nature's zodiac

Heraclitus said change is the only constant in life. This leads to an important consideration: what becomes of this change? Is it minimized or maximized?

In the body, feedback loops play a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis. The internal condition of the body can stay stable despite the external changes.

Negative feedback loops minimize change as the body opposes the initial stimulus. This is seen with thermoregulation, blood pressure, glucose regulation and many other biological processes that regulate by minimizing change in order to come back to a better baseline.

Most of the body’s physiological processes involve negative feedback loops, or a counteraction of change to restore balance.

But sometimes the body would rather amplify change than minimize it. Blood clotting is an example of a positive feedback loop. As platelets accumulate they release chemicals that attract more platelets, forming a clot to seal a wound. In childbirth, contractions stimulate oxytocin which stimulates more contractions.

Feedback loops are at play not only in biology but also in economics, technology, ecology and psychology.

There are times for change to be minimized and times for it to be maximized.

The minimizing is about maintaining stability whereas the maximizing amplifies further change in the same direction.

As Heraclitus reminds us, change is the constant. Our response to change is where we gain control.

Both negative and positive feedback loops are needed to maintain stability and a direction of a good change. Because true stability is a flexible state that is open to its own evolution, like the allegory of the supple tree that bends without snapping.

In this way, it is curious to think how a positive feedback loop is a bit more aligned with nature’s stamp of spirited affirmation than a negative one.

Positive feedback loops will amplify change, be it a good change or a bad one. With psychology, a phobia can be an example of a positive loop that amplifies a fear. This atmosphere grows a nagging anxiety, which a conscious mind can recognize as not worth growing.

Positive feedback loops are most special to human beings who can recognize the value of a thing worth growing. It is worth growing confidence, building a skill, cultivating a relationship. It is worth growing something beautiful, meaningful, special.

Above the temple of Delphi in Athens read Apollo’s maxim “know thyself”. Above anything else, the new framework for the zodiac emphasizes a better starting place for understanding who we really are.

There can be no confusion. In the center is the fertile earth, represented by Taurus. It is one and the same as its periphery, represented by the expanse of spirit. We are growers. That is what we do. We grow as children and we grow as adults. We never stop growing. The moment we lose touch with ourselves as growers is the moment we lose touch with nature.

The body works primarily on negative feedback loops. But the spirit works best on positive loops, ones that amplify the conscious change that an individual chooses with their own free-will.

This theme is the finale of many great stories and it’s the hook of many great songs. Someone manages to step off of the merry go round and actually get somewhere. The shackles of the past are shaken off. The future is open and they are free to pursue it.

Because the body and the spirit are yoked together, as the dual symbolism of Taurus/ Sagittarius shows, there can be both feedback systems happening in harmony at once.

For instance, a person who chooses to not let their emotions sink them and instead strives to act in accordance with what they know to be right is employing a positive feedback loop. They are initiating a change of clear headed thinking with the intent to amplify this change as it works against the momentum of the emotion. In response, the body will offer up a negative loop; restoring normal breath rate and lowering the blood pressure as it brings back a steady state of balance.

In understanding the human identity to be a ‘grower’ an important paradox is introduced. Stillness and centering is one and the same with growth and expansion.

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