“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

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