The Dark Side of Pluto

*For those interested also in the teachings of radical eastern spiritual leaders, this article blends Buddhist and Zen or Taoist-like awareness as it is in the nature and power of Pluto.

Perhaps others (if only for a moment...) have questioned the appropriateness or delicateness of certain postings written in the recent past. Particularly regarding Kingston New York where I presently reside, and issues of greed, violence, dark capitalism, etc, and how Black Friday (for example) brings all of this right to the surface in unneccesarily tragic events. Part of the reason is because I do believe SOMEbody should bring up these issues.... the dark side of Pluto is the dark side of the human mind, manifesting in society and the world at large. In Jungian terms, if we choose to discard or disown this side of consciousness, leaving it unexamined and unhealed, it will continue to strike back as "my own worst enemy". This taking manifestation first in the Eighth House (Naturally Ruled by Pluto) and eternally brewing in the deep dark human subconscious of the Twelfth House (Esoterically Ruled by Pluto).

J.Krishnamurti and Chogyam Trungpa (whom I just found out on youtube had a dialogue back in Februrary 72') are/were two eastern teachers of spirituality considered radical, for Trungpa it was "Crazy Wisdom" and for Krisnamurti "The Awakening of Intelligence". Though religiously a Buddhist Trungpa began a whole new lineage, Shambhala Buddhism, within the Buddhist tradition. Krishnamurti was considered head of the New World Order (or some title of this nature...) and declined it, along with all notions of spiritual authority and over-identification with anything religious in the group sense of the word. Both teachers emphasize that we are to look at ourselves, examine the unregenerate human nature that brings about all the misery and suffering that is this world. Trungpa referred to this in his book "Meditation in Action" as "the manure which is first collected then scattered over the field of Bodhi".

One need not have access to any eastern spiritual teachers or books to awaken to the whole of life, which includes the bad and the ugly as well as the good. Self-honesty, humility and a lack of denial are all that is needed to shine the light of consciousness within. On this level I can look at myself directly, with some humility, and dissolve or transform whatever is the issue at hand... usually of form of dark resistance which requires only light, acceptance and letting go.

I admit to having issues myself regarding others, individuals and society, and with as much "moral relativism" as I can muster, I believe in the force of evil (the devil) and evil beings all the same. So where Mahayana Buddhists speak of "enlightenment and happiness for all beings" I vary from this in wishing all evil beings to burn in hellfires. I believe that maybe these spiritual people are conscious on a level that I cannot grasp. I watch a lot of mob movies (and the sopranos) and notice the seamy side of Pluto manifest in realities that many people will never let themselves see or be exposed to in any way. At worst most of us face sickness, tragedy, loss and death, inevitably... but these films emphasize it to a heightened degree of sociopathic mental illness. Human life in the mafia is so very cheap, dispensable and disposable... unless you become an 'untouchable'.

In feeling the tragic nature of existence on this Earth, it gives me all the more conviction and hatred for bad people... I don't ever want them to be happy or enlightened, at least not without first going through hundreds and thousands years of hellfire first. It is the Law of Karma makes sense, even when not apparent on the surface and knowing life definitely is not fair. Here is where my limit to compassion is and knowing my limits, as both Saturn and Pluto teach us (via the Moon), I can choose to emphasize the positive truth, that I care about my close inner circle of friends and family, friendly acquaintances, colleagues and coworkers and that aspect of humanity which/whom I believe to be genuinely good (with or without a million flaws).

Be kind to others (as often as possible..), live your truth with conviction and aspiration, and know your limits and boundaries which keep you alive. This is an immediate, down to earth and not so religiously decorated (aka Plutonian) way to evolve personally, individually and spiritually...

From Darkness back into Light

JDZ