I am thinking about this as we have a solar eclipse New Moon in Gemini, the sign of our mind, this Wednesday June 1st at 5:03 PM EDT. Eclipses bring into alignment the Sun, Moon and Earth; New Moons begin new monthly cycles. The eclipse is stronger however and signifies that this new beginning will not just begin and end in a month but will extend over years. So what are we looking for to begin here and how can we make the connection between what we think about and what happens in the outside world?
Enlightenment thought gave us Descartes and "I think therefore I am" and Kant who gave us the mind as separate from outer reality; that we cannot effect the outside world but only impressions of it through our senses. We have been conditioned to think in dualistic terms, this or that, mind/matter, body/mind, cause/effect, inner/outer. Modern physics however has been opening our minds to view reality more wholistically. (Rather more like the way Marcus Aurelius thought about it in the 1st Century quote above).
Keiron Le Grice, in his book, "The Archetypal Cosmos" writes about Heisenberg and his uncertainity principal, that the observer is not separate from the observed; and physicist John Wheeler who felt that the independent observer be replaced by a "participator", that we humans are responsible for shaping reality. These two and many more physicists, cosmologists, evolutionary system theorists, ecologists, transpersonal psychologists (according to Le Grice) all share a common vision that of incorporating a more expanded view of the nature of mind and reality. Fritjof Capra in The Web of Life, writes that "the organizing activity of all living systems, at all levels of life, is mental activity." That is how important what we think about is.
So during this week as we wind down from "the beginning of summer" weekend, we get to pay attention to what we are thinking about and what we are sharing with others. Mercury is the planet that rules Gemini. He was a trickster-he stole his brother's sheep when he was an infant. He could travel between Olympus in the heavens and Hades below the earth (the only god that could). Mercury signifies our minds-it can play tricks on us, it can go into the heights and down to the depths and take our outer reality with it.
Gemini is the sign of the twins-lower mind and higher mind. When we are in our lower mind we are scared, restless, worried, depressed and anxious. Our higher mind brings us to truth , beauty, equanimity and insight. However and whenever we are in our truth and speak it, we are in our higher mind. Gemini is compelled to communicate. If what we think and communicate creates reality, then at this solar eclipse New Moon we have a golden opportunity to reset our thinking patterns. We are that responsible for the world we create around us. It comes from what we focus on and what we think about.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Continuing where we left off...
I took a walk up lower Broadway this morning, as I am in the city minding my sister's dogs. There are markers in the sidewalk pavement noting dates and ticker tape celebrants. There were parades for Korean War vets, Vietnam vets, Persian War vets, Olympic games medalists, World Series winners, Superbowl winners, Stanley cup winners and astronauts. The predominant recipients were sports teams and war vets. (In the spirit of fairness I also saw markers for Nelson Mandela and John Paul II).
In our last blog we were talking about the early morning sky and how rare it is to see 4 planets rising ahead of the Sun, but that whatever planet rises ahead of the Sun in a personal or country's chart becomes a "herald" for that entity. We mentioned that Mars is the herald for the USA. Mars rose in the eastern sky ahead of the Sun on July 4th 1776. I thought about this this morning as I was walking up Broadway and noticed how "normal" it is for us to honor our war or sports heroes, those people of action demarcated by the planet Mars.
More men of Mars were described in the Sunday NY Times in a front page investigative report about a former Navy Seal, founder of the Blackwell Worldwide Group (the private mercenary group that won billions of dollars of contracts for the US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan). American Erik Prince has organized a secret (although not so secret anymore) 800 man mercenary army, paid for by the Sultan of the United Arab Emirates, the country across the Persian Gulf from Pakistan. These mercenaries from Columbia, the US, South Africa and other European countries are commissioned for secret operations inside the U.A.E. The US and its citizens are very much involved in the promotion of violence and bloodshed overseas. But how long can it last?
Mars is the planet of war, violence, action, strife, fighting, anger, aggression, turmoil and energy spent outwards going after something turned retrograde on July 2006, at 18 degrees Libra in the USA's progressed chart. That means that our use of force to obtain what we want is going to backfire. Instead of being successful in our initiatory endeavors, there are times now when clear cut victories are not a given, as clear cut goals are not defined. (Notwithstanding the Bin Laden raid which happened with a Mars (action) in the sky that night coupled with Jupiter (successful) which only happens once every 2 1/2 years for a few days.)
Secretary of Defense Gates spoke at West Point not long ago and cautioned any future Defense Secretary that if he (or she) was thinking of entering any future expedition like those in Iraq and Afghanistan that "he ought to have his head examined". Are we finally rethinking how and when we use our young men and women? We have doubled our defense budget in the last 10 years. Is it time to trim excessive money spent on weapons? Are the effects of a very slow moving Mars changing its orientation towards the Sun beginning to have an effect in the "real world"? Progressed Mars has been at the same 18 degrees of Libra since 1994 and will stay in this one degree until 2016-that is a total of 22 years in the same degree. We are "stuck" in one place because we have to relearn how we are using our energies, where we are putting our focus and the effects that we have, both anticipated and not.
Another op ed piece in today's NY Times by Nicholas Kristof, speaks to the feelings of the since deceased special envoy to the Afghanistan/Pakistan region, Richard Holbrooke. Holbrooke was privately especially critical of any military action in the region and was a strong proponent of diplomacy-with all the parties even the Taliban. Mars the planet we are talking about has stationed in Libra-the sign of diplomacy and conversation. Kristof is of the opinion that now, after Bin Laden's death, is the time to do double duty on negotiations between rival factions, India and Pakistan, Afghanistan, the US and the Taliban, Israel and the Palestinians. All wars end with diplomacy. Mars rules action and Libra rules diplomacy. Are we going to learn our lessons in that regard soon?
In our last blog we were talking about the early morning sky and how rare it is to see 4 planets rising ahead of the Sun, but that whatever planet rises ahead of the Sun in a personal or country's chart becomes a "herald" for that entity. We mentioned that Mars is the herald for the USA. Mars rose in the eastern sky ahead of the Sun on July 4th 1776. I thought about this this morning as I was walking up Broadway and noticed how "normal" it is for us to honor our war or sports heroes, those people of action demarcated by the planet Mars.
More men of Mars were described in the Sunday NY Times in a front page investigative report about a former Navy Seal, founder of the Blackwell Worldwide Group (the private mercenary group that won billions of dollars of contracts for the US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan). American Erik Prince has organized a secret (although not so secret anymore) 800 man mercenary army, paid for by the Sultan of the United Arab Emirates, the country across the Persian Gulf from Pakistan. These mercenaries from Columbia, the US, South Africa and other European countries are commissioned for secret operations inside the U.A.E. The US and its citizens are very much involved in the promotion of violence and bloodshed overseas. But how long can it last?
Mars is the planet of war, violence, action, strife, fighting, anger, aggression, turmoil and energy spent outwards going after something turned retrograde on July 2006, at 18 degrees Libra in the USA's progressed chart. That means that our use of force to obtain what we want is going to backfire. Instead of being successful in our initiatory endeavors, there are times now when clear cut victories are not a given, as clear cut goals are not defined. (Notwithstanding the Bin Laden raid which happened with a Mars (action) in the sky that night coupled with Jupiter (successful) which only happens once every 2 1/2 years for a few days.)
Secretary of Defense Gates spoke at West Point not long ago and cautioned any future Defense Secretary that if he (or she) was thinking of entering any future expedition like those in Iraq and Afghanistan that "he ought to have his head examined". Are we finally rethinking how and when we use our young men and women? We have doubled our defense budget in the last 10 years. Is it time to trim excessive money spent on weapons? Are the effects of a very slow moving Mars changing its orientation towards the Sun beginning to have an effect in the "real world"? Progressed Mars has been at the same 18 degrees of Libra since 1994 and will stay in this one degree until 2016-that is a total of 22 years in the same degree. We are "stuck" in one place because we have to relearn how we are using our energies, where we are putting our focus and the effects that we have, both anticipated and not.
Another op ed piece in today's NY Times by Nicholas Kristof, speaks to the feelings of the since deceased special envoy to the Afghanistan/Pakistan region, Richard Holbrooke. Holbrooke was privately especially critical of any military action in the region and was a strong proponent of diplomacy-with all the parties even the Taliban. Mars the planet we are talking about has stationed in Libra-the sign of diplomacy and conversation. Kristof is of the opinion that now, after Bin Laden's death, is the time to do double duty on negotiations between rival factions, India and Pakistan, Afghanistan, the US and the Taliban, Israel and the Palestinians. All wars end with diplomacy. Mars rules action and Libra rules diplomacy. Are we going to learn our lessons in that regard soon?
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Look Up in the Eastern Sky Before Dawn
It has come to my attention through The Mountain Astrologer's web site and current blog "Astrology as if the Sky Matters" (written by Gary Caton) just how rare this current celestial phenomena is. If you are up (and I tried this morning but there was a cloud bank) 1/2 hour before dawn around 5:00 AM, you will see 4 little white dots in the sky which are Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars ( a little redder) over in the eastern sky. In hasn't been since August 9,1966 and June 5,1680 when you could see 4 planets rising ahead of the sun at the same time.
Planets in the sky that we can see in daylight are heralds. Think about the birth of The Christ. The Wise Men who noticed the star in the east knew to look for something new on earth because the sky was giving them the cue. On June 5th in 1680 the Japanese Emperor died. If you think back to 1966-when the "fab four" came to America and how they heralded a new era. On August 9th 1966, the first date you could see all 4 planets rising ahead of the Sun, we were also in the Vietnam war. A major engagement called the battle of Duc Co took place and a new phase of the war began.
Now too we have had extrordinary events these past few weeks- President Obama having to offer his" long" birth certificate, the marriage of William and Kate and the President calling for the military expedition that lead to the death of Osama Bin Laden. All these events mark endings of some sort which also mark new beginnings. The stars in the dawn sky are calling our attention to the birth of a new time.
If you wonder why so many times a military expedition has begun for us, you only have to recall that the planet rising ahead of the Sun in The USA's natal chart is Mars-so the planet of action, effort, strife and sometimes war and violence is our "hearld". After all wasn't the birth of the country an act of civil disobedience to the King?
Planets in the sky that we can see in daylight are heralds. Think about the birth of The Christ. The Wise Men who noticed the star in the east knew to look for something new on earth because the sky was giving them the cue. On June 5th in 1680 the Japanese Emperor died. If you think back to 1966-when the "fab four" came to America and how they heralded a new era. On August 9th 1966, the first date you could see all 4 planets rising ahead of the Sun, we were also in the Vietnam war. A major engagement called the battle of Duc Co took place and a new phase of the war began.
Now too we have had extrordinary events these past few weeks- President Obama having to offer his" long" birth certificate, the marriage of William and Kate and the President calling for the military expedition that lead to the death of Osama Bin Laden. All these events mark endings of some sort which also mark new beginnings. The stars in the dawn sky are calling our attention to the birth of a new time.
If you wonder why so many times a military expedition has begun for us, you only have to recall that the planet rising ahead of the Sun in The USA's natal chart is Mars-so the planet of action, effort, strife and sometimes war and violence is our "hearld". After all wasn't the birth of the country an act of civil disobedience to the King?
Monday, May 9, 2011
Further Circles
In creating this blog I was inspired by a book I read, "The Archetypal Cosmos" by Keiron Le Grice, subtitled Rediscovering the Gods, in Myths, Science and Astrology. In it, Le Grice surveys the history of myth and its function from Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung to the new paradigm scientists. What was so remarkable to me is that this survey and Le Grice's findings parallel completely what Marcus Aurelius, who is quoted above, said in 100 AD. The universe and all that is in it is created from the same "stuff". The difference being that Aurelius wrote it with out the benefit of the discoveries of modern empirical physics.
So there is nothing new under the sun. We are just confirming what has always been known intuitively.
These past 2,000 years have been about the discovery of the validity of those intuitions concerning the nature of the universe and the relationship of a part to the whole.
Le Grice starts his book by exploring the work of Joseph Campbell who wrote extensively about the many functions of myth. Myths were not just made up stories to explain natural phenomen, but had functions. Myths were used to explain man's place in the universe. Campbell's central thesis, Le Grice writes, is that the stories of myths should be read as metaphors that can be related to our own experiences providing 'perspective and symbolic meaning'.
In the more modern mind we have lost the externalization of the Gods doing this and that to us. Our demons are no longer outside but have become our own self destructive habits and vices. But rather than feeling we are being left alone to make our way with self determination and free will, wouldn't we do better by understanding and acknowledging that the forces in our external environment are the actual manifestations of our internal space. The psychological explorations that relective people go through, supported with all the self help books, programs, healing modalities and religions are one way we can source our own personal myth. By questing after our own personal myth, as Jung did, are we not less the victim of the gods anger or pleasure as of old, but are more personally responsible for our fate as we become more clearly defined individuals. Can astrology help with that journey into inner space?
So there is nothing new under the sun. We are just confirming what has always been known intuitively.
These past 2,000 years have been about the discovery of the validity of those intuitions concerning the nature of the universe and the relationship of a part to the whole.
Le Grice starts his book by exploring the work of Joseph Campbell who wrote extensively about the many functions of myth. Myths were not just made up stories to explain natural phenomen, but had functions. Myths were used to explain man's place in the universe. Campbell's central thesis, Le Grice writes, is that the stories of myths should be read as metaphors that can be related to our own experiences providing 'perspective and symbolic meaning'.
In the more modern mind we have lost the externalization of the Gods doing this and that to us. Our demons are no longer outside but have become our own self destructive habits and vices. But rather than feeling we are being left alone to make our way with self determination and free will, wouldn't we do better by understanding and acknowledging that the forces in our external environment are the actual manifestations of our internal space. The psychological explorations that relective people go through, supported with all the self help books, programs, healing modalities and religions are one way we can source our own personal myth. By questing after our own personal myth, as Jung did, are we not less the victim of the gods anger or pleasure as of old, but are more personally responsible for our fate as we become more clearly defined individuals. Can astrology help with that journey into inner space?
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Circle Game
I was recently reminded of the old Judy Collins song "The Circle Game"
And the painted ponies go up and down
We are captive in a carousel of time
We can't go back we can only look behind to where we've been
And go round and round and round in the circle game
Hearing the news about the demise of Bin Laden made me think again about this song. It also makes the curious mind ask-why this and why now?? Astrology is really good for seeing the pattern in the timing of things. As we mentioned in our last post we talked about the placement of Saturn in the sky being in Libra and that the USA is having its "Saturn return". We talked then of the nation being in a depressed mood. The placement of Saturn in the natal chart of the US on July 4th 1776 was 14 degrees and 48 minutes. The position of Saturn today is 11 Libra 48 minutes.
Saturn is in its retrograde phase, that is from our view point (earth) it is changing its relationship to the Sun. It was at 14 Libra 48 minutes for the first time December 4th, the 2nd time, March 23rd and will again pass that degree August 28th. The strong effects of the Saturn return will not start passing away until September and not be completely finished until October 2012 when it moves into Scorpio. The US has the Sun (identity) in Cancer (homeland strong) in square (90 degrees) to that natal Saturn. This gives us the impetus to be the disciplinarian, the defender because Saturn (rules) in Libra (the scales) demands justice. Saturn only returns to this degree every 30 years. The effects of Saturn's sense of timing is as a laggard. You do not always feel his effect on the date of exactness but later. (That is why our Capricorn friends are late bloomers because they are ruled by Saturn).
The tie into September 11th and Bin Laden? The moment the planes hit the first tower, 8:46 AM, the degree rising on the eastern horizon (we cannot see the stars when the Sun is out but they are there) was you guessed it, 14 Libra 21 minutes. This is very potent if you remember that every 4 minutes a new degree of a sign rises up on the eastern horizon, because the earth always turning on its axis as well around the Sun.
Which makes the moment of the Twin Tower attacks part of our collective destiny from our founding in 1776. The points in that chart are sensitive over and over again as they show up years later. "We are captive in the carousel of time".
And the painted ponies go up and down
We are captive in a carousel of time
We can't go back we can only look behind to where we've been
And go round and round and round in the circle game
Hearing the news about the demise of Bin Laden made me think again about this song. It also makes the curious mind ask-why this and why now?? Astrology is really good for seeing the pattern in the timing of things. As we mentioned in our last post we talked about the placement of Saturn in the sky being in Libra and that the USA is having its "Saturn return". We talked then of the nation being in a depressed mood. The placement of Saturn in the natal chart of the US on July 4th 1776 was 14 degrees and 48 minutes. The position of Saturn today is 11 Libra 48 minutes.
Saturn is in its retrograde phase, that is from our view point (earth) it is changing its relationship to the Sun. It was at 14 Libra 48 minutes for the first time December 4th, the 2nd time, March 23rd and will again pass that degree August 28th. The strong effects of the Saturn return will not start passing away until September and not be completely finished until October 2012 when it moves into Scorpio. The US has the Sun (identity) in Cancer (homeland strong) in square (90 degrees) to that natal Saturn. This gives us the impetus to be the disciplinarian, the defender because Saturn (rules) in Libra (the scales) demands justice. Saturn only returns to this degree every 30 years. The effects of Saturn's sense of timing is as a laggard. You do not always feel his effect on the date of exactness but later. (That is why our Capricorn friends are late bloomers because they are ruled by Saturn).
The tie into September 11th and Bin Laden? The moment the planes hit the first tower, 8:46 AM, the degree rising on the eastern horizon (we cannot see the stars when the Sun is out but they are there) was you guessed it, 14 Libra 21 minutes. This is very potent if you remember that every 4 minutes a new degree of a sign rises up on the eastern horizon, because the earth always turning on its axis as well around the Sun.
Which makes the moment of the Twin Tower attacks part of our collective destiny from our founding in 1776. The points in that chart are sensitive over and over again as they show up years later. "We are captive in the carousel of time".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)