Libra Sabian Symbols - Transfiguration and ReconstructionSoul evolution is described sequentially by the story of 360 Sabian Symbols.
The Libra chapter has these 6 expressions: Learning, Reflection, Light-heartedness, Modesty, Charm and Understanding |
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Libra 1 - 5
Learning
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Understanding that we are an imperfect example of an ideal (1), we aspire towards that ideal by being authentic in every moment (2); thus every new moment is known to be unique and profound (3). By learning this, the deepest mystery, we form spiritual communion within our group of peers (4) and see that true teachings are shown not told (5).
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Libra 6 - 10
Reflection
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The power of visualisation - for better or for worse (6) - is fully understood only by taking responsibility for whatever is within our care (7). Having an intuitive expectation of assistance from something higher - guardian angels perhaps - whether they are people or spirits (8) stimulates in us the awareness of a chain of transmission (9), and this brings both poise and calm reflection upon the nature of life (10).
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Libra 11 - 15
Light-heartedness
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Seeing teaching as the revelation of light (11), and light-heartedness as an apt attitude for moving from unconsciousness into the light (12), we know that learning how to play (13) and also learning the wisdom of letting go (14) brings a serene realisation of the cycles of creation and destruction (15).
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Libra 16 - 20
Modesty
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The shifting of consciousness following a catastrophic loss (16) arises from our reflecting upon all we have done (17) to the point of modestly accepting these inevitable consequences of our misdemeanours (18). Our participation in collective new understandings (19) follows from a foundation laid down within traditional teachings (20).
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Libra 21 - 25
Charm
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Somewhat paradoxically, it is only by surrendering self-importance (21) and expressing compassion whenever we feel it (22) that we gain the confidence to speak out, as if crowing, to proclaim what we know to be true (23). Discovery of our own uniqueness (24), we rather charmingly are equipped to find, and indeed tactfully start looking for, the uniqueness in others (25).
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Libra 26 - 30
Understanding
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Wisdom comes from bringing together love, will and intelligence (26) and rising above daily concerns to grasp spiritual ideas (27). The dawning of awareness - that we are part of the greater Light (28) - is made known by our passion for seeking knowledge (29) and using this knowledge as a platform to develop further understanding (30).
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Further Commentary on Libra
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TRANSFIGURATION - ACTION
At this Autumnal point of the year's cycle we see the beginning of the greater darkness. Since the Spring, light has been in ascendancy and supportive of individual self-expression, and now the journey begins towards collectivisation. Through the process we eventually become aware of ourselves as part of the group consciousness of our kind. No longer a tiny speck of humanity, we identify with humanity as a whole - and this begins by identifying the form of a perfect example. The butterfly is no longer a worm and, pinned and preserved, it cannot degenerate - it is the representative archetype of all butterflies that have been transformed and learned how to fly. LEARNING
Libra 1 – 5 There is an intrinsic equivalence between beingness and meaning; we are the meaning of our lives, and there is nothing else to it. Our life purpose is to be the best possible version of our unique selves. There are two major forces that act upon us to unsettle the status quo – those of degeneration and regeneration, and we need to resist the former, and flow with the latter, in order to remain and explain exactly who we really are. This is the only game in town, and it is the ultimate adventure – so we are stimulated, challenged, attacked and supported through it all. It is indeed best to view it as a game – and yet there is nothing else more serious, or in fact less serious – life is just best played as a game. Certain laws apply, and yet there is no rule book since the directives are self-selected. Typical beliefs that people hold are that we develop skills and knowledge so as to increase our rewards, that justice eventually prevails, that love conquers all…and so on. It takes a true idealist to maintain faith in these life principles throughout all of our difficulties, and the ideals that we embrace are representations of our intuitive sense of possibility. An inner feeling tells us what we might achieve, and then it is the accomplishment of this felt potential that imbues our lives with significance. |
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TRANSFIGURATION - CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS
The mind of a realised being is a force of Nature and is certain to generate struggle and opposition in exact equal measure to its power. Thus is maintained dynamic cosmic equilibrium. The seeker learns to protect themselves, and how to regroup after a setback, taking time to reflect upon lessons learned and imperfections of approach. We always meet resistance and failures to some degree and the simple question to ask ourselves is this: 'How could I have done that better?'. Then, after a pause to relax and reflect, the eternal dance moves again into its outward expressive aspect. REFLECTION
Libra 6 – 10 One who develops true poise withstands the pressures of life and emerges with greater aplomb – but a coarse fool rarely survives life’s hard knocks. It’s tough here on earth and the inept cannot really thrive – because all of our qualities are each fairly rewarded, yet thoroughly tested. There are consequences for all of our choices and, to be beautiful and powerful negotiating with people who want different outcomes to us, it behoves us to come up with an elegant, effective and diplomatic strategy. It may be clear to us that freedom arises when we relax our power and enjoy beauty. Yet anything as vulnerable as beauty needs protection – so the power to defend is an aspect of grace. We think of course of the rose and its thorn – each is loyal to the other; they have mutuality of purpose and relevance, and they are really aspects of one another. Similarly, yet more subtly, a diplomat wears soft gloves to cover an iron fist. |
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TRANSFIGURATION - INDIVIDUAL IMPLICATIONS
In order to bring about dimensional shifts in self-awareness there is a very definite process to undertake. We take instruction, and inevitably give instruction too, yet we learn to extract from what we learn that which we find of importance. We must also find a way to lighten our minds and not get too burdened down by the heaviness of the past. The future is ours to imagine and we cannot expect joy if we are driven; we must have an inner journey too, one where feelings of lightness and freedom are celebrated. Such is the rhythm of being alive, the struggle and surrender of all existence pushing and pulling, then letting go. LIGHT-HEARTEDNESS
Libra 11 – 15 It is highly beneficial to relax and enjoy simple pleasures in beautiful places, because this is how we dissolve the darker, heavy clouds of a worried mind. The very act of perception of beauty is therapeutic, a smile heals, and love is a potent tool of joy. We are studying the law of attraction, which is an elementary life mystery – like attracts like; it may not always be self-evident, but it is known by esotericists as a universal law. So we make ourselves light in order to lighten our lives. The refinement of self is a process of mind. If we think only clear and loving thoughts then we tend to pull situations to us that are conducive to happiness. We need to associate only with empathic people, have only good intentions, expect only what supports our vision, and allow only love to inhabit the heart. This lightens our lives. Heavy feelings such as anxiety, fear, resentment and prejudiced judgements are invasions – we must cast them out. |
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RECONSTRUCTION - ACTION
To defend our vulnerabilities we build walls - as true for the ego protecting the psyche as a fortress protecting our farms and houses. The seeker travels away from such protections, entering dangerous areas of the unconscious risking breakdown, and there are breakdowns. Constant rebuilding and reworking, of personality, of belief, and of circumstances, is par for the course, and this yet will lead us to contemplative peace. To be able to effect change takes more than belligerence or calm wisdom, it requires us to be part of a new initiative that stimulates a group to act together, and to make steady progress building upon what went before rather than creating radical ruptures at the foundation level of reality. MODESTY
Libra 16 – 20 Each of the zodiac signs has its own path to knowledge, none more important than another – and all of them are essential ingredients of the cosmic pie, like jigsaw pieces that only make sense as a whole picture. The path that Libra offers is the basic law of threeness – celebrated in so many spiritual teachings. It is not the balancing but the perfection of balance that we study here. Balancing is of two-ness: now me, now you. Balance is of three-ness – because when dynamic seesaw is momentarily at rest, then all heaven breaks loose. This is the mystical ‘Hu’; this is the infinite moment when time collapses into the instant, into eternity. In this state, all is known. And all is known as One. |
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RECONSTRUCTION - CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS
In our willingness to reconstruct our lives we learn how to immerse ourselves fully into the sea of unconsciousness and bring wisdom back to life - the willingness to serve, the ability to foretell and the confidence to proclaim. We shift up a gear and our eyes are opened; we notice how the act of perception is creative. How we look is more important than what we look for or what we look at. CHARM
Libra 21 – 25 When applied to personality, the quality of charm shows as tact and consideration. The relationship between two people always involves push and pull, give and take – in fact that is what relationship is. We have both to claim and surrender for there to be any involvement. To be considerate, we try to understand what the other person wants, and needs, and take this into account as we pursue our own goals and entertainments. It is a real skill to see the better qualities in someone, and speak to these. We can recognise a potential in another and bring it into expressed reality by talking it up. People often need a potential to be recognised by someone else before they can affirm their own sense of its possibility. The charming courtesy of tact – always looking to find the best in a person – therefore can actually be magically creative, bringing dormant potential to life. It is an example of ‘glamour’, in the sense of a magician’s methodology, whereby a certain mood or atmosphere is intentionally created in order to sponsor a specific positive outcome. |
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RECONSTRUCTION - INDIVIDUAL IMPLICATIONS
The path of knowledge is a study of how to be and what to do. We may be taught that Love is the absolute idea, and yet Will is ever-present as both a distraction and as an examination. Can we? Will we? We must access transcendental states to escape the bind of duality; life is not defined by right and wrong, good and bad and we need to see that clearly. As we look we notice that we are part of something much bigger and more wondrous and we choose to participate fully in its history and future. This is what enables us to realise the difference between empty cleverness and compassionate wisdom UNDERSTANDING
Libra 26 – 30 Sufis pray to remember this state of perfection, ‘Hu’, which exists within us all, and is beyond pain and suffering. It is approached by recalling a feeling, known as ‘Ishq’, which is taught to be Divine Nostalgia – the heart-centred aching felt by one who has known and yearns again for Absolute Love. It is taught that we have all known that Love – that we were born from it and inevitably will return to it. There is a close relationship between love, beauty and harmony. Since love is ambiguously defined, often capricious, and extremely idealised, it is conceivably more reasonable to venerate beauty, and aspire towards harmony, rather than demand or expect something as transcendental as love. A pilgrimage of beauty is almost certain to succeed, and will lead inevitably to connectedness and harmony – and then with grace, love may descend upon us. If humanity is to claim its spiritual destiny and emerge from a sleeping state into awakened consciousness, we will eventually need to affirm a life of innocence and beauty, fellowship and awareness. Beauty is but a passing mood – its power to inspire awe enhanced by its transiency. Through beauty, the heart reaches out to know love – and through transience, it knows pain. We attach ourselves to that which is always shifting – and the attachment itself is responsible for sorrow, and its terrible sister, grief. Perhaps we do this for protection because we ourselves are shifting too? However, ultimately, we must come to know that both the flow, and the instant, is illusion. The ache of the grieving heart can actually be a fast-track path towards joy – if we would only surrender our fear of loss and discover the sacred mystery hidden deep within the broken heart. |
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Sabian Life JourneyOur life experiences may be expressed as a journey from Aries 1 to Pisces 30. It is easier to arrive at the understanding of those experiences by a process of reflection, looking backwards rather than forward though the zodiac cycle. We can use the previous degree to answer the question - how? - rather than the following one to answer - why?
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LIBRA 30 "Using knowledge as a platform to develop wisdom"
How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 29 "Seeking knowledge" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 28 "Dawning awareness that we are part of the greater Light" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 27 "Rising above daily concerns to grasp spiritual ideas" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 26 "Bringing together love, will and intelligence" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 25 "Looking for the uniqueness in others" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 24 "Discovery of our own uniqueness" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 23 "Speaking out what we know to be true" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 22 "Expressing compassion whenever we feel it" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 21 "Surrendering self-importance" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 20 "Following traditional teachings" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 19 "Participation in collective new understandings" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 18 "Accepting the consequences of our misdemeanours" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 17 "Reflecting upon all we have done" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 16 "Shifting of consciousness following a catastrophic loss" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 15 "Serene realisation of the cycles of creation and destruction" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 14 "Learning the wisdom of letting go" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 13 "Learning how to play" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 12 "Moving from unconsciousness into the light" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 11 "Seeing teaching as the revelation of light" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 10 "Poise and calm reflection" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 9 "Chain of transmission" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 8 "Expectation of assistance from guardian angels - whether they are people or spirits" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 7 "Taking responsibility for whatever is within our care" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 6 "The power of visualisation - for better or for worse" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 5 "True teachings are shown not told" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 4 "Spiritual communion within a group of peers" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 3 "Every moment is unique and profound" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 2 "Being authentic in every moment" How can I do that? we ask - and the response comes from LIBRA 1 "Understanding that we are an imperfect example of an ideal" |
