Symmetry and Sacred Geometry (Week 5)

My (a) symmetrical world

Asymmetry has been at a forefront of my consciousness since my early teens. I was diagnosed with scoliosis, a lateral deviation of the spine that's over 10 degrees, around 12 years old though they'd been watching for it long before then. My maternal grandmother has a spine like a question mark which has caused her substantial pain in her life as she never received treatment for it. My mother has a slight curve that only occasionally bothers her, and yet for some reason there was much attention given to my back as I was growing. It was like waiting for the boogie man to show himself.

Once I started wearing my brace life was all about trying to make my body more symmetrical again. Then I started practicing yoga and it again became much about how to take this funky asymmetrical spine of mine and look to create a more symmetrical & harmonious setting in my body for my organs to function well and overall circulation to be strong. To this day I still think about my asymmetry on the daily be it when I'm doing yoga, diving a car, or just sitting in class.

And now as a yoga teacher with a specialty in working with people with scoliosis, my eyes are trained to spot this asymmetry in students.

As I think of other examples of asymmetry I've appreciated, I remember my fish in college: one-eyed Joe. I had no intention of getting a fish but this little guy with one eye stole my heart. I've had a soft spot for one-eyed animals every since (gosh that sounds odd). ;)


CP Violation: CP refers to "charge, parity" of the Charge-Parity-Time theorem. CPT states that "all processes involving particles remain invariant if the particles are changed into antiparticles, the system is refected in a mirror, and time is run backward." (Rothman & Sudarshan, Doubt and Certainty). CP violation occured when Princeton experimenters observed a kaon's decay rate change when the charge and parity of the particles were changed.


Connections between Sacred Geometry & Physics & TCM

My understanding is that much of sacred geometry, physics, and TCM theory has to do with helping humans gain a better understanding or perspective of something true, aligned with nature, and yet beyond the grasp of the reasonable mind without assistance. Much of this truth these arts lay out have to do with understanding relationship between things, cause & effect, and the ripple effects that are so much more profound than our limited understanding can see.

Recently I've learned a little bit about Dr. Tan's "Balance Method" which is based on elements of the I-Ching. Part of the theory is that any part of the body can be designed to mirror another part (a gross oversimplification on my part). I think of the macrocosm reflecting the microcosm and vis versa. That elemental truth seems to present itself throughout much of the sacred geometry we explored in class. It makes sense that it would be used to heighten spiritual understanding.