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Understanding Ophiuchus: Taming The Hydra
Setting aside the debate about Zodiac signs* one thing we know for sure is that, for whatever reason, in 2011 Ophiuchus got global attention. THAT in itself is significant. Ophiuchus is now firmly planted in our collective psyche, and maybe we need to hold that image for a reason. This could be a heads-up to look at something; another signpost on our spiritual journey; a synchronicity.
The deeper significance of Ophiuchus
It’s probably a good thing that Ophiuchus isn’t included in the Zodiac. Because that would be something else that could tempt us to look outward, and distract from our inner journey. Ophiuchus is depicted as a man with a snake. A snake handler. In Arabic Astrology this constellation was called the ‘snake charmer’. This is important.
Ophiuchus is also shown stepping on Scorpio. Ophiuchus could be said to represent humankind (us) while Scorpio represents desire. The esoteric symbolism of this is that once we have tamed the nine-headed ‘Hydra of Desire’, in Scorpio then we are ready to go within, following the direction of Sagittarius’ arrow.
Buddhist scripture tells of Buddha sitting in meditation while all the ‘temptations’ of ‘Mara’ were presented to him. Mara represents all the temptations of the outer world that could have distracted Buddha from his inner journey. Only after he resisted all these temptations did he attain enlightenment.
Adam and Eve met a serpent in the Garden of Eden. The Serpent ‘tempted’ Eve with fruit of the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. Serpents are often used in various spiritual traditions, to symbolize desire and/or temptation.
In “The Labours of Hercules: An Astrological Perspective” by Alice Bailey, Hercules’ 12 labors take him on a journey through the Zodiac; with his first labor being in Aries, and his final labor being in Pisces. This is symbolic of both the individual journey of our Soul, and the collective evolution of human consciousness.
The eighth labor (Scorpio) requires Hercules to enter a ‘stench-drenched bog’ and battle the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra (Desire). Similar to Buddha resisting all the temptations of Mara. Each time he cuts off one of the heads of the Hydra another one appears in its place. This demonstrates the futility of tackling desires one by one, and indicates the deeper difficulties we all have struggling with the temptation of desire. Understanding this labor is the key to understanding the Soul Path of Scorpio.
After struggling for some time to defeat each ‘head’ individually Hercules finally triumphs by lifting the Hydra completely into the light, whereupon it withered. Strong in the dark, its power diminished when brought into the light of consciousness. This means when we shine the light of our awareness onto that which tempts us, it loses it’s power. We tackle desire at the root when we bring our full awareness to it.
Irrespective of our particular faith, we each face the same struggle on our spiritual journey: between the temptations of our personality, the outer world that distracts us from our path, and our inner journey toward spiritual progress. This can range in intensity from the simple urge to jump up from meditation because we have forgotten something, to dealing with the deeper emotional and psychological wounds that require our loving attention if we are to heal (become whole). The struggle is in our avoidance of that which we are afraid to look at. We keep it in the dark and are unable to bring our loving attention to it.
The path of Scorpio: the battle with desire
The myth of the Hydra symbolizes our struggle with our own desire nature. Sooner or later, seekers on the spiritual path will have to ‘do battle’ with their own inner desires. This is the spiritual path of Scorpio. Scorpio is not afraid to do battle; to go deep into the darkest depths of the human psyche and bring whatever is there into the light of awareness, for healing. This is why the sign of Scorpio is associated with both priests and psychologists. A dominant theme in this internal battle is our struggle with desire.
This battle with desire is known to all who practice meditation on a deeper level, and is eloquently explained by Insight Meditation teacher Jack Kornfield in his book “A Path With Heart”:
“Most fundamentally these desires can be separated into painful desire and skillful desire, both aspects stemming from a neutral energy called the Will to Do.
Painful desire involves greed, grasping, inadequacy, and longing.
Skillful desire is born of this same Will to Do but directed
by love, vitality, compassion, creativity and wisdom.
With the development of awareness, we begin to distinguish
unhealthy desire from skillful motivation.
We can sense which states are free from unskillful desire and enjoy
a more spontaneous and natural way of being without struggle or ambition.”
Having developed discernment in Virgo, and balance in Libra, our Soul is ready to ‘do battle’ in Scorpio. “Esoteric Astrology” by Alice Bailey, refers to the ‘crucifixion of the personality’ in Scorpio. It is the final battle (The first happens in Leo) and Scorpio is the last of the four ‘signs of crisis or challenge’. It is a kind of birth, for once the internal struggle in Scorpio is over, we have a clear pathway for spiritual progress.
The ‘triumph’ of Scorpio
The key to winning this ‘battle’ lies in Scorpio’s ability to find the ‘point of light’ in the darkness. This hints at the victory. The true Victory lies not in battling our desires, but in the power of acceptance. By accepting and embracing our darkest nature, our own shadow. Scorpio wins the battle, precisely because of her ability to look into the darkness without fear, and bring loving acceptance to whatever is there. We are told that once the battle has been won in Scorpio then the spiritual disciple can ‘see the goal’ in Sagittarius. It is said that true liberation of the mind happens in Sagittarius.
The journey through the Zodiac, in “The 12 Labours of Hercules”, is telling us our own story. It is our inner journey, and the 12 labors are not Hercules’ alone, they are ours. They symbolize real stages of growth and development on our spiritual path. Until we face our desires, and examine them in the light, they will be a distraction. Our day to day activities center around meeting our desire-driven needs and we do not take the time to discover the truth of our deeper nature. If we are to discover the deeper truth of our being, sooner or later, we must face and tame our desires. Pluto, Scorpio’s Ruler, symbolizes the ‘death of desire’.
We are entering a time of great opportunity, where what we think and feel matters. This gateway of opportunity is marked by Ophiuchus the snake handler. This is symbolic for the point at which humankind collectively tames the ‘serpent’ of our desires. It is time to stop chasing after outer desires, and turn our attention within. In doing so we will collectively cultivate the state of mind necessary to allow a quantum leap in consciousness.
It is said that Sagittarius’ arrow points at the center of our galaxy. In his book “Galactic Alignment”, Mayan cosmologist John Major Jenkins points out that on Dec 21st 2012, the solstice Sun will come into alignment with the galactic center of the Milky Way, which lies in the gap between Scorpio and Sagittarius, indicated by Ophiuchus and Sagittarius’ arrow.
The spiritual ‘goal’ that Sagittarius can only see, after the battle has been won in Scorpio, is the Center: Source. On Dec 21st 2012 maybe we have an important appointment with our inner selves.
“The Soul is our individual link to the
essential substance of the Creative Source...
Astrology is a system that seeks to interpret the nature of the Universal Life Force
as It moves, shapes, and creates human life and all events.
The planets, signs, and houses,
are not the causal elements of manifestation.
They are, rather, the reflections of a transcendental synchronicity
manifesting through the rhythms and timing of a cosmic clock.”
- Alan Oken, Soul Centered Astrology
We have been sleeping as this cosmic clock has been ticking. Ophiuchus is telling us that the alarm has gone off and it is time to wake up. We are not passive ‘victims’ in this process. The ‘apocalyptic** annihilation’ that so many fear for 2012 is really the end of a state of mind. It is the symbolic death of our painful desire-mind, which allows a heart-opening to awaken us to Higher Mind, and our highest spiritual potential.
We are indeed living in interesting times, and every one matters. It has been described as a time of purification. Not because anybody is punishing us, but because we finally wake up, and grow up. 2012 is a beginning. A birth. In the evolution of consciousness, this time marks the point of our collective awakening, taking the inner journey together and living the truth of who we are.
We cannot open our hearts and be aware of our Soul’s journey while we are chasing after things outside of us, like a dog chasing it’s tail. When we turn our attention inwards and focus on what matters, we can cultivate a ‘good heart’ and transform unhealthy energy and desire into ‘skillful motivation’. Then we will see the spiritual goal that Sagittarius points at.
On this cosmic journey Ophiuchus just dropped in to say ‘hi’ and to remind us that it is time now, to stop and go within. Tame the serpent and prepare for our collective journey within, to our Creative Source. LCM
*Ophiuchus is a constellation. Constellations are clusters of stars. There are around 88 constellations visible in the night sky from Earth, and since the beginning of time humankind has given them mythological names that reflect their powerful meaning to us: such as Aquila The Eagle and Delphinus The Dolphin. The Astrological Zodiac is an imaginary belt around the Earth based on the Suns apparent path from our perspective looking up! Neither reflects the ultimate reality of the Universe, but only how it appears to us. The Zodiac is divided into 12 equal parts, each named after a constellation. This is important to remember. The Zodiac is divided into 12 equal parts whereas consellations are not equal in size. Some have many stars and take up huge areas of the sky while others are relatively tiny. The names of the Zodiac signs are to remind us of the energetic qualites that are around at that time. In Jan 2011 a debate arose in the world’s media, and driven by the internet, around the constellation Ophiuchus and whether it is, or should be considered the ‘13th Zodiac sign’. It was once considered a Zodiac sign in ancient times: when there were 13 Zodiac signs and a 13 month calendar, based on the cycles of the Moon. However, given it’s position between Scorpio and Sagittarius, even if we did return to using a 13 sign Zodiac, Ophiuchus would be the 9th sign, not the 13th. Overall it is important to remember that the unfolding of time has no divisions in reality, it is all ‘NOW’. Dividing a ‘year’ into 12 or 13 parts is one of humanity’s ways of recognizing, planning and working with the energy of Nature’s cycles. This is how we know the best time for planting crops etc. Even at it’s simplest level we divide the year into four: spring, summer, fall and winter. However, Nature sees no such division; just a seamless unfolding!
**The word ‘Apocalypse’ comes from the Greek ‘apokálypsis’ meaning ‘lifting of the veil’. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypse
As the veil is lifted we see with new eyes the truth of our Being: Divine Oneness. Self-serving desire naturally falls away as our hearts open wide with compassion for one another, as we recognize our Selves in each other.
What is a Soul Sign and what is mine?
The ‘rising sign’ (ascendant) in your birth chart represents your soul. So if you have Sun in Cancer with Libra rising, you are a Libran soul, with a Cancer personality. Did you know it is called the ‘rising sign’ because it is the sign that was rising over the horizon at the exact time of your birth? This makes it the ‘dawn’ of your life, and the most important sign in Soul Astrology.
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