Effects on Man

1. The Master said: Is not the Book of Changes supreme? By means of it the holy sages exalted their natures and extended their field of action.

Wisdom exalts. The mores make humble. The exalted imitate heaven. The humble follow the example of the earth.

The Master said:

This is a reference to Confucius.

It is generally accepted that this material was presented by his students.

Thus it implies that it was what Confucius said, but could include references to what Confucius learned from earlier masters as well.

These probably included references from King Wan, the Duke of Chou and possibly some from Fu Hsi the original master.

Is not the Book of Changes supreme?

It contains the measure of heaven and earth.

It understands the lights in the heavens and the lines on the earth.

It is a map of change and destiny.

What else can do this?

In Astrology, one can come to understand the zodiac and the houses, as well as the moving lights.

 One can observe one’s circumstances and become aware of one’s destiny.

Does not the Book of Changes include the ways of astrology?

Is this not the supreme understanding?

Note: It was the changes that gave validity to mathematical patterns and deductions. The mathematical patterns do not give validity to the changes as the changes are already valid in themselves.

By means of it the holy sages exalted their natures and extended their field of action.

By using the book of changes, or the study of the lights above, the earth below and all that is in between (astrology), the holy sages exalted their natures.

They elevated their natures to the level of the gods or planets.

They aspired to become more heavenly.

They learned about the moving lights and the images in the heavens.

They learned about the sun, moon and planets in the signs of the zodiac that they were in, and they lived their lives according to these heavenly messages.

In so doing they elevated their natures to the level of the gods.

They became the manifestation of heaven and exalted themselves by aligning to the nature of the heavenly lights.

They followed the stars, and by so doing exalted or lived up to the higher qualities of their nature.

As they applied these teachings and the subsequent exalted nature in their life on earth, they extended their field of action.

By understanding the changing influence of the stars or zodiac on the nature of the planets and sun and moon, they exalted their natures.

By applying the understanding of the exalted nature of the heavens and the moving lights,

into the worldly areas or dimensions of human experience, represented by the astrological houses or lines on the earth, they extended their field of action.

This is what astrology does.

It teaches us how to improve our characters and expand the quality and quantity of our worldly experiences.

The sun, moon and planets are the functions of being alive.

The changing zodiac signs qualify and condition the attitude and nature of these functions.

One can live up to one’s higher nature or live a diminished life.

One can live up to one’s destiny or fall from it.

Once the sun, moon and planets take on the nature of the zodiac signs they are in, they then direct the resulting energy into the affairs of the individual house each is in, thus creating subsequent effects.

They can do this with ease or with difficulty according to the relationship to the other moving lights (sun, moon and planets).

These factors are measured by aspects in the horoscope which reveal how much stress or tension accompanies each planet or function.

For example: Some people are confident while others are not.

This can be observed from stressful aspects to the sun.

Some people have good homes and good mothers, while others do not.

This can be observed from stressful aspects to the moon.

Some people think clearly and easily, while others do not.

This can be observed from stressful aspects to Mercury.

Some people have good values and taste while others do not

This can be observed from stressful aspects to Venus

Some people are strong and use energy easily, while others do not.

This can be observed from stressful aspects to Mars.

Some people learn well and have understanding, while others do not.

This can be observed from stressful aspects to Jupiter.

Some people have self-discipline and respect, while others do not.

This can be observed from stressful aspects to Saturn.

Each planet, sun and moon represents a dimension of consciousness and a unique set of functions.

By knowing the zodiac signs they are in, or the circumstances of the light and the dark affecting them, we can improve their manifestation or expression in our lives.

For example: Everyone has their own way of thinking with their own mental attitudes and biases.

If we can understand our higher natures or how we are supposed to think, and work to make improvements in this direction, we will improve our capacity to think and discriminate and thereby extend or increase our field of action and our worldly circumstances.

By knowing what house a planet is in, we are in a position to improve or better direct the worldly circumstances and areas of experience that each of the twelve houses represent.

This whole process makes us more aware and increases our sensitivity to and understanding of life, and opens the way to self improvement within and improved efficiency without.

Such is the way of the changes. They guide us to elevate our nature.

Wisdom exalts.

The more we understand, the more exalted we can be.

This wisdom is that the heavenly lights influence us and our worldly circumstances. They create effects, and instigate change and transformation in life.

We, of course, are influenced inwardly and outwardly by these effects or changes.

This statement is a confirmation of the validity of astrology and that wisdom can be gained from its use.

It is by understanding our relationship to these changes from above and their effects below, that wisdom can be developed, and through which we can lead better and more fulfilling lives.

We can even elevate our lives to the level of the miraculous.

The mores make humble.

Because of the difficulties involved with living up to what is right, we are easily humbled.

From this comes sorrow and guilt and the need to improve or live better.

The exalted imitate heaven.

To be exalted one must imitate or follow the ways of heaven or the heavenly lights.

Through the use of astrology or heavenly changes we can become wise and exalt our own natures and circumstances.

The humble follow the example of the earth.

If we are not exalted and have been humbled by life, we will have to adjust to the effects and changes as they happen in the world.

We have to yield to the demands of the time and space around us.

If we do not have wisdom or higher understanding, we have to be receptive and yield.

In such a situation, to contend would bring disaster (loss, sorrow and guilt).

In astrology the planets, sun and moon represent the functional dimensions of life or consciousness.

The zodiac signs radiate their light and colour onto the planets.

Each planet, sun and moon is then coloured and its effect influenced or biased by the sign it is in.

For example:

If Mercury, the mind, is in Gemini the sign of great brightness, the thinking will be creative and free.

If it is in Capricorn a sign of great darkness the thinking will be measured and cautious.

Each zodiac sign has its own unique colour and effect.

This colouring conditions or determines the attitude of each of the planets, sun and moon accordingly.

By studying the heavenly lights or attitudes affecting each planet, and working in ourselves to elevate or improve our corresponding personal attitudes, we can improve the quality and scope of our lives.

Once the planets, sun and moon pick up an attitude, they direct their influence into the affairs of the twelve houses, or into the diverse circumstances on earth.

The sun, moon and planets are the creative energies that cause changes on earth.

The twelve signs qualify how a planet works or functions.

The twelve houses quantify or direct planetary energies into distinct worldly affairs.

2. Heaven and earth determine the scene, and the changes take effect within it. The perfected nature of man, sustaining itself and enduring, is the gateway of Tao and of justice.

Heaven and earth determine the scene,

The images in the heavens and the lines on the earth

The twelve zodiac signs and the twelve astrological houses

The divisions of the year and the divisions of the day.

The circles are also cycles.

Space and time are included.

These are the scales against which the moving lights are measured.

They contain the measure of what is above and what is below.

This is the scene or stage of the world.

and the changes take effect within it.

The moving lights move through the heavenly images and have their effects on the forms of the world.

The sun, moon and planets move through the zodiac signs and are affected accordingly.

These moving lights then effect the changes on the earth.

These moving lights (sun, moon and planets) take on the nature or attitude of the zodiac sign they are in, and the put their energy into the affairs of the house they are in.

The interrelationship of the moving lights in their cycles create changes or aspects in the heavens, which manifest as various degrees of stress and tension in our behaviour on earth.

We can express the effects of the moving lights easily or with difficulty according to the aspects made to them (the circumstances of their interrelationships)

The perfected nature of man,

The perfected nature of man is his destiny, or life potential or divine nature.

It is revealed by the circumstances in the heavens and on earth at the great beginning, or birth.

When one fully imitates the nature of heaven in the affairs of earth one perfects one’s nature.

When one consciously lives the higher nature of one’s moving lights and manifests their effects, one perfects one’s own nature.

sustaining itself and enduring,

Against this ever changing background of heavenly lights and earthly circumstances, one is continually challenged to adapt and make changes.

One is challenged to sustain one’s higher nature.

One’s nature is represented by one’s horoscope or the lights in the heavens and the circumstances on earth at the great beginning or birth.

The aspects or changes between the heavenly lights across the duration of a lifetime, from the great beginning to the end, create stress and tension in one’s affairs on earth.

If one can deal with these living challenges and maintain one’s integrity with regards to what is above and what is below, from the great beginning to the end of life, then one can indeed sustain one’s higher nature and endure.

In astrology, one is challenged to live up to one’s inherent nature as measured in the heavens against the ongoing pressures and tensions of life on earth and its ever changing aspects.

This implies living up to the challenges in one’s horoscope and dealing with the transits or transitory challenges across a lifetime.

is the gateway of Tao and of justice.

Our relationship to the heavenly lights and our capacity to live up to the subsequent challenges on earth, sets the standard.

To be content with one’s own circumstances and aligned with the ways of heaven and the subsequent effects on earth is the way in which one can live justly.

Without understanding the ways of heaven and their effects on earth, nothing would seem fair.

Contentment and peace would not prevail, and justice would be evasive.

This reveals how important an understanding of the changes is, how it should be used as the gateway to Tao (essential being) and referred to for an understanding of justice.