Comments on: Symbols I

By: henitsirk

henitsirk — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:51:22 +0000

Nana: That’s a good question. The progression of the epochs is based on the precession of the equinoxes, so it is “backwards” from the normal progression of the signs because of the way the equinox slips back.

By: Nana

Nana — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:13:19 +0000

This is a thought provoking post. But I’m curious about one thing. The epochs you referred to went from Cancer to Gemini to Taurus to Aries to Pisces and to a future Aquarius. This appears to be a backward progression as modern astrologists consider Aries the Ram to be the first sign of the Zodiac. Thus, it would be more appropriate to move from Aries to Taurus to Gemini to Cancer, then Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn and finally to Aquarius and Pisces. Hmmmm.

Natal charts can be very informative, especially for those of us who believe we have chosen when to be born.

A good discussion would reflect on those born on the cusp. Is life more confusing for these folks? Do they tend to be more indecisive? Hmmmm.

By: Eve

Eve — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:28:19 +0000

Ah, I see URD is up there wondering where Jung got his empirical data for (if I read correctly) his research into astrology. I have that somewhere fairly handy, because I have the Collected Works and I’m pretty sure it’s in there.

Heni, I just received the “The Solitudes” in the mail today, so am going to read it soon. Thanks for the suggestion.

By: susiej

susiej — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:15:06 +0000

I’m in town, and I wanted to tell you how much I’m enjoying reading your posts … especially this one, off line. Pondering this as I look out on the water tonight.

By: Henitsirk

Henitsirk — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:22:01 +0000

URD: Probably these things are symbols for other things that repeat over and over throughout the yugas and kalpas! Though some would say that Jesus was pretty singular. I would agree that things like astrology can be a good foundation for self-reflection, but not necessarily something to predict the future exactly. I’m not willing to give up the idea of free will.

I haven’t read Dame Yates but Crowley does mention her in his books. I’ll have to look it up.

By: RunninL8

RunninL8 — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:51:49 +0000

morning! Don’t have a lot of time but just wanted to let you know I enjoy reading these posts and really appreciate that you are sharing this info! Thanks mucho!

By: (un)relaxeddad

(un)relaxeddad — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:34:28 +0000

But then one looks at all this from the perspective of a single Hindu kalpa (billions of years!)

I did do a fair bit of astrology myself at one point and also found it interestingly relevant – but blind empirical testing (I don’t know where Jung got his data from) hasn’t been so robust. Similarly with MBTI (also based on Jung’s symbols) – a great beginning point for careers counselling but with very poor validity as an actual predictor of success on a given path.

However, as a devout post-modernist, I’ve got no problems whatsoever with the use of astrology for sense-making in one’s daily life – it certainly makes as much sense as most empirical social research, the tendency of which is to reduce people to equally meaningless identikit stereotypes. At least ‘properly’ calculated natal charts allow for complete individualism and dynamic development. Sorry, I could go on and on.

Do you know Frances Yates’ book of Giordano Bruno?

By: henitsirk

henitsirk — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:08:07 +0000

Dawn: It's a complex subject! I'm inspired to write more posts on symbolism, and of course there are tons of Christian symbols to work with. Eve: The Solitudes is the first in the Aegypt cycle. Next comes Love & Sleep, then Daemonomania, then Endless Things, which I have not yet read.

By: Eve

Eve — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:25:20 +0000

Is this the first book in the series, or whatever it is? I looked at Amazon but am too lazy to figure it out; I want you to hold my hand and tell me, “Yes, order this one; but order that one as well.” Or whatnot. OK? Please, and thank you.

I’ve been doing some reading on archetypal astrology and psychology. There are many eminent psychologists and psychiatrists who believe in and practice astrology as a helpful science and art; Jung actually found empirical evidence that astrological charts were as accurate for predicting personality as bona fide scientific tests of personality or temperament.

This is an interesting post, as I’ve done quite a bit of reading in the subject myself (enough that I can look at a person’s natal chart and conjure up some oohs and aaahs).

I love what you wrote about Aquarius, the water-bearer. Beautiful.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:19:04 +0000

This is so interesting. You’ve definitely given me so much to think about here. I’ve written and erased so many sentences from this comment. I might as well say that I probably don’t understand enough about astrology to make any kind of intelligent comment regarding the questions you raised. I love the medieval art though.