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In my goings back and forth, up and down, I appear to be describing things in a roller-coaster fashion, so the reader's journey through the first chapter may have been a bit tumultuous. Over the long run, it will be more like unfolding of a spiral, that is, talking about same things, yet each time from a somewhat broader and deeper perspective (haven't I promised to be using ' the microscope'?). If the overall dynamics of Self has been shown more or less clearly – I shall be certainly getting back at it, more than once – its composite parts are to be looked at with more 'magnification'. For that end, I am going to differentiate across numerous selves in their complex makeup.
Without further ado, self-preservation instinct would be the basic and, perhaps, the basest of them. The sense of vulnerability and fear coming from moon are matched here with the solar 'fight or flight' reaction. Animal self.
It would be loosely followed by the instinct of reproduction. Masculine and feminine or, in other words, active solar and more passive lunar types of sexuality would make up gender self. On this level, the lunar sensuality is also coupled with the solar purpose of procreation.
Submissiveness in its most general sense comes to be the next face of moon, with its object and counterpart being the authoritative sun. Servant/master self .
Inspiration is moon's gift higher up. Sun would 'flash' it out into well defined forms, meanings, and doings. Creator self.
Next comes the lunar drive for accumulation and possession with sun representing it symbolically, whether it be through wealth, societal status, or power, as well as acting it out. Owner self.
Love, yet a more subtle 'moonlight', shines from higher above. In the first place, it radiates towards the immediate family including parents, siblings, later – spouse and children. Its matching solar aspect would be recognizing one's place, role, and duties in the family circle. In sum, love and its close satellite compassion together with roles and responsibilities comprise family self.
In social self, the loved ones come to be outside of the immediate family circle: maternal, fatherly, filial or fraternal sentiments project onto people not related through blood. To put it differently, sun illuminates new horizons eliciting a more sublime sense of belonging and love from moon. The subtlest form of social self would be universal self free from any grosser or temporal attachments.
By and large, different parts of Self have been shown hierarchically, in terms of sublimity of sunlight and moonlight as it were, rather than chronologically. It is the duty of contemplating self to be looking after lower ones as, up to a point, it transcends them all. The weight of all sensations, feelings, and memories coming from moon along with ideas and principles made aware through sun would make up its footholds. Basically, contemplating self decides what to inhibit and what to approve of in Self.
Thus far, Way hasn't been specifically mentioned whereas, ideally, it runs like a thread through all the pairings of the companions. It is owing to Way that sun should go along with moon without major distortions and deviations. Basically, that means the harmony between the inside and outside, with some sort of peace being an inherent part of it. In this harmony, for instance, animal self wouldn't become too frightened or take to defensive measures without a real, proportionate danger. Or, gender self would be bound with marriage traditionally understood as a union between man and woman as well as auspicious forms of sexuality that major world religions have a more or less shared agreement on. That is to say, an essential part of peace as coming from Way is auspiciousness, an important aspect to heed with.
Now, should the lower selves are duly regimented and shaped by Way, their upward progression may eventually culminate in Divine self, the last one in the makeup. If I am competent enough to be commenting this level, the most sublime and wholesome awareness appears to be reached there, with actions being performed in and coming from the profound peacefulness. In this light, the biblical image of the lion lying down with the lamb may actually stand for the complete sublimation and unification of sun and moon. The Koran depicts the paradise in somewhat different terms, yet a major word being uttered there, according to the scripture, is “peace”. Bhagavat Gita talks about the state of yoga, that is, the union with God, as “action in inaction”. If inaction is understood as the ultimate peace, it is well in line with the other two holy texts. And all three would agree with the Sufi commandment highlighted at the very beginning.
I would rather go down to the lower harmonies – that would be only honest of me – so to show Way's apparent workings in more detail.
As mentioned before, sun features transcendence, that is, the urge to go beyond certain conditions or limitations. Moon is much more reserved in this regard, down to passivity and inertia. What Way would seem to try to do is communicate the sense of proportion to the companions. That, in turn, would help keep their natural tendencies in check and maintain the upward momentum.
Animal and gender selves have been already shown in this light.
In moving higher up, servant/master self would achieve harmony, hence a peace, as long as moon obeys the commandment “You shall not make for yourself an idol”. Sun, in its turn, would be informed of humility to be able to admit and accept one's higher authority.
Creativity of creator self would be harmonized in the following fashion. Inspiration coming from moon as aesthetically informed by Way is meant to be expressed rather than locked up within the confines of imagination. Therefore, Way would be 'pushing' it towards sun. From the other side, sun is ought to manifest something grounded in reality rather than generating its own farfetched or distorted meanings. In other words, 'the safety lock' for sun at this, as well as many other levels would be the sense of reality.
With owner self, the lunar drive for possession would be checked with moderation, yet another Way's seemingly major quality. That would enable moon to still its 'hunger' and this way achieve a peace more rapidly. Its solar equivalent would be the sense of dignity based on moderation. Crossing these boundaries would result in excessive gravitation of sun towards status and power. Apart from animal, gender, servant/master, and creator selves, owner self , if checked, is a great contributor to the stability of the entire setup.
In the lunar aspect of family self, Way would keep the subtlety of love so that no entrapment by or excessive dissolution in the object of love would occur whether it be with parents, children, or spouse. Sun, the recipient of love in this regard, would be reminded by Way of reciprocity and responsibility.
The same principle would apply to social self though on a larger scale. Awareness of its rights and some higher truths would prevent moon from being lost in or oppressed by a larger collective. Individualism, the scourge of sun, would be calibrated by Way, again, with the sense of reciprocity and responsibility – this time, towards a larger community that may extend to the entire world.
In contemplating self, moon would naturally gravitate towards the weight of the already received experience and knowledge, with sun taking a more critical stance towards them. Here, Way becomes an arbitrator of sorts. From one side, moon would be tested against a new, 'solar' knowledge; from the other, sun would be confronted with something old, validated, well-tried, that is, preserved by moon. To put it differently, the harmonious and peaceful marriage of sun and moon at this level can be achieved through their mutual commitment to objectivity as coming from Way.
In light of all above, the union of sun and moon in Divine self would be that of knowledge and love being merged most intricately and intimately. In other words, deep and clear awareness – the subtlest of sunlights – is coupled here with the radiance of love, an exceedingly refined moonlight that is. For instance, in Buddhism this state seems to be called Bodhi; an analogous yoga term would be Nirvikalpa samadhi or “doubtless awareness”.
Summing up Way's major qualities that would grace the companionship of sun and moon: peacefulness, auspiciousness, moderation, sense of proportion, and objectivity. As progressively more lasting states of happiness and peace seem to result from its workings, grosser selves are bound to lose in prominence. In other words, each successive aspect of Self would become less dependent on what supports it from below. Say, sexual drive would be moderated with the sense of material well-being and marital bliss. These may be overridden with other commitments, including with those coming from a collective identity or social self. For instance, in order to protect their homeland, soldiers would have to sacrifice their worldly comforts and familial bonds, let alone their lives. Social self is yet capable of stretching into something more universal beyond gender, race, kinship, religious affiliation, and so on. Up to a point, all that would be mediated by contemplating self, basically, by giving the green light to what is auspicious, inhibiting the opposite, and sticking to objectivity. “Plato is my friend but my greatest friend is truth” appears to be the paragon this way. There is a harsher Gospel saying yet:
Anyone who loves their father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
Perhaps, what could take the edge off it is a higher 'bargain', something so placative, beautiful, and solid that would heal all the bruises and wounds received alongside. That appears to happen when the highest peak, that of Divine self, becomes conquered.