posted December 15, 2011 07:45 AM            

It's a good question, though. What do you think makes for a strong person who can take alot, mentally, physically...

I think this post, from the link above, was onto something :

"Neptune - things never seem as bad as they really are.
Moon-Pluto - "you mean it isn't like this for everybody?"
Saturn only if you're a masochist."

But for the wrong reasons. I think it's more that Neptune has more of a spiritual bent/philosophy when it comes to pain and sees that ultimately understands that it's insignificant and unimportant and that there's something bigger beyond that.

Pluto in general I agree with as well, not Moon-Pluto so much, but simply because Pluto represents power, depth and regeneration and is basically the upper octave of Mars. So it's strong and can take (almost)anything and isn't afraid of dying over and over again.

Saturn I agree with too, but not because of masochism - but simply because Saturn knows nothing is going to be a cakewalk anyway and doesn't expect it to be and is very lucid and practical about that like, "Things are gonna hurt sometimes, that's life. Get over it and get on with it, and get done what you need to get done."

Something like Jupiter obviously would give optimism - "Things will get better".

posted December 15, 2011 08:28 AM            

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Originally posted by Doux Rêve:
Pretty much all the things mentioned, I'd think a combination of Mars/Pluto/Saturn/Moon. Saturn I'd be careful with though, because in hard aspect can make someone easily discouraged and depressed, and play the "why me" syndrome.
Mars/Pluto definitely though.

For mental stength, maybe some Mercury/Pluto/Saturn?

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Saturn in direct aspect to the Moon may be self-pitying or depressive in some way, sure. maybe even the moon in hard aspect to Neptune for the "Poor little martyr me" mindset. But Mars-Saturn, not really.

Astrologer's Handbook time! I looked it up and I stand corrected, it does actually say that in reference to Mars-Saturn, but I have the two square and I'm not that way - then again I have Saturn in tight conjunction to Jupiter as well as Mercury sextiling Jupiter so I'm really not the 'poor me' type.

I have Moon conjunct Pluto, Mars square Jupiter-Saturn and Mercury quintile Pluto, sextile Jupiter-Saturn. Four planets in the eighth, Lilith and Pallas angular, Hekate in the eighth, Persephone in Scorpio, Kaali quintile Mars, Orcus conjunct my NN. Neptune is a singleton in my chart too and aspects my Sun, Moon and Venus so I've always had this inherently spiritual mindset about things too.

posted December 15, 2011 08:32 AM            

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Originally posted by Doux Rêve:
Oh and Jupiter may play a part in it as well.
Neptune, less so, I think. It would rather play the victim.

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You have to remember too that Neptune is spirituality, which I think is a large component of being mentally and physically strong - it's all about perspective and where your head is at. And that's where Neptune and Jupiter come in. If you believe there's an ultimate point, and that whatever you may be experiencing is ultimately insignificant and that there's something *more*, and any number of other things that I can't verbalize, then you 'get it' and stuff that would bring other people to their knees, doesn't phase you much either.

posted December 15, 2011 08:50 AM            

I do think that Jupiter helps a lot in your case, conjunct Saturn and thus making it less "restrictive".

And yes, I thought about Uranus/Mars too, it would give courage.

posted December 15, 2011 10:48 AM            

Saturn can also be depressive, so don't rule that out, although it can have you pushing through despite feeling that nothing will work, because you know you have to.

posted December 15, 2011 11:49 AM            

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Originally posted by Capriquarius:
The most resilient person I know is my father. He has Mercury conjunct Jupiter in Pisces. He practices the "Power of Positive Thinking" philosophy and seems to be able to digest anything life dishes out. That exalted Jupiter seems to "wash away" any negativity that would hinder progress. He does exaggerate and outright lie a whole lot, but actually seems to believe the lies. It's gotten him through a lot.

He has an overly strong Mars - in Aries, square Uranus in Cancer by 4 degrees. Healthy as a horse and physically strong. 60 years old but beats 20-somethings at baseball. High pain threshold - he undergoes dental procedures without anesthesia because he'd have a lecture scheduled afterwards and doesn't want a lisp. That's probably due to the sign placement of Mars more than the aspect though. It makes one so impatient that they'd rather suffer a little than to postpone something in their schedule. Also, Mars/Aries is the ultimate warrior and would be accustomed to pain...probably through countless childhood experiences running into things, falling into things, jumping off...

On second thought, maybe Mars-Uranus does lead to a high pain threshold. Uranus is about shocks and having that natally might mean a lifetime's practice at getting used to sudden shocks of pain.

He has Moon in Gemini trine Saturn in Virgo (out-of-sign trine). Very stoic.

I have an exalted Mars trine Saturn and square Pluto. I can be a hard worker but my pain threshold is low. I can't even sit through a roller coaster ride, whereas the above mentioned person is still enjoying them at 60.

However, I'm extremely strong physically. I'm a little gal but can move a piano across a carpeted living room (I guess this is a feat because my boyfriend at the time thought I had some guy over to move it for me). This is probably due to the square to Mars from Pluto - any square from Pluto seems to build up energy from within before releasing it all at once and causing some major event.

Mars-Uranus seems to give availability to bursts of great strength and possibly resilience. Lance Armstrong has the trine, 0 degree orb. You'd think given his story, he'd have a strong Mars-Pluto aspect but no. He does have Saturn loosely trine his Mars/Uranus trine in Air. Mars-Saturn not surprisingly seems to be about endurance and toughing out arduous physical demands. I have that and am a distance runner.
http://www.astrotheme.com/portraits/kGrQ25vcfw86.htm

I've seen bursts of energy and physical resilience in someone I know with Mars square Jupiter and Uranus.

EDIT: Oops, I shifted to talking about physical strength.

Emotional resilience...I think Moon trine Pluto makes your Moon develop another layer every time something painful happens. Unless that's just a part of getting old lol.

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I think it's definitely your dad's Mercury-Jupiter that's doing it for him. Mercury being the mind, thought processes and Jupiter being linked to philosophy and optimism. You nailed it with the phrase 'the power of positive thinking'.

Does your dad's Mercury aspect his Neptune? I'm wondering if that has to do with the dishonesty you mentioned.

Your physical comments were on-topic too because I actually meant for this to be all forms of strength, not just mental or emotional.

In terms of my own physical strength I started to say I don't really have much and that any strength I have is solely up here *points to brain* but after some thought I'm not so sure. Things that require obvious physical strength, I'm horrible at; I'm one of those people that you don't bother calling when it's time to help you move because I can't lift most things and I'd be essentially useless.

But I heal abnormally fast - I got a tattoo and was supposed to expect it to start healing and peeling a week later but was already at that point by the same time the next day. I recover from being sick really quickly too. I have doubts about my pain threshold but it might be better than I think - one time in the doctor's office I was laughing and watching a sitcom on tv while they stuck a long needle into the inside of my wrist to draw blood from the main vein.

Also it's like my body can withstand alot. I've always had asthma and as a little kid I'd routinely go as long as a week with moderate to severe attacks with little to no treatment. My parents didn't know a whole lot about asthma and neither did I really, so none of us had a clue that it was serious and required immediate medical attention.Somehow my system just took it for days on end and never went out on me or into respiratory arrest.

posted December 15, 2011 11:56 AM            

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Originally posted by teasel:
I can see Neptune seeing things as better than they really are, or that they can be better. That is a strength, if it keeps someone going.

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That still sounds like Jupiter to me - the whole optimism, look on the bright side thing, not really Neppy.

quote:

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Drawing and painting used to help me keep my head together. At the moment, I grab my camera, and go out for a walk, or do something that takes my mind off things for a while, otherwise I would go around the bend. That's another Neptune strength.

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posted December 15, 2011 04:47 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Capriquarius:
On second thought, maybe Mars-Uranus does lead to a high pain threshold. Uranus is about shocks and having that natally might mean a lifetime's practice at getting used to sudden shocks of pain.

He has Moon in Gemini trine Saturn in Virgo (out-of-sign trine). Very stoic.

I have an exalted Mars trine Saturn and square Pluto. I can be a hard worker but my pain threshold is low. I can't even sit through a roller coaster ride, whereas the above mentioned person is still enjoying them at 60.

However, I'm extremely strong physically. I'm a little gal but can move a piano across a carpeted living room (I guess this is a feat because my boyfriend at the time thought I had some guy over to move it for me). This is probably due to the square to Mars from Pluto - any square from Pluto seems to build up energy from within before releasing it all at once and causing some major event.

Mars-Uranus seems to give availability to bursts of great strength and possibly resilience.

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that's very interesting, i have Leo Mars square Scorpio Uranus, and come to think of it yes i am very resistant to pain. well i don't LIKE pain at all, i have very strong Jupiter influence and pain is the last thing on my mind...

it never occurred to me though that i have a higher threshold to pain, in fact i always wondered in the back of my mind why people like to overreact. as a child, i was very bothered when other children would get into hysteria when getting immunization shots, i just thought come on it takes one second. when i was 8 i got hit by a train, they stitched up my forehead before aesthetic started working (or that they didn't use it? don't remember), but i sat still and didn't cry, and they even did not find that my elbow bone was chipped. until recently i also didn't have any emotional reactions to extreme pain, like if i'd smash my little toe i'd just calmly walk to the closest chair and sit and wait till the pain passes...

posted December 15, 2011 05:27 PM            

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posted December 16, 2011 01:01 AM            

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Saturn I agree with too, but not because of masochism - but simply because Saturn knows nothing is going to be a cakewalk anyway and doesn't expect it to be and is very lucid and practical about that like, "Things are gonna hurt sometimes, that's life. Get over it and get on with it, and get done what you need to get done."

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I totally agree with this. I have a very strong Saturn sextile Sun/MC/Venus aspect, and I will tell you... I am usually the one saying those very words to my friends (most often the water signed friends). It sometimes irritates me because they'll be telling me some very not well-thought out scheme that doesn't take all of the potential future consequences into account, and they get mad at me for "not supporting them," when really, I'm just asking them: "Oh but have you considered this outcome?" To me it's a lack of being realistic. Bad consequences can and do happen, especially if what you are doing is a gamble in itself. So, suck it up and deal with the consequences of your actions. When they end up coming back to me, upset because they didn't see things realistically and didn't think things through far enough, I really have to bite my tongue to not say: "I told you so."

posted December 16, 2011 02:01 AM            

Also Neptune-influenced types never fight back. It's a bit like trying to attack a body of water by throwing punches at it. You can punch a pillow... but punching water won't solve anything.. The more you move around and try to be combative - the more you are likely to drown (kind of like quick-sand). When dealing with Neptune it's best to try to strike a peaceful compromise.

On the positive side Neptune is deeply spiritual.. Neptune aspects help you forgive and forget.. I think this is a strength because it makes it easier to move on.

posted December 16, 2011 02:11 AM            

I would say neptune can go either way way, make you weaker or stronger and that other aspects in the chart will determine which way it goes.

A lot of people are religious because they are scared of uncertainty and need religion to provide them that certainty and structure so the world looks and feels less scary but religion gives people strength to keep going as well.

I would say that saturn and pluto influence has more to do with strength that comes from within and jupiter and neptune with strength that comes from faith.

posted December 16, 2011 02:29 AM            

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A lot of people are religious because they are scared of uncertainty

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Do you see this as Neptunian?

Because Neptune-influence seems happy in chaos and uncertainty. They feel uncomfortable on solid/certain ground.

I see this kind of fear as Saturnian.. Like the priest who follows all the religious rules to a T because he is scared of being punished