posted April 12, 2015 01:05 PM
Ami,First, a bit about me, to help you understand my position. I've found that sometimes helps when tackling a greater issue.
You may (or may not) know, that my background is essentially that of science and law enforcement. The first requires dedicated steps, thorough review, and adhering to certain protocols. The second is no-nonsense, employs a bit of intuition but a lot more perspiration, examining multiple possibilities and considering every option.
Even at nine, when I began studying astrology, I approached it scientifically; I've always had that 'bent', you might say. In a world of ever-shifting potential and wildly varying perceptions, science has truly been my 'candle in the dark', to paraphrase Sagan. At age twelve, I became a hardcore sceptic -- flat out debunker -- disbelieving in anything that couldn't be fully explained by the science available to us; present in the physical world. But through it all, I've come to hold the firm believe that we all encounter one another for clear reasons, even if they're unclear at first, or for some time.
Closing on a decade later, I came into a deeply metaphysical circle which welcomed me with open arms, despite being 'the sceptic' and 'the know-it-all' academic. We connected through the unifying power of storytelling; it's because of them that I'd start to consider, some years later, that my story wasn't mere 'story' at all, but some sort of multidimensional series of memories. These witches, druids, esoteric magickal students of several walks of life, and advanced metaphysicians, proved to me that the world of which my parents tried to convince me was worth taking a second look -- and, this time, using my gift and now well-developed skill of scientific enquiry and methodology.
In short, that's the path I've walked since my mid-twenties, for the past decade. Slowly, but surely, dancing between the greyest degrees of organised religion, unincorporated spirituality, and pioneering my own niche entirely. (I do have 9H CHIRON as my skipped-step, after all; one of them, that is.) It's been a rocky road which has taught me something of value all along the way -- from being born into a metaphysical and multidimensional family, to becoming a scientist, marrying an atheist from a hardcore Christian family, enduring a difficult soul connexion with another scientist (but agnostic), and pretty much, fighting ignorance, even abuse, all along the way, in order to do my astrology at all.
But I've become convinced that every person who challenges, distresses, annoys or launches an offensive against me, is doing so for a reason. But the best part of all? I don't have to agree with them -- or even alter my behaviour in order to attain greater harmony. I don't. The beauty of independence and liberty is the freedom to choose. I'm not speaking at the political or cultural level, either. We are all of us, given the right -- though some greater and lesser than others -- to decide. That, in my most basic understanding, is the essence of freewill as I've come to grasp it, after all of this time.
And so, I see the crux of our conflict.
I believe, and even fight for, freewill; you might even say I'm something of a 'cosmic agent' of it. I'm here for harmony, justice, and liberty. (Well, it's no wonder, despite my curious karmic profile, that I was born American, now is it? Heh!) You, on the other hand, seem to be an agent of religious doctrine. You, too, abide by firm beliefs, and believe yourself to be, first and foremost, responsible for adherence to them. And so, you answer to your higher calling, and I to mine. They just ... carry different nuances. Nuances, which, unfortunately, can seem glaring down here. Thus, when you 'read' a particular influence in a chart, you declare it absolute, and proclaim to all that you've found its true, unquestionable operation.
Do you see why I cannot help but take such issue with this method? It cuts right to the very heart of what I am here to uphold: the freedom to choose. By one individual (in this case, you) announcing the final say on the operation of a particular point, you're discounting -- and outright disallowing -- the freedom of debate. Then, when you've determined this point is negative, your approach is gratingly fatalistic. You 'doom' the individual for whom you're reading, and fear-monger -- spreading negativity and causing any and all who read your delineations to feel bad simply because you've deemed it so!
Gah!
Why, Ami, why, would a disciple of Jesus do this? That is what I ultimately cannot understand. He did not seek to condemn, but to reform. He chose diplomacy in place of accusation, and acceptance over dogma. As an 'agent of harmony' with the intent to help others free themselves from feeling trapped by a lack of options, dogma is something I intrinsically oppose -- and what I encounter, again and again and again, when dealing with you.
When I realised I could no longer visit the threads you begin, I thought, something must be done. Something must be said; this issue has to be confronted -- now, today.
So, here we are. Here I am, at least.
I beseech you, Ami, to at least consider my proposal.
Consider the impact your words will have upon another before you release them from you in any form. Remember Linda's unfailing belief in the ability for anyone to do good if given the opportunity to do so -- and to believe that they could. Too many are 'given the choice' out of hand to 'do bad' because another has perceived this of them -- and, often, falsely.
Remember 'do to others as you would have them do to you?' Perhaps, at this point in your journey, Ami, you want that strong hand; perhaps you need the black and white, and the absolute, 'it is this way and ONLY this way' approach. You may feel, at this point, that fatalism is right for you. And it may be.
But it isn't right for everyone. There isn't any way that it could possibly be. There are too many different types of individual, and we can't expect to lump them all into one category. We can't. It just isn't right.
So I urge you, Ami, to consider the consequences of your fatalistic negativity regarding those points you have decided are so absolute. Consider the individual's feelings as you label them bad, or wrong -- or worse -- destined to do bad things or be bad.
We can assume that 99% of the Knowflakes (and even Newflakes) here are already ahead of the curve, because they're questioning, seeking to understanding themselves better, and are at least giving astrology -- something controversial, but also spiritual -- a chance. Give them a chance to be good in spite of what you feel will play out regardless of what they do. Nobody likes to feel that out of control. No one.
This is my ONLY issue with you. I hope that we can continue to interact directly, but lately, the negativity has gotten to me a great deal. I've even been privately emailed by those who are fearing the worst and seeking second opinions.
We're all 'metaphysicians' here, with various levels of education, experience, and our own approach. We're also human. I have to watch my own negativity at times, too, and rein in what might be approaching dogma in my own words. I've learnt to consider what impact my words will have. And if that's ultimately what tSATURN brought to me on my MERCURY and MOON (3H), then it did me a world of good.
I'm merely passing that on to you now, as a friend, who has concern, that this approach may be doing harm you don't wish it to. We all seek to do good -- the most we can. So, today, I'm sharing with you my own experience, an explanation as to why I feel as I do, and how I've learnt some of this lesson myself years ago. In hopes, perhaps, to dispense a little wisdom while learning even more myself along the way.
Thank you, Ami, for all that you do. I can only hope we'll see more eye-to-eye in the future. Some way. Those who are diametrically opposed are at least able to maintain civility with the agreement to disagree, as a final resort. That's an option, too, but a bit of a sad one.
I hope we can do better. 
Topic Closed
Lindaland
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posted April 12, 2015 01:05 PM
posted April 12, 2015 02:33 PM
