What I’m going to do is split every single one of them into two halves (regarding Zeus’ solution to the overambitious human androgynies, Plato, Symposium)
Astrological oppositions are dynamic. They pull us off balance to catch our attention. They force growth. They require psychological projection, conflict & challenge, confrontation, and finally (hopefully) compromise. Apparently there is no way to avoid oppositions. Like castor oil, they are good for us – like them or not.
Oppositions divide the circle of unity by two. God created man in his own image; the God-image lodged in a creature of earth is both a (1) union of oppositions (matter and spirit), and (2) disunion with the divine. [1] In Judeo-Christian traditions Eve and the snake get the blame for this because the tree of knowledge gave awareness of dichotomy (i.e. good & evil – life & death). Paradoxically, this awareness is what signals our birth of consciousness into earthly existence. We are no longer at one with God.
Although dichotomies, dyads, and duality are central to every aspect of life, they have a bad reputation. Polarization, splitting, and blame are popular remedies. It’s as if we must go completely off balance and experience the extremes before heading for middle ground. Have a look at the newspapers; this certainly seems to be the case.
Alternatively, as a solution I suggest détente; I envision this as a Mercury/Venus function.[2] Mercury facilitates intercourse between the opposing parties like a shaman realigning the relationship between body and spirit. It is interesting that Alice Bailey considered Mercury – not Mars – to be the esoteric ruler of Aries (the sign of ‘action’). One might then suggest that ‘thought’ is the basis of ‘action’ and should precede it – not the other way around. While Mercury does his realignment thing, Venus diplomatically smoothes ruffled relations long enough for each to get in touch with his own values and make choices accordingly.
Many religions focus on the reunification of the ‘two’ with the ‘one’. My Judeo-Christian legacy bequeathed me a jealous and angry God who is, himself, split between the halos of heaven and the eternal fires of hell. Perhaps it is through a positive attitude (Mercury – the alchemist) and a between relationship with the ‘tree of knowledge’ (Venus – living with our choices) that we can find our way back to ‘The Garden’.
[1] Edward, F. Edinger, The Bible and the Psyche, Individuation Symbolism in the Old Testament, Inner City Books, Toronto, (1986), p. 21.
[2] The key to détente (a phrase coined during 1965-1972 as a solution to the US/USSR Cold War/ Arms Race) may be demonstrated by Henry Kissinger (who was heavily associated with the concept). He has a heavy Venus/Mercury influence (Gemini/Libra) and Chiron in Aries opposite Saturn/ Moon in Libra that runs across his 3rd/9th houses. He also has Sun/Mercury (conjunct) in Gemini in the 10th house.
NOTE – artwork borrowed from http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/ToeTagJaneDoe/tag/jakebaddeley-paintings/
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