Consciousness and The Ideal of Self:

Joshua Bassett is patient. He is fond of routine, ritual, and any other events or ceremonies which mark the passage of time and the seasons. He tries to be as pragmatic as possible and unconsciously senses that his relationship with material things will be the best foundation for his self-development and individuation. As a result, he is attached to his possessions and will make every effort to cling to them.

Joshua Bassett has a paternal complex and, as a result, some trouble finding his identity. Perhaps his father or a father figure was absent physically or emotionally during his childhood, which deprived him of the patterns or models which are usually helpful in structuring a personality. Because he might have lacked a particular sense of security which could be provided by a paternal presence, as well as the examples of behavior to follow in confronting the difficulties inherent in every life, he was forced to protect himself against negative influences and find his own system in order to grow and feel secure.

Although this system was quite useful to him as a child, it has now settled in to such a degree that it interferes with his evolution. Psychological defense mechanisms and crutches which were once useful now encumber his mind or inhibit his developmental efforts. As a result, in certain situations, it is difficult for him to assert himself, and he tends to remain an awkward or passive observer. Because his authoritarian urges are mainly directed at himself rather than others, he sometimes feels guilty about his behavior. He judges himself severely, and sometimes punishes himself by setting difficult tasks for himself. Gradually, he should build up a strong inner discipline and acquire the strength to face the problems of existence in a detached and mature way.

Joshua Bassett has great strength of character. His courage and endurance enable him to accomplish even extremely arduous tasks. Although he sometimes behaves impulsively, he generally knows how to plan out an effective strategy, and, as a result, he reaches his goals without meeting any major obstacles. His forcefulness gives him certain leadership skills, which he may implement to creative and constructive ends.

Joshua Bassett does not always feel in tune with society’s rules and conventions. The mask of sociability most well-adapted people wear is difficult for Joshua Bassett to assume, and it is hard for Joshua Bassett to act out the roles expected of Joshua Bassett as a normal member of the community. The usual social values and rewards, like money, respect, and prestige, only mildly interest Joshua Bassett. Joshua Bassett’s refusal or inability to play the social game may make it hard for Joshua Bassett to find a job, which may have negative consequences on Joshua Bassett’s financial and legal status. Reluctant and unwilling to adapt to the demands of social life, Joshua Bassett sometimes unwittingly makes mistakes when a new project is in the planning stages. For example, Joshua Bassett may leave gaps in a job application, botch up an interview with a prospective employer, or make a big mistake when bidding for a contract. But Joshua Bassett’s financial difficulties may clear up when Joshua Bassett’s emotional ones do.

Adaptation and Sensitivity:

Physical and mental freedom are vital to Joshua Bassett. His youth and home may have been of the rootless, wandering type, which could have given him a taste for movement and independence. He needs to be aware that his life has a purpose and hunt for it in various belief systems, both traditional and new age. In fact, he has an unmistakable gift for philosophy. The faraway appeals to him, and travel is likely to be an important aspect of his life.

Joshua Bassett is an expansive, affable, and communicative associate. Indeed, some people find Joshua generous almost to a fault! Joshua gives of Joshua’s self and Joshua’s resources unstintingly. Paradoxically, there are times when Joshua is self-focused. Joshua reacts instinctively, without taking the trouble to analyze a given situation, and are prone to misjudge. As a result, Joshua’s everyday life may be riddled with a whole variety of practical problems. Indeed, Joshua senses a conflict between Joshua’s social life and Joshua’s family and will sometimes find it hard to fulfill Joshua in both spheres at the same time. Joshua’s attitude toward Joshua’s private life may inhibit Joshua’s ambitions for social or career expansion; at worst, society (the law) may impinge on Joshua’s private life. Joshua should be careful not to project Joshua’s personal problems onto Joshua’s partner. If, instead, the two of them analyzed the problem, Joshua might be able to find opportunities to resolve it together.

Because Joshua Bassett is extremely sensitive and has an irrepressible imagination, he sometimes has trouble distinguishing dreams from reality. Although his imagination can be an abundant source of inspiration for creative or spiritual evolution, it tends to be less helpful and positive in matters that concern earning a decent living out in the real world. In a relationship, Joshua is extremely romantic and does not always see others the way they really are. He has elegant tastes and art and beauty are one of his chief pleasures in life.

Love and Sensuality:

Joshua Bassett is looking for the ideal love and tends to idealize his friends and lovers. A bizarre character, he may prefer to dream of his soulmate instead of making love to one; he is more in love with the idea of love than anything else. His idealism may hide a fear of truly committing himself to a relationship; he tries to intellectualize everything. In time, two options will seem clear to him: an amorous friendship based on shared ideas and intellectual exchange, or an open relationship, free of all constraints except mutual respect.

Joshua Bassett’s birth chart indicates an emotional function which is usually expressed carefully and reasonably. Distrustful of his emotional urges and somewhat wary of his feelings, he tries to rid himself of all partiality and try to get some perspective and distance before making an emotional commitment.

Although Joshua Bassett is naturally fairly emancipated and relaxed, he is always held back by a network of scruples and obligations. He is likely to commit wisely, rather than for love or out of discouragement. Nevertheless, he will find the atmosphere of the home somewhat constricting and should continue to pursue a career outside in order to relieve the pressure.

Joshua Bassett is equally sensitive to both outer and inner beauty. Joshua Bassett may arouse great love or Joshua Bassett could become a muse and inspire great works of art. Joshua Bassett could find happiness with a partner who knows how to awaken Joshua Bassett’s more exalted emotions and can communicate with Joshua Bassett on an artistic or spiritual plane.

Joshua Bassett has an ardent and amorous character, and his relationships are enlivened by intensity and passion. A charmer perpetually engaged in a quest for the ideal love, Joshua is often more in love with the idea of love than with a partner. As a result, his love life may be subject to some instability. Joshua is generally attracted to original people who defy norms, standards, and classifications, and expect them to amaze and fascinate him. His greatest contradictions surface when an intimate relationship is established. Although Joshua merges his ego entirely into the couple, he is likely to demand a total autonomy and liberty which are inimical to intimacy. If his partner charms and captivates him long enough, there is some possibility that they will form a more solid bond with him; otherwise, Joshua is likely to yield to his need for novelty and fall under the spell of an entirely different person who exerts a new kind of charm for him. Midlife may be a turning point for Joshua from this point of view. His contradictory attitude may in some ways hide a compulsion to reject and deny the bonds of dependency inherent to a love relationship. His behavior enables him to remain aloof, to commit himself only halfway without consciously admitting it to himself, and to avoid feeling guilty if and when he loses interest. An insatiable appetite for novelty and exaltation sometimes keeps Joshua from forming stable relationships.

Indeed, Joshua is tormented by the struggle between his undeniable need for affection and an equally imperious desire for personal progress and emancipation. As a result of this inner turmoil, his romantic aspirations are usually sabotaged sooner or later by his conviction that his partner has become an obstacle to his individual progress. Because Joshua thinks of love as a restraint, he may even eventually consciously refuse any emotional approach to love interests. As an ascetic, Joshua will try to deflect the love function from its natural target and use the energy and bliss it generates for other purposes, the process psychologists call sublimation. However, Joshua is also likely to meet “the one” who inspires him to initiate a change in his behavior.

Mental and Intellect:

Joshua sometimes considers the input from his subjectivity and emotions as static which he tries to tune out to go straight to the essence of knowledge. As a result, regardless of his field of study, he tries to obtain perspective. He will elaborate a thought on the basis of fairly cold, abstract logic, supported by sober, concise, and immaculate reasoning. His choice areas of study could be mathematics, philosophy, legislation, or political science. Ideologies, theories, and any other system of reasoning could serve as “food for thought” for Joshua.

Joshua Bassett expresses his thoughts and ideas in direct, spontaneous outbursts. He is fairly extroverted and eager to discover and understand the outer world. An idealist, Joshua looks forward to a bright future but is sometimes subjective and reckless.