2-MuMin, re....On Mars, Astrology and Critical Discourse - Mark K., Anil, Uptal, M. Imran, All

[Guest guest]

Dear MuMin:

 

I'm sorry, I think you've misunderstood me.

 

If there's anything I agree with it's that Astrology needs to develop into a true science of Astrology.

 

And, for that, yes, vigorous, standards of verification will be a good thing.

 

I only object to criticism which gets personal.

 

I always try to argue for points of principle and never, put down the person, or their ideas.

 

That's my libra rising.

 

But, I too have Virgo, Moon & Saturn so I appreciate your 'virgo' ability.

 

Virgo is extremely good at seeing the important distinctions.

 

However, LIbra, and the heart sees the unity and the oneness that exists within us too.

 

My work, is just that my work.

 

The realities of it, like everyone's will be tested through the tests of time, and learning how

to test our theories, is a great gift of the development of science...

 

 

I think God had the same idea.

 

He saw all the people in the World, argueing even in the name of God, so

a system of science developed to try and take some of the 'heatedness', out of different people's views and beliefs.

 

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

 

 

Mark K.

 

 

 

 

" MuMin Bey " <mumin_bey

 

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 16:22:14 -0000

 

On Mars, Astrology and Critical Discourse - Mark K., Anil, Uptal, M. Imran, All

 

 

 

Hello All,

 

As I write this, Mars is in the 8th House in Aquarius, aspecting the

2nd House of speech and writing. Necessarily, what I have to say will

be insightful by some, insulting to others. So be it.

 

As one who has Mars most strongly placed in my chart and life, I must

both agree and disagree with Mark's views. Yes, Mars *can* be used

for that inner struggle that he talks about, and this is exemplified

in the work that atheletes do, for example; how they train themselves

for years to gain mastery at their chosen sport. The same can be said

for intense spiritual questers, who have Mars prominent. Mars can be

and usually is used to make one better, as it were.

 

That being said, where I disagree with Mark is in the notion that we

cannot have vigourous debate on the issues of the day, and/or the

methods through which we see them. With Mars in Virgo, I simply

cannot go along with this idea that " it works for me " , and that " it "

has little if any real basis in actual scholarship, independent

practice or critical inquiry. The only way we get to see what

actually works in practice and what sounds right in theory, is by

rigourous critical questioning on deep levels. Debate is key, and

since many of us in the astrological community have invested so much

emotionally in that which we " believe " things will necessarily

get " heated " - a Martian word for sure - and I say, it's all grist

for the mill.

 

I often wonder to myself if astrologers could subject themself to

what they do at Oxford or Cambridge in the UK; these are institutions

that are world reknowned for their tradition in debate, critical

inquiry, and so on. So many astrologers, I would imagine, simply

couldn't hack it. It's in large part due to the fact that their views

are based on subjectivity rather than actual research and logic.

 

We simply MUST have standards, and for those who resist this notion,

they do so at their own risk, besides looking like damn fools. At the

end of the day, there was a very good reason why everyone couldn't

learn Vedic Astrology; it's the same reason why everyone can't go to

Harvard, why everyone can't be a doctor, or a jurist. If you can't

stand the sight of blood, don't go into the medical field.

 

Do you see what I'm saying here?

 

So, I say " amen " when we disagree, when we debate; that's how we know

what we know what we know.

 

Capice?

 

Salaam,

Mu from Mars