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

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