Dear Planet Waves Reader:

Our new edition of Planet Waves Astrology News is out. It’s one of those “in tune with the times” issues that looks at recent news events and puts them into a personal context. Since I don’t wake up every morning and jump into my hired car to my job as editorial page editor of The Wall Street Journal, I’m here to put what I’m doing at Planet Waves into context.

The Yes Men movie is available by DVD! They're selling it as a fundraiser, so it's not as cheap as Netflx. If you live in upstate New York (unlikely, I know), it's at Upstate Films in Rhinebeck.

The context is: most news stories you read have nothing to do with you. They are alienating. Then they take the extra step of instilling one emotion: fear. After working for years as a high-level news reporter, I recognize that the “news” has a way of making us feel isolated and powerless, and I’m here to do something about it. Going in through a kind of spiritual side door, we use an astrological approach to current events to bring them to you in a way that makes it relevant, and teaches you something about your own reality.

If you imagine what the “media of the future” would be like, it would not simply be good news; it would not be bad news; it would be spiritually and psychologically relevant information that you can work into the context of your own existence.

I know you actually exist, and that you’re a person with feelings and authentic curiosity about the world. That’s why I invented Planet Waves. Well, it was about both of us. I also needed a place I could work that could fit my shall we say unique perspective on life and on journalism..

Here’s a little sample of what we put out to our subscribers today. As Saturn gets ready to change signs, we have another excellent monthly horoscope coming on Tuesday. And you’re invited to participate in my research on the 2010 annual edition on the front page blog of Planet Waves.

Here’s the signup link if you decide you want to subscribe. This will take you to our summer specials page. Call Chelsea at (877) 453-8265 if you prefer a phone order.

Have a fine weekend — that Scorpio Sun is hot stuff, but then again, I’m a Pisces so I would think that.

Love and lovingly,

.

The Aquarius Factor

That we exist in a time of mass deception is easier to see when something that is not true is accepted as truth, then revealed as such — but we tend to forget these incidents quickly. What each of these events shares is the property of revealing how we process our perceptions, with a lot of help from our mental patterns — an Aquarian thing. We have help from television and the Internet, other Aquarian things. There are three parts to every hoax: the people who create it (and why), the people who spread the word (and why), and those who believe it (and why). The third factor is the most crucial one. We believe lies because we want to.

The astrology points back to the triple conjunction in Aquarius, the one involving Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune. Aquarius is a sign that represents the people in an elite sense of that word; for example, all the special folks who watch the news, or who have access to the ‘net. It’s “everyone” to the extent that you can use some concept or idea to group them together.

The timing factor was Jupiter stationing direct in Aquarius on Oct. 13. Jupiter (often associated with fashion and trends) is the original planet of illusions, acting like a giant projection screen for our ideals. In Aquarius, we have an image of the electronic media being a vector of those ideals, often presented in the form of images that imitate us and which we in turn seek to be like. Jupiter is still close to Neptune (just six degrees away and now approaching its last exact conjunction, on Dec. 21, before venturing into Pisces). Chiron is in Aquarius, a long-term factor serving as the annoying (to some) thing that keeps trying to get our attention. If Aquarius is a group, Chiron is the part that belongs there but doesn’t quite fit in; Chiron’s job is to call bullshit.

Considering these three stories, we could give Balloon Boy to Jupiter (a puffy, grandiose lie told in order to pump up someone’s ego and enrich him personally), False Valor Man goes to Neptune (a delusional guy who craved being a hero in a time when this is the thing that society supposedly wants the most) and the Yes Men to Chiron (guys with a specific collective healing agenda who are willing to challenge perceptions and take personal risks).

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Today’s Oracle takes us to the LEO – Monthly of Mar 12, 2007

Photo by Danielle Voirin.

Cooperation is rarely easy because people rarely make it easy. More than understanding the common ground and common goals, most human specimens will go out of their way to assert their differences, and rate their own agenda above those of everyone else — often with no good reason to do so. You now get to be the teacher of cooperation. You know how much everyone has to gain, and how much you all have to lose. I suggest you set the standard for a real discussion that leads to clear understandings, and a foundation of common interests. One day not too far from now it will suddenly become plainly apparent why this was necessary.

(The Daily Oracle is a random selection from one of 10,000 Eric Francis horoscopes. The Oracle is a divination tool like tarot cards, and also can be used to research any horoscope for the past 10 years. It is available to subscribers of Planet Waves Astrology News in all its working glory. This is a brilliant piece of programming combined with a full decade of Eric’s writing — when you have a question, it really works (as long as you’re sincere), and we know that you’ll love it. Sign up to discover how and why. Or enjoy one selection free here every day.)

My friend Amanda Painter works as a phone canvasser for Maine People’s Alliance, a progressive activist group. She has lots of stories about her fundraising phone calls, which sometimes turn into consciousness-raising experiences. I’ve encouraged her to tell some of the stories here — since this is grassroots politics, the real thing. No punditry, just actual human beings talking about the intersection of existence with the political process. Here is Amanda’s first article in this genre.

Amanda Painter

Tonight I spoke with Barry, the confused but well-meaning hippie. The call began typically, with my giving our standard rap explaining why we believe people should vote down a proposed tax-related referendum. Barry asked several genuinely interested questions about it and our stance, then asked what else is on the ballot this year. I told him a few of the issues my organization is taking a stance on, mentioning Question One only in passing.

Question One is a referendum to repeal a law legalizing same-sex marriage in Maine. The bill was passed by Maine state legislature this spring and signed into law by the governor. A confusing but high-profile referendum question aimed at repealing this law has been placed on the ballot this fall, mainly through the work of conservative religious groups here. I hadn’t yet had a chance to secure a donation from Barry, so I was reluctant to potentially jeopardize it by discussing another issue — especially that one. Barry had another agenda, immediately asking me what my organization’s stance was on Question One.

I told him we advocate a ‘no’ vote, based on a basic platform of human rights. With a fair amount of hemming and hawing, Barry expressed that he hadn’t made up his mind on this one, and held what he himself described several times as some opinions that might simply be “ignorant” and a little “redneck,” but hoped I might be able to explain a few things to him. I finally told him to go for it. Barry explained that despite being “an old hippie,” having friends in San Francisco, and having no problem with people being homosexual, he was afraid of a few things.

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Today’s Oracle takes us to the CAPRICORN – Weekly of Jan 28, 2000

Photo by Danielle Voirin.

Your highly innovative nature and your seemingly conventional ways of being are often at odds. People expect you to be far less imaginative than you are, and it’s easy to fall for it by thinking it’s true. This is especially a concern in your personal relationships. If love has entered your life recently, track its progress, and note whether its path of motion is from something wild and free toward something rather ordinary. You have that potential, for sure, but this particular relationship can also serve as one of the most electrifying creative and erotic opportunities you’ve ever had. The difference will be up to you; you’ll need to take the lead, and encourage others to have faith.

(The Daily Oracle is a random selection from one of 10,000 Eric Francis horoscopes. The Oracle is a divination tool like tarot cards, and also can be used to research any horoscope for the past 10 years. It is available to subscribers of Planet Waves Astrology News in all its working glory. This is a brilliant piece of programming combined with a full decade of Eric’s writing — when you have a question, it really works (as long as you’re sincere), and we know that you’ll love it. Sign up to discover how and why. Or enjoy one selection free here every day.)

Today I’m researching the Taurus annual edition for 2010. As part of this I’m reading my Taurus materials going back a couple of years, though your input would be helpful. If you’re a Taurus or Taurus rising, would you please add a comment after this post, with some thoughts about your career/professional life (where you’ve been going the past year, and what you’re anticipating); your relationships, including how you experienced the Venus retrograde in Aries earlier this year; and how you’ve responded to Pluto in Capricorn. Thank you kindly. If you don’t recognize these transits, it’s fine to speak off the cuff about how your life has been developing.

cosmicsigns

She is lovely, brilliant, reasonable, logical, and totally incorruptible, and has no past to cover up. She is immune to bribery or any financial inducements. She is beholden to no corporation or political machine. She has no racial identity, but shares features with all races. For all these reasons the American people overwhelmingly rejected both parties’ candidates and chose her for President.

No one asked, though, if she could play ball.

The world found out this afternoon, when President Wollemi took the mound for the Nationals in the opening game of the season, against the much-heralded Tokyo Roses. The President’s sizzling fastball belied all odds that she wouldn’t get the ball to the plate without at least one bounce: the pitch was an unqualified strike, smacking into catcher Egerton’s glove to the cheers of a standing-room-only crowd.

Her second pitch, a curve ball that seemed to shimmer tantalizingly before crossing the plate, was also a strike, as was her third. Nationals pitcher Hup Tarnley, standing by to pitch as scheduled, took off his cap and bowed, presenting the President with his glove and cap. Fans were treated to the first-ever perfect game in National Park as the President struck out the Roses with three pitches each, carrying the Nationals to a 4:0 victory.

Following the game the President returned Tarnley’s gear, graciously declining offers from Nationals manager Loren Gearheart to sign on for the season. “I apologize for the hasty departure, but I am late for a Senate briefing on agriculture,” she said before climbing into the waiting Presidential limousine.

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Today’s Oracle takes us to the CAPRICORN – Monthly of Jan 01, 2001

Photo by Danielle Voirin.

The most pressing concern you face is seeing anyone else as being more spiritual or enlightened than yourself. No doubt you’re aware of your own darkness. Yet this is a matter of perception, and your view is disproportional to the real extent of the situation. If you look within and see mostly unwholesome chaos, then look without and see a greater proportion of talent, holiness or wisdom in others, you can be sure you’re confused. Yes, you are now facing certain of the less savory elements in your character (which is a sign of excellent character). Yet it’s also true that you may fear this is some form of karmic reprisal — that you “deserve what you feel,” that you had childhood pains “coming to you” or that you are somehow doomed to add up to less than others. I caution you against taking this seriously, and suggest seeing it for what it is: an attack on yourself. On another level, this setup is designed to carry you further, to train your awareness on a new, less polarized level of reality. Some of the most important teaching is accomplished through contrast, and it’s by seeing the world in black and white that we seek the subtleties of color and hue. When we encounter people who may serve us as teachers, mentors or givers of knowledge — and remember, they are our gracious servants — it’s crucial that we remind ourselves consciously that we are truly equal to these people, even if we are very different. For the gifts they offer can only be received on level ground.

(The Daily Oracle is a random selection from one of 10,000 Eric Francis horoscopes. The Oracle is a divination tool like tarot cards, and also can be used to research any horoscope for the past 10 years. It is available to subscribers of Planet Waves Astrology News in all its working glory. This is a brilliant piece of programming combined with a full decade of Eric’s writing — when you have a question, it really works (as long as you’re sincere), and we know that you’ll love it. Sign up to discover how and why. Or enjoy one selection free here every day.)

This is from a Quaker pamphlet called The Seed and the Tree by Daniel A. Seeger.

The Seed and the Tree

To develop an effective nonviolent witness it is not enough simply to obey the commandment “Thou shalt not kill.” The emotion of hatred can in its own way be as deadly as the act of killing. We may pretend to ourselves that it does not matter what our emotions are as long as we act rightly, but when the test comes we always betray ourselves, for our thoughts and emotions control our acts. If our minds are full of hatred and condemnation, this ultimately will be expressed in acts of violence and destruction and murder. We will eventually find that we seem to have no other choice.

The avoidance of judgmentalism, a key to the development of a nonviolent character, involves more than eschewing the condemnation and hatred of others. For passing a sentence on others is not the only form of judgmentalism there is; self-congratulation for having found the truth one tries to live by is judgmentalism in another form. A feeling of pride at having come to understandings which are not yet widely grasped is corrupting; it disables us as instruments of Truth. For how can one take credit for the experiences one has been given, the persons one has encountered, the emotional and intellectual makeup one has inherited and been nurtured into, all of which have led one, finally and at last, to grasp, probably imperfectly, some splinter of the truth which has been proclaimed by sages since the beginning of human history? Can we be sure that if we were in another’s shoes we would not have the same opinions and be behaving exactly the same way that he or she is doing?

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