appendix 9.2.b
The Ascendant as Gateway to another Dimension
Planes and qualities
These two fields of manifestation, the plane of the all-round circumference and the Prime Vertical plane on which a subjective image emerges, are at right angles to each other; they share the East-West line. Through this line, one field appears in reduced form in the other field. One of its dimensions has been folded up due to the perpendicular projection. This implies that from neither of these planes we can reach the complete information that is present in one of the other planes. To enter the other dimension we must re-orientate our-selves, make a turn of 90°.
fig. 9.2.b the three great circles around the I
Fields of experience
As we stated before (*) each of these planes can be related to a certain quality. The plane of the horizon including the ascendant is related to the fysical field of experience, the plane of the prime vertical to the projected celestial bodies and our personal view on reality, and the meridian with time and its counterpart eternity. In these qualitative aspects these three planes can be regarded as three fields of experience, or three levels of reality. (3.1)
Gateways to other levels of reality
In order to pass from one field to the other, we need a gateway in the form of a point that both fields have in common. The Ascendant Point may serve as such a gateway.
Because this point belongs to both planes, it forms a connection between them. This point turns out to be the link between Man as a subjective self, looking at his surroundings from his own projection, and Man as part of a value-free, non-subjective Creation.
The axis IC-MC
We may look at the IC-MC axis in the horoscope in a similar way. These points, too, are made visible on the Prime Vertical by a position circle: the Meridian that passes through Zenith and Nadir. Just as the Horizon, this position circle, too, is involved in an earlier projection, namely the projection of Zenith and Nadir onto the Horizon.
So the information contained in the Meridian plane is equally invisible in the horoscope chart; it has been folded up into a line, that is, into the IC-MC axis. This characteristic of the Meridian plane in the horoscope may guide us in our interpretation of astrological aspects to the IC and MC-points in the horocope. Since these aspects emerge from the polarised centre, their interpretation must be spiritual in nature, whereas the interpretation of aspects to the Ascendant must refer to the material world (25.5).
Meditation
Translated into terms of human functioning, it means that in order to experience either one of these realms, we must 'fold up' or bring to a halt the other realm.
We do this in meditation exercises, when we temporarily put our physical activities on hold in order to wake higher levels of consciousness.
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