Astrology and Kabbalah

Could it be that the opposition between Uranus and Saturn is the prime and most fundamental polarity there is?

In the Kabbalah this polarity is shown by the way the two planets are positioned on the "Tree of Life". Anyone familiar with the Kabbalah knows that the planets of Astrology - even the newly discovered outer planets - have their allotted places on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. It appears that Uranus and Saturn occupy the opposite positions two and three among the Tree´s ten (plus one) "Sefirot". This means that they are opposite each other, each one heading one of the two outer pillars. Uranus is at the top of the "pillar of energy" (to the right in the diagram below) and Saturn is at the top of the "pillar of structure" (to the left in the diagram). And this is in full compliance with their astrological significances. The diagram shows the Astrological Tree of Life in its entirety.

Now, if the opposition between Uranus ("heaven") and Saturn ("earth") is an expression of the ultimate polarity of life, you soon realize that there must be something to bridge, combine and integrate these two opposites and to bring them to collaborate in a creative and life-sustaining way.

And there is! In a lofty view, opposites always appear to be different sides of the same thing, contrasting forces in a synergistic whole. Summer and winter may seem wide apart but seen in another perspective they make up a year. And so on.

The same of course goes for the opposites of heaven and earth and of spirit and matter. Our whole life is made possible by the integration of these two opposites. But what is it that makes them work together? What is it that overcomes the contradiction?

In the Kabbalah it is shown that it is the middle pillar - the "pillar of consciousness" - that holds together and unites the two extreme players - the pillar of energy/movement/expansion (to the right in the diagram) as opposed to the pillar of structure/matter/incarceration (to the left in the diagram).

In the Astrological Tree of Life, Neptune in the treetop represents the higher union of the opposites. Further down the middle pillar at the very heart of the Tree shines the Sun - another expression of the unity from which the yin and yang world takes shape.

So Kabbalah shows that it is consciousness itself that bridges the opposite poles - represented by movement (energy) and matter (structure) - and have them interact in the alchemical dance of life that we all take part in.

It is fascinating to see how Astrology and Kabbalah - the two ancient knowledge systems - can be reconciled in this wonderful way.

Your Galactic Gondolier

Troubled Voyage (In a Calm Weather)

The opposition between Uranus and Saturn - which has been active for a couple of years now - is perhaps the most diametrical of all polarities.

Uranus stands for new and unconventional ideas and the dismantling of old structures while Saturn on the other hand stands for the established and well-known order of things - everything that Uranus likes to destroy!

Therefore, perhaps it is not too surprising that the last time the two planets were in opposition to each other was during the tumultuous 1960s and all the assaults on the establishment of those days!

And the time before that was during the First World War and the Russian Revolution - another time of struggle and upheaval in the world.

The current opposition between Uranus and Saturn has been active during the last two years. And this sure has been - and still is - a time of upheaval and drama, especially as Pluto, planet of transformation, is now passing through Capricorn, sign of structure and establishment, and squaring the Uranus - Saturn opposition!

The Gondola - although peacefully traversing the silent starlit canals of Galactic Venice - may still reflect a stormy and tumultuous time in the world around...

Your Galactic Gondolier

Reflections

Water, water

Holy mystery Heaven´s daughter

Everything reflects its time. That is what Astrology is basically all about. Like the starry night sky is reflected in the night's pitch black water, so every phenomenon reflects its time.

The chart for the launch and first oar stroke indicates the outline of how the Gondola and its Galactic Venice together form a mirror image of the cosmic moment that brought them into existence.

We have already noted that the Pisces Ascendant sets the keynote while the opposition between Uranus in the water sign Pisces at the prow and Saturn in the earth sign Virgo astern strikes a basic chord.

Uranus and Saturn... Ouranos and Chronos… Here ancient myths are woven into a rich tapestry depicting the voyage of the Gondola… Uranus in Pisces in contrast to Saturn in Virgo...

Can opposites reflect one another? Identify with each other?

In the astrological symbolism Uranus stands for intuition and innovations as well as liberation and revolution. Saturn represents the opposite - the rational, limited, established and constant. A similar contradiction exists between Pisces and Virgo - the intuitive contrasts with the rational, freedom with restriction, spirit with matter.

Incompatible opposites, it seems. Or perhaps not. Is not our whole life an extraordinary expression of the unlikely unifying of polarities? An alchemical dance constantly going on despite its seeming impossibility?

Is not the fate of man to integrate within his own being the opposite polarities of heaven and earth? Of spirit and matter?

And is this not what gives meaning to life and hopefully so also to its apparent contrary - death?

Your Galactic Gondolier

Welcome to Galactic Venice

A Galactic Gondola of course needs a Galactic Venice. And perhaps you could say that the Galactic Venice is born the same moment the Gondola is launched. How else would the Gondola - the Galactic Gondola - find it’s element?

So let us have a Galactic Venice born at the very moment the Gondola is launched into the water! This means our imaginary galactic water city must share its horoscope with the Galactic Gondola! Their fate has brought them together to be born as twins.

And of course a galactic water city - as well as the Gondola – must have its Ascendant in the water sign of Pisces. The city of Venice - the terrestrial counterpart - actually has the very shape of a fish:

(The fish head and the jaws to the left and the parted tail to the right)

Our Galactic Venice - created the instant the Galactic Gondola was launched into its pitch black, starry reflective water - is further characterized by the polarity between Uranus just above the eastern horizon in the water sign of Pisces, and Saturn just below the horizon in the west in the earth sign of Virgo.

Like its terrestrial counterpart, our galactic water city is characterized by the polarity and contrast between the elements of water and earth - water canals and buildings of stone - between the intuitive and the rational, the emotional and the mental, the liquid and the fixed, freedom and limitation, spirit and matter ...

Your Galactic Gondolier

Welcome aboard my Galactic Gondola!

Both a Pisces Ascendant and Mercury it is only natural for me to approach Astrology as a Galactic Gondolier beneath the twinkling stars of the night sky…

If you want to come along on a tour please climb aboard and join my voyage through the waterways of Galactic Venice!

My website is in Swedish and is called Galaktiska Gondolen (The Galactic Gondola). It was launched back in 2008, on the 20^th of October, at 05:06 PM, with the following birth chart:

Uranus in Pisces just above the eastern horizon right ahead at the prow strikes the theme. And of course the goal of the expedition is a broader and deeper view of reality - mirrored by Pluto in Sagittarius on Midheaven. What it will all mean in the end remains to be seen. Life's a giddy journey, after all!

I am preparing a gradual translation of my website into English. Part of the purpose of the blog is to introduce that translation. But I will also point out some of the marvels of Astrology as I steer the gondola through the starlit waterways …

Again, welcome aboard My Friend!

Your Galactic Gondolier