Michael Sternbach

Marblehead and Nungali, Regarding the various questions and topics of your last few posts, I will try to summarize the contemporary cosmological view (which doesn't automatically mean that I myself take it at face value without reservation): First off, the Big Bang was not exactly an explosion (as there was nothing exploding). But for our purposes, it seems fair enough to treat is as such. The acceleration due to an explosion is lasting a very short time only. Along these lines, apparently there was an incredibly short phase right after the Big Bang during which the still very small infant Universe expanded at a speed exceeding the speed of light. After which the expansion continued at a more conceivable speed. However, the overall gravity of the matter and, more significantly, of the "dark matter" in the Universe must have slowed down its expansion eventually. But matter and dark matter would spread out with the expansion of space whereas the "dark energy" would not (it may well always remain constant). With the two kinds of matter sufficiently spread out, the decelerating effect of their gravity was superseded by the repulsive force of dark energy. To the effect that the Universe continued to expand, and accelerates this expansion as matter is thinned out more and more. Currently, the speed of the expansion exceeds the speed of light. Note that this acceleration apparently began a measly 5 billion years ago while the Big Bang happened nearly 14 billion years ago. Yeah, I know this sounds weird. I was actually wondering while writing this if there was possibly a principle that would let the Universe continue to alternate between the prevalence of the contracting and the expanding force. Just a thought... Now its your turn, guys. Let me know if I have omitted something.

I regard each of those systems within systems that I have mentioned as a Monad of its own. Each expressing a universal pattern in their own way. Likely, what you are referring to as the original unmanifest 'center'.

Yes, this is confusing, due to our inadequate understanding of time. Within that context, the HGA could be thought of as a Final Cause in the Aristotelian sense, acting backwards in time, thus kindling the fire of the evolution whose eventual result it is. The Great Attractor is a related concept in Chaos Theory.

Thank you, Apeiron, for your interesting contribution. I meant to extend my previous post along similar lines, but decided to continue the thread now. In the light of the Einsteinian theory, it is equally valid to regard Earth as the center of the Cosmos. Even the tensor equations of Special Relativity remain solvable under this assumption. This doesn't invalidate the modern Heliocentric view. However, we got so used to it that we tend to forget that it is not representing our (the observer's) true frame of reference. What this boils down to is what I already stated in my first post on this thread: There are systems contained within systems. The Geocentric model remains valid from the perspective of the Earth-Moon system. Whereas the Heliocentric model describes the super-system that Earth/Moon are part of. This perspective can be extended to the level of the Galaxy and beyond.

Let's talk about the Aristotelian/Ptolemaic model of the Universe just a little more. MH said it was totally wrong. I didn't quite agree. So, what is actually right about the Aristotelian model, in my view? Let's look at it step by step. It describes the Universe as a series of shells that carry the celestial bodies, not unlike the shells of an atom carry electrons. On the innermost shell, there is the Moon, orbiting the Earth in the center of it all. We know for sure nowadays that the Moon is in fact the celestial body that is closest to the Earth and orbits her. The further shells are occupied by: Mercury, Venus, the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn. This is indeed the order of the solar system, except that the Sun ought to switch his place with the Earth. So the ancients almost got it right, except that they believed in a Geocentric system. Was that totally wrong? (To be continued.)

Hi Flolflolil, While I think it is neither possible nor truly desirable to eliminate one's sex drive entirely - in fact, I agree with some others here that it needs to be embraced and expressed - it would be well feasible to treat the guilt and anxieties revolving around it as well as its seemingly uncontrollable outbursts with the aid of vibrational remedies, in particular, by Homeopathy and/or Bach Flower Therapy. If you are interested, I will be happy to provide further information. Be free to PM me on this. Michael

I was wondering about this subject myself for awhile because, as an astrologer, I was confused about how the Sun is variably regarded as representing the ego, the conscious personality, the inner self, and/or the higher self... I discussed this with fellow Astrologers and other Occultists. I finally concluded that there was indeed no dividing line between the ego or conscious personality, and its very source, the inner self. Much like in Buddhism they say that this mind is the Buddha mind. However, for the conscious mind to truly embrace its universal nature presupposes a process of internal Alchemy that takes various forms in different systems of cultivation and ways of natural development. In Astrology, Saturn stands for the limitations of the ego, in symbolical resonance with his position in the Solar System as the last visible planet, in a sense confining the Sun and the inner planets, like he is being confined himself by his characteristic ring. The planets that, in more modern times, were found beyond Saturn - until now Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, as far as Astrology is concerned - represent the forces that are trespassing the realm of the conscious mind, out into the world of the collective unconscious and the Archetypes, and pertaining to psychic perceptions and transcendental experiences. As the outermost planets, they are opening up the Solar System to the space of the Galaxy while they remain connected to its innermost center, the Sun (another star of the Galaxy). More precisely, to the interior of the Sun (but to fully explain this would require a considerably more elaborated post than I can write at present.) Once the ego or conscious personality transcends its boundaries and taps into the forces of the outer planets, it is at once illuminated by the light from the deeper layers within itself and becomes more fully aware of its unity with All That Is. In the language of Alchemy, Saturn's lead is being transmuted into the gold of the Sun.

I don't know how we got in-there. Um... not totally wrong... But let's not go there right now. The Revelation of John has that story. That can happen to the best of us.

Ah, Latin. Nothing to do with the Matrix? (Just asking.) The mirror (no kidding). Any time. Seriously. Well, no worries, let's talk about Tarot again here on The Tarot Bums. Um, Tao Bums. Um, Whatever Bums.

Thanks! But what has that got to do with the Steady State model? Rather, in the Big Bang model the Earth could in fact be considered the center of the Universe (in particular, 3bob's living room), as well as any other location in space. Okay, there was no end in sight, at least. That was the model Aristotle had established which was generally accepted ever since (until the Copernican revolution). But then, what about the Apocalypse? The end of the old and the creation of a new Earth... Again, closer to the spirit of one of the cyclical Big Bang theories than to Steady State.

In the Christian scheme, God created the Universe saying: "Let there be light!" That sounds quite like the Big Bang.

Another one... The memory worm - deleting people's memory!

You summarized that nicely. Good question. There is in fact a model of the Universe called "Steady State" that doesn't assume a Big Bang. It is reminiscent of the Buddhist view... No beginning, no end, no hurry. Feels sort of comforting. However, it is regarded as obsolete by most cosmologists. Conformal Cyclic Cosmology talks about the Universe being destroyed and recreated periodically. This is in tune with the Hindu perspective. The principle that you are looking for might in fact be cyclicality. I see, 10 or 11 dimensions both in String Theory and in the Kabbalah... Yes, that is interesting. (Not sure how Supersymmetry would tie in, but who is to say it doesn't.) Yeah, having to create a whole Universe for allowing you to write part of a post sounds like an awful waste (no offence meant). In this context, I liked your John Dee example. Oh crap, I'm on the wrong forum board... I will comment on the topic over-there - probably.

Bearded Dragon, I agree with you that the external or physical world is only part of a greater scheme. Nevertheless I find a conversation that focusses on external topics like the cosmos valuable, if it ties in with metaphysical perspectives. I criticise cosmology, and modern science in general, for not taking spiritual dimensions into account. But I am happy to do it here while talking with Marblehead, Nungali, and others. There is nothing wrong with this, imo. The kind of enlightenment that I am seeking is one that unites the physical with the spiritual. So I regard any discussion leading in that direction as worthwhile. But to each their own.

Meditative practices in Daoism, Buddhism etc. are aiming at a state of non-duality within the psyche. So Dao (Source, original Unity, whatever you choose to call) it are indeed part of the psyche, otherwise they couldn't be experienced on a psychological level. Dao even has its physiological representations, such as in the pineal gland and in the heart according to Chinese Alchemy and related systems. Even modern neuroscience concludes that there are parts of the brain that correspond to spiritual experiences. I don't see how Dao could be divorced from the external world. Moreover, concepts like empty space and the space-less state before/outside creation also have their psycho-spiritual equivalents. Even if you were to see them only as metaphors, they would be at least as appropriate as the common traditional symbolism like a sea, a river, a wheel, a vase, and so on.

Yes, but I am referring to certain boundaries where these concepts break down. At the beginning and - according to my much referenced Conformal Cyclic Cosmology by Roger Penrose - at the end of the Universe (time-wise) time and space become meaningless. Thus infinite and nil. (And for those of you who are inclined to ask, no, CCC is not the same as the Big Crunch theory.) In a similar fashion, at the outer limits of the Universe, where there is nothing to be found (other than Nungali floating around, of course), space could be regarded as meaningless.

The Austrian researcher Viktor Schauberger. A most amazing man... The "Nikola Tesla of water power".

I am not sure if I have phrased this clearly enough. Summarizing your view, what I meant was: No two objects that are apart from each in the Universe other equals there being no distance. I might add: No two events apart from each other in the Universe equals there being no time.

In Alchemy, the third principle is called Salt. Okay, in a nutshell: Sulphur is symbolizing contraction, a centralizing force; it is Solar in its nature. Mercury is symbolizing expansion, a peripheral force; it is Lunar. Salt stands for materialization and belongs to the Earth. Matter in the Alchemical view is the result of Sulphur and Mercury combined. Anthroposophic Physics generally emphasizes the ether as a peripheral force, as opposed to orthodox science stressing particles as sort of point centers. Projective Geometry deals with these entities mathematically. But Alchemy in my outlook teaches that physical manifestation in fact occurs on the dividing line between expansion and contraction, or the two infinities, the infinitely large and the infinitely small. (No subatomic particle is really being thought of as infinitely small - even the electron seems to have a minor extension.) You got warmer... hot! Not quite sure what you are talking about here. I'm trying to understand your meaning here. Starting from the three-dimensional world (physical space, Earth) progressing to the seven planetary spheres surrounding her in the Geocentric model? This being reversed to the kabbalistic Tree of Life? Gotcha. The Many Worlds interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. This indeed seems to raise more questions than it answers. At least in its common form, I therefore find it highly questionable itself.

Spot-on. A particle being mirrored. Yes. +1 plus -1 still equals 0. A lonely singularity is somewhat hard to define. A single point is both Zero and One. The confusion in the Tarot attributions about whether the first Hebrew letter, Aleph, belongs to Trump 0, The Fool, or to Trump I, The Magician, has its root here.

This is essentially similar to the definition that the latest Big Bang theory (Conformal Cyclic Cosmology) uses: Without yardstick, there is no space; without clock, no time. This is not identical but seems to be related to your definition: No two objects that are apart from each other, no distance. I might add: No two events apart from each other, no time. And yes, I think Nungali cheated... I have found him in unexpected places before, but I would be rather surprised to see him in a spaceship at the edge of the Universe.

Thoughts and emotions, both conscious and subconscious.

Certainly, the psychological and even physiological changes that internal alchemy can induce go beyond a simple change of one's belief system. Yet I would say that they go hand in hand with the latter. And based on your post to Marblehead, you seem to agree that individuals create (or significantly contribute to) their own life experiences according to their internal processes. Are you with me so far?

Absolutely, CT. Hiding a thread disrespects both the Bums who contributed to it as well as all the others who took an interest in it. Even though I understand that the posts might have touched on sensitivities. I suggest that whoever is responsible quietly brings the thread back, and that we forget the anomaly then.

You could use vibrational remedies (flower essences and others) besides meditation practices to restore the pineal gland faster.