Exploring Shadow Archetypes and Dark Sides of the Zodiac Signs

A Jungian Astrological Perspective

As you may know, Carl Jung spoke and wrote at length about the psyche’s shadow. We can find a great deal of information about this in the natal chart. It shows all. Nothing can be hidden. All is brought to light so it can ideally be reintegrated. Every Zodiac sign is very much like a Jungian archetype. Archetypes are unconscious but often stereotypical parts of the human psyche.

When I first saw my birth chart in full as a young teen, I felt a mix of shock at how accurate it was, amazement, and also a great deal of shame — because it shows everything so clearly and plainly, without judgment — including planetary energies I had already pushed into the shadow at a young age and wanted to deny. I searched for any meanings of those placements that didn’t emphasize the parts I felt ashamed of at first, but finally, around the time of my first Saturn Return, I was able to accept and integrate those parts of myself back into my Self and live more authentically and fully.

One reason many people don’t or can’t identify with a placement is that it may be consigned to their psychological shadow. It’s also why some people don’t believe in or accept astrology as valid.

To begin you may wish to ponder your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs first, but every single placement in your chart, not even just planets, but also the angles of the chart (ascendant, IC or Imum Coeli, descendant, and Midheaven or MC)…