Sabian Symbols: Youth holding up a candle
This universal idea is best expressed through planets in
Scorpio 4 (3° - 4°)RITUAL
Candles, incense, special clothes, special occasions and defined behaviour all create the ingredients of rituals that create sacredness "Communal rituals both settle us and deepen our access to the life force" The defining of ‘our group’ is important. There are enemies who would threaten our survival and happiness and, of course, they are strangers. Not all strangers are enemies however, and we need to be able to tell which is which. We do this through the development of rituals, which also have the purpose and effect of deepening the bond between members of our group. Rebels within are also clearly identified as they always refuse to participate in certain selected rituals. These can be mundane or sacred, from celebrating certain days of the year with pancakes, chocolate eggs or roast turkey to the observation of prayer and rites to do with birth, marriage and death.
Rudhyar: A YOUTH CARRIES A LIGHTED CANDLE IN A DEVOTIONAL RITUAL |
Watch the video |
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A youth holds a lighted candle in a devotional ritual
Reliance |
To show our light we have to overcome fear
Living in the physical world presents constant challenges that press us to get to grips with quite compelling realities. The naiveté of youth comes head to head with the harsh truth of having to keep the wolf from the door. Whatever we have as a visionary life strategy will fail if it is impractical. To learn how it all works means that we have not to be self-obsessed. That is a luxury of childhood, and simply will not do for a viable independent adult life. The ability to relate to others properly is a survival requirement; it demands that we take into account the wants and needs of our friends and neighbours. Through these dealings we are tested to hold on to our essential goodness and innocence, at all costs affirming lightness of being when cynicism threatens. If we place reliance upon our own ability to do this, then others will come to rely upon us that we will always hold up a candle rather than fear and blame the darkness. Each single interaction with each and every person in each particular moment is of some consequence. On some mysterious level, a pulse is energised by all aspects of our lives, a vibration which goes out and re-echoes throughout eternity. In this way we come to know something of our immortality. In essence, nothing that was ever alive can ever die, even on the level of thought and feeling. So we raise our light to the outer world; this is done not only to proclaim but also to remember. We have to overcome fear or reluctance to show our light, since by showing it we keep it alive and even influence others to keep their light shining. A lighted candle touches our sense of sacred, it cheers and inspires people. The main thing in all this is to know how to raise up even mundane connections with situations and people. Gold can be found hidden beneath the dross of everyday life – a higher meaning that is evidence of universal, eternal, all-pervasive, spirit. It rises to the surface whenever two or more people engage with as much sensitivity to the other’s viewpoint as to their own values. The inner experience of such interactions can awaken our awareness of another reality; it is ever-present yet rarely invoked – the sense of transcendence. This aspect of life, though entirely natural and ever accessible, is nonetheless non-ordinary. The highest within us connects to the highest there is, and for a few moments we get a sense of the interconnectedness of all things throughout eternity. |
Youth holding a lighted candle
Commentary from Rochelle Beaty
A youth: purity, innocence perhaps an apprentice. Someone who is seeking spiritual knowledge and learning. A soul on a spiritual path. A lighted candle: depicts enlightenment, the light of consciousness, awakening. A glimpse of spirit. Devotional ritual: The collective power of like minds. The committed journey of learning esoteric knowledge. The youth is, individual, a soul and the ritual is, collective, many souls maybe from many lifetimes the flame spirit that connects everything into oneness. The source to enlightenment . A life journey seeking hidden knowledge and meanings. On the path to seek out and experience the mysteries in life and other realms/ dimensions. Connecting with like mind souls and seeing the oneness of everything. Integration and wholeness. Seeing the fractal of the microcosm connected to the macrocosm. Scorpio 4 is a gentle energy. Being guided by a community of like minded souls. But more importantly, being guided by ones intuition and spirit. On the flip side, being too naive and guided by unscrupulous people. Commentary from Richard Grey
No - defining is important | refusal to participate | living in the physical world | keeping the wolf from the door | survival requirement Hello - strangers Thanks - deepening bonds Goodbye - ritual, decision to always look for the best in situations and people Please - taking into account the wants and needs of others | inspiring others Sorry - overcoming fear or reluctance to show our light | raising up (making sacred) mundane connections | higher meaning Yes - awakening | transcendence | the highest within us |