Galactic Centre I Ching Degrees

by Robin Armstrong

PRECESSION OF THE GALACTIC CENTRE

from 24° to 30° OF SAGITTARIUS

1795 to 2225,

through the lines of the I Ching Hexagram,

The Receptive Earth

GALACTIC IMPLICATIONS:

The centre of our solar system is the sun. In our horoscope it is important. It represents our purpose in life. It reveals how we can best express ourselves. It also represents our soul, the creative radiant light of oneness. Without the Sun human life would not be the same! if it would be at all!

                In astrology there is a marked tendency to measure the Ages of Mankind. The main techniques for doing so have been passed on for quite some time. We are familiar with the Age of Pisces, and Aquarius. These are systems of time measurement based on the precession of the Equinoxes against the constellations in the sky, or against the Sidereal Zodiac. Great meaning has been drawn from such an association. The great cycle of the Ages of 26,100 years.

                The tropical zodiac precesses backwards through the Sidereal Zodiac, or against the constellations. Well while the tropical zodiac moves backwards through the Sidereal, it can also be observed as the Sidereal Zodiac moving forwards through the Tropical degrees and signs. This means that the stars move forward through one Tropical degree every 72 years.

                It is easy to perceive the Spring Equinox moving backwards against the backdrop of the Constellations. We can also fairly easily perceive the zero Aries point of the Sidereal Zodiac moving forward through the Tropical signs, however the latter has not been given the same relevance.

                What we see is the movement of the individual stars also moving forward through the Tropical degrees.

                Our Sun orbits the Galaxy in about 26 million years! However the Centre of the Galaxy does precess forward through the degrees of the Tropical Zodiac. If our Sun is a most important factor in our life and horoscope, then how much more relevant could this Sun of Suns (the Galactic Centre) be.

                I propose that we observe the movements of the Galactic Centre through the Tropical degrees and signs. I suggest that these would present and new perspective on history through a different Great Cycle of the Zodiac.

                If the Sun is our soul, then perhaps the Galactic Centre would be the OverSoul, representing higher purpose as it runs through our Solar System and world. It is like the Sun of our Sun, or the heart of our hearts. If the Sun represents Love, then perhaps the Galaxy represents higher Love.

                The position of the Galactic Centre would be a major point of influence in the heavens around us. This is not a new idea- that of watching the movement of the Galactic Centre through the Tropical Zodiac and its degrees. In fact I first heard of it from Dr. Theodore Landscheit at an NCGR Conference in Washington in the 80’s. The idea has grown on me ever since.

                The Galactic Centre is in the latter degrees of Sagittarius (27th degree), and it is moving through the I Ching hexagram of the The RECEPTIVE, Mother, Earth. Over the next several hundred years it will move into the winter solstice degree, the most sensitive and darkest degree of the Tropical Zodiac.

                The implication of the hexagram The Receptive is most profound among all the other hexagrams. Thinking about it in context to humanity and its history is most impressive. It is as if the position of the Galactic Centre in the Tropical Zodiac acts like the wand or hand of a Higher Being, pointing out a special message for all to see. Or at least for those who can make some sense out of it.

This hexagram is made up of broken lines only. The broken line represents the dark, yielding, receptive primal power of yin. The attribute of the hexagram is devotion; its image is the earth. It is the perfect complement of THE CREATIVE—the complement, not the opposite, for the Receptive does not combat the Creative but completes it. It represents nature in contrast to spirit, earth in contrast to heaven, space as against time, the female-maternal as against the male-paternal. How-ever, as applied to human affairs, the principle of this complementary relationship is found not only in the relation between man and woman, but also in that between prince andminister and between father and son. Indeed, even in the individual this duality appears in the coexistence of the spiritual world and the world of the senses.

But strictly speaking there is no real dualism here, because there is a clearly defined hierarchic relationship between the two principles. In itself of course the Receptive is just as important as the Creative, but the attribute of devotion defines the place occupied by this primal power in relation to the Creative. For the Receptive must be activated and led by the Creative; then it is productive of good. Only when it abandons this position and tries to stand as an equal side by side with the Creative, does it become evil. The result then is opposition to and struggle against the Creative, which is productive of evil to both.

THE JUDGMENT

THE RECEPTIVE brings about sublime success,

Furthering through the perseverance of a mare.

If the superior man undertakes something and tries to lead,

He goes astray;

But if he follows, he finds guidance.

It is favorable to find friends in the west and south,

To forego friends in the east and north.

Quiet perseverance brings good fortune.

The four fundamental aspects of the Creative—”sublime suc-cess, furthering through perseverance”—are also attributed to the Receptive. Here, however, the perseverance is more closely defined: it is that of a mare. The Receptive connotes spatial reality in contrast to the spiritual potentiality of the Creative. The potential becomes real and the spiritual be-comes spatial through a specifically qualifying definition. Thus the qualification, “of a mare,” is here added to the idea of perseverance. The horse belongs to earth just as the dragon belongs to heaven. Its tireless roaming over the plains is taken as a symbol of the vast expanse of the earth. This is the symbol chosen because the mare combines the strength and swiftness of the horse with the gentleness and devotion of the cow.

Only because nature in its myriad forms corresponds with the myriad impulses of the Creative can it make these im-pulses real. Nature’s richness lies in its power to nourish all living things; its greatness lies in its power to give them beauty and splendor. Thus it prospers all that lives. It is the Creative that begets things, but they are brought to birth by the Receptive. Applied to human affairs, therefore, what the hexagram indicates is action in conformity with the situation. The person in question is not in an independent position, but is acting as an assistant. This means that he must achieve something. It is not his task to try to lead—that would only make him lose the way—but to let himself be led. If he knows how to meet fate with an attitude of acceptance, he is sure to find the right guidance. The superior man lets himself be guided; he does not go ahead blindly, but learns from the situation what is demanded of him and then follows this in-timation from fate.

Since there is something to be accomplished, we need friends and helpers in the hour of toil and effort, once the ideas to be realized are firmly set. The time of toil and effort is indicated by the west and the south, for west and south symbolize the place where the Receptive works for the Creative, as nature does in summer and autumn. If in that situation one does not mobilize all one’s powers, the work to be accomplished will not be done. Hence to find friends there means to find guidance. But in addition to the time of toil and effort, there is also a time of planning, and for this we need solitude. The east symbolizes the place where a man receives orders from his master, and the north the place where he reports on what he has done. At that time he must be alone and objective. In this sacred hour he must do without companions, so that the purity of the moment may not be spoiled by factional hates and favoritism.

THE IMAGE

The earth’s condition is receptive devotion.

Thus the superior man who has breadth of character Carries the outer World.

Just as there is only one heaven, so too there is only one earth. In the hexagram of heaven the doubling of the trigram implies duration in time, but in the hexagram of earth the doubling connotes the solidity and extension in space by virtue of which the earth is able to carry and preserve all things that live and move upon it. The earth in its devotion carries all things, good and evil, without exception. In the same way the superior man gives to his character breadth, purity, and sustaining power, so that he is able both to support and to bear with people and things.

Ed. Note: I find it fascinating that the focus of the greater reality in our world points to the care of the Earth. Over this time period the world has, due to scientific development and the lack of respect for cycles and nature, been raped and pillaged. Today it even seems threatened as forests are being destroyed and the air polluted, and the earth itself chemically toxic.

Also the nature of human relationships are filled with hate and prejudice. Even personal relationships and the nuclear family is in jeopardy, as sexual fear, confusion, and mistrust seem to be increasing. At a time when understanding and principles are so needed, the world seems to be going through a crisis of consciousness and essential being. This hexagram represents a pivotal turning point that implies a completion and moment of judgement. Let us hope that the completion is not of the human species, although the majority of other species would benefit. From a galactic view point, I wonder if the human race has priority over rats, cockroaches, weeds, or even the slimy things at the bottom of the oceans!

In the top place the dark element should yield to the light. If it attempts to maintain a position to which it is not entitled and to rule instead of serving, it draws down upon itself the anger of the strong A struggle ensues in which it is overthrown, with injury, however, to both sides.The dragon, symbol of heaven, comes to fight the false dragon that symbolizes the inflation of the earth principle. Midnight blue is the color of heaven; yellow is the color of the earth. Therefore, when black and yellow blood flow, it is a sign that in this unnatural contest both primal powers suffer injury.

.(Ed. This could be said of the relationship of astrology to science. The best in both fields have suffered from the schism. Science seems to have lost its wisdom and heart, while Astrology lost her dignity and position of respect.)

The top line of THE RECEPTlVE presents a parallel to the myth of Lucifer’s rebellion against God, or to the battle between the powers of darkness and the gods of Valhalla, which ended with the Twilight of the Gods.

(Ed. Note: This is the story of the fallen angel, who went against God’s order and fell to Earth!)

Yellow is the color of the earth and of the middle; it is the symbol of that which is reliable and genuine. The lower gar-ment is inconspicuously decorated — the symbol of aristocratic reserve. When anyone is called upon to work in a prominent but not independent position, true success depends on the utmost discretion. A man’s genuineness and refinement should not reveal themselves directly; they should express themselves only indirectly as an effect from within.

(Ed. note: During this time astrology could rarely reveal itself directly, and often had to take its position within spiritual groups. The world of science was waxing, but the inner teachings and information concerning personal development was also on the rise.)

The dark element opens when it moves and closes when at rest. The strictest reticence is indicated here. The time is dangerous, because any degree of prominence leads either to the enmity of irresistible antagonists if one challenges them, or to misconceived recognition if one is complaisant. Therefore a man ought to maintain reserve, be it in solitude or in the turmoil of the world, for there too he can hide himself so well that no one knows him.

(Ed. Note: This is the period we are presently in. It began with the second world war. With all the technological advancements, the world has become a smaller place. More people are travelling and most are living boxed up in their electronic media, surrounded by plastic garbage bags.Has there been any real peace since this phase began?)

If a man is free of vanity he is able to conceal his abilities and keep them from attracting attention too soon; thus he can mature undisturbed. If conditions demand it, he can also enter public life, but that too he does with restraint. The wise man gladly leaves fame to others. He does not seek to have credited to himself things that stand accomplished, but hopes to release active forces; that is, he completes his works in such a manner that they may bear fruit for the future.

(Ed. Note: Glory will not be as important in the future as being of meaningful service in healing the planet. This seems to imply that hidden lines could be hidden communication wires, or they could refer to lines of pollution and poison. Perhaps they might have some cryptic implications about privacy in an information age!)

The symbol of heaven is the circle, and that of earth is the square. Thus squareness is a primary quality of the earth. On the other hand, movement in a straight line, as well as magni-tude, is a primary quality of the Creative. But all square things have their origin in a straight line and in turn form solid bodies. In mathematics, when we discriminate between lines, planes, and solids, we find that rectangular planes result from straight lines, and cubic magnitudes from rectangular planes. The Receptive accommodates itself to the qualities of the Creative and makes them its own. Thus a square develops out of a straight line and a cube out of a square. This is compliance with the laws of the Creative; nothing is taken away, nothing added. Therefore the Receptive has no need of a special purpose of its own, nor of any effort; yet everything turns out as it should. Nature creates all beings without erring: this is its straight-ness. It is calm and still: this is its foursquareness. It tolerates all creatures equally: this is its greatness. Therefore it attains what is right for all without artifice or special intentions.  Man achieves the height of wisdom when all that he does is as self-evident as what nature does.

(Ed. Note: Man is responsible for the needs of nature and the planet. We will all become sensitive to this issue and the world will likely be ruled accordingly. This certainly seems to imply a new order of things.)

Just as the light-giving power represents life, so the dark power, the shadowy, represents death. When the first hoar-frost comes in the autumn, the power of darkness and cold is just at its beginning. After these first warnings, signs of death will gradually multiply, until, in obedience to immutable laws, stark winter with its ice is here.

In life it is the same. After certain scarcely noticeable signs of decay have appeared, they go on increasing until final dis-solution comes. But in life precautions can be taken by heeding the first signs of decay and checking them in time.

(Ed. Note: This seems to refer to a time when the results of decay and pollution become evident and begin to increase. If we do not understand the needs of life on this planet by then, perhaps that will be it for humanity? It is probably wise to consider this moment as the completion that leads from a Sagittarian Age of excess and exaggeration to a Capricorn Age of restraint, rules, and regulation. Hopefully this will be a dignified age, rather than an Age of the Grim Reaper filled with poverty and doing without. People will value trees then!)