The Urania Trust9 November 1970
00:00 AM GMT
London, UK
Placidus Houses, True Node
Geocentric, Tropical
In Greek mythology Urania was the muse of those arts and sciences that involve knowledge of the heavens and of man’s relationship with them. Historically man’s knowledge of the heavens has been embodied in the twin sciences of astronomy and astrology.
From the 17th century onwards these have been regarded as separate and distinct subjects. Astronomy has concerned itself with the knowledge of the physical universe whereas astrology has explored the links between the cosmos and human life.
The Urania Trust was founded as an educational charity on the 9th November 1970. The founding trustees were highly esteemed astrologers: James Russell, Ada Phillips, Charles Harvey, John Addey and Tom Fripp.
John Addey |
Charles Harvey |
The present trustees are Jonathan Powell (Chair), Babs Kirby, Lindsay Radermacher and Christeen Skinner.
The aim of the charity, as set out in its trust deed, is "to further the advancement of education by the teaching of the relationship between man's knowledge of, beliefs about, the heavens and every aspect of his art science, philosophy and religion."
At present the Urania Trust seeks to fulfil its purpose by offering its support through grants to individuals and organizations for publishing, translation, research and other work within this area of interest.
Throughout human history men and women have been absorbed in exploring and trying to understand the relationship between each individual and the whole of creation. This quest can be approached through the gateways of religious mysticism, theoretical physics, astrology, art, astronomy, transpersonal psychology, philosophy, sacred geometry, gaia theory etc.
Here is one voice from the world of mysticism, trying to find language to express the experience of deep connection to the whole of creation:
Suddenly, without any warning, at any time or place, with no apparent cause, it can happen.
All at once I found myself wrapped in a flame-coloured cloud. For an instant I thought of fire, an immense conflagration somewhere close by in that great city; the next, I knew that the fire was within myself. Directly afterwards there came upon me a sense of exultation, of immense joyousness accompanied or immediately followed by an intellectual illumination impossible to describe. Among other things, I did not merely come to believe, but I saw that the universe is not composed of dead matter, but is, on the contrary, a living Presence; I became conscious in myself of eternal life. It was not a conviction that I would have eternal life, but a consciousness that I possessed eternal life then; I saw that all men are immortal; that the cosmic order is such that without any peradventure all things work together for the good of each and all; that the foundation principle of the world, of all the words, is what we call love, and that the happiness of each and all is in the long run absolutely certain.
~ Richard Maurice Bucke, Cosmic Consciousness - A Study in the Evolution of the Human Mind
No matter which road is followed the same deepest questions must be faced: How is my life affected by Creation? How does my life in turn affect Creation?