Thursday, April 1, 2010

Lopsided Logic or Really Nifty Reasoning?

When you think of astrology, or even hear a reference to it, do you ever ask yourself, “How can something millions of miles away affect us here on Earth?” In my personal experience, I remember how my dad used to rail on and on about that very thing whenever I was foolish enough to broach the subject as a kid. He’s a good guy, don’t get me wrong; he’s just very, very strong in his opinions. And as a person born with a deep affection and fascination for the mystical, being raised by a highly cynical, firmly rooted in “reality” Scorpio father was a bit of a challenge for me on more than one occasion. (I’m sure that I knew what I was doing when I decided to hang out with him for awhile in this lifetime…I’m sure of it. After all, I love my dad, and I love a challenge. Makes perfect sense to me!)

Back then, I didn’t have the answers when those unpleasant confrontations between us would occur. Well, at least I didn’t feel empowered enough to express them effectively. He was my dad. Our roles were very clearly defined; DAD and…me. I’m pretty sure that many of you can relate. Now, I don’t claim at present to have remembered the definitive answer to that question yet, however I do have a bit more insight into it.

Okay so it can be argued that Venus, the planet of beauty in all forms, at her closest is about 26 million miles away from Earth. At her farthest, Venusian energy has to transverse 160 million miles, across and through the Sun’s dynamics no less, to reach us. Venus’s masculine opposite, and the subject of her almost constant intrigue, is about 35 million miles away from Earth at his closest, yet I can feel when his energies are amped up while he’s charging through the sign Aries, or dampened down a bit when he wanders through Pisces soon after. Sure, from our perspective these planets are spread out into the vastness of space…but perhaps from a more expansive vantage point, we can get a different outlook altogether.

Let‘s look at it this way: We’ve all been to parties where many gather who are of varying personality types, temperaments and energies. As we meander through the crowd, we stop here or there for a quick chat, hug or a joke, and then mosey on our way through. Others are doing the same, and we continue along, occasionally taking a morsel from a tray or sipping some wine as we mingle our energies with others nearby. Sometimes we linger a bit when we get a whiff of an interesting conversation, and sometimes we duck into another room fast…hoping that the person we’re trying to avoid didn’t catch us on their radar. Sometimes the party feels endless, and we start signaling to our mate to start making for the door, and other times we’re being shown the door much too soon.

One thing is certain in these situations; the overall feel of the experience. The energetic flow of a gathering is contingent on those who attend, and it’s often palpable when someone new enters the room and the general energy of the area shifts a bit. The flow of our Universe and its inhabitants can be likened to a vast gathering of energies, each body moving about at its own pace, and contributing whatever it feels inspired to offer as it passes other bodies. Take the movement of the planets, for instance. They are in a constant state of movement, and wander closer or farther away from each other as they orbit the Sun -- An astrological body, by the way, whose profound effect upon us cannot be argued. When planets come into relationship with each other, what astrologers call an aspect, they interact in specific ways and create a unique energy that permeates the Universe.

To illustrate this idea, let’s revisit Venus and Mars for a moment. (They are a fascinating pair, and make an excellent example for this particular topic.) Astrologically speaking, these planets are deeply fascinated with each other, interact dynamically, and yet each maintain their own personal sovereignty. When they are close to each other, in what astrologers call an aspect of conjuction, they are lovers engaged in a passionate interlude that inspires Venus to behave more aggressively than usual, and at the same time tends to soften Mars’s edgier nature a bit. We feel this profoundly as we are compelled to join together in steamy romantic exchanges, or when strongly attracted to each other.

However, when Venus and Mars spy each other from across the Solar System, an aspect of opposition occurs, and the energy changes dramatically. For instance, if these two happen to be getting along, the sexual tension in the place is felt by all, including us, as each planet’s energy reaches out to the other in a powerful expression of yearning. When they are not getting along, however, this energy can be confrontational as each tries to energetically “best” the other. It’s not pretty. And it’s highly contagious, as evidenced by us Earthly beings who find ourselves feeling irritated at, or overly competitive with, our significant others for reasons hard to explain. Often this combative side to the relationship between Venus and Mars can be triggered by the influence of another planet or other celestial body wandering haplessly (or not) into aspect with one or both of them.

So what about the question of distance? Well, when we consider this question in energetic terms, I think we all can agree that energy is powerful stuff. Those of us who engage in distant healing energy work can attest to the fact that the impact of energy is neither bound nor weakened by distance. Someone from across the globe can experience profound spontaneous healing when receiving energy sent by someone else with this intention. So why would this be any different with a planet? If everything has energy, and energy knows no bounds, then planetary energy is most decidedly influential upon us. And perhaps vice versa.

To expand a little bit on this idea, it’s also not the size of the source, but the intention that creates this power. Take Pluto for example. This planet has been recently “demoted” to a planetoid or some such nonsense by astronomers who decided to alter the rules a bit and tweak the criteria for what determines a planet. Whatever. I’m not buying it. As small as Pluto is, and as distant from us as it may seem, its energetic impact upon our lives is profound. (If interested in learning more about Pluto, you may wish to check the archives for a past article of mine on the “dwarf” planet that illustrates this idea in more detail.)

I invite you to pay attention to your environment here on Earth, and also beyond the scope of our atmosphere. Expand your awareness to reach farther out into the Universe and feel the flow of energy that courses around us and through us. We belong to the whole of the Universe, and our energies interact with every other body that inhabits it. Pay attention to the planetary movements and then watch the interactions of others and yourself as these energies shift. You’ll find that your experiences also shift, and tend to coincide with where the physical planets are in relation to your personal natal chart. It’s really a fascinating science!

Hey, maybe I have enough insight into my dad’s question to present it to him and invite him to consider it. Then again, maybe it’s best to just let it lie…

Namaste.

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