The Sun has a triple function. On the physical level, the Sun energizes the life potential within each cell and atom; it is the “Breath of Life”. On the spiritual level, the Sun is Life Itself, the divine expression of the “Will to Be”. On the soul level, the Sun is the source of consciousness. In esoteric terminology, this facet of the Sun´s function is called the “Heart of the Sun”. It is through the Heart (both in human and solar expressions), that soul awareness and the consciousness of love is stimulated.

In Soul-centered astrology, the Sun´s purpose is to act as a vehicle for the externalization of the Second Ray of Love/Wisdom. When we delineate the Soul-centered chart, the position of the Sun has four primary indications:

1) It reveals the nature of the present incarnation from the point of view of temperament, characteristics and way of expression one’s life energies.

2) It speaks about the nature of the personality life and the “equipment” brought in from previous lifetimes in order to live out the current incarnation.

3) It is the force field through which the personality becomes self-actualized so that an individual becomes aware of him or herself as a Self-conscious, creative being.

4) It reveals those indications which point to the Ray makeup of the personality.

Let us now briefly examine the Sun and its Soul Level Purpose in each of the twelve signs. You may wish to refer to other articles on this site in order to review the properties and characteristics of each of the Seven Rays as this information will expand your understanding of the esoteric nature of the sunsigns.

Sun in Aries: It is through Aries’ expression on the First (Will/Power) and Seventh (Order/Ceremonial Magic) Rays, that the Second Ray (Love/Wisdom) quality of the Sun´s nature has the opportunity to manifest in our daily life. It is the Ram that permits the consciousness of Love to descend from the source of the spiritual Will-To-Be down through all the lower planes so that it may finally externalize in the physical realm. As the “Light of Life Itself”, Aries is a pure emanation of Divine Mind—the place “where the Will of God is known”. This initiating force of life makes Aries the birthplace of ideas. According to the Teachings of the Ancient Wisdom Teachings, all manifestation has its beginnings as Divine Ideas. It is through Aries that the Plan of Divine Will is revealed to us through the loving consciousness of the Soul.

Soul Level Purpose: An incarnation taken with the Sun in Aries is to serve as a fertile field of fire, clearing and cleaning the mind. It is in this way that Soul-centered Aries individuals allow new ideas to take root, ideas which further the Divine Plan both for themselves and for the people they serve.

Sun in Taurus: Self consciousness takes root through attachment to form and in the desire nature itself, which stimulates the urge for physical contact. Thus the major life lessons learned and taught by a Soul-centered Taurus have to do with detachment and transcendence. The Second Ray nature of the Sun is working through the Fourth Ray (Harmony through Conflict) force field of this sign. The Soul-centered Taurus seeks to express the beauty of the Soul in the forms of daily life. Taurus must encounter and then transform into balance and beauty those conflicts which arise when we attempt to anchor the Light of love in matter. Taurus is especially connected to the Buddha, for just as the passion of the Christ takes place through Pisces, the Buddha is said to have been born, reached enlightenment, and died in the sign of the Bull. The Buddha taught that the path of detachment from desire is the vehicle for the entrance of Light.

Soul Level Purpose: An incarnation taken with the Sun in Taurus has a great deal to do with the right use of magnetism. Taurus can add its tremendous magnetic qualities to attract the correct form around any inspirational idea. In this way, the fire of mind is cloaked in the substance necessary for life on Earth. We can see in this relationship the esoteric quality of compatibility existing between Aries and Taurus, fire and earth.

Sun in Gemini: The Twins speak about relating and the blending of diverse elements through the correct resolution of duality. Gemini and the Sun create a pure Second Ray energy field, one that permits the unification of Will and Form through intelligently applied Love. You will recall that Venus is the ruler of Gemini on the Soul level. Thus the Sun in Gemini brings in the harmonizing effects of this planet, considered by esoteric astrologers to be the most highly evolved in the solar system. Gemini changes, mutates, adjusts, and relates everything that is necessary for the evolution of the Soul. This communicative ability is at its strongest when the Sun in Gemini modulates the relationship between the Soul and the personality. It is through the harmonious blending of the energies of this essential polarity that true spiritual evolution takes place in life.

Soul Level Purpose: To be an agent for Venus on the subjective level of life and use the power of Mercury objectively. In this way, the Sun in Gemini serves as a vehicle for communicating the Law of Right Human Relationships: Peace on Earth and Goodwill to (Wo)Men.

Sun in Cancer: This placement of the Sun focuses one´s activities around the creation of an environment for nurturing and support. Substance is added to Will, purpose is added to Form. It is through Cancer that the Second Ray energy of the Sun expresses itself through the Third (Active Intelligence) and Seventh Rays. Thus Love combines with Intelligence to produce a fertile matrix for the birthing of whatever may be needed by the individual on the Path. This substance may then be distributed wherever and however it is required to fulfill the Soul´s purpose. The Sun in Cancer on the Soul level knows that nothing is ever lacking on any level of manifestation. The emotional waters of the Soul-centered Cancer expand from that protective and nurturing liquid found in the embryonic sac and become the inclusive ocean of Life Itself, nurturing all and everyone.

Soul Level Purpose: To create foundations: a foundation for future incarnations based on the intelligent blending of Will and Love, and the anchoring of a foundation of inner and outer resources to bring the nurturing Love of the Soul to others.

Sun in Leo: The Second Ray of Love/Wisdom of the Sun becomes expressed as dynamic force and power through the First Ray orientation of the fixed sign quality of Leo. The Sun rules supreme in this sign, allowing the Purpose of Life in our solar system (which is the unfolding of consciousness), to proceed in a direct fashion from the Mind of God into the minds of humanity. The unfolding of consciousness translates as the activation of self-awareness. Once we know that we are a self, self-demonstrating and self-creating, we then come to know ourselves as an extension of universal creativity. The quality of this revelation comes to us as unconditional love. An incarnation taken in Leo has the potential to express the Love and Wisdom of the Sun in its most potently creative fashion, What must be encountered along the Way is the almost equally potent self-centeredness of a Leo ego!

Soul Level Purpose: To create opportunities for the expression of consciousness, both individually and collectively. The latter is achieved through Leo´s creative processes and are often worked out through the group dynamics available in Aquarius.

Sun in Virgo: A very love-filled state of being! The Second Ray energies of the Sun work through the Second and Sixth Ray (Devotion) force field of this sign. The potential of the Sun in this sign is tremendous for the work of unification and healing. The aim of life is to become ever more one-pointed in reaching the loving inclusivity which is a primary spiritual goal. At the same time, Virgo endeavors to gain the necessary tools in order to serve others also struggling along the Path. Virgo is always at work, accumulating the required methods, processes and practices which bring about the perfection of the lower self. The lesson which the Sun in Virgo learns and teaches is discrimination in form. This quality of perception gives a Soul-centered Virgo the ability to identify what must be done to support one’s direction for spiritual growth while at the same time creating practical opportunities for the expression of the Soul on planet earth.

Soul Level Purpose: To provide the necessary forms through which consciousness (Love) may do the work of the inner Healer, thus bringing about a greater sense of wholeness into manifestation.

Sun in Libra: An incarnation taken with the Sun in Libra represents a pause or an interlude along the Way. It becomes very necessary to sense and test the relationship between the Higher and lower selves. The “Law of Polarity” is activated to the extreme with one foot standing firmly in the realm of the Soul and the other holding on to the personality nature with equal strength. A time has come to balance, consider, and choose the focus of one´s direction for the future. Life brings these opportunities through human relationships, relationships which often test personal, spiritual orientation. This tension is resolved through the creation of a focus of synthesis—the ability to merge opposing forces into greater creative potential for the externalization of consciousness.

Soul Level Purpose: To hold opposing forces in check so that greater awareness of both the Soul and the personality is achieved. This is accomplished through the expression and activation of those ideas (Libra is placed on the Third Ray of Active Intelligence) which bring about greater, collective peace and harmony.

Sun in Scorpio: As a Fourth Ray sign, an incarnation taken in Scorpio always is involved with some form of deep conflict, almost always expressed on the emotional level. Such a battle provides the individual with the needed opportunity to observe and express his or her own inner struggle for the domination of the lower self by the love of the Soul. The interlude of Balance is over; the true adversary appears in the form of the desire nature of the lower self. It is through the reorientation of desire that release from the attachment to the personality structure is achieved. “Death” becomes a continuous process, even an essential aim of life, as the release from (emotional) illusions is followed by awareness of a higher state of reality.

Soul Level Purpose: The transformational lessons learned through the Sun in Scorpio help to focus the individual as a catalyst for the healing of others. The ego, the lower self, becomes an extension of the Soul force. Strength and determination is gathered in as the rewards for the intense battles that have been fought and won. Scorpio is then ready to walk the Path in earnestness.

Sun in Sagittarius: As a sign found on three of the Rays (IV-V-VI), the duality and mutability of this sign is strongly emphasized. The Fourth Ray emphasizes Sagittarius´ role as the philosophical knight, ready to restore (or create) harmony out of the chaos of religious or intellectual differences. He rides forth out into battle, armed with the sense of devotion and self-sacrifice of his Sixth Ray component. On his shield he carries the standard “The Law of Right Human Relations”, placed there by Venus, ruler of the Fifth Ray. Sagittarius is the new vision of self, emerging as the “accepted disciple” from the ashes of ego-death in Scorpio. When anchored in the Soul, the Sun in Sagittarius brings fire to its abundant, creative center, allowing for the integration of and adding strength to his or her many contrasting tendencies and elements. As a sign found on three of the Rays (IV-V-VI), the duality and mutability of this sign is strongly emphasized. The Fourth Ray emphasizes Sagittarius´ role as the philosophical knight, ready to restore (or create) harmony out of the chaos of religious or intellectual differences. He rides forth out into battle, armed with the sense of devotion and self-sacrifice of his Sixth Ray component. On his shield he carries the standard “The Law of Right Human Relations”, placed there by Venus, ruler of the Fifth Ray. Sagittarius is the new vision of self, emerging as the “accepted disciple” from the ashes of ego-death in Scorpio. When anchored in the Soul, the Sun in Sagittarius brings fire to its abundant, creative center, allowing for the integration of and adding strength to his or her many contrasting tendencies and elements.

Soul Level Purpose: Sagittarius is the personification of the word “purpose”! It´s motto is: “I see the goal, I reach that goal, and then I see another.” Sagittarius must use its well earned one-pointed focus to orient the life to some lofty objective, one which allows him or her to be a teacher of the ways of the Path. Vision and insight combined with practical awareness are definite qualities to be achieved and shared.

Sun in Capricorn: The Second Ray qualities of the Sun must express themselves through three quite different Rays (I-III-VII) of the sign Capricorn. An incarnation taken in this sign has a very profound struggle but an equally great reward. Capricorn has to be able to express Love/Wisdom through the intense need for the expression of Will and Power (Ray I). This requires the total acceptance of the biblical phrase, “Let Thy Will be done.” Capricorn has to modify and direct his or her creative and active intelligence (Ray III), so that the mind is used for the goals of the Soul. Furthermore, Capricorn´s incredible urge for control, structure, and order (Ray VII) have to be transformed and totally redirected. Instead of being qualities which are used to manipulates the outer circumstances of life in order to fulfill the desires of the personality, these very same characteristics have to come under the directed will of the Soul. Once all of this is achieved, then the Soul level purpose becomes a reality.

Soul Level Purpose: Initiation. Capricorn represents that stage in spiritual growth in which all the efforts at spiritual growth culminate in advanced spiritual awareness. This entails even more responsibility as Capricorn takes his or her place in the structure of the Human Hierarchy, that group of men and women of Goodwill who have achieved the skills necessary to serve.

Sun in Aquarius: The search for individuality has shifted from one based on the need to be different to one based on a distinct sense of unification with all of humanity. In this respect, the Soul-centered Aquarian is personifying less of what it means to be him or herself (in terms of the personality), but more of what it is like to be a human being in service to other human beings. The emotional compulsions of the astral body have become transformed by the action of the Fifth Ray of Concrete Knowledge. Yet it is not with cold indifference that the Sun in Aquarius shines his or her light into the world. As a result of the blending of the emotional nature with the mental, Aquarius has produced pure intuition (Uranus). Thus the Soul-centered Aquarian embodies what was said in the opening quotation at the beginning of this article: “…the constant necessity …to think in terms of energies and forces, of lines of force, and energy relationships…”

Soul Level Purpose: To create those links and contacts that allow the distribution of Love/Wisdom through humanitarian efforts. Ideals and aspirations become reality. This is to be done in our times through group work and the formation of collective enterprises.

Sun in Pisces: The Second and Sixth Ray qualities are very strong in an incarnation birthed in the Fish. There is a need to dissolve all separatist thoughts, feelings, and actions so that the reality of unconditional love may emerge into the world. Yet this has to be done with a stronger sense of self rather than through the denial of individuality. Success in this respect depends on identification with the Soul. The personality structure of the Sun in Pisces usually seeks a lack of precise identity and an orientation which often thwarts firmness in direction and intent. As the Soul force emerges through the Sun in this sign, it brings with it the First Ray focus of Pluto. Thus concerted Will to bring about the expression of Love/Wisdom in the world becomes the basis for life. The Sun in Pisces then has the power to destroy all that seeks to create disunity and replace this dissonance with devotion to the Love that “passeth all understanding”.

Soul Level Purpose: To undergo and teach those tests of increased spiritual awareness that create an identification with the whole of human experience. This is accomplished through an identification with the Love of the Soul and the practical expression of the Love through service.