Skipped Steps and Resolution

[jasonholley]

Hi Rad and all,

After reading all the posts I can find about skipped steps on the message board, and listening to and reading all the EA materials I have, I still have questions about this dynamic.

What I understand about skipped steps:

1. They are shown by a planet or planets squaring the nodal axis.  The exception is the Sun which does not indicate a skipped step when square the nodal axis, but does indicate the potentiality of creating such a skipped step during the current lifetime.

2. They show that in recent prior lifetimes the Soul has worked on the areas described by both the nodes (their house and sign positions, and aspects made to them) and that both the nodal rulers (house and sign positions, and aspects made to them) have also been active in the service of those nodes.

3. They show that the Soul has attempted to “jump ahead” evolutionarily and has not dealt with a particular part of its evolutionary journey, which is the skipped step. 

4. The nature of the skipped step is described by the planet squaring the nodes, its house and sign position, and the aspects it is making to other planets.

5. Given that the skipped step planet has not been adequately integrated by the Soul in previous lifetimes, if it remains unresolved or unintegrated in the current lifetime, the Soul will be unable to live consistently at the evolutionary stage it has actually attained overall, because when the skipped step is unresolved the Soul will still be acting out of the evolutionary stage at which the skipped step was skipped.  In a sense the skipped step is the lowest common denominator in the chart and will be the default level of consciousness until it is resolved or in resolution.   

6. As long as the skipped step remains unresolved, there will be a deep tension in the consciousness of the Soul, back and forth, “sitting on the fence”, “yes and no” to both nodes, and the Soul will demonstrate a kind of flip-flopping behavior between the NN and its ruler and the SN and its ruler, back and forth, thus stagnating and unable to achieve the Soul’s deepest evolutionary intentions as described by Pluto and its polarity point.  This can last for lifetimes.

7. The resolution of the skipped step is described by the lunar node which has most recently conjuncted the planet squaring the nodes, that node’s house and sign position and any aspects it is making to other planets; and by the ruler of that node, its house and sign position, and any aspects it is making to other planets.   

My questions are:

1. Are all parts of the understanding described above correct?

2. Do asteroids and other points such as Black Moon Lilith, square to the nodal axis, also indicate skipped steps (there has been reference to this, but have not seen it confirmed by the moderators)?

3. Does a skipped steps dynamic constellate in relation to squares of planetary nodes, i.e. might one show skipped-step symptoms around a particular planetary function one or both of whose nodes were squared?   (Or, since most planetary nodes are not exactly opposite one another the vast majority of the time as the lunar nodes are, could a skipped steps dynamic constellate when a planet is at the midpoint of a planet’s nodes, in the sense that planets squaring the lunar nodes are also at the nodes’ midpoints?) 
 
4. How does the resolution process work? 

My fourth question is the one I am struggling with the most right now.  What does it mean to “resolve” the skipped step through the resolution node and its ruler?  Does this mean:

a) that the person simply is encouraged to focus on embodying and carrying out the functions and archetypes described by the resolution node and its ruler?  Or

b) that the person is encouraged to focus on embodying and carrying out the functions and archetypes described by the resolution node and its ruler, but with some kind of tweak or modification relative to the skipped step? If so, what is this modification?

Further if the answer is “a”, and the resolution node is the North Node, then what would be the difference between the path suggested to a person when the north node is the resolution node for skipped steps, vs. the path suggested to a person has the same nodal signature without skipped steps?   Would there be a difference?   

Again if the answer is “a”, but this time the resolution node is the South Node, then is the path for the entire lifetime one of following the South Node and its ruler, or is there some point at which the person is “done” with that, and they can fully turn to the North Node?   If there is a “done” point, how can this be recognized?   How would you know the skipped step is resolved?

Thank you all so much for any guidance and direction, and God bless JWG and all of you for sharing this incredible EA paradigm and maintaining this forum.   

With love, God bless,
Jason

[Rad]

Hi Jason

After reading all the posts I can find about skipped steps on the message board, and listening to and reading all the EA materials I have, I still have questions about this dynamic.

What I understand about skipped steps:

1. They are shown by a planet or planets squaring the nodal axis.  The exception is the Sun which does not indicate a skipped step when square the nodal axis, but does indicate the potentiality of creating such a skipped step during the current lifetime.

2. They show that in recent prior lifetimes the Soul has worked on the areas described by both the nodes (their house and sign positions, and aspects made to them) and that both the nodal rulers (house and sign positions, and aspects made to them) have also been active in the service of those nodes.

3. They show that the Soul has attempted to “jump ahead” evolutionarily and has not dealt with a particular part of its evolutionary journey, which is the skipped step. 

4. The nature of the skipped step is described by the planet squaring the nodes, its house and sign position, and the aspects it is making to other planets.

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The skipped steps are not only symbolized the the planet that is squaring the Nodes, but also the South and North Nodes themselves, and the location of their planetary rulers, and all the aspects therein. The causative factor in the totality of the skipped steps is the actual planet squaring the Nodes by it's House and Sign locality, and the aspects to it.

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5. Given that the skipped step planet has not been adequately integrated by the Soul in previous lifetimes, if it remains unresolved or unintegrated in the current lifetime, the Soul will be unable to live consistently at the evolutionary stage it has actually attained overall, because when the skipped step is unresolved the Soul will still be acting out of the evolutionary stage at which the skipped step was skipped.  In a sense the skipped step is the lowest common denominator in the chart and will be the default level of consciousness until it is resolved or in resolution.   

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Yes, but another way to understand it is that the Soul's evolution CAN NOT PROCEED until the skipped steps are resolved.

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6. As long as the skipped step remains unresolved, there will be a deep tension in the consciousness of the Soul, back and forth, “sitting on the fence”, “yes and no” to both nodes, and the Soul will demonstrate a kind of flip-flopping behavior between the NN and its ruler and the SN and its ruler, back and forth, thus stagnating and unable to achieve the Soul’s deepest evolutionary intentions as described by Pluto and its polarity point.  This can last for lifetimes.

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Yes.

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7. The resolution of the skipped step is described by the lunar node which has most recently conjuncted the planet squaring the nodes, that node’s house and sign position and any aspects it is making to other planets; and by the ruler of that node, its house and sign position, and any aspects it is making to other planets.   

My questions are:

1. Are all parts of the understanding described above correct?

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Yes, with the exception of number 4.

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2. Do asteroids and other points such as Black Moon Lilith, square to the nodal axis, also indicate skipped steps (there has been reference to this, but have not seen it confirmed by the moderators)?

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Wolf never taught about using anything other than the actual planets. And that's because there are so many asteroids which one's does one 'count' and 'not count'.

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3. Does a skipped steps dynamic constellate in relation to squares of planetary nodes, i.e. might one show skipped-step symptoms around a particular planetary function one or both of whose nodes were squared?   (Or, since most planetary nodes are not exactly opposite one another the vast majority of the time as the lunar nodes are, could a skipped steps dynamic constellate when a planet is at the midpoint of a planet’s nodes, in the sense that planets squaring the lunar nodes are also at the nodes’ midpoints?) 

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No.

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4. How does the resolution process work? 

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The resolution works by a Soul making a choice to recover the skipped steps. And that is done by consistently developing the Lunar Node that the squaring planet is applying too. This then becomes the consistent baseline upon which the entire , thus their life, is integrated.

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My fourth question is the one I am struggling with the most right now.  What does it mean to “resolve” the skipped step through the resolution node and its ruler?  Does this mean:

a) that the person simply is encouraged to focus on embodying and carrying out the functions and archetypes described by the resolution node and its ruler? 

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Yes

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or ...
b) that the person is encouraged to focus on embodying and carrying out the functions and archetypes described by the resolution node and its ruler, but with some kind of tweak or modification relative to the skipped step? If so, what is this modification?

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No.

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Further if the answer is “a”, and the resolution node is the North Node, then what would be the difference between the path suggested to a person when the north node is the resolution node for skipped steps, vs. the path suggested to a person has the same nodal signature without skipped steps?   Would there be a difference?   

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Yes, because for the Soul who does not have a planet(s) squaring the Lunar Nodes there is not previous experience to the N.Node, and it's ruler, at all. With a Soul that has the same Lunar Nodes with a planet(s) squaring the Lunar Axis it has in fact had previous experience relative to that N.Node, and the location  of it's planetary ruler. It's the difference between that which is 'brand new' and that which is not.

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Again if the answer is “a”, but this time the resolution node is the South Node, then is the path for the entire lifetime one of following the South Node and its ruler, or is there some point at which the person is “done” with that, and they can fully turn to the North Node?   If there is a “done” point, how can this be recognized?   How would you know the skipped step is resolved?

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No, the entire life is consistently integrated around that S.Node, and the location of it's planetary ruler. It's not a matter of 'turning' to the N.Node for the N.Node itself is being actualized consistently through the S.Node itself: the baseline, like a foundation for a house. If the Soul does this for the entire life then the Soul is 'done' relative to resolving the skipped steps and is thus ready to proceed with it's evolution.

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God Bless you too Jason,

Rad

[Sunyata]

I think Ive been doing this wrong....

7. The resolution of the skipped step is described by the lunar node which has most recently conjuncted the planet squaring the nodes, that node’s house and sign position and any aspects it is making to other planets; and by the ruler of that node, its house and sign position, and any aspects it is making to other planets.

Example:

Planet at 27Scorpio 3rd Squaring S.Node at 23Leo 12th and N Node at 23 Aq 6th.... the resolution is through the south node?

So there are charts that have both the Pluto resolution through the N Node and the skipped steps resolution through the S Node?

[Steve]

Hi Sunyata

7. The resolution of the skipped step is described by the lunar node which has most recently conjuncted the planet squaring the nodes, that node’s house and sign position and any aspects it is making to other planets; and by the ruler of that node, its house and sign position, and any aspects it is making to other planets.

Example:

Planet at 27Scorpio 3rd Squaring S.Node at 23Leo 12th and N Node at 23 Aq 6th.... the resolution is through the south node?

So there are charts that have both the Pluto resolution through the N Node and the skipped steps resolution through the S Node?

Your question is not very clear.   In skipped steps there is only a resolution node for the skipped step, the skipped step being the planet squaring the node.  Yes, in your example the skipped step resolution of Pluto squaring the nodes is the South Node.   What do you mean by "the Pluto resolution"?   

Some charts have planets opposing each other, both squaring the nodes.  In that case one resolves through the North Node, the other through the South Node.

For anyone reading who is not clear on this, the simplest way to determine a planet's resolution node is visualize yourself standing on the outer rim of the chart, standing on the planet that squares the nodes, facing the chart center.  The node to the left of the planet is the resolution node.
Steve

[Sunyata]

Hey Steve. Sorry if I was unclear. What I meant is that from my understanding, when Pluto is not aspecting the nodes then the ppp lessons are learned through the north node placement and aspects..... and then within that context there can be planets squaring the nodes whos resolution would be via the S. Node. So what I was saying is that within one chart Pluto lessons can be learned through the N.Node, house and aspects while within the same chart the planets squaring the nodes can be resolved via the south. Is that right?

[Steve]

Hi Sunyata
I'm sorry, I just spent a long while writing an answer to you.  It appears it got lost in the post editing box.  I don't seem to have a copy of it anywhere and I couldn't duplicate what I wrote before.  If it shows up I will post it.
Steve

[Sunyata]

Ah, I know that pain. Sorry to hear that. Whenever you get to it again, no problem.

[Rad]

Hi Sunyata,

"What I meant is that from my understanding, when Pluto is not aspecting the nodes then the ppp lessons are learned through the north node placement and aspects..... and then within that context there can be planets squaring the nodes whos resolution would be via the S. Node. So what I was saying is that within one chart Pluto lessons can be learned through the N.Node, house and aspects while within the same chart the planets squaring the nodes can be resolved via the south. Is that right?"

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Yes .............

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God Bless, Rad

[Heidi]

Hi everyone,

This may have been answered already but I want to be clear.. If the resolution node of the skipped step is the south node, I understand that this node, (with ruler, and planetary aspects etc) is worked on primarily to recover the skipped step and reach the PPP. My question then is what role does the north node play in significance to the whole dynamic? Is the resolution node the one that has been least worked out in past lives?

Many thanks!
Heidi

[Rad]

Hi Heidi,

"This may have been answered already but I want to be clear.. If the resolution node of the skipped step is the south node, I understand that this node, (with ruler, and planetary aspects etc) is worked on primarily to recover the skipped step and reach the PPP. My question then is what role does the north node play in significance to the whole dynamic? Is the resolution node the one that has been least worked out in past lives?"

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The PPP is active in any chart whether there are skipped steps are not: that's because Pluto, the Soul, is the causative factor for the whole chart/ one's life. As a result it sets in motion the rest of the chart/ life. When there are skipped steps the Soul ignites that PPP yet because of the skipped steps in unable to fully actualize, move forwards in any kind of consistent way, until the skipped steps are resolved. This is of course intentional by the Soul in order to induce the awareness that something is amiss: skipped steps. When the resolution Node is the S.Node then the N.Node comes through that Node. Remember when dealing with skipped steps that each Node has already been acted upon by the Soul, yet is inconsistent ways: only going so far then reverting back to the other node for awhile, then back to the other node, like a ping pong ball. So when the S.Node is the resolution Node the N.Node comes through the South Node that is now serving as the bottom line, the baseline, upon which the entire chart, life, is being integrated.

The resolution Node has been equally skipped, back and forth, as is the other Node. So it's not a matter of being least developed.

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God Bless, Rad

[Heidi]

Thanks Rad and Steve, that was very helpful!

[Sunyata]

This changes so much in viewing my chart, everything makes so much more sense now. I dont know how I forgot or missed it along the way. So timely too. Thanks Rad and Steve.

[jasonholley]

Rad and Steve,

Thank you so much for the clarifications, I feel at last that I really "got" this dynamic, and it makes a real difference for me personally and professionally.  Rad, your explanation of how the entire nodal signature is the skipped step, not just the squaring planet(s), and how the squaring planet(s) is/are the causative factor of the skipped step -- so helpful and clear. 

Also for Heidi, Sunyata, and any others, I wanted to point to another place on the MB about this dynamic, a chart analysis by Rad of Joan of Arc where the skipped step dynamic is spelled out through an example in a very crisp way.  I reread this with the clarifications of Rad and Steve in mind and it really spelled out how the skipped step works, especially in the case of a Pluto skipped step:

http://schoolofevolutionaryastrology.com/forum/index.php/topic,13.msg38.html#msg38

Thanks again to all of you.

God bless,
Jason 

[serban_p]

Hi everybody,

I’d like to ask some additional questions regarding the skipped steps if that’s ok (I know skipped steps have been discussed several times before on the MB but I couldn’t find the answers I was looking for so I decided to post my questions here).

1. Do the skipped steps affect in any way the interpretation of planets conjunct the nodes?

For instance, in a skipped steps scenario where the SN is the resolution node, do we still interpret planets conjunct the SN as indicating a condition of relive/fruition/combination of both, considering that the SN needs to be consistently developed in order to resolve the skipped steps?

Similarly, how do we interpret a planet conjunct the NN when the SN is the resolution node? Is there any change to the EA interpretation of a planet conjunct the NN (i.e. a planet that has helped the Soul evolve towards that NN in recent lifetimes and is meant to do the same in the current lifetime) now that the SN needs consistent development?

2. Is there any specific meaning associated with the fact that one of the rulers of the nodes is the skipped step? In other words, does this fact have an intrinsic meaning in and of itself, does it add something to our understanding of the skipped steps and their resolution or do the same skipped steps rules apply without taking into account this additional quality of the planet squaring the nodes (i.e. that it rules one of the Moon’s nodes)? Also does it make any difference whether the nodal ruler squaring the nodes rules the resolution node or the other node?

3. Do the skipped steps always imply that the Soul has attempted to jump ahead or can we have the skipped steps signature in a situation where the Soul has moved towards the NN in more distant prior lives but when confronted with the challenges associated with that direction has retreated to the familiarity of the SN in more recent prior lifetimes (something similar to taking two steps forward and then one step back and now having to continue to move forward)? Is it possible for this to show up in the birth chart as a NN resolution node that does not necessarily involve having jumped ahead at some prior point in the evolutionary journey?

All the best,

Serban

P.S. Thank you once again Rad and Steve for your time and patience.

[Rad]

Hi Serban,

"I’d like to ask some additional questions regarding the skipped steps if that’s ok (I know skipped steps have been discussed several times before on the MB but I couldn’t find the answers I was looking for so I decided to post my questions here).

1. Do the skipped steps affect in any way the interpretation of planets conjunct the nodes?

For instance, in a skipped steps scenario where the SN is the resolution node, do we still interpret planets conjunct the SN as indicating a condition of relive/fruition/combination of both, considering that the SN needs to be consistently developed in order to resolve the skipped steps? "

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It can still be a combination of both. For example in a 'fruition' condition where the Soul has already totally developed the dynamics that correlate with the nature of the planed(s), and the house they are in, in which there is an evolutionary requirement to keep living that dynamics because of the benefit to others in so doing, the Soul could resist this evolutionary requirement by making a choice to do so. This would then create it's own kind of 'skipped step' that would require the Soul to go ahead and made that choice .........like it or not.

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Similarly, how do we interpret a planet conjunct the NN when the SN is the resolution node? Is there any change to the EA interpretation of a planet conjunct the NN (i.e. a planet that has helped the Soul evolve towards that NN in recent lifetimes and is meant to do the same in the current lifetime) now that the SN needs consistent development?

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No, there is no  change. It only means that the Soul has used the dynamics that correlate with the archetypal nature of that planet as a way of avoiding / denying the archetypes of the planets and houses that correlate to the nature of the skipped steps in the first place.

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2. Is there any specific meaning associated with the fact that one of the rulers of the nodes is the skipped step? In other words, does this fact have an intrinsic meaning in and of itself, does it add something to our understanding of the skipped steps and their resolution or do the same skipped steps rules apply without taking into account this additional quality of the planet squaring the nodes (i.e. that it rules one of the Moon’s nodes)? Also does it make any difference whether the nodal ruler squaring the nodes rules the resolution node or the other node?

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This was stated above in the questions that Jason has asked. The planet(s) that square the Nodes is the CAUSATIVE FACTOR that has lead to the skipped steps themselves where the total nature of those skipped steps are the S/Nodes by House and Sign, and the location of their planetary rulers by House, and Sign, and all the aspects therein to these. The cause of those skipped steps is the planet(s) squaring these Nodes by it's own House and Sign, and the aspects that it is making to other planets.

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3. Do the skipped steps always imply that the Soul has attempted to jump ahead or can we have the skipped steps signature in a situation where the Soul has moved towards the NN in more distant prior lives but when confronted with the challenges associated with that direction has retreated to the familiarity of the SN in more recent prior lifetimes (something similar to taking two steps forward and then one step back and now having to continue to move forward)? Is it possible for this to show up in the birth chart as a NN resolution node that does not necessarily involve having jumped ahead at some prior point in the evolutionary journey?

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No, because it is a progressive process of denial/ avoidance of the dynamics that have lead to a conditions of skipped steps in the first place. In the thread that Bradley started you will find more information about this.

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God Bless, Rad