Celestial bodies we observe as stars are known poetically as ‘Flowers of the Sky”. As earth flowers bring special qualities, colours and influences to our earthly days so the stars provide us with a focus on beautiful lights, qualities and thoughts of a more rarefied spiritual life.

In some cultures it is believed that once a virtuous person dies physically, the soul takes its place amongst the billions of lights in the heavens – an idea that is beautiful and very appealing to those who suffer bereavement.

Because there has always existed a natural tendency to associate the light of the heavens with the divine, with spiritual blessings and grandeur, it is understandable that the opposite qualities are associated with the fiery core of matter of our lowly earth. So we are in the habit of considering heaven as ‘up there’ and hell as ‘down below’.  But in this, our own concepts as we seek universality must mature to arrive at our own level of understanding.

As we study astrology and astronomy and study the “Flowers of the Sky” we have the opportunity to inject beauty into our purpose in seeking greater beauty beyond in the far flung, mysterious and impersonal reaches of space.

The more thoroughly we enter into the study of esoteric Astrology, the nearer we approach the realm of the Angelic hosts or Devas about whose evolution humanity knows so little. Although it lies at the root of all things connected with both science and religion and is inherent in the biblical teachings, we generally possess only vague ideas about a spiritual kingdom parallel to our material one.

Ancient astrologers appear to have made a special study or at least to have had deeper understanding of this evolution of angelic beings to the extent of recognition that it runs side by side with the human world, although invisible to our physical senses. The knowledge is encapsulated in what has been handed down to us in the teachings of the Five Elements of Nature connected with the signs of the Zodiac and identified as Ether , Air, Fire, Water and Earth.

Modern astrologers confirm the usefulness of this classification of the kingdoms of natural elements and have rediscovered the inner meaning of these divisions in connection with the types of matter through which the modifications of consciousness are constantly working from the gross material to the ethereal.

Nature’s creative forces are at work through a host of intelligent entities belonging to the 7 great planetary spheres and the 7 fold spectrum colours and energies of pure Light from the subtlest spheres down to the lowest grades of matter.

The fact that there is a great evolution beyond the human one in which there are grades of these Beings or Angels, from the mighty archangels down to the minor elementals should surprise no one. All religions teach that the work of Creation began with the calling into existence of a vast host of intelligent beings of varying power and authority into whose care was entrusted the special work of guiding and controlling the activities of Nature according to the Divine Will.

If we could look into the angelic world we would be amazed at the wonderful evolution that is going on in a realm as real and as important as all the other divisions of Nature such as those we humans are more conscious of, namely the mineral, vegetable, animal and human kingdoms.

As we develop greater sensitivity of sight that in some people can extend into clairvoyance that allows them to perceive these subtle beings, from the tiny fairy agents to the great Devas, our acceptance of this spiritual or ethereal kingdom must grow.

It may be that some technological instrumentality is developed to allow visual demonstration of these mystical beings as a reality to us and upon whom we are dependent, although unaware.

In time we must come to accept their existence and to recognize them as great benign intelligences, free of personal human ego, and dedicated in their role of assisting in the realization of the Universal Plan.

There are also the natural affinities and antipathies between people of different signs because of diametrically opposed points of view, of themselves and of the universe around them. Awareness of the fundamental differences allows choices for contact with or avoidance of some personality types.

So, make a start and consider both the virtues and the faults of your Astrological sign and determine your first Self Analysis through careful consideration of these aspects of yourself, knowing that a fair degree of this exercise will be shared with others born under your Sun Sign.

Of the 12 Zodiacal signs, your birth sign is the sign the Sun was in at the moment of your birth. However, often it occurs that someone is born during the time of transition from one sign to another in the natural cycle of the zodiac. This takes place between the 21-22^nd day of each month by our western calendar. In this case we need to check the degree of the Sun’s position in order to determine if your home sign is in the latter degrees of Aries, for instance, or in the first degree of the next sign, Taurus. However, it is often simply perceived that if we are born ‘on the cusp’ as described, we will naturally partake of the features of both signs.

It is stressed that our birth sign is only the first of the ingredients in one’s unique recipe of qualities. After this must come identification of the sign rising above the horizon at the moment of our birth; what constellations and influences were in the mid-heaven as we took our first breath, as well as what planets or stars were setting at this moment.  All of these present further paths for your exploration of factors that have a powerful influence upon your nature and circumstances.

The strengths which are indicated as potentials in our Astrological sign must be exercised and utilized in some constructive manner until we learn to express the energies to a positive outcome – of assistance to ourselves and to our fellow human beings.

Over time, each of us is required to nurture our full potential and learn to direct all the energies without exception.

Astrology teaches us that the personality is the natural soil in which we cultivate our life energies.  The seeds of all human sins and virtues are our inheritance from the family of mankind.  It is our freedom of choice that allows us to select the qualities we wish to cultivate or to eliminate from the garden of our character until we feel at ease within ourselves. Then we are most likely to feel able to accept others who do not share our own approach to life and yet remain true to our own inner values.

Human lifetimes rather readily encompass repeated actions, earnings, and lifetime financial figures that we can assess if we choose – whether it is getting out of bed, numbers of meals, sporting participation, hours of training or practice of crafts or skills and so on but usually everything, including our bank balance, involves hundreds, thousands, rarely millions and only occasionally could a miser be able to sit down and count his trillions!

The same lack of elasticity of imagination shows in us also, as very few of us can handle considerations of atoms, and nanoparticles as do the scientists involved in the microscopic worlds in their work.

Regarding the human populations in the countries of the world we have had to become more elastic however, to clearly perceive the relationship between the different groups in the well populated and in the sparsely inhabited areas, as we face the fact that the global population continues to increase worldwide.

However, grasping numbers and sizes in the third dimension is relatively easy compares with the more subtle aspects of distance, time and life energies of the cosmos where we have to move into another mental faculty in order to focus, and this is difficult.

How many enjoy the exercise in thinking of the number of grains of sand on all the beaches of the planet?

Or can cope with the knowledge that for thousands of years civilizations have come and gone without material evidence of their knowledge or existence?

Or that there are as many cells in the human brain as the stars in the heavens?

Or that a country can be billions of dollars in debt?

Or that there are minute worlds where man can manipulate atoms and that human science has had to develop miniscule instruments in order to do so?

But we must continue to exercise the faculties that permit us to understand even one iota of what human life is demonstrating to us as well as appreciating the natural miracles that exist without our intervention.

If we can move a little towards understanding some factors  that are within our range and reserve a sense of wonderment in areas we cannot grasp, we may gradually learn to cope with the recognized world that appears ‘real’ to us as well as the life that extends but in which we may feel we have no part.

Here are a few facts that may be of relevance or not to your interests and your ability to grasp their importance. These items have just recently appeared in our news reports in Australia -

Australian medical exports amounted to $4 billion in one year.

Earth has 8.7 million biological species – others claim up to 100 million.

On March 25, NASA’s Swift orbital telescope captured a surge of X-rays from deep space, disgorged by what was clearly an immensely powerful source – a “supermassive” black hole with a mass a million times that of our sun, but this is relatively small.  Other black holes exist with a mass of more than a billion suns!

And finally, who amongst us can sincerely relate to galaxies that are thousands of light years away?

Or what do we understand is a ‘light year’ that involves distance and time?

…………………

Compared with the expansion of consciousness needed for these exercises, our dear Earth and our daily life seem very cosy.

The study of our planet and our neighbouring ones in our own Solar System acquires a new attraction through a more comfortable demand upon our ability to comprehend the magnificent but immense spheres as well as the minute and miraculous.

Spiritual aspiration is synonymous with a desire for Goodness. It is generated by a desire to be good, to become attuned to all Goodness. It is allied to Beauty and a yearning for harmony or a desire to be beautiful through attunement to universal Beauty. The spirit is best represented symbolically as Light and a desire to radiate light and truth and to become attuned to Universal Truth and understanding of life. In total our spiritual aspiration seeks to express the human capability to radiate in some measure the qualities of Goodness, Beauty, Light and Truth for the benefit of Life itself. We seek to fan to its fullness the light of our intelligence and to express in the life of action, reflections of the creative qualities of the supreme Source of Light Itself.

As all life evolves, so the spirit of man evolves also. If our journey through the thousands of lifetimes aims towards developing a ‘wiring’ of our brain and intelligence for better transmission of light and life it would seem then that there is a long term purpose for our searching and striving. The intensity of light or intelligence channelled through our hearts and minds could be seen as a measure of this.

As the concept of the old gods provided reminders of the facets and diverse qualities within spiritual nature and spirituality itself in past civilizations, we are fortunate to have before us the wondrous powers and influences of the celestial bodies and our closest neighbours, the planets, who share with us the great light of our central Sun.

For decades those who were receptive to the spiritual forecast regarding great natural upheavals and changes to herald era are now convinced we are in the middle of these changes that will present us not only with ‘climate change’ alterations in temperature but with volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, mud slides, torrential rains, floods, snowstorms, hurricanes and bushfires. Increasing extreme weather patterns are here and becoming more difficult, even in Australia, a continent that is used to flood and fire and famine, the last is giving some cause for concern because of the extent of crop losses recently. Naturalists are anxious about the numbers of species that have become extinct over the last century.

Whatever the suggested and acknowledged causes of these happenings throughout the world, we are becoming alert to the fact that Nature has big changes on the agenda, and bigger ones to come if predictions are accurate. We should all anticipate changes that are beyond the changes that technology and human activity has brought about. These are changes directed by Nature, the supreme and overwhelming power that can create, and also shake planets.

Understanding that changes are evolutionary events in Nature will allow us to accept and to face whatever events occur in a spirit of love and gratitude towards our tenure on beautiful Earth, and on behalf of all humanity, offer an apology for all our wrongdoing during our residence.

]]> http://www.spirit-of-astrology.com/earth-becoming-intolerant/feed 0 http://www.spirit-of-astrology.com/complex-human-nature http://www.spirit-of-astrology.com/complex-human-nature#comments Fri, 22 Oct 2010 01:41:00 +0000 admin http://www.spirit-of-astrology.com/complex-human-nature It would seem that the utilization and expression of our individual elements in our character is directed by our free will and it would be good to believe this simple attitude is all that is involved.

However, we all experience inner conflicts through contrary impulses with one part of our nature pressing for one thing and another driving us in an opposite path. This forces us to make conscious and deliberate choices of free will. But when there are internal motivations that are either of strong subconscious and often self serving properties, for instance, they may overcome any balancing influence of our consciousness that speaks of caution or of consideration of others. This is one example that often results in selfishness directing our decision or action.  If on the other hand our nobler consciousness is inclining us towards selfless action and is extremely strong, it may overcome the lesser and produce a more generous outcome.

We generally know when our inner choices are wise when we feel psychological comfort and free of any nagging of our conscience.

But the human life experience involves the exercise of finding solutions to the many energies, abilities, mental attitudes and emotions which are components in the nature of each of us.  We all make our personal effort to do this in diverse ways with varying degrees of success.

To many of us the astrological factors in our horoscope identify some of the major energy conflicts that are components inherent in our nature at the start of our life.  Once identified by our conscious mind it is possible to modify or change our responses within the framework of our personality culture.  If we have lived well and wisely we could anticipate that at the conclusion of our life our nature will have become simpler to better reflect the qualities we value most.

We can begin to simplify and integrate our nature now, if we consider the following……

To consciously choose responses, reactions and our manner of expression that is appropriate and in accordance with our vision and purpose

We need a clear vision in our minds – our own desired ‘self image’ to inspire us

Best to know the ‘tools’ we have to work with by understanding the prominent astrological components in our nature – the harmonies and the difficulties

There is no recipe for constructing a perfect human nature – there are only principles. If the natural principles and disciplines are followed each of us will feel greater affection, contentment and inner peace.

With the blending of all the best within us we are likely to feel more self respect, like ourselves more and have increased understanding and respect for others.

Life will begin to be freer of complexities to seem a simpler and more joyful experience as we feel centred at the controls and in familiar company with our friendly planets, zodiacal signs, sun, moon and the starry heavens that light our way.

The basic symbol used for each zodiacal sign is still in use today, although there have been minor changes over time.

Aries – the Ram

This is drawn to represent the horns of the ram designed to represent the power of the militant fighter and leader who depicts the dogged courage and energetic force of the planet Mars – the pioneer.

Taurus – the Bull

Shows the harmonious combination of the circular sun with the crescent moon as its crown – this was associated with the earth power of the bull as well as the goddess of all nurturing qualities including the arts and beauty – with Venus its ruler.

Gemini – the Twins

Shows twins depicted as separate entities but united by a line above and below to show the dual nature that is characteristic of its influence upon the mind – Mercury is its planetary ruler.

Cancer – the Crab

The sign is created by two small circles, each with a tail and fitting together in a way symbolic of the shy crab or as some depict, of two spermatozoa. Each circle describes the moon phases to illustrate the emotional influence of this sign ruled by the Moon.

Leo – the Lion

This sign has changed somewhat over time when the circle representing the Sun, the ruler of this sign was more dominant but the mane of the lion, king of the beasts, remains under royal influence of the Sun.

Virgo – the Virgin

The universal M sign of the spiritual mother or feminine principle is here to represent the nurturing of all things of value in thought and studies. The energy is magnetic and introvert and associated with the purity of maidenhood. Mercury is its ruler.

Libra – the Scales

Representing equilibrium, balance and justice and the scales by which law is administered – still is retained in modern legal symbolism. Venus is its ruling planet.

Scorpio – the Scorpion

Again the M sign of the masculine sex symbol of extrovert expression and a reminder of the inherent danger in the use of sexual energy for self gratification instead of perceived as a sacred trust for creativity. Once considered that Mars is ruler – now generally considered to be Pluto.

Sagittarius – the Archer

The design is always an attempt to show half human, half animal – a generous combination of qualities that show an influence demanding choices between earthly pursuits and the heavenly goal of his arrow – Jupiter is its expansive ruler

Capricorn – the Goat

The ram’s horn and the curves that show tangled tusks of the mountain goat that can climb up to the heights of ambition should it keep free of entanglements. It indicates the power to overcome problems ever seeking to be of service – it is ruled by Saturn

Aquarius – the Water Bearer

Usually there is a little confusion here. Once water was considered the traditional power but now it is seen rather as electrical as we witness the gradual alteration from two horizontal waving lines to the vertical – Uranus the planet is its ruler for the Aquarian New Age

Pisces – the Fishes

Two curved crescent moons back to back and bound by a horizontal line indicates the emotional life and restraints of this zodiacal sign that allows supreme sacrifices to be made through selflessness –the planet Neptune is its ruler.

Libra has the sign of the scales symbolizing this focus upon balance and justice and many who are attracted to the legal profession or in an environment where they can satisfy their refined aesthetic sense of decoration and proportion.

Each Libra dominated personality will have a romantic streak and a need to share in marriage or in friendships, on an equal footing in social life. Their strong values about marriage usually result in idealistic hopes of a faithful and trusting relationship that will last ‘for ever and ever’. This wonderful love relationship that endures may be rare but is most likely to involve members of Libra’s starry influence.

Love, balance and beauty are the harmonious gifts from the planet Venus that rules this sign.

It is hoped that all who are blessed by these wonderful qualities will find plentiful planetary energies to fulfil them or be able to maintain them by withstanding any influence that threatens their expression, both in the outer material world as well as the inner being.

Libra ruled people have the opportunity to channel love, peace and harmony and so make a quiet but positive contribution towards our future state of peace and brotherhood of our planet.

The segment that touches the horizon from below on the left hand side, is the Rising Sign that occupies the first house. In their natural sequence, and going anti-clockwise, the rest of the twelve zodiacal signs follow to find their placement.

When beginning to search for indications about yourself, it is of course best to do so in consulting a profession and experienced astrologer, one who has had some years of study of the subject.  However, even with elementary knowledge, we can learn a few points if we become familiar with the traditional meanings, qualities and circumstances related to these twelve areas of the heavens and the planets that occupied them at our time of birth.

This map registering our Natal Chart influences remains a constant reference throughout our lifetime, although of course must be changed and modified as time goes by and we ourselves determine our life course and make personality changes.

The First House will indicate a strong factor regarding our body, general appearance and type of personality expression.

Not only the zodiacal sign (your Rising Sign) that is coming above the horizon at your time of birth but also any planet in that 30 degree segment of the circle will influence interpretation and so must also be considered. For example, if your Rising Sign happens to be Aries which is strong and wilful, and you also have the planet Mars situated in that sign, you will be bound to be a very active or even combative person, and your appearance will tend to be dark and body slim. There will be an element in your nature that may be either courageous and strong in adversity, or you may express it differently in an aggressive, selfish tendency.

As Astrology is a science that deals with energies and its language is not one that claims to judge human choices, none but the finest astrologers will make prediction concerning any individual’s ultimate decisions or outcomes.

So we must approach self analysis through our chart as just a discovery of one piece in the jigsaw after another as we seek for the complete picture that represents us.

Second House (going anti-clockwise, remember) is an indication of your type of possessions, material estate, your investments – finances – building – collecting -physical destiny or karma -  inherent good fortune – emotions – desires

Third House by its ruler and planet will show your intellectual interests and studies, or lack of same and your inclinations to travel in your mind as well as physically- brothers and close relatives- early schooling – writing – speech – adaptability- short journeys -electronic age education and interests – activity – intellectual talents, wit

Fourth House is your home or place of security, early upbringing and comfort zone -your home – parents- domestic situations- real estate and property-home life- inheritance -environment – harmonious factors in life- also family matters and environment in latter years – inherited tendencies

Fifth House points to your choice of pleasures – sexual appetites -creative talents – entertainment- offspring – children – speculation – risk taking- gambling – education – teaching of all kinds – disappointments in friendship – or regarding children

Sixth House relates to matters of health and good or bad indicators may tell of any weaknesses – service – dedication – devotion to duty – work- sense of responsibility-nursing – medical – rectification – adjustments – healing – relationships with family aunts and uncles

Seventh House shows partnership in marriage or in business enterprises and is important when considering any wisdom that astrology may offer regarding compatibility issues… (before any commitment is best!) spouse – marriage – partnerships – individuality – enemies -sharing bonds – public in general – litigation – contracts and agreements

Eighth House will register your type of long term life path and any material or intellectual legacies you may inherit – matters related to death – endings and finalities -regeneration- payments-losses – fatalities –consciousness -  reflections on meaning of life and seeking answers

Ninth House is the area to look for your innate philosophy and religious or spiritual beliefs and whether you have any intensity or lack of interest in deeper issues – long journeys and travels of the mind – aspiration -imagination – expansion -  philanthropy – legal profession- visionary -science

Tenth House points to career and your success, reputation and acclaimed status in the world- worldly achievements – citizenship – honour – profession – reputation- work – standing in the community – power in the social order – public affairs

Eleventh House points to our enduring friendships and our social inclinations- ambitions – altruism – sympathies – sense of brotherhood- step children – social affiliations – attitude towards people – inner hopes and wishes

Twelfth House It is the area that tells of loneliness and suffering- secrets- inhibitions-negative karma – any withdrawal from the world – exiles – hurt by secret enemies.  It deals with the restricting factors in circumstances, failures, limitations and difficulties.