Do the Stars Control You?

Why does astrology work? What is destiny? Does it co-exist with freewill? What is karma and, more importantly why is karma… what is its purpose? What role do the stars and planets play in this whole thing? Is the destiny they seem to create for us something inescapable and unalterable – or can we alter our own fates?

Astrology works because you have freewill. If you did not have freedom of choice you would not be held responsible for your choices, and therefore would not have the “destiny” or “fate” which an astrological chart can foretell.

I could not possibly stress how important it is to thoroughly grasp this.

Thus, freewill and fate – choice and destiny – are a cause and effect, a “yin and yang,” two opposite poles on the same axis. The axis itself, the circle of yin and yang, the marriage of freewill and fate is a single phenomenon we call karma. Karma is both the freewill to make choices, and the fated destiny which arises from our being held responsible for those choices.

Who holds us responsible? The universe herself, with all her stars and planets. She observes all our free choices and actions. She bestows their just rewards and punishments.

Why does she do so? Because your deepest soul is currently a torn and divided being. You wish to be in this world and enjoy it, but at the same time you feel that there is something inherently lacking – that you are out place here. This sort of feeling is a lot like being a teenager and not yet knowing where you truly belong – but it is metaphysically far deeper and more troubling. The universe is your metaphysical mother, and her role is to help you “grow up” and “find your true place in the world.” She does this through the workings of karma, by holding you responsible for your deeds. She allows you to be in this world and enjoy it, but at the same time helps you gradually figure out for yourself exactly what it is that is lacking from this worldly experience. Karma allows you to create your own future, but it also encourages you to gradually evolve and “grow up” by only truly rewarding your more selfless acts, and only truly punishing your more selfish ones.

The stars and planets move into configurations like hands on a clock, revealing the deeper clockwork of the universe – the mechanism of karma itself. That configuration, particularly at the time of your birth, tells you how the universe is configured towards you, and thus allows to understand what karmic fruits the universe will bestow to you during this lifetime.

Can you alter your fate? What an odd question! Has anyone else but you in fact created your fate in the first place!? The stars do not create your fate, they simply enforce it. They enforce it with a power that is impossible to oppose, yes. But still it is you and only you who command the power and responsibility for your own destiny. You can not change the destiny you have already created. But you must change the destiny you create today, by using your freewill to react to your own fate in more and more enlightened and selfless ways.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

© 2010 Vic DiCara, All Rights Reserved

FREE Readings!!!(???)

Everyone wants something for nothing. But for nothing you get nothing.

This is why the astrological scriptures of India forbid an astrologer to give readings to a person who offers no gifts or services. Those who are not willing to give anything do not deserve to get anything. And if you give something to a person who doesn’t give anything for it… well, ever hear that saying “I don’t give a rats-ass” (or other variants)? Yeah, if you give something to someone who won’t even give a rats-ass in return for it, they are simply not going to value the guidance you give them. The entire thing is a waste of time for all concerned.

Of course these same people are going to lecture you: “Do this as selfless service for others and God will bless you.”

Out of kindness to such people the astrologer should not accept this proposal. If I do a service for you which you do not reciprocate to me, you will have to repay me that debt at least tenfold by the laws of karma. Yes, God will bless me – but my job as an astrologer is not to make God bless me – it is to make God bless you.

Yes, some people live in poor countries, or are just in very, very difficult situations and maybe they can’t afford a reading when they really need one. So, my policy is very open. For example, right now I charge $200 for a full reading, and $50 for hourly consultations thereafter. However, if you are in dire straits for whatever reason, my policy is that you can send whatever donation you can afford and I will attend to your needs.

If you have no money at all, you can send me something else – basmati rice, anything. Hey, you can even pick a flower and stick it in an envelope and mail it to me, and I will at least look at your question.

Nobody (really, nobody) has taken me up on that offer.

I found that baffling until I realized the truth: If you are not willing to give you are not qualified to get. The people who don’t want to give are in dire straits – that is true, but why? Because they have in the past been manipulating the world so that they can get stuff for free. And now they are paying for it tenfold by the laws of karma.

There are those destined to get readings from me, and there are those… who are not.

Some people will criticize and say I am not “spiritual” not a “true brahmin”, etc. etc. It is my karma to receive these criticisms, tolerate them and benefit from them.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

Spiritual Big Bang, the Meaning of Life, and the Sanctity of Freewill

In the “beginning” there was just “The One.”

Well, beginning is a bit misleading, since this story starts before the “beginning” – before the universe began with its its wheels of time. And even the one is misleading, because it is really more like “the infinite.” But let’s stick with the poetic imagery:

In the beginning there was just The One.
Then,
The One became Many. (एको बहु स्यात)

Ok, but why? Why did The One become many? Well, think about it. What if you were “The One”? There would be nothing but you; no one to share anything with. And that is sort of, well… boring, isn’t it? Sort of lonely and boring.

That’s why the one became many: because The One wanted bliss rather than boredom (अानन्दमोयाभ्यासात).

So there was a spiritual “big bang” before the beginning of time, in which the infinite singularity of The One suddenly manifested as The Many. Countless souls – including you and me – came into being right then.

Let’s never forget why. Forgetting why means forgetting our purpose, forgetting the meaning of our life. Why do we come into being? Because The One wants to share the blissful experience with other people, and not be lonely or bored. So, what is the purpose and meaning of life? The purpose of life is to share bliss with The One. That experience is the true meaning of being alive.

A KINK IN THE PLAN?

But maybe there was a small, small kink in the plan?

Let’s imagine The One as being the ocean, the Atlantic, and The Many would be like drops taken from that ocean. The drops are all unique, because they all come from different places in the ocean. Drops from the north atlantic are cold, for example, while drops from off the shore of Cuba are hot. And so on.

This little handy metaphor gives you an idea of how and why each one of The Many is a unique individual. And it also gives you a clue to what the kink in the plan is.

The Kink is that some of the “drops” come from the part of the ocean which strongly identifies itself as The One. The drops that come from this part of the ocean are not entirely comfortable being one of “The Many” – they are inclined to understand themselves as “The One.”

The role of The Many is to share bliss with the One. But the kink in the plan is that some of the Many feel like they are The One.

It is a question of focal point, really. The grand plan is that The One is the focal point of bliss, in which all of The Many share. But the kink in the plan is that some of the Many think that they should be the focal point of the sharing.

QUICK FIX?

So, why doesn’t the one just, uhm, fix those “lightbulbs”? Why doesn’t “he” just say – “ooops, you guys were mistakes, let’s… uhm… turn you off or tuck you back inside me?”

Because we are not mistakes!

And because, having been created, we exist. And that which has existence shall not come to nonexistence, ever. (नासातो विद्यते भावो, नाभावो विद्यते सतः)

Why not?

Because that which exists has freewill. And freewill is omnipotent, and inextinguishable. That is why it is called “free” – it has perfect sovereignty or “freedom” and can not be subdued.

We are all emanations from The One, the infinite being of will and consciousness. As such we eternally have consciousness and will… free will. The One never thinks he will “fix” us. It is our free will to be whomever we choose to be. If we choose to want to be The One, that is our own free choice, and even The One shall solemnly respect and honor that choice.

We are not mistakes at all. We are a glorious part of the plan. We don’t need to be “fixed” – we simply need to “blossom.”

HOW WE BLOSSOM

Here is the scenario so far: The One desires to share bliss with others, so “he” manifests The Many. Since they all come from The One, it is natural that at least some of The Many will feel like they are The One. Now The One needs to take care of the situation, without erasing or violating it.

So The One says, “hey guys, if I let you do your thing here – you will disrupt the vast majority of Many who are all focused on Me as being The One. But don’t worry, I will make a special section of space for you, where you can actually experience what it feels like to be The One.”

Oh happy day!

ENTER THE WORLD

So we merrily skipped on over to the border of this new world made just for us. We peaked over the edge with eager eyes, but our smiles suddenly faded into pale doubts. There was something very empty feeling in there. And it was sadly obvious what was missing: The One, the real One was missing.

You see even though we do want to be The One, we also do naturally want to be with The One. Both qualities are inherent in the foundations of our being. That is what makes us so very interesting and complex.

So we turned around with sad faces towards The Beautiful One. “But if we go in there, will we see you again?” We asked.

“You would want to see me again?” The One asks us.

“Of course! We cannot really live without you!” We reply, tearfully.

Touched, moved to deepest bliss, The One smiles and says, “Yes, do not worry. When you decide you want to return to me, you can return.”

We looked back at the new world made just for us. It was enticing & fascinating, dangerously so. It was clear to us that if we set foot there we would become completely immersed and engrossed. It was designed to help us forget that we are not really The One. So how would we ever remember The Real One? And if we could not remember The Real One, why would we ever decide to return?

Again, hesitation and doubt saturated us.

“You are full of fears?” The One said to us.

“Yes,” we replied. “For one thing, isn’t that place designed to make us forget you? If so how will we ever remember to return to you? And another thing: are we not what we are? Are we not torn beings, torn between wanting you and wanting to be you? Can you actually change us? Is that even possible?”

The lotus eyes of The One gracefully closed and remained shut in meditation. The universe was remade.

“It is true that I shall never violate your freewill. Your freewill is the point of your existence. Without freewill, love is impossible. Without love, bliss is impossible. Without bliss it is pointless to be The One. Thus, my dears, I can not change you. You are right. But you can change you!”

He opened his eyes slowly and continued, “It is also true that this world I made for you would make you completely forget me. I thought this is what you wanted. But now I know that is not true, so I have changed the world. I have made it more wonderful than I could have even envisioned one my own, were it not for you. It will remind you of me eventually, when you are ready. When you desire it. When you will it.”

Then, with one final embrace, we entered the world, and time began.

KARMA – THE CHANGED UNIVERSE

What was it that The One changed in the universe when he closed his eyes? He created “karma” – the mechanism which would make the world eventually remind us that we are not really The One. To continue the story, you must now learn about karma.

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

Why Astrology is Real and Works

Astrology works because we have freewill.

Freedom of choice is wired into the very core of what we are. ¹ Human beings, especially, are the “grown ups” all life on earth. We are “adults” with fullest access to our inherent freewill. Adults are held responsible for their actions.

Astrology works because we have freewill and are therefore responsible for our actions. Yes, there is a lot of cool, far-out stuff like electromagnetic ketheric interplanetary gravitons and quantum quarks and all that interesting stuff, yeah. But, none of that is the real reason Astrology works. Astrology works because we are 100% responsible for every decision we make and every action we take.

Plain and simple.

Who holds us accountable for our choices?

The universe herself.

Why does she bother?

Because she is our “mother” and wants to help us evolve. The more selfishly we use our freewill the more she “punishes” us. The more selflessly we chose to live, the more she “rewards” us. This is a simple and effective technique which Pavlov is credited for articulating.

If you are a mother or a father you know how much work it is to take care of a child. But in a sense your work is more or less “done” after 20 years or so, right? Not so with mother nature. A soul takes lifetimes to “grow up”, not years. Mother nature’s work of raising her children by helping encouraging our good choices (selfless) and discouraging our bad choices (selfish) is something which is not so mainly concerned with the very small boundary of the conscious mind in a single lifetime. It works instead in the gigantic subconscious awareness of the soul, which spans countless lifetimes.

We often call this whole shebang “the law of Karma.” But it is not really a law so much as it is love. It is the love of our mother – the universe herself – which causes her to make the enormous effort to help us “grow up” and evolve.

Astrology works because we have a “mother” looking after us.

Does this comfort you? It really should. You should know that you are safe in the lap of your mother. Even though she may be spanking you – her intention is always loving and kind.

How do the signs and planets fit into this picture?

Our sacred mother, the Universe, is in constant complex motion to deliver deserved punishments and rewards to the countless living beings who inhabit her. In that sense she is like the most sophisticated and elaborate clockwork. The gears and wheels of her inner workings are mysterious, quantum things – but the planets and stars that we can see with our naked eyes in the sky are exactly like hands on the face of the clock that is the universe.

Astrology is the science of “telling time.”

When you were born, the universe – all the stars and planets we can see with our eyes in the sky – were in an absolutely unique configuration, like hands on the face of an enormous and complex clock. The universe moved those stars and planets into that configuration as a result of the inner movements of her hidden clockwork, in constant motion to bring you the specific rewards and lessons you deserve and require in your current lifetime to help you evolve as a spiritual being.

This is the real reason why the position of the planets and stars at the time of your birth tells what “destiny” awaits you in your life.

Why has mother nature bothered to create a face for her clockwork?

The give you a chance to evolve faster and more joyfully.

She created a face for the clockwork and taught humanity in very ancient times how to read her clock. Why, so that you can better understand yourself, and the meaning and purpose of the events in your life. And what is the purpose of that? So that you evolve more joyfully and effectively towards your ultimate enlightenment.

Those who she blesses continue to understand the science of astrology. There are very few, but such persons can help humanity evolve at fantastically accelerated rates. So, I would say, it is your amazing opportunity to be one of the rare humans who can avail yourself of the divine blessing of astrology. Perhaps even a few of you are destined to yourself become true astrologers?!

- Vic DiCara

www.vicdicara.com

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¹ According the Bhagavad Gita, the spiritual core possesses the same eternal freedom as God posseses: “mamaivamsha jiva-loke, jiva-bhuta sanatana”