Emotional Repression and National Karma

My Story with the Netherlands through an Astrology lens

I was looking earlier at both my own birth chart and the chart of the Netherlands. The country I was born in and spend my childhood. In the Netherlands, I was scapegoated, sought help but none was given, was traumatised, lost many loved ones, where I ended up feeling like the country is emotionally cold and uncaring. So I was hence wondering if astrology could shed any light on the issue itself. I used for the country 26 Jul 1581 - 12:00 PM, The Hague for the chart information, and then created a synastry chart to look at any aspects that would stand out for me. Below you can also see the chart of the country itself, so you can see also more aspects than the one I highlighted, based on my own experience in the country. So this post is an example of how a countries astrology can influence ones lived experience. I will also later at the end go into the evolutionary direction of the Netherlands based on their Pluto in the 6th house, highlighting their Virgo soul, with its polarity point in Pisces. In the end this exploration is part of my journey to understand how my personal experiences align with the astrological characteristics of the Netherlands.

Please note that these reflections are based on my own personal experiences and astrological interpretations. They may not reflect the experiences of others or generalize to the country as a whole. The astrological aspects I discuss are used here to reflect on my individual experience rather than to make general claims about the Netherlands.

1. Moon in Capricorn (Me) Conjunct Jupiter in Capricorn (Netherlands)

My Moon, representing my emotional core and needs, is conjunct the Netherlands' Jupiter. In Capricorn this caused an enforcement of emotional restraint and a focus on material or practical concerns. This conjunction then also highlights my feelings that my emotional needs were overshadowed by the country's emphasis on duty, structure, and practicalities. Where the Netherlands' expansive influence through Jupiter exacerbated my sense of emotional repression, as the country’s approach felt dismissive of my deeper emotional needs. Focused on its materialistic drive. This aligns with the shadow aspect of Capricorn, which can be excessively focused on structure and control at the expense of emotional expression.

2. Moon in Capricorn (Me) Opposite Neptune in Cancer (Netherlands)

The opposition between my Moon and the Netherlands' Neptune created for me a fundamental clash between my emotional needs and the country’s ideals or illusions. Neptune in Cancer in the 9th house points to a sense of idealism related to beliefs, and higher education. This opposition created a feeling of disillusionment and confusion for me, as my emotional expectations and needs were at odds with the country's broader, nebulous ideals. Which thus contributed to me through this feeling unsupported and misunderstood, with my emotional reality clashing with the more idealistic and escapist tendencies of the Netherlands. Which is a shadow aspect of unfulfilled promises and neglected emotional realities.

3. Neptune in Capricorn (Me) Square Ascendant in Libra (Netherlands)

My Neptune in Capricorn squaring the Netherlands' Ascendant in Libra created a challenging dynamic between my own ideals and the country’s outward persona. So the image that it presents itself as. In Libra it sees itself as fair, balanced, peacemakers and compassionate. Though this square indicates a conflict between my personal lived experience and how the Netherlands' public face portrays itself. Which led to feelings of disconnection and frustration, as I struggled to align my personal values and ideals with what I perceived as the country’s superficial outward persona, that did not reflect the actual dynamics that I encountered in the country.

4. Venus in Aries (Me) Square Neptune in Cancer (Netherlands)

Venus in Aries represents my approach to relationships, love, and pleasure, while the square to Neptune in Cancer indicates tension between my desires and the country’s more imaginative qualities. So this aspect contributed to me feeling unfulfilled and misunderstood in my relationships while in the Netherlands. As my approach clashed with the Netherlands' self-delusions of a caring environment. This dissonance between perception and reality is a key feature of the collective shadow.

5. Saturn in Aquarius (Me) Opposite Mercury in Leo (Netherlands)

Saturn in Aquarius represents my sense of discipline, structure, and individuality, while the opposition to the Netherlands' Mercury in Leo shows a clash between my serious, innovative thinking and the country's way of communicating. Which led to feelings of alienation, as my unique perspectives and approach were at odds with the more authoritative communication style of the country. Stifling my sense of expression, which also ties into my Chiron in Leo.

6. Mercury in Aries (Me) Conjunct Pluto in Aries (Netherlands)

The conjunction of my Mercury with the Netherlands' Pluto created conflicts in communication, contributing to my sense of being overwhelmed by the country’s underlying power dynamics. Which ties into the scapegoating and the general clash with the Collective Shadow of the country that I experienced since a young child. The Netherlands' collective shadow involved unacknowledged guilt, perfectionism, and a tendency towards scapegoating. Thus projecting unconscious flaws and conflicts onto individuals, including me. Indicating a shadow of control and domination.

7. Saturn in Aquarius (Me) Conjunct Uranus in Aquarius (Netherlands)

The conjunction of my Saturn with the Netherlands' Uranus for me led to a sense of limitation, contributing to my overall experience of emotional repression, but also the stifling of the unconventional but forward thinking innovative ideas I tried to convey.

8. Pluto in Scorpio (Me) Square Saturn in Aquarius (Netherlands)

The square between my Pluto and the Netherlands' Saturn caused significant tension between my need for deep, transformative experiences and connections and the country’s emphasis on structure and authority. This aspect amplified feelings of powerlessness and frustration, particularly in the face of the country's rigid structures and expectations. With my Pluto in Scorpio in the 12th house, this also ties to my Piscean soul, connected to my compassionate, artistic, deeply emotional and empathic self, that felt unwelcome in the country, and thus unseen by others.

South Node in Cancer and North Node in Capricorn (Both)

The South Node in Cancer and North Node in Capricorn for the Netherlands indicates a collective past of emotional focus (Cancer) and a current evolutionary direction towards practicality and structure (Capricorn). My own nodal axis aligns with this as well. So my experiences in the Netherlands highlighted my struggle between my past emotional sensitivities, tied to my true Piscean soul and the need to conform to a pragmatic, detached approach. This alignment reinforced my feelings of emotional coldness and lack of support, as both me and the country navigate similar karmic themes. All of this then also ties deeply into a lot of the inner work I have been doing, trying to nurture the Divine Child, which ties for me to my Piscean soul from an astrological lens.

Evolutionary Direction of the Netherlands

For the Netherlands their Pluto is in the 6th house, highlighting their Virgo soul, with its polarity point in Pisces. For the country of the Netherlands this creates a shared evolutionary focus on lessons of service to society and to the culture. Where there is a need to learn necessary lessons in personal humility and self-doubt, discrimination, purification and self-improvement. When it comes to this evolutionary direction personal desires, needs, and times are “sacrificed” in order to fulfill the desires, needs and requirements of the society. Where the pyramid is inverted. With the individual at the bottom in order to serve the needs of the whole through the work that they are assigned. This lesson is mostly learned through work.

National Guilt and Self-Criticism

However a recurring theme for the country due to the evolutionary direction is the experience of guilt at an unconscious and subliminal level. This guilt is based on prior mistakes and indiscretions from the countries past as measured against the standard of right conduct. So of what should have been. With that comes a national desire to atone for the guilt, which in this sign is done through work. Yet this need to atone for guilt, can also manifest as mercilessly analysing the shortcomings, inadequacies and flaws within individuals in the country and truly the country becomes this way its own worst enemy. By compulsively focusing on imperfections, the country creates a tendency to block its citizens from being able to actualize or fulfill their deepest personal capacities or abilities in this life. Which aligns with historical and cultural narratives of the Netherlands, where there is a focus on overcoming past emotional vulnerabilities by striving for practical success and order, often accompanied by a sense of guilt and self-criticism.

Perfectionism, Projection and Scapegoating Dynamics

Somehow, people never feel ready (perfect) or good enough. On another level, they can feel that they do not deserve more than they have because of guilt. Where procrastinating and not fulfilling their full potential, can create yet another source of guilt. Perpetuating a cycle of guilt. To deal with these underlying feelings that largely remain unconscious for some individuals within the country they externalize and project this inner orientation upon the environment. So blame or label others for the "wrongs" they can’t acknowledge in themselves, leading to scapegoating dynamics, where individuals are labelled with the various distorted and repressed elements of the psyche of others. Being associated with darkness, primal nature, the unknown and the other. Which ties into the countries Pluto in Aries in the 6th house.

Crisis of Over-Obligation and Isolation

Another form of crisis is part of this evolutionary direction as well. Where the country can create so many external obligations, work or laws that people have no time for themselves or any capacity to realise their potential. Where next to this all too commonly people within the country can feel absolute aloneness at an inner level. Which is an acutely felt experience, that I personally can also attest to within the country. Where this can lead to self-avoidance habits, which of course, will only deepen ones sense of isolation. It can also deepen the sense of bitterness and meaninglessness. Through this people can simultaneously feel sorry for themselves while vindictively lashing out at the misidentified sources of their problems. Feeding further into the scapegoat and shadow projecting dynamic.

Polarity Point: Pisces and Holistic Understanding

The polarity point for this evolutionary direction for the Netherlands would be Pisces. Where the evolutionary intent is one of simplification and dissolving all the old mental and emotional barriers that are preventing a more holistic and clear understanding the country as a whole. The polarity point promotes a sense of clarity when it comes to the relationship between the individual and the other. Creating thus also an awareness of the proper priorities to be pursued and worked on. Where the individual starts to sense that they are connected to much larger forces than just themselves. The entire purpose of the countries evolutionary direction and thus the experience of essential aloneness is to enforce the lesson that nothing will fill the inner void other than a relationship to the Divine. Yet due to the Virgonian obsession with the practical and rational many will deny any "cosmic connection”, or ideas to this end as irrational.

Embracing the Divine and Self-Forgiveness

Finally for the Netherlands the polarity point in Pisces is really about cultivating a relationship to the Divine. Where self forgiveness, as well as tolerance and respect for the mistakes and imperfections in others are key aspects to learn. Cultivating an awareness of the whole develops in the end an inner peace that will replace worry compulsive anxiety and guilt. Where with this awareness of the whole comes a sense of what ones proper work is within the whole, rather than just doing any job.

Personal Evolutionary Direction

My own evolutionary direction is from my Pluto in Scorpio 12th house, Piscean soul, towards Virgo. Where the evolutionary direction is about the archetype in which one works towards realising ones connection to the Source of all that constitutes life and reality in a conscious manner. To become one with the One, the Monad. For me the evolutionary intent was to develop specific and practical mental methods and techniques through which I could learn how to analyse myself. Which is what I have developed. To understand how and why I work the way I work, and are the way that I am. And also how all these parts connect to each other. Where through the natural meditational state that is tied to this evolutionary direction, which includes an absence of mental chatter, the idea is to bring a sharper and more experiential focus on ones living connection to the Source.