It is time for some more pragmatism on Vertegram. After having written a few posts known to the probloggers as pillar articles on vertical thinking, now I am going to introduce you into what I call vertical thinking, with some concrete examples. For some of you these will be new stuff, for some will be common knowledge. I am asking the latter to be patient. For me it is important to present vertical thinking in this way, because as I stated before, it is an essential part of the framework for understanding and self transformation I intend to promote. So here it is, the first post in the series of more concrete presentation of vertical thinking.

As defined previously, the essence of vertical thinking is finding analogous representatives for the same quality. There are many systems of reference in which verticality is present. For example one of the most well known ones is the theory of archetypes developed by Jung. To put it shortly, archetypes are major influential presences in the unconscious which tend show up in many different forms. They are present in myths, legends, fairy tales, sometimes entering even into the individual’s dreams.

Another major system of reference for vertical thinking is astrology. It operates much systematically organized with principles, qualities, archetypes that are intertwining all our conscious and unconscious existence. Also, the case of astrology fits perfectly into a previous presentation of vertical thinking. The one showing the 4 causes defined by Aristotle. While astrology deals with formative causes manifested on different levels, down until materiality, astronomy deals with facts, measures, exactitude, science. Astronomy works mostly on the horizontal line of causes.

The chain of analogies represented by the planets

The concrete framework I chose to use on Vertegram will be the chain of analogies represented by planets. No unnecessary astrology will be involved here, except for planetary correlations. Also, a great deal of mythology will be evoked. Modern physics also may be used to reinforce some wholistic views.

There is always the why and the how. In this order. So, for a start, why the planets?

“The planets are the ‘gods’, symbols of the powers of the unconscious.”

The primordial roles that planets have always played in human life is undeniable. Planets carry the names of gods. At first, the were the myths and legends of gods and their doings. Then, the planets were assigned to the gods. Ever since, they represent the presence and the power of those gods, “symbols of the powers of the unconscious” (C. G. Jung).

Before you jump to any conclusions, it is important to see here, that actual references to physical, measurable influences is not significant in this context. There are many pros and cons, but it is not important in order to get to know and understand the role of the planets in vertical thinking.

Essentially, referring to planets means referring to the qualities they represent. Informational qualities they carry along on all levels of our existence. Those are sometimes called primordial qualities. Often, they are presented as principles. Still, I prefer to appeal to them as to essential qualities.

In a previous post I gave you an exercise for categorizing under a generic term a list of words. Let’s redo that quickly. We had the following lists:

1. cat, fish, bear, elephant, crab, dog, parrot, ant, …
2. copper, pigeon, pink, strawberry, beautician, bathroom, …

The generic term for the first one was easy to find, they are called animals. For the second one, it was not so easy. At least you needed some previous knowledge of astrology to know that. Let’s give now a different look for to the second list, let’s show it on vertical:

• copper - metal
• pigeon - animal
• pink - color
• strawberry - fruit
• beautician - occupation
• bathroom - premises

This approach is more illustrative. You can see that the common term of animals from our previous list is represented by the pigeon here. Also, we have here a member of the category of metals, called copper. So on, colors are present by pink, fruits through strawberry, etc. Different categories sharing some common property, some common quality. Now the solution. It is the quality represented by a planet. Its name is: Venus.

Here you have a first simple example of vertical thinking in our context. And I give you quickly another one, another list, just to keep you in shape for this:

• iron,
• wolf,
• red,
• blood,
• battlefield,
• soldier,
• chili pepper, …

A shared common quality on all levels

Metals are represented by iron. Animals by the wolf, but I could have added also dogs here as close relatives. The colors are represented by red and quickly after I added blood for the category of bodily fluids. For sceneries I added the battlefield , for occupations there is the soldier. For plants there is the red, hot, chili pepper… Do you think there is something common to all those? Do they seem like carrying some similitude? You see, although they all belong to different generic terms like animals, plants, metals etc., still they share a common quality. A quality present on all those levels. The solution for this second list is: Mars. Mars is known as the god of warfare in the Greek mythology. Mars is here the quality of emerging force often perceived as aggression or self-assertion in social interactions for ex.

These simple examples are meant as introductory thoughts on vertical thinking. My hope is to show you some new approaches in self understanding and in perceiving the phenomenons surrounding us. Through discerning levels of manifestation you will have a tool to be used more efficiently, more specifically in your self developmental quest.

Illustration: Venus and Mars by Antonio Canova, 1816-22, Marble, height 210 cm, Courtauld Institute Gallery, London

Search: