Special Edition - Feb. 10, 2005
Think Outside of the Box
By Natesh Reed
EACH PERSON, and culture, has a purpose which they serve for the evolution of consciousness. This is one way of explaining what is known in Eastern thought as dharma. But at what point do the values and laws that we create to understand our experience begin to limit our growth process?
My spiritual teacher, Mata Amritanandamayi, known to most as Ammachi, once said, "When you eat sugar cane, you are after the sugar, but you don't eat the cane. Similarly, when you cross water in a boat, and reach the other side, you get out of the boat."
There may arise, on our journey, a time in which a new thought or feeling dawns upon us and breaks down our self made structures, thereby expanding our view. At this point in the process, it may become necessary for us to drop the boundaries in our mind, and heart, in order to embrace a new understanding.
A growing portion of the Muslim world is upset due to a cartoon in a Danish newspaper which insults their spiritual beliefs, and is an insult to their culture.
In my own country, we have an administration that claims they are spreading freedom. What they are spreading is their extremely narrow minded ideology. Unhindered access to the resources of other countries at the expense of the deaths of thousands is the vice that they attempt to clothe as the virtue of freedom. They spy on their own people and attempt to crush opposition with fear.
To explain what we are experiencing from the perspective of Vedic astrology, here is a link to a chart. Since most are more familiar with the wheel charts, I have used a Western sidereal, equal house chart for your convenience.
http://planetwaves.net/chart.php?c=outside_the_box
Mercury, from the perspective of Vedic astrology, moved this week from Capricorn into Aquarius. It receives an aspect from Jupiter. Jupiter and Venus are occupying each other's signs and exchanging their energies. This is called "mutual reception" and is often considered a helpful placement for planets to have.
Mercury also shifted lunar mansions this week. A lunar mansion is a smaller portion of each zodiac sign. It is called a lunar mansion because the Moon passes through approximately one of these a day.
Mercury is occupying a lunar mansion that is associated with the god Varuna. Varuna is the ancient Vedic God of rain who creates illusion, but also cleanses our sight so that we may see through the veil created.
There can be a liberation from a structured form of thinking to one that is more liberating. This is an opportunity to think outside of the box, and with this shift, we may begin to sense the judgments that are blocking our establishment of a world based on compassion and acceptance.
The Sun is now occupying a lunar mansion that is ruled by Mars and is in the latter portion of Capricorn. Although Mercury has moved to Aquarius, the Sun is still in Capricorn and is aspected by retrograde Saturn in Cancer.
Whenever devotion to a path exists, there are emotions attached to the ideals involved. There is a theme, this week of unstable emotions associated with a threat to that which we honor, or hold sacred. Mars is adding flame to this fire with the fuel of anger, tension and passion for change.
Mars is a little unstable at present since it recently changed signs, but will gain in strength towards the end of the month. With this gain in strength, action becomes more effective.
The American agenda for a large chunk of the last century, and the present, has been to gain influence and control in the Middle East. The violation of one's lands and peoples is the desecration of a temple.
A question comes to my mind in association with current world events. At what point do our own values become dogma?
We live in a world, at present, where there exists a clash between traditional values and the concept of liberal thought, which itself is another set of traditional values. This clash has the potential to erupt into a conflict more massive than the one experienced in the last few years since 9/11 and the invasion of Iraq.
Here are my humble thoughts about what we are experiencing. Although all beings should have a right to say that which needs to be expressed, it is important to remember that our values may not be adhered to by others. The process of each being and each culture is sacred.
We don't have to limit our thoughts. We don't have to limit our words or actions either. But we can choose to remember that respect and consideration are steps to valuing human life.
We may disagree with the cultural and spiritual values of others, but, it is important to honor that which they hold as sacred. Otherwise in a sense we are only imposing our own concept of what it means to be free, spiritual and indeed human upon them.
I sincerely hope that my words will not be seen as an attempt to impose my concepts upon you. After all, they are merely the thoughts of one grappling with meaning in a sometimes confusing world. Be well!!
Natesh Reed is a Vedic astrologer, Kundalini Yoga teacher and Reiki practitioner living in Kingston, NY. For more information, or to schedule an appointment with him, visit www.nateshreed.com
RESOURCES
More on Varuna at these links:
Water Worlds
http://planetwaves.net/astrology/waterworlds.html
Varuna New Moon
http://planetwavesweekly.com/drdc8/current/050701.html
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