The Stars Burn Bright

Welcome to this year.

In the Indian Calendar that follows a recurrent 60 year cycle, each year is given a name and a theme.

We have just entered the 40th year of this 60 year cycle. The name of the year is Paraabhava.

The theme is humiliation.

Destruction, downfall and disgrace. Disintegration.

The defeat of the ego.

From Where It Starts

After an entire circle of the Zodiac, we stand now in the first house, Aries.

The right place and time to be talking about the theme of this year. After the dissolution of the self in Pisces, Aries steps in with completely new energy.

Aries is the house of the Ego.

It gives us a chance to understand what exactly is up for defeat and humiliation this year.

The Mainstream Model

Sigmund Freud is generally considered the first person to introduce the concept of the Ego.

In a previous post we looked at the Id, Ego and the Superego.

Turns out he wasn't very original with that concept.

Have you heard of Plato's concept of the Chariot and Two Horses.

Plato said the human soul rides a chariot driven by two horses. One is the Noble Horse. He is described as being white, beautiful and well proportioned. The other is the Ignoble Horse. No surprises here. He is dark, ugly and unruly.

One represents moral impulse, honor, and controlled passion. The other base desires, irrational passions, and carnal lust.

The charioteer has to ride towards enlightenment. The white horse helping him. And the dark horse needing a lot of taming.

Freud rehashed this concept into the Id, Ego and Superego.

And of course one could say, Plato himself lifted the idea from religion. From the idea of the Good Angel and Bad Angel sitting on his shoulder.

Kadavul Paathi Mirugam Paathi

For a long time now the person is made to suffer in this way. Torn between good and bad. Trying to defeat the bad, grow the good. Struggling with shame. Poisoned with Guilt.

And Freud can be accused of bringing this into the realm of science.

Of putting the Ego in this place. Between the Id who has base desires. And the Superego who knows all the tricks of how to fit into society.

A thankless job. A frustratingly never ending game.

Because when you fit into society, the society itself plants seeds of base desires in you. And then you are stuck trying to be a better person. And trying hard to fit in.

Psychology has been reduced to this. It is used as a gauge of how you fit into society.

Shake It Out

It takes people like Jiddu Krishnamurti to shake these common dangerous fallacies. He says "It is no measure of health to be adjusted to a profoundly sick society."

We are not born merely to fit in. To just know the ropes. And adjust ourselves to square pegs.

Surely the ego can't be only this tiny fixed idea? A tiny, anxiety- ridden role? Always correcting something? Adding something there, removing something here...?

Then What Could It Be?

Enter Descartes.

One of the other guys who spoke about the Ego.

He said "I Think Therefore I Am".

The Ego became a thinking spirit. The brain became the seat of the Ego.

The rest of it was considered inert. Lifeless. Lacking intelligence.

A mechanical world of matter. A thinking Ego. Ego v/s Nature.

And the Ego's job- to control the rest of creation. To dominate.

Religious Science

Descartes is the inspiration for many who consider themselves 'men of science'.

He is also the idol for people in power. Because his theory sanctions the greed of man. It fans his power lust.

Not many realize that Descartes was in fact a deeply religious man.

The trouble sometimes is even smart people like Descartes, even extremely religious people like Descartes....miss the point.

What's The Point?

Ramana Maharishi highlights an interesting thing.

He mentions that all religions of the world speak of the same thing.

He refers to the words in the Bible "I Am That I Am" as being the same thing that we speak of in Advaita philosophy.

Wait...What?

I Am That I Am. A bit of grammar conundrum.

For Descartes the 'I am' was dependent on the fact that he thought. "I think = I am"

But then....he never thought for one moment about the times that he doesn't think.

In the Bible, that he probably didn't read properly, the 'I am' is not based on anything. Other than that it is.

There is no "Therefore".

"I am" = "I am".

That's a pretty neat check mate to the ego, isn't it?

To exist without cause. To exist without adjuncts.

Hmmm...

Next week let's dive a little deeper into the Ego. "I Am That I Am" , what else could it mean?

What does Advaita Vedanta say about the Ego? Does Sankhya Yoga have any insights?

For now, let's look at the skies.

Heavy Pisces energy. Drink from the stream of solitude.

If some woman bites your head off with a sharp remark, don't take it personally.

April 17th, is a beautiful Amavasya/ Sun Moon Meeting Day. It happens in Ashwini nakshatra. Ashwini is the great healer.

I hope, like me, you believe that the body has great intelligence. That it carries the powers of self-regulation and healing. I hope you connect to that intention this week. And let it grow strong within you.

Mars, Mercury and Saturn are jostling for space in near exact degrees this week. Coming close on April 19th. If plans are hitting roadblocks. If devices are giving up on you. If you are feeling emotionally isolated. Take it as it comes.

You may also feel like lending a hand, helping someone have a better day.

You may sit down and look at your goal list again.

Goal, not gold. Because April 19th is also Akshaya Tritiya. If you ask me your real wealth is in your skill set.

The same day Venus moves into Taurus. Beyond just looks and luxury....Shukra is a tantric master. The one who is adept with the Philosopher's Stone. To transform the base to gold.

April 20th, True Node Ketu moves into Magha. Not a good sign for the elites.

We remain this week in the Snake's Belly, with the active Kala Sarpa energy. By now we are experts at handling the intense.

Forward momentum is initiated...be okay if the speed is gentle.

It's a week to gently bob along.

Until we meet next week. Same place.

Right here!