Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Perfectly Ideal

In C.E.O. Carter's Encyclopaedia of Psychological Astrology paragraphs headed "Idealistic Temperament" had me agreeing, then puzzling -
"The idealistic temperament has least affinity with Saturn and the earthy element, and most with the fiery (especially Sagittarius) and with Libra and Aquarius. At the same time idealism cannot be limited to one type, nor can we say that any sign invariably produces it. ...."
Nothing to argue with so far, except perhaps to point out that Saturn can be Airy as well; it was traditional ruler of Aquarius, a sign often linked to idealistic tendencies.

This, at first glance, was more surprising:
"Possibly Virgo and Taurus are the least idealistic and most matter-of-fact, but exceptions can undoubtedly be found even under them........"
Virgo-types, I'd have though were most likely of any to strive for the ideal...or is their tendency to perfectionism something different? Do perfectionists aim for THE ideal, as opposed to AN ideal?

Thinks...

Perfectionism relates to practical matters rather than airy fairy philosophical ideas and ideals. So yes, while some Virgo-types could be both perfectionists and idealists, that is not likely to be found in the majority of cases. Meticulousness, precision, practicality and attention to detail are commonly associated with Virgo, all are ingredients of perfectionism.

Perfection does not exist in doing extraordinary things, but in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.--Angelique Arnauld

Conversely, while Sagittarius-types, Libra-types and Aquarius-types could be both idealists and perfectionists - it's not going to be the norm for them. They tend to live in their minds, or within their own philosophies of life and visions of an, often unrealistic ideal world, where fastidiousness about practical details fades into the background.

“Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one”

― John Lennon, Imagine

When investigating a particular facet of personality, the whole chart has to be taken into consideration, Sun sign alone doesn't tell the whole story, nor does a combination of Sun/Moon/ascendant. In the case of idealists especially, the position of Neptune could merit attention. Neptune's reputation for illusion or delusion could contribute to some overly idealistic visions, especially if closely linked by aspect to a personal planet.

Perfectionism and idealism can both be veritable pains in the ass; I lean more towards the latter than the former, but a fragile strand of perfectionism within me tells me that any ideals I embrace are fairly unrealistic...still, it costs nothing to embrace 'em.

Leonard Cohen says it best:

The birds they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
Has passed away
Or what is yet to be

Ah the wars they will
Be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
Bought and sold
And bought again
The dove is never free

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in


We asked for signs
The signs were sent:
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
Of every government
Signs for all to see

I can't run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they've summoned up, they've summoned up
A thundercloud
And they're going to hear from me

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

You can add up the parts
But you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march
There is no drum
Every heart, every heart
To love will come
But like a refugee

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in

11 comments:

Sonny G said...


Suffice it to say,, there's surely no lack of light here:)) the cracks are many and I have learned to appreciate them..

mike said...

I suppose that I would ascribe the evaluation of perfectionism and idealism as mental exercises in philosophy (Jupiter: Sagittarius & Pisces) and thinking (Mercury: Gemini & Virgo). The evaluation is requisite upon consciousness (Sun: Leo) and subconscious motivation (Moon: Cancer)...and all of the other planets, signs, and houses that provide the basis of our entity. I don't believe that any one variable is independent of the others...it's the summation.

And, as your sidebar alludes, it's a transient, impermanent, on-going process. In so many ways, time itself (Saturn), ie planetary transits upon our natal chart, IS the process of perfecting and developing ideals, if each of us incorporates in a positive fashion (bitter or better?).

Interesting that each of us holds the vision of perfection and ideal, but it is the individualization that prevents the attainment. We expect it of others, but cut ourselves a lot of extra cloth.

mike (again) said...

Well, contemplating your topic over dish washing and laundry folding, the natural state of planet Earth and the universe is one of disorder, imperfect, and non-ideal...ever changing and evolving...not static.

There is order in dis-order, as the new mathematics of fractal patterns (chaos theory) has demonstrated. Orderliness is camouflaged by seemingly chaotic, illogical representations of dissimilarity. Nature only works when there is diversity and change. There is no Shangri-La on a permanent basis.

Humans can't perceive perfection in imperfection or ideal in the non-ideal. Perfection and ideal have a duration of a millisecond.

[Captcha has changed again!]

Twilight said...

Sonny ~ Ringa dem bells! :-)

Twilight said...

mike ~ Thanks for your observations.
This is quite a nebulous topic really isn't it? Partly it's concerned simply with how the two words and concepts (idealism, perfectionism) are understood, poshly said - semantics. Partly philosophical - philosophy is always nebulous to me!
And partly astrological if one dares or cares to dive in to that part.

You've covered all bases!

[Catchpa clearer today for me - I still have to do it too! But I'm getting increasing amounts of spam too now after a couple of weeks with none at all - someone must have hacked it!]

Sonny G said...

just wanted to pop back in and say, you look so cute in your new profile pic that's on your sidebar Annie.

Mike- thanks for yesterdays input.
I was reading Susan Goodmans star report this morning and it said I am moving out of scorpio in saturn into sag is saturn and this new moon/the 21st/ was time to make a few big wishes and they would come true.. supposed to be a very lucky time for me.. Now, not sure how I could get any luckier but I'll take it and as much as I can, I'll spread it around.

mike (again) said...

Yes, a very strange topic, Twilight! 'Tis the season and I remembered your post last Xmas...the perfect-ideal decorated tree by each zodiac sign. There was much truth demonstrated in your diligent selections as examples.

Twilight said...

Sonny ~ Thank you kindly! I always look better through rose-coloured glass(es)! :-)

Twilight said...

mike (again) ~ Thank you - I enjoyed doing that Christmas tree post. I'm trying something vaguely similar but not nearly as easy to sort out for the weekend's post.

mike (again) said...

It's nice to know that the House of Lords has perfection in mind:

"It has emerged that a proposal to save taxpayers some money by making peers and MPs share a catering department has been rejected 'because the Lords feared that the quality of champagne would not be as good if they chose a joint service'."

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/dec/07/champagne-house-of-lords-reform-taxpayer

Twilight said...

mike ~ LOL ~ Oh diddums! Grrrr! I've just experienced a distinct Snowpiercer moment!