“WE live in outer Space;
some of us more than
others.

Comet Hyakutake was 4
mind: blower of the first mag
nude. An apparition rushing
imo the skies above our back:

yards, arcing majestically over:
head seo everyone could plainly

see it, them plummeting outof

sight into the skies and back
yards of folks in the Southern
hemisphere. Such are the gitts
of the night sky It was awe-

some. A lot of people saw it.
And tor a brief moment we
were united by our collective
awe.

For an equally brief’
moment, we were also remind-
ed thar wwe live in outer space
surrounded by stars and
comets, And ever since we
arrived, humankind has been
trying to make sense out of
this place. In our relentless
quest to sce the ultimate trath
behind appearances, we have
peered at reality through the
lenses of science, art and spiri-
tuality. At different times
throughout our history, we
seem to have opted for one set
of lenses over the other two, In
ancient Egypt, the state reli-
gion made the rules and
defined reality. Artists worked
to give visible form to the
world consistent with the
accepted idealogy, supporting
the status quo in a highly visi-
ble public-relations capacity.

Today, the lens of choice
for much of the Western world
is that of science. Synthesized
music, computer-gencrated
graphics, and special effects
technology have done mutch to
shape the landscape of this
brave new world. When an
astroioger feels the need to
turn to a scientist for valida-
tion, it sends a message that
the authority of the currently
held viewpoint has been
accepted. ‘there will only be
one Way to access and process
information. When an
astrologer chooses to ignore
science, thar action (or inac-
tions) sends the same message.
When astronomers expend
inordinate amounts of ink
decrying the prevalence of the
“superstition of astrology,” we
are in either/or land, ner the
realm of both/and. This i is
hardly being “united by our
collective awe.” Nor does it
feel like the landscape where
we would expect to find our-
selves in the proverbially immi-
nent and egalitarian Age of
Aquarius.

We're strangers in nature
and the cosmos, trying to fig-
ure them both out as if we
were separate from them, We
are suffering from an intellec-
tual and spiritual amnesia in
which we have forgotten our
origins, our essence, The dan-
ger is thar only part of our
memory will be restored, and
we will feel an affinity for only
part of our heritage.

Echoing this dilemma, John
Travolta, the lovable auto

north shore news

ALTERNATIVES
How a comet united us inc

to grasp whac really matters
the human spirit.” The.
ofthe ages has come to the sil

geon Gind f paraphrase):
“Youre grasping science in one
hand and technology in the
other. You have no hand tree

mechanic turned compassion
ate savant in the movie
Phenomenon sass to Richard

Riley, the scalpel happy sur Ver screen,

hundreds of sale, regular and clearance items.
- Fashions, Linens, Factory Outlet & more..
(And D % off ruled.
| Furniture and Mattresses. ")

ido ty

Sunday. October 4. 1998 — North Shore News - 27

lective awe

How do vou tike vour reali

mnedeled or experienc:

Po be vontinued ness week,
Robert Aibew isan interna:

ttonaidly know protessional
anvoloqina and therapenth
connsclar/teacher writer with
AO years experience.

on rgular-priel
Personal Care, Snall Electrics,
Infant? Furniture & Wheel Godt

One day only —
Tuesday, Oe 6,1 998

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