Book Review: The Invisible Garment
One of the best discoveries I ever made was finding out about the Sabian Symbols. They empowered me to better understand astrology, especilly from the evolutionary standpoint from which I pratice. Now Connie Kaplan has written another resources that can open doors of understanding and transformation.
When you first see "The Invisible Garment: 30 Spiritual Principles that Weave the Fabric of Human Life" you may think it is not an astrology book. There is nothing on the cover that indicates any connection with the discipline. But when you begin reading you quicly see that she has taken an indepth look at the spirituality that joins the science of astronomy in undergirding astrology. She takes the position that who we are is about BEING, not DOING. This is a mind-blowing concept in Western society where doing, accomplishing and achieving are the driving forces behind people's existence.
Integrating reincarnation and incarnation, she discusses the matter of human being as entities with souls. Then she explains how astrology is a blueprint we can use to understand the meaning and mission of our souls. The 30 spiritual principles are the 30 degrees that exist in each sign of the zodiac, from 0 through 29.
As any solid astrologer would recomend, Kaplan advises that you get your natal/birth chart calculated. After that she links each degree to a spiritual principle. She divides the principles into three categories: Ascending (0-9), Containing (10-19) and Descending (20-29). Ascending Principles are "the most elemental, foundational principles of form. They reach their highest expression through encountering human consciousness. They are natural or belonging to nature" (p. 5) according to Kaplan. The Containing Principles are connected to human expression of the soul, describe many human qualities and are intellectual in form. The third set, Descending Principles, acccording to Kaplan, reach down into human consciousness to achieve contact wiht human form and are "almost undefinable because of their heavenly qualities" (p. 6).
Say, for example, you have your Sun at 3 degrees, Moon at 11 degrees, Ascendant at 9 degrees, Mercury at 15 degrees, Mars and Venus at 17 degrees and Midheaven at 28 degrees. Using Kaplan's process, 3=Memory, 11=Flowering, 9=Awareness, 15=Resistance, 17=Attraction and 28=Love.
Once you know your pattern, you personal weave, then you can allow your soul to "be" itself. Using the above placements, for example, you could create a series of statements like this:
My main purpose is to live Memory. Flowering is my primary support in this project called "life". Awareness, Resistance and strong Attraction create the personality through which I can best express Memory...........and it is in behalf of Love that I deliver my blessing into form" (p. 28).
Each of the 30 Principles is fully explained, complete with examples of past figures of history and present notable individuals. As a tool for understanding the discipline of astrology and understanding yourself, family members or friends, this book opens the door to great insight.
Copyright © 2005 Healing Universe