from selfies to Self-realization: resolving the Leo/Aquarius polarity

I’m going to go out on a limb here, now that we are in the Leo season, with a suggestion that the Leo/Aquarius polarity has a lot to do with the process of attention. This is not “official” astrology, (whatever that is), it is only my speculation. But if we trace attention back to its source, we can see that the source of attention is the heart, which is ruled by Leo. The opposite sign to Leo is Aquarius, which is ruled by Uranus.

The symbol for Uranus is this:

Notice that it looks kind of like an antenna, like for example, a TV antenna. I am going to suggest that Uranus is our antenna, since it rules intuition, among other things. Let’s look deeper into this symbol. If we superimpose it on the human body we could say that the circle at the bottom lies in the heart, and then the central line rises up through the throat and up to the crown of the head.

The two lines on each side could fall on either side of the head, helping to give the sense of duality, and perspective. Let’s consider the part of the head on each side, between the eyes and the ears, commonly known as the “temples”. This is an interesting choice of words for this part of the human body.

Some are saying that we humans have all been fitted with invisible etheric implants, before birth, with the purpose of blocking our full perception and memory of who we are, in order to maintain control over us. It is pretty obvious that most humans are not firing on all cylinders, so to speak.

They say that one of the places these etheric, invisible implants are placed is in this precise region of the head, on each side, between the eyes and ears. And now as we are becoming free of these implants, the senses of this region are becoming active again. Perhaps they are called the “temples” because when active, they bring the ability to perceive or intuit the sacredness of all life.

We could think of it like a combination of the eyes and ears, perhaps giving the ability to see sound and frequency, and hear colors and shapes. Since scientists have now been discovering that everything is actually frequency based (see cymatics), then it would make sense that these extra-dimensional senses would be waking up in us now.

And these etheric implants in that region of the head would have a very similar function as the blinders put on horses when they have been used in cities, so that they can just see straight ahead, with no peripheral vision. We have all been fitted with blinders, to be good workhorses. We have been “outfitted” with ears and eyes, both dualistic senses, which give the sense of distance and space, like stereo. Perfect for functioning in 3D. But our multi-dimensional senses have been lying dormant, having been disconnected, on purpose, at the “factory”, so to speak.

Uranus rules lightning, and kundalini, which is a kind of lightning in the body. Sudden, and unexpected. When the heart kundalini, or (Hridaya Shakti) awakens, the head is illuminated with transcendental fire, which naturally clears all implants and blockages. When the head (Uranus) and heart (Sun) connect in this way, the whole sense of “I am” changes radically, that is, at its root (radix, in Latin). This is not the kundalini of the spine, in the chakra system, however. As far as i can tell, it is a completely different circuit, as the chakra system is related to the cycle of down and up, death and rebirth. The Hridaya Kundalini comes directly from Source, and returns directly to Source.

After establishing the hearth of Cancer, we build a fire there. This is Leo. The art of the hearth is the heart. And we keep the fire alive (Leo) in the winter (Aquarius). Since the Northern and Southern Hemispheres have the opposite seasons, we could say this polarity is a winter/summer polarity.

But in the non-dual astrological approach we have to consider the Leo Aquarius polarity as one complete process, which as always, brings out the most positive attributes of the signs involved. Let’s look at that process as it progresses.

Leo and Aquarius are fixed signs, and all the fixed signs share something that is not found in the other signs. That is that the middle of the fixed signs is the 45 degree angle point, in other words, halfway through each 90 degree quadrant. This divides the circle in 8 parts, if we include the squares as well, which divide the circle in four. 

Each quadrant contains a cardinal, a fixed, and a mutable sign. The middle of the fixed signs is a very important point in the cycle, where energy transforms into something tangible, effective, and useful, and with the potential to be something entirely new, a radical departure, so to speak. It is an alchemical transformation, an actual transmutation of one thing into another, like a caterpillar into a butterfly, or a seed into a sprout.

So as we progress through Leo/Aquarius it goes something like this: Leo is, among other things, the creative artist. So at the beginning of Leo we have something like the artist or musician, let’s say, a jazz saxophonist, who creates art for its own sake, without any regard for the audience (Aquarius). He’s over there just blowing away, not even noticing or caring if there are people there or not, or whether they are bored or not. He just doesn’t care. He just keeps his head down, and plays, not even looking up, totally self involved. But also, this quality of not caring what others think is a necessary ingredient in the mix, as it gives one the courage (Leo) to be oneself.

So our hero plays and plays. And by the time he gets to the middle of Leo, he is taking it out, very intensely involved in his personal process of creativity, without any self critic going. The self critic comes later, in Virgo.

But suddenly, as he reaches the middle of Leo, the energy shoots across to Aquarius, and he realizes there are people (Aquarius) listening. He looks up, and sees the audience. Maybe he sees they are bored. Maybe he sees they are loving it. Or maybe he sees that they all left the building. Suddenly our hero realizes that the audience is part of the equation, and that the process of creativity includes those who participate in it on the receiving end. He realizes that they actually give him energy when they enjoy, and vice versa. It is a mutual exchange. The opposition is bridged. He also realizes that the best among them are not really so interested in his ego’s expression, but rather in his capacity to transmit what is beyond…which helps change the quality of his expression, once he can see himself more objectively (Aquarius). He also finds his originality there in Aquarius, as Uranus has everything to do with originality. Thus, the “bridged” Leo Aquarius polarity really has to do with creative (Leo) freedom and originality (Aquarius).

Meanwhile, on the Aquarius end, in the first half of Aquarius, the group is everything. They are happy to look up at the stage at the performer, the one who has the talent, and they don’t recognize their own uniqueness (Uranus). They are looking for a hero (Leo) to lead them. No one dares stand out from the group as a unique individual (Leo). They do whatever it takes to fit into the crowd, happy to jump on the latest bandwagon. If the crowd is doing things to themselves to look unique, such as tattoos, piercings, wild haircuts, they do it too. They say and do all the things the group approves of.

This attempt to be unique (Uranus) is outwardly based, so everyone adopts the latest “look”, not even noticing that they in fact look like everyone else in the group, no matter how hard they try to be different. The one thing that doesn’t occur to them is the obvious: be yourself. (Leo) You already are unique (Uranus), just as you are. In fact, you can’t help it. But when this polarity is disconnected, we get narcissistic (Leo) groupthink (Aquarius).

Notice that the medium of exchange here is the process of attention. The Leo wants to be the center of attention of the group. But when the Uranian process is not understood, the Leo will be looking for attention to come from the outside. You already have your own attention, and that is the only attention that will release you, as it becomes free attention. As attention becomes free from all the places it is bound, both in the “outer” world, and the “inner” world, it transforms into bliss, which is really the key ingredient everyone is searching for. The desire to be the center of attention simply shows a misunderstanding of how attention works.

The Leo experience has to do with self expression in all of its many forms. And the unevolved Leo expression is really about narcissism.

The Facebook selfie phenomenon illustrates this perfectly. Am I still here? Look at me, everyone ! Do I exist? Take a selfie ! Ah there we go, yes I still exist ! OK, how about now? hmm, not sure. Take another selfie. Yes, I still exist. And everyone still “likes” that i exist ! Ad infinitum.

The cure for narcissism is Self-realization. The heart is the direct connection to the Divine Self. And in particular it is the “tiny space” of the heart, the sino-atrial node, which is the direct doorway to Infinite Existence. When this doorway is open there is no more wondering whether I exist or not. It is self evident. It is self verifying. There is no need for external verification of any kind, because there is no external, or internal, only eternal remains. Even “inside” is the other, objectively witnessable. And the “I” that actually Exists is completely different than the one who was never quite sure.

Attention rises from the heart, and moves through the senses to create the sense of space and time. The problem arises when attention becomes fixated in externals, (or internals), and cannot be released back to Source, the eternal. Then you can be led around by your attention, and influenced and controlled in many ways.

Notice the language: “pay” attention. Make no mistake about it, attention is the real currency. Everything that the matrix does is designed to make you “pay” attention, like a tax. The matrix is designed to capture your attention and hold you hostage through it. Your attention, positive or negative, is food for the false kings.

However, your attention is the key to your bliss, your pure consciousness, but in limited form. It is how you create your world. If you are not master of it, then you are at the mercy of your world.

Think of the difference between a camera and a projector. Now we are like cameras, imagining the light source to be outside us, and the pattern of planetary influence is imprinted on our mind, like the film in the camera. We are at the mercy of whatever event transpires.

But when we realize that we ARE Source, we become like a projector. Ramana Maharshi has spoken about this analogy. The light source is within, and the pattern of the film (our astrological dynamic) is projected onto the screen of the world. You are the source of what arises. And when you exist in wholeness, your astrological pattern becomes coherent and unique, no matter how many supposedly “difficult” aspects you may have. It resonates, much like the sound of a bell, with complex harmonics.

By resolving the pattern on the film, your astrological dynamic, you can change your world, because the light that brings your world into being is the Source Consciousness that we all are. So then we can begin to participate in our own lucid dream, creating it as we go. This is the true creativity, when our whole life becomes our work of art, our masterpiece.

So when we reach the halfway point of Leo, the polarity with Aquarius activates, in a transformational way. Suddenly the creative person integrates his genius (Uranus) as his creativity become useful for others in some way. And at the middle of Aquarius, the individuals (Leo) in the group (Aquarius) begin to realize that they will be a much more effective part of the group when they develop and share their own unique gifts and talents.

Leo is the creative artist. it is about self-expression. But imagine the difference between self-expression and Self expression. What would your art be like if “you” were able to be completely out of the way? What would the art of enlightened beings be like? Well, one thing is for sure, it would be completely spontaneous. (Uranus). Without ego, the “small” self, there is no agenda possible. It is all improvised. Improvisation is another function of Uranus, along with synchronicity, intuition, and free attention.

When you are creating your art, what happens with your attention? it is very interesting to notice as you go through your creative process. To me, the whole point of practicing and mastering your art is so that “you”, the “doer”, will be able to be completely out of the way. The body, the instinct, will know exactly what to do, without any interference from technical limitations. The artist can rest as free attention at Source, and the process can happen on its own. This is the process of artistic mastery that can take a lifetime, and it is very much a yoga, a spiritual practice, to engage such an artistic, creative practice. With the amount of “destructivity” going on these days, it is of vital importance that we keep this fire of creative process going, by persevering in doing whatever it is that brings us to bliss, like we keep the fire on the hearth alive in the winter for warmth.

Leo without Aquarius is like the king or queen who doesn’t care about the people. This is a very common phenomenon these days. The arrogant world “leaders” who presume the right to force themselves on people, with no regard whatsoever given to how those people feel about it. But this cannot last, and will not last. We can see its approaching demise right up ahead. Somehow these cretins realize they need the support of the people, but their blind spot is that they think they can force people  at gunpoint to love and support them.

And the people who still look up to these “leaders” are the other side of the coin. Not willing to take responsibility for their own awakened connection to Source, they prefer to project their own royalty out onto these impostors. The unawakened Aquarian impulse keeps these tyrants in power, and it is a pathetic imitation of real power. What kind of satisfaction can you get from forcing others to do your bidding? Obviously not much, as this frustrated insanity proliferates with ever more desperate attempts to control.

Uranus also is Truth. The false kings of Leo need to be faced with the truth. The open eyes of the people (Aquarius), seeing that the emperor has no clothes. People who do not comply, because they recognize the game. People who are masters of their own attention. These are the true royals. People whose awareness circuitry (Uranus) is activated and awake, and who recognize that their own sovereignty (Leo) is inviolable. Let’s be those human beings !

the Chandra Symbol for the 2015 full moon in Leo/Aquarius is this:

the Moon:

AQUARIUS 8
A book, the words in it keep changing.
Destiny can keep rearranging itself under special and unusual conditions, where you have written into the contract ahead of time extravagant allowance for major shifts throughout the course of your lifetime. Ready and able to live several lifetimes in one, you are eager to wipe out the traces of a given cycle and start all over again. In love with change and in desperate need of change. Because one side of mind is dogmatically rigid. And so in order to neutralize and outwit your own dry, stuck places, you make sure to generate innovative, radical currents–slowly wearing away the tight self-identity knots and generating freedom where being stuck in old pictures had sealed off the territory and made life predictable and unbearable.

the Sun:

LEO 8
A young woman sits at a piano and improvises beautiful music.
Aristocracy and fine breeding open a space for the inner heart to sing. Being aware that you are given manifest advantages which make it likely that your talents and abilities can flourish. Past life attainment pulls in present lifetime congenial context. But a shadow creeps over this beautiful scene. You take on how others see you and reflect you. Which leads to, in one direction, becoming the performer who plays to the audience, losing your center. And in the other direction, to becoming the one who suppresses and feels guilty about outstanding individual attributes and colludes in going against yourself. Many possible directions. It all depends upon ripening to be simultaneously proud and humble, magnificent and sober. A path of character evolvement with many places to get lost and a very strong will to work through it all, becoming fully who you are in a way that gives life to everybody and takes nothing away from anybody anywhere.