astrology and the human aura
 

There is silly Astrology and there is serious Astrology.  Silly Astrology assumes the fate of billions of people can be neatly divided into twelve vague predictions which appear in the morning newspaper.  It is fitting that the daily Astrology predictions are listed side by side with the cartoons in the Comics section. 

Serious Astrology takes into consideration the different planetary interactions that affect our moods, our health, and our fortune.  The Zodiac divides the sky into twelve equal sections in which the positions of the sun, moon, stars, and planets are said to influence human behavior.  

Not that I am any expert, but it is my understanding that we all have an electromagnetic energy field that surrounds our body known as an 'Aura'.  Some say an Aura can be photographed (see 'Kirlian Photography').  Others say they can actually see a person's aura.  Auras come in different colors depending on one's mood.  A halo is an example of an aura. 

According to the mystics, when our energetic body is healthy, our aura is radiant and other people can sense it as in 'Vibes' or 'Good Vibrations'.  The nature of that energy can fluctuate.  An Aura is affected by many factors such as health, emotional mood, and mental attitude.  Everything we do, think, feel, and say affects the aura.  We can build it up through positive thoughts and we can tear it down through negative emotions and destructive thoughts.

The word 'Lunatic' refers to insanity supposedly dependent on the phases of the moon.  This idea dates back to the time when Astrology was used to explain irrational behavior.  While Science remains skeptical, there is strong anecdotal evidence that the Moon affects our moods.  The idea that the lunar cycle can influence people’s behavior dates back thousands of years.  The Moon gets blamed for everything.  For example, the Full Moon is said to make people crazy and manic.  Moonstruck, Moonlight Madness, Lunacy. 

So let me throw out an idea.  We all know the Moon affects tides.  Clearly the Moon has a strong gravitational effect on our planet.  Who is to say the Moon does not have a similar gravitational pull on our energy field?  This is how the Moon could affect our moods.  Now you throw in the gravitational pull of the Sun, Venus, Mars, etc, and you have a potential explanation for why Astrology deserves a second look. 

Or at least I thought so.  I was dying to find some way to test out some of these paranormal claims I encountered during the Magical Mystery Tour.  In several of the Edgar Cayce books, Cayce made a convincing case that the planets play a major role in shaping our Destiny.  Considering that Yogananda said the same thing, I became curious about Astrology. 

Convinced I did not possess an ounce of psychic ability, I was at least pretty good at math.  Once I learned that advanced Astrology involved mathematics, I decided to investigate.  My Astrology book said it was important to know the influence of all planets on one's Birth Chart.  So I purchased a book on how to cast a birth chart.  Then I bought several other books on how to interpret my birth chart.  Unfortunately, I got a lot more than I bargained for.  Curiosity nearly killed the cat.

 

April 1970, second semester, sophomore year, Age 20

the red star antares
 

There are three major influences in a horoscope: Sun Sign, Moon Sign, and Rising Sign.  My Sagittarius Moon was especially well-placed since Sagittarius was also my Rising Sign (also known as the 'Ascendant').

This Sagittarius aspect suggested I was keenly interested in Philosophy, Science, and Metaphysics.  As far as I was concerned, that summed me up rather nicely.  Meaning of Life was my middle name. 

I was also very amused that Friedrich Nietzsche and I shared the exact same position.  I always knew there something about him I liked.

However, I stopped breathing when I got to the chapter on Fixed Stars.  Noticing the fixed star Antares sat right beside my Sagittarius Moon in the First House of my birth chart, I looked to see what that might mean.

"Liable to blindness or eye injuries." 

I froze on the spot.  Considering the accident when I cut my eye out with a knife when I was five, that was quite a coincidence.  this odd coincidence struck way too close to home.   

My fear of blindness, both psychological Blind Spots as well as physical blindness, has been with me my entire life.  According to the book, this particular astrological relationship was said to make the individual liable to blindness and eye injuries. 

At the time, I had just learned how to do a Progressive Horoscope.  This is where one starts with the Birth Chart and advances it to future dates to determine what might happen to the individual over time.   Yogananda had written that key events in our life are based on timing as determined by astrological influences.  Theoretically Astrology can be used to prognosticate future events using Progressive Horoscopes.  Was there a way for me to predict another eye injury?

Using the set of Star Charts I had purchased at the Aquarian Age Bookstore, I took a look at Antares and calculated the next time I might be at risk.  The result was April 24, the opposite date in the Zodiac of my Scorpio birth sign. 

I immediately panicked.  April 24 was just three weeks away.  What should I do?  Half of me thought this whole thing was utter nonsense, but the other half of me was really spooked.  With one eye gone, was I at risk of losing the other?  The thought of being blind was tough to deal with, especially now that I had been given this warning.  Common sense suggested I should play it safe, so I swore off basketball for three weeks since that was my only activity which carried any sort of risk. 

Unfortunately, the moment I gave up basketball, I was in big trouble.  Daily basketball was the only thing that kept me from going off the deep end.  As the days passed, my frustration mounted.  I had recently rented an upstairs room on the third floor of a row house.  The house was owned by two elderly women who lived below me.  I was totally alone in my room without a close friend in the world.  One night my loneliness became unbearable.  I could not study, I could not read for pleasure and I could not sit still.  It was a Friday night and I was going stir crazy sitting alone in my room. 

For the millionth time, I wished I had a girlfriend.  Women?  Yeah, right.  Where was I going to find a girl to date considering my non-existent social skills in the Land of No Women?  I suppose we could talk about Astrology, but first I had to meet someone.  Finally I couldn't take it any more. I had to do something.  Telling myself I was being overly superstitious, it was time to quit taking this Astrology nonsense so seriously.  So I went over to the gym.  Thrilled to be back on the court, I made virtually every shot I took.  As they say, I was in The Zone.  Elated by my success, I left the gym feeling pretty good about myself.  As I walked home in the brisk spring air, I was glad I had finally come to my senses.  Enough with this stupid Astrology nonsense and to hell with Antares.

As I walked home, I suddenly realized the date.  Uh oh.  It was April 24th, the exact WORST POSSIBLE DATE FOR ME TO PLAY BASKETBALL!  But nothing had gone wrong.  Hmm.  Several thoughts ran through my mind.  First and foremost, why didn't I notice the dangerous date prior to playing basketball tonight?  I am sure I would not have played if I had the noticed the date.  Second, I decided this whole matter was nonsense.  I had just demonstrated that this astrology stuff was a bunch of bull.  Quit being so damn superstitious all the time!

Early the next morning the phone rang.  It was Rob Ivry, one of my dorm friends from Freshman year.  Over the past two years, we had often played basketball together. 

"Rick, I am so glad I caught you!  I know you have sworn off basketball for the month of April, but my team has a game scheduled for this morning and we need a last-minute stand-in.  Our substitute went home for the weekend and last night one of our players got sick.  I don't have anyone else I can call on such short notice.  Can you help us out?  What do you think?"

I frowned and smiled at the same time.  It was a deep sore point that Rob had not asked me to be on the team in the first place.  It was a well-known fact that I was the best basketball player in the dorm, so my exclusion made no sense to me.  As usual, I had a Blind Spot.  I was the most selfish basketball player in existence.  Pass the ball?  Are you kidding?  The moment the ball touched my hands, it never left.  I would dribble till I was open and shoot.  Did I know this was the reason no one wanted me on their team?  No.  However, maybe Rob's phone call was my big chance.  If I played well today, maybe I would be invited to join on a permanent basis and then I could resume my friendship with Rob and my buddies from last year.

"Hey, Rob, it is a funny coincidence that you called.  Your timing is perfect.  Last night I changed my mind and began playing again.  I'll be happy to play with you guys.  What time?"

Two hours later I was back on the court playing for Rob's team.  In the middle of the game, there was a long rebound.  As I chased down the bouncing ball, a player from the other team raced along beside me.  He was on my right side, the side of my good eye.  Just as I leaned down to grab the ball, the other guy made a desperate lunge to beat me to it.  He lost his balance and our foreheads collided just as I reached down to collect the ball.  His forehead smashed hard directly into my right eye, the good eye.  I was horrified to feel the strong impact jam my thick plastic glasses directly into the eye socket.  The pain was intense as I fell to the floor.  Feeling the pain, I instinctively shut my good eye to protect it.  Lying on the floor, I refused to reopen my eye out of fear that it had been injured.  Reeling from the powerful collision, I realize the burning pain was right in the area of my good eye.  I was terrified.  With my eye closed, I could not see what was going on, but I could hear the boys running towards me.  Rob was the first to speak.

"Oh my God, Rick, your eye is bleeding really badly!  There's blood all over your glasses!  Are you okay?"

Oh shit!  Rob's exclamation scared me to death.  A wave of nausea surged through me.  Am I blind?  Was my eye injured?  If my eye was injured, would opening my eye damage it further?  Well aware of the astrology prediction, my fear was overwhelming.  It took a full minute to steel myself, but finally I decided to open my good eye and learn my fate.  First I took off my glasses.  Then I opened my eye.  Thankfully, I could see just fine.  The relief I felt was indescribable.  But I also saw blood all over my glasses.  Where was the blood coming from?  I asked Rob to look more closely.  He said there was a giant gash in my right eyebrow.  Apparently the upper rim of the thick glasses I wore had punctured my eyebrow.  That is what caused the pain and the blood. 

"Rick, that is a really bad cut.  You're going to need stitches for that."

Without hesitation, I pressed a towel over my eyebrow and proceeded to walk four blocks to the nearest emergency room in my gym clothes.  As Rob predicted, it took 8 stitches to close the deep wound.  The nurse, a pretty girl tantalizingly close to my age, exclaimed, "Gee, you sure are cheerful for a guy who just got his eyebrow split wide open.  Where do you get your positive attitude?"

I smiled at her.  "You have no idea."

Noticing how friendly she was towards me, I was feeling lucky.  I was just about to ask her out when I noticed the wedding ring.  Darn it.  I really liked this girl.  So much for my fond hopes.  Oh well, time to return to the Land of No Women. 

FOOTNOTE

RICK ARCHER'S LIST OF SUSPECTED SUPERNATURAL EVENTS
 

JOHNS HOPKINS AND THE MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR

Serious

Suspicious

Suspicious

Ultra-Serious

ST. JOHN'S AND CHILDHOOD

Serious

Suspicious

Suspicious

Serious

Ultra-Serious

Ultra-Serious

Suspicious

Suspicious

Serious

Serious

Suspicious

Serious

Serious

Serious

Suspicious

Suspicious

Suspicious

Suspicious

Suspicious

Suspicious

Suspicious

Suspicious

Serious

Suspicious