By Roderick Benns

The Sun is the life force of a horoscope, the conceptual furnace that reaches out and draws us into the warmth it projects. It is our purpose in life, supported by the more immediate need of the Moon. The Moon we know well, yet at the Sun we become.

But there are two planets in particular we look to in astrology that aid the Sun more intimately in many ways – Mercury and Venus. All together, the Sun, Mercury and Venus represent a crucially-important triad in the birth chart. In ancient Rome we would call such a triad a ‘triumvirate’ – a ruling council of three men. The first triumvirate ever included Cnaeus Pompey, a top general, Marcus Crassus, a wealthy citizen and Julius Caesar, an ambitious politician. Together, they ruled Rome until individual, personal ambitions emerged to create problems.

Pompey and Crassus were soon jealous of each other. Yet Caesar, through sheer force of personality, kept the arrangement going. Caesar’s campaigns proved him one of the greatest commanders in the history of the world. In them, he revealed an acute military genius characterized by sure judgment and a fearless intensity.

The Sun, Mercury and Venus are astrology’s foremost triumvirate. Think of Caesar as the Sun – the greatest energy that permeates the land. Mercury is Pompey, the general who issues commands and communications to articulate the strategies. Venus is the wealthy Crassus, content to be a civilian and to bask in his individual resources.

In astrology, Mercury and Venus can never be far from the Sun. It is an astronomical reality that Mercury can never stray more than one sign, either side, away from the same sign the Sun is in. Venus can (but rarely does) jump out of this same boundary to inch itself into even one sign beyond. But they are bound by this reality. Let’s think about what this means, astrologically, this tightness of relationship to each other and apply it to lives lived. As we go along, think about your own chart and how this synthesis applies to your own life.

Harmony

When all three planets are aligned in the same sign, the same archetype is being pressed into consciousness through our ego and core energy, our mind and our social antennae. There is a unified approach to life, a path and purpose that seems sure and right, whether or not this matches up with reality. For instance, consider the sign Pisces. With all three of these bodies in Pisces, there would be a deep-seated focus on things that can help one transcend – intense creativity, for instance. There is no doubt this theme means something to a Pisces. This is because the Pisces Sun is buttressed by Mercury and Venus. All together, they support a defining structure.

Those who have the Sun, Mercury and Venus in the same sign seem to have a strength of purpose – a focus that doesn’t waver as easily as those who have the three bodies in more than one sign. Certainly, this is not a value judgement. Consider that strength of purpose can also easily turn into willful stubbornness and intractability. It is what one does with this natural ability to stay focussed that counts. Let’s look at an example.

Chart A Jim

From my client files this is Jim, an entrepreneur and education specialist. Jim has the Sun in Scorpio and the Moon in Leo, a powerful combination of fixed energy. He has had a colorful career over the years and his intense focus began at an early age.

The reigning need of the personality, seen through the Moon, is to be in the spotlight, to be recognized, loved and honoured. The Scorpio Sun shows much energy for plumbing the depths and heights of life and to control through knowledge. In addition to Jim’s Scorpio Sun, he also has Venus and Mercury in Scorpio, too. This is the same archetypal message pressed into consciousness in the most intimate way in astrology – through the left and right arm of the Sun, Mercury and Venus. In this chart, this powerful triad of energy is also in the first house which strengthens the presentation of energy to the world, pushing it to matter at all costs.

Jim got two degrees in three years while in university in the mid 1970s. Early in his career he worked with leading-edge researchers from overseas to examine critical thinking skills, showing IQ levels could be shaped over time. He has been the principal of private schools, too. In one instance, he took a tough, academically and socially-challenged school in the Toronto area and turned it around, implementing dress codes and a new agenda of respect – character education before its time.

His focus on education and children led to the drawing together of US and Canadian interests to try and control porn and hate literature on the internet through various means, including networking with members of the U.S. cabinet over the years. He has also operated many franchises, usually with a connection to education, such as an international chain of math schools to augment regular curriculums.

Jim’s focus is easy to see and feel. His Sun – his core energy – has the support of Mercury and Venus. Using our ancient Rome analogy, Caesar can count on Pompey and Crassus.

But let’s reiterate that any astrological presentation has both a light and shadow side. Even when all three of these energies work together this does not suggest there are no problems. The very intensity that promises accomplishment can also suggest difficulties. For instance, Jim has a great urge to whistle-blow on organizational leaders, for instance, who do not put children or ethical considerations first. Jim’s willingness to challenge authority (if he thinks it is being misused) and put his own name on the line wherever he goes has created a great deal of strife for him over the years and he has burned a number of key bridges. Sometimes he simply makes the wrong decision, a victim of extreme certainty and focus.Currently, Jim is making plans to take on an exciting new educational project in China that will act as a transitional program for Chinese youth to come to Western-based post-secondary schools.

Chart B CHRIS

This is the horoscope of a young man who has dual ambitions to have both a career in the military and become an historian. Notice the southern hemisphere emphasis (to the top of the chart), that feeling of being swept up by the world with little anchor to weigh one’s possibilities down. The Moon is in rebellious and innovative Aquarius, offering an interesting synthesis challenge with the Sun, Mercury and Venus all in Cancer, supporting the defining structure of home, domesticity and roots, everything that Aquarius, as an archetype, is against. Scorpio rises, a sign with an affinity for all things military.

In Chris’ case, he went through basic training but decided to quit in favour of concentrating more on his schooling (note the packed ninth house) and because he found it challenging to be away from his fiancé and his home life. In other words, his powerful, ‘harmonious’ Cancerian side is winning out here, impelling him to complete his education and move on to a career in history, perhaps through museum work. But this was a very difficult transition for Chris to make, full of soul-searching and years of wondering how to best reconcile both sides. When there is harmony through the Sun, Mercury and Venus, this does not imply a smoothness necessarily. Rather, it can show a focus that makes it difficult to change gears without a lot of self-realization work. At this point in time, Chris has recently joined the militia to do part-time work, keeping one foot in the military door.

To review, ‘harmony’ through the Sun, Mercury and Venus in the same sign simply means the same message, the same energy, is being pumped through the core of an individual. How one chooses to respond to this energy and message is what is at stake on an ongoing basis. When one acts with determination and focus, does he or she still retain the strength of will to change gears when necessary and see other possibilities? This is what will determine successful use of these energies.

Discord

Outside of harmony, there is discord. We might consider the astrological imprint of the Sun and Mercury or Venus in one sign but the third planet in a second sign as an example of discord. For instance, Sun and Mercury in Aries but Venus in Pisces. The Sun and Mercury are symbolizing ‘me first’ kind of energies in this example. There is courage and a willingness to engage the world in a fiery kind of way. Venus, though, as the social antennae, splashes some water on this notion and will react and behave differently than the Sun and Mercury. Of course, only one human being is being discussed here in the long run, and that person needs to assimilate energies that are fundamentally different. Consider Caesar with only the support of one partner. In the case above, only the wealthy Crassus supports him without question but Pompey, the general, does not – at least not with additional work.

Of course, let us realize this can be done, this assimilation of energies that are different. People do it every day – millions who go about their business. Some people may or may not be conscious of the subtle and not-so-subtle energies that pull and prod until we make choices and define who we are in the process. We are calling it ‘discord’ to create an image in our minds of two energies that work together while the third, renegade energy has to negotiate with the others every time a decision needs to be made! In the same example, the ego (Sun) is feeling the swell of Aries pride and the mind (Mercury) races on ahead with it, completely ready to wade into a crowd of people and talk about anything. Meanwhile, the social antennae indicator (Venus) is putting on the brakes. "Well, maybe I’ll just float about in the corner and see if anyone notices me instead." Venus won’t win all the time. But the fact is, it’s a constant mini battle to understand oneself and ones motivations.

Chart C Catrina

Let’s look at a real example of this in action. This client, ‘Catrina,’ has Sun and Venus in Leo but Mercury in Cancer. This woman is a successful massage therapist who also has a deep interest in film, the occult and comparative religious studies. Catrina has a dominantly western chart, the horoscope suggesting an inclination to give oneself away and leave oneself behind in the process. The Moon in Taurus shows a reigning need to preserve one’s sense of security, to maintain things as they are. The Sun in Leo shows a great deal of energy for recognition and it is accompanied by Venus in the same sign, one’s social orientation. But in this chart, Mercury does not follow along. Instead, it beats to a different drummer – Cancer.

This horoscope suggests, then, that the Leonine urges for being in the spotlight and for natural Leo self-interest faces a dissenting voice. That voice is Mercury, the department of communication and strategy. Mercury is simply not interested in going about its business wearing the same lens as the Sun and Venus. It sees the world through Cancerian eyes, which includes home, domesticity and the planting of roots.

Catrina has been realizing of late that perhaps she has been doing too much thinking like a Cancer at the expense of her Leo core. She recalls that before age 30, the arts was everything to her. "I always seemed to fall into work situations where I was often admired and respected," recalled Catrina in a recent discussion. "People often sought my advice and deferred to me, even bosses I had. All my husbands (she has been married three times) were artistic or in the arts in some way or other. I was afraid to be all I really was, with every one of them, and subsequently always diminished myself so they would feel elevated. This never really worked, of course, as the truth is always felt subliminally," she says in hindsight.

Recall Catrina’s western hemisphere emphasis at this point, the giving of oneself away. But also remember Mercury in Cancer, concerned not with Leo notions of art and being in the spotlight, but rather of supporting family structures and thinking about how to reinforce the strength of the home life.

Catrina notes she has always enjoyed gathering people for dinner parties, feeding them graciously, helping them mingle and making them feel comfortable in aesthetically-pleasing surroundings. "I could do this much more unmarried than married, though, as I was freer to be myself then," explains Catrina. "I usually deferred to the domestic style of my husband’s." We can feel the Mercury in Cancer discord with the Leo pride in this statement alone.

She says the greatest trigger today that pulls her away from her ‘self’ and her own needs is her family. "With my children, my wants for them make it almost impossible to balance what is good for me. This is coming to a head now. I must balance it, even it is just for their sakes.

Catrina realizes now that the earlier part of her life, in the arts and business, was far more ego-fulfilling than her current career as a massage therapist, despite her success which includes research work with universities. "Though I have a respected professional status in the eyes of clients and peers, the work is so down-to-earth the end result of the pain relief is admired, not me. People used to think almost too well of me (in my career in the arts). Now, people take me totally for granted. They probably trust and love me more, but they don't admire me. So in one way I am deeply fulfilled, yet totally starved for creative and intellectual company and activity on the other. In some ways I feel part of me is falling asleep and there is an urgency not to let that happen," she explains.

Note the Leo Sun and Venus becoming increasingly active in the thought processes. Catrina is determined to pay more attention to the balance between her family’s needs and her own. This is a classic example of the renegade energy eventually getting reigned in and assimilated with more clarity with the grace of time.

Chart D Bobbi

This is Bobbi, a young client who is doing well for herself as a travel agent. Note the southern hemisphere emphasis, to the top of the chart, a feeling of being swept up by events and having little anchor to hold one down. Her Moon is in Taurus with the need to keep things as they are for personal security, to maintain the status quo. Her Sun and Mercury are in Scorpio, showing a core energy for exploring the depths and heights of life and to control through knowing. But Venus, her social antennae, is in nearby Libra.

Bobbi has a strong understanding of the pain and sadness others go through and a sharp intuition and psychism. The strength of will and purpose she has is also a Scorpio manifestation but the Libran Venus dilutes this somewhat. This is an example, however, when archetypal discord can pave the way to benefits in reality, if used well.

For instance, Bobbi’s self-professed "very suspicious mind" and "jealous, jealous, jealous" tendencies would perhaps be amplified more than they already are with the entire triumvirate in Scorpio.

"If angered, I use stinging words which I always regret later," notes Bobbi in a recent discussion.

Bobbi’s so-called discord, then, might help out during times when she needs to exercise diplomacy and create good relationships with others. The Venus in deferring Libra pitches in with social niceties.

But she also notes she is often "in love with love" and that she pours all her energy, time and feelings into relationships, leaving little time for anything else. "I often daydream about relationship stuff all the time when I should be more focused on work or others things," she says.

Here, again, we see the drawback of a renegade energy in charge of its own department – in this case, social relations – and how difficult it is to assimilate the overall message to fortify the life’s focus.

To review, consider that in our discussion of discord, the one dissenting voice often plays a pivotal role in upsetting the apple cart, so to speak. It is often necessary to reign in this energy but also to honor it so that one can still focus and accomplish one’s goals. Only in this way can we recognize that this planetary discord can be a gift after all.

Dissonance

Three planets in three different signs I refer to as dissonance. Again, this is simply a descriptive word to understand symbols that are fundamentally different, all calling out for different needs to be fulfilled. Instead of one voice acting as the lone renegade, we now have three voices all trying to run the show, with the Sun calling out for most of the attention. It is Caesar trying to lead (one’s Sun) without Crassus or Pompey working alongside– of course it can be done, but it demands adjustment. For the person with this sort of dissonance, the adjustment is a lifelong work-in-progress but should be increasingly easier with growing self-awareness.

Chart E Michael Hutchence

Let’s consider dissonance first through the life of Michael Hutchence, the former lead singer of INXS, an Australian super band with a worldwide following. Hutchence committed suicide by hanging himself with his own belt on Nov. 22, 1997, at a hotel he was staying at.

INXS spent the mid-1990s trying to develop a successful new album after a series of less-than-spectacular releases. During this time, Hutchence had an affair with British TV host Paula Yates, who was then the wife of singer Bob Geldoff. Hutchence and Yates have a daughter, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily. An INXS release, 1997's Elegantly Wasted, had barely come out when Hutchence was found dead in his hotel room.

Hutchence’s chart shows many challenges. He has nearly every planet above the horizon, showing a propensity to be swept up by events. The environment fashions a life for him instead of the other way around. There is the absence of anchor. The Moon in Scorpio shows a reigning need to be in control, to be regarded with significance. His Aquarian Sun shows energy for innovation and humanitarianism. Hutchence’s Neptune envelops the Moon in conjunction and the Moon is ruling the seventh house of relationships. We can feel how this might be difficult to manage clarity within this sphere of life. Chiron is placed in the second house of self-worth, a difficult placement.

On top of this, we note the dissonance of the Sun in Aquarius, Mercury in Capricorn and Venus in Sagittarius. When the Sun in Aquarius calls on Mercury and Venus to marshal its resources in the interests of innovation, for example – an Aquarian theme – what do you think Mercury in Capricorn is telling it? The answer is the exact opposite. Capricorn is conservative and earthy and nothing like the air sign beside it and Venus in Sagittarius is adventurous and fun-loving.

You can feel the dissonance in the music of INXS. The experimentation this band went through is very well known. The band had an illustrious but erratic career. It’s music showed mainstream pop swagger right through the continuum to desperation, longing and painful introspection.

Its musical style changed considerably from one album to the next. "It's a strange place to be: to not quite be a punk band starting out when we did, then over the years, to start to hear the influence of the mixture of R&B, funk and so on creep into our music," said Hutchence in an interview with an Australian music magazine years ago, essentially beginning to outline the musical dissonance at play. Because Hutchence was the frontman – the figurehead for the band, his thoughts on the band’s status are very telling in relation to his own chart. "Come to think of it, I don't think we've ever fit in. Maybe it's a generational thing. Or maybe it's because there's always been the six of us, pulling in six different directions" he said.

The tragedy of Michael Hutchence cannot be explained through the Sun, Mercury and Venus in three different signs. But what they do symbolize is simply a man who was pulled in many different directions – we can surmise he never figured out how to integrate the disparate energies. From what we can understand, he never figured out how to honor himself and his own needs.

Chart F Leah

Let’s look at dissonance in Leah’s chart, too, someone who has successfully assimilated the disparate energies in her life. But first, note the western orientation in this horoscope, the giving of oneself away and leaving oneself behind in the process. The Moon – the arch need – is in Scorpio, where it must plumb the depths and heights and be regarded as meaningful by a partner and/or the public. The Sun (Caesar) is in Gemini, where there is great energy for diversification and intellectualization. But Mercury is in Cancer; the General Pompey issues orders and communications with something different in mind. Cancer is a soft, emotional, domestic energy but astute and sensitive. Leah’s Venus is in Leo, a fire sign, and reaches out for fun, love, adventure and belonging. Recall Venus as the wealthy Crassus, the resourceful third part of the triumvirate. Venus always makes a splash, wherever it goes.

Leah, herself an excellent astrologer and healer, makes her thoughts known on the dissonance between the three energies. "My Sun in Gemini is very intelligent, funny and has the energy to communicate efficiently and fluently. My Mercury in Cancer really needs security, especially in the home and over time (because I have yet to find security in my home) it became inner security, trusting myself to handle whatever situation arose. It also meant needing to find a philosophy that I can live by, within myself, so that I am safe no matter what happens in the external world."

"My Venus in Leo is way too damn loving," she jokes. "I honor everyone I meet from the garbage man to the grocery clerk. It needs to share love that way, but now I expect the same in return, especially in close relationships. Before I integrated the energies, I would give love unconditionally (Venus) be taken advantage of, lose my sense of security (Mercury in the fourth house) and condemn myself for how dumb (Sun in Gemini) I had been to love in the first place," Leah explains.

Leah has shown clearly how the dissonance played out in her life – and how she has wisely taken hold of the energies and made them work for her, not against her. It is important to realize, as Leah has, that diverse energies can empower and inspire one’s life.

To review, let us be clear that the idea of dissonance to describe three different themes of expression is merely a different path to potential success. Just as we learned harmony of thought and intent can be a mixed blessing, dissonance between the Sun, Mercury and Venus is no different. Value judgements must be left at the altar of personal choice.

The Last Say

The politics of ancient Rome was a tricky business. As Caesar's military successes aroused Pompey's jealousy, the death of Crassus on top of this pushed history’s first Triumvirate to an end. Pompey and Caesar then set against each other in a bloody civil war.

The Sun, Mercury and Venus are a lot like the symbols of the ancient triumvirate in Rome, in many ways. But in our own internal ruling council, we have the last say. We get to determine our own fates, to avoid the chaos competing energies can bring. We have the free will to quash an inner civil war, to realize with grace that reaching the warm light of our Sun is the destination all energies must share.