In the materialist worldview, soul does not exist. There is no soul, no consciousness, we are merely bytes of digital information. Little more than flesh and blood machines. A scientist would for instance inquire… what does the soul look like? How does it work? How can we prove it exists? This line of questioning leads the materialist scientist to conclude that soul and mind are the same, driven by neurochemical transmissions, reducible to the energy in and between atoms. This mechanical philosophy can be summed up with the following quote from Francis Crick, a neuroscientist and the Nobel laureate who was the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA:
“a person’s mental activities are entirely due to the behavior of nerve cells, glial cells, and the atoms, ions, and molecules that make them up and influence them.”
Being a slave to neurons has never really resonated with me. There have been too many moments in my life that have begged for an expanded view of what makes us tick and who that “ghost in the machine” truly is. Just the fact that we can ponder this should give us all pause. How strange for instance is it that thoughts are always about something and matter is never about anything? In other words, meaning seems to be the great differentiator. As science has tried to explain away the soul as some mechanical functionality, the fact remains that the reason for our individual subjective experiences remains an elusive and tantalizing mystery.
Recently, I had occasion to recall the moment I was introduced to Astrology. It was August 29, 2015. While at work I inexplicably felt prompted, and literally heard in my mind, to check the calendar at Unity, a local Spiritual Center that regularly hosts interesting programs. Upon scanning the list of upcoming events, I noticed a meeting entitled “Revisioning Spiritual Astrology” by Dr. Robert Hand. I really had no particular interest in Astrology at the time, but for whatever reason decided I should go hear this. After experiencing a 3 1/2-hour lecture, during which I was not distracted or bored in the least, I had a very profound experience.
Prior to this lecture we had been encouraged to send our birth information: birthdate, birthplace, and birth time. I had no idea why. At the conclusion of the lecture, Dr. Hand called out to his wife, Elise, who had been orchestrating the details of the event, asking for the natal chart of a participant to be selected so that he could illustrate some of the concepts that had been discussed. I had never seen a natal chart but as luck would have it (or fate) my name was selected from the 70+ people in attendance. I was exhibit A.
Over the course of about 15-20 minutes, my soul was elucidated in a manner I had never experienced. How did this guy know so much? And what were all of these strange symbols I was looking at on the screen? This pivotal encounter had opened up something quiescent inside of me that was clamoring to emerge. Had this whole experience been simply some random reactive process of nerve cells, glial cells, atoms, and ions? Or was this soul-based moment during which a profound understanding was unfurling part of something grander, deeper, and ancient? I believe the latter…
In due time, I chose to pursue a greater understanding of this transcendent nudge and became a student and ultimately a practitioner of astrology. It has been a magnificent journey. Now having delineated the natal charts of hundreds of people, I have come to a rather simple conclusion… the natal chart is the closest thing we have to an actual picture of someone’s soul. Derived from the moment of one’s first breath, it captures the essence of a person by providing a sketch of the archetypal energies we inherit from the great mystery and in turn manifest during our earthly sojourn. This has nothing to do with our physical presence and everything to do with the animating principle behind it. These are the gifts of the soul.
The soul knows why it is here. Astrology helps one become more aware of what the soul is trying to tell us. The amount of information that can be mined from this divine canvas, also known as a natal chart, is truly mind-boggling. Greater clarity, peace, and understanding is what I have seen people experience the most. Knowing that there is a more profound meaning and connection between us and all that is helps one to extinguish the frequent human impulse to conclude there is not. We are truly children of the stars. When we discover our core purposes, which is what the soul carries with it, we be begin to live more complete and authentic lives.
Have you seen a picture of your soul?
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