So for those few clients that ask for a deeper understanding of their life problems to make a connection to their everyday life,or ask Esoteric questions,what do you draw on or how do you approach that?
Michael, I am an amateur, so I don't have "clients" but I have read hundreds of charts for people on this and on another astrology forum.
I think some people have a burning need to know why they are on the planet, or what is their purpose in life on an individual level. With most people, I am not sure such questions ever come up. Life purpose is given generically by their religion, their society, their family relationships, or even by a culture of consumerism.
Basically I think astrology does answer fundamental questions about one's individual life-meaning, though not necessarily in the way people pose them.
I think that purpose in a horoscope is indicated as:
(a) where our growth lies,
(b) what we are on the planet to learn and to teach,
(c) who we must be or become in order to be true to ourselves, and
(d) for some people (not all) one's sense of a calling or vocation.
(a) North Node
(b) pre-natal lunar and solar eclipses (this from Jan Spiller and Karen McCoy,
Spiritual Astrology.) These eclipses are close to the lunar nodes but can be in different signs and houses. According to these authors, the pre-natal lunar eclipse indicates what you are on the planet to learn; and the pre-natal solar eclipse, what you are on the planet to teach.
(c) sun by sign and house; to a lesser extent the ascendant and moon
(d) MC, 10th house, and location of the ruler of the MC. Note that many people go through life without a burning ambition to be a doctor, or to alleviate poverty. A woman with the ruler of her MC in the 5th, for example, might most authentically pursue a hobby or be a devoted mother. However, if it is not strongly placed or is afflicted, she might not realize much satisfaction from her 5th house.
I believe that souls choose the timing, location, and circumstances of their births in order to maximize their potential for growth in key areas. They come to this challenge with specific assets and barriers to success. If achieving their goal were a real give-away, they wouldn't learn anything or become stronger.
The chart as a whole indicates the nature of these challenges, and the person's tool kit and obstacles. A well-aspected Mercury in Gemini, for example, is probably an asset and a good tool in the person's kit. Harsh aspects to the person's sun from outer planets might indicate that one of her barriers will be addressing her low self-esteem, for example.
This thesis raises troubling questions about why a soul would voluntarily incarnate as a disabled child, a war victim, or schizophrenic. Such people have the potential by example to teach compassion in others-- a quality that Planet Earth could use in greater quantity. If there is such a thing as God's plan, it is just possible that some souls voluntarily take on difficult, painful incarnations in order to further human progress. If there is such a thing as reincarnation, it is just possible that souls who take on victim identities do so either because they were perpetrators in a past life and choose to experience first-hand the kind of impact they had on their victims in order to foster their sense of compassion; or in order to manifest some triumph of the human spirit in the face of severe adversity.
Anyway, that is my take on esoteric astrology. Frisiangal, you can see how it differs from Rudhyar's. I am not saying that nobody should read or derive benefit from reading his books.
In terms of why I am only now getting my head around the concept of life on the "earth plane" as being precisely the point of living ordinary lives; you probably know the expression:
"Too soon old, and too late smart."