Friday, November 13, 2009

Solar and Lunar Time

Among the first of the regional empires of human history were those of two agricultural civilizations centered on two rivers, the Nile and the Indus.

The Egyptian civilization, based upon the union of an African South, symbolized by the Snake, and a Semitic North, symbolized by the Eagle, was able to maximize its agricultural production, based upon the innovative use of solar time, and as a result, the ability to predict exactly when the Nile would flood. In consequence, Egypt developed a solar-based, linear-triangular view of time, oriented to the Eye, and focused upon the material progress of society.

The Indus Valley civilization was able to maximize its agricultural production, based upon the use of lunar time, and as a result, the capacity to predict approximately when the Monsoon rains would come. In consequence, India develop a lunar, curvilinear-cyclical view of time, oriented to the Mind, and focused on the spiritual and mental progress of the individual.

The Solar view of Time, symbolized by the triangle, is concerned with domination. The triangle is always dominated by what is at the top, whether it is its apex (One Above All, representing Material Order), or, in the case of an inverted triangle, its base (Many Above All, representing Material Disorder).

The Lunar view of Time, symbolized by the circle, is concerned with definition. The circle is defined either by its center (One Central to All, representing Spiritual/Mental Freedom), or by its periphery (Many Peripheral to All, representing Spiritual/Mental subjection).

A society based upon Solar Time may maximize material progress (Material Order), but is vulnerable to spirtual enslavement. A society based upon Lunar Time may maximize spiritual/mental progress (Spiritual/Mental Freedom), but is vulnerable to material disorder.

(c) Copyright 2009 by A. Rogolsky

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