More notes on Jupiter in Scorpio.
* In addition to officials of all kinds, including politicians and lawyers, Jupiter has long been thought of as the planet of the guru, the teacher, the sage, the priest or priestess, or the professor.
* Jupiter in Scorpio is the dark guru, the teacher of the underworld, the sage of shadows, the corruption of the priestly class, and the professor of the subversive. We say these things because Jupiter is in the dark, autumnal sign of Mars.
* In yogic philosophy we are currently in the age Kali, which is an age defined by the corruption of the priestly class, as well as the corruption of leaders, rulers, and officials. Although this corruption isn’t unique to Jupiter’s transit of Scorpio, the transit of Jupiter in Scorpio puts a spotlight on the corruption of people in power, as well as the “priestly” class, in general.
* How do you recognize a false teacher, false prophet, or false guru? First, and perhaps foremost, unless we have real teachers, true prophets, and bona fide gurus, then our answer won’t matter. Here are some things to consider…some may resonate more than others, these are just some guidelines for recognizing a false teacher from a real teacher (I can’t speak personally to qualifications of a real guru since I do not have one, but I do believe they exist).
* Real teachers come from real traditions that have real lineages. Real teachers can tell you who their teachers are. Real teachers have spent a long time with their own teachers. Real teachers have spent a long time, consistently studying or consistently devoted to their studies.
* Real teachers recognize that anyone and anything can be a teacher, but they do not use this basic fact to supplant the importance of a real, personal teacher or real personal experience studying something over a long period of time.
* Real teachers do not act as though they are authorities on subjects that they don’t actually study in a committed way. Real teachers who are still studying and developing their knowledge of something say so and try to accurately cite from where they learned whatever they have.
* Real teachers recognize that whatever authority they have may come and go and is truly not their own. Real teachers keep it real, but they are not harsh or egotistical (or they try their hardest not to be and they aren’t too big to apologize if they cross the line).
* Real teachers do not spend their time competing with, condemning or putting down other teachers or traditions.
* Real teachers do not use their position to take advantage of others. Real teachers learn from their mistakes and become better teachers as a result. Real teachers are human, but real teachers, in order to teach, have to learn to keep really healthy boundaries.
* Real teachers encourage, and inspire, but real teachers do not encourage or inspire false confidence. Real teachers tell their own stories, but real teachers also love to listen to the stories of others.
* Real teachers do not discourage students from exploring, but real teachers are committed to their own ideas or ways of teaching. Real teachers are not thought police, but real teachers may challenge our thoughts.
* Real teachers do not put themselves up by putting others down. Real teachers may dispute or debate other ideas, but they do so respectfully.
* Real teachers don’t entertain the idea that everyone is already an expert, but they also do not entertain the idea that being an expert at something makes one a better person.
* We can take these basic ideas about “good” teachers vs. “bad” teachers and apply them to officials, leaders, and the priestly class in general right now.
* The only problem is that aside from saints, most teachers or public officials will inevitably fall short of these virtues in big and small ways, day in and day out. As someone who has taught since I was a 24-year-old English graduate assistant, my own path as a teacher has been anything but picture perfect. I still struggle each week that I teach with all sorts of challenges. I’m sure many other teachers out there can relate. I’ve also had a fair amount of teachers myself who have been profoundly wise and helpful to me while also being deeply flawed.
* Jupiter in Scorpio is therefore not only about the corrupt teacher, or about the exposure of corruption among our leaders, officials, or priestly/sage classes, it’s also about making peace with the fact that often enough our best teachers teach us not only by their knowledge, virtue, or expertise but also by means of their flaws. The flaws we see in our teachers, alongside their gifts and insight and guidance, become part of a broader and more inclusive vision of ourselves and the world we live in.
* We are so quick to believe that we are either completely good or completely evil, completely wise or completely ignorant. Real learning almost always involves shattering these simplistic distinctions, until real virtue becomes the light of something transcendental, shining through a person, teaching us truth through the cracks and shadows of a willing vessel, rather than just a person acting out the role of a pure and impersonal light.
Prayer: Broaden our minds and open our hearts, as you pour the light of your holy teachings through each and all of our imperfections.
* In addition to officials of all kinds, including politicians and lawyers, Jupiter has long been thought of as the planet of the guru, the teacher, the sage, the priest or priestess, or the professor.
* Jupiter in Scorpio is the dark guru, the teacher of the underworld, the sage of shadows, the corruption of the priestly class, and the professor of the subversive. We say these things because Jupiter is in the dark, autumnal sign of Mars.
* In yogic philosophy we are currently in the age Kali, which is an age defined by the corruption of the priestly class, as well as the corruption of leaders, rulers, and officials. Although this corruption isn’t unique to Jupiter’s transit of Scorpio, the transit of Jupiter in Scorpio puts a spotlight on the corruption of people in power, as well as the “priestly” class, in general.
* How do you recognize a false teacher, false prophet, or false guru? First, and perhaps foremost, unless we have real teachers, true prophets, and bona fide gurus, then our answer won’t matter. Here are some things to consider…some may resonate more than others, these are just some guidelines for recognizing a false teacher from a real teacher (I can’t speak personally to qualifications of a real guru since I do not have one, but I do believe they exist).
* Real teachers come from real traditions that have real lineages. Real teachers can tell you who their teachers are. Real teachers have spent a long time with their own teachers. Real teachers have spent a long time, consistently studying or consistently devoted to their studies.
* Real teachers recognize that anyone and anything can be a teacher, but they do not use this basic fact to supplant the importance of a real, personal teacher or real personal experience studying something over a long period of time.
* Real teachers do not act as though they are authorities on subjects that they don’t actually study in a committed way. Real teachers who are still studying and developing their knowledge of something say so and try to accurately cite from where they learned whatever they have.
* Real teachers recognize that whatever authority they have may come and go and is truly not their own. Real teachers keep it real, but they are not harsh or egotistical (or they try their hardest not to be and they aren’t too big to apologize if they cross the line).
* Real teachers do not spend their time competing with, condemning or putting down other teachers or traditions.
* Real teachers do not use their position to take advantage of others. Real teachers learn from their mistakes and become better teachers as a result. Real teachers are human, but real teachers, in order to teach, have to learn to keep really healthy boundaries.
* Real teachers encourage, and inspire, but real teachers do not encourage or inspire false confidence. Real teachers tell their own stories, but real teachers also love to listen to the stories of others.
* Real teachers do not discourage students from exploring, but real teachers are committed to their own ideas or ways of teaching. Real teachers are not thought police, but real teachers may challenge our thoughts.
* Real teachers do not put themselves up by putting others down. Real teachers may dispute or debate other ideas, but they do so respectfully.
* Real teachers don’t entertain the idea that everyone is already an expert, but they also do not entertain the idea that being an expert at something makes one a better person.
* We can take these basic ideas about “good” teachers vs. “bad” teachers and apply them to officials, leaders, and the priestly class in general right now.
* The only problem is that aside from saints, most teachers or public officials will inevitably fall short of these virtues in big and small ways, day in and day out. As someone who has taught since I was a 24-year-old English graduate assistant, my own path as a teacher has been anything but picture perfect. I still struggle each week that I teach with all sorts of challenges. I’m sure many other teachers out there can relate. I’ve also had a fair amount of teachers myself who have been profoundly wise and helpful to me while also being deeply flawed.
* Jupiter in Scorpio is therefore not only about the corrupt teacher, or about the exposure of corruption among our leaders, officials, or priestly/sage classes, it’s also about making peace with the fact that often enough our best teachers teach us not only by their knowledge, virtue, or expertise but also by means of their flaws. The flaws we see in our teachers, alongside their gifts and insight and guidance, become part of a broader and more inclusive vision of ourselves and the world we live in.
* We are so quick to believe that we are either completely good or completely evil, completely wise or completely ignorant. Real learning almost always involves shattering these simplistic distinctions, until real virtue becomes the light of something transcendental, shining through a person, teaching us truth through the cracks and shadows of a willing vessel, rather than just a person acting out the role of a pure and impersonal light.
Prayer: Broaden our minds and open our hearts, as you pour the light of your holy teachings through each and all of our imperfections.
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