tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48646575894139841982024-03-20T18:26:39.248-07:00Phoenix QiRevealing the Mystery of Life, Death, and Rebirth Through Fact and FolkloreMichelle K Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11423808455495865186noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-41635409580336229522010-12-12T17:34:00.000-08:002010-12-12T17:46:35.101-08:00Astrology scientifically proven to influence personalityOnce again, science may be catching up with ancient knowledge. It seems that some enterprising, open-minded scientists took a new look at astrology and discovered that, indeed, there may very well be a biological imprint that accompanies you from your birth date forward and has a definite, measurable effect on your life!<br /><br />Check out the article below, reprinted from the Natural News website.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmHTlYckgosSD5gRBQjcirwPpmtJOvaB3jKNRQ3x5DbL_pRjJFtV5w_7jgf8sYOVP8MUuWM4AopIdmwSaF_YgBKYSwRge6XD3z8kPl_btH01hoKkvNY89-9jSoicI9FCg-X__XO4GZ_s/s1600/AstrologyMan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmHTlYckgosSD5gRBQjcirwPpmtJOvaB3jKNRQ3x5DbL_pRjJFtV5w_7jgf8sYOVP8MUuWM4AopIdmwSaF_YgBKYSwRge6XD3z8kPl_btH01hoKkvNY89-9jSoicI9FCg-X__XO4GZ_s/s400/AstrologyMan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549974305084362370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Principle of astrology proven to be scientific: planetary position imprints biological clocks of mammals</span><br /><br />Saturday, December 11, 2010<br />by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger<br />Editor of NaturalNews.com<br /><br /><a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/030698_astrology_scientific_basis.html">http://www.naturalnews.com/030698_astrology_scientific_basis.html</a><br /><br />(NaturalNews) Mention the word "astrology" and skeptics go into an epileptic fit. The idea that someone's personality could be imprinted at birth according to the position of the sun, moon and planets has long been derided as "quackery" by the so-called "scientific" community which resists any notion based on holistic connections between individuals and the cosmos.<br /><br />According to the conventional view, your genes and your parenting determine your personality, and the position of planet Earth at the time of your birth has nothing to do with it.<br /><br />Then again, conventional scientists don't believe the position of the moon has anything to do with life on Earth, either. They dismiss the wisdom that farmers have known for ages -- that planting seeds or transplanting living plants in harmony with the moon cycles results in higher crop yields. Even the seeds inside humans are strongly influenced by the moon, as menstruation cycles and moon cycles are closely synchronized (28 days, roughly).<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">Researchers demonstrate scientific principle of astrology</span><br /><br />Skeptics must be further bewildered by the new research published in Nature Neuroscience and conducted at Vanderbilt University which unintentionally provides scientific support for the fundamental principle of astrology -- namely, that the position of the planets at your time of birth influences your personality.<br /><br />In this study, not only did the birth month impact personality; it also resulted in measurable functional changes in the brain.<br /><br />This study, conducted on mice, showed that mice born in the winter showed a "consistent slowing" of their daytime activity. They were also more susceptible to symptoms that we might call "Seasonal Affective Disorder."<br /><br />The study was carried out by Professor of Biological Sciences Douglas McMahon, graduate student Chris Ciarleglio, post-doctoral fellow Karen Gamble and two additional undergraduate students, none of whom believe in astrology, apparently. They do, of course, believe in science, which is why all their study findings have been draped in the language of science even though the findings are essentially supporting principles of astrology.<br /><br />"What is particularly striking about our results is the fact that the imprinting affects both the animal's behavior and the cycling of the neurons in the master biological clock in their brains," said Ciarleglio. This is one of the core principles of astrology: That the position of the planets at the time of your birth (which might be called the "season" of your birth) can actually result in changes in your brain physiology which impact lifelong behavior.<br /><br />Once again, such an idea sounds preposterous to the scientifically trained, unless of course they discover it for themselves, at which point it's all suddenly very "scientific." Instead of calling it "astrology," they're now referring to it as "seasonal biology."<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">How to discredit real science</span><br /><br />It all reminds me of the discovery of cold fusion in 1989 by Fleishmann and Pons, who were widely ridiculed by the arrogant hot fusion researchers who tried to destroy the credibility (and careers) of cold fusion researchers (http://www.naturalnews.com/025925_c...). After the very idea of "cold fusion" was attacked and demolished by these arrogant scientists, it soon returned under a new name: Low-Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR).<br /><br />LENR has now been verified as true by none other than the U.S. Navy -- along with hundreds of other researchers around the world (see link above). And yet, even today, the conventional scientific community still insists cold fusion doesn't exist and cold fusion researchers are frauds.<br /><br />Just as there is a solid scientific basis for LENR, there is a scientific basis for astrology, too. The relationship between the Earth, Moon and Sun naturally alter light exposure, temperature, gravitational pull and other conditions that may be sensed by living organisms. To believe in astrology, all that's really required is to grasp the basic concepts of the interrelationships between all living things. Does the position of the sun or moon influence life on Earth? Of course it does: Life as we know it wouldn't even exist without the moon tugging on Earth and preventing its rotational axis from shifting around to the point where radical changes in seasonal temperatures would make life far more challenging. (The moon, in other words, is one of the key "stabilizers" of life on planet Earth because it tends to stabilize the seasons and keep the Earth on a steady rotational plane.)<br /><br />None of this, of course, means that the position of Saturn today is going to make you win the lottery or find a new love. That's the tabloid version of astrology, not real astrology.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Don't confuse tabloid astrology with real astrology</span><br /><br />Even astronomy has its tabloid versions, too, which are entirely non-scientific. For example, every model of our solar system that I've ever seen is a wildly inaccurate tabloid version of reality, with planet sizes ridiculously exaggerated and planet distances not depicted to scale. These silly, non-scientific solar system models imprint a kind of solar system mythology into the minds of schoolchildren and even school teachers. Virtually no one outside the communities of astrophysics and astronomy has any real grasp of the enormity of not merely our solar system, but of our galaxy and the space between neighboring galaxies.<br /><br />To show a giant sun the size of a basketball, with a depiction of the Earth as a marble-sized planet three inches away is the astronomical equivalent of a gimmicky horoscope claiming you're going to win the lottery today because you were born under the sign of Pisces. Both are fictions. And both are an insult to real science.<br /><br />In fact, even the whole idea that an "electron" is a piece of physical matter, made up of other "particles" is an insult to real science. The sobering truth of the matter is that "particle physics" doesn't have much to do with actual particles at all. It's all about energies that might, on occasion, vibrate in just the right way so that they momentarily appear to take on the illusion of a particle as measured by our observers -- observers who inevitably alter the outcome of the entire experiment, by the way, once again proving the interrelated nature of things in our universe, including observer and experiment.<br /><br />The horoscope predictions in the Sunday paper -- as well as much of the hilarious mythology found in the modern description of an atom -- are both simplified, comic-book versions of a larger truth -- the truth that we live in a holistic universe where every bit of physical matter, every bit of energy and every conscious mind impacts the rest of the universe in subtle ways. There is no such thing as an individual who is isolated from the cosmos, because we are of the cosmos and we exist as the physical manifestations of energies that, for our lifetimes, are momentarily organized as beings.<br /><br />We are made of star stuff, says Carl Sagan. He he's right: We are not only made of star stuff, we are influenced by that stuff, too. And finally, modern science is beginning to catch up to this greater truth that astrologers have known since the dawn of human existence on our tiny planet.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-50460904793559179422010-11-20T21:19:00.000-08:002010-11-20T21:33:12.985-08:00When Is A Moon Really Blue?We all know the rule that states the Blue Moon is the second Full Moon in any given calendar month.<br /><br />Well, turns out that was not the case a bout 80 years ago!<br /><br />Here is a fun and interesting story not only on the origins of the Blue Moon, but how a mistake or misunderstanding can lead to a change in global knowledge!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBaQXUDTmdRHe5o3naJQEkbK1a6cC5fOOwsca-61ASdjeawNe0bvlr7-rZpvhJbCkfH2-cpxZQTqPceRtrityaxa1Rvvvj6fyL2xcvVappqmQ_EiQK6BDEs1qqQa0vZWE5j1NH5whCgKA/s1600/blue-moon-101119-01.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 219px; height: 147px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBaQXUDTmdRHe5o3naJQEkbK1a6cC5fOOwsca-61ASdjeawNe0bvlr7-rZpvhJbCkfH2-cpxZQTqPceRtrityaxa1Rvvvj6fyL2xcvVappqmQ_EiQK6BDEs1qqQa0vZWE5j1NH5whCgKA/s400/blue-moon-101119-01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541868647005884226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Really Strange Story Behind Sunday's Blue Moon<br /><br />by Joe Rao<br />SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist<br />posted 19 November 2010<br />12:26 pm ET<br /><br /><a href="http://www.space.com/spacewatch/november-full-moon-blue-moon-101119.html">http://www.space.com/spacewatch/november-full-moon-blue-moon-101119.html </a><br /><br />The full moon of November [2010] arrives on Sunday and will bring with it a cosmic addition: It will also be a so-called "blue moon."<br /><br />"But wait a minute," you might ask. "Isn't a 'blue moon' defined as the second full moon that occurs during a calendar month? Sunday's full moon falls on Nov. 21 and it will be the only full moon in November 2010. So how can it be a 'blue' moon?"<br /><br />Indeed, November's full moon is blue moon – but only if we follow a rule that's now somewhat obscure.<br /><br />In fact, the current "two- full moons in one month" rule has superseded an older rule that would allow us to call Sunday's moon "blue." To be clear, the moon does not actually appear a blue color during a blue moon, it has to do with lunar mechanics.<br /><br />Confused yet? <br /><br />Well, as the late Paul Harvey used to say — here now, is the rest of the story:<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The blue moon rule</span><br /><br />Back in the July 1943 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine, in a question and answer column written by Lawrence J. Lafleur, there was a reference made to the term "blue moon."<br /><br />Lafleur cited the unusual term from a copy of the 1937 edition of the now-defunct Maine Farmers' Almanac (NOT to be confused with The Farmers' Almanac of Lewiston, Maine, which is still in business). <br /><br />On the almanac page for August 1937, the calendrical meaning for the term "blue moon" was given. <br />That explanation said that the moon "... usually comes full twelve times in a year, three times for each season."<br /><br />Occasionally, however, there will come a year when there are 13 full moons during a year, not the usual 12. The almanac explanation continued:<br /><br />"This was considered a very unfortunate circumstance, especially by the monks who had charge of the calendar of thirteen months for that year, and it upset the regular arrangement of church festivals. For this reason thirteen came to be considered an unlucky number."<br /><br />And with that extra full moon, it also meant that one of the four seasons would contain four full moons instead of the usual three. <br /><br />"There are seven Blue Moons in a Lunar Cycle of nineteen years," continued the almanac, ending on the comment that, "In olden times the almanac makers had much difficulty calculating the occurrence of the Blue Moon and this uncertainty gave rise to the expression 'Once in a Blue Moon.'"<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">An unfortunate oversight</span><br /><br />But while LaFleur quoted the almanac's account, he made one very important omission: He never specified the date for this particular blue moon. <br /><br />As it turned out, in 1937, it occurred on Aug. 21. That was the third full moon in the summer of 1937, a summer season that would see a total of four full moons. <br /><br />Names were assigned to each moon in a season: For example, the first moon of summer was called the early summer moon, the second was the midsummer moon, and the last was called the late summer moon.<br /><br />But when a particular season has four moons, the third was apparently called a blue moon so that the fourth and final one can continue to be called the late moon.<br /><br />So where did we get the "two full moons in a month rule" that is so popular today?<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A moon mistake </span><br /><br />Once again, we must turn to the pages of Sky & Telescope.<br /><br />This time, on page 3 of the March 1946 issue, James Hugh Pruett wrote an article, "Once in a Blue Moon," in which he made a reference to the term "blue moon" and referenced LaFleur's article from 1943. <br /><br />But because Pruett had no specific full moon date for 1937 to fall back on, his interpretation of the ruling given by the Maine Farmers' Almanac was highly subjective. Pruett ultimately came to this conclusion:<br />"Seven times in 19 years there were – and still are – 13 full moons in a year. This gives 11 months with one full moon each and one with two. This second in a month, so I interpret it, was called Blue Moon." <br /><br />How unfortunate that Pruett did not have a copy of that 1937 almanac at hand, or else he would have almost certainly noticed that his "two full moons in a single month assumption" would have been totally wrong.<br /><br />For the blue moon date of Aug. 21 was most definitely not the second full moon that month!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Blue moon myth runs wild </span><br /><br />Pruett's 1946 explanation was, of course, the wrong interpretation and it might have been completely forgotten were it not for Deborah Byrd who used it on her popular National Public Radio program, "StarDate" on Jan. 31, 1980. <br /><br />We could almost say that in the aftermath of her radio show, the incorrect blue moon rule "went viral" — or at least the '80s equivalent of it. <br /><br />Over the next decade, this new blue moon definition started appearing in diverse places, such as the World Almanac for Kids and the board game Trivial Pursuit.<br /><br />I must confess here, that even I was involved in helping to perpetuate the new version of the blue moon phenomenon. Nearly 30 years ago, in the Dec. 1, 1982 edition of The New York Times, I made reference to it in that newspaper's "New York Day by Day" column. <br /><br />And by 1988, the new definition started receiving international press coverage. <br /><br />Today, Pruett's misinterpreted "two full moons in a month rule" is recognized worldwide. Indeed, Sky & Telescope turned a literary lemon into lemonade, proclaiming later that – however unintentional – it changed pop culture and the English language in unexpected ways.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the original Maine Farmers' Almanac rule had been all but forgotten.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Playing by the (old) rules </span><br /><br />Now, let's come back to this Sunday's full moon. <br /><br />Under the old Almanac rule, this would technically be a blue moon. In the autumn season of 2010, there are four full moons:<br />Sept. 23<br />Oct. 22<br />Nov. 21<br />Dec. 21<br /><br />"But wait," you might say. "Dec. 21 is the first day of winter."<br /><br />And you would be correct, but only if you live north of the equator in the Northern Hemisphere. South of the equator it's the first day of summer.<br /><br />In 2010, the solstice comes at 6:38 p.m. EST (2338 UT). <br /><br />But the moon turns full at 3:13 a.m. EST (0813 UT). That's 15 hours and 25 minutes before the solstice occurs. So the Dec. 21 full moon occurs during the waning hours of fall and qualifies as the fourth full moon of the season. <br /><br />This means that under the original Maine Almanac rule – the one promoted by Lafleur and later misinterpreted by Pruett – the third full moon of the 2010 fall season on Nov. 21 would be a blue moon.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Choose your blue moon </span><br /><br />So what Blue Moon definition tickles your fancy? Is it the second full moon in a calendar month, or (as is the case on Sunday) the third full moon in a season with four?<br /><br />Maybe it's both. The final decision is solely up to you.<br /><br />Sunday's full moon will look no different than any other full moon. But the moon can change color in certain conditions.<br /><br />After forest fires or volcanic eruptions, the moon can appear to take on a bluish or even lavender hue. Soot and ash particles, deposited high in the Earth's atmosphere, can sometimes make the moon appear bluish.<br /><br />In the aftermath of the massive eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in June 1991, there were reports of blue moons (and even blue suns) worldwide. <br /><br />We could even call the next full moon (on Dec. 21) a "red moon," but for a different reason: On that day there will be a total eclipse of the moon and, for a short while, the moon will actually glow with a ruddy reddish hue.<br /><br />.<br />.<br />[The "red moon" must belong to us phoenixes :-) ]Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-948102042061844572009-12-08T11:20:00.001-08:002009-12-08T11:28:31.317-08:00Sunspot activity influences telepathic and telekinetic activity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5olnubo9AjFMqwDMENW2ueOOcPvr7PqUnRoG-3S61q2_IhF8rbG6JU_GmWGoD7zUILh81DLaUv2u7t5a18Wmnsv2xNJGEUTiY794GNR2R4sWhxAZ-fzeRtFZsmJHWGzK49XWK3-BmX8/s1600-h/SunSpotPrediction-2009.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5olnubo9AjFMqwDMENW2ueOOcPvr7PqUnRoG-3S61q2_IhF8rbG6JU_GmWGoD7zUILh81DLaUv2u7t5a18Wmnsv2xNJGEUTiY794GNR2R4sWhxAZ-fzeRtFZsmJHWGzK49XWK3-BmX8/s400/SunSpotPrediction-2009.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412947501854436706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Below are a few excerpts from the book The Intention Experiment by Lynne McTaggart, Free Press, <st1:state><st1:place>New York</st1:place></st1:state>, 2007, ISBN 0743276957.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the chapter titled "The Right Time," she reports on studies and experiments done at times of both low and high geomagnetic activity, particularly sunspot activity. To begin, on page 104, after talking about human heart rate variability and activity, it points out: <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"It is not surprising that biological systems like human beings are sensitive to external signals, such as geomagnetic disturbances. Magnetic fields are caused by the flow of electrons and atoms with charge, known as ions, and whenever magnetic forces change, they alter the direction of the flow of these atoms and particles. Ultimately, since living organisms are also composed of particles like electrons, any profound change of magnetic direction may markedly alter their biological processes. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Once [scientist Franz] Halberg understood the effect of the Earth's geomagnetic field on living things, he renamed his life's work "chronoastrobiology" – the rhythms of biology as affected by astral bodies. The sun was the giant metronome setting the pace for all life." <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Further down the road, quite a few scientists did studies and experiments on the geomagnetic influence on brain functioning. I'll share a few of the best. These are just snapshots of the info; if you are interested in all the details, read the book! I highly recommend it! <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">P. 104: "They discovered that geomagnetic activity has a strong influence on brain functioning. During magnetically stormy days, EEG readings get destabilized. Geomagnetic turbulence also disturbs the balance between certain parts of the brain and profoundly disrupts communication within the nervous system, overactivating certain aspects of the autonomic nervous system and lowering others."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">P. 106: "Contact with geomagnetic fields may play a primary role in maintaining the equilibrium of the nervous system, Indeed, the Earth's tiny geomagnetic fluctuations have the most profound effect on the two major engines of the body: the heart and the brain."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">P. 107: "Our 'sense of self' and our sense of 'the other' are housed in both temporal loves, but primarily in the left hemisphere, where the language centers are located. To function normally, the left and right temporal lobes must work in harmony. If something upsets this balance, the brain will sense another 'self' and create a hallucination. As Persinger discovered in his experiments, stimulating the right temporal lobe portion of the brain geneates the sense, presence, or feeling of spiritual visions, both good and bad."</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">P. 107-8: "It would have been tempting for Persinger to conclude that all spiritual experience is simply geomagnetically induced hallucination, except for one unsettling fact: extrasensory perception and other psychic abilities appear to be more acute during particular types of geomagnetic activity. When the Earth is 'calm' and geomagnetic flux at an ebb, telepathic and extrasensory perceptions increase. Even minor environmental changes – from slight variations in the weather to solar patterns – appear to have a profound effect on extrasensory perception or the ability to view things remotely. The reverse occurs with psychokinesis – mental attempts to change physical matter. The power of intention increases when the Earth's energy is agitated." </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">P. 109-10: "But do geomagnetic fields also affect the strength of our [mental/psychic] transmissions and their effect on the physical world? Research by Stanley Krippner offers a few clues. Krippner wished to rest the hypothesis that psychokinesis is likely to occur on days when the Earth is 'noisy.' He and his team visited Brazilian sensitive Amyr Amiden, known for his extraordinary psychokinetic ability, and set about comparing the time of Amiden's psychokinetic activities with geomagnetic fluctuations in the <st1:city><st1:place>Brasilia</st1:place></st1:city> area, where the sessions were taking place."</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">P. 110: "The team found a significant correlation between Amiden's psychic feats and the daily geomagnetic index for the entire southern hemisphere. For instance, Amiden performed the most feats on March 10 and March 15, which were the days that month with the greatest geomagnetic activity. He produced nothing out of the ordinary on March 20, the geomagnetically quietest day of the month." </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">P. 110: "Psychologist William Braud carried out some intriguing studies of the effect of geomagnetic fields on intention by examining whether high levels of geomagnetic activity were correlated with powers of remote influence. Braud examined the effect of sending intention to human blood cells and to another person. Like Krippner, he discovered that the success of intention was linked to a 'noisy' sun producing high geomagnetic activity." </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">P. 110 Besides solar activity, other environmental factors should be considered in working out the best times to send information. A number of scientists, including Persinger, found that certain days and certain times of day influence the success of ESP and psychokinesis . The best results occur around <st1:time minute="0" hour="13">1 P.M.</st1:time> local sidereal time, which is time measured by our relation to the stars, not the sun. Local sidereal time is worked out as the hour angle of the vernal equinox, where the plane of the Earth's equator would intersect with that of its orbit, if measured out in the heavens. Psychokinetic effects also seem to be greater about every thirteen days, at times when solar wind is modulated." </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To enable you to use this information in planning your own telepathic/telekinetic education and experiences, I've included a table of predicted sunspot activity so that you may choose the best times for your activities. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The table below is from the link below. I copied only from 2008, where it appears that the current cycle began since the numbers for November and December of 2008 are the lowest, to the end of the table.<o:p></o:p></p> <pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Sunspot prediction by month 1997 to 2019</pre><pre><a href="http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/images/ssn_predict.txt">http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/images/ssn_predict.txt</a> <o:p></o:p></pre><pre><o:p> </o:p></pre><pre>Cycle 24 Sunspot Number Prediction (November 2009)</pre><pre>Year Mon<span style=""> </span>95%<span style=""> </span>50%<span style=""> </span>5%</pre><pre>2008<span style=""> </span>1<span style=""> </span>8.0<span style=""> </span>2.6<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2008<span style=""> </span>2<span style=""> </span>7.6<span style=""> </span>2.4<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2008<span style=""> </span>3<span style=""> </span>7.2<span style=""> </span>2.2<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2008<span style=""> </span>4<span style=""> </span>6.8<span style=""> </span>2.0<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2008<span style=""> </span>5<span style=""> </span>6.4<span style=""> </span>1.9<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2008<span style=""> </span>6<span style=""> </span>6.0<span style=""> </span>1.7<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2008<span style=""> </span>7<span style=""> </span>5.7<span style=""> </span>1.6<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2008<span style=""> </span>8<span style=""> </span>5.4<span style=""> </span>1.4<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2008<span style=""> </span>9<span style=""> </span>5.1<span style=""> </span>1.3<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2008<span style=""> </span>10<span style=""> </span>4.8<span style=""> </span>1.2<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2008<span style=""> </span>11<span style=""> </span>4.6<span style=""> </span>1.1<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2008<span style=""> </span>12<span style=""> </span>4.6<span style=""> </span>1.1<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2009<span style=""> </span>1<span style=""> </span>4.7<span style=""> </span>1.2<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2009<span style=""> </span>2<span style=""> </span>5.1<span style=""> </span>1.3<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2009<span style=""> </span>3<span style=""> </span>5.7<span style=""> </span>1.6 <span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2009<span style=""> </span>4<span style=""> </span>6.5<span style=""> </span>1.9<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2009<span style=""> </span>5<span style=""> </span>7.6<span style=""> </span>2.5<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2009<span style=""> </span>6<span style=""> </span>9.0<span style=""> </span>3.1<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2009<span style=""> </span>7<span style=""> </span>10.5<span style=""> </span>4.0<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2009<span style=""> </span>8<span style=""> </span>12.3<span style=""> </span>5.0<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2009<span style=""> </span>9<span style=""> </span>14.2<span style=""> </span>6.1<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2009<span style=""> </span>10<span style=""> </span>16.4<span style=""> </span>7.4<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2009<span style=""> </span>11<span style=""> </span>18.7<span style=""> </span>8.8<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2009<span style=""> </span>12<span style=""> </span>21.1<span style=""> </span>10.4<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2010<span style=""> </span>1<span style=""> </span>23.7<span style=""> </span>12.2<span style=""> </span>0.7</pre><pre>2010<span style=""> </span>2<span style=""> </span>26.4<span style=""> </span>14.0<span style=""> </span>1.7</pre><pre>2010<span style=""> </span>3<span style=""> </span>29.2<span style=""> </span>16.0<span style=""> </span>2.8</pre><pre>2010<span style=""> </span>4<span style=""> </span>32.1<span style=""> </span>18.1<span style=""> </span>4.1</pre><pre>2010<span style=""> </span>5<span style=""> </span>35.1<span style=""> </span>20.3<span style=""> </span>5.4</pre><pre>2010<span style=""> </span>6<span style=""> </span>38.2<span style=""> </span>22.5<span style=""> </span>6.9</pre><pre>2010<span style=""> </span>7<span style=""> </span>41.3<span style=""> </span>24.8<span style=""> </span>8.4</pre><pre>2010<span style=""> </span>8<span style=""> </span>44.4<span style=""> </span>27.2<span style=""> </span>10.0</pre><pre>2010<span style=""> </span>9<span style=""> </span>47.6<span style=""> </span>29.6<span style=""> </span>11.7</pre><pre>2010<span style=""> </span>10<span style=""> </span>50.7<span style=""> </span>32.1<span style=""> </span>13.4</pre><pre>2010<span style=""> </span>11<span style=""> </span>53.9<span style=""> </span>34.5<span style=""> </span>15.1</pre><pre>2010<span style=""> </span>12<span style=""> </span>57.0<span style=""> </span>37.0<span style=""> </span>16.9</pre><pre>2011<span style=""> </span>1<span style=""> </span>60.1<span style=""> </span>39.4<span style=""> </span>18.7</pre><pre>2011<span style=""> </span>2<span style=""> </span>63.2<span style=""> </span>41.8<span style=""> </span>20.5</pre><pre>2011<span style=""> </span>3<span style=""> </span>66.2<span style=""> </span>44.3<span style=""> </span>22.3</pre><pre>2011<span style=""> </span>4<span style=""> </span>69.2<span style=""> </span>46.6<span style=""> </span>24.1</pre><pre>2011<span style=""> </span>5<span style=""> </span>72.0<span style=""> </span>48.9<span style=""> </span>25.9</pre><pre>2011<span style=""> </span>6<span style=""> </span>74.8<span style=""> </span>51.2<span style=""> </span>27.6</pre><pre>2011<span style=""> </span>7<span style=""> </span>77.5<span style=""> </span>53.4<span style=""> </span>29.3</pre><pre>2011<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>8<span style=""> </span>80.2<span style=""> </span>55.6<span style=""> </span>31.0</pre><pre>2011<span style=""> </span>9<span style=""> </span>82.7<span style=""> </span>57.6<span style=""> </span>32.6</pre><pre>2011<span style=""> </span>10<span style=""> </span>85.1<span style=""> </span>59.6<span style=""> </span>34.1</pre><pre>2011<span style=""> </span>11<span style=""> </span>87.4<span style=""> </span>61.5<span style=""> </span>35.6</pre><pre>2011<span style=""> </span>12<span style=""> </span>89.6<span style=""> </span>63.3<span style=""> </span>37.1</pre><pre>2012<span style=""> </span>1<span style=""> </span>91.6<span style=""> </span>65.0<span style=""> </span>38.4</pre><pre>2012<span style=""> </span>2<span style=""> </span>93.6<span style=""> </span>66.6<span style=""> </span>39.7</pre><pre>2012<span style=""> </span>3<span style=""> </span>95.4<span style=""> </span>68.2<span style=""> </span>40.9</pre><pre>2012<span style=""> </span>4<span style=""> </span>97.1<span style=""> </span>69.6<span style=""> </span>42.1</pre><pre>2012<span style=""> </span>5<span style=""> </span>98.7<span style=""> </span>70.9<span style=""> </span>43.1</pre><pre>2012<span style=""> </span>6 100.1<span style=""> </span>72.1<span style=""> </span>44.1</pre><pre>2012<span style=""> </span>7 101.4<span style=""> </span>73.2<span style=""> </span>44.9</pre><pre>2012<span style=""> </span>8 102.6<span style=""> </span>74.2<span style=""> </span>45.7</pre><pre>2012<span style=""> </span>9 103.6<span style=""> </span>75.0<span style=""> </span>46.4</pre><pre>2012<span style=""> </span>10 104.5<span style=""> </span>75.8<span style=""> </span>47.1</pre><pre>2012<span style=""> </span>11 105.3<span style=""> </span>76.4<span style=""> </span>47.6</pre><pre>2012<span style=""> </span>12 106.0<span style=""> </span>77.0<span style=""> </span>48.0</pre><pre>2013<span style=""> </span>1 106.5<span style=""> </span>77.4<span style=""> </span>48.4</pre><pre>2013<span style=""> </span>2 106.9<span style=""> </span>77.8<span style=""> </span>48.7</pre><pre>2013 <span style=""> </span>3 107.1<span style=""> </span>78.0<span style=""> </span>48.8</pre><pre>2013<span style=""> </span>4 107.3<span style=""> </span>78.1<span style=""> </span>48.9</pre><pre>2013<span style=""> </span>5 107.3<span style=""> </span>78.1<span style=""> </span>49.0</pre><pre>2013<span style=""> </span>6 107.2<span style=""> </span>78.0<span style=""> </span>48.9</pre><pre>2013<span style=""> </span>7 107.0<span style=""> </span>77.9<span style=""> </span>48.7</pre><pre>2013<span style=""> </span>8 106.6<span style=""> </span>77.6<span style=""> </span>48.5</pre><pre>2013<span style=""> </span>9 106.2<span style=""> </span>77.2<span style=""> </span>48.2</pre><pre>2013<span style=""> </span>10 105.6<span style=""> </span>76.7<span style=""> </span>47.8</pre><pre>2013<span style=""> </span>11 105.0<span style=""> </span>76.2<span style=""> </span>47.4</pre><pre>2013<span style=""> </span>12 104.2<span style=""> </span>75.6<span style=""> </span>46.9</pre><pre>2014<span style=""> </span>1 103.4<span style=""> </span>74.8<span style=""> </span>46.3</pre><pre>2014<span style=""> </span>2 102.5<span style=""> </span>74.1<span style=""> </span>45.7</pre><pre>2014<span style=""> </span>3 101.4<span style=""> </span>73.2<span style=""> </span>45.0</pre><pre>2014<span style=""> </span>4 100.3<span style=""> </span>72.3<span style=""> </span>44.2</pre><pre>2014<span style=""> </span>5<span style=""> </span>99.1<span style=""> </span>71.3<span style=""> </span>43.4</pre><pre>2014<span style=""> </span>6<span style=""> </span>97.8<span style=""> </span>70.2<span style=""> </span>42.6</pre><pre>2014<span style=""> </span>7<span style=""> </span>96.5<span style=""> </span>69.1<span style=""> </span>41.7</pre><pre>2014<span style=""> </span>8<span style=""> </span>95.1<span style=""> </span>67.9<span style=""> </span>40.7</pre><pre>2014<span style=""> </span>9<span style=""> </span>93.6<span style=""> </span>66.7<span style=""> </span>39.7</pre><pre>2014<span style=""> </span>10<span style=""> </span>92.1<span style=""> </span>65.4<span style=""> </span>38.7</pre><pre>2014<span style=""> </span>11<span style=""> </span>90.5<span style=""> </span>64.1<span style=""> </span>37.7</pre><pre>2014<span style=""> </span>12<span style=""> </span>88.9<span style=""> </span>62.7<span style=""> </span>36.6</pre><pre>2015<span style=""> </span>1<span style=""> </span>87.2<span style=""> </span>61.3<span style=""> </span>35.5</pre><pre>2015<span style=""> </span>2<span style=""> </span>85.5<span style=""> </span>59.9<span style=""> </span>34.4</pre><pre>2015<span style=""> </span>3<span style=""> </span>83.7<span style=""> </span>58.5<span style=""> </span>33.2</pre><pre>2015<span style=""> </span>4<span style=""> </span>81.9<span style=""> </span>57.0<span style=""> </span>32.1</pre><pre>2015<span style=""> </span>5<span style=""> </span>80.1<span style=""> </span>55.5<span style=""> </span>30.9</pre><pre>2015<span style=""> </span>6<span style=""> </span>78.3<span style=""> </span>54.0<span style=""> </span>29.8</pre><pre>2015<span style=""> </span>7<span style=""> </span>76.4<span style=""> </span>52.5<span style=""> </span>28.6</pre><pre>2015<span style=""> </span>8<span style=""> </span>74.5<span style=""> </span>51.0<span style=""> </span>27.4</pre><pre>2015<span style=""> </span>9<span style=""> </span>72.7<span style=""> </span>49.4<span style=""> </span>26.2</pre><pre>2015<span style=""> </span>10<span style=""> </span>70.8<span style=""> </span>47.9<span style=""> </span>25.1</pre><pre>2015<span style=""> </span>11<span style=""> </span>68.9<span style=""> </span>46.4<span style=""> </span>23.9</pre><pre>2015<span style=""> </span>12<span style=""> </span>67.0<span style=""> </span>44.9<span style=""> </span>22.8</pre><pre>2016<span style=""> </span>1<span style=""> </span>65.1<span style=""> </span>43.3<span style=""> </span>21.6</pre><pre>2016<span style=""> </span>2<span style=""> </span>63.2<span style=""> </span>41.8<span style=""> </span>20.5</pre><pre>2016<span style=""> </span>3<span style=""> </span>61.3<span style=""> </span>40.3<span style=""> </span>19.4</pre><pre>2016<span style=""> </span>4<span style=""> </span>59.4<span style=""> </span>38.8<span style=""> </span>18.3</pre><pre>2016<span style=""> </span>5<span style=""> </span>57.6<span style=""> </span>37.4<span style=""> </span>17.2</pre><pre>2016<span style=""> </span>6<span style=""> </span>55.7<span style=""> </span>35.9<span style=""> </span>16.2</pre><pre>2016<span style=""> </span>7<span style=""> </span>53.9<span style=""> </span>34.5<span style=""> </span>15.1</pre><pre>2016<span style=""> </span>8<span style=""> </span>52.1<span style=""> </span>33.1<span style=""> </span>14.1</pre><pre>2016<span style=""> </span>9<span style=""> </span>50.3<span style=""> </span>31.7<span style=""> </span>13.2</pre><pre>2016<span style=""> </span>10<span style=""> </span>48.6<span style=""> </span>30.4<span style=""> </span>12.2</pre><pre>2016<span style=""> </span>11<span style=""> </span>46.9<span style=""> </span>29.1<span style=""> </span>11.3</pre><pre>2016<span style=""> </span>12<span style=""> </span>45.2<span style=""> </span>27.8<span style=""> </span>10.4</pre><pre>2017<span style=""> </span>1<span style=""> </span>43.5<span style=""> </span>26.5<span style=""> </span>9.5</pre><pre>2017<span style=""> </span>2<span style=""> </span>41.9<span style=""> </span>25.3<span style=""> </span>8.7</pre><pre>2017<span style=""> </span>3<span style=""> </span>40.3<span style=""> </span>24.1<span style=""> </span>7.9</pre><pre>2017<span style=""> </span>4<span style=""> </span>38.8<span style=""> </span>23.0<span style=""> </span>7.2</pre><pre>2017<span style=""> </span>5<span style=""> </span>37.3<span style=""> </span>21.8<span style=""> </span>6.4</pre><pre>2017<span style=""> </span>6<span style=""> </span>35.8<span style=""> </span>20.8<span style=""> </span>5.7</pre><pre>2017<span style=""> </span>7<span style=""> </span>34.4<span style=""> </span>19.7<span style=""> </span>5.1</pre><pre>2017<span style=""> </span>8<span style=""> </span>33.0<span style=""> </span>18.7<span style=""> </span>4.4</pre><pre>2017<span style=""> </span>9<span style=""> </span>31.6<span style=""> </span>17.7<span style=""> </span>3.8</pre><pre>2017<span style=""> </span>10<span style=""> </span>30.3<span style=""> </span>16.8<span style=""> </span>3.2</pre><pre>2017<span style=""> </span>11<span style=""> </span>29.0<span style=""> </span>15.8<span style=""> </span>2.7</pre><pre>2017<span style=""> </span>12<span style=""> </span>27.7<span style=""> </span>15.0<span style=""> </span>2.2</pre><pre>2018<span style=""> </span>1<span style=""> </span>26.5<span style=""> </span>14.1<span style=""> </span>1.7</pre><pre>2018<span style=""> </span>2<span style=""> </span>25.4<span style=""> </span>13.3<span style=""> </span>1.3</pre><pre>2018<span style=""> </span>3<span style=""> </span>24.2<span style=""> </span>12.6<span style=""> </span>0.9</pre><pre>2018<span style=""> </span>4<span style=""> </span>23.2<span style=""> </span>11.8<span style=""> </span>0.5</pre><pre>2018<span style=""> </span>5<span style=""> </span>22.1<span style=""> </span>11.1<span style=""> </span>0.1</pre><pre>2018<span style=""> </span>6<span style=""> </span>21.1<span style=""> </span>10.4<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2018<span style=""> </span>7<span style=""> </span>20.1<span style=""> </span>9.8<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2018<span style=""> </span>8<span style=""> </span>19.2<span style=""> </span>9.2<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2018<span style=""> </span>9<span style=""> </span>18.3 <span style=""> </span>8.6<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2018<span style=""> </span>10<span style=""> </span>17.4<span style=""> </span>8.0<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2018<span style=""> </span>11<span style=""> </span>16.6<span style=""> </span>7.5<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2018<span style=""> </span>12<span style=""> </span>15.8<span style=""> </span>7.0<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2019<span style=""> </span>1<span style=""> </span>15.0<span style=""> </span>6.6<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2019<span style=""> </span>2<span style=""> </span>14.3<span style=""> </span>6.1<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2019<span style=""> </span>3<span style=""> </span>13.6<span style=""> </span>5.7<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2019<span style=""> </span>4<span style=""> </span>12.9<span style=""> </span>5.3<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2019<span style=""> </span>5<span style=""> </span>12.3<span style=""> </span>4.9<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2019<span style=""> </span>6<span style=""> </span>11.6<span style=""> </span>4.6<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2019<span style=""> </span>7<span style=""> </span>11.0<span style=""> </span>4.2<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2019<span style=""> </span>8<span style=""> </span>10.5<span style=""> </span>3.9<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2019<span style=""> </span>9<span style=""> </span>10.0<span style=""> </span>3.6<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2019<span style=""> </span>10<span style=""> </span>9.4<span style=""> </span>3.4<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2019<span style=""> </span>11<span style=""> </span>9.0<span style=""> </span>3.1<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre><pre>2019<span style=""> </span>12<span style=""> </span>8.5<span style=""> </span>2.9<span style=""> </span>0.0</pre> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-15283984192012497352009-07-14T09:39:00.001-07:002009-07-14T09:56:48.419-07:00Connection via String TheoryThe new advances into string theory may explain how we all are connected. Perhaps we live on the surface of the cube, and are connected inter-dimensionally via these strings which have end-points in our dimension. This could explain how we "know" when someone is going to contact us, and how we are able to communicate telepathically, and also how we are able to send healing energy to other people.<br /><br />See the news article below that goes into more detail on how this works:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDdfDLv4Z_pOdlj09Z-RgnoFMCiAtTDMub98uMFzhEy3W1HTTq34Yp1CIaDPFrj-4WEe1qTGA4jb64gbXByNNFw67w962Z6Rm5PLW02Aycb-iK_5-yoy7E6PjZ1ZWswxJNsbtoAvja1E/s1600-h/StringTheory1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDdfDLv4Z_pOdlj09Z-RgnoFMCiAtTDMub98uMFzhEy3W1HTTq34Yp1CIaDPFrj-4WEe1qTGA4jb64gbXByNNFw67w962Z6Rm5PLW02Aycb-iK_5-yoy7E6PjZ1ZWswxJNsbtoAvja1E/s400/StringTheory1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358357286618151042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />"Strings link the ultracold with the superhot: perfect liquids suggest theory's math mirrors something real."</span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Strings+link+the+ultracold+with+the+superhot:+perfect+liquids+suggest...-a0198714390">http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Strings+link+the+ultracold+with+the+superhot:+perfect+liquids+suggest...-a0198714390</a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Shadows live in a simple world. They glide effortlessly across any sort of surface, oblivious to the higher dimension of space in which 3-D bodies move, collide and sometimes block the paths of rays of light.<br /><br />Shadows have no idea how important that third dimension is, and how objects in it endow those very shadows with their quasi-physical existence. Indeed, the laws of shadow physics all depend on the third dimension's presence. And just as the clueless inhabitants of the shadow world require an extra dimension to explain how they exist and interact, reality for humans may also depend on an invisible dimension or dimensions unknown.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Physicists, in fact, have long pondered possible higher dimensions beyond the familiar four--three of space and one of time--that describe ordinary experience. Such extra dimensions have emerged as essential features in a sophisticated mathematical pastime known as superstring theory. Believed by some theorists to be the ultimate building blocks of all physical reality, superstrings are supposedly inaccessible to experimental study. If they exist, they would be far too small to detect directly--enlarging a superstring to the size of an amoeba would be the equivalent of making an ant as big as the visible universe. Similarly, the extra dimensions that strings require would probably be far too small to detect by available methods.<br /><br />So string theory has long remained in the physics version of The Twilight Zone, disconnected from the ordinary world of sight and sound. But now the extra-dimensional math has begun to audition for Reality TV. For the first time, superstring theorists can point to a place where their formulas help other physicists understand something they can see in their experiments.<br /><br />One such experiment generates matter in its most fiery form--simulating the temperatures of the Big Bang itself. Another probes matter most frigid--atoms vastly colder than even the depths of outer space. At both extremes, matter behaves surprisingly like a liquid, contrary to all expectations. More surprising still, explaining this behavior apparently requires an extra dimension of space, something that superstring theory conveniently provides. And so the scientists who study hot matter, cold matter and string matter have found themselves sharing common ground in an extra-dimensional world.<br /><br />"It surprised the heck out of us two years ago when we started realizing that this was the case," says physicist Peter Steinberg of Brookhaven National Laboratory on <st1:place><st1:city>Long Island</st1:city>, <st1:state>N.Y.</st1:state></st1:place> "It's a once-in-a-generation convergence of scientific communities. None of us really saw this coming."<br /><br />Cosmic soup<br /><br />Steinberg and other scientists discussed the new developments recently in <st1:city><st1:place>Chicago</st1:place></st1:city> at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Speakers at a session there described the surprising confluence of different physics fields as a sort of perfect storm, with the eye centered on the esoteric idea of a "perfect liquid."<br /><br />Liquids are usually the Goldilocks state of matter, the not-too-hot, not-too-cold, cohesive yet shapeless assemblages of molecules that exist only in a relatively narrow range of temperatures. Colder, and matter typically becomes solid--rigid and crystalline. Hotter, and matter turns gaseous, with molecules flying about freely and occasionally colliding. Hotter still, and a gas should become plasma, with electrons torn from atoms to form an electromagnetic mélange of charged particles, a gas with flash.<br /><br />When the universe was very young, and still superhot from the aftermath of the Big Bang, plasma should have been the only state of matter around. And that's what scientists at Brookhaven expected to see when they smashed gold ions together at 99.99 percent of the speed of light using a machine called RHIC (for Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider) RHIC physicists thought the ion collisions would melt the gold's protons and neutrons into a hot plasma of quarks and gluons at a temperature of a trillion kelvins, replicating conditions similar to those a microsecond after the birth of the universe. But instead of a gaslike plasma, the physicists reported in 2005, RHIC served up a hot quark soup, behaving more like a liquid than a plasma or gas.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"It's given us a certain amount of consternation about what to call this stuff," says Barbara Jacak of the RHIC team. "It certainly shows liquidlike properties."<br /><br />An ordinary plasma's electrically charged particles should block the path of light, for example, just as a thick fog dampens the beams of a car's headlights. But light passes right through RHIC's quark-gluon soup, says Jacak. And free-flying quarks would easily be able to zip through the rarefied molecules of a gas, like a bowling ball scattering any pins in its way. But even the heaviest quarks get stuck in the soup.<br /><br />"That is really astounding," Jacak says. "It's as if these bowling pins stopped the big giant bowling ball, and the only way they could do that is if they are somehow tied together with strings."<br /><br />Soon after the RHIC experiments, string theorists realized that their strings might be tying the bowling pins together, explaining the odd liquid like behavior of the quark-gluon plasma. That was a spectacular realization in itself. But around the same time, another branch of physics found itself dipping into a perfect liquid, this time made from cold lithium atoms.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Very cool<br /><br />In 2002, physicists at <st1:place><st1:placename>Duke</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>University</st1:placetype></st1:place> first created what they called a stable, strongly interacting gas of cold atoms, using the isotope lithium-6. Using laser beams to confine and cool the lithium atoms, researchers produced an atomic cloud with a temperature lower than a tenth of a millionth kelvins--barely above absolute zero.<br /><br />Curiously, when researchers released the cigar-shaped cloud from its laser prison, it expanded at its sides, but not at the tips. Such an odd "elliptical flow" also described the expanding cloud of quarks and gluons produced at RHIC.<br /><br />"It's quite remarkable that we have such different systems, yet we have this common behavior," says Duke's John E. Thomas, who also spoke at the <st1:city><st1:place>Chicago</st1:place></st1:city> meeting.<br /><br />Such similar flow seemed especially surprising given the wide disparity of the two systems, with a temperature difference of 19 orders of magnitude separating them. In both cases, the flow seemed to signal the features of a liquid--and a liquid with extremely low resistance to flow. Both cases constituted what physicists call a "strongly coupled" system, in which the particles exhibit collective behavior.<br /><br />Strongly coupled systems are like a baseball stadium with a big crowd, where the fans can perform the wave, rather than a poorly attended game with the crowd so "weakly coupled" that nobody else notices if one fan stands up. In strongly coupled systems, string theory-based calculations suggest, there is a limit to how low the resistance to flow, or viscosity, can go. A liquid with that lowest possible viscosity earns the label "perfect," and both the hot RHIC soup and the cold lithium cloud turn out to be nearly as close to perfect as possible.<br /><br />This formula for perfection is actually a ratio of viscosity to entropy--a measure of disorder that depends on the system's temperature. For a perfect liquid, the viscosity-entropy ratio is a very small number (about 0.08 in units derived from certain fundamental constants). For ordinary water, the ratio is 380 times higher than that theoretical minimum; liquid helium's ratio is only 0.7, still about nine times higher than perfection. But both RHIC's soup and the lithium atoms approach the theoretical limit even more closely. Cold lithium's ratio is less than 0.5, and the quark-gluon soup is in the neighborhood of 0.2.<br /><br />Not only does string theory predict the perfect liquid limit for the viscosity-entropy ratio, string math also offers an explanation for how the cold and hot worlds can be so similar. Both systems can be described as something like a shadow world sitting in a higher dimension. Strongly coupled particles are linked by ripples traveling through the extra dimension, says Steinberg, of Brookhaven.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">String math describing such ripples stems from an idea called the holographic principle used by string theorists to describe certain kinds of black holes. A black hole's entropy depends on its surface area--as though all the information in its three-dimensional interior is stored on its two-dimensional surface. (The "holographic" label is an allusion to ordinary holograms, where 3-D images are coated on a 2-D surface, like an emblem on a credit card.) The holographic principle has value because in some cases the math for a complex 3-D system (neglecting time) can be too hard to solve, but the equivalent 4-D math provides simpler equations to describe the same phenomena.<br /><br />"The point is that we have two different kinds of systems capturing the same kind of physics," says string theorist Clifford Johnson of the <st1:place><st1:placetype>University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>Southern California</st1:placename></st1:place> in <st1:city><st1:place>Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:city>. "String theory provides us with a dictionary that translates between these two systems." <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One of the two systems is a realm of four spatial dimensions where the string math describes gravity and quantum theory; the other is the 3-D world of quarks and gluons. Usually the math for describing each of these systems looks very different. But string theory's extra dimension allows the math to be transformed in ways that show the two systems to actually be equivalent--in technical terms, the systems are "dual" to each other.<br /><br />"The bottom line is we can exploit all this, because we can use ... easy computations in the gravity system to compute hard-to-compute things in the dual system," Johnson said at the <st1:city><st1:place>Chicago</st1:place></st1:city> meeting.<br /><br />So just as shadow physics is hard to explain without knowing about objects in the third dimension, quark physics makes more sense using the 4-D math. Quarks can be viewed, for instance, as the endpoints of strings that vibrate in an extra dimension, and that explains how they can be so strongly coupled. Precisely the same math can then also describe the collective behavior of the cold lithium atoms. As Johnson points out, viscosity is all about how neighboring pieces of a fluid communicate with each other. With an extra dimension, that communication can take place as disturbances in the higher dimensional space, explaining the perfect liquid behavior. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:blue;">[</span><st1:city><st1:place><span style="color:blue;">Phoenix</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="color:blue;"> here. . . It was explained to me like this: our energetic or conscious (or telepathic, or healing, or any other) connection is able to be established between people because we are connected at the end points of the strings while the rest of the string is in another dimension. When we activate the connection through intention – or however it is made – our intention, consciousness, or energy is sent to the other person across the string that resides in the other dimension. Imagine it like this: we are all connected as end points on a telephone system (the edge of the circle) the "strings" or wires of which are "in another dimension" (inside the circle). When we use our conscious intention to communicate with another person, we pick up the phone and call them, sending the signal over the wires that reside in that other dimension.]</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEmBHrbexpJOzyvc8wnSbh5shkKw9exBViYRvdFpfyqHhXIhUyrqY558Pv4DB-ze0m8tpS-NbPB4Sdlf4BysQfGRueuEiQ7yfI8rT9RZ5HVbeRK3tglU7xlnRJKmZ_jmRKekUyOFDs8k/s1600-h/StringTheory2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDEmBHrbexpJOzyvc8wnSbh5shkKw9exBViYRvdFpfyqHhXIhUyrqY558Pv4DB-ze0m8tpS-NbPB4Sdlf4BysQfGRueuEiQ7yfI8rT9RZ5HVbeRK3tglU7xlnRJKmZ_jmRKekUyOFDs8k/s400/StringTheory2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358356594075146274" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Strings strike back<br /><br />In recent years it has become popular to criticize string theory as out of touch with reality. Popular books have been written by scientists, some prominent and others not so prominent, arguing that string theory makes no predictions that experiment can test, that its fundamental objects can't be observed, that physicists have wasted their time on an enterprise that isn't even scientific to begin with.<br /><br />Such arguments leave an impression of utter unfamiliarity with the history of science. In times past, the same kinds of aspersions were cast against quarks, neutrinos, even the very existence of atoms. Superstrings are in good company. And string theory's limit on how low viscosity can go now seems to have established that string math does indeed mirror something real in nature. "This may well be the first prediction from string theory to be validated by experiment," Steinberg writes in a recent paper (arxiv.org/abs/0903.1474).<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Superstrings' success with perfect liquids does not, of course, establish that the whole theory is the correct description of the universe. Much work remains to figure out how much of reality string theory actually captures beyond the realm of perfect liquids. But the usefulness of superstring math in these instances argues strongly that those equations capture something true. Establishing that truth for certain will still not be easy.<br /><br />It's not surprising, of course, that such groundbreaking science should be difficult and controversial. Advances in physics today are naturally much tougher to achieve than they used to be--because the problems remaining to be solved are precisely those that have resisted solution for so long.<br /><br />"A new truth always has to contend with many difficulties," the German physicist Max Planck said decades ago. "If it were not so, it would have been discovered much sooner."<br /><br /><br /><br />* View slides from the AAAS (AAAS American Association for the Advancement of Science) session "Quest for the Perfect Liquid" at <a href="http://www.bnl.gov/aaas09/perfectliquid.asp">www.bnl.gov/aaas09/perfectliquid.asp</a> <o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-70450803355686881092008-12-19T16:12:00.000-08:002008-12-19T16:27:58.314-08:00Listen to Heaven and Nature SingHere is a Winter Solstice gift for you!<br /><br /><br />NASA video of the planetary sounds<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzRpm90Csg2C7lv9PsvD8HfDAL70UvDMxp3lah7XAjOyK4SZMEYckxqhaTt_158HfYmKHAVQLTOEFJC6eLbmw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br />Outback Australia - Nature sounds of nature<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9PULN9WVLDU&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9PULN9WVLDU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><br />Happy Holidays!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-84178804396103003382008-11-17T19:45:00.000-08:002008-11-17T19:50:32.026-08:00Are you the Empty Vessel or the Hollow Bamboo?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTkhRjgczavjuRZtvHJ3wC53v50aVVOGznp9dmt_Dxd4KubdfeL8Wiosm21633apxIW1IDmWRptyBj8fg5G1qEY4nQy8JPt5yQ4Qx2C_er1pddT2VelHCZFiyLj8W1xVtYuDS9sXNrOM/s1600-h/BambooPiecesPouringWater.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 367px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTkhRjgczavjuRZtvHJ3wC53v50aVVOGznp9dmt_Dxd4KubdfeL8Wiosm21633apxIW1IDmWRptyBj8fg5G1qEY4nQy8JPt5yQ4Qx2C_er1pddT2VelHCZFiyLj8W1xVtYuDS9sXNrOM/s400/BambooPiecesPouringWater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269838652868842658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Imagine that the water pouring through the bamboo and into the pot is Love, Light, Source, or Universal Consciousness….God if you will. Take a moment to consider how the bamboo and the pot function, and what happens to each as the water of Consciousness continuously flows. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Many traditions around the world embrace the core concept of the Empty Vessel. The foundation of the practice is that as you become full with ideas, knowledge, or ego, you must give up or give away that which has filled you so that you may attain innocence and egolessness and therefore experience Oneness. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the Daoist tradition that I follow, there is much talk about being an Empty Vessel. There are even books and magazines and CDs about it. This idea comes from many sources, but one of the originals is Verse 11 of the Dao De Jing (Derek Lin translation) which says: </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Thirty spokes join in one hub<br />In its emptiness, there is the function of a vehicle<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br />Mix clay to create a container<br />In its emptiness, there is the function of a container<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><br />Cut open doors and windows to create a room<br />In its emptiness, there is the function of a room<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Therefore, that which exists is used to create benefit<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">That which is empty is used to create functionality<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This teaching shows that only when it is empty can a cup function to hold the liquid you want to drink; only when it is empty can a room contain the furniture for your comfort. Carried into the realm of spirituality, only when it is empty can your mind contain universal consciousness and be filled with Divine Oneness. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Eventually, however, the vessel becomes full again, and either spills over uncontrollably or must be emptied by revisiting the same methods (or trying some new methods) that you used to empty it the last time. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">However, if you embrace the paradox of diversity within oneness and are interested in helping others as well as being filled with divine consciousness yourself, the Hollow Bamboo is the way to go. Take a look at the bamboo again: as a channel for universal energies and divine consciousness, it is always full, as well as always sharing this fullness with others. </p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTkhRjgczavjuRZtvHJ3wC53v50aVVOGznp9dmt_Dxd4KubdfeL8Wiosm21633apxIW1IDmWRptyBj8fg5G1qEY4nQy8JPt5yQ4Qx2C_er1pddT2VelHCZFiyLj8W1xVtYuDS9sXNrOM/s1600-h/BambooPiecesPouringWater.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 367px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTkhRjgczavjuRZtvHJ3wC53v50aVVOGznp9dmt_Dxd4KubdfeL8Wiosm21633apxIW1IDmWRptyBj8fg5G1qEY4nQy8JPt5yQ4Qx2C_er1pddT2VelHCZFiyLj8W1xVtYuDS9sXNrOM/s400/BambooPiecesPouringWater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269838652868842658" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Here is a lovely metaphor for it, found again in Derek Lin's translation of the Dao De Jing. In the chapter below, the Valley Spirit represents the receptivity of earth. When the heavenly energies settle onto the earth, like the water through the bamboo, they flow to the lowest places. The valley, being the lowest place, collects the most heavenly energies. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Chapter 6<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">The valley spirit, undying<br />Is called the Mystic Female<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">The gateway of the Mystic Female<br />Is called the root of Heaven and Earth<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">It flows continuously, barely perceptible<br />When utilized, it is never exhausted<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Just ponder the profound truth of that for a moment: <i style="">It </i>[heavenly energy and consciousness] <i style="">flows continuously……When utilized, it is never exhausted.</i> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Isn't the same true of Light, Love, Divine Consciousness? As it pours into you from the universe, and as you allow yourself to be a channel that it may flow through you to provide the same for others, do you not participate in the paradox of diversity while at the same time being always and completely filled with Light, Love, and participating in Universal Oneness? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Of course you do! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, maybe it's better to be a piece of Hollow Bamboo and to remain full of Light and Love, and leave the Empty Vessel to others. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Derek Lin's online translation of the Dao De Jing may be viewed on his <a href="http://truetao.org/enter.htm">True Tao website</a> <span style=""> </span>Follow the links to the translation of the Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing). <o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-90197803417456103382008-06-20T21:44:00.000-07:002008-06-20T21:52:00.533-07:00The Galaxies at the end of the universe!Here is a Summer Solstice gift for you!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcBV-cXVWFw">The Hubble Deep Field</a>.<br /><br />"In 2003, the Hubble Space Telescope took the image of a millenium, an image that shows our place in the universe. Anyone who understands what this image represents, is forever changed by it."<br /><br />If you have ever wondered why, for eons and eons, the sky along with all its heavenly bodies has been considered the abode of Crator, Spirit, God, watch this breathtaking six and a half minute video. Turn off the lights, let it fill your screen and your senses.....be One with the awesome body of the universe!<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mcBV-cXVWFw&hl=en"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mcBV-cXVWFw&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-57849134224735842562008-04-20T18:35:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:24:42.146-08:00Karma – it may not be what you think<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SHEtSIjWEUgUV5t7XQMRtU0913cysVYT9wBh-inguh-L_T1N7idRVKfWhtYZiaFnwyLp2kOoPIEq82XLGCu5VTKkhaaL3wLlXC80OXtjH2W8jFYlZLqWANzfqEGHJQh9sBQ60OWCPv4/s1600-h/Krishna-universal-form-arjuna.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SHEtSIjWEUgUV5t7XQMRtU0913cysVYT9wBh-inguh-L_T1N7idRVKfWhtYZiaFnwyLp2kOoPIEq82XLGCu5VTKkhaaL3wLlXC80OXtjH2W8jFYlZLqWANzfqEGHJQh9sBQ60OWCPv4/s400/Krishna-universal-form-arjuna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191506433931724946" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Karma isn't mentioned in the oldest Hindu book, the <u>Rig Veda</u>, which was written before 1000 BCE; some say as early as 1400 BCE, others a more conservative 1200 BCE. (Please note that all dates are approximate.) Since it is not mentioned there, the idea of karma and its effect on recurring lifetimes is probably a later development. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Karma is first mentioned in the Upanishads, though I suppose it's impossible to tell which Upanishad came first. As a group, they were written between 800 and 500 BCE.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The <u>Bhagavad-Gita </u>follows the Upanishads and was written between 500 and 200 BCE. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As far as I have found in the books, the idea that everything you do earns karma, good or bad, or that karma is the reason you have multiple lifetimes, or that karma follows you from one lifetime to another, is not a universal idea. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Too many people today use the concept of karma as a warning: if you eat meat, if you kill a bug, if you shoplift, if you do something bad, they will tell you, "it's your karma," warning you of dire the consequences of your actions. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Karma was never meant to predict your fate, rather it was an explanation for the action/reaction cycle that determines a future. It wasn't a look at the future, it was an explanation of the past. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Karma is, basically, a way to look at cause and effect of your actions. A bad action accumulates bad karma; a good action accumulates good karma. Apparently, according to modern thought, you must accumulate more good karma than bad, and that will somehow release you from the birth-death-rebirth cycle. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That is not the way the books describe it! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Instead, it is a "doing," but release comes only when your actions are completely selfless. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All actions done with purpose, either good or bad, accumulate karma, they "bind the soul" to the cycle of death-rebirth. As it says in the Isa Upanishad, "Only actions done in God bind not the soul of man." (1) In other words, actions performed in selfless service do not accumulate karma. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Performing acts for good are still acts done with a self-centered purpose…..to do good! <span style=""> </span>They accumulate karma just as harmful acts do. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Isa Upanishad goes on to say, "He who knows both knowledge and action, with action overcomes death, and with knowledge reaches immortality." (1) <span style=""> </span>(Knowledge and action are two types of Yoga (<st1:place>Union</st1:place> with the Divine), Jnana (Knowledge) and Karma (Action). The other types are Hatha (physical), Bhakti (Love), and Rajah (Mystical Experience).)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">According to Soumen De in his essay on "The Historical Context of the Bhagavad-Gita and Its Relation to Indian Religious Doctrines," Karma is "The law of universal causality, which connects man with the cosmos and condemns him to transmigrate -- to move from one body to another after death -- indefinitely. In the <i>Gita</i>, <st1:place>Krishna</st1:place> makes an allusion to the eternal soul that moves from body to body as it ascends or descends the ladder of a given hierarchy, conditioned on the nature of one's own karma -- work of life or life deeds." (2)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Also in the <i style="">Gita </i>is the information needed to overcome this cycle of transmigration. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Aarjuna, the compassionate warrior in the <i style="">Gita</i> who doesn’t want to go to war, is told: 2.03 "Do not become a coward, O Arjuna, because it does not befit you. Shake off this weakness of your heart and get up (for the battle), O Arjuna." (3) (Chapter 2 line 3.)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Arjuna doesn’t know what to do. He doesn't want to accumulate bad karma, and usually killing would do that, but here is <st1:place>Krishna</st1:place> telling him to go to battle. In modern terms, "this does not compute!" </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">He is assured that a body is supposed to be born, live, and die. He is doing nothing more than fulfilling a natural cycle by going to war and killing his enemy. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">He is assured that if he is performing this action in the name of Deity, no bad karma will be accumulated: "2.40 In Karma-yoga no effort is ever lost, and there is no harm. Even a little practice of this discipline protects one from great fear (of birth and death).<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Translator's note: Karma-yoga is also referred to as Nishkaama Karma-yoga, Seva, selfless service, Buddhi yoga, yoga of work, science of proper action, and yoga of equanimity. A Karma-yogi works for the Lord as a matter of duty without a selfish desire for the fruits of work, or any attachment to results. The word Karma also means duty, action, deeds, work, or the results of past deeds." (3) (Chapter 2 line 40.) <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Arjuna is further assured: </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"2.49 Work done with selfish motives is inferior by far to the selfless service or Karma-yoga. Therefore be a Karma-yogi, O Arjuna. Those who seek (to enjoy) the fruits of their work are verily unhappy (because one has no control over the results). <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"2.50 A Karma-yogi gets freedom from both vice and virtue in this life itself. Therefore, strive for Karma-yoga. Working to the best of one's abilities without getting attached to the fruits of work is called (Nishkaama) Karma-yoga. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"2.51 Wise Karma-yogis, possessed with mental poise by renouncing the attachment to the fruits of work, are indeed freed from the bondage of rebirth and attain the blissful divine state." <span style=""> </span>(3)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The interrelationship and the exemption from rebirth due to the combination of knowledge (janan) and work (karma) is explained in chapter 3, lines 2 through 9:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"3.02 [Arjuna] You seem to confuse my mind by apparently conflicting words. Tell me, decisively, one thing by which I may attain the Supreme. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"3.03 The Supreme Lord said: In this world, O Arjuna, a twofold path of Sadhana (or the spiritual practice) has been stated by Me in the past. The path of Self-knowledge (or Jnana-yoga) for the contemplative, and the path of unselfish work (or Karma-yoga) for the active.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Translator's note: Jnana-yoga is also called Saamkhya-yoga, Samnyasa-yoga, and yoga of knowledge. A Jnana-yogi does not consider oneself the doer of any action, but only an instrument in the hands of divine for His use. The word Jnana means metaphysical or transcendental knowledge.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"3.04 One does not attain freedom from the bondage of Karma by merely abstaining from work. No one attains perfection by merely giving up work. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"3.05 Because no one can remain actionless even for a moment. Everyone is driven to action, helplessly indeed, by the Gunas of nature. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"3.06 The deluded ones, who restrain their organs of action but mentally dwell upon the sense enjoyment, are called hypocrites. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"3.07 <a name="07"></a>The one who controls the senses by the (trained and purified) mind and intellect, and engages the organs of action to Nishkaama Karma-yoga, is superior, O Arjuna. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"3.08 Perform your obligatory duty, because action is indeed better than inaction. Even the maintenance of your body would not be possible by inaction. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"3.09 Human beings are bound by Karma (or works) other than those done as Yajna. Therefore, O Arjuna, do your duty efficiently as a service or Seva to Me, free from attachment to the fruits of work.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Translator's note: Yajna means sacrifice, selfless service, unselfish work, Seva, meritorious deeds, giving away something to others, and a religious rite in which oblation is offered to gods through the mouth of fire." (3) <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And, finally, this: </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"3.19 Therefore, always perform your duty efficiently and without attachment to the results, because by doing work without attachment one attains the Supreme." </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There it is, in a nutshell: "doing work without attachment one attains the Supreme"</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Karma is not accumulated without attachment to the outcome.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The way to accumulate karma is to remain attached to the outcome; good or bad, attachment accumulates karmic debt. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To be free of karma, to escape the death-rebirth cycle, is to act selflessly, only in the name of Service, only in the name of God, Creator, Spirit, or any other name you wish to apply.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(1) Mascaro, Juan translator, <u>The Upanishads</u>, Penguin Classics, <st1:state><st1:place>New York</st1:place></st1:state>, 1965</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(2) De, Soumen: The Historical Context of <a href="http://eawc.evansville.edu/anthology/gita.htm">The Bhagavad Gita</a> and Its Relation to Indian Religious Doctrines; Exploring Ancient World Cultures <a href="http://eawc.evansville.edu/essays/de.htm">http://eawc.evansville.edu/essays/de.htm</a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(3) Prasad, Ramanand translator, <u>The Bhagavad Gita</u>, Realization.org <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.realization.org/page/namedoc0/gita/gita0.htm">http://www.realization.org/page/namedoc0/gita/gita0.htm</a> <o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-27447743670845704982008-04-08T18:38:00.000-07:002009-07-03T18:54:43.875-07:00God's Eye IIA few months ago, I posted about a picture that had been sent to me that the writer claimed was a rare astronomical event called the Eye Of God.<br /><br />See <a href="http://phoenixqi.blogspot.com/2007/11/gods-eye.html">God's Eye </a>for further information on that.<br /><br />Today I was looking at recent entries on the <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html">Astronomy Picture Of The Day</a> website and found another possibility for the Eye of God.<br /><br />Here is the original Eye of God photo that was sent to me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNkLZpiOz-NL_wbASPoQN-_sytwjOxJNEElE2s5E_v-zPBL-mrM0_VcZzoeORJgqs5DA766qKDf51HaSIMM2dPWkQODraP87nt49GlNTGmHE1TYDTM5cQI0fwj3BwZhvfHoML8KbpaR0/s1600-h/GodsEye.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNkLZpiOz-NL_wbASPoQN-_sytwjOxJNEElE2s5E_v-zPBL-mrM0_VcZzoeORJgqs5DA766qKDf51HaSIMM2dPWkQODraP87nt49GlNTGmHE1TYDTM5cQI0fwj3BwZhvfHoML8KbpaR0/s400/GodsEye.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187055115842563042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is a photo of the Cat's Eye Nebula, the <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080322.html">APOD website's entry for March 22, 2008</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBj7t2w7gdxnn8UyEx0Ufsz1GJPAZkt5Zx0ZmNs3CI7FdhrzOZKE1fT8h_JUpstcrvy2lAPSUqbC9q5QZ3v5sNZPd6R5zP3gFgKfn1tUHUxajnCHGLH9rX311iNp3xE4Kgq2JM7iJGir4/s1600-h/NGC6543HST_peris_d800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBj7t2w7gdxnn8UyEx0Ufsz1GJPAZkt5Zx0ZmNs3CI7FdhrzOZKE1fT8h_JUpstcrvy2lAPSUqbC9q5QZ3v5sNZPd6R5zP3gFgKfn1tUHUxajnCHGLH9rX311iNp3xE4Kgq2JM7iJGir4/s400/NGC6543HST_peris_d800.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187060046465018866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here is the info posted along with the photo:<br /><br />Staring across interstellar space, the alluring <a href="http://seds.org/messier/xtra/ngc/n6543.html">Cat's Eye Nebula</a> lies three thousand light-years from Earth. One of the most famous <a href="http://www.seds.org/messier/planetar.html">planetary nebulae</a> in the sky, the Cat's Eye (NGC 6543) is over half a light-year across and represents a final, brief yet <a href="http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/plannebs.html">glorious phase</a> in the life of a sun-like star. This nebula's dying central star may have produced the simple, outer pattern of dusty concentric shells by shrugging off <a href="http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/1997/38">outer layers</a> in a series of regular convulsions. But <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap061112.html">the formation</a> of the beautiful, more complex inner structures is not well understood. Here, Hubble Space Telescope archival image data has been <a href="http://pixinsight.com/examples/index.html">reprocessed</a> to create another look the cosmic cat's eye. Compared to well-known <a href="http://heritage.stsci.edu/2004/27/">Hubble pictures</a>, the alternative processing strives to sharpen and improve the visiblility of details in light and dark areas of the nebula and also applies a more complex color <a href="http://www.astrofoto.es/NGC6543HSTcrop.jpg">palette</a>. Of course, gazing into the Cat's Eye, astronomers may well be seeing the fate of our Sun, destined to enter its own <a href="http://heritage.stsci.edu/2000/28/pne.html">planetary nebula</a> phase of evolution ... in about 5 billion years.<br /><br /><br />Update July 3, 2009:<br /><br />As the anonymous commenter on the first "Gods's Eye" post said (see link at top), the first picture is of the Helix Nebula, NGC7293!<br /><br />Here is an article on it at wikipedia: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helix_Nebula">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helix_Nebula</a><br /><br />And, another from Astronomy Picture of the Day that was not available at the time I first posted this article: <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090303.html">http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090303.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-91183375872322841022008-03-18T12:54:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:24:44.064-08:00Yarrow Stalk Method of Generating an I Ching (Yijing) Hexagram<p class="MsoNormal">Begin with 50 stalks/sticks. Set one stalk off to the side in an upright (vertical) position. This is symbolic of the connection between Earth and Sky. Set a second stalk across the first one in a horizontal position, forming an equal-armed cross. This is symbolic of Man between Earth and Sky.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">1<span style=""> </span>Take the remaining 48 stalks and divide them into two roughly equal piles in front of you, one on the left, the other on the right. </p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lczX9JJpUpj-YyqoU8aOMxe3HOolTtJchOfMvIiwc8LfIUvROzkI3kxn38gLgtTQ8Qmdx-ogebiHCr-SNOR03-LAGb33mekapNZIrGnOSYMRkBuFA91xuorRSFm-aCmcqDVQRX0iry4/s1600-h/CountStalks+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4lczX9JJpUpj-YyqoU8aOMxe3HOolTtJchOfMvIiwc8LfIUvROzkI3kxn38gLgtTQ8Qmdx-ogebiHCr-SNOR03-LAGb33mekapNZIrGnOSYMRkBuFA91xuorRSFm-aCmcqDVQRX0iry4/s400/CountStalks+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179173177189919058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">2<span style=""> </span>Take one stalk from the pile on the right side and hold it between the small finger and ring finger of your left hand (you may use your right hand for holding stalks if you are left-handed). </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">3<span style=""> </span>From the pile on the left side, count off the stalks in groups of four, setting these aside, until you have 4 or fewer stalks remaining. Hold this group of four or fewer between the ring finger and the middle finger of your hand. </p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeLtMtvX3QSXIRtv0c2yPJCEe1vPpoo3OkBeMh1m7o9cOC_zL9OOMRad5PB2DeWapL8JE-EUV17x4CA0NoNZyqH3vk-ieGchYtPBU7jQPU_icyG5KWSTChaTjwPWydmVrbh6FFwYCrYM/s1600-h/CountStalks+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeLtMtvX3QSXIRtv0c2yPJCEe1vPpoo3OkBeMh1m7o9cOC_zL9OOMRad5PB2DeWapL8JE-EUV17x4CA0NoNZyqH3vk-ieGchYtPBU7jQPU_icyG5KWSTChaTjwPWydmVrbh6FFwYCrYM/s400/CountStalks+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179173095585540418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">4<span style=""> </span>Turn to the pile of stalks on the right, and count off until you have four or fewer left. Hold this group of four or fewer between the middle and index finger of your hand.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">5<span style=""> </span>How many stalks are you holding in your hand? Counting in this way can have only two results: you will be holding a total of 4 or 8 stalks between the fingers of your hand. If you have a value other than four or eight, you've made a mistake and need to recount.<br /></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEECdSrJDH4QIVi2FePvs7CAsdtncJ1cvF5zPPWEH-kpJadSjraaJ4ML_qnb-iZZt_vM9evCCMg0gnoT92b7cxz1iMCn9ivi9E44bYvonI0w4oIVsSwAEAVx8cbDtU6gJqbdsw4jX_Fg/s1600-h/CountStalks+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEECdSrJDH4QIVi2FePvs7CAsdtncJ1cvF5zPPWEH-kpJadSjraaJ4ML_qnb-iZZt_vM9evCCMg0gnoT92b7cxz1iMCn9ivi9E44bYvonI0w4oIVsSwAEAVx8cbDtU6gJqbdsw4jX_Fg/s400/CountStalks+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179173031161030962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">6<span style=""> </span>Set aside this batch of four or eight stalks. You will come back to them soon.<br /><o:p> </o:p></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwBuE5GTcKvobf9pBSAVEhySKR5NNwIrKDjyLvtiSlpDNGsaEXB56KSlslnZuSHN_baPIBKr5lk7TlVenakgKA8GmHdLVuuGFebJd_O2Y8Rpim5w-so9n5cnV-HBGrR2bV9sM0S61gBs/s1600-h/CountStalks+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwBuE5GTcKvobf9pBSAVEhySKR5NNwIrKDjyLvtiSlpDNGsaEXB56KSlslnZuSHN_baPIBKr5lk7TlVenakgKA8GmHdLVuuGFebJd_O2Y8Rpim5w-so9n5cnV-HBGrR2bV9sM0S61gBs/s400/CountStalks+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179172962441554210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Pick up your pile of discarded stalks and repeat steps 1 through 6 two more times. You will have three small piles of either 4 or 8 stalks each. </p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2Rgh2ezNOdd88GmXPnrvjb_oXQMzw0UHNuj18TPrghNkMtrt9eW52wYiUqSW3W4MnGy9-RdttMIZdJyS-clSEG2qX2iK-Khjq8Uznylv2RVdc9KsTst5TFOWHm8wGVRC4QGaDgHzs_o/s1600-h/CountStalks+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2Rgh2ezNOdd88GmXPnrvjb_oXQMzw0UHNuj18TPrghNkMtrt9eW52wYiUqSW3W4MnGy9-RdttMIZdJyS-clSEG2qX2iK-Khjq8Uznylv2RVdc9KsTst5TFOWHm8wGVRC4QGaDgHzs_o/s400/CountStalks+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179172889427110162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewK8V-2InsiiD9NGsLebZUVdNH86Ieob5jgaKladtCOVAhctiyVnorfJ4W9hR1G-piykEaHlCrgXAwEON4Qim54L3wkwD-sNZqsgo66IROhLw3_kFNdkUmW6e68en7HYd2cL0zCi1W0I/s1600-h/CountStalks+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewK8V-2InsiiD9NGsLebZUVdNH86Ieob5jgaKladtCOVAhctiyVnorfJ4W9hR1G-piykEaHlCrgXAwEON4Qim54L3wkwD-sNZqsgo66IROhLw3_kFNdkUmW6e68en7HYd2cL0zCi1W0I/s400/CountStalks+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179172816412666114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Give the numeric value 3 to piles of four stalks.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Give the numeric value 2 to piles of eight stalks.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Add together the values for the piles of stalks (you will notice that even totals generate a Yin line, odd totals generate a<span style=""> </span>Yang line): </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you have a value of six (2+2+2, or three piles of eight stalks), draw a Changing Yin (broken) line. - -c</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you have a value of seven (2+2+3, or two piles of eight stalks, one pile of four stalks), draw a Yang (unbroken) line. ---<span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you have a value of eight (2+3+3, or one pile of eight stalks, two piles of four stalks), draw a Yin (broken) line. - -</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">If you have a value of nine (3+3+3, or three piles of four stalks), draw a Changing Yang (unbroken) line. <span style="">---c</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This completes the first line (the bottom line) of your hexagram.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Beginning at number 1 above, repeat all the above steps until you have completed six lines. (At that time, you may gather together all fifty stalks and return them to their container.)<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">When finished, you will have a figure that looks something like this:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Line 6<span style=""> </span><span style="">- -</span> Yin line</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Line 5<span style=""><span style=""> </span>---</span><span style=""> </span>Yang line</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Line 4<span style=""> </span><span style="">---</span><span style="">c </span>Yang line Changing to Yin</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Line 3<span style=""> </span><span style="">---</span><span style=""> </span>Yang line</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Line 2<span style=""> </span><span style="">---</span><span style=""> </span>Yang line</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Line 1<span style=""> </span>- -c<span style=""> </span>Yin line Changing to Yang</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Look up your hexagram in your favorite book; read the advice section that discusses the hexagram as a whole and the section(s) that correspond to any changing lines. If you have changing lines, redraw the figure with the lines changed (Yin to Yang or Yang to Yin), and look up the second hexagram. Read the advice section, but not the changing line sections. In the above example, you would read the advice for hexagram 28 and lines 1 and 4, and hexagram 5.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Line 6<span style=""> </span><span style="">- - </span>to - -<span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Line 5<span style=""> </span><span style="">---<span style=""> </span></span>to<span style=""><span style=""> ---</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Line 4 ---c<span style=""> </span>to<span style=""> - -</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Line 3<span style=""><span style=""> </span>---<span style=""> </span></span>to<span style=""><span style=""> ---</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Line 2<span style=""> </span><span style="">---<span style=""> </span></span>to<span style=""><span style=""> ---</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Line 1<span style=""> </span><span style="">- -</span>c<span style=""> </span>to<span style=""> ---</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Hexagram </span>28<span style=""> to </span> 5</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-67401884646952815332008-03-05T22:26:00.001-08:002008-12-10T03:24:44.179-08:00Planetary Hours and Days<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0F810Q7WkLJiADszMmYtEVTeOgCP9Kw8RUb1YJFgUvw3PZqpy6pWOuzoidI89DJjjIz8FAxTlREXtfakVQP0DcpmjblnZJ1bzrDDIdp5BNO-D64hAdgzAYlHt1tzZsIwR0rsRlP4Akc/s1600-h/weekstar.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0F810Q7WkLJiADszMmYtEVTeOgCP9Kw8RUb1YJFgUvw3PZqpy6pWOuzoidI89DJjjIz8FAxTlREXtfakVQP0DcpmjblnZJ1bzrDDIdp5BNO-D64hAdgzAYlHt1tzZsIwR0rsRlP4Akc/s400/weekstar.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5174511509838147426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Many people are familiar with the fact that the days of the week are named after the Anglo-Saxon or Teutonic gods and goddesses: <span style=""> </span>Sunday for Sunna, Monday for the Moon, Tuesday for Tiw, Wednesday for Woden, Thursday for Thor, Friday for Frigg or Freya, and Saturday for the Roman god Saturn. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">However, how those days were chosen in the order we have today may be somewhat of a mystery. The article below will, no doubt, clear up a good part of that mystery! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/planetaryhoursarticle.html">Planetary Hours and Days</a> by Christopher Warnock, Esq.</p><o:p></o:p><span style="font-size:100%;">T</span><span style="font-size:100%;">he planetary hours use the Chaldean order to divide time. Each planetary hour of the planetary day is ruled by a different planet. The planet that rules the first hour of the day is also the ruler of the whole day and gives the day its name. Thus the first hour of Sunday is ruled by the Sun, the first hour of Monday is ruled by the Moon and so on. </span> <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="margin-left: 1.5pt;" border="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td colspan="8" style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Planetary Hours of the Day</b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Hour</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Sunday</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Monday</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Tuesday</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Wednesday</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Thursday</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Friday</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Saturday</i></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">2</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">3</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">4</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">5</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">6</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">7</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun </span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">8</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">9</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">10</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">11</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">12</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <table class="MsoNormalTable" style="margin-left: 1.5pt;" border="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td colspan="8" style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Planetary Hours of the Night</b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Hours</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Sunday</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Monday</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Tuesday</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Wednesday</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Thursday</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Friday</i></b></span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><i>Saturday</i></b></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter </span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">2</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">3</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun </span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">4</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">5</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">6</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">7</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 16.5pt;"> <td style="padding: 0.75pt; height: 16.5pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">8</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt; height: 16.5pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt; height: 16.5pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt; height: 16.5pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt; height: 16.5pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt; height: 16.5pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt; height: 16.5pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt; height: 16.5pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">9</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">10</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">11</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">12</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mercury</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jupiter</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Venus</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saturn</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sun</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Moon</span></p> </td> <td style="padding: 0.75pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mars</span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">However, the planetary hours are not the same as the sixty minute hours beginning at <st1:time hour="0" minute="0">midnight</st1:time></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> that we use for normal timekeeping. The planetary days are divided into twenty four planetary hours with the first hour of the day beginning at sunrise and the last hour of the day ending at sunrise of the next planetary day. The period that extends from sunrise to sunset (daylight) is divided into twelve hours and the period extending from sunset to sunrise of the next day (nighttime) is also divided into twelve hours giving the twenty four hours of the planetary day.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">A</span><span style="font-size:100%;">ccordingly, as the duration of daylight and darkness varies except at the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes, on a particular planetary day the length of the hours of the day will differ from the length of the hours of the night. Thus another name for the planetary hours, says <a href="http://www.renaissanceastrology.com/lilly.html">William Lilly</a>, the renowned English astrologer, is the unequal hours. <i>Christian Astrology</i>, [<st1:city><st1:place>London</st1:place></st1:city></span><span style="font-size:100%;">, 1647] page 482.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a name="C">The Planetary Hours and the Names and Sequence of the Days of the Week</a></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">A</span><span style="font-size:100%;">s Lilly notes there are seven days of the week and seven planets and each planet rules or is lord of, one day: Sunday, the Sun; Monday, the Moon; Tuesday, Mars; Wednesday, Mercury; Thursday, Jupiter; Friday, Venus; and Saturday, Saturn. William Lilly, <i>Christian Astrology</i>, p. 482. The origin of the names of the days are explicitly planetary in medieval Latin: <i>dies dominici</i> (Sunday, the lord's day), <i>die Lune, die Martis, die Mercuri, die Jovis, die Veneris, die Saturni</i>. In English the Teutonic equivalents of the Greek and Latin gods have been used for some of the names of the days, i.e. Tuesday is Tiw's day, the Teutonic god of war; Wednesday is Wotan's day; Thursday is Thor's day; Friday is Frigg's day.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">A</span><span style="font-size:100%;">s we can see the sequence and names of the days of the week are not in the Chaldean order, but nevertheless the sequence and names of the days of the week are closely connected to the Chaldean order. Two processes interact to produce the sequence of the days of the week: (1) the fact that the planetary hours follow the Chaldean order and; (2) the fact that the planet that rules the first hour of each day rules the whole day and gives the day its name.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">F</span><span style="font-size:13;"><span style="font-size:100%;">igure One [at the top of this article] is the standard diagram of the planets arranged in a circle in the Chaldean order. Starting with the Sun and then following the order of the days of the week and their planetary rulers, i.e. Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, produces a seven pointed star, the heptagram of the week.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-3536375688013173822008-02-29T19:58:00.000-08:002008-12-10T03:24:47.776-08:00I Ching (Yijing) throughout the year – the Tidal Gua (aka the Monthly Hexagrams)<p class="MsoNormal">There are twelve special hexagrams in the Yijing (I Ching) that are often called the Tidal Gua. They each represent a solar month and are symbolic of the rise and fall of yang and yin throughout the course of the year, starting with the Chinese Solar New Year in February. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The equinoxes and solstices are also each represented by a hexagram which will be described in the appropriate month.</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH_Oi9Cq_lcXCT1e0wJ5FLwcHjaUgoOA-uYcPLk5KBfMAP9_Jr-YUl49sUs9olbp_tkVTcTSHjDuVkSyxYqyz017VMN4yXBHB4Kq4UnJQL227ejQqvZ8nC-icI1OLH85MsYERRY4Cfi4/s1600-h/Hex11-Feb.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH_Oi9Cq_lcXCT1e0wJ5FLwcHjaUgoOA-uYcPLk5KBfMAP9_Jr-YUl49sUs9olbp_tkVTcTSHjDuVkSyxYqyz017VMN4yXBHB4Kq4UnJQL227ejQqvZ8nC-icI1OLH85MsYERRY4Cfi4/s400/Hex11-Feb.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172619243936013122" border="0" /></a><b style="">February </b><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal">The I Ching hexagram governing this month is number 11, Tai, Advance, or Peace, Harmony, Good Opportunity. The element is Earth, and the chakra is the Solar Plexus. This is the first month in the Chinese solar calendar ~ Happy New Year ~ ! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is an especially favorable time...the beginning of a new year...and as all beginnings, notice that it starts in balance with the lower yang lines and upper yin lines. The active energies are strengthening and moving upward and outward. The passive energies are decreasing, resting on and meeting with the active. Since the trigrams move toward each other, the lower moving upward, and the upper moving downward, this symbolizes the combining or co-mingling of opposites thereby establishing a state of balance and harmony of the natural energies. In the trigram family, the upper yin lines represent the Mother, the lower yang lines represent the Father. When Mother and Father come together, all things may be conceived, may be born, grow and prosper. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Also, this is a reminder to us to work toward the balance of inner strength, virtue and correct conduct, with outer softness, showing mercy and compassion to others. Personal spiritual growth and self-cultivation is a good thing to work on at this time. The days are a little longer and a little warmer, allowing us to get outside and back into Nature. That, in turn, gives us the opportunity to mingle with others (we all get out more when the weather is nicer!) and share some of that rising, positive energy.</p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgF91it9BCajyUuY_4W20KbuqNFNvnyqL7ngOqxDwWCZ345iAH8aiDZmKKyXSv4bnzgqoozs4E8rZHi8obd_8LGyu_y_jPLmfx7Pm7jXEsN8Aos4TI2gLBD33MXGQFeFZvlvQm7S0XGQ/s1600-h/Hex34-Mar.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgF91it9BCajyUuY_4W20KbuqNFNvnyqL7ngOqxDwWCZ345iAH8aiDZmKKyXSv4bnzgqoozs4E8rZHi8obd_8LGyu_y_jPLmfx7Pm7jXEsN8Aos4TI2gLBD33MXGQFeFZvlvQm7S0XGQ/s400/Hex34-Mar.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172619162331634482" border="0" /></a><b style="">March </b><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal">The I Ching hexagram governing this month is number 34, Da Zhuang, Great Strength, thunder over sky or heaven. The phase is wood, the chakra is the Heart. With the coming of the Spring Equinox this month, we see that growing yang has overbalanced receding yin. Being of the wood phase, the energies are outward moving, but sideways, like a tree sprouting spring buds, rather than straight upward. Eventually the leaves will reach for the sun, but not yet. Likewise, we are coming out of a hibernation of sorts, re-exploring our newborn surroundings after the sleep of winter. The Great Strength we see is the inner strength of Virtue; outwardly, we should still reach with the gentle, soft touch of the heart when dealing with others. An astral<span style=""> </span>journey may be indicated with the feet (thunder) over the head (heaven); this reversed body position could be symbolic of climbing the upside-down World Tree sometimes depicted in Northern Asia as having roots in heaven and branches touching the earth...the paradox of going up (toward heaven) and down (toward the roots) at the same time. Thunder in the sky represents the spring rains that will nourish the crops, the food to sustain Life and bring future prosperity, both physical and spiritual. Thunder, the eldest son, above Heaven, the father, reminds me of the scene in the movie "The Lion King" where King Mufasa, standing on the cliff above the other citizens of the African plains, holds aloft his eldest cub Simba, his great promise for the future. That scene always gives me goosebumps, much like an approaching thunderstorm! </p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6soPSoEtVF-zSky7GBA2ROjCiny-Nf7N5kRAsgbGoV3KNFHJcyNJ82-YN_ZZ_QDv7JDBhvDyZhHfqsmJTqwe_Wx_toum0Dj25HsSfNwlPqrFrzI_t7Juylr3ga5nptbKSrOaHWQ9A-Y/s1600-h/Hex51-SpringEquinox.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6soPSoEtVF-zSky7GBA2ROjCiny-Nf7N5kRAsgbGoV3KNFHJcyNJ82-YN_ZZ_QDv7JDBhvDyZhHfqsmJTqwe_Wx_toum0Dj25HsSfNwlPqrFrzI_t7Juylr3ga5nptbKSrOaHWQ9A-Y/s400/Hex51-SpringEquinox.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172619089317190434" border="0" /></a>Spring Equinox is symbolized by hexagram number 51, The Arousing, Shocking, thunder over thunder. This is quite a lively month with all the thunder symbolism! Doubled thunder represents a blast of energy, doubled feet a lot of movement. There is great potential for creativity and new beginnings, but much disruption, too. Like the warning of the <st1:place><st1:placename>Tarot</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place> card, caution must be taken that any "shock" be met with inner firmness and outer flexibility, be weathered creatively but not allowed to push us from our path.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEtuGPqjsxLPeBxyFkD4_s8Eooq612CLMG7w8qBlSyNKzLs-ZtwPUBdCXAF5npR0wUNxCWJ7Ts67_0UdcNAo9UFhaG4vwKlVpvJUWcVDpG8ICAD4tqI24RhFriXhPQSR_hdhpdMXexiM/s1600-h/Hex43-Apr.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoEtuGPqjsxLPeBxyFkD4_s8Eooq612CLMG7w8qBlSyNKzLs-ZtwPUBdCXAF5npR0wUNxCWJ7Ts67_0UdcNAo9UFhaG4vwKlVpvJUWcVDpG8ICAD4tqI24RhFriXhPQSR_hdhpdMXexiM/s400/Hex43-Apr.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172619007712811794" border="0" /></a><b style="">April </b><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal">The I Ching hexagram governing this month is number 43, Guai, Eliminating, or Resolution (equivalent to "eliminating" obstacles or hesitation), lake over heaven/sky. The phase is metal, and the chakra is the throat. As coincidence has it, this chakra attribute coincides favorably with the upper trigram which also represents the mouth, and the advice of the I includes "Declaring," "howling," and to "notify," all voice related activities. This is a time when the five strong lines below are one step away from eliminating the weak yin line at the top. The image speaks of water from the lake accumulating high above. There is the tension as of a coming storm. (You may be reminded, as I am, of the little poem "April showers/bring May flowers.")<span style=""> </span>As it happens, it's raining even as I write this! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The lower trigram of three yang lines is the Father. Of the metal element, this is indicative of great inner strength and wisdom. The upper three lines, two yang and one yin, the lake, is the youngest daughter in the trigram family. She is named "The Joyful" or "The Joyous." Her elemental correspondence is metal also, making this a very strong combination indeed.<span style=""> </span>The strength of the yang lines pushing upward and finally bursting through the one yin line shows that we can overcome any lingering inferior yin forces. It is definitely a time for overcoming obstacles (within ourselves, or in our external environment), for action and support for worthy causes! However, rushing into action recklessly would be a mistake. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is worth noting that our youngest, joyful daughter also represents the metal of weapons -- and we can't help be wary of having "sharp tongues." Speaking out sharply would only cause further strife when we are trying to relieve tensions. Rather, we should take the time to consider and choose our words carefully, use our Voices, yet resolve to speak out against negative influences with thought, clarity, and virtue.<span style=""> </span></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-iEzW0_uCgNW4Ktqnx-d2U5zJThihd914KPyfoKnp1Pr5CjY3O7ytXv7h-g6RI9VcRIYbAdBKzjh4lTGTq-m76RBD8t_aww_41pG-hkJDRngbnO82HJIQvRkZzaSmscFlCEJTxILJjso/s1600-h/Hex01-May.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-iEzW0_uCgNW4Ktqnx-d2U5zJThihd914KPyfoKnp1Pr5CjY3O7ytXv7h-g6RI9VcRIYbAdBKzjh4lTGTq-m76RBD8t_aww_41pG-hkJDRngbnO82HJIQvRkZzaSmscFlCEJTxILJjso/s400/Hex01-May.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172618926108433154" border="0" /></a><b style="">May </b><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal">The I Ching hexagram governing this month is number 1, Qian, The Creative, or Initiating, heaven/ sky over heaven/sky. The phase is metal, and the chakra is the third eye. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Heavenly, yang energies are at their peak this month just as the longest days of the year occur during this month. Sometimes people wonder why this is the May hexagram instead of June, as we usually think of June as being the Summer, very yang, month. The reason is the Solstice; Just as the hours of daylight were (finally!) longer than the hours of darkness with the coming of the Equinox in March, the hours of daylight begin to wane again with the coming of the Solstice in June. Therefore, May is really the month with the most hours of sunlight each day. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This hexagram is one of the few which contain all four of the most auspicious Judgments in the I Ching: sublime initiation (yuan), prosperous and smooth (heng), favorable and successful (li), and steadfast and upright (zhen). It contains the full circle of sprouting, growing, blooming, and bearing fruit. Ancient oracle bones tell us that this sequence once may have represented the proper way to conduct a divination. Heng and zhen meant "sacrificial offerings" (to Heaven, Earth, and ancestors) and "divination" respectively. Master Huang, in <u>The Complete I Ching</u>, says "From the ancient pictographs of yuan, heng, li, and zhen we comprehend that one needs to prepare for divination by aligning with the spirit of Heaven and Earth and presenting sincerity and reverence as sacrificial offerings; then one will reap the harvest of the divination to obtain guidance for favorable actions and to avoid misconduct that invites misfortune." (p.23)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This information, combined with the third eye chakra (Second Sight!) correspondence, not to mention the real & symbolic "light" of this month, it seems that divinations are especially favored! You may want to ask at this time what the next year will bring. Good luck!</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifN2YchtOE1U9dL_hG83iL-hlvI_ErYn6rhHMf2D8j7VldfUA6sXMmpvtc3T3gqbE_QMcdOfX_kiQp5wUnUI333osG6VRibnL_0wxqXfAsB7e0oJJzSx2SwdBQK9MnYuDi7DV-77NTyQQ/s1600-h/Hex44-Jun.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifN2YchtOE1U9dL_hG83iL-hlvI_ErYn6rhHMf2D8j7VldfUA6sXMmpvtc3T3gqbE_QMcdOfX_kiQp5wUnUI333osG6VRibnL_0wxqXfAsB7e0oJJzSx2SwdBQK9MnYuDi7DV-77NTyQQ/s400/Hex44-Jun.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172618857388956402" border="0" /></a><b style="">June </b><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal">The I Ching hexagram governing this month is number 44, Gou, Encountering, or Meeting Together, heaven/sky over wind/wood. The phase is metal, and the chakra is the crown. Following the Summer Solstice, the yin, dark energies begin their yearly return as we see in the bottom line of this hexagram; the darkness beginning to encroach on and displace the bright yang lines.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><br />Because of the single yin line at the bottom, which is advancing, this hexagram is considered an unfavorable omen; dark forces or unworthy persons are approaching. The wind in the sky penetrates everywhere; one must be vigilant lest negative influences try to worm their way into one's life. Competition between the yang lines (men) for the single yin line (woman) is another symbol associated with this sign: beware of entering into competition with people or the Self; arguments and disruptions will surely occur if you do. Also, take care to not regress into bad habits. </p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjf64kDTMwHUtTsU_7tpg5PotE00PL2tQ3jzIrILMU8oiBL0gJX7weELp4YeIu-tOLERjnuYiW_9gIZXivvmygTdsr2xBfITS2vGnmY0dbJ1Ly9gOhkJBO3wPGvYEu725BzXzPNLx_8Ko/s1600-h/Hex30-SummerSolstice.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjf64kDTMwHUtTsU_7tpg5PotE00PL2tQ3jzIrILMU8oiBL0gJX7weELp4YeIu-tOLERjnuYiW_9gIZXivvmygTdsr2xBfITS2vGnmY0dbJ1Ly9gOhkJBO3wPGvYEu725BzXzPNLx_8Ko/s400/Hex30-SummerSolstice.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172618780079545058" border="0" /></a>The summer solstice is marked by hexagram number 30, Li, Radiance, or Brightness, fire doubled. Fire is the symbol of the sun. It is also the symbol of the middle daughter, and of the eye; the middle daughter is the diviner, the clairvoyant who sees clearly and can interpret well the advice received through an I Ching divination. Fire is also sometimes referred to as "the clinging" because it clings to that which is burning. When one "clings" to brightness, that which is virtuous and correct, one is able to avoid darkness and danger. However, one should not attach to too much brightness, or one will burn oneself out!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMgf_ipcpBzFa9wREESFKv_UAPYv37ULDDCDdAvACeFAYAmyjajsPmw5FbR53DMQbidZ05M7pAckDRtHGJpoCH_EvDYR6rkIYAg3t865emD3xCB4I9g7dRJWpOr1Gye8Am_o8myDUPCg/s1600-h/Hex33-Jul.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMgf_ipcpBzFa9wREESFKv_UAPYv37ULDDCDdAvACeFAYAmyjajsPmw5FbR53DMQbidZ05M7pAckDRtHGJpoCH_EvDYR6rkIYAg3t865emD3xCB4I9g7dRJWpOr1Gye8Am_o8myDUPCg/s400/Hex33-Jul.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172618728539937490" border="0" /></a><b style="">July </b><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal">The I Ching hexagram governing this month is number 33, Dun, Retreat, heaven/sky over mountain. The phase is metal, and the chakra is the Third Eye; having reached the crown last<span style=""> </span>month, qi is now moving down the front of the body as the Microcosmic Orbit, as it is known in qi gong, continues. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The dark, yin forces are advancing. Retreat tells us that now is not the time to oppose them. Just the opposite, we are advised to draw back and regroup. How does one draw back? In an orderly fashion. This is not a turn-tail-and-run sort of withdrawal, but rather we should acknowledge the strengthening of dark forces without becoming involved with them. The two trigrams, heaven and mountain, do not move toward each other; the favorable energy of heaven moves upward, but the mountain stands still. Allow yourself to look upward, beyond the negativity; rise above it and stand fast in your virtue. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The top trigram also represents the father, and the sage, the repository of creativity and wisdom. The lower mountain trigram represents the youngest son. In other cultures, when the youngest son goes to his father for a lesson, he seldom fires off questions; he sits quietly and observes keenly. These are his lessons; patience, looking beyond the trivial, and paying attention to the higher, important happenings. An appropriate proverb might be "Good things come to those who wait."</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <span style="">When we seek creativity and wisdom, we should emulate the youngest son, assume the stillness of a mountain (better yet, find a place to sit on top of one) quietly in meditation, retreat to an inner place, and watch what unfolds from the heavens, for, assuredly, something will!<span style=""> </span></span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqPxHcp-7vpWsIP5c41uU3cdBBBT2AniJxysTFoSiVi-1Hfb3c5lk6l5S_yC2USRl1nw2_10yEOU2OWzLp-lSnfmzHlgaSlYa7WDfz_XHgJl_QH5UVBrJTW6VCU-S-YDoM3rZ1FTmPtw/s1600-h/Hex12-Aug.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoqPxHcp-7vpWsIP5c41uU3cdBBBT2AniJxysTFoSiVi-1Hfb3c5lk6l5S_yC2USRl1nw2_10yEOU2OWzLp-lSnfmzHlgaSlYa7WDfz_XHgJl_QH5UVBrJTW6VCU-S-YDoM3rZ1FTmPtw/s400/Hex12-Aug.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172618659820460738" border="0" /></a><b style="">August </b><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal">The I Ching hexagram governing this month is number 12, Pi, Hindrance or Misfortune, heaven/sky over earth. The phase is metal, and the chakra is the throat; qi continues to move down the front of the body as the Microcosmic Orbit of circulating energy continues. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There is no integration of yin and yang energy here; worse, the yang energy above, following its natural course, continues to move upward and farther away while the yin energy below continues to sink further downward foretelling the continuation of imbalance and disharmony. Master Hua Ching Ni, in <u>The Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth</u>, tells us: "Much is given; little is received." (p. 282) All our energy is being poured outward; our inner energy is in danger of being completely depleted if we continue to give without remembering to rejuvenate ourselves. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps we have, during these longer and balmy summer days, spent more of our time out and about enjoying Nature than we have spent practicing the cultivation of inner energy or our spiritual selves. We may have gotten "carried away" with all the outdoor activity of the season, and may now be experiencing a decline in our reserves. (It's somewhat amazing to notice the number of people who are relieved by the arrival of Labor Day in September...they get to slow down a little! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Of course, everything cycles over time, so while we should certainly be careful at a time like this which calls to our attention the prevailing state of imbalance and disharmony, we know that this is not a lasting condition; we need only to return to the practice of cultivating our inner selves and spiritual energy.</p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aiEdh0WpcXd1qnsfa1FM8Bq38JZqGJeTV3xz12WrD8O0iIXwNlytsaKvcEA8pXAdtFDiEbam9IIbXnf6VIlYunqYyysuby4z-fC0nHcDW_5_tMQyyZ5t0UW-ycm05puwtkLqXtDq4SA/s1600-h/Hex20-Sep.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aiEdh0WpcXd1qnsfa1FM8Bq38JZqGJeTV3xz12WrD8O0iIXwNlytsaKvcEA8pXAdtFDiEbam9IIbXnf6VIlYunqYyysuby4z-fC0nHcDW_5_tMQyyZ5t0UW-ycm05puwtkLqXtDq4SA/s400/Hex20-Sep.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172618582511049394" border="0" /></a><b style="">September </b><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal">The I Ching hexagram governing this month is number 20, Guan, Watching, Contemplation or Point of View, wind/wood over earth. The phase is wood, and the chakra is the heart.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With the equinox fast approaching, the dark hours will soon overtake the daylight hours; so begins the seasonal strength of the annual yin cycle. Guan is sometimes spelled Kuan, and this hexagram may belong to Kuan Shih Yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. The trigrams of wind and earth represent the eldest daughter and the mother; the hexagram itself resembles the doorway to the temple, or an altar. The advice for this symbol is to prepare oneself to make a sacrifice. Perhaps the mother and her daughter come together to celebrate a ceremony of thanks for an abundant harvest, or perhaps they prepare for meditative practice where the offering is made to "show one's sincerity," (Huang, p 186) remembering it is as important to maintain spiritual practice at one's inner altar as to visit the temple or shrine. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is also a time for looking back over the year to ponder your accomplishments. Did you do what you set out to do? Do you need to continue efforts in any area? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Also, in actually looking downward (from the "high" yang lines at the top), which implies that you, as a person in a "high" place, are looking "down" upon your followers, you have the opportunity as a leader to make sure you are leading in a correct and virtuous manner. Do not watch just your followers; more importantly, watch yourself as well so that inner negative forces do not overcome the positive. Keep in mind, a person in a "high" place is always being watched by someone! As Master Ni says, "Just as a penetrating wind pervades everywhere, a good way of life and good teachings influence everyone they touch." (Ni, p. 328)</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXUuV7ZX2f2L2UG4nW7A-FnevthEN0Y7aYv8YbxSFjfpY3dng_Uwvu3lvDX0W3dGtnnLkTdHkqGrPdbjMCBIIfrW_f9GFBXg6JlyhY_MHnQfBaUS5IFAJx_MQXgIuM7_6FnmfTkUimQA/s1600-h/Hex58-AutumnEquinox.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXUuV7ZX2f2L2UG4nW7A-FnevthEN0Y7aYv8YbxSFjfpY3dng_Uwvu3lvDX0W3dGtnnLkTdHkqGrPdbjMCBIIfrW_f9GFBXg6JlyhY_MHnQfBaUS5IFAJx_MQXgIuM7_6FnmfTkUimQA/s400/Hex58-AutumnEquinox.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172618509496605346" border="0" /></a>The autumnal equinox.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00gyZKAOHwiZbyji78RuupjfdxBDeLsL-jX_nORiZMIRnyohWvQOejvW2KRnZozTNk9ORXtaHTXpf9MXwCbXUVoJ4pcq13FgNtmdtXgafTHtzS2jHONdMRzG2GqPUA4O1wjCdicle2us/s1600-h/Hex23-Oct.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00gyZKAOHwiZbyji78RuupjfdxBDeLsL-jX_nORiZMIRnyohWvQOejvW2KRnZozTNk9ORXtaHTXpf9MXwCbXUVoJ4pcq13FgNtmdtXgafTHtzS2jHONdMRzG2GqPUA4O1wjCdicle2us/s400/Hex23-Oct.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172618415007324818" border="0" /></a><b style="">October </b><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal">The I Ching hexagram governing this month is number 23, Bo, Falling Away, Erosion or Decline, mountain over earth. The phase is earth, and the chakra is the solar plexus. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This hexagram is often spoken of as depicting a landslide; the single yang line at the top of the mountain cannot be supported properly by the advancing yin lines of the earth, and therefore yang energy will soon disintegrate. The youngest son (the mountain) may want to advance or stand alone away from his mother (the three yin lines at the bottom), but his strength has been vastly reduced; he has no other recourse but to accept the darkness of the time and await the turning of the seasons. As Master Ni succinctly says, "Now is not a good time to go anywhere." (p. 344)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We see here a reminder of two things. First, stay grounded and be prepared; the mountain also indicates thoughtfulness and steadiness. We know that winter will soon be upon us; plan for the season. Be sure the pantry is well stocked, and the firewood is close at hand. Don't even try to rush around at the last minute, or you may feel as though you are caught in the middle of a landslide! Second, this is not a time to depend on others - remember, the yin lines cannot offer proper support to our actions. Depending too much on others could mean lack of preparedness just when it's most needed. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This hexagram looks too much like a doorway to not comment upon that symbolism. This is definitely a time to "go inside," go within yourself. This is surely the time for meditation (mountain), and calmness and transformation (earth). Hopefully, your transformation won't be of the "landslide" variety. But even the fall of a mountain opens new vistas and new paths to tread, though the going may at first be rocky.</p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCUvI976lGOJjhJhvIJXUbFeGa_I8Y5bd792N0R7MwFMPOlBAiqIe5lpnqOd2m-Aw0YpJ3Jvm4AoZ2ddwmXsjetg60CQteH7EdScf0zyhxEFc3nMvfoPyPO9j9p4BL0JoRtxgMoqkDtY/s1600-h/Hex02-Nov.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCUvI976lGOJjhJhvIJXUbFeGa_I8Y5bd792N0R7MwFMPOlBAiqIe5lpnqOd2m-Aw0YpJ3Jvm4AoZ2ddwmXsjetg60CQteH7EdScf0zyhxEFc3nMvfoPyPO9j9p4BL0JoRtxgMoqkDtY/s400/Hex02-Nov.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172618341992880770" border="0" /></a><b style="">November </b><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal">The I Ching hexagram governing this month is number 2, Kun, Responding or Receptiveness, earth over earth. The phase is earth, and the chakra is the sacral.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Due to the reintroduction of yang energy at the Winter Solstice, November is the most yin month of the year, hence the hexagram of six yin lines. This is the hexagram of Mother Earth, just as the trigram of three yin lines represents the Mother in the trigram family. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">She is both the receptive and the responsive for that is the interaction of her strength, and yet she contains the potential to manifest all creative possibilities. At this time we are like the seed in its furrow of earth waiting patiently (for how else does a seed wait?) for the warmth of spring to stir us to virtuous deeds. It is a time to be completely grounded and know where you come from, a time to follow along with the seeming drowsiness of winter, and yet a time of great potential if one practices meditations and visualizations for the future. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now is the time of gestation. Imagine yourself as the earth resting beneath her snowy blanket. Go within, Be quiet, Follow your dreams.</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQEROQxkLKtMVW4gdqi-2907H0YQJ5gIACpCR985xm17QVErai709NyNw8IuvhyphenhyphenvyouN7AmehyphenhyphenW0Vvi4F0jFKwxRAcXXalCP9HYBw4uUtyhTRqzAX8wAIQr51fhG3MUh3zESw65NbcWo/s1600-h/Hex24-Dec.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQEROQxkLKtMVW4gdqi-2907H0YQJ5gIACpCR985xm17QVErai709NyNw8IuvhyphenhyphenvyouN7AmehyphenhyphenW0Vvi4F0jFKwxRAcXXalCP9HYBw4uUtyhTRqzAX8wAIQr51fhG3MUh3zESw65NbcWo/s400/Hex24-Dec.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172618153014319714" border="0" /></a><b style="">December </b><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal">The I Ching hexagram governing this month is number 24, Fu, Return or Turning Back, Earth (upper three lines) over Thunder (lower three lines). The element or phase is Earth, and the chakra is the Root Chakra. In the Chinese calendar, December is the eleventh month. It embraces the Winter Solstice which is marked by the single Yang line at the bottom of the hexagram; outward, active energies are just beginning to cycle in and upward but, as yet, remain buried deep within the stillness of earth like a seed awaiting the summons of spring. The symbolism of this hexagram is of a person turning homeward, or inward. Spiritually, it indicates a time of turning back to the source, our inner selves and our inner connections. This is a good month to sit by a warm fire with a cup of hot cocoa (with marshmallows!) and contemplate or meditate upon that inner spark of the lightening which accompanies Thunder,<span style=""> </span>that tiny flame in the DanTien (our Spirit Energy Center) which connects us to the Higher Powers. </p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs7fV5OF0sYUeXHOSVhAN02Ld16c8Rr-2J6Mp43sLMnBHE_rvnDrqh2LAp8bfGYAVziISjmYXuO3AHXBQeK5e-RVQy7g3Ms5FgGiQzHtk-711-0THnN5nnDwLHXegfdyWbubo09OJX-I/s1600-h/Hex29-WinterSolstice.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs7fV5OF0sYUeXHOSVhAN02Ld16c8Rr-2J6Mp43sLMnBHE_rvnDrqh2LAp8bfGYAVziISjmYXuO3AHXBQeK5e-RVQy7g3Ms5FgGiQzHtk-711-0THnN5nnDwLHXegfdyWbubo09OJX-I/s400/Hex29-WinterSolstice.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172618226028763762" border="0" /></a>The Winter Solstice itself is governed by hexagram number 29, <st1:state><st1:place>Kan</st1:place></st1:state>, Darkness or Abyss, water over water. Here we see the yang energies, lines 2 and 5, trapped between yin energies just as the short winter days are trapped between long winter nights. (The lines that make the sign for water can be seen as the winter solstice day from midnight to midnight: 8 hours of darkness - bottom yin line, 8 hours of light - center yang line, and 8 hours of darkness - top yin line.) One way to interpret and apply the symbolism of this hexagram is to be like water: the water (the yang line) flows between the earthen banks (the yin lines). It remains steadfast on its course. Water has the ability to overcome the firmest of obstacles with its gentle persistence. (Consider its effect on the <st1:place>Grand Canyon</st1:place>!) When we meet obstacles with gentleness, remain flowing and letting the earth guide us along our course, we will usually find that the turning point toward a favorable outcome is nearer than we expected.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil133wgDfnqGDauVOvWugrnr_SUSk3Gpox4cU1tjDILQy_aka4K3J17r8QlkJ0Eaf56LTVyuYOIqFB5q7_0-3cqtNLEDXQ9h2rwaXQ5xVO2LmFvjV4R0h7MXAo8e1xTUUVIMgubak0low/s1600-h/Hex19-Jan.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil133wgDfnqGDauVOvWugrnr_SUSk3Gpox4cU1tjDILQy_aka4K3J17r8QlkJ0Eaf56LTVyuYOIqFB5q7_0-3cqtNLEDXQ9h2rwaXQ5xVO2LmFvjV4R0h7MXAo8e1xTUUVIMgubak0low/s400/Hex19-Jan.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172618049935104594" border="0" /></a><b style="">January </b><span style=""><span style=""> </span></span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal">The I Ching hexagram governing this month is number 19, Lin, Approaching or Advancing, Earth (upper three lines) over Marsh or Lake (lower three lines). In the Chinese calendar, January is the twelfth month. The element or phase is Earth. Yang energy is increasing (note there are now two yang lines at the bottom) and moving upward and outward. Internally, this indicates energy moving upward along the spine to the Sacral Chakra. (Energy movement is upward following the yang Governing Vessel <st1:city><st1:place>Meridian</st1:place></st1:city> until June when it reaches the Crown. In July, it begins to descend along the yin Conception Vessel Meridian (front of the body), returning to the Root Chakra again in December. In Qi Gong, moving qi through your body along these channels is called the Small Heavenly Circuit.)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The trigram Earth represents the mother; the <st1:place>Lake</st1:place> represents the youngest daughter, and the mouth or voice. One of the written symbols for this hexagram indicates a person in a position of leadership; some suggest a teacher. The name of the hexagram implies the leader or teacher is growing toward greatness. Another part of the ancient writing for Lin shows three mouths, indicating "people." Perhaps the leader is moving toward greatness with her timely and correct advice or lessons to her followers.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Spiritually, it is a time to become more active, and yet be responsive to your inner voice. Perhaps dialoguing with your inner mother-self in a journal would be beneficial and help to clarify lessons you have learned that have led you on the correct path. It is also a time to be a good daughter/listener, to yourself and to others. As the Sacral is the chakra of partnerships, your inner dialogue may find an outward expression by your adopting the role of a big sister, leading or teaching others through the sharing of your experiences and insights.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">For an excellent explanation of how these hexagrams came to represent the months of the year, see LiSe Heyboer's "<a href="http://www.yijing.nl/i_ching/origins/gui-gua/gui-gua.htm">From Gui to Gua</a>" page on her website "Yi Jing, book of sun and moon." <o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-79091011821669475412008-02-01T10:31:00.001-08:002008-12-10T03:24:48.127-08:002012 The Astronomy ConnectionThe following article was written by Roderick Marling and posted on his <a href="http://www.kamakala.com/2012.htm">Kamakala.com</a> website.<br /><br />Mr Marling gives an excellent explanation of the astronomy behind the Winter Solstice 2012 event, and the possible symbolism behind the mystery of this much-discussed occurance, the Mayan calendar date of 13.0.0.0.0 that corresponds to the winter solstice date of 12-21-12 at 11:11 PM UT (which in itself is an interesting set of numbers!).<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><p class="MsoNormal">From the beginning of Time human beings, from the most primitive to the most culturally sophisticated, have followed and recorded the natural rhythms and cycles of the Earth. The intricate dance between the Earth and the other heavenly bodies has been the source of wonder and amazement giving rise to innumerable stories and myths all over the world. Many of these stores are still passed on today.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ancient people of the Earth were concerned with these natural rhythms and cycles because their lives and livelihood depended on them. In certain times of the year food was plentiful in certain regions and not in others. At certain times the rains would come, at others they could expect the heat and drought. They also observed that fertility was somehow linked with the cycles of the Moon.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">According to these various cycles of Nature then, people began to recognize a Cosmos of increasing complexity - repeating patterns and cycles enfolded within even larger cycles of order. The cyclic movements of the Sun, Moon, Planets and Stars indicated a Natural Order to Reality that provided our ancestors with meaning and the reassurance of continuity. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Heaven and Nature touched every aspect of their lives. Not only did their astronomical observations indicate when to plant their crops and when to harvest, but also where to locate their temples, how to design their homes and even how to orientate their cities. These people occupied a living and intelligent Universe that governed their lives. Survival and success then, depended on how well one could read the celestial signs.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As a brief review of the some of the most basic of these natural cycles, we will begin with the rotation of the Earth on its axis. Because the Earth rotates one complete revolution every 24 hours we observe the reoccurring periods of day and night. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately there are surprisingly large numbers of people today that still do not understand that this daily cycle is caused by the motion of the Earth and not by anything the Sun is doing. This could somewhat be explained by the fact that our linguistic customs lag centuries behind our scientific understanding, and we continue to speak in terms of sunrise and sunsets.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Be that as it may, the next cycle we will look at is based not on the motion of the Earth but of the Moon. The Moon revolves around the Earth every 29.5 days, giving us the concept of the month as it appears in its different phases from New Moon to Full and once again back to New. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then there is the observable cycle of the year, as the Earth dances around the Sun in an elliptical orbit taking 365.25 days to complete one revolution. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As people continued to observe the heavenly bodies they also began to notice that some of the bright lights in the sky moved while others stayed relatively stationary. These wandering bodies we have come to know as the planets, and various people all over the world took a special interest in their particular movement and cycles, spawning a huge number of stories, myths and legends. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To those early astronomers who kept records of the movement of the Sun, Moon and Planets one of the greatest mysteries that they observed was the fact that every year they would wait for the Sun to appear on the Spring Equinox or Winter Solstice at a specific place on the horizon signaling the New Year. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Over time they were dismayed to find that the Sun no longer appeared in the same place it did just 70 years before, but had moved one full degree (the equivalent to the diameter of the Sun - times two). This slow movement, called the Precession of the Equinox, causes the Equinox Sun to appear to slip backward against the backdrop of the stars. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Astronomers have now managed to figure out that the Earth is not a perfect sphere by any means. It’s actually a bit flattened at the poles and has a bulge at the equator. As a result, the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun exert an uneven influence on the Earth. Their gravitational forces try to pull the equatorial bulge toward them. Because the Earth is spinning these forces make the axis of the Earth wobble, shifting ever so slowly. Gradually the polar axis that was at one time aligned with a particular star begins to shift until it is aligned with another star.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >Right now the Earth’s axis at the North Pole points to the star Polaris – which appropriately we call the Pole Star. But 5,000 years ago the north celestial pole aligned to the star called Alpha Draconis. Eight thousand years in the future the pole star will be Vega.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oZHE8xF6U9ZDmKs7lKXiJDoIh_MqaYixstRSSDRnS0iAV9JzLEmadpOSwaRzco0KtT2zaXWtOy9dBT-BJbyZunjK2f_NseshUaSb5nz8pMm62cCy5icTwyka754Tm3ZeJRwgMCr5k64/s1600-h/2012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5oZHE8xF6U9ZDmKs7lKXiJDoIh_MqaYixstRSSDRnS0iAV9JzLEmadpOSwaRzco0KtT2zaXWtOy9dBT-BJbyZunjK2f_NseshUaSb5nz8pMm62cCy5icTwyka754Tm3ZeJRwgMCr5k64/s400/2012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162081402538061458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">This Precessional movement then is the same motion responsible for the shift of the location of the Equinoxes and the Solstices. The ancient astronomers detected the long term Precessional motion of the Sun through the back drop of the constellations and calculated the length of this Cycle to around 25,600 to 26,000 years.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This means that the Sun that marks the Spring Equinox which now appears in front of the background of stars in the constellation of Pisces, in about 500 years will rise in the constellation of Aquarius. It will continue to shift backwards through the various constellations Capricorn, Sagittarius, etc., until in about 26,000 years it will arrive back to the exact same point in Pisces.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The understanding of this Precession of the Equinox then gave rise to the many myths and legends of the different World Ages. As the Processional movement continued to shift the Equinox into a new constellation, various cultures perceived this as a New Age or <st1:place>New World</st1:place>. As the Spring Equinox Sun appeared to rise in the constellation of Taurus, people perceived this as the Age of the Bull; the Age of the Ram as it rose in the constellation of Aries; the Age of the Fish as it rose in Pisces and so on. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At one time many civilizations on Earth were aware of this natural cycle of the Earth and incorporated it into their cosmologies and concepts of Time in various ways. Each one reflecting a slightly different interpretation and meaning, but in their different ways they all held the Precessional Cycle as involving nothing less than the Cosmic process of Life’s evolution, subtly influencing all of Earth’s Life Forms to move to higher levels of organization and complexity. It came to symbolize the Spiritual Process of Unfolding Consciousness on our planet.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What is important here is that this belief was actually based on an observable astronomical cycle: every 72 years the Solstice and Equinox Sun appeared to move backward through the constellations one degree - as a hand on a clock indicating the hours of the day. In this Cosmic Clock however, the hand or marker in motion is the specific location of the Equinox or Solstice Sunrise, while the face of the clock is represented by the relatively stationary constellations of the stars.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With this in mind then, we will now turn our attention to how this Precessional Cycle became incorporated into the Mayan Cosmology and how it relates to their long count calendar and specifically to the year 2012.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps more than any ancient culture that we are aware of at this point, the Mayan people were obsessed with Astronomy. Not only were they able to project their astronomical calculations thousands of years forward and backward in Time, but developed a recyclable Venus calendar that was accurate to one day in 500 years and a table of eclipses that still functions today. They also accurately calculated the solar year out to four decimal places. To accomplish these impressive computations they created a sophisticated system of mathematics utilizing place value and the concept of the zero. And all this while <st1:place>Europe</st1:place> was still wandering around in the Dark Ages.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In a complex culture such as we find with the Maya and considering it spanned a period of almost a thousand years, it is important to remember that there arose different belief systems at different times, some of which were coexisting at the same place. Just as if we were to look at the demographics of say modern <st1:city><st1:place>New York city</st1:place></st1:city>, we would find Jews perhaps living besides Moslems, Protestants and Catholics - all entertaining different belief systems. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And so it’s appropriate here to limit our considerations of the Mayan culture to only those beliefs that lend meaning and significance to the auspicious date indicated in their long count calendar - Dec.21, 2012.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As we more sharply focus in on this date, we find that one of the indicators to its probable significance is that it specifically designates the Winter Solstice. As this is our starting point in our analysis then, let’s take a closer look as to what this might mean.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">First of all it is good to be aware that around the world in various past cultures, each one designated a specific time to mark the beginning of their New Year. In ancient Sumeria and <st1:city><st1:place>Babylon</st1:place></st1:city> the New Year began with the Spring Equinox. In <st1:country-region><st1:place>Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> the New Year was gradually shifted to the Equinox in the Fall, while in <st1:place>Northern Europe</st1:place>, New Year was celebrated at the time of Winter Solstice. We still observe this particular New Year tradition, but add a few extra days so that now our New Year begins on January 1st.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the context of this tradition then, the Winter Solstice on December 21 was celebrated as the Sun’s birthday. It is the longest night of the year and therefore the shortest day of the year. It represented the ultimate power of the dark forces of Nature: the long winter night when things appeared to be dead and still. And out of the depths of this longest night the new Sun was born. From this point on, the power of the light grows in strength and the days slowly begin to grow longer. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Winter Solstice then inaugurated the birth of a new solar year. The Sun appeared to come back from its annual trip to the South and begins its slow return in to the Northern Latitudes. The sunrise on December 21 was believed to be like the first sunrise, and the start of the New Year was in fact a celebration of the beginning of Time.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With this particular context in mind, we are now prepared to examine more closely the reasons why the Winter Solstice in the year 2012 is so important. In the Mayan long count calendar a cycle of 5,200 years ends on this date, and it just so happens that it also points to a rare astronomical alignment. In fact this alignment only happens once every 26,000 years.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The auspicious year of 2012 indicated in the long count calendar illuminates the fact that the Precessional movement of the Winter Solstice Sun will gradually bring its position into alignment with the very center of our Galaxy. For the Maya, this is like the last stroke of <st1:time minute="0" hour="0">Midnight</st1:time> on New Year’s Eve, only in 2012 the New Year is the New Galactic Year of 26,000 solar years. The Galactic Clock will be at zero point and a New Precessional Cycle will begin.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At this point you may be wondering what is so important about the Milky Way and why were the Maya even concerned with it?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our scientific culture has finally come realize that our planet, the Sun, and the entire solar system had its origins at the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. We also have recently found that our Galaxy is 70,000 light years in diameter, with most of its 400 billion stars concentrated in the great central bulge. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Equipped with ultraviolet, x-ray and gamma-ray instruments, plus infrared telescopes most astronomers are now convinced that at the center of our Galaxy is a massive black hole the unimaginable seize of millions of our suns. This is where Science and Mythology truly meet. For what the center of our Galaxy may represent in terms of energy and the properties of time/space, no one has a clue.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But to the ancient Maya the Milky Way Galaxy represented the Great Cosmic Mother from which all Life was birthed. They saw our Galactic Mother stretching out across the night sky and somehow recognize the place where we all had come from. And the great central bulge at Her center they perceived as the Cosmic Womb. Within the central bulge there is what looks like a dark corridor, known as the dark rift. To the Maya it was referred to by many names but the most pertinent here is their reference to this area as the "birthing pace". Are we beginning to get the picture here?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <span style=";font-family:";font-size:12;" >Considering then the significance of the 2012 date in the Mayan calendar, it has been discovered that this year specifically points to a period of time when the December Solstice Sun aligns with and arises out from the backdrop of the dark rift, the "Galactic Birth Canal" in the central bulge. It's as if the Sun is actually being birthed anew from the Galactic Womb.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w8w8fD1z9fKcy1sMA-hXITiAcOIhi1dU9n6X17jKFYVbpVHUTbYi70WgKBpmPKI13TPqlD9TDPJ3M-36gVLgd079V5WIojYllZnlWY6OIBxqngSy_RQ0vTtc3xm4h8YBFd1ukBeKIVg/s1600-h/2012_003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2w8w8fD1z9fKcy1sMA-hXITiAcOIhi1dU9n6X17jKFYVbpVHUTbYi70WgKBpmPKI13TPqlD9TDPJ3M-36gVLgd079V5WIojYllZnlWY6OIBxqngSy_RQ0vTtc3xm4h8YBFd1ukBeKIVg/s400/2012_003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5162081492732374690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p class="MsoNormal">The Mayan Cosmology was not written in a book, but in the very stars above their heads. The meaning of this story was not revealed through the study of obscure interpretations, but through correspondence of associations assigned to the individual parts in the story. All we need to do is recognize those original associations and the story unfolds all by itself. Just as in our culture we have built up associations between the Winter Solstice, the New Year and the birth of Jesus Christ "the Son of God" who came into this world as "a savior of mankind".</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">With the Maya we have discovered another story associated with the Winter Solstice, the New Year and the fate of people on Earth. The astronomical alignment of the Precessional Cycle of the Winter Solstice and <st1:place><st1:placename>Galactic</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype>Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> represents the "Zero Point" on the Cosmic Clock, thus marking the beginning of the New Age in our evolutionary journey in consciousness. It tells us that a New Sun is born, a New Year has dawned, a New Galactic Cycle has begun, and the transformation of our World is well underway. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The big secret in this particular story is that we need not wait for the Winter Solstice in the year 2012 to recognize that we are entering into this time of profound transition. For according to the most recent astronomical calculations the Solstice Meridian actually coincided most precisely with the Galactic Equator between 1998 and 1999. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Just as the Earth’s equator divides the planet into two hemispheres of North and South, the Galactic Equator is the astronomical term for the dividing line of the Milky Way, separating the Galaxy into two halves. Similar to the time of the Equinox when the Sun appears to cross the Earth’s Equator and thus enters into a new hemisphere, so too in 1998 the Winter Solstice Sun began to cross over the Galactic Equator. Considering that the Sun is so large (about one half a degree wide) and the motion is so slow, our Sun will not be completely across the Equator and fully into the new Galactic Hemisphere until 2018.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So we need to understand then that the Mayan 2012 date is simply an indicator to this 20-year period of transition – the birthing process of the New Age and the beginning point of the New Precessional Cycle of 26,000 years.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I find it almost the height of irony that the descendants of those white Europeans who came to the "New World" to bring enlightenment and salvation to the indigenous population, would now find buried here in some remote jungle a stone calendar/clock telling them what Time it is. A calendar or clock not foreign to their own cultural background, but one that actually incorporates and fulfills their most expansive vision of cyclic Time, the Precessional Cycle. This "Great Year" was long known to the Sumerians, Babylonians, Egyptians and the ancient Greeks but lacked a point at which it began or ended. Somehow down through the Ages that knowledge had been lost. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Perhaps the greatest gift the Mayan culture has given our world is the Zero Point to the Precessional Cycle of 26,000 years. Through the 2012 date in their calendar, they have indicated the importance of the Galactic Equator and it relevance to the Precessional Cycle, thus giving us the ability to now pinpoint the exact Time on our Galactic Clock. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Over the span of the 20 year transitional period as the Solstice Sun crosses the Galactic Equator and moves in to a new hemisphere, we will indeed witness the falling away of the old structures and the birthing of the new. For those who have eyes to see we are actually witnessing the birth of a planetary civilization. And the very logistics involved in this process will determine that the old values of the Nation States which was primarily based on competition and exploitation will have to eventually give way to a collaborative effort, where cooperation will be the dominate social value. This will arise not out of some new political, social or economic theory but the very desire of the human species to continue to survive and be successful.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><o:p></o:p>Reference Material<o:p></o:p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Maya Cosmos, Three Thousand Years On The Shaman's Path. David Feidel, Linda Schele, Joy Parker. William Morrow and Company, <st1:state><st1:place>New York</st1:place></st1:State>. 1993. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Maya Cosmogenesis 2012. John Major Jenkins. Bear & Company, <st1:place><st1:city>Santa Fe</st1:City>, <st1:state>New Mexico</st1:State></st1:place>, 1998.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Beyond The Blue Horizon – Myths & Legends of the Sun, Moon, Stars, & Planets. Dr. E.C. Krupp. <st1:place><st1:placename>Oxford</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype>University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Press, <st1:state><st1:place>New York</st1:place></st1:State>, 1991.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Stairways to The Stars – Skywatching in Three Great Ancient Cultures. Anthony Aveni. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. <st1:state><st1:place>New York</st1:place></st1:State>. 1997 <o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-57769967589898375642007-12-14T19:16:00.000-08:002010-11-20T21:19:17.424-08:00Tong Shu - Auspicious date selection in Chinese astrology<span style="font-weight: bold;">The 28 Lunar Mansions</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewC_TAOvT7puqkM_Kj3KrbbKx4ReUAyvHD5ZNO9JB_iqkNsz31KA5iCFDrdymH0KvIII6O9exjpNBAPu7nFRwH0C8qAtecBA7xLonoHK_zdF5yJckhSPkBaQf7jBjE53rocwhqaetLhU/s1600-h/mansions01.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewC_TAOvT7puqkM_Kj3KrbbKx4ReUAyvHD5ZNO9JB_iqkNsz31KA5iCFDrdymH0KvIII6O9exjpNBAPu7nFRwH0C8qAtecBA7xLonoHK_zdF5yJckhSPkBaQf7jBjE53rocwhqaetLhU/s400/mansions01.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144033688344306338" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Tong Shu is a calendar based on the Twenty-Eight Constellations or "Mansions" of Chinese Astrology. It shows the most auspicious and warns against the least auspicious dates for a number of important lifetime events. You can determine the best date (and avoid the worst date) for a marriage, a funeral, the start of an important project, and many other things. This post tells you where (at the time of posting) to find a current Tong Shu calendar for the current month online and free, and also contains instructions on how you can calculate the auspices for any date yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Tong Shu online<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.fengshuiweb.co.uk/advice/teachyourselffengshui.htm">http://www.fengshuiweb.co.uk/advice/teachyourselffengshui.htm</a> look for "Almanac (Month)" for the month you want to look at and follow the links. i.e. look for "Almanac December" for the month of December. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The following instructional post is from: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.egroups.com/message/chineseastrology/308">http://www.egroups.com/message/chineseastrology/308</a> [Egroups is long defunct. This email list was operating as the "chineseastrology" Yahoo!Group the last I heard. Any comments added by me are found between [ ] throughout the document. I have updated the chart of years and added a complete table of the serial numbers of the days of the year. Also, symbolic animals, planets, and other items have been added for each of the 28 days.]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">Date:</b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Wed <st1:date year="1998" day="10" month="6">Jun 10, 1998</st1:date></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> <st1:time minute="3" hour="6">6:03am</st1:time></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><b style="">Subject:</b> T'ong Shu workings.<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Howdy All, <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">This post is for those of you who have not come across a copy of the T'ong Shu yet. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">It provides you with the details of how to work it out for yourselves, complete with basic interpretations. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">It was copied from de Kermadeks book "Four Pillars of Destiny" [<b style="">The Way to Chinese Astrology: the Four Pillars of Destiny</b> by Jean-Michel Huon de Kermadec, 1983, ISBN 0041330102; translated by N. Derek Poulsen] <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Enjoy ! ;-) <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">John Mausolf <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">[At the time of the original posting in 1998, John was a feng shui practitioner in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region></span><span style="font-size:100%;">.]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Step 1. Find the serial number for the day. e.g. June 6th has a serial number of 157 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is based on the Western calendar. [Jan 1st = 1; Dec 31st = 365, or 366 in a Leap Year.]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">[The chart of dates and serial numbers of first halves of months has been expanded into a table showing first and second halves of months with corresponding serial numbers.]</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border: medium none ; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Month<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">January<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">February<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">March *<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dates<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 to 16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 to 16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 to 16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Serial #<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 to 16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">32 to 47<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">60 to 75<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dates<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17 to 31<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17 to 28<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17 to 31<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Serial #<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17 to 31<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">48 to 59<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">76 to 90<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Month<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">April *<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">May *<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">June *<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dates<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 to 16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 to 16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 to 16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Serial #<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">91 to 106<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">121 to 136<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">152 to 167<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dates<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17 to 30<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17 to 31<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17 to 30<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Serial #<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">107 to 120<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">137 to 151<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">168 to 181<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Month<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">July *<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">August *<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">September*<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dates<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 to 16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 to 16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 to 16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Serial #<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">182 to 197<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">213 to 228<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">244 to 259<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dates<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17 to 31<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17 to 31<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17 to 30<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Serial #<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">198 to 212<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">229 to 243<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">260 to 273<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Month<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">October *<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">November*<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">December*<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dates<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 to 16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 to 16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 to 16<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Serial #<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">274 to 289<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">305 to 320<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">335 to 350<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dates<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17 to 31<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17 to 30<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17 to 31<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Serial #<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">290 to 304<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">321 to 334<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">351 to 365<o:p></o:p></span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 0.7in;" valign="top" width="67"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 63pt;" valign="top" width="84"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">* In a leap year, don't forget to add 1 to every date and serial number starting from 1 March. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Leap years are underlined in the following chart. [Not as I received it.]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Step 2. Add the day serial number to the right hand number in the following chart for the appropriate year. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">This table is only to be used for the 28 constellations. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">[The chart in the original post covered the years 1898 to 2009. I have updated and replaced it with a chart that covers 1924 to 2050. Every year immediately above an xxxx is a Leap Year; i.e. 1924, 1928, 2032, 2036 are Leap Years.]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">For the year ……………………. Add:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">xxxx 1943 1965 1988 2010 xxxx<span style=""> </span>1<br />xxxx 1944 1966 xxxx 2011 2033<span style=""> </span>2<br />xxxx xxxx 1967 1989 2012 2034<span style=""> </span>3<br />xxxx 1945 1968 1990 xxxx 2035<span style=""> </span>4<br />1924 1946 xxxx 1991 2013 2036<span style=""> </span>5<br />xxxx 1947 1969 1992 2014 xxxx<span style=""> </span>6<br />1925 1948 1970 xxxx 2015 2037<span style=""> </span>7<br />1926 xxxx 1971 1993 2016 2038<span style=""> </span>8<br />1927 1949 1972 1994 xxxx 2039<span style=""> </span>9<br />1928 1950 xxxx 1995 2017 2040 10<br />xxxx 1951 1973 1996 2018 xxxx 11<br />1929 1952 1974 xxxx 2019 2041 12<br />1930 xxxx 1975 1997 2020 2042 13<br />1931 1953 1976 1998 xxxx 2043 14<br />1932 1954 xxxx 1999 2021 2044 15<br />xxxx 1955 1977 2000 2022 xxxx 16<br />1933 1956 1978 xxxx 2023 2045 17<br />1934 xxxx 1979 2001 2024 2046 18<br />1935 1957 1980 2002 xxxx 2047 19<br />1936 1958 xxxx 2003 2025 2048 20<br />xxxx 1959 1981 2004 2026 xxxx 21<br />1937 1960 1982 xxxx 2027 2049 22<br />1938 xxxx 1983 2005 2028 2050 23<br />1939 1961 1984 2006 xxxx xxxx 24<br />1940 1962 xxxx 2007 2029 xxxx 25<br />xxxx 1963 1985 2008 2030 xxxx 26<br />1941 1964 1986 xxxx 2031 xxxx 27<br />1942 xxxx 1987 2009 2032 xxxx 28</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Step 3. Add the day serial number to the number in the right hand column for the year. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">e.g. 157 (June 6th) + 14 (1998) = 171 <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Step 4. Divide the sum of the two numbers by 28 and the remainder will be the number of the constellation. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">e.g. 171 divided by 28 equals 6 (168) with a remainder of 3. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">So giving us the third constellation on this day <st1:date year="1998" day="6" month="6">June 6th 1998</st1:date></span><span style="font-size:100%;">. Wasn't so hard was it? ;-) <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">[I have verified that the calculations hold true for the year 2000 and beyond.] <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The daily predictions of the 28 constellations. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">[Some personal comments by the original poster have been removed. Additional information on symbolic animal, planets, and other items in <i style="">italics</i> added to each daily prediction are from <b style="">The Complete Astrological Handbook for the Twenty-First Century</b> by Anistatia R Miller and Jared M. Brown, Schocken Books, NY 1999, ISBN 0805210865]<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">1. The Horn Thursday Auspicious<br />To whomsoever builds on this day, this constellation will bring glory and prosperity, and men of letters will be able to approach near to the throne of the Emperor.<br />Marriages on this day will result in numerous posterity.<br />But to repair a tomb or go to a funeral may provoke a new grief.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – crocodile.<br />Associated with the Wood planet (Jupiter) and with favorable winds and rains, as well as agriculture and horticulture. Ideal day to buy land.<br />Presides over marriage, birth, and growth.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">2. The Neck Friday Inauspicious<br />Do not build on this day; let the eldest not take the succession; let nothing be undertaken for in the ten following days a disaster will occur.<br />Funerals and marriages will cause untimely death and will risk leaving widows in the house.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – dragon.<br />Associated with the Water planet (Mercury), weather extremes, and the chemical industry.<br />Presides over judgments and punishments. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">3. The Root Saturday Inauspicious<br />To build on this day will be inauspicious enough, and the celebration of marriages will bring endless calamities.<br />Journeys by boat will be shipwrecked.<br />Funerals will cause the impoverishment of descendants.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – badger.<br />Associated with the Earth planet (Saturn), and strong rains and winds, as well as the aviation and patent-medicine industries.<br />Presides over proper actions. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">4. The Chamber Sunday Auspicious<br />To build today assures wealth and abundant prosperity.<br />Spirits of Happiness, of Longevity, of Honour, of Riches and of Glory hasten to meet you. </span><br /><span style="font-size:12;">If funerals are celebrated today, officials will be promoted three ranks.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="">Symbolic animal – hare or rabbit.<br />Associated with Sun, heat, and interior decorators.<br />Presides over building interiors. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">5. The Heart Monday Inauspicious<br />To build today will be most inauspicious and everything will lead to ruin sooner or later.<br />Similarly burials and marriages will be seen to be disastrous and will assure three years of repeated calamities.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – fox.<br />Associated with Moon and heads of state.<br />Presides over imperial power. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">6. The Tail Tuesday Auspicious<br />To build today is to be assured of blessings and a numerous progeny.<br />To undertake any business matter or to flood a paddy field will assure prosperity to descendants.<br />Funerals and marriages will lead to the ennoblement of the family and the obtaining of posts in the Capital.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – tiger.<br />Associated with the Fire planet (Mars) and the heir apparent of a family.<br />Presides over boats, dams, legacies, mothers, and children.</i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">7. The Basket Wednesday Auspicious<br />To build today gives an assurance of power, and the beginning of any enterprise will assure the family the greatest good fortune.<br />Marriages and the repairing of tombs will be beneficent; coffers will overflow with gold and silver and the granaries with grain.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – leopard.<br />Associated with the Water planet (Mercury) and prosperity in general.<br />Presides over new projects and burials. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">8. The Ladle Thursday Auspicious<br />To build today assures a supreme abundance of wealth.<br />To put a tomb in order or to celebrate a funeral will assure descendants of prosperity.<br />To open an establishment or to flood a paddy field will assure the multiplication of livestock.<br />A marriage will be guaranteed happiness upon happiness.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – unicorn.<br />Associated with the Wood planet (Jupiter), rains and floods, rewards, and businesses that involve oil or wine.<br />Presides over building and digging. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">9. The <st1:city><st1:place>Buffalo</st1:place></st1:city></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Friday Inauspicious<br />To build today will assure nothing but danger and calamities.<br />Paddy fields and silkworms will bring no profit to the unhappy master.<br />A marriage or the opening of a business will behold a sea of troubles, and livestock will suffer from it.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – buffalo.<br />Associated with the Metal planet (Venus) and the real-estate business.<br />Presides over roads, paths, and land. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">10. The Woman Saturday Inauspicious<br />To build today will be very damaging to the charm of pretty women and make brothers quarrel among themselves like wolves and tigers.<br />Burials and marriages will cause luck to disappear and oblige the family to emigrate.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – bat.<br />Associated with the Earth planet (Saturn) and the weaving industry.<br />Presides over property and dowry. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">11. The Void Sunday Inauspicious<br />To build today will be calamitous.<br />Boys and girls will sleep uncherished.<br />A wind of debauchery will blow through the family from a lack of rites; and the wives of sons and grandsons will sleep in other beds.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – rat.<br />Associated with the Sun, rains, and cold, undertakers, and frozen foods.<br />Presides over cemeteries. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">12. The Roof Monday Inauspicious<br />Today nothing large should be built, and burial or the repairing of tombs will provoke effusions of blood.<br />To open a business or to irrigate a paddy field will cause continual unhappiness and law suits.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – swallow.<br />Associated with the Moon and the building industry.<br />Presides over fortification. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">13. The House Tuesday Auspicious<br />To build today will bring an increase in land and livestock.<br />Sons and grandsons will enjoy glorious careers.<br />All enterprises will bring riches and prosperity in the dwelling.<br />Marriages and funerals will take away care for ever.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – pig.<br />Associated with the Fire planet (Mars) and religious orders.<br />Presides over physical work in general. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">14. The Wall Wednesday Auspicious<br />To build today will bring great prosperity; marriages will bring only peace and joy.<br />Funerals will assure wealth and prosperous descendants.<br />To start an enterprise or to irrigate a paddy field will assure progeny.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – porcupine.<br />Associated with the Water planet (Mercury), literature, and the arts.<br />Presides over marriages and expansions. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">15. The Legs Thursday Inauspicious<br />To build today will be very auspicious, Harmony and Prosperity will blow through the door of the family home.<br />But a burial today will produce a mysterious death, and to do business or flood a paddy field will only attract calamities.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – wolf.<br />Associated with the Wood planet (Jupiter), cold weather, textiles, and shoes.<br />Presides over clothing, canals, and armaments.</i></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">16. The Tie Friday Auspicious<br />To build columns today is equivalent to building up to the gate of Heaven; the family will see its riches increase and everything will prosper.<br />Today's marriages will be fruitful, and descendants will gain honours and social promotion.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – dog.<br />Associated with the Metal planet (Venus), wt and mildly cool weather, and the pharmacy business.<br />Presides over symphonic music and festivities. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">17. The Stomach Saturday Auspicious<br />To whomsoever builds this day everything comes like a wind blowing riches and precious glory, <o:p></o:p><br />and innumerable joys will be theirs.<br />Funerals will assure social promotion and marriages will see the flourishing of complete harmony.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – pheasant.<br />Associated with the Earth planet (Saturn), floods, and the banking industry.<br />Presides over marriages, burials, investments, and earthworks.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">18. The Lights Sunday Inauspicious<br />To build today would be like letting a buffalo into the paddy field.<br />Funerals will bring incessant worry.<br />To begin anything will surely lead to calamities, and marriages will only engender misery.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – rooster.<br />Associated with the Sun and the legal profession.<br />Presides over judgments.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">19. The Thread Monday Auspicious<br />Light will shine on him who builds.<br />Paddy growing and worm breeding will know years of abundance.<br />Luck and blessings will flow to your door.<br />Marriages and funerals will procure a doubled longevity.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – crow.<br />Associated with the Moon, rains, and the military.<br />Presides over marriages and hunting.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">20. The Turtle Tuesday Inauspicious<br />To build today will invite a lawsuit.<br />Celebrate a funeral and before long the house will collapse; at least three deaths will follow, and reserves of provisions will dwindle away.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – monkey.<br />Associated with the Fire planet (Mars) and animal breeding.<br />Presides over flocks and herds as well as the afflicted. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">21. The Three Associates Wednesday Auspicious<br />To build today will bring ample prosperity.<br />The star of the lettered person will bring light.<br />Irrigation of the paddy field and business will be under happy auspices.<br />But funerals and marriages will shatter the family.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – gibbon.<br />Associated with the Water planet (Mercury) and authorship.<br />Presides over labor.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">22. The Well Thursday Auspicious<br />To build today will bring prosperity to paddy fields and silkworm breeding.<br />The family name will be the first on the golden list.<br />In the case of funerals, take extra care if the deceased has died a violent death.<br />Every enterprise will bring money and numerous inheritors.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – tapir.<br />Associated with the Water planet (Mercury), rains, the civil service, and veterinary surgery.<br />Presides over widows and examinations. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">23. The Spirit Friday Inauspicious<br />Under this inauspicious star, building will cause disappearances and the threshold will no longer have a master.<br />The celebration of funerals will procure advancement but a marriage will see a woman lonely in the nuptial chamber.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – goat.<br />Associated with the Metal planet (Venus).<br />Presides over respect for the dead. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">24. The <st1:city><st1:place>Willow</st1:place></st1:city></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Saturday Inauspicious<br />To build today will lead to trouble in the courts; and disasters and thieves will put the house in danger.<br />Funerals and marriages will be the prelude to a series of miseries.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – buck.<br />Associated with the Earth planet (Saturn).<br />(No "presides over" listed)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">25. The Star Sunday Inauspicious<br />This day is good for building houses, and prosperity and advancement will lead to the feet of the Emperor.<br />But to celebrate a funeral or to proceed with irrigation will cause the wife to abandon her hearth and look for another man.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – horse.<br />Associated with the Sun, heat, and the garment business.<br />Presides over bridges and dyestuffs. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">26. The Fishing Net Monday Auspicious<br />On this day if a pavilion is built all descendants who are officials will approach the Emperor.<br />To celebrate funerals and to flood the paddy fields will attract money and riches.<br />Marriages will be the cause of unending harmony and happiness.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – stag.<br />Associated with the Moon, and the business of the theater.<br />Presides over festivities and entertainment.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">27. The Wings Tuesday Inauspicious<br />Construction of a high building should be avoided, for this will cause the death of successive masters of the house.<br />Marriages and funerals will not bring prosperity.<br />Young girls will run after boys away from home.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – snake.<br />Associated with Fire planet (Mars) and politics.<br />Presides over ceremonial rites. <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">28. The Chariot Wednesday Auspicious<br />To build under these auspices will attract promotion.<br />A marriage will receive the Emperor's blessing.<br />To celebrate funerals will make bright the star of the lettered person.<br />Prosperity will equal a cairn of gold and a mountain of jade.<br /><i style="">Symbolic animal – earthworm.</i></span><br /><i style=""><span style="font-size:12;">Associated with the Water planet (Mercury) and wind and storms.<br />Presides over travel, speed, marriage, digging, and construction.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><span style="font-size:12;"><br /></span></i></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-32552878076919377632007-12-01T10:25:00.001-08:002008-12-10T03:24:48.589-08:00All Gods Are Sun Gods<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Sun Halo at Winter Solstice </b><br /><b>Credit & Copyright: </b><a href="mailto:apple@ipac.caltech.edu">Philip Appleton</a> (<a href="http://sirtf.caltech.edu/">SIRTF Science Center</a>), <a href="http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/">Caltech</a> </p> <p><b>Explanation: </b>Sometimes it looks like the Sun is being viewed through a large <a href="http://www.opticalres.com/kidoptx.html">lens</a>. In the above case, however, there are actually millions of lenses: <a href="http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/halo/crystals.htm">ice crystals</a>. As water freezes in the upper <a href="http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/earth/atmosphere.html">atmosphere</a>, small, flat, six-sided, ice crystals might be formed. As these <a href="http://kristall.uni-mki.gwdg.de/homep1.htm">crystals</a> flutter to the ground, much time is spent with their faces flat, parallel to the ground. An observer may pass through the same plane as many of the falling ice crystals near sunrise or sunset. During this alignment, each crystal can act like a miniature lens, refracting sunlight into our view and creating <a href="http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/halo/common.htm">phenomena like parhelia</a>, the technical term for <a href="http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/%28Gh%29/guides/mtr/opt/ice/sd.rxml">sundogs</a>. The <a href="http://spider.ipac.caltech.edu/staff/apple/">above image</a> was taken in the morning of the 2000 <a href="http://www.teachervision.com/lesson-plans/lesson-3627.html?lnhp">Winter Solstice</a> near <st1:place><st1:city>Ames</st1:city>, <a href="http://www.state.ia.us/">Iowa</a>, <a href="http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html">USA</a></st1:place>. Visible in the image center is the Sun, while two bright <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990823.html">sundogs</a> glow prominently from both the left and the right. <a href="http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/atmos/halo.html">Also visible</a> behind neighborhood houses and trees are the <a href="http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/atmos/halo22.html">22 degree halo</a>, three <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap011107.html">sun pillars</a>, and the <a href="http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/halo/column.htm">upper tangent arc</a>, all created by <a href="http://www.sundog.clara.co.uk/halo/spole.htm">sunlight reflecting</a> off of atmospheric ice crystals. </p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOxmZGVTJx4S0H2Whqbg_ABpH46oksGTykMHazRlDxiT52dTa2vctisBv91n3dbP7c6pSUll_HOEUUCY1fp37SLL1QadDt5NUj6xrlRVSrqept7-djHbTD-UZE5FxsMvL1kQtzhDFlCY/s1600-r/solsticehalo_appleton_big.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyyAFEiR5iroQstDbI7jplv0XlMfphThn6JsWlVWb-bk22w9LWa1XPS-fvkIHuCPNQmAxzsEp5-wV4Nddiuxf3qbs_OC5dlT1uc-O2vo2dTECZ3ck6qW72ditnvIFOl2936sfLUNdONE/s400/solsticehalo_appleton_big.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139072615310570914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">The Winter Solstice is coming up on 22 December at <st1:time hour="18" minute="12">06:12</st1:time> Universal Time, the moment when gods and the sun are born and "reborn." </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In every culture from the murky past to the present day, there have been Sun Gods. Robert Ingersoll (1833 – 1899) makes a good case for the gods of all religions being gods of the sun. Indeed, most gods, including the monotheistic one, are described as "the Light."<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The writing below is excerpted from <u>The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll</u> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Volume II (Lectures)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">[1900]<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/aor/ing/vol02/index.htm">http://www.sacred-texts.com/aor/ing/vol02/index.htm</a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Myth and Miracle" chapter III</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/aor/ing/vol02/i0172.htm">http://www.sacred-texts.com/aor/ing/vol02/i0172.htm</a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p>In all probability the first religion was Sun-worship. Nothing could have been more natural. Light was life and warmth and love. The sun was the fireside of the world. The sun was the "all-seeing"--the "Sky Father." Darkness was grief and death, and in the shadows crawled the serpents of despair and fear.</p> <p>The sun was a great warrior, fighting the hosts of Night. Apollo was the sun, and he fought and conquered the serpent of Night. Agni, the generous, who loved the lowliest and visited the humblest, was the sun. He was the god of fire, and the crossed sticks that by friction leaped into flame were his emblem. It was said that, in spite of his goodness, he devoured his father and mother, the two pieces of wood being his parents. Baldur was the sun. He was in love with the Dawn--a maiden--he deserted her and traveled through the heavens alone. At the twilight they met, were reconciled, and the drops of dew were the tears of joy they shed.</p> <p>Chrishna was the sun. At his birth the <st1:place>Ganges</st1:place> thrilled from its source to the sea. All the trees, the dead as well as the living, burst into leaf and bud and flower.</p> <p>Hercules was a sun-god.</p> <p>Jonah the same, rescued from the fiends of Night and carried by the fish through the under world. Samson was a sun-god. His strength was in his hair--in his beams. He was shorn of his strength by Delilah, the shadow--the darkness. So, Osiris, Bacchus, Mithra, Hermes, Buddha, Quelzalcoatle, Prometheus, Zoroaster, Perseus, Codom Lao-tsze Fo-hi, Horus and Rameses were all sun-gods.</p> <p>All these gods had gods for fathers and all their mothers were virgins.</p> <p>The births of nearly all were announced by stars.</p> <p>When they were born there was celestial music, voices declared that a blessing had come upon the earth.</p> <p>When Buddha was born, the celestial choir sang: "This day is born for the good of men Buddha, and to dispel the darkness of their ignorance--to give joy and peace to the world."</p> <p>Chrishna was born in a cave, and protected by shepherds. Bacchus, Apollo, Mithra and Hermes were all born in caves. Buddha was born in an inn--according to some, under a tree.</p> <p>Tyrants sought to kill all of these gods when they were babes.</p> <p>When Chrishna was born, a tyrant killed the babes of the neighborhood.</p> <p>Buddha was the child of Maya, a virgin, in the <st1:place><st1:placetype>kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>Madura</st1:placename></st1:place>. The king arrested Maya before the child was born; imprisoned her in a tower. During the night when the child was born, a great wind wrecked the tower, and carried mother and child to a place of safety. The next morning the king sent his soldiers to kill the babes, and when they came to Buddha and his mother, the babe appeared to be about twelve years of age, and the soldiers passed on.</p> <p>So Typhon sought in many ways to destroy the babe Horus. The king pursued the infant Zoroaster. Cadmus tried to kill the infant Bacchus.</p> <p>All of these gods were born on the 25th of December. [Ages ago, December 25th was the approximate date of the Winter Solstice. Due to calendar reforms over the centuries, the solstice now occurs around the 21st of December. ~Michelle~]</p> <p>Nearly all were worshiped by "wise men."</p> <p>All of them fasted for forty days.</p> <p>All met with a violent death.</p> <p>All rose from the dead.</p> <p>The history of these gods is the history of our Christ. He had a god for a father, a virgin for a mother. He was born in a manger, or a cave--on the 25th of December. His birth was announced by angels. He was worshiped by wise men, guided by a star. Herod, seeking his life, caused the death of many babes. Christ fasted for forty days. So, it rained for forty days before the flood--Moses was on <st1:place><st1:placetype>Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename>Sinai</st1:placename></st1:place> for forty days. The temple had forty pillars and the Jews wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Christ met with a violent death, and rose from the dead.</p> <p>These things are not accidents--not coincidences. Christ was a sun-god. All religions have been born of sun-worship. To-day, when priests pray, they shut their eyes. This is a survival of sun- worship. When men worshiped the sun, they had to shut their eyes. afterwards, to flatter idols, they pretended that the glory of their faces was more than the eyes could bear.</p> <p>In the religion of our day there is nothing original. All of its doctrines, its symbols and ceremonies are but the survivals of creeds that perished long ago. Baptism is far older than Christianity--than Judaism. The Hindus, the Egyptians, the Greeks and Romans had holy water. The eucharist was borrowed from the Pagans. Ceres was the goddess of the fields, Bacchus the god of the vine. At the harvest festival they made cakes of wheat and said: "These are the flesh of the goddess." They drank wine and cried: "This is the blood of our god."</p> <p>The cross has been a symbol for many thousands of years. It was a symbol of immortality--of life, of the god Agni, the form of the grave of a man. An ancient people of <st1:country-region><st1:place>Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>, who lived long before the Romans, long before the Etruscans, so long that not one word of their language is known, used the cross, and beneath that emblem, carved on stone, their dead still rest. In the forests of <st1:place>Central America</st1:place>, ruined temples have been found, and on the walls the cross with the bleeding victim. On Babylonian cylinders is the impression of the cross. The Trinity came from <st1:country-region><st1:place>Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Osiris, Isis and Horus were worshiped thousands of years before our Father, Son and Holy Ghost were thought of. So the Tree of Life grew in <st1:country-region><st1:place>India</st1:place></st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region><st1:place>China</st1:place></st1:country-region> and among the Aztecs long before the Garden of Eden was planted. Long before our Bible was known, other nations had their sacred books, temples and altars, sacrifices, ceremonies and priests. The "Fall of Man" is far older than our religion, and so are the "Atonement" and the Scheme of Redemption.</p> <p>In our blessed religion there is nothing new, nothing original.</p> <p>Among the Egyptians the cross was a symbol of the life to come. And yet the first religion was, and all religions growing out of that, were naturally produced. Every brain was a field in which Nature sowed the seeds of thought. The rise and set of sun, the birth and death of day, the dawns of silver and the dusks of gold, the wonders of the rain and snow, the shroud of Winter and the many colored robe of Spring, the lonely moon with nightly loss or gain, the serpent lightning and the thunder's voice, the tempest's fury and the zephyr's sigh, the threat of storm and promise of the bow, cathedral clouds with dome and spire, earthquake and strange eclipse, frost and fire, the snow-crowned mountains with their tongues of flame, the fields of space sown thick with stars, the wandering comets hurrying past the fixed and sleepless sentinels of night, the marvels of the earth and air, the perfumed flower, the painted wing, the waveless pool that held within its magic breast the image of the startled face, the mimic echo that made a record in the viewless air, the pathless forests and the boundless seas, the ebb and flow of tides--the slow, deep breathing of some vague and monstrous life--the miracle of birth, the mystery of dream and death, and over all the silent and immeasurable dome. These were the warp and woof, and at the loom sat Love and Fancy, Hope and Fear, and wove the wondrous tapestries whereon we find pictures of gods and fairy lands and all the legends that were told when Nature rocked the cradle of the infant world.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixv6JAqi8Y02gvQ0WsUNrfwJX-tqae0ddVkdFMAMOB4k05d3gV7vQ_QgbvJCA0_dTJfaRjoaQfC57BV_daBLEzG-YJz7vPIbuJWlfNsN3NFXfe4u0LvLXIFIX5fWua8BtaPHzn_Yf04pc/s1600-r/ankh-tilted.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG98IT5O3o6Ms5Yhcgu9h4PxBwJ3lYc9Mkv0PAnqOQhbHLCMI88tkVcTY4MKJrapGucDLNwz_nJ4PCLNlpJLQvpsuSmygfzFc9x6xHNNOPQBm60xYTeGLi8O3tTjEF0BimeAUc_WDtRJc/s400/ankh-tilted.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139075703392056770" border="0" /></a><st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> here….One of the things that most strikes me from that last paragraph is the cross being a symbol of life. Below is a photo of an analemma, the shape created in the sky over the course of a year by the position of the sun at the same time every day. (See photo credit below picture). What occurred to me as I saw this picture was that it is very similar to the Egyptian ankh, the cross with the oval on top that represented Life. I wonder if some ancient Egyptian charted the sun in the sky at the same time every day and based the shape of the ankh, the cross of Life, on the changing position, the rise and fall, the birth and death of the sun. An interesting thought, don't you think? </p><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ws16TyerAvZjoXvpqGPOMmopjTNeCmCazGBZ_R3AyDrQt4CqFAJipwW9-4uhtPpFgCFmv2GILqQ5uUt87WnPO3Epbe9qKwyajmNGXBPEWBmwQ0wmhCMflcfazab8k1tYIYuSOSZKw8I/s1600-r/analemma_vr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIXusSmJdz9N8Kvib36XJSvuCPEcRXLfTblAC0exKRjEmTXyDbb-KPfj6hqTRrVhDZFWs50gcF1nsmIa6j6msb3Mxn92-T-NrHpng30qjveft-dulzop9O_f3XfP1Or8AbrFi5qxIVS_c/s400/analemma_vr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5139072739864622514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Credit & Copyright: </b><a href="http://vrum.chat.ru/RVV.htm">Vasilij Rumyantsev</a> (<a href="http://www.crao.crimea.ua/old/index.html"> Crimean Astrophysical Obsevatory</a>) </p> <p><b>Explanation: </b>If you took a picture of the Sun at the same time each day, would it remain in the same position? The answer is no, and the shape traced out by the <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap000621.html">Sun</a> over the course of a year is called an <a href="http://www.uwm.edu/%7Ekahl/Images/Weather/Other/analemma.html">analemma</a>. The Sun's apparent shift is caused by the <a href="http://zebu.uoregon.edu/%7Esoper/Orbits/earthorbit.html">Earth's motion</a> around the Sun when combined with the <a href="http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/the_universe/uts/earth2.html">tilt of the Earth's</a> rotation axis. The Sun will appear at its highest point of the <a href="http://solar-center.stanford.edu/FAQ/Qsunaspattern.html">analemma</a> during <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap001223.html">summer</a> and at its lowest during winter. <a href="http://www.jgiesen.de/analemma/">Analemmas</a> created from different Earth <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latitude">latitudes</a> would appear at least slightly different, as well as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analemma">analemmas</a> created at a different time each day. The <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search?analemma">analemma</a> <a href="http://vrum.chat.ru/Photo/Astro/analema.htm">pictured to the left</a> was built up by <a href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980526.html">Sun photographs</a> taken from 1998 August through 1999 August from <a href="http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/up.html">Ukraine</a>. The foreground <a href="http://www.digg.com/space/Pic_The_Path_Taken_By_The_Sun_Spread_Out_Over_A_Year">picture</a> from the same location was taken during the early evening in 1999 July. </p><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Links to related posts on the topic of sun, god(s), and solstices:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://phoenixqi.blogspot.com/2007/02/astronomy-of-christmas-and-epiphany.html">The Astronomy of Christmas and the Epiphany</a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://phoenixqi.blogspot.com/2007/01/daoism-on-winter.html">Daoism on Winter</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><a href="http://spiritsinharmony.blogspot.com/2007/03/similarities-between-mithraic-and.html">Similarities between Mithraic and Christian beliefs and practices</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://spiritsinharmony.blogspot.com/2007/04/meaning-of-god.html">The Meaning of God</a> (etymology of the word God)</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">The word God could derive from root words in several language families, and includes a combination of meanings, but the core idea of what God is seem to boil down to just a few definitions showing that ancient peoples regarded supreme beings much as we do today. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">1 – to shine (indicative, no doubt, of the connection between God and the sun/sky)</p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-16375523196714344602007-11-01T08:12:00.000-07:002009-07-03T18:49:21.097-07:00God's EyePerhaps this topic is an appropriate coincidence for All Saint's Day!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQwE6JENo4Whabwi8cFieB9YUj7P-tYImfetxBIetxZKhOoNiiT1y_VwxlfrLO2i7Ypy6zqxQuh5B7OupuXzRvgDYkp8Txfo38z7wk44HQAt6TsNJsiGULM6kd2mqTAorP_4IgGo5BYg/s1600-h/GodsEye.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQwE6JENo4Whabwi8cFieB9YUj7P-tYImfetxBIetxZKhOoNiiT1y_VwxlfrLO2i7Ypy6zqxQuh5B7OupuXzRvgDYkp8Txfo38z7wk44HQAt6TsNJsiGULM6kd2mqTAorP_4IgGo5BYg/s400/GodsEye.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127890487606324626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">I received an email recently with the above photo and the following message: </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">'This photo is a very rare one, taken by NASA. This kind of event occurs once in 3000 years.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br />'This photo has done miracles in many lives. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br />'Make a wish ... you have looked at the eye of God. Surely you will see the changes in your life within a day. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br />'Whether you believe it or not, don't keep this mail with you. Pass this at least to 7 persons. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br />'This is a picture NASA took with the Hubbell telescope called "The Eye of God."'<br /><span style=""> </span><br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I'm all for wishing on a star, but here is the truth behind the God's Eye myth: First, it truly is a marvelous photo, but it's not an event that happens every 3,000 years, and it isn't called "The Eye of God." <span style=""> </span><br /><br />It's a re-touched photo of the center of an hourglass nebula (called so because of its shape)…see photo below.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Very likely it was taken from the center of the MyCn18 nebula which has been sitting up in space, probably looking just like that for three-thousand years instead of once in 3,000 years. The original images of MyCn18 were taken by the Hubble telescope, and several are posted in various places online.<br /><br />Here are links to some of the whole pictures of the nebula: <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire_collection/pr1996007a/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; background-attachment: scroll;" id="lw_1193927768_0">http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire_collection/pr1996007a/</span></span></span></a> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://apod.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960118.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span id="lw_1193927768_1">http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960209.html</span></span></span><br /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://apod.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960118.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://apod.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960118.html</a> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://apod.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970914.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span class="yshortcuts"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span id="lw_1193927768_2">http://apod.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970914.html</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br />Here is a photo of the complete nebula from <a href="http://apod.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960118.html">Astronomy Picture of the Day <st1:date year="1996" day="16" month="1">January 16, 1996</st1:date></a> (Photo credit: R. Sahai and J. Trauger (<a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/">JPL</a>), <a href="http://astro.nmsu.edu/%7Eawatson/wfpc2-team.html">WFPC2 Science Team</a>, <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/">NASA</a>)</p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eu_XiXM-5R01VTyrY40ocliZOIzT6REZZGF6lu22oi5c0glcakV25GXK91qyvP4NWJY4G1WlDHtORe817C59VEXXciCJRnLrpzehNi-qQWvySSRatlobe9ojo24nnO9JW1mtBdI1IY0/s1600-h/hst_hourglass.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eu_XiXM-5R01VTyrY40ocliZOIzT6REZZGF6lu22oi5c0glcakV25GXK91qyvP4NWJY4G1WlDHtORe817C59VEXXciCJRnLrpzehNi-qQWvySSRatlobe9ojo24nnO9JW1mtBdI1IY0/s400/hst_hourglass.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5127890337282469250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Update July 3, 2009:<br /><br />As the anonymous commenter said (if you read the comments), the first picture is of the Helix Nebula, NGC7293!<br /><br />Here is an article on it at wikipedia: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helix_Nebula">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helix_Nebula</a><br /><br />And, another from Astronomy Picture of the Day that was not available at the time I first posted this article: <a href="http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090303.html">http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090303.html</a><br /><br />Thanks for your comment and for the correct information, Anonymous!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-79583704600665497202007-10-02T13:34:00.001-07:002008-12-10T03:24:51.061-08:00Phoenix Legends<p class="MsoNormal">A few legends of the Phoenix from Arabia, China, Egypt, Greece, India, Japan, the Jewish tradition, Native American, Roman, and Russian folklore. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Astronomy: <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> in the Sky</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBL25pUUvsdiu1F220fTTdcjNlqlOTQG1QIApjlQyXb98_lCQ8B19-cqwl7bCZsFw6fhgeJi8uCAC20iuhGp-_QTdDL9vYNghCk8KnN_oNEYS3aEZlVMiXilwd1cRdTNNoMAGiMjnfn4/s1600-h/Phoenix-Constellation-Drawing.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBL25pUUvsdiu1F220fTTdcjNlqlOTQG1QIApjlQyXb98_lCQ8B19-cqwl7bCZsFw6fhgeJi8uCAC20iuhGp-_QTdDL9vYNghCk8KnN_oNEYS3aEZlVMiXilwd1cRdTNNoMAGiMjnfn4/s400/Phoenix-Constellation-Drawing.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116843866120687906" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Phe (<st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city>) is a constellation in the Southern Hemisphere near Tucana and Sculptor. <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> was named by Johann Bayer in 1603 in his catalog, Uranometria. It lies between Grus and Eridanus. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Arabic Roc</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDLM3ItAz6rEyr-TYG1x7wgPldSOV08GvKTfcRAiguE_GcCvuZYTfR5_66fk4PZIgIIxU2wkmdii2xoYBornAbuI9P03eIyufTMVKFugHVtujO2uH7Oi5hMAuiGQKR7jhcEuaXMUqgH0/s1600-h/ArabianRoc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDLM3ItAz6rEyr-TYG1x7wgPldSOV08GvKTfcRAiguE_GcCvuZYTfR5_66fk4PZIgIIxU2wkmdii2xoYBornAbuI9P03eIyufTMVKFugHVtujO2uH7Oi5hMAuiGQKR7jhcEuaXMUqgH0/s400/ArabianRoc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116843535408206098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />In Arabic legends, the roc, or rukh, was a gigantic bird with two horns on its head and four humps on its back. It is mentioned in the Arabic tales, The Thousand and One Nights. The Venetian explorer Marco Polo referred to the roc in describing <st1:country-region><st1:place>Madagascar</st1:place></st1:country-region> and other islands off the coast of <st1:place>Eastern</st1:place> <st1:place>Africa</st1:place>. According to him, Kublai Khan inquired in those parts about the roc and was given what was claimed to be a roc's feather, which may really have been a palm frond. Sinbad the Sailor also told of seeing its egg, which was "50 paces in circumference." The roc is associated with strength, purity, and life. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">***</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> lived in <st1:place>Arabia</st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>According to the legends, only one <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> lived at a time for 500 years.<span style=""> </span>At the end of its life-cycle, The Phoenix built a nest as it was dying and set the nest on fire and was consumed by the flames.<span style=""> </span>After its death, a new <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> would then arise from the ashes and the new <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> was reborn.<span style=""> </span>This cycle was repeated over and over.<span style=""> </span>The <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> was the symbolic representation of the death and rebirth of the sun.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Chinese <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> </p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1DV5mNzmmll6flzlhg1ECRYtourqm1a6BDlJtqw6Bwq4fjc1TlnsOcTZSsMwrTbZ582QMlJyBywHaMiZbTBCeuGHuGkxkwytliVV2zbXweSSNb6XtEdF6_aCi1N5kzjIoDNi3anp-rE/s1600-h/ChinesePhoenix.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1DV5mNzmmll6flzlhg1ECRYtourqm1a6BDlJtqw6Bwq4fjc1TlnsOcTZSsMwrTbZ582QMlJyBywHaMiZbTBCeuGHuGkxkwytliVV2zbXweSSNb6XtEdF6_aCi1N5kzjIoDNi3anp-rE/s400/ChinesePhoenix.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116843269120233730" border="0" /></a><br />The legendary phoenix was a symbol of high virtue and grace to the Chinese. The phoenix, representing power and prosperity, reflected the empress, and only she was allowed to wear its symbol. The "phuong" is the male phoenix, and the "hoang" is the female. As conceived by the Chinese imagination, the phoenix has a large bill, the neck of a snake, the back of a tortoise, and tail of a fish. It carries in its bill either two scrolls or a square box that contains sacred books. According to tradition, the phoenix's song includes all the five notes of the traditional musical scale; its feathers include the five fundamental colors and its body is a composite of the six celestial bodies: the head symbolises the sky; the eyes, the sun; back, the moon; the wings, the wind; feet, the earth; and the tail, the planets. The phoenix appears only in peaceful and prosperous times, and hides itself when there is trouble. Therefore, the phoenix is both a sign of peace and a symbol of disharmony. In Chinese mythology, the phoenix is represented by the feng-huang, a bird symbolizing the union of yin and yang. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">***</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In <st1:country-region><st1:place>China</st1:place></st1:country-region>, Feng-huang, a bird that symbolizes the union of yin and yang, a sign of both peace and disharmony [sic].</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">***</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> from another of the Chinese Mythology offers another description.<span style=""> </span>Under another name, Feng - it’s depicted as a bird of shining colors, very much like a pheasant.<span style=""> </span>In remote times, The Feng supposedly frequented the gardens and palaces of righteous Emperors. As with all mythological creatures the versions, significance and the characters tend to vary according to culture and their belief.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">***</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Chinese have a group of four magical creatures that represented the primodrial forces of the feathered, armored, hairy and scaly animals. These beasts are Bai Hu (tiger) or Ki-Lin (unicorn) for the West, Gui Xian (the turtle or the serpent) for the North, Long (dragon) for the East and for the South, Feng, the phoenix. Feng represented power and prosperity and was an attribute of the Emperor and Empress, who were the only people in <st1:country-region><st1:place>China</st1:place></st1:country-region> allowed to bear the symbol of Feng. It is the personifications of the primordial force of the Heavens, and is sometimes represented with the head and comb of the pheasant and the tail of the Peacock. However, the Chinese wanted to give Feng the best attributes of all beasts, and so it has the crane's forehead, the fowl's bill, the swallow's throat, the neck of a snake, the shell of a tortoise, the dragon's stripes and the tail of a fish. In its bill it carries two scrolls or a square box that contains sacred books. It is also said that its song contains the five notes of the Chinese music scale, that its feathers include the five fundamental colours (green, red, yellow, white and black), and that its body is a mixture of the six celestial bodies: the head symbolises the sky; the eyes, the sun; back, the moon; the wings, the wind; feet, the earth; and the tail, the planets. Feng is sometimes pictured with a fireball, representing the sun, and is called the "scarlet bird". It is the emperor of birds.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">***</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Feng (or Feng-huang) lives in the Kindgom of the Wise which is to the east of <st1:country-region><st1:place>China</st1:place></st1:country-region>. It drinks the purest water and eats bamboo. When it sings, all the roosters in the world accompany it in its five-note song. It only appears in time of peace and prosperity, and disappears in times of trouble. Unlike the European Benu, Feng can be male or female and live as a couple. This couple represents marital happiness. The Feng delivers the soul of the infant to the mother's womb, once she conceives it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlrA3tNnsL4EJMrSWS5ySIDr8X59Emq9-7baC31Awojaa_YeaNgriUJZjfbSRcfeOxB52ZuFCEMxcCL13BX6rW7fA_yeRR3ZIazACiTlTAAhRRyrzc7sJtJ4CpyXJnvTtVrYltT2SnYs/s1600-h/bennu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlrA3tNnsL4EJMrSWS5ySIDr8X59Emq9-7baC31Awojaa_YeaNgriUJZjfbSRcfeOxB52ZuFCEMxcCL13BX6rW7fA_yeRR3ZIazACiTlTAAhRRyrzc7sJtJ4CpyXJnvTtVrYltT2SnYs/s400/bennu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116842938407751922" border="0" /></a><br />In <st1:country-region><st1:place>Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> the phoenix was usually depicted as a heron, but also as a peacock or an eagle. The brilliantly red and golden plumed Bennu was the sacred bird of <st1:city><st1:place>Heliopolis</st1:place></st1:city>. Identified as a heron with its long straight back and head adorned at the back with two erect feathers, the Bennu was later named <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> by the Greeks. The Bennu lived on the ben-ben stone or obelisk within the sanctuary of <st1:city><st1:place>Heliopolis</st1:place></st1:city> and was worshipped alongside Ra and Osiris. It was said to create itself from the fire that burned on the top of the sacred Persea tree in <st1:city><st1:place>Heliopolis</st1:place></st1:city>. The sun rose in the form of the Bennu each morning. Bennu was also considered a manifestation of Osiris, said to spring from his heart as a living symbol of the god. The Bennu symbolizes rebirth as it rises from the ashes, just as the new sun rises from the old. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">***</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Although it’s a common legend to many ancient civilizations, the origin of the myth of The Phoenix is attributed to the Egyptians, a civilization that was obsessed with eternal life. <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> is the Greek name given to a mythological bird offered in sacrifice to Ra, god of the Sun in ancient <st1:country-region><st1:place>Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span style=""> </span>This bird was similar to an eagle and possessed a splendid golden-red plumage that made it look like it was wrapped up in flames.<span style=""> </span>In some versions, The Phoenix was shown in flames rather than in feathers.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">***</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Egyptians were the first to speak of Benu, which later became the <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> in Greek legends. Benu is mostly depicted as a heron, with a long straight back, a head adorned with two erect feathers, and its plumage red and golden. It was the sacred bird of <st1:city><st1:place>Heliopolis</st1:place></st1:city>, city of the Sun, where it stayed on the ben-ben stone or obelisk, inside the town's sanctuary. Its true home was however the <st1:place>Arabian desert</st1:place>, it only came back to <st1:city><st1:place>Heliopolis</st1:place></st1:city> to die/be born. Benu was associated with the Sun god Ra and with Osiris, god of the Underworld, who is said to have given the secret of eternal life to Benu. It symbolises rebirth, as it rises from its ashes like a new sun rises when the old has died. It also symbolises a new period of wealth and fertility, when the <st1:place>Nile</st1:place> flooded the earth each year. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">***</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is said that Benu had created itself from the fire that burned on the top of the sacred Persea tree in <st1:city><st1:place>Heliopolis</st1:place></st1:city>. Another story says that the heron Benu was the first life form to have appeared on the mound which rose from the watery chaos of the first creation, which links Benu to the nile and its periodical floods. The mound was called the ben-ben, and was the origin of the town of <st1:city><st1:place>Heliopolis</st1:place></st1:city>. Benu is, one way or the other, the personification of creation and life-force. After 500 years, according to Herodotus, Benu flew to the Sun temple in <st1:city><st1:place>Heliopolis</st1:place></st1:city> to build its funeral pyre with incense twigs. It then climbed onto it and waited for the sun's rays to consume it, singing a song of rare beauty as it did so. According to Pliny, from the ashes emerged a small worm that the sun's rays turned into a new Benu at the end of the day. It is also said that a new <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> rose immediately from it's father's ashes and flew with it's predecessor's emblamed remains to <st1:city><st1:place>Heliopolis</st1:place></st1:city>, accompanied by a flight of turtledoves. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">***</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The planet Venus was called the 'star of the ship of the Bennu-Asar' (Osiris), and is mentioned as the Morning Star in this invocation to the sacred sun bird, Benu:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am the Benu, the soul of Ra, and the guide of the gods in the Douat *,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Let it be so done unto me that I may enter in like a hawk, </p> <p class="MsoNormal">And that I may come forth like Bennu, the Morning Star.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">* the Douat is the Egyptian Underworld.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Greece</st1:place></st1:country-region></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdYAYAVISBMYWJrDPZ_6bkjIPmvHo6zmJLYAB32JAk38Qv0RqYEAPtLP0RDfyNBvdCjLM267tKWVGvZKsns6gtsRRsoJOatquHn-rLflzqFlEC32fvxJ4h4Ycl-U4EZvbPlNtlY10Kbk/s1600-h/GreekPhoenix2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdYAYAVISBMYWJrDPZ_6bkjIPmvHo6zmJLYAB32JAk38Qv0RqYEAPtLP0RDfyNBvdCjLM267tKWVGvZKsns6gtsRRsoJOatquHn-rLflzqFlEC32fvxJ4h4Ycl-U4EZvbPlNtlY10Kbk/s400/GreekPhoenix2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116842607695270114" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Greek mythology places the phoenix in <st1:place>Arabia</st1:place>, where it lives close to a cool well. Every morning at dawn it bathes in the water and sings a beautiful song. So beautiful is the song that the sun god would stop his chariot to listen. There only exists one phoenix at a time. When the phoenix feels its death approaching (every 500 or 1461 years) it builds a nest, sets it on fire, and is consumed by the flames. A new phoenix springs forth from the pyre. It then embalms the ashes of it's predecessor in an egg of myrrh and flies with it to the City of the Sun. There the egg is deposited on the altar of the sun god. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">***</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Greek poet Herodotus wrote in one of his passages from his writings of The Phoenix’s legend that the <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> comes back every 500 years in order to search the body of its predecessor.<span style=""> </span>After making a myrrh egg, The Phoenix puts the body of its predecessor inside it, and takes it to the <st1:city><st1:place>Temple</st1:place></st1:city> of the Sun located in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">500 years later, Tacitus and Plinius agreed that many of the ancient myths were confusing so they investigated the chronology of The Phoenix.<span style=""> </span>Through their studies, they concluded that The Phoenix lived an equivalent to a Platonic year, a calculation determined by the alignment of the Sun, the Moon, and the five planets known at that time needed to return to their original positions which in our time represents a<span style=""> </span>period of 12.994 years.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">***</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The ancient ones believed that this enormous astronomical cycle was complete provided all conditions of the planetary influence were the same. In other words, The Phoenix was considered similar to a mirror of the universe. By the end of the IVth century, Claudianus had written some verses about an immortal bird, able to reborn from its ashes, an heir to itself, and a witness of that time. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">***</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Greek believed that the <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> lived in <st1:place>Arabia</st1:place>, in a cool well. At dawn, each morning, it sung a beautiful song, so beautiful that the Sun god would stop his chariot to listen. The <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> is a unique bird, there may only exist one at a time, which makes it a solitary bird. It does not reproduce, which adds to its loneliness, as only its death will bring on another of its race. When it feels its end approaching (between 500 and 1461 years, depending on the legend), it builds a nest with the finest aromatic woods, sets it on fire, and is consumed by his own flames. From the pile of ashes, a new <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> arises, young and powerful. It then embalms the ashes of its predecessor in an egg of myrrh, and flies to the city of the Sun, <st1:city><st1:place>Heliopolis</st1:place></st1:city>, where he deposits the egg on the altar of the Sun god.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Indian Garuda and Japanese Karura </p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S8OHXWUAFFV4DBHcXn4fN5Rvfz2pRojwVQ-r3O2-1FD5jOt7V6_DGNfgkjYMmSJXQ-mUSCUnDmYv3WFgfvwTjpVN240fAe8ILJEmExe64W__c9y5WvFyj7Gl-jZCxLrEEYasGvTfFJA/s1600-h/garuda.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S8OHXWUAFFV4DBHcXn4fN5Rvfz2pRojwVQ-r3O2-1FD5jOt7V6_DGNfgkjYMmSJXQ-mUSCUnDmYv3WFgfvwTjpVN240fAe8ILJEmExe64W__c9y5WvFyj7Gl-jZCxLrEEYasGvTfFJA/s400/garuda.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116842212558278866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>In the Hindu and Buddhist culture, the phoenix is called Garuda, or Karura in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region> (see lyrics of "You Are Phoenix"). Garuda in some legends has an eagle's beak and wings, and a human body, with a white face, scarlet wings and a golden body. In others, especially in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Japan</st1:place></st1:country-region>, he is an enormous fire-breathing eagle with golden feathers and magic gems crowning its head. Garuda is the mount or avatar (earthly embodiment) of the god Vishnu (Hindu tradition), and is one of the supreme seers of infinite consciousness. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Kadru, mother of all serpents, had picked a fight with the mother of Garuda, that she locked away. Garuda then went to fetch the Soma, which gave him immortality, to free his mother from Kadru. Vishnu, impressed, chose him as his avatar or mount. However, Garuda kept a great hatred towards the Naga (family of serpents and dragons), and killed one every day for his meal. But a Buddhist prince taught him abstinence, and Garuda brought back to life the bones of many serpents he had killed.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Jewish Milcham<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In Jewish legend, the phoenix is called Milcham. After Eve ate the forbidden fruit, she became jealous of the immortality and purity of the other creatures in the garden of Eden. She managed to persuade all the animals in the garden to eat the forbidden fruit and share her fallen state. All except for the phoenix gave in to her. God rewarded the bird by setting him up in a walled city where he could live in great peace for 1000 years. And at the end of every 1000 year period, the bird was consumed and reborn from an egg found in its ashes. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Native American Thunderbird</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXzVogBRa6piaPIjNOE9jFJQhv1Y5cuZt7OaF_BP2EXFvz5GcqrFCSJmI87Fj9EqcULoqnY9DRZFs7pLz9XY-uSbuvwaISwKGkbBTTGiPADIbcWmCf8KvoJnnb3foZ50xSDR7zzN2zKM/s1600-h/ThunderbirdRockCarving-Wisconsin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaXzVogBRa6piaPIjNOE9jFJQhv1Y5cuZt7OaF_BP2EXFvz5GcqrFCSJmI87Fj9EqcULoqnY9DRZFs7pLz9XY-uSbuvwaISwKGkbBTTGiPADIbcWmCf8KvoJnnb3foZ50xSDR7zzN2zKM/s400/ThunderbirdRockCarving-Wisconsin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116844377221796146" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">In the legends of native North Americans, the thunderbird is a powerful spirit in the form of a bird. Lightning flashes from its beak, and the beating of its wings is creates the thunder. It is often portrayed with an extra head on its abdomen. The majestic thunderbird is often accompanied by lesser bird spirits, frequently in the form of eagles or falcons. The thunderbird petroglyph symbol has been found across <st1:country-region><st1:place>Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region><st1:place>United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Evidence of similar figures has been found throughout <st1:place>Africa</st1:place>, <st1:place>Asia</st1:place>, and <st1:place>Europe</st1:place>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Roman Phoenix</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitK-Fl4E4cWadh3KmBQTtcgOVTvqmGaxzDRdo-RUnw-ecMgB388STlLY-f_jTIGY9IZPE-rZJNi_yJJMlXS8k0AY84Tb4qzsVHgUfl9BF7v2KJ-RYon3CM5SpT-RnYQXwCmD0kMlPW1Mw/s1600-h/PhoenixRomanCoin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitK-Fl4E4cWadh3KmBQTtcgOVTvqmGaxzDRdo-RUnw-ecMgB388STlLY-f_jTIGY9IZPE-rZJNi_yJJMlXS8k0AY84Tb4qzsVHgUfl9BF7v2KJ-RYon3CM5SpT-RnYQXwCmD0kMlPW1Mw/s400/PhoenixRomanCoin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116841375039656114" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">In Greek and Roman legends, the <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city> is the symbol of immortality and resurrection. It is associated with the Sun god Phoebus (Apollo). Its name "<st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city>" is the Greek word for "red", which links this magical bird to fire and the sun. It is said to resemble an eagle or a peacock.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The following is a text by a Roman author, Claudian, which tells the story of the <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city>. This poetic version is translated by Henry Vaughan.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">THE <st1:city><st1:place>PHOENIX</st1:place></st1:city></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">He knows his time is out! and doth provide</p> <p class="MsoNormal">New principles of life; herbs he brings dried</p> <p class="MsoNormal">From the hot hills, and with rich spices frames</p> <p class="MsoNormal">A Pile shall burn, and Hatch him with his flames.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On this the weakling sits; salutes the Sun</p> <p class="MsoNormal">With pleasant noise, and prays and begs for some</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Of his own fire, that quickly may restore</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The youth and vigor, which he had before.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Whom soon as Phoebus * spies, stopping his rays</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">He makes a stand, and thus allays his pains......</p> <p class="MsoNormal">He shakes his locks, and from his golden head,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Shoots on bright beam, which smites with vital fire</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The willing bird; to burn is his desire.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That he may live again; he's proud in death,</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And goes in haste to gain a better breath.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The spice heap fired with celestial rays</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Doth burn the aged <st1:city><st1:place>Phoenix</st1:place></st1:city>, when straight stays</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Chariot of the amazed Moon; the pole</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Resists the wheeling, swift Orbs, and the whole</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fabric of Nature at a stand remains.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Till the old bird anew, young begins again.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">* Phoebus another name for Apollo, but is also a poetic word to describe the sun.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Russian Firebird</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5-qXFglwoHVwnKZt_OazrRNPZdnOibs_ocLgm2Lzc5VCitEViO-ymfhd9L8wGLyHRLHYtg59YbnhskIGREVAdvxuXoh0kbIA4ZVt3IQ6_qnGBq04ruB8CnZ2EvKA70UbovFzzUQwd88/s1600-h/RussianFirebird.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5-qXFglwoHVwnKZt_OazrRNPZdnOibs_ocLgm2Lzc5VCitEViO-ymfhd9L8wGLyHRLHYtg59YbnhskIGREVAdvxuXoh0kbIA4ZVt3IQ6_qnGBq04ruB8CnZ2EvKA70UbovFzzUQwd88/s400/RussianFirebird.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5116840666370052258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Russian Firebird <p class="MsoNormal">by Cyril Korolev </p> <p class="MsoNormal">http://www.pantheon.org/articles/f/firebird.html</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In Russian folklore the Firebird (Zshar-ptitsa) is a miraculous bird. Its feathers shine like silver and gold, its eyes sparkle like crystals, and it is usually been seen sitting on a golden perch. At <st1:time hour="0" minute="0">midnight</st1:time> this bird comes to gardens and fields and illuminates the night as brightly as a thousand lights; just one feather from its tail could light up a dark room. The Firebird eats golden apples which give any who eat them youth, beauty and immortality; when the bird sings, pearls would fall from its beak. The Firebird’s chants can heal the sick and return the vision to the blind.<span style=""> </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-37022352720843331592007-09-25T19:18:00.001-07:002008-12-10T03:24:51.221-08:00Why Feng Shui Works – Scientists Discover Magnets In BrainA Luopan, the traditional feng shui compass<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ9xZ-0iIqPWJiACa___F66orRndHo0bwhMfM8UfcXQif_jMLFmSi_ToPI0sktBsxkoxKi3HD7yL-ADm_qscArK-pqxGZCSAl98qttZV0Hxn9dKdHJtf8yF8E72CYHxRIiR1K88859Lk/s1600-h/LisaLuopan%5B1%5D.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZ9xZ-0iIqPWJiACa___F66orRndHo0bwhMfM8UfcXQif_jMLFmSi_ToPI0sktBsxkoxKi3HD7yL-ADm_qscArK-pqxGZCSAl98qttZV0Hxn9dKdHJtf8yF8E72CYHxRIiR1K88859Lk/s400/LisaLuopan%5B1%5D.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5114331701094551698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">I love stories like this. They renew my faith in the natural order of the universe. Not that my faith needed renewing, but too many times people blame the natural order for being obscure, not themselves for not having enough information. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The art of Feng Shui measures the cycles of the Earth's electromagnetic field and applies this influence to the directions and dwellings of human beings. Yes, folks, not only do you really intercept this field, it really affects you in ways you can't imagine unless you have a feng shui reading done.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It is also my personal belief that at birth, the magnets in your brain are "set" in some way based upon the positions of the planets, and that is why astrology "works" also, but I don't yet have scientific proof of that idea. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">However, I do have proof that we humans have the capability and therefore the likelihood of detecting and being affected by the Earth's electromagnetic fields. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Read on……</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">From the <u><a href="http://www.justgoodtiming.com/id45.htm">Earth's magnet field affects humans</a> website:<o:p></o:p></u><br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">ITEM 43:<span style=""></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Microscopic magnets have been found in the human brain that might help explain possible links between cancer and electromagnetic fields, scientists said Monday.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">'They are little biological bar magnets' made of crystals of the iron mineral magnetite, said geobiologist Joseph Krischvink of the California Institute of Technology. 'This really is an exciting discovery.' . . . Homing pigeons, whales, salmon, honeybees and some shellfish and bacteria have microscopic magnets . . . "</p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal">- Associated Press, <st1:city><st1:place>Omaha</st1:place></st1:city> World-Herald. Tiny <st1:city><st1:place>Crystal</st1:place></st1:city> Magnets Found in Human Brain. <st1:date year="1992" day="12" month="5">May 12, 1992</st1:date>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /><o:p></o:p></p><o:p></o:p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here is the whole story as reported in the <st1:place><st1:city>Syracuse</st1:city>, <st1:state>NY</st1:state></st1:place> newspapers, the evening "Herald Journal" or the morning "Post Standard." I'm not sure which newspaper it was in; I have the original clipping, but failed to record which paper or the date I clipped it. I assume it was clipped close to the date as listed above, <st1:date year="1992" day="12" month="5">May 12, 1992</st1:date>, since it appears to be the same AP article.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*** Begin Quote<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">Scientists Discover Magnets In Brain<o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city><st1:place>Crystals</st1:place></st1:city> may explain the side effects of home appliances. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place><st1:city>Pasadena</st1:city>, <st1:state>Calif.</st1:state></st1:place> (AP) - Microscopic magnets have been found in the human brain that might help explain possible links between cancer and electromagnetic fields, scientists said Monday.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">'They are little biological bar magnets" made of crystals of the iron mineral magnetite, said geobiologist Joseph Krischvink of the California Institute of Technology. "This really is an exciting discovery."</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The crystals are strongly magnetic, unlike other iron compounds in the body. They come in two sizes, about one-millionth and 10-millionths of an inch wide," he said during a news conference. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Homing pigeons, whales, salmon, honeybees and some shellfish and bacteria have microscopic magnets.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In recent years, scientists found growing but inconclusive evidence that electromagnetic fields, or EMF's, might increase the risk of certain cancers, including childhood leukemis and brain tumors. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">EMF's are invisible electric and magnetic fields generated by power lines, appliances, and everything electrical. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Many physicists doubt any EMF-cancer link because "they thought there were no plausible mechanisms by which electromagnetic fields could affect biological tissue," Kirschvink said.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The study found an average human brain contains about 7 billion microscopic magnets, weighing a total of one-millionth of an ounce, said associate research engineer Atsuko Kobayashi-Kirschvink, who co-authored the study and is married to Kirschvink. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*** End Quote<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Further evidence from the <u>E<a href="http://www.justgoodtiming.com/id45.htm">arth's magnet field affects humans</a> website:<o:p></o:p></u></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">ITEM 44:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Every organism including the human organism, demonstrates cycles of biological and mental-emotional activity closely linked to geomagnetic force-field patterns and more complex force-field interrelations, both planetary and solar-terrestrial in scope. Human behavior is influenced through the direct current control system of the brain by the terrestrial magnetic field, solar and planetary conditions, and both high and low energy cosmic radiation."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">- Dr. Robert O. Becker, Medical Research, <st1:place><st1:placename>Syracuse</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>University</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">ITEM 45:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"I found in my research that this permeability (of blood cells) is under the direct control of (Earth's) geomagnetic field. Apparently the control is connected with changes occurring in the water molecules of the membranes."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">- Dr. Alexander Dubrov, <st1:place><st1:placename>USSR</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>Academy</st1:placetype></st1:place> of Sciences. Soviet Life. Jan 1972.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">ITEM 49:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"After analyzing six years' worth of data, two geophysicists (S.R.C. Malin, B.J. Srivastava, Nature) have concluded that there is a significant relationship between heart attacks and changes in the earth's magnetism."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">New York Times. <st1:date year="1979" day="24" month="4">April 24, 1979</st1:date>. Heart Attacks Tied To Magnetic Change.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">ITEM 51:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In a fascinating study on geomagnetic storms and depression, British researchers found that male hospital admissions with a diagnosis of depression rose 36.2% during periods of geomagnetic activity as compared with normal periods. The investigators hypothesized that this increase may have been caused by a phase advance in the circadian rhythm of melatonin production.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Kay RW. Geomagnetic storms: association with incidence of depression as measured by hospital admission. British Journal Psychiatry 1994 164(3): 403-9.</p><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Think Feng Shui doesn't affect YOU??<br /><br />Think again!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-10061437882143788252007-09-11T19:26:00.001-07:002008-12-10T03:24:55.547-08:00Astronomy in the Hindu Tantric Diagram Sri YantraThis should come as no surprise, but one of the world's oldest, most sacred designs has astronomical associations as its foundation. The Hindu Sri Yantra takes the practitioner from an outward journey (the square) to the center of spiritual Be-ing (the dot in the center of the diagram.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuJ6pJHWx6iO_nBDZR9CS-Ibjb7rImcYXrYtsQ3Cl64uvnM7PWbmMVej2QcDTRNQrVJ-UnYbdojfmWMEApGmneFCMbb_UPy73TUaQX-4Er7Bcfaxjs9DgVhZixt6ytls9RZ2xkyEY-eQ/s1600-h/HinduYantra-Mandala.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuJ6pJHWx6iO_nBDZR9CS-Ibjb7rImcYXrYtsQ3Cl64uvnM7PWbmMVej2QcDTRNQrVJ-UnYbdojfmWMEApGmneFCMbb_UPy73TUaQX-4Er7Bcfaxjs9DgVhZixt6ytls9RZ2xkyEY-eQ/s400/HinduYantra-Mandala.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109138532332337250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><h2><a href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/george/yantra.html">Yantra: Hindu Tantric Diagrams</a></h2> by Patrick A George<br /><br /><p>Translation </p> <p>[Shri Shankaracarya], Saundaryalahari, prathamo bhagah, Anandalahari: </p> <p>The angles of your feet are transformed into four [angles] related to Shiva and five [angles] related to Shakti, which are distinct from those of Shiva, and thus into the nine primary forms of matter, as well as into forty-three [angles], eight-petals, sixteen-sides, three-folds and three-lines. || 11 || </p> <p>Kaivalyashrama, Saubhagyavardhani: </p> <p>One should make a circle according to one's desire<br />[i.e. as large as one wants].<br />One should draw a line from east to west<br />and divide it into forty-eight parts. || 1 ||</p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNQpYYAZEPGgqfzVcILg0hUgAiW04iGBFnxUSY6-5oq9G2fr8hUeJZ0LzPDBB6HKLxp51AGH-haOHjgzIsw05Gz5DoMgTlm365Dn3pqSORvwIgucdLMEIF8CrCu1348BWP8e9-kpQi3M/s1600-h/yankai01.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNQpYYAZEPGgqfzVcILg0hUgAiW04iGBFnxUSY6-5oq9G2fr8hUeJZ0LzPDBB6HKLxp51AGH-haOHjgzIsw05Gz5DoMgTlm365Dn3pqSORvwIgucdLMEIF8CrCu1348BWP8e9-kpQi3M/s400/yankai01.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109140967578794098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>One should make nine marks on this:<br />on the sixth, on the sixth and on the fifth,<br />on the third and again on the third,<br />on the fourth and then on the third,<br />on the sixth, and on the sixth again.<br />One should extend nine lines on both sides of these marks,<br />from south to north. || 2-3 ||</p><br /><p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:324pt;height:108pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Phoenix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image002.gif" href="yantra-HinduTantricDiagrams_files/yankai02.GIF"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoEp_Zhv4OtY-7_i_pvYU6c3QXbYwkgTVad8YPk35m-wlpk1n0BrDObyE5YHVau2kM9Yscs0MCbrlg-3swRWP6kZsAiWW0t9w8E9Q1HFGT2DF8osbYkXtQafgMN-NGuYpelcahl_CG-U/s1600-h/yankai02.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoEp_Zhv4OtY-7_i_pvYU6c3QXbYwkgTVad8YPk35m-wlpk1n0BrDObyE5YHVau2kM9Yscs0MCbrlg-3swRWP6kZsAiWW0t9w8E9Q1HFGT2DF8osbYkXtQafgMN-NGuYpelcahl_CG-U/s400/yankai02.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109141435730229378" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br />One who is skilled in this<br /><p>[i.e. who knows the technical terms and drawing process]<br />should remove fractional parts [from these lines] in order:<br />on the first, second, and fourth,<br />then on the fifth and sixth,<br />and on the eighth and last<br />agni [three], bana [five], kala [sixteen], purana [eighteen],<br />sixteen, veda [four], and agni [three]. || 4-5b ||</p> <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:324pt;height:108pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Phoenix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image003.gif" href="yantra-HinduTantricDiagrams_files/yankai03.GIF"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6H3kLSzu0jNf-aGPeRa9virra0jHX3hNrPabVCBtevirgoD0iQ_lKipOJejBGZA7G2duvEo8X5MXuNCXq5Qip-DvX64BEleT77X632EHs3hpWevqTTUgEdK5w0SSb20KtmWf2YRqy8kI/s1600-h/yankai03.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6H3kLSzu0jNf-aGPeRa9virra0jHX3hNrPabVCBtevirgoD0iQ_lKipOJejBGZA7G2duvEo8X5MXuNCXq5Qip-DvX64BEleT77X632EHs3hpWevqTTUgEdK5w0SSb20KtmWf2YRqy8kI/s400/yankai03.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109141998370945170" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>One who is learned should then join these lines in order:<br />the ends of ravi [Sun] in the middle of shani [Saturn],</p> <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:324pt;height:108pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Phoenix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image004.gif" href="yantra-HinduTantricDiagrams_files/yankai04.GIF"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOv0m-Alhon74Ixgrmz5weJnnnicrEjGOSBQuUx8FyVZOnB-slipGQIotQgHS6XSEOhfm2YpyuILIY1cdhDsAC28hk0IIKClhw0YnI1A0dFlD8jnIvVIPdVu4JbdUzqXq1f0WlrH5sgVA/s1600-h/yankai04.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOv0m-Alhon74Ixgrmz5weJnnnicrEjGOSBQuUx8FyVZOnB-slipGQIotQgHS6XSEOhfm2YpyuILIY1cdhDsAC28hk0IIKClhw0YnI1A0dFlD8jnIvVIPdVu4JbdUzqXq1f0WlrH5sgVA/s400/yankai04.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109142324788459682" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>the ends of candra [Moon] in the middle of ketu [descending node],</p> <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1029" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:324pt;height:108pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Phoenix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image005.gif" href="yantra-HinduTantricDiagrams_files/yankai05.GIF"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMbZusNudl7TE0bfHqT1DJFES_5QNjfVl0C6yN-YkcrK8mBCnBgzwc2nuOvrHz5qAM7JbYQV8fWtFs1vIlCUxWG-RrKFBzF1jVP1cqOb3MHVj95Fvg0CDQG5GeOiafSoVcabBJHZDCxM/s1600-h/yankai05.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMbZusNudl7TE0bfHqT1DJFES_5QNjfVl0C6yN-YkcrK8mBCnBgzwc2nuOvrHz5qAM7JbYQV8fWtFs1vIlCUxWG-RrKFBzF1jVP1cqOb3MHVj95Fvg0CDQG5GeOiafSoVcabBJHZDCxM/s400/yankai05.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109142651205974194" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>the ends of mangala [Mars] in the middle of the circle,</p> <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1030" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:324pt;height:108pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Phoenix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image006.gif" href="yantra-HinduTantricDiagrams_files/yankai06.GIF"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDFB1naaziqHZpkB1i5M-Q_8Jz6-VF3bWNQT8OjGelZtXmPqh8DELRl-bmyNdrfNZa_1MH6g8pf6MVB8SLteUBDeDK_pWrJPz2m8G9Fe6PkF32P8P9f2wyBWAfZKy-jIcBj6UdhFTcyw/s1600-h/yankai06.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDFB1naaziqHZpkB1i5M-Q_8Jz6-VF3bWNQT8OjGelZtXmPqh8DELRl-bmyNdrfNZa_1MH6g8pf6MVB8SLteUBDeDK_pWrJPz2m8G9Fe6PkF32P8P9f2wyBWAfZKy-jIcBj6UdhFTcyw/s400/yankai06.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109142999098325186" border="0" /></a><br /></p><br /><p><br /></p><br /><br /><p></p>the ends of budha [Mercury] in the middle of rahu [desc.(s/b ascending) n.], <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1031" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:324pt;height:108pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Phoenix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image007.gif" href="yantra-HinduTantricDiagrams_files/yankai07.GIF"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJs0_9OScFFWKWCQlpFxWHuKwovJIHQUKt24P-aZtJd2JfG5h3RCPAWmHfmKb9e8S_IWz7vsYEQgifi3j2-0nB6C-FlEIWNc0Ww5KAgz9EslsVbQWQ1oQKY5wTw3UCVeYg8_A-AIpuhok/s1600-h/yankai07.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJs0_9OScFFWKWCQlpFxWHuKwovJIHQUKt24P-aZtJd2JfG5h3RCPAWmHfmKb9e8S_IWz7vsYEQgifi3j2-0nB6C-FlEIWNc0Ww5KAgz9EslsVbQWQ1oQKY5wTw3UCVeYg8_A-AIpuhok/s400/yankai07.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109143437184989394" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>the ends of guru [Jupiter] in the middle of bhauma [Mars],</p> <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1032" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:324pt;height:108pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Phoenix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image008.gif" href="yantra-HinduTantricDiagrams_files/yankai08.GIF"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tqADEJ3zzsP0_VWAlAaw3HxMIRe1_hsgwfz7YqVl6xdcQWeJBX03CxndwmUp1cAwM-ZrV2J3qO6-ReFWcIM7rnR3nz8p2jH-ssBKgVX_O16fWFgOwxPjEWvq9BltSMYqTzx0KeHjbYE/s1600-h/yankai08.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1tqADEJ3zzsP0_VWAlAaw3HxMIRe1_hsgwfz7YqVl6xdcQWeJBX03CxndwmUp1cAwM-ZrV2J3qO6-ReFWcIM7rnR3nz8p2jH-ssBKgVX_O16fWFgOwxPjEWvq9BltSMYqTzx0KeHjbYE/s400/yankai08.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109143926811261154" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>the ends of shukra [Venus] in the middle of soma [Moon],</p> <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1033" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:324pt;height:108pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Phoenix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image009.gif" href="yantra-HinduTantricDiagrams_files/yankai09.GIF"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvI7C90wnvEETuPgdrmBw5-G-FLZ_8dq-gusXc3Ut1hVodTLBnYYRDDJBdNyJYEKH1m3JsD2vRfOko9V3Uqm2jX5MbekEc0nlrhqjIfaLJ9oQAuDhzrMGAmFbcaoVmChs3EGgZ8c-P3c/s1600-h/yankai09.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvI7C90wnvEETuPgdrmBw5-G-FLZ_8dq-gusXc3Ut1hVodTLBnYYRDDJBdNyJYEKH1m3JsD2vRfOko9V3Uqm2jX5MbekEc0nlrhqjIfaLJ9oQAuDhzrMGAmFbcaoVmChs3EGgZ8c-P3c/s400/yankai09.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109144248933808370" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>the ends of shani [Saturn] in the middle of the circle,</p> <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1034" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:324pt;height:108pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Phoenix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image010.gif" href="yantra-HinduTantricDiagrams_files/yankai10.GIF"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAU2hyhMun5JLxBzPPFu9_pcidI7KZU4r7EgtvLUTIouwuEalPzDpDrPi6M8AqDqWq7Q0Ug57GXYrM4s3bfWQYRlQwOJkKUIZOvxJOaojzZIlZIVRUl8B0mvkp8uZDf4ByaXH6hYPTsi8/s1600-h/yankai10.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAU2hyhMun5JLxBzPPFu9_pcidI7KZU4r7EgtvLUTIouwuEalPzDpDrPi6M8AqDqWq7Q0Ug57GXYrM4s3bfWQYRlQwOJkKUIZOvxJOaojzZIlZIVRUl8B0mvkp8uZDf4ByaXH6hYPTsi8/s400/yankai10.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109144725675178242" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br />the ends of rahu [ascending node] in the middle of ravi [Sun],</p> <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1035" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:324pt;height:108pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Phoenix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image011.gif" href="yantra-HinduTantricDiagrams_files/yankai11.GIF"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfh8ylcxKUTB17FjU_UkrKFMGx7Nh0fuQeZRzVuxXlDDVgdlp6eImgbp_564B2VwcftpbkuWOXvwd0tzz70CXw4wpNohMIod9zq9ZM65sy3VcqP2WI36800eTDlALdIDZrYttapXLkru4/s1600-h/yankai11.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfh8ylcxKUTB17FjU_UkrKFMGx7Nh0fuQeZRzVuxXlDDVgdlp6eImgbp_564B2VwcftpbkuWOXvwd0tzz70CXw4wpNohMIod9zq9ZM65sy3VcqP2WI36800eTDlALdIDZrYttapXLkru4/s400/yankai11.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109145296905828626" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>the ends of ketu [desc. n.] in the middle of budha [Mercury]. || 5c-7 ||</p> <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1036" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:324pt;height:108pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Phoenix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image012.gif" href="yantra-HinduTantricDiagrams_files/yankai12.GIF"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiJFX2sXg0RYApOfOOuo6I0Lxx0RRGxo__q8K8GxBkpmVIb6pnhbAUMAdmZD362wKI9Iv_FO3HvzJG_elF8LB4IsxhFTGCJrrwrlNRzsPSj7TH46O4mNj-aVEd0v6gPxIenaY_jPEhDY/s1600-h/yankai12.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiJFX2sXg0RYApOfOOuo6I0Lxx0RRGxo__q8K8GxBkpmVIb6pnhbAUMAdmZD362wKI9Iv_FO3HvzJG_elF8LB4IsxhFTGCJrrwrlNRzsPSj7TH46O4mNj-aVEd0v6gPxIenaY_jPEhDY/s400/yankai12.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109145584668637474" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>[Thus] the best shri cakra is formed,<br />with its center having the form of trembling fire,<br />with eight and twelve and fourteen lights of fire. || 8 ||<br />Apart from the cakra there are vasu [eight] lotus petals and sixteen leaves;<br />it is adorned with a triad of circles<br />and has an earthly house distinguished by three lines.<br />The dwelling consists of a three-fold road<br />and is beautifully adorned with four-fold doors;<br />the cakra is divine, completely splendorous,<br />consisting of the nature of moon, sun and fire. || 9-10 ||</p> <p><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1037" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="" style="'width:324pt;height:324pt'"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\Phoenix\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image013.gif" href="yantra-HinduTantricDiagrams_files/yantra2.GIF"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpMY24Cm08tbVZFBQFuWu67gHnpSMT70DnWJGX4kwc7pcbmDI77UMBm00cumPm3NQsGV9ahnTs4GQF_jWdlgNgnj_UerQB1uIGD7am6hAmLuYer8ToIqZssZyNuICS3JZyHBQaYDQpe4/s1600-h/yantra2.GIF"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpMY24Cm08tbVZFBQFuWu67gHnpSMT70DnWJGX4kwc7pcbmDI77UMBm00cumPm3NQsGV9ahnTs4GQF_jWdlgNgnj_UerQB1uIGD7am6hAmLuYer8ToIqZssZyNuICS3JZyHBQaYDQpe4/s400/yantra2.GIF" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5109146048525105458" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This dimensional variability utilized in the construction of <a href="http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/george/vedi.html">Vedic altars</a> is further developed in the proportional systems of <i>yantras</i>, the ritual diagrams of Tantric initiation and empowerment. As in the case of the tradition of Vedic altars mentioned above, there are many types of yantras. All yantras share the same basic scheme of enclosure, or "walls," although the representation within these walls varies depending upon the purpose of the <i>yantra</i>. In the case of the <i>Shri Yantra</i>, perhaps the most well known yantra, the central area is occupied by a pattern of nine interlocking triangles representing the goddess Shri.<br /></p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></p>Phoenix here.......I thought it would be helpful to add color to the diagram so that the trianges for the various planets and lunar nodes could be clearly identified. Here is what I came up with:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlKxE8CFqWcEH18nTGhWyg5HxG2hAqYyL_5EJk8wmJn9P3y2Fv9D19GRHorFeA6w06AUw0y0ebOZCbztzm0R-GU1QpayG1r2qBFEDy1gqED4Be4t6FYk9qwfLWSE6bbvofzErQ4M3eH8/s1600-h/SriYantra-PlanetaryColors-withText.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlKxE8CFqWcEH18nTGhWyg5HxG2hAqYyL_5EJk8wmJn9P3y2Fv9D19GRHorFeA6w06AUw0y0ebOZCbztzm0R-GU1QpayG1r2qBFEDy1gqED4Be4t6FYk9qwfLWSE6bbvofzErQ4M3eH8/s400/SriYantra-PlanetaryColors-withText.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181059470346365906" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-63942624706489986612007-08-02T14:04:00.001-07:002008-12-10T03:24:56.448-08:00Resurrection, Rebirth, and Other Symbolism in the Number Three 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPPmB6FNyVnInSyn7AO2_trKbPCuiJ4PC_V0tEaxagM5HPHtgWzuzuDQ-U8JiZoCaDn37TNV4PL0A1_QGxu0s55t6Yo_uTlL_sy4URVSeVL0HjJ2-waORNVb2AaQs67RtAAFJa95nG4Y/s1600-h/OrionsBelt-Pyramids2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPPmB6FNyVnInSyn7AO2_trKbPCuiJ4PC_V0tEaxagM5HPHtgWzuzuDQ-U8JiZoCaDn37TNV4PL0A1_QGxu0s55t6Yo_uTlL_sy4URVSeVL0HjJ2-waORNVb2AaQs67RtAAFJa95nG4Y/s400/OrionsBelt-Pyramids2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094213423749491986" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal">As I demonstrated in my last post, <a href="http://phoenixqi.blogspot.com/2007/07/symbolism-of-orions-belt.html">Symbolism of Orion's Belt</a>, some things based on the number three that are of spiritual and cultural importance are derived from astronomical sources other than the three popular lunar phases. For instance, the three stars of Orion's Belt have held great significance in many societies over the centuries. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">However, many people believe that the philosophical and/or spiritual significance of the number three is connected to the visible phases of the moon, First Quarter, Full, and Last Quarter. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">No doubt many things do correspond with moon phases, for example the Maiden, Mother, Crone of the modern pagan and Wiccan traditions which is a variation of the Birth-Life-Death trio of goddesses in the Greek and Roman mythologies. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The one "three" that is often overlooked is the three days of the New Moon. I believe that the period of three days during which the moon is invisible, dark, or "dead," is the astronomical event behind the concept of rebirth or resurrection, and frankly wonder why the <span style=""> </span>Resurrection of Christ and the date of Easter is based on a Full Moon event when "rebirth" occurs following a New Moon. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Many death-defying or resurrection journeys to Under- or Other-worlds are accomplished through a pattern of three, or a multiple of three.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There is the ancient Egyptian journey of the soul to the Otherworld of Osiris which accomplished by passing through twenty-one gates (7 X 3). Plato's resurrection/rebirth "Myth of Er" in which the warrior who died in battle was returned to earth after 12 days (4 X 3).</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the original Sumerian myth of Inanna (known to the Assyrians and Babylonians as Ishtar), she disappeared for three days and nights in her journey to the Underworld looking for her sister. Before she left, she also sends a message to three gods, Enlil, Nanna, and Enki, asking them to save her if anything goes amiss. It's interesting to note that she also passes through seven gates on her way. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In some Sumerian myths, there are only three steps to the Underworld. (This is later expanded to seven.) Also, there are three guards of the underworld; the first holds the key, the second controls the river, and the third is the ferryman. Source: <a href="http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/%7Ecatshaman/0inanna/06hersuit1.htm">Inanna New Moon Goddess</a>. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Since most of these journeys to and through death include the symbolism of darkness, I believe they are rooted in the three dark nights of a New Moon. The rebirth of the participant on the third day in those journeys is the symbolism of the appearance of the crescent moon, the lunar equivalent of resurrection or return to life. </p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XeMhSH1MC4a4AEeoclFLqVwfFczGIqda4Ybyij2b41aq2Bw9Uf7Q4jvkc67RBitZnk8TnZq6nxZtCehJtSZcD_HuFG6VFbQFJCland5qIjISRg8xHa2PqMddFS-2k8q9EGqkESKR_64/s1600-h/drawing_moon_phases.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7XeMhSH1MC4a4AEeoclFLqVwfFczGIqda4Ybyij2b41aq2Bw9Uf7Q4jvkc67RBitZnk8TnZq6nxZtCehJtSZcD_HuFG6VFbQFJCland5qIjISRg8xHa2PqMddFS-2k8q9EGqkESKR_64/s400/drawing_moon_phases.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094213574073347362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Below is a list of threes in mythology and religion from Wikipedia. I've added a couple things which you'll find enclosed in brackets [ ]. Notice how many are on the theme of life and death! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><b style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three">Wikipedia on the significance of Three</a> </b></span><span style=""> </span></p> <h2><span class="mw-headline">In Mythology</span></h2> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Georges Dumezil developed the idea of a Tripartite Ideology (Trifunctional Hypothesis) with respect to the Indo-European peoples consisting of three class divisions: Priestly~ Warrior~ Farmers/Craftsmen.</li></ul> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">3 Greek gods: Zeus~ Poseidon~ Hades (Heaven~ Earth~ Underworld)</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">3 Roman gods: Jupiter~ <st1:place>Neptune</st1:place>~ Apollo (Heaven~ Earth~ Underworld)</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Ancient <st1:country-region><st1:place>Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> Theban Triad: Amun~ Mut~ and their son Khans</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">3 ancient <st1:country-region><st1:place>Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> central religious figures: Horus~ <st1:place>Isis</st1:place>~ Osiris</li></ul> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The Maya believed 3 stars in the Orion Constellation (Alnitak~ Saiph~ Rigel) were arranged by the gods as a triangular hearth, enclosing the smoke of the fire creation - the nebula.</li></ul> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">3 Greek Fates (Moirai, Moires): Clotho~ Lachesis~ Atropos (sometimes referred to as the 3 spinners).</li></ul> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">3 Roman Fates: Decima~ Nona (goddesses of birth)~ Morta (goddess of death)</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">3 Roman Graces- (in Greek mythology called the charities and according to the Spartans, Cleta was the third): Aglaia~ Euphrosyne~ Thalia.</li></ul> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">3 monstrous offspring by Loki and Angroboda: Fenrir~ Hel~ Jormungund</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">3 hags possessing immense power in Norse Myth: Urdr~ Verdandi~ Skuld</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">3 Gorgons-(snake-haired sisters in Greek mythology): Stheno, Euryale, Medusa are sometimes depicted as having wings of gold, brazen claws, and the tusks of boars. Medusa is the only one of the gorgons that is mortal.</li></ul> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">3 different beings made up the different qualities of death according to ancient Greek belief: Thantos (male)~ Ker (female)~ Gorgo (female).</li></ul> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">3 Roman Furies (female personifications of vengence) that were called the Erinyes (the Angry Ones) or Eumenides by the Ancient Greeks (Orestes called them the Solemn Ones, or the Kindly Ones): Alecto ("unceasing")~ Megaera ("grudging")~ Tisiphone ("avenging murder").</li></ul> <h2><a name="In_religion"></a><span class="mw-headline"><o:p> </o:p></span></h2> <h2><span class="mw-headline">In religion</span></h2> <h3><a name="Abrahamic_religions"></a><span class="mw-headline">Abrahamic religions</span></h3> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">There are three main <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religion" title="Abrahamic religion">Abrahamic religions</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism" title="Judaism">Judaism</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity" title="Christianity">Christianity</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam" title="Islam">Islam</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity" title="Trinity">Holy Trinity</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian" title="Christian">Christian</a> doctrine (or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_%28disambiguation%29" title="Trinity (disambiguation)">trinity</a> in general), is God both as a single being and three persons: the Father, the Son and the Spirit. This is also known as <b>Tripartite</b> division.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus" title="Jesus">Jesus</a> rose from the dead on the third day.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi" title="Biblical Magi">Wise Men</a> who visited <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus" title="Jesus">Jesus</a> after His birth left Him three gifts.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">A devout <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim" title="Muslim">Muslim</a> tries to make a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrimage" title="Pilgrimage">pilgrimage</a> to all three holy cities in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam" title="Islam">Islam</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mecca" title="Mecca">Mecca</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medina" title="Medina">Medina</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem" title="Jerusalem">Jerusalem</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">King <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon" title="Solomon">Solomon</a> states in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastes" title="Ecclesiastes">Ecclesiastes</a> 4:12: "A three-ply cord is not easily severed." Examples of this concept of <b>three-ness</b> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism" title="Judaism">Judaism</a> are: </li><ul type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The three <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarchs_%28Bible%29" title="Patriarchs (Bible)">Patriarchs</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham" title="Abraham">Abraham</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac" title="Isaac">Isaac</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob" title="Jacob">Jacob</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_pilgrim_festivals" title="Three pilgrim festivals">three pilgrim festivals</a> (<i>Sheloshet HaRegalim</i>): <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover" title="Passover">Passover</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shavuot" title="Shavuot">Shavuot</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukkot" title="Sukkot">Sukkot</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Rabban <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimon_ben_Gamliel" title="Shimon ben Gamliel">Shimon ben Gamliel</a> taught: "The world continues to exist because of three things: justice, truth, and peace" (ibid. <st1:time minute="18" hour="13">1:18</st1:time>) <b style="">[If only that were true!!!] <o:p></o:p></b></li></ul><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The three <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theological_virtues" title="Theological virtues">Theological virtues</a> referred to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Corinthians_13" title="1 Corinthians 13">1 Corinthians 13</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism" title="Roman Catholicism">Roman Catholicism</a>, three groups of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrs" title="Martyrs">martyrs</a>, collectively known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith%2C_Hope%2C_and_Charity" title="Faith, Hope, and Charity">Faith, Hope, and Charity</a> (named after the Theological Virtues).</li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven" title="Heaven">Heaven</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell" title="Hell">Hell</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purgatory" title="Purgatory">Purgatory</a> (or Limbo).</li></ul> <h3><a name="Other_religions"></a><span class="mw-headline">Other religions</span></h3> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca" title="Wicca">Wiccan</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_Three_%28Wiccan%29" title="Rule of Three (Wiccan)">Rule of Three</a> claiming that whatever energy a person puts out into the world, be it positive or negative, will be returned to that person three times.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Goddess" title="Triple Goddess">Triple Goddess</a>: Maiden, Mother, Crone.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism" title="Taoism">Taoism</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Pure_Ones" title="Three Pure Ones">Three Pure Ones</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">[In the I Ching (Yijing), often considered a book of sacred philosophy to some Asian spiritual traditions, the lines of the trigrams and hexagrams from top to bottom represent heaven, man, and earth.] </li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The three <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunas" title="Gunas">Gunas</a> underlie action, in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_Vedic_religion" title="Historical Vedic religion">Vedic</a> system of knowledge. There is also the concept of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimurti" title="Trimurti">Trimurti</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu" title="Hindu">Hindu</a> tradition. The Buddha has three bodies. The three Vedas are called trayi i.e triad. Lord Shiva is Trinetra-Three-eyed. The confluence of the <st1:place>Ganga</st1:place>, Yamuna and hidden Sarasvati is the famous Triveni-confluence of three rivers. Buddhism's three refuges are Trisharana- Buddhan sharanam gacchami, Dhammam sharanam gacchami, Sangham sharanam gacchami.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology" title="Greek mythology">Greek mythology</a>, the Three Graces or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charites" title="Charites">Charites</a>. Also the number of heads of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerberus" title="Cerberus">Cerberus</a>, the monstrous dog that guards the gate to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hades" title="Hades">Hades</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Various <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_deities" title="Triple deities">Triple deities</a>.</li></ul> <h3><a name="In_esoteric_tradition"></a><span class="mw-headline">In esoteric tradition</span></h3> <ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosophical_Society" title="Theosophical Society">Theosophical Society</a> has <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theosophy#The_three_objects" title="Theosophy">three conditions of membership</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurdjieff" title="Gurdjieff">Gurdjieff</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Centres" title="Three Centres">Three Centers</a> [intellectual, emotional, physical] and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Three" title="Law of Three">Law of Three</a> [every whole phenomenon is composed of three separate sources: active, passive, and reconciling or neutral]</li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feri_Tradition" title="Feri Tradition">Feri Tradition</a> teaches of the existence of three souls in each individual person.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">[Ancient Egyptians also believed a person had three souls, the Ba that roamed the earth as a human-headed bird, the tomb-bound Ka, and the Akh which journeyed to the Otherworld.]<o:p></o:p></li></ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-16735165042422990782007-07-16T22:15:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:24:56.756-08:00Symbolism of Orion's Belt<p class="MsoNormal">The identification of these three<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </span><a href="http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/concepts/stars.html"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">stars</span></a> as a belt is a very old one. The Arabic names of two of the <a href="http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/concepts/stars.html">stars</a> reflect this: <a href="http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/stars/mintaka.html">Mintaka</a> means 'the belt' and <a href="http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/stars/alnitak.html">Alnitak</a> means 'the girdle'. (The name of the third <a href="http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/concepts/stars.html">star</a>, <a href="http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/stars/alnilam.html">Alnilam</a>, means 'the string of pearls'.) It has been suggested that the three Belt-<a href="http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/concepts/stars.html">stars</a> influenced the placing of the Pyramids at <st1:city><st1:place>Giza</st1:place></st1:city>, and it is certainly true that there is a remarkable correspondence of position between the Pyramids and the <a href="http://www.glyphweb.com/esky/concepts/stars.html">stars</a>. <span style="font-size:9;"><span style="font-size:100%;">(courtesy of glyphweb.com)</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWXcN15epSMrTzTD_97mXp08HLt61Z6jC-ytwB1coBsxj1TYunpmDdrQBlbFfBJxSqoXaTl8SywVFMrtyugS4YRI4elMLoQOQtStWnRmLHcQJNxDB585EedKVQI1YRMLyk2LDG9-YUKU/s1600-h/pyramids.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWXcN15epSMrTzTD_97mXp08HLt61Z6jC-ytwB1coBsxj1TYunpmDdrQBlbFfBJxSqoXaTl8SywVFMrtyugS4YRI4elMLoQOQtStWnRmLHcQJNxDB585EedKVQI1YRMLyk2LDG9-YUKU/s400/pyramids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088031245756564178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Across the centuries, the three stars we know familiarly as Orion's Belt have held a special meaning to many people in many cultures, especially when the number three held spiritual significance as kings, wise men, or gods.<br /><br />Here are a few of those stories:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Three Kings of the pyramids</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://ad2004.com/Biblecodes/Hebrewmatrix/pyramidspt1.html">http://ad2004.com/Biblecodes/Hebrewmatrix/pyramidspt1.html</a> <o:p></o:p></p> <table class="MsoTableGrid" style="border: medium none ; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr style=""> <td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Pyramid</b><o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99pt;" valign="top" width="132"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Egyptian Name</b><o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="108"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Greek Name</b><o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: windowtext windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="108"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Star in Orion</b> <o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNormal">great pyramid<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99pt;" valign="top" width="132"> <p class="MsoNormal">Khufu<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="108"> <p class="MsoNormal">Cheops<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="108"> <p class="MsoNormal">Alnitak <o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNormal">center pyramid<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99pt;" valign="top" width="132"> <p class="MsoNormal">Khafre<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="108"> <p class="MsoNormal">Chephren<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="108"> <p class="MsoNormal">Alnilam <o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> <tr style=""> <td style="border-style: none solid solid; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 95.4pt;" valign="top" width="127"> <p class="MsoNormal">smallest pyramid<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99pt;" valign="top" width="132"> <p class="MsoNormal">Menkaura<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="108"> <p class="MsoNormal">Mycerinus<o:p></o:p></p> </td> <td style="border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 81pt;" valign="top" width="108"> <p class="MsoNormal">Mintaka<o:p></o:p></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Three Magi of Christian Tradition</span><br />from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magi</a> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The word <i>Magi</i> is a Latinization of the plural of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language" title="Greek language">Greek</a> word <i>magos</i> (<i>μαγος</i> pl. <i>μαγοι</i>), which is a derivative from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Persian_language" title="Old Persian language">Old Persian</a> <i>Magupati</i>. The term is a specific occupational title referring to the priestly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste" title="Caste">caste</a> of a branch of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism" title="Zoroastrianism">Zoroastrianism</a> known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zurvanism" title="Zurvanism">Zurvanism</a>. As part of their religion, these priests paid particular attention to the stars, and gained an international reputation for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrology" title="Astrology">astrology</a>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The phrase <i>from the east</i> is the only information Matthew provides on where the Magi came from, apart from identifying that they come from <i>their own country</i> rather than <st1:place>Judea</st1:place>. Traditionally the view developed that the Magi were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persians" title="Persians">Persian</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthia" title="Parthia">Parthian</a>, a view held for example by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Chrysostom" title="John Chrysostom">John Chrysostom</a>, and Byzantine art generally depicted them in Persian dress. The main support for this is that the first Magi were from <st1:country-region><st1:place>Persia</st1:place></st1:country-region> and that land still had the largest number of them. Some believe they were from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon" title="Babylon">Babylon</a>, which was the centre of Zurvanism, and hence astrology, at the time. Brown comments that the author of Matthew probably didn't have a specific location in mind and the phrase <i>from the east</i> is for literary effect and added exoticism. Though the Bible does not number the Magi [nor, apparently, name them], traditionally there were always seen to be three, as three of the gifts were specifically named.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the Eastern church a variety of different names are given for the three, but in the West the names have been settled since the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8th_century" title="8th century">8th century</a> as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casper_%28name%29" title="Casper (name)">Caspar</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melchior" title="Melchior">Melchior</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balthasar" title="Balthasar">Balthasar</a>. The names of the Magi derive from an early <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6th_century" title="6th century">6th century</a> Greek manuscript in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandria" title="Alexandria">Alexandria</a>, translated into the Latin <i>Excerpta Latina Barbari.</i> The Latin text <i>Collectanea et Flores</i> continues the tradition of three kings and their names and gives additional details of their clothes, coming from <st1:country-region><st1:place>Syria</st1:place></st1:country-region>. This text is said to be from the 8th century, of Irish origin. In the Eastern churches, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_Orthodox_Church" title="Ethiopian Orthodox Church">Ethiopian Christianity</a>, for instance, has <i>Hor</i>, <i>Karsudan</i>, and <i>Basanater</i>, while the Armenians have <i>Kagbha</i>, <i>Badadakharida</i> and <i>Badadilma</i>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In China, the three stars of Orion's Belt represented <span style="font-weight: bold;">the Three Pristine Ones in Daoism</span>: Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure, Celestial Worthy of Original Beginnings, Celestial Worthy of the Dao and Inner Power</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Also from China, the three belt stars represented the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chinese Star Lords of Good Fortune</span> whose worship began in the 15<sup>th</sup> c., Fu (Prosperity/Wealth), Lu (Success) and Shu (Longevity). However, Shu was worshipped much earlier, as early as the 3<sup>rd</sup> c. BCE</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XbrA3RGr-jzUANfSnKvvFuEbxF7y8Dn7RgjFhKG4Q-ITRWOw3zQMoS88tExumV98AC1MeiiJvr6ctUK-SO__F-HPTsYW6EYL79TIXwETxrfmEpPSsaagXVAsUwzkSMHzoWzeS8W4Pvg/s1600-h/Fu,Lu,Shu%5B1%5D.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9XbrA3RGr-jzUANfSnKvvFuEbxF7y8Dn7RgjFhKG4Q-ITRWOw3zQMoS88tExumV98AC1MeiiJvr6ctUK-SO__F-HPTsYW6EYL79TIXwETxrfmEpPSsaagXVAsUwzkSMHzoWzeS8W4Pvg/s400/Fu,Lu,Shu%5B1%5D.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5088036751904637666" border="0" /></a> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In Shinto beliefs: <a href="http://www2.gol.com/users/stever/orion.htm">http://www2.gol.com/users/stever/orion.htm</a> <span style=""> </span>According to Uchida (1973), many Japanese came to call the three belt stars of Orion <i>Taishikou San Daishi</i>. <i>Taishikou</i> refers to Winter, and <i>San Daishi</i> refers to three great preachers or teachers. Around the 11th month of each lunar calendar year, on the 23rd and 24th days, various celebrations were and still are made honoring three particularly significant Buddhist teachers who founded sects of that religion in the <i>Nara</i> and <i>Heian</i> eras of Japan: Tendai Daishi (founder of the <i>Tendai</i> Buddhist Sect), Saichou (follower and teacher of the <i>Tendai</i> sect), and Kobo Daishi (founder of the <i>Shingon</i> sect and also famous for establishing the 88 temples of Shikoku around the 9th century).<br /><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>One can hardly speak of the stars of the Belt of Orion without mentioning the significance of Sirius, the Dog Star. </o:p>For more information on Sothis/Sopdet/Sirius the Dog Star see <a href="http://phoenixqi.blogspot.com/2007/03/how-long-does-phoenix-live.html">How Long Does a Phoenix Live</a> .<o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-42735224899971943082007-06-13T09:43:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:24:57.930-08:00Four Corners of the Earth<p class="MsoNormal">There are several cultures in which, during ancient times, the earth was considered to be square (which, in today's article, is <b style="">not</b> the same as flat):<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/practices/temple.htm">Hindu</a>:</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The basic plan of a Hindu temple is an expression of sacred geometry where the temple is visualized as a grand mandala. By sacred geometry we mean a science which has as its purpose the accurate laying out of the temple ground plan in relation to the cardinal directions and the heavens. Characteristically, a mandala is a sacred shape consisting of the intersection of a circle and a square.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The square shape is symbolic of earth, signifying the four directions which bind and define it. Indeed, in Hindu thought whatever concerns terrestrial life is governed by the number four (four castes; the four Vedas etc.). Similarly, the circle is logically the perfect metaphor for heaven since it is a perfect shape, without beginning or end, signifying timelessness and eternity, a characteristically divine attribute. Thus a mandala (and by extension the temple) is the meeting ground of heaven and earth. (An authentic Hindu mandala is traditionally a square within a circle.) </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS0Oo4C5l_GpOWvINfaY_DDPz86eqG6lxrtI4ZeJZfu1m_WzXK5X5mBuUTVIIxHNsci2Hk3Es8TUQYAlVv1ns6leFB-CAWqNbKoyfUmoE0NpDLJYos3nwuNmhJyOOpmcd4hRal0ey_Q4/s1600-h/SandMandala-sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS0Oo4C5l_GpOWvINfaY_DDPz86eqG6lxrtI4ZeJZfu1m_WzXK5X5mBuUTVIIxHNsci2Hk3Es8TUQYAlVv1ns6leFB-CAWqNbKoyfUmoE0NpDLJYos3nwuNmhJyOOpmcd4hRal0ey_Q4/s400/SandMandala-sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075591393816356050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Daoism </p> <p class="MsoNormal">In legend, the I Ching was developed from the He-Tu diagram. In the center, the five white/yang dots clustered together represents the rounded dome of heaven. The ten black/yin dots are arranged into a square that represents earth. </p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxMUjshCMGgyNbc7RV6wPFFmG3iqgHgtvnEh76eIkjIePcm2bGoqv1aONj9HRrs5h4Cg86wxm3X8ZmJA58m0sxQru4exjW5329Sd0hoRkQLK52yOs-xMvD-tku_OJp-RzVjEiCOSdw2g/s1600-h/HeTuJPG.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxMUjshCMGgyNbc7RV6wPFFmG3iqgHgtvnEh76eIkjIePcm2bGoqv1aONj9HRrs5h4Cg86wxm3X8ZmJA58m0sxQru4exjW5329Sd0hoRkQLK52yOs-xMvD-tku_OJp-RzVjEiCOSdw2g/s400/HeTuJPG.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075591136118318274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Ancient Egyptian</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some Egyptian depictions of the universe showed four pillars at each of the four corners of the world holding up the sky. The sky goddess Nut arched over her husband, the earth god Geb, also represents the curved or rounded heavens. She is sometimes held aloft by Shu, the personification of air. </p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJhvBHNYtbCmCui-K1jATeUCnsRcNYBCeFSj2ewGR4a3ny-TDWpGGdNz9csDqi0cDAoGjaUBmuo-a6tUzio2PmxT6C_absY5Y8jjh9tjrrNeXwh7x79J1_25eLWxR0oUkLNFYkbSVDIY/s1600-h/Nut-ShuWithHelpers-Geb-Glyphs.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJhvBHNYtbCmCui-K1jATeUCnsRcNYBCeFSj2ewGR4a3ny-TDWpGGdNz9csDqi0cDAoGjaUBmuo-a6tUzio2PmxT6C_absY5Y8jjh9tjrrNeXwh7x79J1_25eLWxR0oUkLNFYkbSVDIY/s400/Nut-ShuWithHelpers-Geb-Glyphs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075591002974332082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal">I suspect the origin of the "square earth" or the "four corners of the earth" is, as many things are, astronomical in origin. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Summer Solstice, coming up in just a few days, is instrumental in explaining this. The sunrise and sunset on the day before, the day of, and the day after the Summer solstice are at their northern-most latitudes. At the Winter Solstice, the opposite is true; the sunrise and sunset are at their southernmost latitudes for those of us living in the northern hemisphere. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To an observer whose eyes see for the same distance no matter what direction he looks in, the sunrise and sunset of the solstices describes a square. To ancient peoples, the rising and setting of the sun defined the edges of the earth itself. If the east-west edge was defined by the sunrise and set on the horizon, so, too were the north-south boundaries defined by how far north or south the sun rose and set. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The "four corners of the earth" then describe the points of sunrise and sunset at the summer and winter solstices! </p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXr_cqJbc4qlppe8XjQZfa9wq-Vy3S0WEXrueyQriRfxQ6cJt1z5Q4yjaCyR8vq3hdkLB9ArO4-Savk-ID8UfhTUmr_5DOmoU2ueXLRkZ7c_PcSXYk9fPZO-XSbXO6W5q3XglRP0jBtI/s1600-h/SquareEarth.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXr_cqJbc4qlppe8XjQZfa9wq-Vy3S0WEXrueyQriRfxQ6cJt1z5Q4yjaCyR8vq3hdkLB9ArO4-Savk-ID8UfhTUmr_5DOmoU2ueXLRkZ7c_PcSXYk9fPZO-XSbXO6W5q3XglRP0jBtI/s400/SquareEarth.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075593395271116018" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-14138232266899758772007-05-24T16:59:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:24:58.098-08:00Daoism on Concentration<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkL7S6vhm9EEJtOAoDhnFb9ztMZ0BitFLHZBYxwtHmakVPkg0bCdAJnq_EXZJOWAwf7jJJqj2sTa5JplUB6XWL0nSUtavYA7weASR5N18yOz_IPAisCCzmOmk4zRO-3Owm-0VG-US5pPA/s1600-h/yodaconcentrating.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkL7S6vhm9EEJtOAoDhnFb9ztMZ0BitFLHZBYxwtHmakVPkg0bCdAJnq_EXZJOWAwf7jJJqj2sTa5JplUB6XWL0nSUtavYA7weASR5N18yOz_IPAisCCzmOmk4zRO-3Owm-0VG-US5pPA/s400/yodaconcentrating.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5068281431563211026" border="0" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">"<i style="">Imagination, song, the soaring spirit.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Separate them to know them as aspects of the whole,<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style="">Join them to know the mystery of totality.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"The mind, if focused, can become the most powerful force we know. Yet for most of us, we are lost in the vastness of our own uncharted minds. We play around with different aspects, find certain modes that we can get by with, and leave the rest unexplored. Those who follow Tao do not do this. They want to explore all the dimensions of the mind so that they may find a wholly integral mode of consciousness.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"The primary means of exploration is through concentration of the mind. Practitioners first select an aspect and delve into it by daily focus. Only when they have fully understood do they go on. It is like studying. When you are first introduced to a subject, you must put your attention to work in order to master the knowledge. Such concentration leads to absorption, like mixing liquids together in a bottle: Once they are combined, they cannot be distinguished from one another.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"With concentration, all the various aspects of the mind can be joined together into one superconscious mode. Sound is the same as sight, taste is the same as smell, touch is the same as thought, and all that we are is identical with the spiritual energy that resides within us. In this high concentration, there is complete union, and we feel the joy of total integration with all our facets."</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">"Concentration" from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062502239?ie=UTF8&tag=phoenixqi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062502239">365 Tao: Daily Meditations</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=phoenixqi-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0062502239" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> by Deng Ming-Dao<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">==========================================</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some years ago here in the <st1:country-region><st1:place>U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> a television commercial solicited money to send young minority students to college. The tag line was "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When you think about "Concentration," you will realize that you waste so much of your mind on flitting thoughts and idle mental chatter. Concentration seems to be something of the past in this day of multi-tasking where you are typing away either on a laptop computer or a PDA, and engaging in a conversation at the same time. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">When was the last time you were driving, eating, and talking on your cell phone all at the same time? I'll bet it was not all that long ago....last week? Yesterday? This morning?<span style=""> </span>When was the last time you were reading a book for pleasure or a bedtime story to your children while mentally going over tomorrow's "To Do" list? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The mind is an amazing thing, but it can think about only one thing at a time. Consider this experiment: You are in a dark room and you must read two papers on related topics, but you can see only one paper at a time. The light that allows you to read the papers is your mind, but it is like a flashlight, able to illuminate only one page at a time.<span style=""> </span>Now, shine your mind (the flashlight) on one piece of paper and read one sentence. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now, flip the light over to the other piece of paper and read the first sentence. Now, flip back to the first paper and read the second sentence; flip to the second paper and read the second sentence; flip to the first paper and read the third sentence; flip to the second paper and read the third sentence. (I encourage you to perform this little experiment for real and then assess how much of the content of any of those sentences is still in your mind, and how well you can distinguish the writings from the first paper to the second!)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">How well did you do? The writings are all jumbled together, aren’t they? Now, multiply the results of the experiment by twelve, fourteen, even sixteen hours each and every day. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is how you use the “most powerful force we know,” by dividing it and scattering it until it is useless. Think of the most powerful army in the world. How powerful would it be if its forces were divided and scattered all over the globe? (You’ve heard of “divide and conquer,” haven’t you?) Your army would be very weak and ineffective, and so too is your mind when you scatter your mental forces in too many directions, onto too many tasks at once. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Consider the accomplishments of someone you admire; a professional or Olympic athlete perhaps, or a scientist or inventor. Did this object of your admiration rise to the heights of fame or fortune he or she enjoys by flitting from one thing to another? Or, did he or she use dedication, focus, and concentration on his or her chosen task to accomplish the goal? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Spiritual advancement depends as much on concentration as worldly pleasures and accomplishments. There are no short-cuts to enlightenment. This is not what most people want to hear, but it is completely honest and true. Your advancement entirely depends on your level of dedication and devotion. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is the most important statement in today’s writing: "The mind, if focused, can become the most powerful force we know." If you are completely focused, if you are mindfully dedicated to attaining whatever goal you set for yourself, You Cannot Fail. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There is one very important thing to notice in all of this talk: there is no mention of the emotions. You should not bring your emotions into play when using the power of your mind. Emotions cause you to judge your desires. This often creates inner conflict between what you want to accomplish (earn a million dollars!) and what your past will allow (yeah, sure…in a million years). </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If your past experiences lead you to believe you will fail, or you feel unworthy to attain the goal you have set for yourself, the emotions will often find a way to cause you to self-sabotage, thereby leading you to fail. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Do not fall into that trap; leave your emotions at the door when you enter the practice of mindful concentration, and dedicate yourself to attaining your goals and the Dao.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-46399210679412135092007-05-16T14:33:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:24:58.294-08:00The Magical, Mystical Number 7 Seven<p class="MsoNormal">Why is the number seven so special? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">These things are never as simple as they look, and it is unlikely that there is one reason above all others that makes seven a particularly potent number and symbol. It is often a series of things that convince people that something holds power just as today we need more than a coincidence or two to believe in the power of things like prayer, the Law of Attraction, or numerology.<span style=""> </span><span style=""></span><br /><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I believe there are four major reasons that, cumulatively, made Seven stand out as a special, mystical and magical number to ancient peoples.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4ItS4IX_LFIvFngEqQz6bKfMepBhyphenhyphen1ONKrRmSe0Nnn5O8rijmynd0dojxV1PLCVJYggJ1FXBZSiiyiS05q8RTmErdVSUVWEKH7HKg4wg2g8S18X21jetrwIkTkWx8azWl-2keVVLDRw/s1600-h/cosmos-sm.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4ItS4IX_LFIvFngEqQz6bKfMepBhyphenhyphen1ONKrRmSe0Nnn5O8rijmynd0dojxV1PLCVJYggJ1FXBZSiiyiS05q8RTmErdVSUVWEKH7HKg4wg2g8S18X21jetrwIkTkWx8azWl-2keVVLDRw/s400/cosmos-sm.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065275426902413554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p class="MsoNormal">First are the stars, specifically the heavenly "wandering"* bodies visible to the naked eye, the planets Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. They were pretty special since all the other visible twinkling lights moved through a standard and predictable course. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">* The word "planet" is derived from the Greek <i style="">planetai</i> which means "wandering." <o:p></o:p></p> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_xYk9tSgm7QvRSQIhC1oRa5C98uHVzEuiDk95gryXO9QEDyVAcXnqb3Hl36F1P3DPn_sEm7kYpe9VeA7j0TUwCOljuV2e4r8zsaGuARjXGgznObjzXSIdcdip5HV0EC6tokmAtJAawc/s1600-h/Bigdipper-lg.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_xYk9tSgm7QvRSQIhC1oRa5C98uHVzEuiDk95gryXO9QEDyVAcXnqb3Hl36F1P3DPn_sEm7kYpe9VeA7j0TUwCOljuV2e4r8zsaGuARjXGgznObjzXSIdcdip5HV0EC6tokmAtJAawc/s400/Bigdipper-lg.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065275542866530562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p class="MsoNormal">Second is another astronomical explanation: there are seven stars in the Big Dipper portion of the constellation of Ursa Major. The Dipper has been an important part of cosmologies from <st1:country-region><st1:place>China</st1:place></st1:country-region> to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> because it is always in the night sky, and the direction in which the handle points is a seasonal marker. This is most noticeable on the solstices and equinoxes: In the evening of the day of<span style=""> </span>the Summer Solstice, the handle points toward the southern horizon; on the Autumnal Equinox, it points toward the western horizon; on the Winter Solstice, it points toward the north, and on the Spring Equinox, the handle of the Big Dipper points toward the eastern horizon. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Third, seven is the only one of the first 10 digits (1 through 10) that <b style="">does not</b> divide evenly into the 360 degrees of a circle! Since circles can represent both heavenly and earthly powers and influences, not to mention being symbols of The Eternal, imagine how seven was considered an Otherworldly number with Otherworldly symbolism since it was so unique that it set itself above inclusion in the symbol of wholeness, the circle.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fourth, the Ancient Greeks considered seven to be a potent number due to the chanting of the seven vowels of their alphabet as magical sounds. There are several spells and incantations revealed in <u>The Greek Magical Papyri In Translation: Including the Demotic Spells</u> edited by Hans Dieter Betz that include the chanting of A, E, E with a line on top, I, O, U (written Y), and O in various orders for various reasons. (Alpha, Epsilon, Eta, Iota, Omicron, Upsilon, and Omega.) <span style=""> </span>It is possible that chanting the vowels in a particular pattern or order caused a shift in consciousness much like the chanting of "<st1:place>Om.</st1:place>" In one spell which seeks the attention of the god, the vowels and sounds each also corresponded to a direction; the priest was to chant or sing each sound while pointing his palms into the directions of east, west, north, south, up (sky/heaven), down (earth), and the final vowel was sung while holding one's hands over one's heart for Center. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <br /> <p class="MsoNormal">Here is an interesting and fun list of Special <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_%28number%29">7 stuff from Wikipedia</a>:<br /><span style=""></span><span class="mw-headline"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In science<o:p></o:p></p> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of spots on a common <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven-spotted_lady_beetle" title="Seven-spotted lady beetle">ladybug</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">With very few exceptions, all <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammals" title="Mammals">mammals</a>' necks have seven <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bones" title="Bones">bones</a>.</li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal">Astronomy<o:p></o:p></p> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of stellar objects in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_system" title="Solar system">solar system</a> visible to the naked eye — the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun" title="Sun">Sun</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon" title="Moon">Moon</a> and the five classical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_eye_planets" title="Naked eye planets">naked eye planets</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars" title="Mars">Mars</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_%28planet%29" title="Mercury (planet)">Mercury</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter_%28planet%29" title="Jupiter (planet)">Jupiter</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_%28planet%29" title="Venus (planet)">Venus</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_%28planet%29" title="Saturn (planet)">Saturn</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of daughters of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_%28mythology%29" title="Atlas (mythology)">Atlas</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleiades_%28star_cluster%29" title="Pleiades (star cluster)">Pleiades</a> (also called the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleiades_%28mythology%29" title="Pleiades (mythology)">seven sisters</a>").</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of saints appearing in a constellation called "Saptharishi Mandalam" in Indian astronomy.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of stars in the constellation of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursa_major" title="Ursa major">Ursa major</a>.</li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal">In the classical world<o:p></o:p></p> <p>In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_antiquity" title="Classical antiquity">classical antiquity</a>:</p> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_against_Thebes" title="Seven against Thebes">Seven against Thebes</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_hills_of_Rome" title="Seven hills of Rome">Seven hills of Rome</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Liberal_Arts" title="Seven Liberal Arts">Seven Liberal Arts</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sages" title="Seven Sages">Seven Sages</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wonders_of_the_ancient_world" title="Seven Wonders of the ancient world">Seven Wonders of the ancient world</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seven_emperors&action=edit" title="Seven emperors">Seven emperors</a> (and period; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome" title="Rome">Rome</a>, history): </li><ul type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar" title="Julius Caesar">Julius Caesar</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus" title="Augustus">Augustus</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galba" title="Galba">Galba</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrian" title="Hadrian">Hadrian</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerva" title="Nerva">Nerva</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sallust" title="Sallust">Sallust</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vespasian" title="Vespasian">Vespasian</a></li></ul> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal">In religion<o:p></o:p></p> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="">In Islam: </li><ul type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayat" title="Ayat">ayat</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sura" title="Sura">surat</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Fatiha" title="Al-Fatiha">al-Fatiha</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven" title="Heaven">heavens</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam" title="Islam">Islamic</a> tradition.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth" title="Earth">Earths</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam" title="Islam">Islamic</a> tradition.</li></ul> </ul> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="">In Judaism: </li><ul type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">A highly symbolic number in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah" title="Torah">Torah</a>, alluding to the infusion of spirituality and Godliness into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creation_%28theology%29" title="Creation (theology)">Creation</a>. For example:</li></ul> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God" title="God">God</a> rested on and sanctified the seventh day (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabbat" title="Shabbat">Shabbat</a>).</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->A seven-day <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikvah" title="Mikvah">purification</a> period is required for one who has become <i>tamei</i> to become <i>tahor</i>.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->The <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabbatical_year_%28Bible%29" title="Sabbatical year (Bible)">Shemittah</a></i> (Sabbatical) year arrives every seventh year.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jubilee_%28Biblical%29" title="Jubilee (Biblical)">Jubilee</a> (<i>Yovel</i>) year comes after 7 times 7 years.</p> <ul type="disc"> <ul type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The weekly <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah" title="Torah">Torah</a> portion is divided into seven <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah_reading" title="Torah reading">aliyahs</a>, and seven men or boys over the age of 13 are called up for the reading of these aliyahs during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabbat" title="Shabbat">Shabbat</a> morning services.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David" title="David">David</a> was the seventh son of Jesse.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukkot#Ushpizzin" title="Sukkot">Ushpizzin</a> (also known as the "Seven Shepherds") who visit the sukkah during the holiday of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukkot" title="Sukkot">Sukkot</a>: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham" title="Abraham">Abraham</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac" title="Isaac">Isaac</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob" title="Jacob">Jacob</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_%28Hebrew_Bible%29" title="Joseph (Hebrew Bible)">Joseph</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses" title="Moses">Moses</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron" title="Aaron">Aaron</a>, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David" title="David">David</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of nations God told the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelite" title="Israelite">Israelites</a> they would displace when they entered the land of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel" title="Israel">Israel</a> (Deut. 7:1): the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Hittites" title="Biblical Hittites">Hittite</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Girgashite&action=edit" title="Girgashite">Girgashite</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorite" title="Amorite">Amorite</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanite" title="Canaanite">Canaanite</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perizzite" title="Perizzite">Perizzite</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hivite&action=edit" title="Hivite">Hivite</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jebusite" title="Jebusite">Jebusite</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breslov_%28Hasidic_dynasty%29" title="Breslov (Hasidic dynasty)">Breslov</a> tradition, the seven orifices of the face (2 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye" title="Eye">eyes</a>, 2 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nostril" title="Nostril">nostrils</a>, 2 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear" title="Ear">ears</a>, and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouth" title="Mouth">mouth</a>) are called "The Seven Candles."</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The menorah (Hebrew: מנורה), is a seven branched candelabrum lit by olive oil in the Tabernacle and the <st1:city><st1:place>Temple</st1:place></st1:City> in <st1:city><st1:place>Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:City>. </li></ul> </ul> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="">In Christianity: </li><ul type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_churches_of_Asia" title="Seven churches of Asia">churches of Asia</a> to which the "Book of Revelation" is addressed.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Virtues" title="Seven Virtues">Seven Virtues</a>: Chastity, Moderation, Liberality, Charity, Meekness, Zeal, and Humility, corresponding to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins" title="Seven deadly sins">seven deadly sins</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The seven terraces of <st1:place><st1:placetype>Mount</st1:PlaceType> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purgatory" title="Purgatory">Purgatory</a></st1:place> (one per deadly sin).</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacraments" title="Sacraments">sacraments</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic" title="Roman Catholic">Roman Catholic</a> faith, and most reformed traditions.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">In the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Testament" title="New Testament">New Testament</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Matthew" title="Gospel of Matthew">Gospel of Matthew</a> <st1:time minute="21" hour="18">18:21</st1:time>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus" title="Jesus">Jesus</a> says to Peter to forgive seventy times seven times.<sup><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_%28number%29#_note-0" title="">[1]</a></sup></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number seven is considered by many Christians to be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfect" title="Perfect">perfect</a> number because of the amount of importance the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible" title="Bible">Bible</a> puts on it specifically, whereas the number six is considered imperfect.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">In Roman Catholicism, and some reformed traditions, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessed_Virgin_Mary" title="Blessed Virgin Mary">Blessed Virgin Mary</a> has Seven Joys: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Incarnation" title="The Incarnation">The Incarnation</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Visitation" title="The Visitation">the Visitation</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity" title="Nativity">Nativity</a>, the Visit of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magi" title="Magi">Magi</a>, the Finding of Jesus in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Jerusalem" title="Temple of Jerusalem">Temple of Jerusalem</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurrection_of_Christ" title="Resurrection of Christ">Resurrection of Christ</a>, and The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assumption" title="Assumption">Assumption</a> of Mary into Heaven.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">In Roman Catholicism, and some reformed traditions, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessed_Virgin_Mary" title="Blessed Virgin Mary">Blessed Virgin Mary</a> has Seven Sorrows: The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy" title="Prophecy">Prophecy</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon" title="Simeon">Simeon</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_into_Egypt" title="Flight into Egypt">Flight into Egypt</a>, the Three Day Loss of the Christ Child in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Jerusalem" title="Temple of Jerusalem">Temple of Jerusalem</a>, the Carrying of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross" title="Cross">Cross</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion_of_Christ" title="Crucifixion of Christ">Crucifixion of Christ</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieta" title="Pieta">Pieta</a>, and the Closing of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Sepulchre" title="Holy Sepulchre">Holy Sepulchre</a>.</li></ul> </ul> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="">In Eternalism: </li><ul type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of deities</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The years Godzimir was exiled to <st1:city><st1:place>Turin</st1:place></st1:City>, in <st1:state><st1:place>Savoy</st1:place></st1:State></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">1/7 of each of the Deities powers was taken to create the Eternal</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">There are seven verses in each of the Septrains of the Prognostications of Godzimir and Invomandus</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Seven universe in each phase toward Edication</li></ul> </ul> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="">Others: </li><ul type="circle"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archangels" title="Archangels">Archangels</a> according to some systems.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The minor symbol number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yang" title="Yang">yang</a> from the Taoist <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin-yang" title="Yin-yang">yin-yang</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of palms in an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egyptian</a> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubit" title="Cubit">Sacred Cubit</a></i>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of ranks in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraism" title="Mithraism">Mithraism</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number seven is of particular significance within <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherokee" title="Cherokee">Cherokee</a> cosmology.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">In Buddhism, Buddha walked 7 steps at his birth.</li></ul> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><a name="In_mythology"></a>In mythology<o:p></o:p></p> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="">In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khasi" title="Khasi">Khasi</a> mythology, the seven divine women who were left behind on earth and became the ancestresses of all humankind.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of gateways traversed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inanna" title="Inanna">Inanna</a> during her descent into the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underworld" title="Underworld">underworld</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of sages in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_mythology" title="Hindu mythology">Hindu mythology</a>; their wives are the goddesses referred to as the "Seven Mothers."</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaran%C3%AD_mythology" title="Guaraní mythology">Guaraní mythology</a>, the number of prominent legendary monsters.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style=""><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Lucky_Gods" title="Seven Lucky Gods">Seven Lucky Gods</a> exist in Japanese mythology.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">In British Folk lore, every 7 years the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Farie_Queen&action=edit" title="Farie Queen">Farie Queen</a> pays a tithe to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell" title="Hell">Hell</a> (or possably <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hel" title="Hel">Hel</a>) in the tale of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tam_Lin" title="Tam Lin">Tam Lin</a>.</li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal">In other fields<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style=""> </span>In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galicia_%28Spain%29" title="Galicia (Spain)">Galician</a> folklore, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seventh_son&action=edit" title="Seventh son">seventh son</a> will be a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf" title="Werewolf">werewolf</a>. In other folklores, after six daughters, the seventh child is to be a son and a werewolf. In other European folklores, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh_son_of_a_seventh_son" title="Seventh son of a seventh son">Seventh son of a seventh son</a> will be a child with special powers of healing and clairvoyant seeing.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style=""> </span>Seven candles are lit in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinara" title="Kinara">kinara</a> during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American" title="African-American">African-American</a> celebration of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa" title="Kwanzaa">Kwanzaa</a>, which is a seven-day holiday.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style=""> </span>The Kulin people of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia" title="Australia">Australia</a> living near the <st1:place><st1:placename>Dandenong</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype>Ranges</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> traditionally have seven seasons. Some of the Native Americans of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana" title="Montana">Montana</a> also have seven seasons: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinook" title="Chinook">chinook</a> season, muddy spring, green summer, gold summer (or dry summer), 'Indian' Summer, late fall, and cold winter.</p> <p><b>Seven</b> is also:</p> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="">The largest number of sticks (or other cylindrical objects) that can be tied into a bundle such that the shape of the bundle remains fixed.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opening" title="Opening">openings</a> into the human <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head" title="Head">head</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouth" title="Mouth">mouth</a>, two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye" title="Eye">eyes</a>, two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear" title="Ear">ears</a>, two <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nostril" title="Nostril">nostrils</a>).</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphere" title="Sphere">spheres</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemaic_system" title="Ptolemaic system">Ptolemaic system</a></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The traditional number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Wonders_of_the_World" title="Seven Wonders of the World">Wonders of the Ancient World</a>. There were seven, though only the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid" title="Great Pyramid">Great Pyramid</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egypt</a> still stands today.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Viewed as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucky_number" title="Lucky number">lucky number</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Japan" title="Culture of Japan">Japanese Culture</a> as well as many Western cultures.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day" title="Day">days</a> in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Week" title="Week">week</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_ages_of_man" title="Seven ages of man">ages of man</a> into which William Shakespeare divided a lifetime.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The figurative number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_seas" title="Seven seas">seas</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of colors of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow" title="Rainbow">rainbow</a> (the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid" title="Asteroid">asteroid</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_Iris" title="7 Iris">7 Iris</a> is named after the rainbow goddess <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_%28mythology%29" title="Iris (mythology)">Iris</a>).</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakras" title="Chakras">chakras</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of basic principles of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushido" title="Bushido">bushido</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The number of points on a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheriff" title="Sheriff">sheriff</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star" title="Star">star</a>.</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">When rolling two standard six-sided <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dice" title="Dice">dice</a>, seven is the number most likely to occur. It is the sum of any two opposite sides on a standard six-sided die</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">The <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sages_of_Greece" title="Seven Sages of Greece">Seven Sages of Greece</a></i>: Solon, Chilon, Thales, Bias, Cleobulus, Pittacus, and Periander.</li> </ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4864657589413984198.post-1204652040258225892007-05-10T14:41:00.000-07:002008-12-10T03:24:59.784-08:00The numbers 63 and 64, the I Ching, and fractions of the Eye of Horus.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlj6zzr6NYD2vcUTYMU1ZouKfrbNakRv60pM6mWEowPudpsJMcciNrvSy1yrBZn4AnSNjmV_1OulCXes8Yi27KUXgfNFJQsvTP9NnORIQUaayEdJovPSCLGNb2JljFDUa8Ofnr5nY7q4/s1600-h/EyeRA.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlj6zzr6NYD2vcUTYMU1ZouKfrbNakRv60pM6mWEowPudpsJMcciNrvSy1yrBZn4AnSNjmV_1OulCXes8Yi27KUXgfNFJQsvTP9NnORIQUaayEdJovPSCLGNb2JljFDUa8Ofnr5nY7q4/s400/EyeRA.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063051757822248082" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<o:p></o:p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_of_Horus">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_of_Horus</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="">The Eye of Horus</b> (originally, The Eye of Ra) is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt" title="Ancient Egypt">ancient Egyptian</a> symbol of protection and power, from the deity <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horus" title="Horus">Horus</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ra" title="Ra">Ra</a>. In the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_language" title="Egyptian language">Egyptian language</a> the word for this symbol was "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadjet" title="Wadjet">wadjet</a>" (according to M. Stokstad "Art History").</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Eye of Horus, originally the Eye of Ra, symbolized royal power. The ancients believed this symbol of indestructibility would assist in rebirth. The Eye of Horus was found under the 12th layer of bandages on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutankhamun" title="Tutankhamun">Tutankhamun</a>'s mummy. Horus was an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_religion" title="Ancient Egyptian religion">ancient Egyptian</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_father" title="Sky father">sky god</a>; one of his eyes was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun" title="Sun">sun</a> and the other the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon" title="Moon">moon</a>. The eye represents a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peregrine_Falcon" title="Peregrine Falcon">peregrine falcon</a>'s eye and the markings around it, including the "teardrop" marking sometimes found below the eye.</p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiPGpeaWFsXjzQBpAzSI57QjZ3Q1pAhC30hCIuTZh3oTqhTUZhZvIJon_gAYOvFnAVRlNerFSTzRUigIv33qJ6wE9kYZ-qx7xqcDtwm6WMeVSl_AHgVHZGnkSuEkQ0RuWuf3caBn-w6g/s1600-h/EyeRAFractions.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqiPGpeaWFsXjzQBpAzSI57QjZ3Q1pAhC30hCIuTZh3oTqhTUZhZvIJon_gAYOvFnAVRlNerFSTzRUigIv33qJ6wE9kYZ-qx7xqcDtwm6WMeVSl_AHgVHZGnkSuEkQ0RuWuf3caBn-w6g/s400/EyeRAFractions.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063051826541724834" border="0" /></a><br /><b style="">In arithmetic<o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the Ancient Egyptian measurement system, the Eye Of Horus defined an Old Kingdom rounded off number limited by: one(1)= 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/16 + 1/32 + 1/64. The Eye of Horus statements created 6-term rounded off numbers. The <st1:place>Old Kingdom</st1:place> definition had dropped a 7th term, a remainder 1/64, that was needed to report exact series. During the Middle Kingdom exact series definitions and applications were written by creating 7-terms, or more, written as Egyptian fraction series, often scaled to 1/320 hekat. For example, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akhmim_Wooden_Tablet" title="Akhmim Wooden Tablet">Akhmim Wooden Tablet</a> wrote quotients in the Eye of Horus 6-terms, while writing 7th term remainders as Egyptian fractions, scaled to 1/320 of a hekat. The metaphorical side of this information linked the <st1:place>Old Kingdom</st1:place> six fractions, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, and 1/64 to separate parts of the eye, as noted by:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:10;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->1/2 was represented by smell, symbolized by the right side of the eye in a form of the nose. The pyramid text says: "Behold [the fire] rises in <st1:city><st1:place>Abydos</st1:place></st1:city> and it comes; I cause it to come, the Eye of Horus. It is set in order upon thy brow, O Osiris Khenti-Amenti; it is set in the shrine and rises on thy brow."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:10;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->1/4 was represented by sight or the sensation of light, symbolized by the pupil. The pyramid text says: "Perfect is the Eye of Horus. I have delivered the Eye of Horus, the shining one, the ornament of the Eye of Ra, the Father of the Gods."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:10;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->1/8 was represented by thought, symbolized by the eyebrow. The pyramid text says: "...the Eye of Horus hath made me holy...I will hide myself among you, O ye stars which are imperishable. My brow is the brow of Ra."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:10;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->1/16 was represented by hearing, symbolized by the left side of the eye in the form of an arrow pointing towards the ear. The pyramid text says: "That which has been shut fast/dead hath been opened by the command of the Eye of Horus, which hath delivered me. Established are the beauties on the forehead of Ra."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a name="Headline_text" id="Headline_text"></a>Headline text<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:10;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->1/32 was represented by taste, by the sprouting of wheat or grain from the planted stalk, symbolized by a curved tail. The pyramid text says: "Come, the Eye of Horus hath delivered for me my soul, my ornaments are established on the brow of Ra. Light is on the faces of those who are in the members of Osiris."<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=";font-family:Symbol;font-size:10;" ><span style="">·<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->1/64 was represented by touch, symbolized by a leg touching the ground, or what can also be thought of as a strong plant growing into the surface of the earth. The pyramid text says: "I shall see the Gods and the Eye of Horus burning with fire before my eyes!"<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the Middle Kingdom the 1/64 symbol denoted 'rest' and 'healing' as connected to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hekat_%28volume_unit%29" title="Hekat (volume unit)">hekat</a>, with the word dja being attached.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">*** End Quote *** </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What I find so amazing about this is that the numbers 63 and 64 have a very special significance in the Yijing (I Ching) also. <span style=""> </span></p><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEqSpzvfz6aQF5LZ-DzzxbmSoPvMpnvzyX5veAazbanTCG8JuOYgeZ6gfKjjCvzYTpAFMQdZx176jW0uovDpUH0P7YCWMlH6jTpQsVEc1HjELOpphHIQpB1c8yQW668vr70l9tMuZhBM/s1600-h/Hex63And64.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEqSpzvfz6aQF5LZ-DzzxbmSoPvMpnvzyX5veAazbanTCG8JuOYgeZ6gfKjjCvzYTpAFMQdZx176jW0uovDpUH0P7YCWMlH6jTpQsVEc1HjELOpphHIQpB1c8yQW668vr70l9tMuZhBM/s400/Hex63And64.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063051538778915970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <p class="MsoNormal">Hexagram 63 is called "After Completion." This is the only hexagram in the I Ching in which all six lines are in their proper places. There is an energetic law in the I Ching that favors the "weak" yin/broken lines resting on the "strong" yang/whole lines, so it is usually favorable that when comparing pairs of lines, the lower line be yang, the upper line be yin.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In observance of this energetic law or rule, yang lines in places (counting from the bottom to the top) 1, 3, and 5; yin lines in places 2, 4, and 6 constitute energetic perfection and balance. The pairs of lines are all in complete harmony: the yang and yin pairs of lines are 1/2, 3/4, and 5/6. They also are compared in pairs of <span style=""> </span>lines 1/4, 2/5, 3/6. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, in the I Ching as in the Eye of Horus, the number 63 appears to be the end. After all everything has been completed, all the lines of the hexagram are in harmony and in the right places. The trigram for water is above the trigram for fire, indicating that the energetic movement of each is toward the other….water moves down to combine with fire, and fire moves upward to combine with water. With its parts that add up to 63, the Eye of Horus appears to be whole and complete as well</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, what is the next step? Why is the Eye not a complete 64/64? Why does the final hexagram, hexagram 64, contain all the line comparison harmonies of hexagram 63, but have all the lines are in the wrong places, all the yang lines are "resting" on yin lines? That just won't do! <span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The next step after completing something is starting something else. A new life perhaps? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The final hexagram is named "Before Completion." The Image (referring to the upper and lower trigrams of three lines each) says: "Fire over water. The image of the condition before transition." Perhaps it means before the transition to immortality! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In Daoist philosophy, there is the concept of immortality. Each person is born with multiple souls. Some of these are heavenly souls (fire) and some are earthly (water). Through a practice called the <st1:state><st1:place>Kan</st1:place></st1:state> and Li Qigong (Water and Fire Energy Practice), a person can attain immortality by melding together his heavenly and earthly energies, his water and fire energies. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some believe the I Ching is a map of how a person should work with their energies and souls to attain immortality. If they manage to complete the process, they reach the perfection of hexagram 63. If not, their energies move apart as they do in hexagram 64, the energies of fire rising skyward, and the energies of water flowing earthward, and immortality is not attained. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some believe the Eye of Ra is a symbol of immortality also, especially the immortality of Ra of course, but there is something missing, here, too. The eye has everything it needs except a pupil….that part of the eye through which a person can see. An eye without a pupil is as good as no eye at all, for one cannot see with it. Is it possible that the missing 1/64 of the eye is the pupil, that part of the eye that would grant Vision, perhaps of an immortal or enlightened type? </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Possibly this is so. The number 64 is the square of 8, and squares of numbers tend to have special significance, such as 3X3, and especially 7X7 (which we see in the saying "the seventh son of a seventh son"). </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The number 8 can represent two different ideas of wholeness or completeness. First, on a two-dimensional level, it can represent the eight directions; in time, it can represent the eight special days of the year, the two solstices and equinoxes as well as the cross-quarter days, the days that fall between the solstices and equinoxes. Second, on a three-dimensional level, the number 8 can represent the corners that form the earth (shades of the ancient "square earth" theory), and the four corners that hold up the sky! Without four heavenly corners, the sky would just fall and there would be no earth. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So, it seems very reasonable that the number 63 would symbolize a life well lived and well spent, and that 64 would be an indication of a life just starting over again! </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In hexagram 64 we have balance and harmony, just in the wrong order, and if you give the Eye a pupil, that last little 1/64 of its weight, it will surely see it's way clear to return from the Otherworld of Osiris and make a new life here on Earth again. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Whether that new life is a rebirth or a resurrection is a topic for another post. :-) <o:p></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1