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Communing
With The Universe: The Power of Oracles
However, the advent of Quantum
Mechanics and Chaos Theory in particular have ended that dream forever.
Instead of speaking of certainties and laws, we must now deal with
probabilities (i.e. likelihoods) and a constant interplay between Order
and Chaos. Royal Society Biologist, Rupert Sheldrake, now threatens to
upset the established scheme even further with his theory that there are
in fact no “Laws of Nature”, but rather ingrained habits built up
through countless repetitions! So everything in Science is in a
dramatic state of flux - one that has yet to feed down to the layman. Most
people are still caught in the 19th century hangover of
Scientific Rationalism. This
loosely states that the only things that exist are those that can be
verified experimentally, and that logic is the only valid function of the
brain for determining true knowledge about reality. This notion still
pervades all areas of society. However, it is an utterly false one. In truth, the universe
is increasingly revealed to be a place of profound mystery. The more
scientists discover, the more they gasp at the immensity that remains to
be discovered. In truth, the Universe is something incomprehensibly
complex; from the smallest sub-atomic particle to the vast dimensions of
galactic super-clusters. It defies the finite capacities of our minds. Moreover, for those who have eyes to
see, the universe is also revealing itself to be a place of infinite
intelligence. Whether it be
Dr. Deepak Chopra telling us about the incredible wisdom stored within the
Human Body, or Geo-Physicist James Lovelock postulating that the entire
Earth can realistically be considered a single living organism - Gaia -
many scientists are embracing a holistic approach to reality at all
scales. Within this new
reality of the universe as BEING, the ancient methods of perception emerge
once more as potentially valid ways of examining reality.
In particular, the ancient method of the Oracle deserves our
re-appraisal. Long maligned
by Science as contemptible outdated nonsense, and by mainstream Religion
as the work of the devil, Oracles nevertheless enjoyed a long and
respected history in the Ancient World and throughout prehistory.
Science has rightly put an end to such notions as the flat Earth
hypothesis, and the belief that earthquakes and storms are the work of
unappeased gods. However,
Oracles - such as the I Ching and Tarot - seem as resilient today in our
modern technological civilization as they ever were. Ironically, Astrology
even uses the latest computer technology to do its work far more
efficiently and quickly than has ever been possible before! Before we discount this tendency as
solely limited to the realm of the feeble-minded, we
should remember that no less a mind than the great Swiss psychologist,
Carl Jung, took Oracle systems VERY seriously indeed and worked
extensively with the I Ching and the Tarot. It is an indisputable fact
that numerous Investment Banks around the world use
Financial Astrology to assist in their trading decisions. Moreover, the
brilliant 19th century banker, J.P. Morgan - whose bank bears
his name and is today one of America’s most prestigious financial
institutions is famously quoted as saying, “Millionaires don’t believe
in Astrology. Billionaires do.” Hence, despite the ravages of
Science and Religion, Oracle systems remain popular and robust in
mainstream society, and are espoused by genius and simpleton alike. Why is
this? Why have they not gone the same way as belief in Santa Claus or
Werewolves? Might the reason for their
persistence be that Oracles are a legitimate and valid function of the
human brain? Could it be that, like concepts of conscious and
subconscious, and the left-handed and right-handed functions of the brain,
there is actually a part of your brain that is hard-wired to receive and
process information in an oracular manner?
This notion might seem revolutionary. However, it is not at all
unreasonable. Recall our earlier discussion about how Science seems to be
revealing the universe to be a place of Infinite Intelligence and Being.
What if the Cosmos really does function through Synchronicity
(meaningful coincidences), as Deepak Chopra’s SynchoDestiny work and
James Redfield’s “The Celestine Prophecy” suggest? Would it then be
unreasonable to postulate that Nature might have directly hard-wired into
us a means to perceive Reality this way? It is not unreasonable at all. In
fact, it is quite likely. This
would explain how Oracles thrive despite Rationalism’s best efforts to
eliminate them. You cannot eradicate a legitimate function of the human
brain through argument any more than you can insist that everyone’s
right leg is a useless physical leftover from a primitive past!
So where does this leave us? Quite simply, the Oracle is where our
individual soul touches the Soul of the Universe. Whereas logic speaks to
the scientific/logical left side of our brain, the oracle communicates
information from the heart of the universe, through symbol and image,
direct to the artistic/symbolic right-side. Each of us is bombarded daily
from society with logical/scientific input. We need to redress the balance
by stimulating and using the artistic/symbolic right-side of the brain.
This will in turn enhance our overall capacity to function in life.
Oracles systems like the I Ching and Tarot can help us do that.
In doing so, we need not approach with an attitude of deep fear, as
if we are about to lose our souls. Such fears were propagated by
established religion for purely political reasons. After all, if you are
truly able to obtain essential knowledge and communion with the Source/God
directly, why would you need the expensive trappings of large buildings,
the priesthood and regular financial donations? Rather, we should remember that
serious scientists like Jung made studies of the Tarot and I Ching in line
with his studies of Symbolism and the Human Mind and that (b)in line with
the latest scientific revelations of the Universe, as being primarily a
place of meaning and incomprehensible intelligence, Oracle systems - which
seem so in tune with these discoveries - acquire a legitimacy and basis of
credibility that they could never have had in previous centuries when
these facts were unknown. Hence,
you should choose an oracle and use it regularly. The Tarot and I Ching
are particularly recommended. Write your results down in your Journal.
Regular use will exercise this vital brain function. Like anything
that is exercised regularly, this brain function will strengthen and
improve and give you increasingly reliable results. In doing so, you
strengthen your intuition and put yourself in direct contact with the
Source of the Universe itself. © 2000 Asoka Selvarajah. All rights reserved. ===== Dr. Asoka Selvarajah publishes the ezine, "Aspire To Wisdom"; a unique synthesis of Personal Development, combined with Spiritual Growth/Metaphysical Teachings. You can visit his Mystic Visions website at http://www.aksworld.com
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