The constant pressure imposed by the law of self-preservation has developed two distinct qualities in living organisms. First, the alertness and intelligence of the individual, and second, the concerted action of group protection.
But even though the group may furnish great satisfaction to its members, the intensive training of some individuals will display itself, when the demand is made, either in attempt to change the communal activity or to proceed along lines yielding an advantage to themselves.
We say such creatures are original. They do their own thinking. They discover and practice new ways of doing things.
The writings of naturalists provide abundant proof of the individual thought of birds and beasts.
Wm. T. Hornaday, of the New York zoological Park, has written a splendid book entitled ‘The Mind and Manners of Wild Animals.’ He says in his preface ‘that the most interesting thing about a wild animal is its mind and reasoning.’
He tells of the American bison in Montana about the years 1866 to 1881. Specimens were needed for museum work. The advice given to him was that the bison were so easy to catch that even with a rusty old revolver one could ride up alongside and secure a bull without fear of attack.
However, two years before his expedition, because the herds of bison had never contacted humans, nor become aware of his murderous intentions, they were merely bewildered and became easy prey to the mysterious rifle. The animals had always felt safe in a group and in the stampede as a reliable defense. Thus, thousands were killed.
But two years of such experiences developed other reactions. The sound of a gun caused them to scatter individually. Even when wounded, instead of charging (herd tactics), an individual would head for a secret cache, difficult of access, and stand immovable for days, enduring hunger and thirst until its broken bones were healed sufficiently to venture back to the plains.
Monkeys are quick to learn new tricks and think out problems. Orang-outangs and chimpanzees are very bright in this respect. Beavers have many strange situations to meet and cope with them quite successfully.
Hornaday’s book is chock full of actually observed incidents from which the author arrives at startling conclusions regarding the mental traits of animals in their natural habitats and in captivity.
Uranus in your birth chart depicts the individualistic thought-elements in your unconscious mind. It indicates experiences that have been stored in your astral body where you broke with precedence and acted independently. They are the source of your independence, originality, inventiveness and because (different from the general group thinking) unconventionality.
Successful lawyers, inventors, moving picture artists, musical conductors, occult scientists and others who find that originality plays an important part in their work have these individualistic thought-elements prominent in their astral bodies.
Thinking about independence, invention, new ideas and making radical departures from established custom brings advantages and disadvantage in your life. A human agency, either or indirectly, assists in bringing sudden change, replacing an old acquaintance with someone new, or causing radical differences in your physical and mental behavior.
Discordant individualistic thinking inclines towards sudden separations, unexpected reversals of fortune and diseases such as appendicitis, paralysis, arthritis, and some nerve complaints.
*William Temple Hornaday (1854–1937) was an American zoologist, conservationist, taxidermist, hunter, and author. He served as the first director of the New York Zoological Park aka the Bronx Zoo and was a pioneer in the conservation movement in the United States. He was the President of the American Bison Society from 1907-10. His book ‘The Mind and Manners of Wild Animals’ (published in 1929) can be read online at Project Gutenberg or as a free download.
Astrology for Aquarius – sharing our knowledge
