Numerology/Astrology for 8/29/19

8/29/19 is the number 4. Sometimes the way to balance is by extreme imbalance. That seems to be the pattern of the world at this time. As we careen more and more into chaos and the destructive tendencies of the human condition and as we allow those in power to destroy this world in which we live, the precarious balance that had already been on a thread finally breaks and only now as the destruction of our future is clearly in sight do we realize the folly of our inaction. Wise ones have warned for centuries. Wisdom keepers in this present time have been trying to tell humanity that the course of their actions are killing this beautiful world. It is amazing that no one listens until the destruction is so vast and horrific that the egos finally relent as the recognize that the future of their children is now in doubt. Perhaps now, there will be a shift beyond acquiring money and wealth. Perhaps now, there is a moment when sanity demands action from the complacent. Perhaps now, the blind can see what really matters.

~Suzanne Wagner~

Astrology Today

On Thursday, mental Mercury moves into Virgo to join the Sun, Venus and Mars. It is a perfect time to cleanse and purify your body, home, and office. For some you might finally be letting go of an upset, circumstance, personal relationship, or pattern that has been difficult for you to let go. As you let go you will notice the next amazing thing that shows up in your reality. It is by letting go completely that we discover what the universe had in store for us all along. It is our attachments to things in the past that limit our perceptions and choices as we move into the future. Notice what you are putting down and notice how much lighter you feel because of that. Just walk in the freedom of that feeling for as long as you can.

The Moon enters Virgo this evening bringing an even more critical eye to things. Notice what is your responsibility and do that.

The Moon in Virgo conjuncts Mercury in Virgo. This brings in some fresh approaches to those projects that you have been wanting to do.

Sun trine Uranus. Brings confidence and an independent free spirit. Let your personality shine bright and your individualism and self-expression focus you towards your goals.

While there is a Sun/Pluto challenge, you may feel the need to take control. But it is not quite in your hands yet.

~Suzanne Wagner~

Quote

Body is the bodhi tree

Mind is like clear mirror stand

Strive to clean it constantly

Do not let the dust motes land.
~Shenxiu~

Bodhi really has no tree

Nor is clear mirror the stand

Nothing’s there initially

So where can the dust motes land?
~Huineng~
 

 

 

 

Blog

 

Epic Battles from Chuang Tsu Stories – Translation by Derek Lin

Once upon a time in the Warring States period, the King of Wei was angered when he learned that the King of Chi had betrayed their alliance. Desiring revenge for this betrayal, he wanted to send an assassin to kill the King of Chi.

Upon hearing this, his general said: “Your Majesty, you are the ruler of a mighty kingdom, so you should not resort to assassination. Give me two hundred thousand soldiers, and I shall conquer Chi, capture its people, punish their king, take away his land, and break him!”

His advisors knew that no matter how the King decided to proceed, it would lead to widespread chaos and suffering. One of them said to the others: “This is like building a castle ten meters tall, completing its construction, and then destroying the whole thing. We’ve had peace for seven years, which is a great achievement. We should not listen to the general and destroy that peace!”

None of them could think of a way to convince the King. They advised him to seek the Tao of harmony, but this had no effect. The King seemed dead set on bloodshed.

Huei Tzu, the wisest of the advisors, decided to ask the Tao sage Daijinren for help. The hope was that perhaps he could talk some sense into the King.

Upon Huei Tzu’s invitation, Daijinren came to the palace. He spoke with the King, starting with a question: “Your Majesty, there is a small creature known as the snail — do you know of it?”

The King said: “Of course.”

Daijinren said: “On the head of the snail, there are two tentacles. On the left tentacle, there is a kingdom called Chushi. On the right tentacle, there is a kingdom called Manshi. These two kingdoms fight each other in epic battles for land. Each battle results in the dead by the tens of thousands, and after it’s over, it takes fifteen more days for the winning side to return from chasing and slaughtering the losing side.”

“What?” The King was annoyed. Why talk about something as insignificant as a snail? He spoke harshly, with impatience: “This is a fictional tale without any basis in reality!”

“Your Majesty, allow me to explain and make it more real. First of all, does Your Majesty think there is a limit to heaven or earth, in any direction?”

The king understood that the sage was referring to the infinity of existence. “No,” he said, “there is no limit.”

“Once the mind has contemplated this limitless expanse, bring your thoughts back to a kingdom which is limited in size. Doesn’t this kingdom seem much smaller in comparison, almost like it does not exist?”

The King thought about it and realized Daijinren was right. “Indeed.”

Daijinren continued: “Among the kingdoms of this land, there is Wei. Within the Kingdom of Wei, there is the City of Liang. Within the City of Liang, there is a ruler. So… is there a basic difference between this ruler and the Manshi?”

The King was shocked. The finite kingdoms already seemed small compared to infinity. Wei was but one of the kingdoms, so it’s even smaller. The City of Liang was but one of the many places in Wei, despite being its capital. He was but one person in a city of thousands, despite being the ruler. This meant he was actually a small part of a small part of a small part…

“No,” he had no choice but to admit. “There is no difference.”

Finally, it dawned on the King. He thought the snail was insignificant. Now he could see a similar insignificance in himself — as well as the destruction he was about to cause.

Daijinren left, leaving the King still stunned by his own realization. When Huei Tzu came to ask about the visit, the King said: “My guest is truly a great sage. His wisdom surpasses that of all other sages.”

Huei Tzu and the other advisors were relieved. They knew the King would now turn his attention to diplomatic solutions… instead of bloodshed.

The Tao

This story is all about contention. The anger of the King is like the anger we feel against others when we perceive a wrong or an offense. Caught in the grips of rage, all we can think about is retribution, like the King contemplating his options of assassination or all-out war.
The King’s advisors are like the conscience, the better angels of our nature. The voice of conscience tells us to seek harmony, but we don’t listen. We go on the attack, even if we know it will lead to more problems. Why? Because we think the other side “must pay.”
Our attack gives rise to counterattacks. Aggression leads to more aggression. The conflict escalates from raised voices to raised fists. Before long, you have completely destroyed the peace in your life, just like an ancient army destroying a tall castle that took years to build.
The kings in the story started out as allies but turned into enemies. Similarly, the opponents in our personal conflicts may actually be those who started out close to us — family, friends, loved ones. All too often, we end up hurting most the people we shouldn’t hurt at all.
How can we manage the rage that causes such conflicts? How do we suppress the anger?
Through this story, Chuang Tzu is teaching us self-mastery through the clear perception of perspective. When you see everything with sufficient clarity, whatever destructive anger you may harbor within will dissipate naturally. There is no need to suppress anything.
This is why the Tao sage talked about the “epic battles” on a snail’s tentacles. We can easily understand that such battles are so small as to be utterly insignificant. All the deaths and destruction occur at such a tiny scale that we cannot even see them. We can laugh about the silliness of it all.
What about us? Are we not also small and insignificant in the cosmic scale? The King realized this when he set his limited world next to the unlimited Heaven and Earth. We, with insights from modern science, can have an even greater realization. We know that all the death and destruction that humanity has ever inflicted upon itself, throughout the entire history of our species… all of it takes place on a tiny planet which is less than a dust mote next to all the stars and galaxies.
If the epic battles on a snail’s tentacles are silly, what about our own battles? Should we really be laughing at the two kingdoms on the tentacles? We are not so different from them when we get into fights with one another… so shouldn’t we laugh at our own absurd pettiness too?
Next time you feel the onset of anger, use this teaching from Chuang Tzu to put matters into perspective. Can you see how unworthy the anger is, when you set it next to the meaning and purpose of your life? Can you see how insignificant the conflict is, when you compare it to the aspirations and great things you have envisioned for your future?
Your answers will be similar to the King’s. Why waste your precious energy on anger, when you have much better things to do? Why waste time on contention, when there is so much more to discover in peace and happiness? The conclusion is inevitable: the warpath is not the way. The Tao of harmony… is the best way.
~Translation by Derek Lin~
https://taoism.net/tao/epic-battles/