Sabian Symbols: An empty hammock
AN EMPTY HAMMOCK.
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This universal idea is best expressed through planets in
Aries 18 (17°- 18°)RESPECTING NATURAL RHYTHMS
All living things vibrate – struggle and surrender is life’s clear message "Tuning in to natural rhythms" All life is rhythmic, and our personal long-term well-being and effectiveness depends upon our ability to find and practise whatever rhythm works for us. It is as inappropriate to be constantly active as it is to be constantly inactive or passive. Failure to understand this leads to a poor condition of life.
Rudhyar: AN EMPTY HAMMOCK STRETCHED BETWEEN TWO TREES |
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An empty hammock stretched between two trees
Rumination
An empty hammock
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Two equal and opposing forces exist: pure impulse and conditioned response
Contemplation is the first step towards inspiration; time spent ruminating can actually be very productive. An active person needs to set aside time just for being, or lose a sense of how they feel. Down-time is required for a healthy psyche – so it is better to plan for it and make it serve, rather than disrupt outer reality. Life throws up an almost constant barrage of difficulties and most people have absolutely no idea why; others take time to lie on their hammocks and ruminate on matters. Our difficulties are not thrown at us by a mischievous or cruel set of gods to spoil our joy, nor do they need to be an unsolvable puzzle. We can come to terms and gain sufficient insight to cope and improve but only if we give some thought to what is going on, otherwise we are fated to re-live the same issues repeatedly on a constant cyclical treadmill. With poise, we find peace and good conscience, so we find greater awareness of the conflicting polarities within us. In fact, this is the process whereby we form relationship, as we strive to find a good fit between the inner and outer inclinations in life. The urge to balance is the motivation towards conscious relationship. By reaching a state of inner reconciliation, we become wiser and more capable of organising adjustments in our situations. Through reflection, we find that disharmony arising can actually better be reconciled within if we remember the integrity of our being. To bring a sense of balance requires the heart to become involved, which typically is easier when we slow down since if the heart is not still external lack of harmony arises. ImpulsesWe have impulses; to always deny them is to deny life – and yet to always allow them is to deny the civilising processes of self-control. Here is the knife-edge of self-definition, the crux-point of identity. This is the frontier of self. It is not enough to refine our personal vision; we must also consider group consciousness. ‘What is the collective vision of this time and place – and how does my unique self-expression give greater glory to that?’
Personal freedom is an absolute imperative, as strong an urge as any other; it cannot be denied – it will not be thwarted. And yet the self requires a society, or it is nothing. So the advanced thinker envisions a society wherein each individual’s vision is aligned with, and supportive of, society’s collective vision. Self-adequacy is maximised through an absolute dismissal of any compulsion of society’s conditioning. We may not understand the purpose of conditioning, nor indeed why others conform while we reject – but the intuitive mind doesn’t need such explanations. Life is always subject to our perception, re-interpretation and influence. We cannot dodge it – the best we can do is optimise it according to our own sense of rightness. |
An empty hammock
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Commentary from Mara
We each have our own natural rhythm which encompasses all aspects of living. Active and inactive are equally important within this rhythm, both for mind and body. Giving body and mind ‘down time’ is essential for effective carrying out of activities. |
