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Dear Friend and Listener:
Tonight’s Planet Waves FM explores the Taurus Full Moon conjunct Vesta. I develop Vesta themes throughout the program, particularly in Tantra Studio in the 4th segment.
Midway through the show, I was informed that Monday’s conjunction of Mercury and the Sun is really a Mercury transit of the Sun — an exact conjunction, which occurs between 7:36 am EST and 1:04 pm EST. Mercury will be at the center of the Sun at 10:20 am EST. This brings in the theme of the awareness of mortality.
The entire five-and-a-half-hour transit is visible on the East Coast and across Europe. Note, it’s necessary to use special equipment to view the transit, or you will damage your eyesight.
Today’s program also has a nuclear power theme. I discovered that the 40th anniversary of the No Nukes concerts occurred in September, so that’s the source of tonight’s music — a belated birthday party. Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) emerged right after the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster.
In 1979, an incident at the facility resulted in 32,000 tons of radioactive water (primary loop coolant) being released to the atmosphere, contamination of the containment structure, and other significant damage. Six months later, many of the top musicians of the era organized a fundraiser and awareness raising event, and they continue to the present day.
Attending one of the MUSE concerts was a positive message to myself, and I trace my lifelong dedication to the nuclear issue back to this moment.
Three Mile Island radicalized me, but the high vibration and loving presence of the benefit concerts is what left the lasting impression and connected me to my devotion.
Speaking of devotion, in the spirit of Vesta, Tantra Studio focuses on sexuality as an offering; and the need for a mature concept of one’s personal sexuality that is focused on giving rather than on getting.
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With love,
PS — My writing repertoire includes two investigative features on the nuclear issue. The first is called Here at the Edge of the World. The more recent piece is called Notes from Downwind. Both center around the Fukushima disaster and explore the history of nuclear power and nuclear weapons.
PPS — Here is the J.R.R. Tolkien telling of the end of Atlantis: Akallabeth: The Downfall of Numenor. The name of the island where the Valar lived was Valinor, in Aman. It is located far to the west of Middle-earth. It was also known as the Undying Lands, along with Tol Eressëa and the outliers of Aman. Numenor was also called Avalone, meaning “near Valenor.”
I’m going to disagree with you on the notion that participating in political actions isn’t helpful. I understand your disillusionment with the political sphere and am aware it does not hold all the answers, especially in terms of personal relationships, as you say. Yet I think it’s necessary to be involved in the political sphere in order to facilitate change on a wider scale.
The 1960s civil rights and anti-war marches stand out, though today Extinction Rebellion are doing a fine job of showing how and why political actions are still important, as are those protesting legislative moves against abortion.
Like it or not, all our lives are affected by what politicians do, and we have a civic duty to make our views heard if we can. I get that social media isn’t a great medium for this. Personally, I wish I could go on more marches, but it’s difficult for a variety of reasons, so often all I get to do is argue with people online, and share information. :/
PS – to any Brits reading this, please fortheloveofthegods vote on December 12th.
Can you see what I am getting at?
If you think there’s something I’m missing in your analysis, please by all means explain it. What I heard was the concept that the entirety of the political realm of action is not worth getting involved in, aside from keeping oneself informed – which in itself is a political act. Publicly noting the problems with current leaders and systems is a political act. Seeking any form of systemic change is a political act. All appear to me not only reasonable, but necessary.
What I said was staying informed and making intelligent choices based on that knowledge, with no qualifications on that (could include vote, run for mayor); and to converse with people you might disagree with and find some common ground.
My concern with protest, at our moment, in our time in our society, is that it’s tribalizing, and a reflection of mass consciousness rather than individuated or group consciousness. That is the place where various movements are currently stuck — in the space of mass/tribal, lacking individuated thinking, which blocks actual informed group action.
I am proposing we don’t need to be surrounded by people we would seem to agree with, but rather those we do not agree with on key issues, and work with them to find common ground…a crucial missing element, in our fracturing society.
OK, thanks – that makes sense. Though I would personally find it difficult to discover any common ground with someone who, for example, is ok with putting migrant kids in cages. It’s hard to feel any sort of commonality or sympathy with anyone who is prepared to justify this and all the other outrages being committed.
On the one hand, there is a truth to the concept of universal siblinghood. We all have flaws, therefore we have to practise a certain humility when assessing others, and try to “love the sinner but hate the sin” as the saying goes.
On the other hand, the people with whom we choose to associate can reflect (and shape) our own moral character and worldview. So I’d like to think that the people I call my friends enhance rather than diminish these things in me.
To some extent that transcends political boundaries, though there is an actual moral difference between policies that widen socioeconomic inequality (right wing) and those that support people to get their basic needs met (left wing).
Political protests are important because they are often the only measure by which we can make our voices heard on certain issues, thereby rectifying some of the imbalance of power between the people and the government.
XR are a fine example of the power of protest in the modern day, on an issue where government policy in many places has to change. Yet I have had the privilege of observing some of the conversations within the movement, which involve an ongoing discussion as to methods, ethics, the finer points of how climate science intersects with our practices, and so on.
This is often to be found among progressive activists, in my experience – not the face that is presented to the world, but the neurons working behind the scenes. The discussions are generally thoughtful, nuanced and intelligent. Yes, some bozos exist, but so they do everywhere – and of course the media delights in giving the bozos all the attention, since that makes for a better story.
Perhaps if we viewed & applied our “political involvement/participation” in a new way, the message is to break the molds & structure of “the how” we take action.
Which simple sparks an idea that, perhaps, marching down the streets, blocking traffic, increasing the need for government & official security, indivuals all gathered with signs that only illustrate the words, “the walk” of the change we would like to see, We become that change on a personal level, from our interactions, our intimate engagement one-to-one, on a level between two sets of eyes, we exhibit that change that we need on what may seem like a small scale, but if everyone made one meaningful engagement & positive change for another, THAT, my dear friend, IS EPIC proportion & scale of change. The action of “the walk” starts with our next door neighboor, as soon as we talk outside our door. We can start the change there. It is not neccessary for massive, monumental gatherings on the Capitol grounds to bring about collosal change in the world. The world is shifted overnight starting with right at home. Marinate & sleep on it, my good friend. I am glad you checked in & shared. When you rise up tomorrow, let the answer glow at the break of dawn. ❤️????????✨
Why can’t we do both?