The Child of Light in Astrology
At the Wilfred Hazelwood Clinic, we often encounter clients who feel they have lost their way, who feel dimmed, grey, or severed from their sense of purpose. In these moments, we turn to one of the most potent images in both alchemy and astrology: the Filius Philosophorum, or the Child of Light. While our birth charts are complex maps of trials (Saturn) and transformations (Pluto), at the very centre sits the Sun. It is here, in the solar principle, that we find the archetype of the Divine Child, the part of us that is eternally young, creative, and indestructible.
In the ancient Hellenistic tradition, the Sun was often referred to as the "Light of the Time." It represents the nous, the divine intelligence or spirit that incarnates into the body. To study the position of the Sun in a chart is not merely to ask "What is my personality?" but to ask "Where does my inner child live, and how does it wish to shine?"
The Jungian Divine Child
Carl Jung wrote extensively about the "Divine Child" archetype. He described it as a symbol of the "pre-conscious and the post-conscious essence of man." It represents potential. It is the beginning and the end, the creature that is "smaller than small yet bigger than big."
In therapy, the Child of Light appears when a client begins to integrate their trauma. It is the spark of new life that emerges from the darkness of the unconscious. Astrologically, this process is often linked to the solar cycle. Just as the Sun is "reborn" every year at the Winter Solstice (returning the light to the world), the human psyche has the capacity for self-renewal. When we connect with our natal Sun, we are not acting out of ego in the pejorative sense; we are acting out of vitality.
The Sun as the Hero's Journey
If the Moon represents where we came from (our past, our mother, our body), the Sun represents where we are going (our future, our father, our spirit). The Child of Light is the hero of the chart. Depending on the House placement of your Sun, the "playground" of this divine child shifts:
- Sun in the 1st, 5th, or 9th Houses (The Fire Trinity): Here, the Child of Light is expressive, dramatic, and philosophical. The inner child needs to be seen, to create, and to explore. The wound often comes from being ignored.
- Sun in the 2nd, 6th, or 10th Houses (The Earth Trinity): The Child is a builder. Light is found in tangible results, service, and mastery. The wound often comes from a lack of stability or recognition of worth.
- Sun in the 3rd, 7th, or 11th Houses (The Air Trinity): The Child is a communicator and a socialite. The light shines through connection, ideas, and community. The wound comes from isolation or being unheard.
- Sun in the 4th, 8th, or 12th Houses (The Water Trinity): The Child is a mystic and a feeler. The light is hidden, illuminating the emotional depths and the unconscious. The wound comes from emotional exposure or lack of privacy.
Healing the Dimmed Light
Many of us were told as children to "stop showing off" or to "be quiet." In astrological terms, this is often the voice of Saturn (restriction) dampening the Sun (expression). We internalise this, and the Child of Light goes into hiding. This can lead to depression, which is, quite literally, a de-pressing of the vital spirit.
The work we do at the clinic involves identifying where Saturn or other challenging planets may be casting a shadow over your Sun. By understanding the geometry of the chart, we can begin to lift the weight. We encourage the client to engage in "Solar" activities, play, creation, and acts of courage, that are specific to their sign and house placement.
The Solstice of the Soul
Ultimately, the Child of Light teaches us that we are not merely biological accidents. We are vessels for a specific frequency of consciousness. As the alchemists sought to find the gold within the lead, we use astrology to find the Sun within the psyche. No matter how dark the "Winter" of one's life may seem, the astrological mandate of the Sun ensures that the light is never extinguished; it is merely waiting for the moment of its return.
