Earth
Still Center of the Universe
Psychologically Speaking
We've
now known for several hundred years that the earth is not
the center of
the universe. Yet astrology (for the most part) continues to
act as if nothing had happened and stubbornly continues to promote
a “geocentric” image of a universe where the Sun, Moon,
and all the planets revolve around the Earth.
Are scientific
skeptics right? Does astrology require the average adherent to have
a “screw loose” in order to believe in such an arcane,
outdated system such as astrology?
No, it's
not necessary to have a “screw loose” in order to believe
astrology works. Granted... it does help to have a reality view which
allows for a belief in God, a higher power, or an entity of a higher
purpose. If believing in such an entity means that you have a “screw
loose,” then the vast majority of humans on our planet seem to
have several “screws loose.” In the USA, Gallup Polls
taken over the past half century have consistently shown 9 out
10 people report
praying to some sort of a supreme being.
Stand
Up And Be Counted
In recent years... many otherwise reasonable, rational people from all
walks of life have (so to speak) "come out of their metaphysical
closets" in defense of astrology. By way of a few examples from
the scientific community...
-
The
visionary English astronomer Percy Seymour "threw his hat into
the ring" by publishing Astrology: The Evidence of Science, appearing
in April 1989. In his groundbreaking book – Dr Seymour,
a chartered member of the Institute of Physics and Fellow member
of the Royal
Astronomical Society, explained his revolutionary theories
of celestial harmonics in regard to why astrology may work
in the first place.
-
In
1995, environmental scientist (originally trained in mathematical
physics), Dr William Keepin, published the article "Astrology
and the New Physics: Integrating Sacred and Secular Sciences",
in the astrology magazine The Mountain Astrologer, (August/September,
1995).
-
Then there's Victor Mansfield, astrophysicist and author of Synchronicity,
Science, and Soul-Making in 1995. In 1997, when Dr Mansfield was a
featured speaker at a major astrology conference (the Cycles and Symbols
Conference San Francisco 1997), he caused quite a stir.
It appears
that while one needn't be a rocket scientist to believe astrology works,
it apparently doesn't hurt, either.
Geocentric
model
Ancient geocentric sky watchers such as the famous Ptolemy (85-165 AD)
served in dual roles as both the scientifically minded mathematical
astronomer searching out the skies and as the metaphysically minded
astrologer divining the purposes of the heavens.
But
why is astrology in the 21st Century still based on Ptolemy's geocentric
model of the universe (where the Earth is considered to be the
center of the universe)? It's really rather simple. Astrology is still
based
on a geocentric model of the universe, because psychologically
(and practically) speaking the geocentric model still works for the
purposes
of astrology and the human soul.
Here's
my theory on why…
Greek
Mythology
In ancient Greek mythology, each of the seven known bodies spinning
around the Earth were associated with a different metal:
Sun – Gold
Moon – Silver
Mercury – Mercury
Venus – Copper
Mars – Iron
Jupiter – Tin
Saturn – Lead
The ancients
mythologized that as the planets spun around the Earth, they (the planets)
each spun their individual metals (influences) into the depths of the
Earth.
Here's
a short quote from Jungian author Edward F. Edinger:
"Psychologically
we can understand this image as referring to the archetypal constituents
of the ego. The building blocks of ego are divine qualities stolen from
the gods or products of dismemberment of a deity – earthly
representatives of transpersonal principles."
Astro-psychologically
Applied astro-psychologically – we understand the imago myth of
the planets revolving around the Earth to refer to the human ego's stance
(our sense of "I") in life.
Based
on this image... our individual life journeys place each one of us
(subjectively
speaking) in the center of the universal, archetypal energies of
the planets spinning 'round us.... and each one of us is then cast
in the
starring role of our special life journey.
Heck! Don't
you remember when you were a kid and your parents asked you, "Okay,
mister! So who died and left you the Center of the Universe?"
Back
To The Astrology and Jung Index
Related
off site links:
"Modern
Cosmology"
as Metaphor and the Double Nature of Soul by Victor Mansfield Department
of Physics and Astronomy Colgate University.
"The
Magus of Magnetism"
An Interview with English astronomer Dr. Percy Seymour on his Magnetic
Theory of how astrology works.
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