Sabian Symbols: The president of the country
THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY
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This universal idea is best expressed through planets in
11th degree of Aries (10°- 11°)POWER OF SELF-DISCIPLINE
Society’s insistent desire for order stimulates the individual to develop self-control Much like forces of law and order in society controlling the lower elements, we must use a mature, disciplined ego to tame the beast within ourselves and bring to heel the instinctual and emotional nature.
Rudhyar: THE RULER OF A NATION |
The ruler of a nation
Idealisation
The President of the country |
Leaders sacrifice themselves to an ideal and suffer penalties for their imperfections
The ultimate expression of self-assurance arises only when we focus entirely upon our chosen primary value, for example honour, courage or wisdom, subordinating all other characteristics to that one purpose. To become a country’s highest representative, one has to be shaped to an extreme degree and sacrifice other aspects of self; therefore it is vital that the primary value is carefully acknowledged and is of crucial worth to the individual. To become a central and principal influence, it is not enough to be able to find a new way to spin the established wisdom and ways of your society; the deepening of personal qualities is also required. Any major life role is selected so that it can allow the fullest, broadest demonstration of whichever value we champion, so that it is fashioned and strengthened to the highest degree possible. Recognition by others is a major shaping force that moulds our qualities and characteristics to fit the exact requirements of the position. The ego is in high relief yet it serves society’s needs for leadership rather than pride as the community is lifted up by one whose own spirit is in close alignment with the group’s. The intolerant public critically challenge any behaviour that betrays community values, indicating clearly if the leader is not conforming to their ideal. IdealisationWhat follows is a study in idealisation. An ideal is not a real human quality but a philosophical concept. It is held up as an aspiration that guides people to awaken the best version attainable within them. The more emotional undercurrents of the zeitgeist incline towards expression through qualities rather than simply beliefs. Ideals not ideas. These are more enduring and speak to the hidden parts of society’s unconscious memories, and have far more impact upon the collective psyche. Rousing the people to support a new initiative is better done with tone and rhetoric rather than logical, patient explanation.
However well intended, efforts to become more assertive and realise the ideal will usually lead to vain pretence and destructive outcomes. There will always be disappointment – the ideal is after all only a dream. The leader so often gets caught up in a situation based on make-believe; it is entirely unsustainable. We must be willing to accept the disappointments and the resultant projections of others – of reproach and criticism – in the knowledge that it is the ideal itself that is being furthered, not our self-love. In fact, rather strangely, the impact of a leader, or indeed spiritual teacher, can be measured by the extent to which their supporters end up blaming them for their own denied shortcomings. A highly aware leader will be willing and able consciously to adopt the role of scapegoat in service to the community. Christ did. |
