The Planetary Octaves

One of the most important factors in understanding how the outer planets work through the inner planets is found in the concept of the planetary octaves. By understanding how the inner planets “step down” the energy of the invisible outers, we can see what is being expressed and why.

I discuss this topic in Chapter 2 of my book Saturn: Spiritual Master, Spiritual Friend, where I offer:

There is said to be a specific relationship between several of the inner planets and the Transpersonal planets. These relationships are important in understanding how the worldly and spiritual functions are bridged in our charts, and offers another perspective on the dictum “As Above So Below.” As we refine and master the expression of the inner planets, we make them suitable vehicles for the expression of the Outer Quartet of spiritual energies we have at our disposal.

Welcome to the world of planetary octaves! Though there are some variances in what I’m about to offer you, this is the generally accepted theory of octave relationships between the visible and invisible planets. Traditionally, we are told Mercury is the “lower octave” of Uranus, and Uranus is the “higher octave” of Mercury. We are told Venus is the “lower octave” of Neptune, and Neptune is the “higher octave” of Venus. And we are told Mars is the “lower octave” of Pluto, and Pluto is the “higher octave” of Mars.

It is easy to see the correlations here, since Mercury is the coordinating mental function through which we explore and learn all the knowledge there is to learn, while Uranus is the synthesizing, creative, individualizing part of our spiritual nature. Mercury explores, evaluates, categorizes, and assimilates knowledge, while Uranus allows us to weave all we discover into a truly individual form of expressing our unique way of realizing and applying the knowledge we’ve found.

Venus is the aesthetic principle, the part of us which attunes to people, art, beauty, and all the things we like in any given period of life. Neptune represents broad, amorphous concepts that are “in fashion,” those things, behaviors, and ideas that appeal to a larger collectivity and take ten thousand shapes. As we learn to express our Venus function ever more perfectly, we can bring into manifestation what is appealing or pleasing to many.

Mars is how we use energy and assertively “attack the problems of life,” cutting through binding things, conditions, and circumstances, allowing us to become good spiritual warriors in any field of activity. Pluto represents the force of absolute transformation, and those events by which we die to an old life and are reborn to a new one. As we refine our Mars expression, we become agents through whom the transformational process may move its magic and cut through obstacles and obstructions in the process.

From one point of view, these are not separate energies, since they all reside within all of us, each to be realized and practiced in the right place and time. As we develop, expand, and refine how we express Mercury, Venus, and Mars energies, we naturally build the bridge to mastering our expression of how Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto operate in and through us. This is where Saturn, the gatekeeper and spiritual Friend who offers us different disciplines to develop different skills, is all important in the process of evolving from limited abilities to mastering all our inner functions.

Over time and experience, Saturn helps us train Mercury not to be scattered and unfocused, allowing our mental function to move beyond old limitations of mind so we can express our uniqueness. Saturn helps us train Venus not to be superficial, vain, and self-preoccupied, allowing our expression of what’s beautiful or valuable to move beyond old limitations to express the beauty of a larger ideal. Saturn helps us train Mars not to be impulsive, abrasive, or needlessly destructive, allowing our ability to act to be in perfect alignment with the transformational need of the moment.

Our Mercury, Venus, and Mars, when trained by Saturn, allow us to express higher transpersonal principles as an ongoing process of perfection in ever changing circumstances. With each turn of life’s wheel, we are offered opportunities to come to even greater realizations of how to apply our personal energies to express transpersonal spiritual intention, or be the spiritual antidote to the worldly problems presenting themselves in a given place or time. However, there is another octave relationship never explored before now offering major implications for those of us who live in the 21st century.

Because we have a Spiritual Quartet, and not simply a Spiritual Triad, we have a fourth octave relationship involving Jupiter and TransPluto, with the former the lower octave, and the latter the higher octave. As we briefly discussed, TransPluto is the ultimate spiritual redemptive force, the protective Divine Grace blessing all that is good, true, and beautiful. TransPluto nurtures these qualities across vast sweeps of time in all sentient Beings. They find expression through the planet Jupiter, the worldly representative of good, true, merciful, and protective energies blessing us to go forth in the world to ever greater “experiments in truth.”

This implies each time we realize a greater way to express our Jupiter, those energies become the vehicle through which we may become the embodiment of Divine Mother energy in the world. As our Jupiter function evolves to its highest, best manifestation, we can become the living expression of redemption, blessing, protection, or grace in those worldly affairs where our karma allows us the opportunity. Once we have refined our Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter into adequate living vehicles to express spiritual energy, then we can demonstrate the power of Uranus, Neptune, Pluto or TransPluto as we are called to do so.

These octave relationships are the way we transform invisible spiritual energies into visible concrete forms of those energies. It is said there are no errors on the spiritual level; all errors are in the material, emotional, and mental realms. When we remember that Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and TransPluto always work for good, even when revolutionary, confusing, or massively destructive forces are in play, then we can use our Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter productively to bring forth the best possible manifestations of those outer invisible transpersonal energies. Saturn is the key to the understanding we need to take command of our expression in any given moment.

Understanding octave relationships makes the phrase “As Above, So Below” into a living power of how our lower ego can become a perfected vehicle for our Higher Self. Enjoy seeing how these relate in your chart. It may show you the way to perfecting your personality to become the expression of your loving wise intelligence.

© Copyright 2025 Robert Wilkinson

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