Aries - Self in Relation to Others (ritual, Creator, Earth)

[Willamena]

Aries - I Seek My Self - The glyph for Aries is the horns of the ram, and also resembles the eyebrows and nose, which are expressive of the human face. Aries is me putting myself into relationship with others in the world around me. "Aries ...symbolizes the realization within oneself that one is different and apart from the rest of humanity. It is therefore the individualizing agent, the ego, the consciousness of self. Aries is the beginning, that first emanation of self-awareness coming from the realm of the collective unconscious (as embodied by Pisces, the last of the signs)."

Aries rules* the head and all associated organs therein, most especially the eyes which express the soul (of all the body parts, the eyes are most capable of non-verbal communication). Aries is in turn ruled by the planet Mars: action, self-assertion. As a metaphor of self, the Ram represents that self-assertion contained in the action of ramming horns during the rutting season --Aries describes the individual "aware of him- or herself as a human entity surging through life." Included in the metaphor is a head-strong drive (or dive) into challenging circumstance with a "look before you leap" attitude of recklessness, and a thoughtlessness or inconsideration towards the outcome.

One of the best analogies I have heard used of the Zodiac compares each sign to a stage in a "cycle" from birth to death --in that case, Aries is Man as the inquisitive child, assured in the actions he takes by ignorance of consequence, and therefore innocent of any guilt. "He seems to judge all of existence by the extent of his own consciousness: the more limited his natural awareness, the more limited his world." For all he asserts himself, Aries lacks knowledge of himself, and so every action is a test of the world around him to see what he can discover about himself.

It was suggested by doppleganger that an exploration of the symbolism of each sign would be a good discussion topic. I agree, as it could give a better understanding of the sign as well as insights into how it is used in astrology (both traditional and pop practices) and in religion. As dopp said, the symbolism used in astrology underlies all religions.

Religion touches on a lot of topics, such as philosophy, science, anthropology, even archaeology; probably more you can think of. But to some people it informs *every* aspect of their lives. Everything they do and are. To the astrologer, the symbolism of each sign is like that: it informs events that happen to us ("us" meaning the individual self).

The most significant metaphor for Aries is consciousness, the creation of "self", that first moment of awakening to either the world around oneself (or even to "a higher level of awareness" though I personally don't know what that is). The creation of "self" is equivalent to (or a result of) consciousness, which sets up a relationship with the world. Relation happens between two things, and the two things in question for "self" are "me" and everything else that exists.

This symbolism (the creation of "self") is precisely "the Sun" in astrology, but in my blurb above it is used only as a metaphor for Aries. The metaphor says: Aries is like the Sun. Aries is like that first moment of consciousness. The Zodiac is about people; people in relation to people. Aries is the person who find himself different from everyone else, and in being different he realises he wants to know who he is. So he goes out into the world and does things, and through doing things he finds clues to who he is.

Aries is associated with beginnings as opposed to endings, with starting things as opposed to finishing them, with questions as opposed to answers. Aries is the impulse that drives a person to set out on the quest to find themselves. "I seek myself."

So what does this mean in a religious context? It is the awakening of a spiritual awareness. It is the person asking themselves, "Could there be a god?" and "Do I have faith?" Remember, Aries is the questioner; we don't (yet) require an answer, because any answer will just lead to more questions. Aries needs information; it doesn't yet know who it is. Aries is the "stupid questions," with no regard for the feelings of others, as well as the smart ones, because in the search for finding oneself there are no stupid questions.

Seriously, does this relate to anything in your religion (or lack thereof)?

[doppelgänger]

Here are my original thoughts on Aries:

In ancient Egypt, Khenmu was the ram-headed god associated with the creation of the people and animals, and is often considered the "pottery" god for having crafted people out of the clay of the Earth. This is the same imagery in your description of Aries, the creation of self distinction out of chaos.

Anyone know of other ram-related symbolism? Of course, in Judaism and Christianity, the ram is the subsitute offering for atonement. Thus, perhaps giving up self-distinction - the killing of the ram - is the way to communion with God.

Can you refine the relationship between the Sun and Aries? Could there be a subtle, almost imperceptible, move in language occurring as one goes from the symbolism of the Sun to the symbolism of Aries?

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

Can you refine the relationship between the Sun and Aries? Could there be a subtle, almost imperceptible, move in language occurring as one goes from the symbolism of the Sun to the symbolism of Aries?

The planets symbolise bits of "us," from our perspective --those are the "gods." The Zodiac puts "us" in relationship with others, either contrasting the individualized "us" with others in the first half of the Zodiac, or uniting "us" with the others in the second half of the Zodiac, in the process of finding and defining ourselves as people (humanity). This is mainly why pop astrology puts forth the signs as personality attributes, because their symbolism speaks of people in relationship to people.

As you know, I'm not learned in linguistics, but here goes. The Sun is the 'Self': "The Sun" symbolizes "me": myself, my will, my life. It is through this subjective perspective that the rest of astrology's symbols are understood (quoted from the earlier article on planets). In practical astrology, the first degree of the sign Aries is the first impulse that exercises that will in a relationship with others. Aries is ruled by Mars, the planet of physical action. Self (the Sun) is assumed; the ability to act (Mars) is assumed; Aries takes that and shapes it into interpersonal relationship. In astrological parlance, the Sun in Aries is self surging forward into relationship with others.

What is created by this creator god is a human-to-human or human-to-god (conceptual transcendence of human) relationship.

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

Thus, perhaps giving up self-distinction - the killing of the ram - is the way to communion with God.

That is precisely the sort of interpretation of the symbolism I would like to explore (if we can interest anyone else in this thread) in order to further my understanding of religions in general.

[doppelgänger]

What about the sense of the Sun as the "unkowable self" that I've read about in some of your other posts?

What relationship does an "unkowable self" have to the "me" I know from the foundation of self-identity symbolized by Aries?

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

What about the sense of the Sun as the "unkowable self" that I've read about in some of your other posts?

What relationship does an "unkowable self" have to the "me" I know from the foundation of self-identity symbolized by Aries?

"Me" is the unknowable self clothed in identity (language).

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by Willamena

"Me" is the unknowable self clothed in identity (language).

But "me" in relationship to "other" is knowable. It's knowable in the manner than all things are known - by relation. Is the Sun being absent relationships? And is that why it is unkowable, while Aries is not?

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

But "me" in relationship to "other" is knowable. It's knowable in the manner than all things are known - by relation. Is the Sun being absent relationships? And is that why it is unkowable, while Aries is not?

Any help you could give me in clarifying my use of these words would be greatly appreciated. Obviously, I'm saying something wrong if I'm confusing you so much that I don't even know what it is you're asking me.

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by Willamena

Any help you could give me in clarifying my use of these words would be greatly appreciated. Obviously, I'm saying something wrong if I'm confusing you so much that I don't even know what it is you're asking me.

If you didn't think, would you not be?