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The Moon, Mercury, Mind and Intellect 
May 3, 2006 |
| Vedic Astrology Diary Archives |
It's commonly known in Vedic astrology that the Moon represents
the mind or manas in Sanskrit. However, in the English
language we often make the mistake of equating the mind with
the intellect. We say phrases like "Einstein had a brilliant
mind," or "I like the way that person's mind works."
What we really mean is the intellect, which is our rational,
analytical, logical, reasoning power, which is represented by
Mercury. Mathematics is also ruled by Mercury.
The mind and the Moon, on the other hand, represent our thoughts,
feelings, and perceptions that determine our state of awareness,
our relative experience of happiness. It is our psychological
conditioning and habitual thought patterns that determine how
we perceive the world. The spiritual path could be summarized
as "purifying the mind" until only the Divine is perceived
at all times, which is a definition of enlightenment.
The tradition of Vedic astrology has always recognized the importance
of the Moon for our emotional, psychological, spiritual well-being,
which is why it is a lunar-based system, as opposed to Western
astrology which is a solar-based system.
In natal chart interpretation we have to separate the mind from
intellect to understand the difference between the Moon and
Mercury. Both represent distinctly different thinking processes.
We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world. Speak or act with a pure
mind and happiness will follow you as your shadow, unshakeable.
- Gautama Buddha, in the Dhammapada
Copyright 2006. Vaughn Paul
Manley. All Rights Reserved. |
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