I recall, from the times I read and contributed to a couple of astrology message boards, a conversation about transcending astrology - or transcending one's natal chart. I'm not into evolutionary astrology, and I suspect it 's from that genre the idea of this type of transcendance originates.
I could never quite grasp how one could, or would wish to, transcend something that is so entirely a part of self as the natal chart, unless one had an unhealthy dose of self-hatred. A person might wish to learn how to deal with a difficult placement or transit, but transcend? I don't see it.
What's the opposite of transcendance?
Immanence, derived from Latin in manere = to remain within.
Transcendance literal meaning (from Latin) = climbing or going beyond.
Can we "go beyond" what we essentially are? We can put it to optimum use, but that's not transcending it.
George Harrison's song Within You Without You talks about another kind of transcendance:
I could never quite grasp how one could, or would wish to, transcend something that is so entirely a part of self as the natal chart, unless one had an unhealthy dose of self-hatred. A person might wish to learn how to deal with a difficult placement or transit, but transcend? I don't see it.
What's the opposite of transcendance?
Immanence, derived from Latin in manere = to remain within.
Transcendance literal meaning (from Latin) = climbing or going beyond.
Can we "go beyond" what we essentially are? We can put it to optimum use, but that's not transcending it.
George Harrison's song Within You Without You talks about another kind of transcendance:
I don't accept that any of that involves transcending one's natal chart though. A person can meditate and shift their mind into a different gear, or do something similar by taking drugs of some kind. None of that involves transcending astrology - from my perspective of what astrology actually is, anyway.
Last verse
When you've seen beyond yourself
then you may find
peace of mind is waiting there
And the time will come
when you see we're all one
and life flows on within you and without you.
Twilight:
ReplyDeleteI quite agree with you. I do not understand transcendence in the chart. We already have so much to do with just dealing with our charts - overcoming difficult areas, developing potential - there is no time left for transcending it.
I guess that is the reason I could never really wrap my head around evolutionary astrology and reincarnation. I can respect it, understand it, no. May Steven Forrest forgive me.
Astrology Unboxed (Fabienne)~~
ReplyDeleteYes. I don't see the point at all.
Evolutionary Astrology dives into the metaphysical, too deep for me by far. Privately, I doubt it is a relevant or useful combination - but what do I know?
I should really keep my cyber-mouth shut. I've just been using a Forrest extract for tomorrow's post. (OOOps!)
Twilight-
ReplyDeleteSeems to me it's more about consciousness than reincarnation. There's perfect truth, & then there are interpretations of it. Astrology gives us an interpretation of truth, then humans get into it and start messing about trying to make sense of it. Obviously, people's levels of understanding vary widely! So what you get depends on your own filters (or those of your astrologer!) It's seems possible that some of us could achieve a level of consciousness that resonates higher than astrology, but maybe it's the one best clue for those of us who can't wrap our heads around the dizzying abstraction.
Kerrie ~~~ Hmmm - consciousness resonating higher than astrology?
ReplyDeleteAs achieved in meditation (very deep meditation)? I can sort of see that, but it doesn't transcend the chart in my opinion - I'd perceive it as using what is in the chart to achieve the transcendant state - moving to a higher than normal conscious state.
That does presuppose higher consciousness exists in the first place though, and that the "operator" isn't simply changing gears in his mental machinery. Whether this achieves any other significant change that is in any way "real" rather than imaginary (as in LSD)cannot be known with certainty.
Very touchy subject this. I'm probably the last person who ought to dabble among its complexities!
I agree again: I think the combination of metaphysical is not useful at all. But it can make you feel good and make the acceptance of certain difficult truths or realities more palatable. However, I do not think it helps you live better.
ReplyDeleteAs for Steven Forrest, he is a great speaker and teacher whose lectures I attend to and where I can see he is extremely knowledgeable. But at the end, I am always left with the feeling that there is nothing to really sink my teeth into. But hat's me and a lot of astrologers swear by him. I am not just one of them. I either need something really practical that will help my clients of something that will keep my brain think about it.
Astrology Unboxed (Fabienne) ~~
ReplyDeleteI understand your feelings.
My astrology software came with an extra cd of interpretations by Forrest which, when I first started brushing up my knowledge and expanding it for blogging I'd take a look at occasionally. I soon became irritated. I haven't even re-installed that part of the software on my present computer.
But it's horses for courses, and for some people his style "hits the spot". If we all resonated to the same teacher/astrologer there'd only be one. ;-)