With Lanthanum we arrive at one of the most intriguing places in the periodic table. It is in stage 3 which is similar to gemini.
Clever, curious, communication. Making connection with surroundings. Trying to figure out, intelligence. Requires great mental stimulation. Playful, inconstant, attention easily drifts so something new, seeks novelty.
So the essence of stage 3 is interaction. It is interaction in the whole of the goldseries which is about construction (capricorn).
But at the same time it is the place where scorpio has to play its role.
The silverseries were about reflection and vision (libra and sagittarius) but the integration (scorpio) still has to take place.
So along with the interaction of gemini, in stage 3 of the goldseries, there is the integration of scorpio.
Transformation, change, ego-
So here we have gemini together with scorpio and those together with their complements sagittarius and taurus give the characteristics for the lanthanides.
In Scholten’s Secret Lanthanides.
Autonomy. Inner world. Truthseekers. Shadow. Bright. Mindpower. Concentration. Selfworth.
In the zodiac it is the transition from the individual into the universal part.
The transition from the primordial into the individual part took place in puberty. There it was the expression of the individual spirit (sulphur, leo) that came into play just before the emotions of the primordial soul (chlorine, cancer) found its place.
Here at this point in the human development, at midlife, the vision of the universal spirit (silverseries, sagittarius) comes into play just before the integration of the individual soul (lanthanides, scorpio).
So here again, the next part (universal) started before the previous part (individual) was completed. And the completion of the individual takes its time. A whole series of its own, beneath the surface of the goldseries, in the form of the lanthanides.
Cerium is the second remedy of the lanthanides and is in stage 4, the same stage as Titanium (ironseries) and Zirconium (silverseries). Stage 4 is the combination of the signs gemini and cancer, the primordial mind and soul.
Titanium was struggling with the rational decision (gemini) and the actual experience (cancer) in the area of the function (ironseries), while Zirconium had that same struggle with reflection and vision (silverseries).
Cerium is a combination of mind and soul alone, the primordial mind (gemini, stage 4 and lanthanides) together with the primordial soul (stage 4, cancer) and individual soul (lanthanides, scorpio).
Here in stage 4 is the phase of interaction (gemini) and emotion (cancer) in the totality of the lanthanides, which is about interactive (gemini) integration (scorpio).
Scholten mentions two remarkable symptoms of Cerium.
Feeling of not being in contact with the world, and do things without trial and error but by practising in their mind.
Praseodymium is the last remedy in the primordial part of the lanthanides. It is in stage 5, the same stage as Vanadium (ironseries) and Niobium (silverseries). The astrological sign here is cancer, the primordial soul.
Nurturing, support, emotional bonding, belonging, roots, source. Ground of your being. The unconscious, feelings, emotion, first emotional attachments to the world. Mothering, emotional and physical nurturing. Experiences and imprinting during infancy and childhood. Family, ancestors, heritage, relationships to the past. Belonging, feeling at home, caring. Feeling supported, that needs are provided for. Insecurities and fears if your needs haven’t been fulfilled.
Stage 5 has the polarity between claiming and abandon with the purpose of stable emotions. But in order to get stable, the complement capricorn has to be integrated. Capricorn has the polarity of formal and depressed with the purpose of construction.
So Praseodymium in stage 5 is the phase of achieving stable emotions in the process of interactive (gemini) integration (scorpio) which is the goal of the lanthanides as a whole.
In Secret Lanthanides it is about a cautious quality.
Hesitant, not daring to do what they feel their own plan. Keep looking from which side problems can arise.
With Neodymium we arrive at the individual part of the lanthanides. It is in stage 6, the same stage as Chromium (ironseries) and Molybdenum (silverseries), which is similar to leo, the individual spirit.
Ego development, setting yourself apart from the rest of the world. Becoming your
own person. Self-
Stage 6 has the polarity between arrogant and disrespected with the purpose of expression. But this expression needs the complement of aquarius which has the polarity between destructive and nervousness but with the purpose of invention.
Freedom and cooperation between individuals. Free-
So this is the phase of expression (leo) in the process of the lanthanides, which as a whole is about bright (gemini) truthseekers (sagittarius) that concentrate (taurus) on their inner world (scorpio) to become autonomous (scorpio) individuals with mindpower (gemini/scorpio).
Next remedy of the lanthanides is Promethium and here the expression of the individual has to become functional. It is in stage 7, the same stage as Manganum (ironseries) and Technetium (silverseries). But like in the previous series that point is difficult to reach, and it takes until stage 10 to learn how to practise and incorporate that.
Stage 7 is about developing nessesary skills to deal with the difficulties of the series it is in. Here with Promethium it are the skills that are needed to deal with the process of becoming an autonomous individual, that can completely stand on its own.
With Neodymium in the previous stage, the expression of that individual emerged, and now with Promethium, ways have to be found to act and stay autonomous. Finding ways and methods to stand up to the undermining outside world.
Stage 7 is similar to the astrological sign virgo, the individual body.
Embodiment of the individual in the world. Problems of adjustment dealing with the world and others. Perfection of the approach to life. Development of mundane skills, ability to change to adapt to life better. Service, helping, perfectionist, always seeking to improve, efficiency, practical, functional, analytical. Interested in crafts and projects, true to self in a simple, unassuming manner. Reacts to defeats and setbacks by pulling back and altering approach. Lacks confidence in the face of opposition, lives up to duties and responsibilities. Interested in maintaining the body as a fit vehicle.
It has the polarity between critical and indifferent with the purpose of function. But this function needs the complement pisces, the universal soul.
Surrender to the universe, to higher goals, ego sacrifice. Compassion and empathy,
selfless work. Seeing the unity of all things. The end of cycles, forming seeds for
the next cycle of growth. Mysticism, fails to make normal distinctions. Laziness,
victim, martyr, servant. Tends to escapism. Fantasy, drugs, alcohol, religion. Very
receptive, sensitive, even psychic. Co-
The following three stages of the lanthanides are a repetition of the previous ones. In the process of researching the inner world (lanthanides), Praseodymium (stage 5) was about emotions, Neodymium (stage 6) about expression and Promethium (stage 7) about function.
Samarium here in stage 8 is about emotion and expression. Stage 8 is similar to cancer
Nurturing, support, emotional bonding. First emotional attachments to the world. Experiences and imprinting during infancy and childhood. Insecurities and fears if your needs haven’t been fulfilled.
and leo.
Ego development, setting yourself apart from the rest of the world. Becoming your
own person. Self-
But they are only the potential (cancer the passive potential and leo the active potential) while their complements are the structure (capricorn the passive structure
Ambitious, feels pride in accomplishments. Serious, determined, disciplined, focused. Seeks certainties in life. Want things in concrete. Needs to bring theory into concrete reality. Knowing the rules and playing the game.
and aquarius the active structure)
Free-
and therefore more prominent at first, as the main characteristics of stage 8.
Heaviness, resistance, pressure, heavy task, constructors, work on their own, create something big, push through, against all odds, force to be free, opposition.
But the final purpose of Samarium is to integrate these characteristics in order to come to emotional/expressive (stage 8) mindpower (lanthanides).
Europeum is in stage 9 of the lanthanides. It is in the same stage as Cobaltum (ironseries) and Rhodium (silverseries). Stage 9 is about perfection (virgo)
Perfectionist, always seeking to improve, efficiency, practical, functional, analytical. Interested in crafts and projects. Reacts to defeats and setbacks by pulling back and altering approach.
and insecurity (cancer).
Feelings, emotion, first emotional attachments to the world. Experiences and imprinting during infancy and childhood. Insecurities and fears if your needs haven’t been fulfilled.
In the ironseries it was perfection and insecurity about their function (virgo), and in the silverseries about their reflection (libra) and vision (sagittarius).
Here with the lanthanides it is perfection and insecurity on their road to independence. Europeum in stage 9 is about developing skills (virgo) while dealing with experiences (cancer) in the totality of the lanthanides, which itself is a fusion of interaction (gemini)
Clever, curious, communication. Trying to figure out, intelligence. Requires great mental stimulation. Playful, inconstant, attention easily drifts so something new, seeks novelty.
and integration (scorpio).
Transformation, change, ego-
At the top of the lanthanides is Gadolinium. It is in stage 10, the same stage as Niccolum (ironseries) and Palladium (silverseries).
With Gadolinium the insecurity makes place for confidence. While in stage 9 perfection (virgo) was combined with insecurity (cancer), is in stage 10 the perfection combined with confidence (leo).
Ego development, setting yourself apart from the rest of the world. Becoming your
own person. Self-
So stage 10 is the phase of confidence (leo) and perfection (virgo) in the totality of the lanthanides. It is the final result of the development of the self.
Here with Gadolinium the individual has complete self-
With Terbium ‘the other’ comes in to play. It is in stage 11 of the lanthanides, which is similar to libra, the first zodiac sign above the horizion. It is the phase of full moon and here the process turns around again.
Libra, the individual mind, has the polarity of projecting and ignorance with the purpose of reflection.
Individual entering into relationship with others, partnership. One-
Cuprum in stage 11 of the ironseries was about reflection on developed skills, and Argentum in the silverseries about reflection on art and inspiration. Here with the lanthanides, Terbium in stage 11 is about reflection on autonomy and inner development.
In Secret Lanthanides:
The most typical aspect of Terbium is a kind of gentlemanly quality. In all circumstances they try to stay friendly and in controle of themselves. It can express itself as a very charming quality.
Important here is to integrate the complement of libra, aries, the primordial spirit.
Activity that is self-
Dysprosium is the last remedy in the individual part of the lanthanides. It is in stage 12, the same stage as Zincum (ironseries) and Cadmium (silverseries), which is similar to scorpio, the individual soul.
Transformation, change, ego-
The individual part started with expression (leo), developed skills to function (virgo) and then reflection (libra) from the outside world. Now with scorpio, the repressed part of the self has to be integrated.
With Dysprosium this integration takes place in a series that itself has everything to do with integration, as the lanthanides as a whole are a fusion of scorpio with gemini. But first the polarity of manipulation and abuse has to be explored.
Scholten mentions the keynote of fighting.
This fighting quality can make them look as if they try to dominate others, which is contrary to the general lanthanide quality of letting others free. But it’s not really domination, more a fight for their own autonomy. They can also become defenders of the independence of others.
The complement of scorpio is taurus.
Grounding, bringing down to earth. Constancy, steadiness, entering matter, taking on a form. Earthy, grounded, in touch with the body. Sensual, pleasure seeking. Stubborn, fixed, stands their ground. Focuses and concentrates energy, gives it concrete expression. Practical, provides stamina and persistence. Slow, steady, methodical.
Holmium is the first remedy of the universal part of the lanthanides. In the human development this is the point where the individual gets a view of the bigger whole. Holmium is in stage 13, the same stage as Gallium (ironseries) and Indium (silverseries). Here is the transition from the individual soul (scorpio) into the universal spirit (sagittarius).
Becoming a member of a wider society. Experiences that lead to consciousness expansion. Being receptive to new points of view, wisdom, enlightenment. Using your talents for the benefit of the greater whole. Freedom loving, idealist, unfettered by small thinking, inspiration, religion, philosophy, the law. Awareness of connections to the rest of the world, can be distant from others. Afraid to give up freedom, reluctant to be tied down, aware of the value of the social contract. Enthusiastic, generous, loves abstract, theoretical ideas, sees the big picture, ignores the details. In love with an ideal, strong opinion. Foreign travel, liberating experiences.
Sagittarius has the polarity of judging and withdraw with the purpose of vision. The complement is gemini with the polarity of curious and anxious and the purpose of interaction.
Clever, curious, communication. Making connection with surroundings. Trying to figure out, intelligence. Talkative, sociable, loves to interact with others on a superficial level. Unemotional, impersonal, ruled by rationality. Requires great mental stimulation. Playful, inconstant, attention easily drifts so something new, seeks novelty.
This transition was also in the ironseries and in the silverseries, but now with the lanthanides, it is the first time that the individual has found its autonomy.
In ‘Secret Lanthanides’, Scholten mentions cyniscism.
The contra powers are too strong for them to maintian their own position. They still feel like fighting, at least to some extent. This can also be seen in their verbal fighting. They can express their opinion with sharp remarks. They can be really cynical and sarcastic. It shows that they feel they know better, but can not hold that opinion completely.
Erbium is in stage 14 of the lanthanides. It is the same stage as Carbon, Silicium, Germanium and Stannum. This stage is similar to capricorn, the universal body.
Bring about the perfect society. Making practical, efficient connections with others on the physical plane. Ambitious, feels pride in accomplishments. Reality, hard facts. Relationship to authority. Serious, determined, disciplined, focused. Fathering, disciplining love. Authority figures. Seeks certainties in life. Want things in concrete. Concerned with the practical relationships to support yourself within society. Not interested in blue sky ideas, needs to bring theory into concrete reality. Knowing the rules and playing the game.
So stage 14 is in essence about construction. But first the polarity of formal and depressed has to be explored.
In the carbonseries this was the construction of the personality (Carbon, constructive manifestion). In the siliciumseries it was the construction of the communication (Silicium, constructive interaction). In the ironseries it was about the construction of the professional life (Germanium, constructive function) and in the silverseries the construction of art and inspiration (Stannum, constructive reflection/vision).
With the lanthanides it is the phase of ambition and discipline on the road to independence (Erbium, constructive interaction/integration).
In ‘Secret Lanthanides’, Erbium is described as stoic.
It is as if they have resigned, are standing aside from life. In a positive way this can express itself in ironic and laconic behaviour. This is when it’s a deep state, when it is their character. Philosophically they are stoic. In a depressed state it feels more like a gloom and being out of touch with the origin of it.
The complement, which has to be integrated, is cancer.
Nurturing, support, emotional bonding, belonging, roots, source. Ground of your being. The unconscious, feelings, emotion, first emotional attachments to the world. Mothering, emotional and physical nurturing. Experiences and imprinting during infancy and childhood. Family, ancestors, heritage, relationships to the past. Belonging, feeling at home, caring. Feeling supported, that needs are provided for. Insecurities and fears if your needs haven’t been fulfilled.
Thulium is in stage 15 of the lanthanides. In the universal part of each series, this phase is the symbol of the universal mind. It is similar to the astrological sign aquarius.
Freedom and cooperation between individuals. Free-
The final purpose is invention, but first the polarity of destruction and nervousness have to be explored.
The lanthanides as a whole are a fusion of the primordial mind and the individual soul (gemini/scorpio) and with Thulium this goes together with the universal mind (aquarius).
Scholten talks about the total state of consciousness.
Typical of Thulium is the frightening dream of falling endlessly in the dark. This dream expresses the state of Thulium quite completely with the feeling of fright, not being able to do anything, not being able to see, not having any contact, only having consciousness.
What is needed here is to find the individual centre again. It is the complement of aquarius, leo, that has to be integrated. The expression of leo, the individual spirit.
Ego development, setting yourself apart from the rest of the world. Becoming your
own person. Self-
Ytterbium is in stage 16 of the lanthanides. Stage 16 is similar to pisces, the universal soul.
Surrender to the universe, to higher goals, ego sacrifice. Compassion and empathy,
selfless work. Seeing the unity of all things. The end of cycles, forming seeds for
the next cycle of growth. Mysticism, fails to make normal distinctions. Laziness,
victim, martyr, servant. Tends to escapism. Fantasy, drugs, alcohol, religion. Very
receptive, sensitive, even psychic. Co-
Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac. It is the phase of a cycle that is coming to an end. Here with the lanthanides, it is the cycle of inner development. Ytterbium is in the same stage as Oxygen, Sulphur, Selenium and Tellurium.
In ‘Secret Lanthanides’ Ytterbium is standing outside society.
They don’t belong to the normal world of connections and work. For them the world is nice to philosophize about, but not to live in with all its hectic nature and obligations.
But there is also the promise of seeing the bigger picture, seeing everything as a whole.
The compliment is virgo which is the opposite of the bigger picture. Virgo is about fragmentation.
Embodiment of the individual in the world. Problems of adjustment dealing with the world and others. Perfection of the approach to life. Development of mundane skills, ability to change to adapt to life better. Service, helping, perfectionist, always seeking to improve, efficiency, practical, functional, analytical. Interested in crafts and projects, true to self in a simple, unassuming manner. Reacts to defeats and setbacks by pulling back and altering approach.
Virgo has the polarity between critical and indifference with the goal of function. Here in stage 16, function (virgo) has to be fused with compassion (pisces).
Lutetium is the last remedy of the lanthanides. It is in stage 17 and, like with the other remedies of that stage, here the characteristics of the complement of the whole series becomes more prominent.
Fluor was in stage 17 of the carbonseries, which as a whole was similar to taurus. Taurus is about manifestation, which at the end in stage 17 is overdone. With Fluor, the complement becomes more prominent and the complement of taurus is scorpio. So the characteristics of scorpio play a prominent role in Fluor.
Chlorine was in stage 17 of the siliciumseries, which as a whole was similar to gemini. Gemini is about interaction, but stage 16 and 17 in the siliciumseries have its own dynamic, with Chlorine in stage 17 the emotions of cancer. The complement of cancer is capricorn and therefore the characteristics of capricorn play a prominent role in Chlorine.
Bromium was in stage 17 of the ironseries, which as a whole was similar to virgo. Virgo is about function and at the end it has to be released. The complement is pisces and so the characteristics of pisces are more prominent with Bromium.
Iodium was in stage 17 of the silverseries, which as a whole was similar to libra and sagittarius. Those where about reflection and vision and the complements are aries and gemini. So impulsion and interaction are characteristics of Iodium.
Here with the lanthanides, which as a whole are similar to scorpio and gemini, the compliments taurus and sagittarius become important. That makes manifestation and vision characteristic in Lutetium. These are important features just before entering the goldseries.
But someone can get stuck in this phase and than there is no desire to step into the responsibility of the goldseries. Scholten calls them unbound and playful.
The most striking quality is the playfulness. When that quality is their character they can be really nice and funny. They play with life and people in a lovely way. But with it they are also out of connection, unbound.