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Star Pearls 8*29*05
Dear friends, For centuries people have asked the question: Who am I? Long posed by artists, philosophers and spiritual thinkers, in our culture this question is commonly addressed by psychologists. In The General Theory of Love, Bay Area psychiatrists Thomas Lewis, Fari Amini and Richard Lannon present an eloquent and very readable scientific discussion on the nature of love [1]. There are stories of relationship losses and monkey mothers. They cite poets as often as research studies. Central to their work is a model of the human mind that divides the brain into three layers. The first layer is the neocortex. Literally meaning 'new bark' in Greek, this outer and largest layer of the mind is what thinks, wills, understands language and communicates. The second layer is the limbic brain of feelings and emotions. This limbic system and ability to emotionally connect with others and take care of young distinguishes mammals, including us, from all other animals. Lastly and most ancient is the reptilian brain. This is what keeps us alive. For us thinking humans it is easy to dismiss the power of the reptile mind, but it makes life much easier to not have to think to breathe or beat our hearts. We just do it. What does astrology have to say about this triune model of the mind? The first layer, the neocortex, is the Sun and Mercury. This is the self that says I am and I think. This is the part of the mind that coordinates voluntary action. We want breakfast, we get up and make it. While we are eating we talk to our partner and think about the day ahead. All these movements and thoughts are coordinated by the neocortex. It powers abstract thought and language. In astrology, the I am is the Sun and the I think is Mercury. All that we do, all our action, is the Sun. As one act leads to the next, as one step has consequences that inform the next step, the sum total of our actions is the walkway of our soul, the Sun. The thoughts that accompany our action, and even thoughts of actions we might or might not take, is Mercury. Doing and thinking are related, just as Mercury is closest to the Sun. As all students of the human condition know, this I am and I think is but a part of the self. What about I feel? This limbic mind is the Moon and Venus. The very keyword of the Moon is feelings, and what we feel usually revolves around our desires and attractions, the meanings of Venus. This is why the Moon and Venus are so important to understand the deeper motivations and desires of the self. Both Indian astrology and traditional Western astrology consider the Moon more important than the Sun. Our feelings are more primal than our thoughts, and what we think usually springs from this deeper place, not the other way round. We also see Mercury's role as messenger with its ability to perceive various layers of the mind - our thinking translates our feelings (Moon) and desires (Venus) into action (Sun). Venus shows our pleasures, affinities and loves. We are attracted to what resonates. This dynamic of desire and resonance creates our consumption, creativity and relationships. As the authors point out, the ability have relationships is due to the limbic mind. This is why contacts with the Moon and Venus are so important in relationships. It's great to have Sun contacts, but this is not the end all of deep attraction. The reptilian mind is the nodes of the Moon, otherwise fittingly known as the Head and Tail of the Dragon. Our default assumption of life, our basic identity before thought, is the South node of the Moon, the Dragon's Tail. The authors write: "The reptilian brain contributes the background tone to emotional life. That ancient brain becomes the filament upon which the later brains string the resplendent, multicolored crystals that merge into the mosaic of our emotional lives." This is a perfect description of the Dragon's Tail. It is the basis. Indian astrology ties the South node to past life karma. If you don't want to go there, consider it genetic. The South node figures prominently in relationship synastry of all kinds - lovers, friends, parents, teachers. There is a primal, unspoken, even unsought connection that goes beyond feelings (Moon) and attraction (Venus). We feel these people are meant to be in our lives. But life moves forward; it is not static. As long as we are alive, we have thirst for moving ahead. This push forward is the North node. It is a primal calling. We may not know why we are pulled in a certain direction, but we are undeniably called, and so we go. Being is the South node; becoming the North node. When we have contacts to the North node in relationships, this is an area where the other person is helping to advance our lives. What of the other planets: Mars, Jupiter and Saturn? Mars represents our conquests and pursuits. And while these certainly inform our self-image (Sun) we cannot really say that our new job or personal best on the bike are our *selves*. Jupiter, planet of abundance and wisdom, uplifts the self in all ways. Are riches our *selves*? Not really. Are teachings? Only to the extent they change our feelings (Moon), desires (Venus, thinking (Mercury) and action (Sun). Saturn generally represents restrictions, the karmic obstacles and challenges on our way. While we can learn more deeply from Saturn than any other planet, we do not say that our challenges are our very selves. Back to the map. If you asked the authors of A General Theory of Love how to understand how the various layers of the mind are working in a certain individual, they might recommend a brain scan. This will set you back a grand or two. And you get a snapshot of just that moment. There are no tools to say what will be happening next year or even tomorrow. But there is another way. Time tested, yet 'low tech.' Spiritually advanced, but scientifically unproven. Right in tune with the latest in neuro-science, but overlooked by the system. It is astrology! What is our life? How do we think? What do we feel? What attracts us? What direction lies our path? This is the essence of astrology. Next week: How to learn astrology for yourself. [1] Amazon link: http://tinyurl.com/9ajjy
* I'm at Samovar
for mini-readings on Monday nights from 7-9 pm. Ask any question and ponder your
life with fine tea. NEW - Auto sign up! If you like what you read, sign up here: * Wandering Stars - the planets * * * MAY ALL BE AUSPICIOUS * * * |
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