Thank you Pierce,
I wasn't expecting an interpretation of the degree as I realise that it may be difficult when you haven't seen my natal chart, but rather the definition of the Lot. As well as the time that could've used to doing something more important (I imagine you and other Astrologers on this forum already get a ton of mails in your inbox). However, I'm glad you took the time to write the possibilities to what it might mean anyway - it lead me back to what my real ambition and goals are.
I was starting to worry if I was studying Astrology for selfish reasons, which is why I wanted to know more about this Lot - to see if this Lot could explain where I'm heading with this subject, if it explained my reason as to why I stayed instead of leaving it behind and move on to something else, or...
But yes. Very interesting that you mention the Lot of Life. I looked it up and mine's at Sagittarius 7°34'
PHASE 248 (SAGITTARIUS 8°): WITHIN THE DEPTHS OF THE EARTH NEW ELEMENTS ARE BEING FORMED.
KEYNOTE: The alchemical fire which both purifies and transforms the very substance of man's inner life.
Forces are at work in the deepest layers of the psyche which in their own way respond to the outer stimulation produced by a strong involvement in group ambitions and emotions, and even more by the powerful tensions and releases of love. An alchemical process goes on, usually unnoticed by the conscious ego, until it becomes obvious that a kind of mutation has taken place and a new level of awareness and of responses to life has been reached.
At this third stage of the five-fold sequence we deal with both the basic rhythm of growth of the human being and the reaction to more individualized experiences which aroused the emotions. The very substance of the person's nature undergoes modifications, on the basis of which a new step may be taken. The symbol draws our attention to the inner changes. We have to become aware of them. What is implied is a kind of PSYCHIC GESTATION.
Astrology was in fact an "excuse" or more like a tool to work on myself. I was already into subjects like sociology and psychology before I came across astrology, to understand why people think and act the way they do... Gaining knowledge from books is one thing, I understand. In the future I intend to gain wisdom from people, relate and listen to their stories, so that I can use all the knowledge to help those who need it.
When I was about 14 years old I did volunteer work with a friend at a nursing home. It was a very short experience, but the elderly's stories were very inspiring.
I hope you don't mind my rant. I thought it was related to what you had written. And my worry about using Astrology for selfish reasons made me think, that even if it is used for selfish reasons
now, eventually it's gained me insight and will be used to help others. That's my plan at least.
Also, had to add. Society's always been dysfunctional in my mind since I was veryyy young. Which is how I relate to my Aquarius Moon so much. Nothing drives my ambition as much as seeing people getting frustrated and hurt by the demands of external pressure. Astrology is yet another reason why things should change... It would be great to actually see Astrology become a valid study in more countries, to be accepted as a branch of science.
So again, thank you! This has helped clearing some of my thoughts.
Edit: It's fine, I will look through your posts anyway since I have the time.
The ones I've read so far are very informative, imo.
As to a definition of the Lot, well, that is a bit difficult because we are in the early stages of correctly identifying so many of them... nomenclature oft was mis-translated or inadequately done so.. and likely erroneously too...as we have found at least a couple so far...an example of one is the Part of False Love...see my thread on that for more information about that.
Sometimes it is the Sabian Symbolism that defines the Lot as how it specifically relates to the subject in question. The Lot of Hyleg is the supreme example of that ...read my thread on that Lot and you will understand what the author himself didn't have a clue as to what it meant when Robt. Zoller wrote in his book that the ancient had little to say about the Lot other than it is the root of all the other Lots...in that that Lot is specifically defined by the degree symbolism and without which it is worthless and of absolutely no value.
In my case it the Lot of Astrology symbolizes my attitude towards the "science" in regards to society... I have made many discoveries...re-discoveries actually...as it was all known in a time of great antiquity in an age of Satya Yuga by Vedic nomenclature and explanation... the symbolism of (ibid.)
"AN UNSEALED LETTER" is demonstrating that I have no proprietary designs on those discoveries...unlike a great many of the self identified astrologers that are members of this forum... Knowledge of such Divine design is meant to be shared... in fact it demands, or decrees, it to be so... to keep such knowledge from others is surely a reprehensible sin as it stagnates and possibly even retards the spiritual growth, or evolution, of fellow human beings.
In your particular case this seems to be explaining to you why you sought to learn of the "science" ...but then again I suppose one could say the same thing about how this Lot and my symbolism are indicative of... specifically to share a great knowledge for the purpose of helping others as not so much my self...if even ever any thought was primarily for self help or aggrandizement.
I think it will help to remember that Dane Rudhyar identified three basic types of Sabian Symbols that repeat every five degrees.
The first five degrees (1* - 5* nd then repeating at 16* - 20* of each and every Sign) are what He identified as ACTIONAL, the second set of five degrees (i.e. 6* - 10* and again from 21* - 25* of each and every Sign) were identified as EMOTIONAL/CULTURAL and the third set of five degrees (i.e.. 11* - 15* and again from 26* - 30*) were identified as MENTAL/INDIVIDUAL.
Thus, with that in mind, perhaps the additional information pertaining to these Sabian Symbols will help provide all with additional means of understanding the application of the symbolism to the Lots in that for some ACTIONAL symbolism must be consciously-actively applied ...where-as a degree symbolism of the EMOTIONAL/CULTURAL variety need only be occasionally kept in conscious regard if even that?
An example of what I just wrote concerning these EMOTIONAL/CULTURAL Sabian Symbols and why I wrote that they may not even have to be acknowledged and made aware to someone to be of effect can be best demonstrated by my own Part of Fortune and my Part of Imprisonment which are both of this variety.
My Part of Fortune is the 25* of Leo, (ibid.) "
A LARGE CAMEL IS SEEN CROSSING A VAST AND FORBIDDING DESERT.
KEYNOTE: Self-sufficiency in the face of a long and exhausting adventure.
The camel here represents a living organism that is able to sustain itself independently of its environment at the start of a trying journey. (The original formulation of the symbol did not refer to 'a man on camel back.') The organism carries within itself what is absolutely needed for survival. At the deeper human level of consciousness it is easy to see the value of self-reliance and self-sufficiency as one enters the occult Path leading to a more dynamic and more inclusive realm of existence.
The camel carries water within its body, and it is said that the dromedary is able to utilize the matter stored in its large protuberance as food. The suggestion here is that in order to be released from bondage to the 'old world' we should be completely self-contained emotionally; having absorbed the mental food which this old culture has given us, we are ready to face 'the desert', nothingness, Sunya . . . until we reach the 'new world'. We need TOTAL INDEPENDENCE from our surroundings and utter SELF-RELIANCE."
My Part of Imprisonment (that which one is not allowed to embrace of incorporate into their being... is the 21st degree of Virgo (ibid.)
"A GIRL'S BASKETBALL TEAM.
KEYNOTE: Physical training as a means to inculcate the feeling of participation in a collective culture." ...and, in this particular symbol I feel Dane Rudhyar just missed from being entirely accurate in his "KEYNOTE" summation in that I find no particular call for it to involve "physical training". His Keyword(s) conceptualization being "
GROUP INTEGRATION" is all I need to demonstrate how this indication goes hand in hand with my Part of Fortune ...
All my life I found myself somehow relegated to having to find my own path, my own source of knowledge, teach myself anything not taught in public school...find my own unique spiritual path, had to teach my self how to play a banjo...as no one gave lessons on that back in the 60's - early 70's... had to learn astrology on my own...by trial and error...
I was not picked to play for any team sport in high school but was accepted on to the tennis team where I played singles...the same for college...
Without any conscious knowledge of those Sabians or even an understanding of my natal astrology...as I didn't even get into the science until I was 31 years of age and didn't discover that the Astrological Parts/Lots are symbolically active until late in 2004 some twenty plus years after I took up the study of astrology ...YET...they had their way with me and controlled my destiny without my conscious awareness of that.
I did wonder at times why I was seemingly fated all along to be always the "Loner" ...even romantic connections were constantly thwarted despite my best efforts in trying to establish any and the few I did were always quickly spoiled by something that I had absolutely no control over.
The same can be said for my Part of Catastrophe...which I believe is an inevitable and necessary thing that must happen... but, as we are now aware of the fact that these Lots are symbolically active we have the advantage of being forewarned and prepared and I believe we now have the advantage of being able to mitigate the damage done so as not to suffer any more than was Divinely decreed as necessary.
It was the result of my "Catastrophe" that drove me to travel over 600 miles and throw myself at my brothers doorstep and charity for a place to live and regroup, to "clean up my act" so to speak...and just when He had been off work the previous 14 months and had spent all that time delving into astrology and learning about the Sabian Symbols and figuring out what "Traditional" know;ledge was valid and what wasn't and the same for the technique and was just ripe to spread that knowledge to anyone that might be interested and find a use for it...and I was his first customer...i got a nine month intensive...(My brother has an I.Q. of somewhere around 160 and currently holds diplomas for somewhere around seven or eight degrees and that was at last count in 2011...he may have four of five more by now. He only returned to college in 2001 after completing only one semester in the Fall of 1973... thus when He studies something for 14 months at the intensity that he is fully capable of...and He put 100% into it back in 1982-3....it's the equivalent of anyone of average intelligence achieving a Masters degree in the subject. He is the most voracious reader I have ever known...He read everything Carl Jung ever wrote in less than a months time and had no trouble at all assimilating it. I got the most thorough and complete introduction to 'tried, true and tested astrology anyone could ever hope for and then left his home and moved back to where I had traveled from and spent the next 20 years conducting further inquiry and studies all on my own...
As it was 20 years and 4 months later, in November of 2004, that upon learning of the availability of the astrodienst computer ephemeris, I utilized it, using the date given by the renowned 20th century American clairvoyant Edgar Cayce for the birth of the Prince of Peace and a theory of mine based on experience of having been intimately associated with a woman with a Pluto conjunct Ascendant natal aspect, and produced what I have been claiming to be the actual natal chart of Jesus/Yeshu'a of Nazareth and have found it to be the "Rosetta Stone" of Astrological understanding...
It is from that chart I have learned that the Lots are symbolically active...and I have yet to have a single disappointment from proceeding in using them in that manner...that is to say as long as the Lot is accurately labeled as being truly about the subject matter of its given title... and the use of the symbols when dealing with Lots that aren't properly labeled has enabled us to determine more accurately as to what they should be titled or at least pointed us in the general direction until further inquiry can be made...which is why I plead and beg for input from other members of this forum so as to help enable that process and speed up that process for the benefit of all.
But then again...only 1 person out of every 360 will have the 30th degree of Leo for their Part of Astrology...that symbolized by (ibid.) "
AN UNSEALED LETTER.
KEYNOTE: The realization by the individual that all thoughts and all messages are inevitably to be shared with all men."
...but I never needed to be told that or convinced of it... its inherent to my very nature to want to be of service to those that are in need of helpful knowledge...
A good friend once described me back around 1994 as "A Cornucopia of useless information"...it's just that He had no need for any of it... but I eventually found those who found it not only usefull but let it be known to me that it was sorely needed.
May that serve to be a useful parable of an anecdote for you... never stop being yourself or stop believing in your self as everyone has a needed part of the big puzzle, so I believe.
Guard that piece of the puzzle...keep it from being corrupted or wrongfully influenced by others..... you'll find that someday in the future..and likely at a moment so unsuspected by those so unassuming... to be so desperately needed and most gracious and appreciatively received.
Thanks for your detailed reply. It makes me happy to hear that I was actually very close to the mark in figuring out what the symbolism meant to you as applied to the Lot of Astrology without personally knowing that much about you ... it gives me positive indications that I'm improving in the understanding and use of this technique. I may have even done better than I'm willing to admit to myself... but, without further study and the test of time I can only wonder about that.
May the Stars always guide you well,
ptv