It’s been an incredibly violent few weeks. Actually I’ve been noticing this all year — lots of detective teams digging various places. In recent weeks we’ve been exposed to many severe crimes, most of them committed against women. Yesterday’s attack at Fort Hood takes things to a new level, and I think is a good reason to stop and think about our values and the direction our country is taking. We say we’re a Christian nation, and we leave people without food and health care so that we can wage wars in remote parts of the world. If you call yourself a Christian and you’re against healing the sick and feeding the poor, I would suggest you meditate on the true nature of your religious commitments. And while the church has waged many wars, I don’t think Jesus would be bombing anyone. Whatever flimsy reasons we may have had, excuses really, they are no longer valid today; and we have good reasons to put a stop to the killing we are participating in. We might ask ourselves how much worse this all has to get before we do that: how much more futile, how many more deaths, how many more of our children and neighbors we need to sacrifice, how much more expense, and what cost to our peace of mind. Sooner or later we will bring our troops back home, and it won’t be because we “won” those wars. It will be because we have no other choice.
No one likes to talk about crazy, but it’s there and armed with access to assault weapons, thank you NRA and right wing-nuts! I imagine there are many who are on the edge and feeling trapped and I hope this horrible tragedy illuminates the need for caring for our brothers/sisters out there AND taking away their weapons.
Since we’re all reflectively inclined, today I wanted to share my giddy gratitude for this virtual community that is planetwaves. ‘Nice’ as an adjective could never sufficiently express the depth of my surprise and delight by everything I learn about myself and others through this place; moreover, everything I learn about astrology!
Keeping with the spirit of the astrology and following the thread-
I have neptune conjunct my sun. I never really understood fully what that meant for me, until this writing. I experience a lot of growth through imagination and illusion, e.g., books, movies, music. I have a deep love for these vehicles. I like to write and sing.
The internet is the newest fantastic voyage, and this space that gets created here, the thoughts we publish belong to us and signals our intent to the universe.
Just like the act of voting and our system of government is intended to reflect the will of the people.
Each of us is communicating with spirit every day. All the damage and death we are witnessing all around us is part of that conversation- a reflection of it, if you will.
I agree with you jlo…change starts in the smallest and soundless of ways…it begins as an idea one is willing to give energy to-whether it’s a good or bad change is the the process of what balancing looks like, no?
I hope that part of our awakening is understanding that a lot of our human searching is like internet searching. When we don’t get the result we want after entering our search terms, we may experience frustration. It could take some time to get satisfaction. We have to refine our search now. We have to be willing to be accountable. We have to stop blaming every possible structure outside of our ability to think for ourselves for the failures in our process of finding and maintaining peace.
War reminds me a lot of trying to give up smoking. It’s not that stopping is so terribly hard, it’s the not starting again. We’ve been warned, too. We have history, and direct witness accounts from loved ones who have seen it, been there and lived through that.
I see a whole generation of people moving in that direction. This is a great time to be alive, because now is the only time we will ever have.
One last thought-Tarot emerged sometime late 13th century-the sword suit is akin to the air element in astrology, and I am often given to thinking of the goddess Athena when I think of swords. Swords, blades used in ritual work are often used as tools for communicating about specific ideas that you’d like to see in action…
I don’t presume to know if Jesus spoke the words, but I know from seeing his life on the whole as his message that he had an intimate understanding of the sword.
I think the sword might just be the word that begets the action. We know them by their fruits.
Len – very true and great wisdom! The Media does like to grab on the negativity.
That’s interesting about Neptune – do you think it has something to do with the initial reports that the shouter was dead, only to be revealed that he was stable and in custody?
Genevieve – i’m not saying you are wrong but we must keep in mind that information of such events comes to us through the so-called news media. With Neptune having stationed forward two days ago we should be careful to consider the source of the information we receive as well as the content.
New headline – Man in Orlando goes into the Engineering firm that fired him two years ago and shot up the firm.
And the insanity continues…..
It almost seems like the violence is picking up steam – more and more of it occurring at an increasing rate. Anyone else notice this?
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.” (Matthew 26:52)
From the Garden of Gesthemene scene, (in Matthew) after Peter whacks off the ear of a Temple servant with a sword.
Basic spiritual truth 101: We reap what we sow. If you come with violence you will meet violence.
Ephesians 6 is that famous passage about “putting on the whole amour of God” and the sword there is the “sword of the Spirit”. Again in Hebrews 4:12, the sword imagery corresponds with discernment: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
And again, clearly working on themes that support the futility of conventional weaponry/violence: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
I know there’s plenty of blood and guts violence in the OT (and lots of futility and bad karma to boot), but somebody(ies) here in the NT is transcending that.
Maybe I’m talking about things we all know. Maybe not. But it seems clear to me that the NT is saying, “Get smart. You’re asking the wrong questions and getting the wrong answers. Violence is not the answer, because violence is not really the problem. “
The sword was in reference to the people following Jesus as a cause of the rift in families. Commitment to love and peace can cause the split in families and countries. Haven’t we seen this over the centuries? Jesus never ever encouraged violence or even disobedience to parents. He was showing the apostles that following him demanded a decision. Jesus did not come to bring peace that glossed over for the sake of harmony. We are to look forward to teh day when all conflict is resolved.
Love can be self-serving, but not real love…not the way Jesus intended it to be learned.
This is paraphrased from a study bible I have. I had a better one but gave it to my son, who kept getting scripture all wrong.
I have spent a lot of time wondering about that alleged quote by Jesus. Since the Wall Street Journal can’t get right a story that happened yesterday, we cannot expect something to be preserved accurately over 2000 years. That said there is obvious symbolism in the sword as blade of discernment. We have no other references from Jesus that say he would do something violent with such an implement, so we are left to consider the esoteric value. That said, if Half D is reading, or perhaps Mysti whom nothing seems to evade, I would appreciate a commentary on that reference to Matthew. We might want to consider who was Matthew, as well. Thank you cousins.
— EF on a quiet evening, taking off from Cosmic Confidential for one day, and going to a dance new england event that’s in town tonight.
Also on a local level there’s a lot of violence. Recently in Seattle, we had a cop that was shot and killed after a traffic stop. They haven’t figured out who did it yet or if the officer was specifically targeted, but it was planned to kill and office. He stopped a car for a traffic ticket, gave them the ticket and when the car drove away another car came around a corner shot him and then left. That’s a least the latest news on it. Seattle’s a pretty safe city as far as big cities go, so this is a bit unusual for us.
I have also noticed alot of the recent violent crimes on the national scale have been toward women. What I find also interesting is that the latest article I read in BBC said that the police officer who stop the shooting at the military base was a woman. It’s not shocking that a woman cop would be there and stop him. But, I think it is interesting with all the violent crimes against women lately and the oracle quote posted Eric that talks about “We could all use new ides about women, especially women” that the person to end the rampage (as far as we know right now) was a woman.
Agreed, Eric, there is a disturbing pattern here. Violence is like the “empty calories” phenomenon – taking up the space of that which would nourish and/or heal us. It would be revealing to contemplate who is making a profit off the proliferation of junk food and violence and where that money is going to.
Agreed, Jere, we should each do a daily personal check-in. Where are we putting our energy day-to-day? Is that really what we want to do (or be)? As far as balance tricks are concerned, i am better off with my feet on the ground but more power to you!
JLO – RIGHT ON. Where your treasure is, is where your heart is. That’s a paraphrase from Jesus. Maybe I will look up the scripture. Young parents shouldn’t be allowing their kids to buy or play games of violence.
Just noticed last night that the vastly popular video game H.A.L.O has the US Air Force as a sponsor.
Breeding killing machines is indeed a deeply inbred piece of US culture.
Where do our religious-and-otherwise games stop and reality set in? When terrorism strikes personally? And even then, how often do we experience finger pointing instead of self responsibility? Just how much of a wake-up call do we fucking NEED?
Love and PEACE!!! two, Jere.
XO
So there you go again with the synchronicity…maybe it’s the mystic Sicilian in you, I have no idea.
Just took a break from work to check into planetwaves and saw your musings on the news. I’m in complete agreement, so I pondered a moment and then checked the oracle for insight into what I could maybe do today, right now. Here is what she said (or he, or you, or whomsoever the oracle actually is..)
“We could all use new ides about women, especially women. Years of rule by men have often forced the female species into using let’s say far from direct means to attain and acquire what it needs. Now, cosmic forces are begging for directness, ingenuity and a clear strategy for improving the world and improving the quality of life in relationships. There is literally no limit to the influence you can have in this aspect of culture, and your private world. Ideas you have been thinking about for years about how men and women can relate honestly and clearly are now arriving in a time and place where they are necessary, and where they can help tip the balance of power toward peace in a world that is being increasingly consumed by war.”
Hmm.
..one more and I’m off.. Check your ‘daily’ options. Where do you spend your energy? What ‘stores’ do you contribute your cash energy to? How are folks all over the world affected by your decisions.. don’t thrash yourself, but do be aware. Make sure your contribution aligns with your awareness. We will only get through this as individuals. Individuals who recognize the individuality of all others, and who work toward the manifestation of their own mojo within this realm.
What I’m saying is basically this, Realize that you don’t need too be alive, then, that you have wants that want to be answered, then, deal with them ’til they are no more. (Please, deal with the random Growers, your community farmer is very important. Your ‘community’ Everything is important. These are the cats who surround you in daily operations. The energy is palpable. Jump the wave.
Energy transference is everywhere, all the time, hold your balance point (I’ve always Loved balance tricks,.. stand on a high bar (one leg), hang low (swing the monkey bars like there’s no tomorrow.) Any point you find, anywhere, anyhow, tap it and it’s teachings.. These are the lessons of balance. Enjoy!!!
Love, and PEACE!!! (amplification!)
Friendlies, Jere