Astrologer OPA’ s Quarterly Magazine V24-02 JUNE SOLSTICE 2015 page 26
The Astrology of
Spiritual Impact
Notable People Who Speak from Beyond the Waking Dream
Column by
Wiliam Sebrans
PART TWO: RAM DASS
Introduction
What do Ramana Maharshi, Krishnamurti, Ram Dass, Rudolph Steiner, George Gurdieff, Osho, Deepak Chopra, Byron Katie, Ranier M Rilke, Eckhart Tolle, Nisargadatt, Ken Wilber, Alan Watts, Ammachi, Gangaji, Walt Whitman, Johann Goethe, Yogananda – all have in common?
They have, to a greater or lesser degree, awakened from the dream of mechanical unconscious life and, in their way of being in the world, imparted an energy of pure presence that raises us up.
As astrologers and eager students of the Mystery in action, we might inquire:
~ What predisposes a person to awaken to their true nature beyond the mechanical inclinations of personality and the conditioning patterns by the outside influences of the world that secure them? And, if such a transformation in someone takes place by whatever force, what creates the inner and outer environment that allows his or her awakening to significantly impact the world?
~ How will the impact manifest according to their unique dispositions and role, as a teacher, artist, or as a collective leader?
~ Can astrology with its masterful, archetypal language identify patterns that suggest an awakening spirit and one who will further impact the collective?
This series of articles will take a friendly and deeply curious look at these lively questions. In so doing, perhaps we will further enlighten ourselves as to the myriad flavors of awakening that are available in a human life. This investigation may also instruct us how the various elements of our astrological language can manifest at increasingly higher levels of expression or frequency, – similar to the 3 Gunas in Vedic lore corresponding to Tamas, Rajas, Sattva; where each of the planetary and sign archetypes are available for interpretation and impact at a spectrum of levels from dense shadow to everyday gift to divine gift.
As we go about our terrestrial business, it is salutary for us to note our biases. The Cosmos responds benignly to these kinds of good manners. In regard to our subject here, I offer 5 personal biases in regard to the overarching theme of awakening and spiritual impact: 1. It is not possible to know the evolutionary state of a soul from a chart Maybe someone can do it, perhaps with intuitive wizardry, but I cannot, and everyone I know cannot. If such is your expertise, contact me immediately – because we have business for you! Whatever the configurations, all‘ charts’( aka people) are available for evolution and profound transformation.
2. Given the just mentioned bias, then it must be true that two infants born with exactly the same birth chart will manifest their lives in utterly unique ways. And that said, it is also true there are in fact predispositions that incline one to be a seeker of higher truth and a longer for transcendent connection, or, at least to be the ready if unwitting recipient of illuminating Divine Whacks. That is, whatever the configurations, all‘ charts’ and therefore people are available for evolution and profound transformation.
3. The predispositions to‘ seeking’ and to being transformed can often, but not always, be seen in a chart.
4. Anyone with major spiritual impact – who raises the consciousness of many individuals to increasing higher level of consciousness- nearly always has astrological factors that are observable as being the influence of the transpersonal planets on personal planets and key angles.
5. There is no standard behavioral code or standard of personality that fits for the awakened condition! Being nice, communicative, powerful, have high endurance, artful, of pointed intelligence, competent are not required! The consistent theme, independent of these virtues that exists among the awakened, is that of the witnessing Presence dictating their response to Life, rather than the body functions or the discursive mind. Outside of that... it is all fair game.
Concluding this section, let the congregation please rise to the following fertile musing from Sri Yuketswar, Yogananda’ s guru and noted Vedic astrologer and See-er.
“ A child is born on that day and at that hour when the celestial rays are in mathematical harmony with his individual karma. His horoscope is a challenging portrait, revealing his unalterable past and its probable future results. But, the natal chart can be rightly interpreted only by men of intuitive wisdom: these are few.”
Ram Dass
“ If you want to know how enlightened you are, go spend a week with your parents.”
Ram Dass was born April 6, 1931 as Richard Alpert at 10:40 am in Boston, Massachusetts.
Definitions:
Mensch – Yiddish for a decent guy of goodwill you can count on. Individual Planets and Signs: You are on your own? What does this mean? Background Growing up in a liberal well-to-do Jewish household, he emerged as one of the seminal spiritual pioneers who came out of the trippy cocktail of altered states that marked the 1960’ s. That period was formatted by a Pluto / Uranus conjunction in Virgo and marked by enlightened expansion, delusional aspiration, and also in a break with the old order.
A cohort of Timothy Leary at Harvard U, Richard developed an intimate relationship
The Career
Astrologer OPA’ s Quarterly Magazine V24-02 JUNE SOLSTICE 2015 page 26