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Scientists and other materialists disparage the validity of astrology because it does not conform to their methodology; yet esotericists awaken the part of mind that goes beyond limits of rationality – as of course does love, genius and imagination. The learning process is not especially esoteric at all; it conforms to normal learning practices. We need to apply ourselves to study what others think, then to find new interpretations and understandings and bring our own knowledge into some useful application. We trust that our point of view is valid, even if it contradicts accepted ideas – despite the danger of affirming a foolish understanding simply through lack of skills and insight. We address this point here, by offering a way to track the transit of slower moving planets through the individual degrees and keep a diary of the events and feelings we encounter. I suggest that at first we include only Saturn – which crosses a few degrees per month – and Uranus, Neptune and Pluto – which typically show in only one or two.
In order for this process to be instructive it is necessary to come to terms with each of the variables: a) The planets’ core meanings in our lives; b) The qualities of each stage of a transit; c) The significance of personal events; d) The mystery of the Sabian Symbol for each degree. Stages of a transit A planet appears to move both forward and backwards, and so typically crosses the same degree three times, although it can be once or five times. Here are the nine stages typical of a transit. Stage 1 Approach Forewarning Stage 2 First hit Shock Stage 3 Moving away Assimilation Stage 4 Retrograde approach Reminder Stage 5 Second hit Echo Stage 6 Going back Revision Stage 7 Second approach Preparation Stage 8 Third hit Realization Stage 9 Moving on Application
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PLUTO AND GEOPOLITICS
I wonder whether Democracy will manage to survive the Trump era? In the short term, even measured in decades not years, there will be other more dramatic causalities of his Administration. We see now how nuclear war is more of a threat, how racism is on the rise along with firming up boundaries and accentuating national identity, and we also see growing stronger the corporate independence and supremacy that is arising out of this right wing surge. Pluto is in evidence in all of this. It is a power-play at the highest level of statehood, nationality, religion and social structuring: it is in Capricorn. Is Trump a Capricorn figure? Yes. He is a businessman billionaire and he wants to sit on the highest seat and be recognized as the best. Is he Pluto too? Assuredly so, he is ruthless, effective and entirely indifferent to human suffering. I am thinking to myself - where is Puck? Puck is a perfect image for Pluto in Capricorn, a goat-god, known as the Devil by Christians and yet with modern, alternative thinkers seen more as Robin Hood or even the anarchist aspect of Christ. Puck is the amoral trickster, who is selfish, highly sexual and self-concerned. Sound like Trump to you? If I were a goat-god in the heavens, I would insinuate myself into Trump's psyche and be very mischievous. I would also make sure I took the opportunity to nudge humanity out of its stubborn fixation with Democracy. It is time for a new over-arching governance principle; Democracy is outdated. It certainly was a good idea when compared to what it replaced, which was the tyranny of kings and such like but now we have insufficient power to resist being taken over by the Corporate Dragon. We need to end Democracy and, since it has proven itself unable to prevent a truly defective person like Trump being allowed to sit on the World Throne, it must die off and be replaced by something better - something that protects us better from the lies of power-possessors and the greed of corporations and, most importantly, defends the principle of Justice. Trump is a criminal and possibly mentally ill and his inner Puck aspect will bring him down, he will do something remarkably stupid and fall in consequence; and with him I believe Democracy itself will begin its timely slide. We were expecting some shocking news in accordance with the imminent ingress of Uranus into Taurus. What about Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran? The deal was basically this: Iran will not take Uranium out of the Earth if the West removes sanctions (which allows more financial security to Iran). Uranium, Earth, Financial security...all appropriate keywords.
Even Britain, let alone less USA-aligned countries, with this is suddenly rebelling against US authority. If this rebellion promotes a trade war between Europe and USA (which it might if Europe and UK do not re-instigate sanctions against Iran when USA does), then the US will have to fight that war on two fronts - since a powerful, motivated adversary, China, is already in play. USA may find itself unable to win such a war, and in the end major military wars are decided on who has won the trade wars and can command the most resources. (We remember the Boston Tea Party, a trade war at first that led to a real one, and the Opium wars between UK and China...a trade war became real. Syria is the same probably. The winners were those who had the best weapons and more of them, paid for by winning a trade war.) I'd be interested to hear from others on what they see as the aspects of our times that suggest Neptune in Pisces - since 2011 - I have read that binge watching of TV series has become important, which seems in the right ballpark but rather trivial in a way. What major shifts in awareness are taking places in terms of the meaning of life, the universe and everything?
Look at my post for 17 April for past events in history ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Picking up on the comments... Of the points raised, some seem connected at a meta level: Air B&B popularity Mindfulness apps' explosion in popularity Awareness of the oceans - too much plastic and melting icecaps Gender and sexuality questions All of these relate to boundaries in some way. An Englishman's home was once his castle and is now taken over by paying guests; mindfulness has as its ultimate goal the end of all separation; oceans are being spoilt by an invasive force (consumerism at root), fish are dying off; women and men were thought once to have well-defined sexual orientation and now its a bit more cloudy... ...we could add a few more topics. For example in Ireland there is currently a hoo-hah about whether women have the right to terminate pregnancy, Zuckerberg is answering awkward questions about privacy (at long last), and how about microchip implants? Scientist Mark Gasson whose team demonstrated how a computer virus could wirelessly infect his implant and then be transmitted on to other systems. Gasson reasoned that with implanted technology the separation between man and machine can become theoretical because the technology can be perceived by the human as being a part of their body. Possibly the most poignant political issue of the day has to do with borders too - Brexit and the election of Trump. In both cases many lies were told and the result seemed to shock and even dismay the winners who had no sense that the need for strong borders was such an emotional question for the voters. It's hard to come up with a more obvious astrological feature than Neptune in Pisces when discussing what dissolves boundaries - perhaps spiritual teachers ought to balance their message a bit? Appropriate separation is good for you! MAY 7 - JUNE 4
Release: Comedian entertaining a group 2nd degree of Aries (1°- 2°) Life is the mirror that shows us who and what we are Intuitively, the feeling of having our own distinctive mind-set of beliefs, needs, dreams and attitudes is subjective proof of our uniqueness of identity. Philosophers may suggest that this is an illusion born to form a particular relationship with our environment – although most assuredly, it has meaning to us. To the soul, it actually matters very little what role we choose to play out but, probably because we seek self-reassurance, we repeatedly rehearse certain aspects of personality. These are naive attempts to experience life on our own terms. We can meaningfully identify ourselves as either the comedian or the group – entertaining or being entertained – yet simultaneously release ourselves from the idea that either position is the more relevant. MORE APRIL 17 - MAY 8
Realization: Seal embraces woman rising from waters 1st degree of Aries (0°- 1°) Knowledge of polarity awakens the power to create something out of nothing As soon as duality occurs, we see the essence of relationship between things – the one is a tad more pushy, the other a degree more responsive. Taoism explains this phenomenon, which underpins all manifested realities. We are contemplating nothing more than the straightforward and intuitively pleasing arising of sex in its absolute essential form. The potential of space to give way has an awakening effect upon spirit to enter and express itself. The life-force of spirit naturally reaches wherever it feels that its desire-nature will be accommodated, and indeed meets an enthusiastic and willing response. MORE MAR 19 - MAY 28
Expediency: A general accepting defeat gracefully 22nd degree of Capricorn (21°- 22°) Having loyalty to long range ends, we can transform setbacks with grace of spirit and self-discipline The general who gracefully accepts an inevitable defeat is an emblem of expediency. Real power comes not from winning everything, but from level-headed practicality made effective through self-discipline and grace of spirit. MORE APRIL 27 - MAY 15
Reliability: A duck pond and its brood 30th degree of Aries (29°- 30°) When we trust in the cosmic order, then everything falls into place The image is of a very ordinary event: animals finding an environment in which to raise young. Yet a person is born to greater things. Of course we need to become a reliable agency of natural processes like nesting, breeding and feeding, but any tendency to accept such a life as meaningful is evidence of complacency, and is wastage of human potential. Humans are said to be part angel, part animal. The angelic connects us to the Absolute, whereas the animal nature teaches us about fight, flight, food and sex. Competence in a human must surely then have to do with finding a workable balance that acknowledges both parts of our make-up. MORE MAY 6 - AUG 2
Celebration: An Easter promenade 17th degree of Pisces (16°- 17°) The image we show the outer world characterizes the inner self At one end we have New Orleans’s Mardi Gras, and at the other, various well-to-do Christians in their Sunday best – it’s all show. Typical human beings have the propensity to define themselves in a communal setting – by how they dress, and how they behave, differently from the rest. This is more than the satisfaction of our need for attention, and serves a real and important function by bringing into conscious awareness a clearly-defined and uniquely expressive self-image. In a way we are idealising ourselves by dressing up – and thus we gain insights about the ideal. The image we present towards the outer world characterizes our inner, and more hidden, sense of self. MORE MAY 2 - 26
Attunement: An angel carrying a harp 9th degree of Capricorn (8°- 9°) Heaven is a state of grace wherein all are together in cosmic attunement There is an overall coherence to life and it is like the harmony in music, in which each individual part is essential – and each added strand of resonant melody enhances the whole piece. MORE |
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