The media has hit upon a story – Ophiuchus is the 13th constellation. You are not the sign you thought you were – cue shock horror! It’s an old story made new, repeatedly turning up like a bad penny every few years. The old argument raises its head like a snake about to strike – spitting at astrologers from all angles. And we respond, protecting our knowledge, our understanding, our history. We curl poised, ready to strike back – point out that we understand precession, that we practice Western astrology, that this has all be discussed before, 2000 years ago. The astronomers hit back, laughing at our ineptitude, ridiculing faith, belief and our academic studies.
During this furore I have been reading the Einstein Enigma by José Rodrigues Dos Santos. José is an award winning journalist specialising in war reporting and a familiar face seen on Portuguese television.
I read it initially because of my fascination with Portugal but within a few pages discovered this novel was going to to take me deeper into my questions about life, the universe and everything.
Inevitably it gave me pause for thought, time to reflect upon why I practice astrology and the argument that rages between us and science.
The novel is both a espionage thriller and an exploration to find proof of God through science. If you think it can’t be done – read the novel! Ranging through philosophy, quantum physics, mathematics, history and religion, José weaves together what science has discovered with what religious texts across the world have stated for thousands of years. The resulting work is so profound I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.
What stuck with me most is José’s description of reductionism and semantics, touched on below in his short video about the novel. In the book he points out that reductionism (science) explores the world of fact. The universe is composed of planets and stars, galaxies, black holes, dark matter. It is atoms and molecules and electromagnetic energy. It is weighed and measured, tested, photographed and re-created in a laboratory.
Imagine a song. Any song you love. You could study this song in many ways. You could measure the sound waves, look at pitch and the timbre of the vocals, you could quantify the resonance of the bass and so on. You could even look at the electrical conductors on the guitarist’s pick-up or explore why the microphone seems to bring out certain frequency ranges. But with all the scientific exploration of acoustics, it still wouldn’t help you understand the meaning of the song. Dissected, the song has no resonance on an emotional or spiritual level. The scientific study of the instruments used doesn’t tell you if this is a love song that means something to you.
And this brings me to astrology.
The Einstein Enigma finds unity between science and spirituality; essentially we are all trying to explain the same thing from different points of view. There is no separation, we are just two electrons dancing on opposite poles of the universe.
Astrology is like listening to the great song of the cosmos, we sense it, we see patterns. We hear a verse and a chorus and a refrain. Astrology is the semantic study of the universe. Certainly we borrow from astronomy and science and maths. We plot our charts using complex calculations. Sometimes planetary meaning is derived in part from the physical characteristics of a planet concerned (think Uranus spinning on his side!).
To me, the clue to the meaning of everything is hidden within the universe itself, encoded into every fibre of matter that exists. Astrology is just one way of attempting to understand the pattern, to make sense of something that is possibly too vast to grasp – or so simple that we refuse to see it?
It is interesting that Ophiuchus is the serpent-bearer and the 13th sign – both incorporating symbols which have been demonised in the last 2000 years. The serpent is temptation, the number 13 representative of evil. It is betrayal, it is death. And yet in many cultures the serpent is revered as an emblem of healing, fertility and wisdom. In the West, where the serpent is most maligned, we still see it used as a symbol for medicine in the rod of Asclepius, a lingering reminder of the high regard the serpent once had.
In the midst of this argument between astronomers and astrologers lies a fundamental truth – that we are all looking at the same thing but exploring it in different ways. We are simply trying to understand. The problem comes when we fight each other over our discoveries, when we seek to put each other down, when we betray each other. Of course I cannot help reacting when I read another ‘reason why astrology is rubbish’. My emotional self is wounded and irritated. And yet it goes deeper than that. It strikes at the heart of humanity itself.
The Einstein Enigma shows there is a possibility for science and spirituality to walk hand in hand. Astrologers and astronomers could join together, weave our collective bodies around a rod of understanding and bring about true unity and healing. Who knows, between us we could finally understand the mystery of the universe and its song. Perhaps the 13th sign is simply that – a sign that change is possible.
Afterall, we all come from the stars.
For an explanation of why there is no 13th sign as far as astrology is concerned, check out this excellent article by my colleague Wendy Guy over at Evolving Door Astrology
Leah, can I use some of this on my blog or facebook if I give you and your site credit? I really am so impressed with this….it has also softened the wound this issue created in me, as too many of my friends are scientists and I feel on the defensive way too much…~elizabeth
[email protected] http://NorthNodeAstrology.blogspot.com
Do you want to add each other’s blogs to our sites?
Hi Elizabeth
Thank you – I’d be delighted to exchange links. I have just added you 🙂
And yes of course you may quote me. I’m really glad you enjoyed my post and it helped ‘soften the wound’. I think in some ways writing the piece also helped me too.
Hi Leah,
Through Elizabeth’s post, I too have found this interesting and would also like to share this on mine. Thanks for this insight.
Hi Lee
Thanks for your comment – happy for you to share/quote as long as it’s attributed 🙂
@Just saw your post – Thanks Elizabeth.
Leah,
Beautiful post. It says so much of many of us feel yet have not articulated.
Blessings,
Beth
Really enjoyed this Leah! I especially liked …
“To me the clue to the meaning of everything is hidden within the universe itself, encoded into every fibre of matter that exists. Astrology is just one way of attempting to understand the pattern, to make sense of something that is possibly too vast to grasp – or so simple that we refuse to see it?”
Hi Beth and Susannah
Thanks so much for your lovely comments. 🙂
Interesting idea, but the mental models the author uses, i.e, hardware-software; polarities between what we call hard science and or religion; the assumption that something must be knowable by the mind in order for it to exist, are too limiting and self defining to convince me of their relevance and significance. Still, the material does open one to thinking about things in perhaps a more creative way, and that in itself is useful.
Hi Maureen, thanks for your comment. It’s true, the model doesn’t appeal to everyone but as you say it does trigger creative thinking. I feel like my mind has gone many places since reading this book, encouraging me to investigate avenues not seen before.
I am glad to have encountered this site and thanks for your writing Leah.
I am reading this book now and finishing it.
As a Buddhist I can really relate to many of the things mentioned such as that multiple universes may exist or that the human being is a universe within himself which exists within the greater universe. I also now enjoy the part that to all creation there are the core givens of subtlety, that it cannot physically be seen and that the elements of intelligence and intention pervade it. There is also the element that the book speaks of a spiritual energy inherent in all religions while transcending what the religions represent as well. To me, I find the positions described in the book very close to Buddhism.
Thank you,
Mukesh
Kobe, Japan
Thanks for your comment Mukesh. I am so glad to hear you are enjoying the book. I relate to the idea that there is a spiritual force within all religions that also transcends it. Each one at the fundamental core speaks a truth.
I recite the Lotus Sutra and repeat a chant every morning for awhile, perhaps trying to activate those fundamental elements of the truth to existence in my life, directed eventually for my own and others’ happiness. The swan swims beautifully but is actually working hard underwater.
I learned of this book in an interview online with Wayne Shoter, the great saxaphonist in February who said: “it’s happening man!” : )
He’s a Buddhist too and he is a very contemplative person, as well as his music deep and beautiful.
Thanks for your comments.
I hope the best for you too! Hope to be in touch.
Mukesh
Hi,
Good one, and thanks to this blog i read the book also. I am also written a book – Baramulla Bomber – Science Fiction Espionage Thriller.
“Quantum Physics meets Bible and Vedas in Background of Kashmir and Cricket”
My Book FB Page:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1160136811#!/pages/Baramulla-Bomber/134048753296487
Please do join the page, and would love to give you a copy for review when the books comes out.
Thanks
Suraj
Hi Suraj – thanks for your comment and good luck with your book!