A cameo profile of a man in the outline of his country

A CAMEO PROFILE OF A MAN IN THE OUTLINE OF HIS COUNTRY

This universal idea is best expressed through planets in

3rd degree of Aries (2°- 3°)

INVOLVEMENT IN THE WHOLE COSMIC DRAMA
The awesome power of Life itself, as we identify
the most spiritual dimensions of being

The sense of being part of the Whole brings meaning and allows higher powers to act through us. It extends beyond our local community and embraces universal realities; we are part of it all and this knowledge gives us both security and power. We can even touch the level of Archetype and so awaken to that higher degree.

Rudhyar:
THE CAMEO PROFILE OF A MAN SUGGESTING THE SHAPE OF HIS COUNTRY

The cameo profile of a man suggesting the shape of his country

Exploitation

Individual and community are mutually supportive aspects of each other

As much as the individual serves society, society serves the individual – not only in terms of resources, but also in terms of their evolving definition. The man and the country are in mutual exploitation.

Although it may not appear so, in truth reality is personal. Each and every feeling, belief and opinion is an expression of this, and these all have ramifications in our life circumstances. If we are to reach our fullest potential as unique individuals then we must give full play to all of our potentialities. There is huge social pressure upon a person to obey the rules and do what is thought appropriate by conventional ethics and practice. Even so, some are capable of rejecting the bondage of reluctant or unthinking conformity, and find their own way to relate to the community that nurtures them.

Naturally, there are forces of empathy and familiarity that bind an individual to the collective reality that shows through culture and tradition. However – despite the benefits of accepting social norms – each of us will characterise our own take on this, as indeed we must do so if we are to be authentic in self-expression.

By doing so, we necessarily dedicate ourselves and our lives to the best interests of our community. We are as much part of the whole as anyone else and, without our doing what we feel is right, then there cannot be full engagement with the society of which we are an integral part. The community would be diminished.

This is in no way different from a personal imperative to dramatise our very personal wants and needs through the group, as a path of self-actualisation. How could we be ourselves if separated from the context of our traditions and culture? Where is the meaning in that? Even when we travel away, it is the place we travel away from, and is ever present in our history, memory and habits; this gives special meaning to our new experiences, and feeds the home community, which learns of them through us.

A real breadth of community involvement is therefore a sign of one who is truly self-oriented, having the wisdom and sensitivity to understand that each must serve the other if harmony is to emerge. Even more than that – it goes beyond just harmony to fulfilment.

The individual is thus silhouetted against the background of his country, each exploiting the other in the process of expressing a general principle in specific terms. When each relaxes into this truth, personal and communal interests are more profoundly in accord and more richly expressed.