Here are two diffraction patterns, one round and the other square.

Note that the circular pattern is concentric, circle within circle within circle; and the square pattern repeats, each square diminishing in size from center to outer edge. I think the difference is important.

If you don't know what diffraction is, don't feel alone. Here's a definition (from the wikipedia):

Diffraction refers to various phenomena associated with wave propagation, such as the bending, spreading and interference of waves passing by an object or aperture that disrupts the wave. It occurs with any type of wave, including sound waves, water waves, electromagnetic waves such as visible light and radio waves, and particles displaying wave-like properties according to the principles of quantum mechanics. While diffraction always occurs, its effects are generally most noticeable for waves where the wavelength is on the order of the feature size of the diffracting objects or apertures.

What a lot of words, huh? Here's a picture of a setup:

A diffraction experiment/test doesn't necessarily have a lens, mask or mirror -- all is needed is a light source, aperture and screen. There is a relationship between wavelength and aperture size. Take a look at this java applet.

Here is another setup. Note that lasers are preferred light sources. That's because the light is coherent. If you decide to experiment at home, please heed these warnings (And if you have younger brothers or sisters, please exercise extra care.)

Diffraction is used to gather information about materials and matter in solid state physics, x-ray micro-diffraction, and crystals and powders to name just a few fields of study. Here are some more complex setups:

• Solid state physics
• X-Ray micro-diffraction
• X-Ray Diffraction Techniques (a simplified diagram to illustrate the following link)
• X-Ray Diffraction of crystals and powders

So ends this foray into optics/diffraction.

Journal entry dated 24 February 07
Category: What is Aquarian

Nearly every culture in the world considers the circle a symbol of wholeness. About the circle Black Elk, A Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux, says:

The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like
a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind in its greatest power, whirls.
Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours.
The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the
same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their
changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a
man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything
where power moves...(from The Circle by Michael Bukay)

This image comes from the Wikipedia article on the circle. The caption reads:

Early 'science,' particularly geometry and astronomy/astrology, was connected to the divine for most medieval scholars. The compass in this 13th Century manuscript is a symbol of God's act of Creation, as many believed that there was something intrinsically "divine" or "perfect" that could be found in circles (Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle)

When a dot is added to the center of the circle, it becomes the glyph for the Sun in astrology, and has a number of other meanings as well (see http://www.symbols.com/encyclopedia/26/268.html). Part of the article is quoted below:

In esoteric astrology represents the creative spark of divine consciousness that exists in every individual linking him or her to the source and origin of life, and making him or her the co-creator of the world. This spark of consciousness is the self ("I think, thus I am," as Descartes expressed it). In astrological psychology stands for the desire to live and the individual's life energy. This life energy is "coloured" by the zodiac sign in which is positioned at the moment of the individual's birth, according to astrologers.

It seems the Creator really is a geometer. The other day I came across what appears to be scientific verification of the wholeness of a circle. In an optics review under the topic of diffraction, the diffraction pattern of a circle was concentric, the diffraction pattern for a square/rectangle was not. More later.

Journal entry dated 23 February 07
Category: What is Aquarian

I knew when I wrote Part1 about Esoteric Astrology and the seven rays, there would have to be a Part2. The problem with Esoteric Astrology is that it's so, well, esoteric. It's hard for this concrete mind to fix on.

Luckily, I've found some astrologer-writers who have a good handle on Bailey's work. Samples of what they have to say are quoted below.

Read more »

Waiting at the
stoplight, waiting my turn to go, I realized what an elegant example
this is of ceremonial order. First those turning from east to south and
those going from east to west, then those going from west to east, then
those turning from west to north and so on.

The table posted with this entry is from Alice Bailey's Esoteric Astrology
(Lucis Publishing, New York, 1971). In it she lays out the
relationships of the seven rays with the constellations and planets.

What a ray is I can't really tell you, but ceremonial order I see
all around me every day. My morning ritual--get up, take a shower, make
coffee, meditate, make a journal entry for the preceeding day, get
dressed, go to work. I rely on ceremonial order to accomplish tasks. To
make spaghetti sauce I must

• thaw the meat
• cut the vegetables
• brown the meat
• sauté the vegetables with the meat
• add the tomatoes and tomato paste
• add the spices
• simmer the sauce
• boil the water for the spaghetti
• cook the spaghetti

All of these steps must be performed in a specific order, some can be done concurrently. Sometimes ceremonial order becomes a rut, sometimes it's what enables us to survive.

Alice Bailey says of the energies that compose the rays:

I have pointed out that these energies fall into three groups:

1. Those coming from certain great constellations [the Great Bear, the Pleides, and Sirius] which are to be found active in relation to our solar system and which, from the most ancient days, have always been related in myth and legend to our system. To these constellations, ours is related in a peculiar way.
2. Those coming from the twelve zodiacal constellations. These are recognized as having a definite effect upon our system and our planetary life.
3. Those coming from the planets found within the periphery of the Sun's sphere of influence.

Journal entry dated 17 June 2006
Category: Whatis Aquarian?

GETTING STARTED IN ESOTERIC ASTROLOGY
This is one of the finest, clearest presentations of Alice Bailey's concepts presented in "Esoteric Astrology" that I've seen. It's definitely a must-read.

totse.com | The Seven Rays
An interesting presentation of the 7 rays presented by Alice A. Bailey in "Esoteric Astrology

The Soul Purpose of your Rising Sign, Part II
This article is by Alan Oken, a fine astrologer who wrote "Complete Astrology," one of my favorite references.