3. Spirit Thinking
This third sector of the Wheel is Spirit Thinking. In the language of the Wheel Spirit means animating vital principal; meaning; ideas; representations; quality; space-time continuum; intelligent or sentient part of a being; essential principal; significance; incorporeal; intellect; concept; thought; noetic; event; information; pattern; gestalt; geist; abstract; ideational; ideal; neo-cortex, human brain; knowledge. Spirit is what is typically understood in an inexact sense as mind. Thinking means relate; to reason, both analytically and analogically; ratiocination; order; consider; reflect; ponder; cogitate; dialectic; symbolize; conceive; connect; deliberate; either-or; both-and; enumerate; hind brain; breathing; language; and reflection.
In the body this part of the Wheel corresponds to the Shoulders, Arms, Hands and Lungs. In our personal world it pertains to Learning and Information and in civilization to Science. In the ancient wisdom traditions of the West, and in the Zodiac, it is symbolized by Gemini, the Twins.
In grammarical categories it pertains to the Verb, which has three parts:
- Intransitive - Go
- Transitive - Have
- Modal - Want to Go
This third sector of the Wheel contains position 3 on the Enneagram. The verb - 3 - pertains to understanding, to relation of abstract concepts. It's archetypal symbol or myth is Uranus. Uranus is the desire to know, to understand. The complementary impulse is the ninth sector of the Wheel, Spirit Willing, with the historical impulse of Inspiration, mentally moved directly, without any thought or analysis.
In life this is the age span of from 14 to 21 years. This time of life is primarily concerned with "learning and relationships." Now the nature of learning for a person should change and take on new importance. The young adult begins to be concerned with the judgment and synthesis of factual data. They formulate their own ideas and begin to see themselves as part of a system of ideas. The judgment tends to be simplistic, seeing everything in black and white terms. Scientific intelligence can awaken, and either great supportive enthusiasm or negative skepticism tends to develop, depending on the teachers. The identification with and loyalty to a peer group is a common ideal for this stage of development. Identification with the peer group beyond this age is a danger. The young person must find their individuality at 21 years of age in order to continue to grow.
In history the Gemini Age when Spirit Thinking was emphasized is the period from 8838 BC to 6678 BC (see explanation of the New Age). This was the Age of the Tribe where the Vision Quest was the center of historical evolution. Remnants of this historical age can still be seen in the Native American traditions. The Gemini Age of Tribes followed omens and agreements as in the Vision Quest.
In geography this sector of the Wheel corresponds to the one twelfth of the Earth from 100 to 130 degrees longitude East. This includes China and Indonesia. Born out of polarity (Yin and Yang), people in this zone strive for an educational community based on the ideal of a common spiritual will (Spirit Willing).