Hudson Valley Astrologer

“I see only the eye of the fish.”

Arjuna

I can still recall the bow and arrow that I got for my birthday when I turned 7 (Saturn’s opening square). The strangest thing came over me. I knew I’d had a bow and arrow before, but didn’t pay any mind to that thought because all I could think about was this: “Finally, you’ve come back! Once again! To hold in my own hands.”

To be sure it was merely a toy and would do a child no harm but I was out in the back yard in a flash where I played with this toy for the rest of the day without break until supper. I was sure in my heart that I was a warrior and an expert archer. But this bow and arrow wasn’t working properly, or not as precisely like the one in my mind’s eye, like the one that use to belong to me.

I must have been imagining the Centaur and his “beloved arrows” or recalling a past life as a Spartan or perhaps considered myself to be one of The Last of the Mohicans. Believing in such things is quite easy to do, but only if you have the arrows, can light the tips on fire, shoot them high in the air and then chase them to wherever they land.

This of course is just a metaphor for dreaming, for a seeker. A life long student, or perhaps an adherent of the fantastical work of the great philosopher Heropodus Heronimus.

In any event, that was a long time ago. But now that I think of it what might have happened to that little bow and arrow set is that it morphed into millions of letters and punctuation, found its way into thousands of words that got tucked inside hundreds of books, and then piled high in stacks, on many, many shelves.

The next stop for these “beloved arrows?” Astrology programs, apps, blogs, podcasts, and workshops. Sometimes I wonder if these “beloved arrows” didn’t originate with Apollo himself, the god of healing and archery.

There is also the story in the Mahabharata where Guru Dronacharya tests his students’ focus by asking them to aim at a wooden fish’s eye while looking only at its reflection in water. When asked, “What do you see?” Arjuna confidently replies, “I see only the eye of the fish.” Delighted, Drona exclaims, “Shoot!” and Arjuna’s arrow perfectly hits the target. [1][3][4]

This reflection brings back the imagery of an experience that emphasized an unwavering focus (“playing” all day without break until supper) and the importance of eliminating distractions to hit the target, to achieve my goals.

The Saturn Cycle seems to bring our attention to how aligned we are with our Dharma, “our way,” the Jupiter Cycle (the Archer). For many of us we lose our way which I suppose is the point of my “beloved arrows.” To endeavor on this path, as guide and teacher, and to learn how to shoot straight.

HVA

💚🍀

Sources
[1] Arjuna; The Fish’s Eye Story – The Anand Voyage with Dr.Sania A. http://anandvoyage.blogspot.com/2013/10/arjuna-and-fish-eye.html
[2] Mahabharat Episode 22: Draupadi’s Predicament – Isha Foundation https://isha.sadhguru.org/en/wisdom/article/mahabharat-episode-22-draupadis-predicament
[3] Arjuna and the Fish Eye: the fallacy of being over-informed, hyper … https://flyingchickadee.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/arjuna-and-the-fish-eye-the-fallacy-of-being-over-informed-hyper-busy-and-multi-tasking/
[4] The Fisheye and Arjuna (Gajanand Maharaj Smoking Chillum) https://capitart.com/work/arjuna-and-the-fish-eye-gajanand-maharaj-smoking-chillum/
[5] Arjuna – Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arjuna
[6] What You Can’t Do, I Will Do – A Thought-Provoking Story … – LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-you-cant-do-i-thought-provoking-story-from-ajay