THE SACRED SIDE OF BIRTHDAYS
..... Everything in the universe is transitory. Only the law of evolution through love, justice and truth is eternal. The fact that a human life is a limited event and will not repeat itself in its externalities makes it most valuable and worthy of celebration. Our birthdays must commemorate the passing presence, on earth, of our immortal soul.
In his classical study in ancient mythology, Thomas Bulfinch writes: “The Romans believed that every man had his Genius, and every woman her Juno; that is, a spirit who had given them being, and was regarded as a protector through life. On birthdays men made offerings to their Genius, women to their Juno.” [1]
The Roman Genius (“daimon”) is our own Spirit, our guardian angel, spiritual soul or inner Master. Nothing could be more correct, therefore, than the idea of rendering homage in our birthday to our immortal soul, Atma-Buddhi. Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor-philosopher who is quoted in the Mahatma Letters, wrote in his Meditations:
“Live with the gods. And he does live with the gods who constantly shows to them that his own soul is satisfied with that which is assigned to him, and that it does all that the daemon wishes, which Zeus hath given to every man for his guardian and guide, a portion of himself.” [2]
In another passage of his Meditations, Marcus Aurelius said:
“… That which is peculiar to the good man [ is ] to be pleased and content with what happens, and with the thread which is spun for him; and not to defile the divinity which is planted in his breast, nor disturb it by a crowd of images, but to preserve it tranquil, following it obediently as a god, neither saying anything contrary to the truth, nor doing anything contrary to justice.” [3]
Congratulations for our birthday should therefore be respectfully addressed mainly to our immortal spirit.
From the astrological viewpoint, our true self is as big as the solar system. Each planet or asteroid which circles the Sun is part of our personality, or at least exerts a living influence over it. The wider background to such a psychological process is the Milky Way. Entire constellations witness and inspire the inner growth of each human soul.
(...)
NOTES:
[1] Thomas Bulfinch’s “Mythology, The Age of Fable”. See the final paragraphs of chapter one. The book is available online. In Portuguese language, “O Livro de Ouro da Mitologia”, Thomas Bulfinch, Ediouro, RJ, 2002, p. 16.
[2] “The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius”, in “Great Books of the Western World”, Volume 12, “Lucretius, Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius”, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1978, 310 pp., Book V, p. 272. In Portuguese, “Meditações”, Marco Aurélio, Ediouro, RJ, p. 61, livro V.
[3] “The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius”, in “Great Books of the Western World”, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1978, Book III, pp. 262-263. In Portuguese, “Meditações”, Marco Aurélio, Ediouro, livro III, p. 42.
00000
From the article "The Sacred Side of Birthdays", by Carlos Cardoso Aveline
