Fate & Humanity


Astrology, the election, predestination and choice

Stars above, the things I found in my in-boxes when I got back from my trip.

On one of my liberty lists, someone is denouncing one of the Presidential candidates based on their sun sign. I couldn't resist horning in.

There are two issues here, and I think this is a good time to jot down my thoughts on both.

I've never been all that good at divination. I do use a scrying bowl and Tarot cards, but more as a meditation tool. My preferred Tarot is the Shapeshifter, although I have a soft spot for the Authurian. These rites and ceremonies let me access the higher parts of my own consciousness. But it's not the rites or the tools that have the "power." It's me.

We make tools to simplify our work. I could walk to the Grand Canyon, but it's faster and easier if I get in the car and drive. But it's not the car that goes to the Canyon, it's me using the car. I have a breadmaker, great gadget and I use it a lot. But it is not the breadmaker that makes the bread, it's me using the breadmaker. Likewise, it's not my iMac MaKai writing this entry, it's me using MaKai. The plan, the direction, and the focus come from me, not the tools.

Give a hammer to someone who doesn't know how to use it and the tool won't make them better at carpentry. Give someone a camera and it doesn't make them Ansel Adams. Give someone a bicycle and it doesn't mean they will win the Tour de France.

The power is not in the tool, and without knowledge, discipline, and focus the tool is almost useless.

The second issue is more important to me. I believe we make our own destiny.

I've never been one who accepts predestination. I have some authority issues (just in case you hadn't noticed). To me, it's pretty logical. I believe that humans have choice because we are meant to use it.

That doesn't mean that we make wise choices, or indeed, even make choices at all. We have the ability and that is enough to unbalance reality.

Which in turn forces choices, but that is another topic.

Now, I believe that events do send ripples up and down the timestream. More precisely, I believe that that our emotional reactions send resonances up and down time. These are the things we occasionally glimpse in the future and the past, not the events themselves. But it's not "set in stone," informed action can "change" the future.

It actually makes sense in terms of quantum mechanics, although you have to assume that the medium of thought is not electromagnetic and not entirely bound by time.

Just because a building collapses doesn't mean that the people inside are fated to die. Time is more elastic than that.

Our choice.

Posted: Sat - October 11, 2008 at 02:18 PM
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