level, and they appear most clearly in the form of excess. The modern world is excessively solar in nature, oriented towards the outer world at the expense of inner reflection, overly focused on intellect and rationality instead of emotion and intuition, and it rewards ambition and control over connection and surrender. The essence of this excess is the oppression of the feminine, and this is the core of what we need to be concerned with also at the personal level. The Sun’s warmth is a joyous gift, up to a point. Without shade and moisture, life dries up.
While it may be appropriate enough to approach the world as a field of materials to be integrated into your sense of self, it is excessive to see the world as a mere collection of objects whose value you can extract and possess. While it is good to revel in the spotlight, it is important that your actual sense of self-worth does not become dependent upon the attention of other people. While it is important that you are able to make your mark on the world, it is not healthy to desire to have dominion over it, or to be obsessed with your own legacy. This all sounds simple, but it can be difficult to keep such things in balance, given that Western cultures tend to bestow material rewards upon those who act out these shadows of the Sun. You may find that the more you suppress your feminine. parts, the easier it is to “succeed” in a world where the masculine is given such a high priority. But this is neither morally justifiable nor sustainable. If you can begin to recognize the influence of the Sun in your own life, you can then strike a balance. Be bold and sensitive in equal measure, and remember that becoming an individual is as much about inclusion as it is about differentiation.
Invitations
When the Sun is activated in your chart, it is a good time to under- take any task that involves putting yourself out there. It is only natural for you to be the centre of attention, so make the most of it. When you feel more self-assured, people are more likely to appreciate whatever it is you are trying to achieve. Feel into your career ambitions and consider how you might improve your work situation while people are more able to see your value. Explore ways to express yourself more fully through your roles and personas. Ask yourself: “What is the direction of my growth? How can I align my actions with the attributes that I am growing towards?”
Because your willpower is boosted, this is also a good time to set intentions for your spiritual life and commit to a regular practice—take the chance to orient your willpower towards the most valuable goals you can imagine. Sunrise yoga and meditation may be especially rewarding while the transit is ongoing. Creatively, this is a time to be bold, and, whatever medium you choose, don’t be afraid to take on ambitious projects that, even if they don’t go to plan, help your creative spirit to stretch out. However you find yourself expressing these energies, be true to yourself, lean into your own desires, take up space, be the star of the show, and let your luminosity abound!
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Archetypal Astrology Oracle by Jonathan Waller © 2025 Findhorn Press. Printed with permission from the publisher Inner Traditions International. www.InnerTraditions.com
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About the author
Jonathan Waller is a respected archetypal astrologer, life coach, visual artist, essayist, and poet. The co-host of Awakenings—The Archetypal Astrology Podcast, Jonathan lives in southwest England.
Source: Global Heart
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