Astrology and Kabbalah

On Saturday 8th October day we enjoyed a fascinating day on Astrology and Kabbalah; when Jewish Kabbalist and astrologer Jonathon Clark joined us from the London Centre of the Kabbalah Society.

In the morning Jonathon reminded us of Kabbalistic fundamentals and related them to astrological ideas, setting the planets on the sefirot of the Tree of Life. He then covered the astrological basics of zodiac signs, planetary meanings and the house system in a very clear powerpoint presentation (available for Tree of Life School companions).

In preparation for the day, we had all sent in our birth details and Jonathon had both prepared our individual birth charts and set the planetary details on the Tree of Life for each of us. So in the afternoon Jonathon led the group in studying each person's chart, illuminating physical, psychological and spiritual themes for each person. This was not only very affirming and insightful at a personal level, but was also a great way to get to know each other better as companions in spiritual work.

Not only was this a fascinating day of study, but we were also blessed with warm sunshine and Joyce's wonderful hospitality. What could be better than to sit in out in the sun at lunchtime, in Joyce's beautiful garden with its inspiring view over Dartmoor, and be nourished by a delicious home cooked feast. All this with good companions and a great tutor!

Jonathon was heavily outnumbered by a lovely group of women + dog!

Energy Body

Three energy channels and subtle energy centres, called Chakras in the Hindu Tradition.
Comparisons can be made with the Kabbalistic Three Pillars and Sefirot.

Having started our first meeting for this term focussing on the most solid, physical aspects of life and our bodies, in our second meeting on October 5th, we moved on up the Tree a little to consider the more subtle aspects of the physical world.

We looked at the second 'Face' on Jacob's Ladder, representing where the material and psychological worlds interpenetrate each other. We reflected on how we all experience this; how stress can lead to physical illness for example, or vice versa. We then explored how several spiritual systems work with what is sometimes called the etheric or energy body, which is often understood as existing within or around the physical forms of all life from human beings to landscapes. We compared briefly the Hindu chakras and Taoist Tantiens and saw how both systems focus on subtle energy centres in the body, connected by energy channels, including major centres in the lower abdomen, heart and head.

The Tree of Life can be mapped onto the body in a similar way, with the Four Worlds of Kabbalah related to subtle energy centres in feet (Earth/Physical World/Malkut), lower abdomen/genitals (Water/ Psychological World/ Yesod), Heart (Air/Spiritual World/ Tiferet) and the crown of the head (Fire,/Divine World/Keter). We experienced this subtle energy Body Tree through meditation, working with the breath and expanding awareness from feet to crown, from Malkut to Keter.

We concluded our meeting with some chanting led by Joyce. This gave a fascinating and energising insight into how the vibration of sound can stimulate the subtle energy centres in the body.