The Career Astrologer 2 2015 | Page 33

object! In addition, it is the bridge between ‘conscious’ and ‘unconscious’. In Buddhism and the “Tibetan Book of the Dead” it is the ‘bardo’ state, i.e. the few moments in the void between sleep and the other sleep that people call ‘wakefulness’, between life and death. From there, a properly prepared disciple is launched into higher levels of consciousness. Mercury’s ability as a psycho- pomp is explained precisely here! The word ‘conscious’ – and consequently ‘consciousness’ – originally derives from the Latin conscious, where con- means ‘together’ and scire ‘to know’, and signifies the simul- taneous existence in two levels, the merger and fusion of two separate worlds into a third state of presence. It furthermore indi- cates an underlying cognitive object within man, which turns him into the subject of his own observation! One may find valuable notes and deciphering of symbols in The Spirit Mercurius, Jung’s chapter on Mercury in his Alchemical Studies. SMOOT - ANTISCIA Continuted from Page 20 aspect of the unconscious .... If it has been believed hitherto that the human shadow was the source of all evil, it can now be ascertained on closer investigation that the unconscious man, that is, his shadow, does not consist only of morally reprehensible tendencies, but also displays a number of good qualities, such as normal instincts, appropriate reactions, realistic insights, creative impulses, etc.” (The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, CW 9, ii, p. 266) 3 Man and his Symbols, Carl G. Jung, Aldus Books, 1968, pages 186-207. 4 Solstice origin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Solstice 5 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Sheen. Even today Mr. Sheen’s smooth fan appeal with his “bad boy” image to propel him is evident in this TMZ video about Justin Bieber: http://www.tmz. com/videos/0_1x2y9ai9. Mr. Sheen speaks about his “meltdown” regrets: http://www.azcentral.com/story/ entertainment/people/2015/05/13/charlie-sheens- two-and-a-half-men-regrets/27230875/. His father, Martin Sheen, has recently commented on his son’s meltdown in 2011: http://perezhilton.com/category/ charlie-sheen/#.VWin1us-46U R At this point, it is worth meditating on the planet’s relationship with the ultimate philo- sophical and scientific question of all time - one that assumes new dimensions after the discovery of the D.N.A helix (Caduceus): the enigma of consciousness’ birth from matter. It is true, that in some esoteric paths – such as the one Gurdjieff called “The Fourth Way” – the most fundamental principle for a dis- ciple is to discover the existence of the prin- ciple per se! Such a thing requires that the seeker possess a mighty Mercu ry – guide within, who will lead him safely through wild and deceptive pathways. The ‘intermediate state’, ‘bardo’ and ‘next attention’ – despite all efforts at a detailed description - will only be truly comprehend- ed by those who achieved a personal phys- ical experience through overexertion and ‘skill’, and of course ‘Divine Grace’, and will remain dark secrets for the uninitiated and all who remain at profane, rough and crude mental approaches. Harry Potter is given the incomprehen- sible instruction to wait at platform 9 ¾ in order to take the train to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; neither at plat- form nine, nor at ten, but at platform nine and three quarters, whereat he finds himself after a truly inspired - although apparently unreasonable – act of launching into a wall in the space between, transferring himself to the right place, and at the same time, onto the covetable path of Knowledge, in search of the Philosopher’s Stone. Thanasis Matsotas is an astrologer from Greece. He has 25 years experience in astro- logical teaching and research. He has written books, articles and he cooperated in astro- logical cyclopedia. Furthermore he has par- ticipated in TV and radio programs and he is professor in “Astropedia” astrology college. His personal blog is matsotas.blogspot.gr. R OPA’s Free Monthly Talks One hour lectures for OPA members only. Sunday, July 5 Chris McRae (AB - Canada) Solstices and Planets OOB Sunday, August 2 Chris Brennan (CO) Sect: Day and Night Charts Sunday, September 20 Melanie Reinhart (UK) Saturn in Sagittarius Sunday,October 4 Kay Taylor (CA) Career Astrosynthesis\ Sunday, November 1 David Zimmerman (CA) Esoteric Astrology Oct. 22-25 – OPA ASTROLOGERS RETREAT Pacific Grove, CA www.opaastrology.org Oct. 22-25 – SOTA – Niagara Falls, Canada www.donnavantoen.com Feb. 26-27 – ISRAEL ASTROLOGY CONFERENCE with Bernadette Brady Contact: [email protected] MARCH 2016 March 18-21 & March 21-23, 2016 I-ASTROLOGER Athens, GA www.opaastrology.org Sunday, December 13 Tim Rubald (HI) Mundane and Political Charting OPA’s Quarterly Magazine Sept. 11-14 – AAGB – Wyboston, UK www.astrologicalassociation.com Sept. 8-20 and 9/25-27 – STA Horary Practitioner’s Certificate Course www.londonschoolofastrology.co.uk FEBRUARY 2016 OPAastrology.org The SEPTEMBER 2015 OCTOBER 2015 Get updates and learn more at Astrologer UPCOMING ASTROLOGY CONFERENCES V24 -02 MAY - JUNE 2016 May 27-June 9 – OPA ASTROLOGY CONFERENCE AND SPIRITUAL TOUR Athens, Greece and Islands www.opaastrology.org JUNE SOLSTICE 2015 page 33