The Mother of All Freedoms

Dear Friend and Reader:

On Valentine's Day, I was eagerly waiting for the White House press briefing to begin. It was delayed several times, hour by hour, and finally the 4 pm scheduled event was canceled.

That day's press briefing would have focused on a newly revealed debacle in the White House, which started as the revelation that Rob Porter, a top staff member accused of beating two of his wives, had been denied security clearance, but was still handling the president's most highly classified documents.

This has become a way of life for American students. Photo: ABC News.

The White House was claiming that the security clearance process was still in motion, though the FBI director, a Trump appointee, said in a congressional hearing earlier that week that the security clearance report had been turned over last July.

Security clearance is an elaborate, detailed (but routine) character check, going back to one's teenage years, to make sure that people who work at the top levels of governments are qualified to be handling the nation's most sensitive secrets -- such as the names of American spies working in the Kremlin, pending military plans and anti-terrorist strategies.

This has been turned into a scandal over the White House hiring a wife-beater (who according to press reports was also involved romantically with Hope Hicks, one of the president's closest advisors), and the president's position on domestic violence (he's opposed, thank goodness).

Yet the actual theme of this incident is how many top White House officials don't have security clearance, or said another way, have "interim clearance," which as I understand it means they were denied, but are still doing their jobs. According to current press reports, there are 47 who report to the president on "interim" clearance (meaning no clearance but we'll let it slide), more than one year into his administration.

Why exactly is that? Is this about many people around the president having dodgy, potentially criminal elements in their past? That would fit the picture, wouldn't it. One focus here is Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, who is one of those "interim" clearance people. Could this involve his father, Charles Kushner, who was convicted of 18 federal counts of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering? (Tampering is putting it mildly -- it was more like vicious intimidation.)

The wider context is that the president, his campaign and his administration are being investigated by federal prosecutors in many matters related to involvement with Russia in the tipping of the 2016 election. As of late 2016, there was no doubt, according to U.S. intelligence agencies, that this actually occurred.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, daughter of former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, is an amateur liar in a job that calls for a professional. She hosts most of the daily White House press briefings. Photo by Yuri Gripas.

Campaign and administration officials have denied, again and again, contact with Russians, and were found, again and again, to have had repeated meetings and communications. What's known as the "Russia probe" is piecing together exactly what happened. Was there any cooperation between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin?

While this is happening, many people at the top echelon of the Trump administration are not properly qualified to be handling top-secret documents, yet they may have ties to the Russians. This matters for every reason but especially because, once again, all U.S. intelligence agencies say they believe that Russia is currently messing with the 2018 congressional election. Under better conditions, that election might tip the balance of Congress and make it possible for there to be an impeachment of an obscenely corrupt and incompetent president.

And hey, loads of people think he's doing a great job, and lots of others are rooting for him because he's not part of the crooked Clinton clan or the Democratic National Committee.

The Mother of All Freedoms

As it turned out, the press briefing was canceled due to the Valentine's Day Massacre, the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, where a former student has been charged with killing 17 students with an AR-15 rifle.

This one seems like the same old story: mentally disturbed, gun-obsessed teenager, posting all kinds of disturbing messages to Instagram, who wanted to be a professional school shooter, does just that. Everybody dropped the ball: the school expelled him instead of referring him for a psychological evaluation; the FBI couldn't figure out who he was (for real?) -- and the other students were expecting it to happen.

So, all at once, the media mind -- the collective mind described by the content of TV and social media -- transforms from a serious national security issue to a mass shooting. This was the first widely reported school shooting of 2018, though it was the 18th in the first six weeks of the year.

Three of the president’s stooges -- accused wife beater Rob Porter, chief of staff John Kelly, and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, looking real official. Porter, whose role was to handle the president’s most sensitive paperwork, resigned two weeks ago due to revelations that he beat up two of his previous wives. Kelly knew this, and kept him on the job, even though he could not get security clearance. Kushner also has "interim" clearance. Photo by Alex Brandon.

And with that, the gun debate begins again. The debate that, according to the NRA, is never appropriate right after a mass killing, but which never happens any other time.

"We have collectively decided this is the way we wish to live. This perverse form of American carnage is not our scourge but our brand," the Daily News wrote in its editorial Thursday (published online Wednesday; see below).

"In this, our country, we force our children to learn how to shelter in place, to endure active shooter drills, to practice lockdowns, engaging in a horrifying modern version of Cold War duck-and-cover exercises. In this, our country, the enemies are the killers in our midst. But the enemy, in a larger sense, is us. This is the world we created."

It's always interesting to listen to gun rights advocates make the case for weapons being generally available.

Under the prevailing twisted, paranoid and politically naive concept of the 2nd Amendment, it's the mother of all freedoms, without which there would be no others.

In true "conservative" logic, freedom is used against the people who would be free, whether in the form of what amounts to a civil war waged by amateurs/freelancers acting under government policy, or a twisted interpretation of the 1st Amendment: money is speech, religion is a weapon and people have a right to lie to us.

This translates to: the 1st Amendment is the freedom to be lied to, and the 2nd Amendment is the freedom to be shot. They go together.

In logic more suited to the satires of J.P. Sears (of the "Ultra Spiritual" YouTube series), the equation is, "My freedom means I am free to have you be dead."

The Discarnate Condition: Death and Immortality

Many times in this column, I've quoted Prof. Eric McLuhan, the son of Marshall McLuhan, the pioneer of media studies. McLuhan describes the way that media powered by electricity (from the light bulb to Twitter) push people out of their bodies. Under full digital conditions, this is like the experience of living on the astral plane. As he sees it, this is the main factor driving the world into its current state of social, intellectual and political instability.

He believes mass shooting incidents are increasing in frequency due to what he calls the "discarnate condition," which imitates the condition of death. "You're out of the body. You've left the body behind, so that prepares the ground for all kinds of things. But for the kids, it's particularly disorienting because they're just growing into their bodies."

Video games teach kids how to get out of their bodies. Photo: The Sun.

Many have pointed out the connection between violent video games and violent actions. Prof. McLuhan says this is as much about the structure of the game as it is about the content.

"The technology is discarnating, and the video game itself gives them a role instead of an identity. And they play the role. When they play the role they think they are this person, or this character. The violence is to establish and maintain that identity. It's no surprise that when you pull the plug, they're still in the role."

He added: "Roles are corporate, not private, so it prohibits private awareness and private identity, and that's not very good for teenagers because they're trying to find out who they are. Violence is almost always a response to a loss of identity or a need to forge an identity or recapture an identity, and the violence can be slight, or it could be huge, like this. The kid says, I'll show them, meaning I'm going to assert myself."

Notably, the condition of being "discarnate" might also lead one to feel like they're immortal, which is how one might have the ambition to be a "professional school shooter." 

Then there's the issue of SSRI-type medications. These meds come with a suicide warning for teenagers, and there is a correlation between mass shootings and perps who are on these meds. There's a movement to compel drug companies to package these products with a murder and suicide warning, since they're so often involved with both.

"SSRIs push people inward, and when they get there, there's a vacuum," Prof. McLuhan said. "Being pushed inward is not the same as private identity." A private identity has the capability of relating rather than merely being isolated or trapped inside oneself. Teenagers often live with the feeling of being isolated, so this does not offer any help.

Notably, a society full of people who are not really living on the physical plane might find it challenging to do something as tangible, and as challenging, as restrict access to weapons.

The Mother of the United States

Valentine's Day was the eve of a solar eclipse, so the buildup to the press briefing that never happened, and the Parkland, FL, massacre were right in the run-up to that event.

The eclipse, which took place at 4:05 pm EST on Thursday, was in Aquarius. It was the corresponding event to the Great American Eclipse that happened last August, and which unleashed the furies. If you recall, that was the eclipse where the path of totality -- of total darkness -- spanned the United States from Portland, OR, to Charleston, SC, with its peak over the continental U.S. -- the first such event in American history.

The Feb. 15 eclipse was conjunct the Moon in the primary chart for the United States, sometimes called the Sibly Chart. The United States has its Moon in Aquarius. In astrology, the Moon represents the mother. In a national chart, it provides a description of the nature of what we call "the public."

The Aquarius Moon is a good Moon, if someone has cultivated their senses and their capacity for feeling and emotion. It has a friendly, affable quality, and a kind of charm that comes from being a little detached.

However, the drawback of this Moon is that it can be a head trip. That is to say, it can possess its own "out-of-body experience" -- and it has a susceptibility to fascination with technology. Aquarius Moon people need to squish their toes in moss, walk around in the woods, cook food and spend time naked. That’s currently not what the United States’ population is doing.

The U.S. Moon is conjunct Pallas Athene, which is the asteroid related to politics. American people have a fascination with politics, though it's a naive one. Though the same could be said about humans everywhere, Americans seem to love hucksters, con artists, and anyone who evokes the good old days. It often amazes me that just six years after Nixon was toppled in the web of crime known as Watergate, Ronald Reagan became the next great Republican hero -- who got into office by making an arms-for-hostages deal with Iranian militants (who today we would call radical Islamic terrorists).

An eclipse conjunct such a sensitive point as the Moon is a wakeup call. The United States is swimming in an ocean of toxic sludge: whether we're talking about a universe of sex equaling sexual assault, thinking tax cuts for the wealthiest people is a great idea for the poor and working class, spending more than $600 billion each year on the military, or whatever, we are a country with problems.

And right now, one of the biggest of those problems is that our electoral system is a sham, and we need congressional representatives who will actually do their job.

The mother of all freedoms is the ability to reason, and the willingness to take on the responsibility of making decisions. At the moment, we are defining the American Dream as being a deer staring into oncoming headlights. Everyone knows this. I guess that's fine, as long as the foam on your latte is just right.

With love,
Monthly Horoscopes and Publishing Schedule Notes

We published your extended monthly horoscopes for February on Thursday, Jan. 25. Your extended monthly horoscopes for January were published on Thursday, Dec. 21. Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope on the first Friday after the Sun has entered a new sign. Aries (March 20-April 19) -- It could be argued that an eclipse has points in common with Mercury retrograde phases. In both instances, normal procedure is suspended or disrupted for a while, and things might seem confusing or out of place. Then the balance is restored, and we go on with our lives, perhaps a little wiser for the experience and what it's shown us. Put more simply: if this eclipse generates a little tension, your resilience will probably be more than adequate to field it. -- by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link. Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- Keep your eye on the ball this week, and don't allow yourself to be sidetracked for too long. What you're striving for is too important to allow for bringing anything less than your full attention. Likewise, take sufficient time to do everything properly; don't fudge quality trying to get to the end before you've finished the middle. Treat every task as if the buck stops with you, and as if each detail has your personal signature on it -- whether that's officially true or not. -- by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link. Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- Many things look different when viewed with the perspective of time. When it comes to your longer-term ambitions, it makes particular sense to consider your journey as a whole entity, rather than focusing on specific details -- especially if you're currently experiencing what you might view as a setback. What may seem an impassable gulf to you now will probably be well behind you by next week; by next year, most likely, any difficulty will be all but forgotten. -- by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Most people are, at present, feeling a little frayed around the edges; and this week's eclipse seems to be at least partly about confronting that reality. Your innate sensitivity may cause you to feel overwhelmed at times, but it also primes you for dealing with your emotions constructively. Use that tool for all it's worth. Remember that, ultimately, you are enough. Other people know this; if you need to, reach out to them, and soak in the abundance of their love. -- by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link. Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- In recent years, the maxim "Treat others as you would be treated" and its variants came under some scrutiny among social media philosophers. Many suggested it be changed to the possibly more thoughtful "Treat others as they would wish to be treated." The spirit of both is really the same. Especially in your relationships, it might help now to apply this rule consciously, however it's best phrased. Do your best to ensure your presence makes someone's day sweeter. -- by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- This week's eclipse will likely help demonstrate for you something about the nature of true service. Especially if you're given to excessive self-deprecation, you may be inclined to think this is a matter of quantity; or rather that you're not doing it right unless you've taken on more than you can safely handle, usually the grubbier the better. That will no longer do. It's time to stand out and focus on a form of service that requires the full weight of your intelligence. -- by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link. Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- Any less-than-ideal situation at work is likely to come to a head this week, in the sense of compelling you to recognize if the job you do is not meeting your needs in some way. Try to step back and look at the entire scenario in terms of yourself as a whole person. It'll be easier to see where your work is not meeting you. If any of this can be improved by communicating desires or ideas, do so in the peaceful yet sincere fashion for which your sign is well known. -- by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- It does no one any good to bottle up or conceal their emotions. Conversely, dwelling on past hurts too long can be equally enervating. It may be necessary for you, this week, to deal with a specific matter from your past before you can move on. If you can, try to view what happened through as wide a lens as possible, taking in all the circumstances. Some added perspective should make it easier for you to attain the peace of mind you need and deserve. -- by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- A lot of factors, including the imminent Mars-Vesta conjunction in your sign, are no doubt nudging you to at least consider where you might focus your energy and your capacity for devotion. This is substantial, provided only that your chosen cause sufficiently engages your interest. With an eclipse taking place in your house of communication, you may choose to do something involving writing or speaking, or some other method of expressing your unique voice. -- by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- This week's astrology will probably have the effect of clearing away any remaining cobwebs from before the end of last year, especially regarding your self-esteem, as you continue to explore this surprising new world wherein you can shine without fear. You know now that to love yourself, you don't have to exceed everyone else, or get a certain mark on a scoreboard. You merit self-love by virtue of simply existing. Just be you as firmly as you can. -- by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

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Aquarius Solar Eclipse Reading from Planet Waves

Dear Friend and Reader:

I've just finished the Aquarius audio reading. It's now available for instant access.

This is a separate project from the annual edition, different in every way. This is a 75-minute astrology reading in two sessions, based on Thursday's solar eclipse in your sign -- the last solar eclipse in Aquarius until Feb. 17, 2026.

Chart for Thursday's solar eclipse. The monograph behind it is by the German philosopher Dieter Duhm.

This chart has a lot to say about relationships, self-esteem, family and ancestral matters. I do my best to help you orient inwardly to experience these dimensions of growth and healing not only as real, but as accessible, workable places to focus your energy and time.

Your reading is still available at 33% off, for $44. After the eclipse the price will go up to $66, where we will leave it.

My audio readings are some of the most unusual astrology you'll encounter. I believe they go deeper than the work that most professional astrologers do, reaching the spiritual essence of the chart's message, though without the need for a natal chart. This reading will stand up to many playings.

Doing this work takes experience and preparation; if sold as "self help" these readings would be going for many times the price. My intention is to keep them accessible and affordable.

I've prepared a sample of the reading lasting about six minutes, which you can play as an mp3, or download as a zip file. The music is an original piece by Vision Quest, the Planet Waves in-house ensemble.

My method of reading opens up so many dimensions that I could devote hours to each chart. Yet this reading distills certain vital messages, catching you up on the past few months of Saturn in Capricorn, and previewing the transits of Chiron in Aries and Uranus in Taurus.

I'll be following up with a tarot reading in a month or two, a feature that's included with your reading, though is about to be split off as a separate product. That's not delivered on a schedule -- it's ready when it's ready.

Your reading also includes access to last year's audio reading (so that you can review it) as well as The Book of Your Life 2017 written reading.

Thank you for being a Planet Waves customer, and for trusting me as your astrologer.

With love,

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Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Today's eclipse would seem to be the latest in a series of events that basically add up to a rebirthing process for you. The last solar eclipse, back in August, perhaps first clued you in that some of the habits you'd held over from the past were no longer serving their purpose. Our coping mechanisms are really astonishing, but they have a use-by date. You can now begin to develop new techniques that reflect the person you are becoming, rather than who you once were. -- by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Several points of stress may culminate with the eclipse; then the tension should hopefully start to deflate gradually, like an air cushion. It's important that you be kind to yourself and give this process sufficient time to unfold. In particular, check in with any feelings of self-doubt. Remember that though the results of your endeavors may not always be immediately palpable, in truth experience has already shown that your work is not only worthwhile, but of decided importance. -- by Amy Elliott. For your Eric Francis horoscope this week, please see this link.

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