Sabian Symbols: A child giving birds a drink at a fountain
A child giving birds a drink at a fountain
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This universal idea is best expressed through planets in
Libra 22 (21° - 22°)BEING NATURALLY HELPFUL TO OTHERS
Though we cannot improve on Nature, we can channel its bounty to serve "Expressing compassion whenever we feel it" As much as we are insignificant, momentary grains of sand in the eternal, infinite expression of Isness, we are also powerful and important creators, with the possibility to use Nature's gifts for whatever purposes we choose. So we choose to employ our gifts, skills and imagination to help others, and to offer caring attention. This demonstrates the depth and sensitivity of our understanding of life's core, secret meaning - to serve another as if it were ourselves.
Rudhyar: A CHILD GIVING BIRDS A DRINK AT A FOUNTAIN |
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A child giving birds a drink at a fountain
Solicitude
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Who we are is what we get
The child is giving water to birds because she enjoys serving their needs not for anything she expects to receive in return. She is by nature solicitous so she seeks out whom to serve. This demonstrates the naive, uncompromising faith in friendly relationships that characterise the world. It is this sacred quality of solicitude that brings about a deep feeling of well-being, which we enjoy and desire. It may seem quite self-evident that self-fulfilment is our constant life-goal, yet somewhat counter-intuitive that service is a fast-track path to accomplish this goal – and of course here we are not discussing service as the superficial efforts expended either for transient popularity or ready exchange. We can experience a sense of our spiritual immortality – rooted in innocence, indestructible through time, and in complete harmony with the needs of others – if we express the same level of creative concern for others as this child, who is an image of naive optimism. This attitude inevitably leads to the enlightened discovery that in everyday life there are always fruits that arise out of the simple fact of selfhood. Just being who we are leads to fulfilment. If we do not find these fruits fulfilling it is for one reason only – that we have strayed from truly authentic self-expression. A developed person is not dependent upon outer circumstances for their inner feelings; satisfaction arises first within, and then creates life events that please us – not the reverse. This understanding is the principle marker of our true spirituality and achieved level of personal evolution; it is the very enactment of our faith that we understand this: who we are is what we get. With this level of attainment it is easy for us to cast our glance wherever we choose, and there find opportunities for joy. The truth of joy is that it is enhanced by sharing it, so we seek out occasions to serve in order to share, and therefore enhance, our joy. Equally, the extent of our responsibilities is created out of our own inner nature and sense of what needs to occur; thus our duties are self-indicated not imposed. Providing a bird-bath in our garden is then seen neither as duty nor hobby but paradoxically both, since we have to do what we want to do – yet we actually want to do what, in all conscience, we feel we have to do. |
