Introduction
In what way has the world's reality, as expressed through life’s duality, been created in its detail? There are a variety of systems that undertake the defining of the philosophical paradigm in which civilizations operate. This thesis will bring to light some of the relationships between the Sun and the detailing of the order of duality’s points of consciousness, in an exploration of the steps of Sunology by means of a project with a group of participants.
Statement of Problem
Although a system of order in daily life does exist, it has yet to be generally recognized, related to, and benefitted from. When a sense of order is lacking in a person’s life, the inner being suffers disorder. As a result, chaos inflicts bedlam in the outer experience, clear communication is diminished between people, and the groundwork for inadvertently misaligned perceptions of truth is laid.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this thesis is to report on a project that will determine whether a group of participants is able to perceive the natural order that exists in today's world and if they are, whether and how it changes their daily lives. This project will teach the participants a system of daily order, which is based on a systematic method developed in Sunology, help them to recognize this order through a practical understanding of a natural cycle—enhanced by symbolism, expand their awareness through this order and through the exposure to a symbolic system, and open their minds to new way of thinking that will expand their appreciation of the many points of consciousness that life offers.
Statement of Expectation
It is expected that a conscious deliberation on the thirty-day cycle and its symbolism will help people in a variety of ways. For example, they may experience increased inner peace, creativity and equilibrium, discover a deeper meaning to life, and expand their acceptance of new points of consciousness, thus bringing them closer to an awareness of wholeness, and perhaps healing them.
In addition to this, it is hoped that an increased understanding of the Sabian symbols and what they can truly offer will be attained.
Should expectations be met, the value of this project is that it will highlight and validate a new tool that offers the knowledge of order in the world in which we live. People become more whole and can heal when they realize that the world operates under a system of order and that it can be applied in their lives.
Significance of this Thesis
As understood via the Hermetic principle of the law of correspondence, symbols are a faster energetic vibration of manifestation. Through working with them, a person is more likely to tap into this transcended state and perceive life from an overarching perspective of greater unity. Whether these effects are achieved will be measured by administering a survey, both before the study and after the study, to test if the participants’ perceptions have been altered by the focus on the cycle and symbols. While astrology is at the foundation of the definitions of the 30-step cycle, it is not required that the project participants understand astrology or have a predisposition towards understanding it.
Definition of Terms
30-Day Cycle. The thirty-step cycle is created by the motion of the sun as it moves forward one degree a day along a complete circle. It consists of the thirty Sun Numbers. There are twelve 30-day cycles in a year. Its basis lies in the idea that all of the varied aspects of life can be expressed as steps, that build, one to the next, in a conceptual cycle. This cycle mirrors the Western collective’s modern-day paradigm (the expressions we honor) completely and presents these expressions in their basic order of occurrence.
Energy. It is the higher vibration of something intangible or tangible on earth. The corresponding “something” invisible that concretizes into something of form or expression.
Law of Correspondence: One of the seven Hermetic Principles that supports the use of symbolism. It states: As above, so below; know thyself if you would know the other. In this is shown the reflection of the higher to the lower and vice versa. By this law, manifestation exists also on a higher vibration. This law is also indicated in the Biblical concept that man is made in the image of God.
Paradigm. “Broadly: a philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind.” Referring to the natural assumption and order that sets the foundation for a particular civilization.
Sabian symbols. A set of 360 images that were intuited in the 1920’s by Elsie Wheeler that were meant to define the meaning of the zodiacal degrees. In Sunology, the symbols are used to enhance and enrich the meaning of the Sun Numbers.
Sun Number. The name given to a single step along the 30-step cycle in Sunology. There are thirty Sun Numbers in the 30-step cycle. As the cycle progresses, the Sun Numbers increase incrementally, one for each step.
Sunology. A spiritual tool that introduces the concept of a new “sign” (a Sun Number), which is based on what degree the sun is positioned at on any particular day. Sunology has a variety of applications which can aid a person through better self understanding, improved understanding of the general and their personal 30-step cycle.
Symbolism: “Something that represents something else by association, resemblance, or convention, especially a material object used to represent something invisible.”
Assumptions
The system of order referred to in this thesis is outlined in Sunology. . For the purpose of this project, it is assumed that the systematic method of defining the steps of the cycle as mapped in Sunology is effective and the wording used is descriptive, detailed, and precise enough to distinguish the energy and symbolism of one day from the next. The 30-day cycle as defined in Sunology uses astrology as the foundation. It is assumed that astrology accurately depicts the paradigm in which we live.
A Detailed Description of the Procedures
A project will be undertaken in which a group of eight or more study participants will be taught (or reminded of) the definitions of each step of a thirty-step cycle. The procedures that will be performed for the project include recruiting the participants, developing a training package, administering a pre-survey, training the participants, creating a reference package of the daily energies, in the form of a blog, daily encouragement via emails to follow the day-to-day solar movement through the cycles through two monthly cycles, and administering a post-survey. The two surveys will then be compared to determine if the expectations of the project were met.
Overview of the Thesis Organization
Chapter 1 is the introduction to the thesis and as such will consist of an overview, a statement of the problem, the purpose of the thesis, definitions of commonly used terms, what will be looked for in the results of the project, and the assumptions of the project.
Chapter 2 is the literature review that will delve into the previous work that has been done on the concept of symbolism and hypothesis on how symbols can catalyze a spiritual experience and the history and evolvement of the use of the Sabian symbols.
Chapter 3 outlines the steps that were taken to develop the project. It will include the letter of recruitment and the up-front training package that were developed for the participants. Also included will be a guidance package, which details the keywords and the symbols for the day, in blog form.
Chapter 4 will review the results of the project. Before and after project surveys will be compared to see what experiences the participants had throughout the project.
Chapter 5 contains a summarization and conclusion of the project. A thorough look at whether the expectations of the project were met will be reviewed. Hypotheses on why or why not the expectations were met will be made. Finally, insights about the project and recommendations for future investigation and studies will be offered.
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