Researchers have found that low self-esteem and materialism are not just a correlation, but also a causal relationship where low self esteem increases materialism, and materialism can also create low self-esteem. The also found that as self esteem increases, materialism decreases. The study primarily focused on how this relationship affects children and adolescents. Lan Nguyen Chaplin (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and Deborah Roedder John (University of Minnesota) found that even a simple gesture to raise self-esteem dramatically decreased materialism, which provides a way to cope with insecurity.This is no surprise to astrologers, who place self-esteem and material needs in the second house of the birthchart. The second house, associated with Taurus, deals with our material needs and our desire for wealth and financial security, but also with our values and our sense of self-esteem, our talents and skills and how we feel about them. Clients with a challenged second house often find that their ability to achieve financial security is tied closely with their self-esteem.
This article goes on to say:
In the book “Happiness: Lessons From a New Science”, Richard Layard exposes a paradox at the heart of our lives. Most of us want more income so we can consume more. Yet as societies become richer, they do not become happier. In fact, the First World has more depression, more alcoholism and more crime than fifty years ago. This paradox is true of Britain, the United States, continental Europe and Japan.I encounter this when I work with people in increasing abundance and opportunity in their lives through visioncrafting. Many of my clients have achieved wealth and material success but they are not satisfied by it. When consumption becomes a goal in itself rather than a means to achieve a level of security it exceeds the capacity of the second house to improve our contentment, and we fall into the Taurus shadow realm of greed and attachment.
It's interesting to have statistical confirmation of this as well.
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I'm curious though... maybe this is unrelated, But is there a chance that self esteem and materialism can be in positive balance?
For example; I've been going through the gaining self esteem and self worth journey. Initially there were lots of lows, but now I'm coming out on the other side feeling good about myself. Now I want to have things in my life that reflect how I feel on the inside. Now I don't mind wearing a little bit of make up to feel pretty, or buying a new set of earrings that reflect my festive mood. I do want to be financially secure (Jupiter in Aquarius in the 2nd House)so that I can do the things I want to do ( ie. in no particular order; travel, go on spiritual retreats, buy a home on the water and in the city, set up my own practice, continue my education, be a provider for my family, extend warmth to close friends, and to eat healthily)
No doubt some of those things will cause some stress and anxiety, like owning a home or two, or a practice, but if it's from the heart and from love, is it not worth it?
I definitely know what materialism is, living in NYC I see it everyday in the subways in the various coach bags, prada shoes and the hundreds of other name brand things that people chase after every season, and then wouldn't be caught dead in the next. For a while I did yearn for those things for lack of a sense of my own values, but now it's a very different story. I'm more willing to attain things that speak to me and make my spirit feel good. I'm willing to bid my time and wait patiently for these things, and I know how good it'll feel to have gained it on my own.
Lol sorry for the long comment, but I'd really like to know your opinion and the opinions of others on this
This is the way I see it - we are human beings living within material bodies. How do we view this body/house/home that we have built and now inhabit? How do we look after and care for it?
Spirit or energy comes first and shapes matter into form. They don't split off from each other. That's what the Church in the past tried to do to us, especially women - the pure chaste virgin and the sexual whore.Spiritual energy can be both constructive or destructive. All collection ends in dispersal, says Buddhism. If the body is abused there are health consequences; look at dear Mother Earth herself - she is a mirror to ourselves, showing us the consequences of the way we have collectively regarded her materiality and the way we treat her. Our times are her health consequences. But after death comes the resurrection
Thank you, Lynn. Your post offers some excellent thoughts on materialism. Also, Janelle's comment is especially pertinent because she qualifies her experience as developing from a balancing of self-esteem and materialism. Self-care and enjoying the senses through possesions are deeply subtle expressions of values which fulfill and support the self. Venus's rulership of Taurus and the second house establishes how self-esteem develops through love and experiencing the senses while distinquishing it from ego/id paradigms and the out-of-balanced expressions of materialism we see daily in society. While Venus remains in Libra, our consideration of balance as a positive value can help lead us to deeper understandings for forging happiness in our lives
Thanks everyone for your comments on this issue.
For a few years I was teaching classes on the Alchemy of Abundance with the emphasis on abundance rather than prosperity. Abundance is an infinite concept; prosperity has to do with wealth. How much is enough? So much of the answer to this question does lie in the nature of our second house.
Neith - it is SO good when we Mercury in Scorpio people get outside verification for what we know indubitably to be true!!
Janelle - of course self-esteem and materialism can be balanced. I like to see myself in that category. I have Jupiter in Taurus and it opposes Venus so I have a lot of issues in this area. For a long time I was able to make a lot of money, but until I became grounded in my sense of self I wasn't able to hold onto any money. Now I have money in the bank, a really nice home, drive a nice car, but I don't need those things to feel good about myself.
I believe that we are all entitled to comfort in our lives and a feeling of abundance, and we can gain these things without causing lack to others. The point of this article which I think is very important, is that pursuing materialism in an effort to feel better about ourselves is a losing battle.
Cynthia - as always an eloquent way to describe the issue, thank you!
And Nathan - I love your comment about "self care and enjoying the senses through possessions," beautiful way to explain this
Great post Lynn! I have often thought about this issue because my sister, the only materialistic person I know well, has retrograde Saturn in Leo in the 2nd house. I take that to mean she needs to learn how to be thrifty in this life. She is attracted to brands & style over substance which I believe could be Leo's influence. She's usually broke and sometimes even needs to be bailed out. I have retrograde Jupiter in Virgo in my 2nd house. I love antiques (Virgo?) and have always made enough $ to live on and save for retirement or the proverbial rainy day (Jupiter) but I can be stingy-thrifty (retrograde?) and even ascetic when I'm in a crappy mood (with Saturn in the 4th house, no surprise). Again, thanks for the insightful post. Very helpful
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