By whatever clock you’re using — astrology, the civil calendar, the Mayan calendar or geological time — it’s getting late on the climate change issue. It’s getting so late that the excuse of “too late, we can’t do anything” might even sound convincing.
For a moment. Until you think of your children and their children, and theirs.
Ten years ago at the Saturn-Neptune opposition, we witnessed the twin hurricanes Rita and Katrina, and the almost unthinkable flooding of New Orleans and Houston.
Then we witnessed the compounded disaster of relief services failing almost completely while cops and Blackwater security patrolled rich neighborhoods to prevent looting.
At the time, it was a moment of awakening. People understood that rising ocean temperatures — that is, global warming — were feeding these kinds of superstorms. The more heat, the more powerful the storms.
It seemed, for a moment, like the payoff from the destruction of two cities would be the public waking up on climate change.
The warming trend and the superstorms have only continued, but our commitment has not. Now we’ve arrived at the next phase of the Saturn-Neptune cycle, the waning square. As you sit here reading, we’re approaching the final day of a major climate conference near Paris, where representatives of 200 countries are gathered.
Today we know that Exxon, one of the inventors of global warming, was also the first to discover its association to fossil fuels, and was the inventor of climate change denial. Exxon reversed the position documented by its own scientists and embarked on a quarter-century of deception, delaying response and feeding more denial.
Maybe making $4.5 million an hour in profits — not revenue, profits — motivated them to keep things quiet.
Now we know with even greater assurance that the witch-hunt against climate scientistsheaded up by congressional Republicans in 2005 was just more of the same bullshit.
And now we know that if left unaddressed, the problems of ocean warming, sea levels rising, extreme weather such as cold and droughts, crop failures and other earth changes, will continue. They will affect us and our children. But for the most part, we’re acting like there’s nothing wrong, nothing to be concerned about.
To support this denial, we tell ourselves that 1) It’s not really happening or not caused by human activity, 2) That there’s nothing we can do anyway, and 3) That it’s too late.
It’s strange to watch a society go through this. It’s strange and it’s very sad. Perhaps the worst element is that at the time when we need to be active and responsive and moving with confidence and a sense of purpose, the morass of apathy has never seemed thicker.
I often envision myself telling this story to the people who are alive 500 years from now, explaining why people did so little. I would have to say, ultimately, it was a spiritual issue. Yes, they were all very spiritual, but didn’t make the connection to actual existence.
You might ask what you can do. Europeans consume half the energy that Americans do, with a lifestyle that’s arguably better. That means that Americans waste half of the energy that we use.
There is plenty we can do. It’s a matter of consciousness and mustering up the will. But this has to go beyond your personal will to survive. This is not about you. It’s about all of us — and everyone who inherits the Earth from us.
Planet Waves Weekly Horoscope — Dec. 10, 2015, #1079 | By Len Wallick
Aries (March 20-April 19) — Any restrictions on your physical movement in the weeks ahead are almost certain to be temporary. It’s nearly as likely that those same restraints will become the blessings you didn’t know you were waiting for. That’s the reason you should resolve to cultivate patience as your primary objective for the foreseeable future. That’s also why you should endeavor to see these developments as a gift of both time and space whenever it feels as though you have had either bodily freedom or prerogatives of mobility taken from you. If you play your cards right, any constraints now imposed upon you should provide you with ample opportunity to discover ways you can transcend any and all limitations you had previously accepted and resigned yourself to. — by Len Wallick
Taurus (April 19-May 20) — There is a difference between complaining and expressing your needs. For you, realizing and leveraging that difference should require only small adjustments on your part so you can be understood as well as heard. Those adjustments would seem to entail putting things in a slightly different order. If you want to be understood, you must first seek to understand. While you probably have enough power and influence right now to simply coerce others into cooperating with you, any gain through duress would probably be as ephemeral as it is efficient. Rather than putting your objectives first, consider the advantages of making others feel as though your desires are their priority. The extra time and effort you invest to enlist support in kind will ultimately pay more than conscription will cost you. — By Len Wallick
Gemini (May 20-June 21) — A little organizing will go a long way for you at this time. You may feel as though your affairs are on a roll, and perhaps they are, but momentum can be a fickle thing. Don’t take anything for granted. Rather, take stock of both what you have gained and what you have lost over the last six months or so. Do not limit your accounting to material things, either. Consider the state of your relationships as well as your finances. Where you have shown demonstrable increase or attainment, put practices in place to consolidate, preserve and protect from dissipation what has been hard earned. With regards to what you may have had to give up or neglect, think about what you can do to make up, catch up or even up. Smooth rough edges so they won’t snag. Fill in low spots so you won’t fall in them. — By Len Wallick
Cancer (June 21-July 22) — It would be appropriate for you to exercise great care in small things for the time being. By doing so you will be grooming yourself to achieve great things in the not-too-distant future. The time for assertive, even aggressive, actions will come. For now, make it your business to get, and set, things right. In addition, endeavor to remember, refresh, restore, regain and above all return to what sustains you. Feel for your roots so you’ll know where you have come from when you are someday far removed from where you started. Do not be deterred from focusing on preparation even if others mistake your efforts for stagnation. The best way to make sure that you do not trip when taking the first steps of your impending journey is to make sure that the laces on your boots are well tied. — By Len Wallick
Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Sometimes you don’t know when you have gone a bridge too far until somebody pushes back. While you are fully justified and even entitled to have strong and significant feelings at this time, it would be in your best interest to express your emotions with care and consideration. This does not mean you have to repress or inhibit yourself. It does mean picking both your spots and your words so that others will welcome what your heart wants to share. Thus, when you are feeling enthusiastic, shine a light of gratitude rather than blasting the heat of your zeal. That way, others are more likely to see themselves in your picture. On the other hand, if your emotions are more on the somber side, show your generous and gentle nature so as to receive the same in return. Be easy to take and you will be better received. — By Len Wallick
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — While spring cleaning is not exactly near at hand, there may be other ways in which you can make a fresh start in the places you feel most at home. If you live alone, begin thinking about the extent to which you would be willing to share your personal space with an additional life. If a roommate or domestic partner is either not on your radar or not in the cards, you might want to at least consider adding a cactus or even a goldfish to open up some additional interaction, which could ultimately broaden your own life. If you share a residence with others, this would be a good time to reconsider your boundaries with them to encourage greater camaraderie and foster improved cooperation. It’s not as though there is any need for you to stir things up; that would only muddy the waters. Rather, look to loosen things up so as to smooth the waters. — By Len Wallick
Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — Be here now. Especially if you perceive some things going on in your immediate environment that remind you of trying times about two years ago. That was then. Now is the time to finally begin a process of integrating what is not yet resolved. Odds are you have done most of the hard work already. So, first, assume that is the case. Then, make it your next objective not to go back and be what you no longer are. To achieve that end, give yourself all the credit you are due. Look back at more than what you have been through. Consider all you have come through. Are you now more aware? Of course you are! Have you been responsible for an expanded consciousness? You bet you have! And who more than you now knows better than ever how to do the right thing? So now, do the right thing for yourself. Let yourself off the hook and get on the stick instead. — By Len Wallick
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You know you are loved. You know because some who love you reach out on a regular basis. You also know that others wait for you to accept the love they have to offer. Part of the love others offer is to ease your burdens in some way. Some have undoubtedly made it clear that they stand ready and willing to help you with physical encumbrances. Others offer a strong shoulder for emotional support. Then there are those whose clear yet learned perspective will help you see your way through any mental dilemmas. Also among those who love you are sure to be some whose spiritual development will fortify your faith. Finally, when you think about the work you have put into developing yourself over the years, you have evidence that you are fully capable of loving yourself. Just because you may have loved unwisely in the past, don’t assume that you are unworthy of love now. — By Len Wallick
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You, a leader? Yes, you! As surely as you have been known for your infectious smile, it’s time to own your inspirational style. Just as you have consistently offered empathy and support, others would be thrilled to offer you the reins of authority. Furthermore, the same form of character (known as ‘backbone’) that has permitted you to stand up to both authority and social pressure alike, will now serve very well on behalf of others. Finally, you know in your heart that your competitive side is really something more than a need to distinguish yourself; it is a love of challenge that has long been looking for worthy employment. All that remains for you to step into the leadership roles you were born to fill is to absorb a few remaining lessons about what it means to be a good follower. That means finding one last person to follow in the way that you will someday want to be followed yourself. — By Len Wallick
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — Your life has not been for the faint of heart. The fact that you are still alive proves that you are as stout hearted as they come. There is also no denying how big and kind your heart has always been. Now, all the heart you have shown in the past is surely coalescing in a new and improved way. In the depths of your soul, unseen to many (maybe even to you at this point), grows a source of inspiration that you will be able to draw upon to create like an artist and live to the fullest. Most of all, however, those who have had cause to wonder about your ability to mature fully will soon have reason to believe in you even more strongly than they have ever doubted you. As you gradually become more aware of the new type of heart building up inside, the most important thing for you to understand is that you have had it in you all along. — By Len Wallick
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Answer the bell. Regardless of any difficulties you are confronted with, keep coming out of your corner until you have gone the full distance allotted to you. Now is no time to yield to weariness or pain. However discouraging others may be, and no matter what challenges are yet to come, roll with them so as to conserve yourself — but also maintain a steadfast resolve to stay on your feet. Just as important, continue to keep your own style fair and clean even if others are not fair to you. Good effort and good form are never wasted. In fact, the only way you can truly lose now is to give up; for, a turning point is about to take place. What good you have done is slowly but surely adding up to more than your stumbles and errors. You need not resign yourself to accepting a moral victory, either. As long as you persist without breaking faith, you will continue to have a fighting chance to both prevail and be distinguished for it. — By Len Wallick
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Whether you know it or not (and you probably do), you have acquired some valuable and powerful allies as of late. Now your coalition of support will be stronger than ever, provided you continue to include those who were there for you when you had fewer options and things looked a lot less promising. Those who have recently thrown in with you have likely done so because of the interests you have in common, as well as the credentials you have earned. But those who have always been faithful to you for the long run have been motivated by more than just what you have to offer them in return. Your core constituency has hung in there with you through thick and thin because of who you are, not what you are. If you continue to honor their faith, you will have done the highest honor possible to yourself. — By Len Wallick