I Think therefore I am.

Astronomy or Astrology?

2010-08-12T18:53:00.000-07:00

Although Astrology and Astronomy appear very similar by name, they differ very
broadly. Whereas astronomy studies how the universe works, astrology studies deeply its
influence in people’s lives and decisions. Many people still believe they are one only
science, they confuse the names and meanings and mix the astrologer with the astronomer
as if they were a single person. As if the astronomer who studies the behavior of the
universe to make a scientific note would tell the future of somebody, or the influence of the stars at the time of birth.

Throughout history there was not astrologer and astronomer separately, they were often the same person and astrology was not designated as a mere superstition, but as a science were mathematics was used to measure the phenomena that was occurring in the ‘heavens’. They (astrologers) were often called or summoned by kings and nobles to describe the fate of their reigns and their lives; the lives of the astrologers themselves, as well as their fame, was decided by how well their predictions were met or what they predicted. It is said that the Magi themselves were astrologers that had known by the stars the birth of a very important man and king, Jesus Christ. After the renaissance, the occupation of astrologer was separated by the occupation of astronomer. Thus, to know the secrets of the universe and what they depicted, was differentiated from the scientist who studied the physical facts and traits of the planets, stars and galaxies.

As the theosophist H.P Blavatsky would describe, “Astrology is to exact astronomy, what psychology is to exact physiology. In astrology and psychology one has to step beyond the visible world of matter and enter into the domain of transcendent spirit”(1). The astrologer, agreeing with Blavatsky, goes beyond the physical interpretation of the celestial bodies’ phenomena while the astronomer limits himself to mere physical speculation and interpretation. This, however, does not mean that astronomy is less important than astrology because it only concentrates on the physical behavior of the starts. What it means is that the field of study of each discipline, while focusing on the same corps or bodies, is independent of the other, what makes their contrast much more interesting. For example, as we can see that astrology is metaphysical (beyond physical) and astronomy physical, we see the exciting complement they are, while being too different at the same time.

Astrologers today still use mathematics to measure physical features such as time, distance, among others. Nevertheless, they use it to predict or to tell what’s going on with the earth and with us, the human race,. They guide themselves with the popular, hermetic (from the Egyptian hermeticism) maxim. “as above, so below”, meaning that looking at the stars- or “the heavens- it is easy to understand and predict what happens in the world and in people lives. As the XV century astronomer and astrologer Tycho Brahe’s motto Despiciendo Suspicio , in English “by looking down I see upward, as well as the other revealer motto, Suspiciendo Despicio, or “by looking up I see downward” (10). What the astrologer does is to see a meaning behind every event; that meaning is reflected on human lives mirrored by the planets.

Astronomy gives us the false perception that is more scientific than astrology, that astronomy is biased and easy to do. The truth is that astrology is scientifically based for the most part by using mathematics, physics, among others as well as astronomy itself. The difference is brought up by the purpose of them and the way they approach it. I, myself, have had the opportunity to look up at some birth charts, including mine, and discovered a lot of mathematics involved in the making of them. The way degrees are calculated and the exact changes of time from one house to another, as well as the way they use time and space to calculate the behavior of the planets and how they relate to human lives.

The way western astrologers measure the events that are happening, as well as the transit of the planets is very traditionalist and is not very variant. There are books, like the book “Astrology” by numerous authors, that explain with a lot of details how to create a birth chart and how to analyze some degrees between the planets, and so on. For a lot of them, there is an orthodox way of doing astrology, that does not vary except by the interpretation of it, as well as the predictions that are made based on the interpretation. For example, when an astrologer says that a planet is retrograde, it means that seen from the earth, the planets seems to go backwards; however, the way they interpret it may or may not vary (depends on the astrologer). In astronomy, the only way to demonstrate an opinion or a hypothesis is by following the scientific method and not only by a so-called psychic feeling.

As the famous pos-Freudian psychologist Carl Jung said, we are all born in a given time and a given place, and as wines have the qualities of the season, we have those same qualities of the season and the time we are born in. Carl Jung, not only a psychologist but also a very metaphysical man, analyzed the birth charts of different men and women, and analyzing their psyche he could redefine them and discover how similar and accurate this elaborated charts were. Science does not play an important role here but the metaphysical analysis of the astronomical events.

They do differ in lots of things and even astronomers don’t like to be confused with astrologers, because they believe their field is science, and astrology’s is superstition. After all of this, however, we can see that their roots are basically the same and that the way they differ is by their points or purposes and the methodology they use to approach them.

Illusion....

2009-08-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

Illusion, Illusion, all is pure illusion
Nothing seems real, nothing seems to exist
Everything lies, all is a vile act
What is truth? What is not?

I walk by the street, I see nothing but lies
Since sunrise to sunset I don’t find any truth
Only nature seems to truth tell
Only the sun meets his promise to shine

Illusion is what I see, all is pure illusion
The skeptic thinks he is right
The believer thinks the skeptic is not
What is truth? For God sake what?!

Fragment From The Book of Life

2009-06-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

I sat on the wooden piano and played the same song I played yesterday while moving my head with the contrapuntal of Bach, trying to get some peace. Trying to stop the black symphony trapped in my head. I stood up, bored of the same old peaceful contrapuntal that reminds me of you . For every song reminds me of your eyes and that bittersweet look you gave me on that patio that afternoon. I stood up and tried to walk nowhere. Ha-I laughed- “not even Bach can make me forget you.” it seems impossible! You hear? it’s the same black symphony playing again in my head, let’s try to play some Bach or Mozart…nah, it’s impossible. But I don’t know if I love you, you are too divine to love, I don’t know if it is even possible for a mortal man… I see you as Michelangelo saw David, maybe…

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

2009-05-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

Love is what burns inside of me
And I’m not ashamed of saying it
Is a truth that cannot be hidden
I love you and I’m happy of it.

Blessed by God be the day
When I found your beauty there
In front of me was shown
And suddenly, I fell in love.

First sight could be, my love
But how I know it still lasts!
It is not lie that my heart burns
Since the day I saw your face.

It may be impossible love
But in my dreams it is not
In my mind you’ll always be
I love you, my dear love.

Capitalism? Socialism? Or a new one?-Discussion

2009-03-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

We have been witnesses of the terrible consequences of our economical systems throughout the last 50 years. First, the communism that offered a so-called fairness showed us how ruthless the ways to achieve this can be. Secondly, today we start to notice how unfair and useless the capitalism can be (I mean a wild, savage neoliberal communism). All of this is not less than evidence for us to question ourselves if we should create a new system.
When Marxism went out, it was applauded by a lot of intellectuals, writers and dreamers while sleeping in the opium of utopia. At the end of the 1950’s and the beginnings of the 1960’s Marxism(or scientific socialism) was considered the new promise, the savior of the workers, the rebellion against the aristocracy of industries; and ,again, it was applauded by intellectuals, artists ;some politicians, also, chose it as their political slogan. And so, countries were reformed by this supposed hero and people felt that their suffering was to disappear. Nevertheless, when some time passed and the crudeness of the system went out to light in countries such as Cuba, USSR, and China, people began to realize that they were wrong, that they were losing their identity, religion (the so-called opium of the people), and their liberty. They realize that they really made them all equal, but in poverty. After this, we know by history, the system collapsed (mostly) and people began to believe in capitalism again.
This capitalism was the new hero (although it was the villain for some intellectuals), was the new savior: “at least we keep our liberties”- some socialism victims stated . Capitalism was the opportunity to go and achieve goals. This system, however, made a machine of the man as communism did. Some people, again, realized that this system has never been fair with all. Nevertheless, no one listened to them – they didn’t want Marx‘s nor Mao’s! - And so, they were forgotten.
Today, as we draw the line to compare how imperfect and unfair these systems turned to be thanks to how our system is falling and how our economy is suffering, we question ourselves: is this system right?, are we doing the right thing? Or should we create a new system fair for all? I leave the question to you. Nor

Holy Night!

2008-12-27T17:31:00.000-08:00

O sweet holy night
O beautiful night
That night there was not war
Nor sadness, nor cry.

O night so cold
So quiet, so silent
That night came to earth
The Messiah to save us all.

Poor he came to earth
But rich in divinity he was
The lord of mercy he was
The Messiah to save us all.

O David star so bright
The guide to find the Lord
O star that helped to find
The lord, the savior and God.

What You Think, What You Become

2008-11-30T09:17:00.000-08:00

What you think, what you become.

I remember an anecdote of a woman who said :”when I was young I sweared that I would never marry a man with lastname Smith, nor work washing dishes; nevertheless I did”. So what should we conclude: our minds respond to our comands. It’s clear hat when we attempt not to forget something, we certaintly do, and is not funny when that happens because is the contrary of what we were trying not to do.

All of our thoughts are materialized in our lifes. For example: when a mother says: “William, do not break the expensive vase”, and she does realize that minutes later, the crack sound of the breaking vase is heard. My point is to tell youy, my friends, that is time to leave all of our negative thoughts, because what the mother of the example is doing is giving negative commands. Our minds work as a video taper; in the video you say something and the camera gets everything and, later on, it will show exacly what you say; the same way does work your mind, your unconscient mind or- as I call it- the mind of the back. Imagine your mind as a video taper, it will tape everything you say exacly the way you said it giving commands to you body to do exacly what you said. Because, my friends, it’s its job, isn’t it? The job of your brain is to control your body and your life, whatsoever.

Far from fantasies, we should realize that if we say “ I am Sick” in the moment of sicknesses you will be more, but if you say “ I am cured” even though you are not, your mind will give the command to your body to act, to send antibodies, and you- I assured you- will feel better ( probably not healthly now, but emocionally as first step). And is cientificly proven that your brain releases the Cerotonin and endorphins giving you the sensation of being good.
When a father says : my poor son, he is crying” you are giving him the command of being poor, you are wishing him bad luck with your words and you don’t want that, you want your son to be happy and wealthy and etcetera. Your thoughts are commands. You can change, also, the way you act. For example, we know the story of Demostenes, he could not talk very well, but he tried and studied and practiced with stones in his mouth, and he could, he turned to be a very good orator and speaker.

This really work, my friends, God gave you the power of thought and word, do not waste it.

A Revolutionary Election.

2008-11-08T17:51:00.000-08:00

The election occurred November 4th, 2008 could be the most historical election ever happened in the historic annals of the United States of America. On this election for first time an African American was elected by popular and electoral vote: his name is Barack Hussein Obama and he is the new president of the United States of America. This election, however, was an election in which the traditional concept of presidency and vice-presidency was radically changed.

First of all, a woman presented officially her entrance to the race for the presidency, Hilary Clinton, which demonstrated the change in the conception of it. She represents the women’s revolution of men’s control. Nevertheless, Mr. Obama got more democratic votes and was officially nominated candidate of the party. She showed bravely how a woman could run in a presidential race. Secondly, John McCain surprised the world with the election of a woman, too, for the job of vice- president if he got elected. Anyways, this amazing race demonstrated the world that we, The United States Of America, are prepared for change.

It is well known that before this election, not too many African Americans, white Americans, Latinos and others voted, because they were not animated or inspirited to choose a president with almost the same characteristics as the others before him ; they had lost their credibility in politics . In this election in which so many problems were disputed, the two final candidates demonstrated that they were prepared, whoever would win, to assume the responsibility of leading a country with serious issues. They both, I consider, showed courage to make the promise of making to all American’s needs.

But, after passionate debates, after strong and expensive campaigns, the people had the last word; thus they chose Mr. Obama. Now, Mr. Obama will replace the unpopular George Bush (I am not saying that he is guilty of everything Americans blame him) and he is who will carry with all the problems of his administration. He now has the responsibility of leading this nation and its problems. I can just say that we should pray for him and help him as citizens of this country.

Herbert Von Karajan, The golden musician.

2008-10-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

I sit down in front of my computer and I begin to watch a musical video which orchestra is conducted by the magnificent Karl Von Karajan. The concert starts with a forte beginning and I begin to smile. This man, old and decrepit, with great happiness but concentration moves his hands leading the orch estra and the public at the same time. Is just incredible how this old man, without opening his eyes and without any mistake, can guide every single note, every sharp or flat.

My admiration for him is old as myself. He drove me through the works of Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Strauss, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky; he taught me how to play and how to direct a big orchestra as Bach would do it. He just demonstrated that a musician is not only who plays an instrument, but who puts all its energies and enthusiasm in the work. Karajan was that proof of passion, as we can see in all of his productions. He was not only a man who had in charge the philharmonic of Berlin, he was the inspiration for them; he was the reason they perseverated in music and the reason they tried to convert every work in an universe with bright lights and perfect geometry. Nevertheless, he didn’t just inspire all of his musicians, but the whole world.

Behind his strong face of concentration existed a bright mind with a great heart. His eyes hardly closed by perfectionism hided the soul of a modernist; a modernist who tried to make music a perfect and geometrical interpretation of daily life. Just behind this, we could find one of the greatest musicians in the whole world. In April of this year we celebrated 100 years from his birth. The birth of a genius and the birth of the modern interpretation for music.

Bach.

2008-09-27T17:44:00.001-07:00

As the grat Beethoven said
You are not river, you are sea
You are not world, you are universe
You are not a man, you are Bach

Your so complex notes
Oh ambiguous harmony
Your so celestial voices
O! great musical monster.

Under your notes of perfection
The old pianist rejoyses
Under your sharps and flats
The lazy student works.

The Saint Of The Day

2008-09-19T15:02:00.001-07:00

Saint Januarius

( 275-305)Bishop of Naples, was martirized in the year 305 AD by the Diocletian persecution. Was captured during a visit incarcerated deacons at the sulphur mines of Puteoli, the modern Pozzuoli. After many tortures, including being thrown to lions in Pozzuoli's Flavian Amphitheater, he was beheaded at Solfatara along with his companions, who included Festus (deacon); Desiderius (lector); Sossius; Proculus of Pozzuoli; Acutius; and Euticius. ( Wikipedia)

The Book of the Week.

2008-09-19T15:02:00.000-07:00

The Name Of The Rose

This amazing book inspired in the genial Sherlock Holmes has as setting an incredible abbey in North Italy in the year 1327 where an intrepid and cultured monk and his disciple Adso Of Meck is sent to investigate the murder of a the illustrator of the abbey. In this story, written by the genial Umberto Eco in the 1980's, we can see the audacity and valiantly of Friar William of Baskerville in his hunger of justice and knowledge, which took him into the forbidden Library itself. In his way he meets some very interesting people like Friar Jorge of Burgos, who turns to be a strict and closed-mind monk and an omniscient chauvinist man. Friar William, educated in the most prestigious university of England at the time, has to pass through obstacles and very suspicious situations.
I hope you all will enjoy this daughter of Philosophy, history and genius in this fall.

Our Lady Of The Angels Monastery.

2008-09-14T17:12:00.001-07:00

This is Our Lady Of The Angels Monastery. Irondale, Alabama. Founded by Mother Angelica. A place to pray and celebrate the good news of Salvation.

Enjoy the English- Latin Holy Mass every day LIVE! in your channel EWTN (8:00 ET) OR visit http://EWTN.com

The Composer Of the Week.

2008-09-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Thuringia, Germany in 1685 (the same year as Handel). His music has been admired and loved through the centuries. This man, whose mathematic is reflected in hundreds of works charged of baroque contra punt, has been the inspiration for posterior musicians. Today, his complex system and structure is the base for modern music.
Born in a family of musicians, at the death of his parents he went to live with his uncle Johann Christoph who was also his teacher in music studies . Johann Sebastian developed a strong ear for music and a great personality in composition. He studied a lot of different French and Italian composers to prepare to succeed in the beauty of arts and began to compose beautiful church works in a beautiful style we can admire today , style which was criticized by lots of people interested in a new kind of music, which was monophonically less artistic (different from Bach’s polyphonical perfection). Today, that kind of music is not listened nor admired, but Bach’s still in the peak of western music

THE SAINT OF THE DAY. Saint Agustine of Hippo.

2008-08-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

Saint Augustine of Hippo, Saint of the Holy Catholic Church, is considered one of the most important saints and philosophers ever, not only in the churches is listened but in the whole intellectual world.
Today, August 28th, 2009 is his festivity in the Catholic Church, not only as a Saint but as a philosopher. He wrote lots of letters, books and sermons that made him famous and glorious. His intelligence and wisdom is today respected – even in other religions-; also, his phrase of “ Crede Ut Intelligas” and “ intelligas ut Crede” are the summary of his doctrine of Believe to think and think to believe.

Leonardo and his genius.

2008-08-13T11:56:00.000-07:00

Leonardo Da Vinci is considered one of the most intelligent and multifaceted man in History. His art and inventions have been models to the society. Today, 489 years after his death, we still use technology and techniques that Leonardo invented or – at least- had been in his sketches before someone invented or began to use it. Nevertheless, today, his genius has been occulted by that repugnant Da Vinci’s code which has given him a mysterious and secret image, totally different from his real life and work.
He was born in Vinci –that is why we call him “Da Vinci- in 1452. His father was very influent and- we can say- rich. However, Leonardo was an illegitimate son and he was not allowed to be a bank man as his father. In those times, illegitimate sons were not able to be lawyers, politicians, bankers, and etcetera. The only ways they could choose were to be religious or to be artists. The young Leonardo chose it; so, he went to the taller of Andrea Verrocchio, where he discovered a lot of techniques in sculpture and painting. He demonstrated his talent and impressed every single apprentice in the taller. Even, because of a painting of Leonardo, his teacher solemnly renounced to painting. Thus, that moment is the proof of the genius of Da Vinci.
Leonardo and, of course, his works have been the inspiration of entire generations. Although a lot of artists were not recognized by the rich and by the public itself, he was. He worked for the Medici, for the king of France, thus his fame was for everyone’s recognized. However, was his attitude to make himself known what made him famous between rich and poor.
He began to create new techniques to make easy his work. Also, he ideate techniques to study the human body, because, he says himself, a real artist has to investigate the mysteries of the man and his anatomy- as we can see in the Vitruvius’s man. A real artist is ho ideates new techniques to explore scientifically the mystery of human anatomy. There are a lot of notes organized in his notebooks about those techniques and, even, manners of an artist. He is such a model for us of creativeness and intelligence.

2008-08-11T11:21:00.000-07:00

The book of the week is a “Streetcar Named Desire” written by the great Tennessee Williams, which setting is New Orleans in the XX century. Is, actually, a book explaining the rare depressive sickness of a woman, whose name is Blanche Dubois. She comes to New Orleans running away from the sorrowful lost of Belle Reeve, which was the familiar home of the Family, going to the house of her sister, Stella,who is married with a Polish man whose brutish machismo is a very upset and terrible stay in her sister’s house . Is a book charged of realism and description, which symbolism is very notable.

Also, enjoy the movie directed byElia Kazan's with Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh and Kim Hunter. Enjoy.