By Judith Gayle | Political Waves
It’s been an emotional few weeks, and that’s a productive thing in a national climate gone arid with dry intellect and counter-intuitive denial. In fact, there’s enough water-signature in our current astrology to put a bit of slosh in our gates, a flutter in our hearts and an unbidden tear in our eyes. Mars in Cancer will continue to encourage our feeling natures, not just creating steam when we’re thwarted but, in its higher frequency, infusing empathy into our thought processes. We’ve already seen some lower level hysteria — mostly on the radical aisle — but overall, I’m impressed that we’re gaining a bit of ground as an adult population, able to discard the nonsense and get to the heart of matters.
On the other hand, our continuing inability to impact our entrenched political power structure has created a sociopolitical loggerhead reminiscent of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s lament in his classic poem, Rime of the Ancient Mariner: “Water, water, everywhere and all the boards did shrink, water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink.” Indeed, the search for compassionate governance and concern for the commonwealth has revealed the weight of the self-serving, corporate-loving and complicit leadership that’s been hung around our necks like Coleridge’s infamous albatross. We’ve yet to find a way to quench that thirst.
With so much of what Obama promised from his populist playbook passed but under-funded, unconfirmed and unmanned, we’re looking for the touchstone that will unlock obstruction, examining the shaky logic that holds it in place, slowly gathering the activism to push this disturbing mistrust of modernity out of the way. The startling fact that we have not approved a national budget since the last decade should make clear our inability to proceed normally in this nation, dragging the weight of devolution behind us. The notion that there are not enough resources out there to supply our flagging economy needs to be filtered through some of the political realities unearthed recently as “secrets.”
Consider the revelation by economist James Henry, who determined that the 1% have deposited $21 trillion to $32 trillion in tax havens to evade paying American taxes. We’re not talking about corporate income here, we’re talking about tax avoidance that has crippled the nation. Also, the top seven US banks have hidden over $10 trillion in assets in “subsidiaries” to avoid taxes. It is estimated that a mere $1 to $3 trillion is needed to end global poverty, to stop the deaths of somewhere in the neighborhood of a million children each and every month due to war, disease, famine and neglect. A little empathy might be well placed in THAT conversation, a realization of the personal experience of watching a child starve to death, or even — here in our own country — a little one sent to bed with an empty belly and a bleak future in this land of staggering plenty.
Still, with Saturn, Neptune and Chiron bathing us in watery emotional energy, there’s plenty of moisture to erode the tight stronghold that simply must fall away when the political becomes personal. Emotional alchemy may prove an irresistible force somewhat stronger in rolling back the immovable object of No Nothing obstruction than seems apparent at first glance.
I’m seeing an encouraging surge of energy from the Dems — mostly from the women, here and here — not to mention Harry Reid’s recent determination to end misuse of the filibuster. What is not surprising is the failure of the right to reboot. The brief post-election Republican embrace of change to attract diversity was apparently too disturbing to last, so one of their analysts suggested a short-term tactic that went down smoother: going after more of the white vote.
The right has decided to court “downscale” white citizens as the potential demographic that will put them back in power. Has it not occurred to them that these are the very people they’re victimizing by limiting unemployment benefits or by curtailing food stamps and Meals on Wheels? Downscale doesn’t necessary mean stupid, as the Koch Brothers may find out in their attempt to limit a raise in the minimum wage by airing TV ads in Nebraska telling families with an income of $36,000 per year that they are in the top 1% of world income.
When a family of four needs more than two minimum wage jobs to provide the basics, the notion that it’s somehow ungrateful to spit in the eye of such largesse falls flat. The horrors of welfare dependency and Randian virtues of self-sufficiency may skew a bit differently when you get past the color line. Not much life, liberty or pursuit of happiness implied when inadequate wages keep us from smelling whatever flowers are still blooming in our declining suburbs. As Krugman concludes this week, “… libertarian populism is, as I said, bunk. You could, I suppose, argue that destroying the safety net is a libertarian act — maybe freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose. But populist it isn’t.”
And yes, it’s all too cynically true that we view too much of what is personal to us through an economic filter. This is a human problem, not just an American failing. Yet, much as a broken clock is right twice a day, sometimes it works to our benefit. In Beijing, the air quality is so bad that studies recently downgraded longevity due to toxic exposure, and the Chinese find themselves having trouble hiring foreign experts because of their dangerous environmental problems. Fearful for their economy, they are now requiring manufacturers to limit their emissions by 30% in the next five years. THIRTY PERCENT!
The Communist Party has total control, they have no competing political parties to obstruct such a plan, no egomaniacal personalities with fat checkbooks to throw themselves in the way of national progress or economic necessity. The Chinese have no version of the Koch brothers that I’m aware of. When I hear someone tell me that freedom isn’t free, I don’t think of soldiers sent into harm’s way — I think of the brothers Koch and their liberty to invade the airways, the boardrooms and the political process with their Midas-like riches. It isn’t patriot’s blood that’s required to protect against them; it’s the lost art of critical thinking.
I suspect the Kochs are also who economist Robert Reich was considering when he put out a blog post recently that I’d like to quote in full, since it’s brief and to the point:
Permit me an impertinent question (or three).
Suppose a small group of extremely wealthy people sought to systematically destroy the U.S. government by (1) finding and bankrolling new candidates pledged to shrinking and dismembering it; (2) intimidating or bribing many current senators and representatives to block all proposed legislation, prevent the appointment of presidential nominees, eliminate funds to implement and enforce laws, and threaten to default on the nation’s debt; (3) taking over state governments in order to redistrict, gerrymander, require voter IDs, purge voter rolls, and otherwise suppress the votes of the majority in federal elections; (4) running a vast PR campaign designed to convince the American public of certain big lies, such as climate change is a hoax, and (5) buying up the media so the public cannot know the truth.
Would you call this treason?
If not, what would you call it?
And what would you do about it?
Our answer to the three questions asked will tell us where we are in this critical juncture, and the last is the most telling. We have come to a place of either revolution or evolution, and although provoked by the first two questions, options for the third do not proceed in quite the same manner. In Egypt, for instance, the energy of revolution is obvious, although we cannot be absolutely sure how they view the democratic process. Their refusal to tolerate the Muslim Brotherhood has resulted in a military coup, sending the nation into a spin cycle, and proving, as we surely know, that democracy is an inexact science and a messy business. A revolution is a leap from one way of doing business into another that is, hopefully, superior for the benefit of all citizens. Egypt’s fledgling democracy may have jumped from the frying pan into the fire; time will tell.
In contrast, evolution is a change of signature energy, an essential internal change of who we are and consider ourselves to be. And those who have had the experience would surely confirm that the path to evolution is paved with empathy. A few years ago, when Obama suggested that he would be selecting judicial candidates with empathy — the ability to stand in another’s shoes — when replacing Supreme Court justices, Karl Rove launched a counter-attack on the word itself, calling it “the latest code word for liberal activism, for treating the Constitution as malleable clay to be kneaded and molded …” Empathy is not a concept well suited to the inflexible conservative model, yet consider, if you will, the dead end implied in such a conscious decision to avoid growth and progress.
I like Barbara Kingsolver’s definition best: “Empathy is really the opposite of spiritual meanness. It’s the capacity to understand that every war is both won and lost. And that someone else’s pain is as meaningful as your own.” It’s also the ability, the humility, to understand that even if you wish with all your heart to do no harm, you will do some, even unknowingly. It’s the wisdom to accept that no matter how perfectly you design your way of life, your manner of thinking, there is another — equal and opposite — way available that is as perfect in its own right. It is the capacity to respect our brothers and sisters for our similarities, extend them the forgiveness of our differences and offer them the acceptance of our commonality.
This week I ran across one of the most moving examples I’ve ever seen of genuine empathy. You will want to watch this little bit of a Dustin Hoffman interview, perhaps more than once (as did I.) THIS is evolution born of genuine empathy. THIS is Light dawning. This is how real, lasting change occurs. This is what we’re working for when we open our hearts and trust our instincts, discover what is true rather than what we think we’re sure of.
There is so much wrong in our world these days, it’s easy to get lost in the fight to fix it all. Choosing what is familiar, it seems logical to recreate the path to revolution, intent on repairing all that’s been corrupted, replacing all those who ruthlessly corrupt. There is so much needing attention, it’s difficult to know where to turn first, where to invest our activism, involve ourselves in restoration. There is so much going on at once, it’s easy to get sucked into overload, fuses blown and mind locked, thinking the way forward is nothing new, but simply a repeat of the revolutionary model.
The cosmos is our friend in this quest. Our emotions can serve us well in this challenge and break through the blockages we’ve established to protect ourselves from abuse and confusion, but we must be willing to really feel. We must trust that what we feel, what we intuit, will lead us where we need to go, bring us the experiences needed to sensitize us, to heighten our awareness. We must summon the courage to take the path forward into wisdom.
We’re not ready to answer Bob Reich’s third question yet: “And what would you do about it?” We’re still deciding what we’re looking at, what we expect to happen. We haven’t made up our minds about revolution and, facing so much devolution, we seem to think evolution is beyond us.
Still, the Aquarian Age is a period of humanitarian breakthrough. Our Shift brought with it new rules for expanded consciousness, new talents and abilities that will surprise us, many of which we have yet to discover. Perhaps we’re still pouring old wine into new wine skins, unaware of our own power to make positive, healing change and sociopolitical transformation.
A Course In Miracles tells us that a miracle is simply a change of perception. Hoffman wasn’t expecting an epiphany, and perhaps we aren’t expecting one either, but — oh, my dears — one is due. That’s exactly what we SHOULD be expecting, sensitive to the energies that are pushing us forward into a new iteration of humanity. If we choose it, we’re on the path to evolution, holding open the door for those who wish to see everything differently. We have everything in place for a miracle, then, an awaited epiphany for a new Age. Expect it.
Thanks Jude, esp your comment post zimmerman verdict. Your sane and wise voice reminds me of what our focus really is.
Thank you for your wise, deep comment, dear Jude. Yes, ” it’s a spotlight on the flawed and stilted laws — thousands of them across the nation — that have passed without our attention or consent.”, and yes, “Best to remember — as with the Chiron model — that it is most often the painful events that lead us to healing”.
If I’m judging the Sunday pundit energies correctly, the Zimmerman/Martin decision is bringing us a moment of awareness on deep levels: legal, social and moral. Very few people, even those who believe that the specific legalities of this case were served by the verdict, consider Zimmerman innocent. This isn’t as simple as racism or vigilantism, it’s a spotlight on the flawed and stilted laws — thousands of them across the nation — that have passed without our attention or consent.
Stand Your Ground was not on trial as the case played out, but the very fact that it is on the books gave this case its platform. Similarly, Wall Street wouldn’t have been able to do what it did if a myriad of flawed and partisan laws didn’t exist regarding finance and banking practice. This still goes on, as we watch laws flying in the face of Roe, of Obamacare and other federally mandated policies passed by state legislators that are equally as problematic when narrowed down to the lives of those persons caught in the cross hairs.
This is all a big, overdue conversation and it is, literally, about evolution of the human species beyond the inequities of its fearfulness and tribalism. Best to remember — as with the Chiron model — that it is most often the painful events that lead us to healing.
To interpret the monstrousness of this conflict in Florida, the jury did as it was instructed: it discarded the larger picture and moral outrage of the incident, and made its considerations within the slim margins of the law that defined it. The conversation we’re having now isn’t just about one more black person being victimized at the hands of a “white” perpetrator, it’s much larger: how many seemingly unjust, difficult to interpret and socially reprehensible laws are on the books?
Which of these laws work against the fabric of society while protecting special interests? What of profiling? Of racism? Of classism? Ageism, even, as this young black teen was not given a voice except that of a thug intent on criminality. What of the legal system itself, and the thousands of people serving time now that did not receive money for excellent representation from onlookers? And what of sexism, as Huffy was canny enough to spotlight today: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/19/marissa-alexander-gets-20_n_1530035.html
It wasn’t just Zimmermann on trial and (agreed, be) I doubt he will, having been judged not guilty in the court of law but not public opinion, draw an easy breath again. We must not take the effortless path now, assuming this decision is an affirmation that white supremacy continues to have the upper hand, and rail against it helplessly; we need to allow this to open our minds to the many social and legal failings that have brought us to the point where George can legally walk away from having stalked and killed an innocent stranger. Challenging such laws are one of many steps necessary in moving beyond our Old Paradigm rules and regulations, bias’s and standards but realizing how very wrong-hearted they are is the first, evolutionary, step.
Thanks, be, for fleshing out the symbiosis between Trayvon and Zimmerman. And yes, Lizzy, I do believe the “enemy” acts as the guru — that these things develop as “poster child” events to shine a spotlight on the Gordian Knots of our social fabric, meant to make us aware and shake us awake.
Life is, indeed, a wondrous thing, Mia — sounds like your “dance and play” signals an exciting adventure ahead. Thanks for sharing your happiness with us, our hearts open wider when we share joy.
Never thought about voices, Paola. Interesting to think about how that might look here in the US, where we depend on sub-titles instead of dubbing. We would miss out on the tonal, the vibrational.
And thanks for your comments, Diva and GaryB. I’m in search of a tree right now!
Hugs to all today and thanks for playing …
Additional thanks to you Jude for recalling the Ancient Mariner story and how the “self-serving corporate-loving and complicit leadership” hangs around our necks. It made me conscious that Zimmerman’s big fat albatross will be his killing of Trayvon Martin and he will live in infamy, however long that may be./be
Thank you so much for this, dear Be.
Me too Lizzy. makes me weep. There DOES seem to be purpose in all this however. As of now it would appear we in the USA are making a dent in our unconsciousness (as a whole) of the unfair treatment of minorities; specifically in legal matters, because of the (media) attention this event has been given. Right now trans. Pallas-Athene (Protectress of the State) is conjunct Trayvon Martin’s natal Vesta (what he was invested in). Ironically, Trayvon’s natal Uranus (breakthrough) is exactly – within one arc minute – conjunct the U.S. Sibly chart’s Pluto at 27 Capricorn 33 retrograde. Trayvon’s Uranus (27 + Cap) is sextile his natal Nessus (the buck stops here) at 27+ Scorpio. This natal sextile forms a yod with his natal Vesta at 25+ Gemini (where Pallas-Athene transits now) and where the energy of the yod is released. In a twist of irony though, Zimmerman’s natal Vesta (27+ Gemini) is an EXACT fit with Trayvon’s (yod’s) sextile of Uranus-Nessus. It would appear that Zimmerman played his part in the meaning of the pattern; that it was destiny. There is 12 1/2 years difference in their ages, but Trayvon and Zimmerman have natal Vesta’s only 2 degrees apart – in Gemini. (Good twin, bad twin?)
More of the Pluto influence can be seen in Zimmerman’s natal placement of Pallas-Athene (Protectress) at 9+ Capricorn, where transiting (retrograde) Pluto returned to yesterday. It is also the degree Pluto transited when Zimmerman shot Trayvon to death. I sense that this was a mortal drama acted out by mortal men but devised by the Universe in order to, as you say Lizzy, bring about change.
be
Who knows – maybe the reaction to this verdict will bring about change. Any thoughts on this, Be?
This verdict just makes me weep – for Trayvon Martin and his family, for the fact that nothing ever seems to change on this front, in the US. Forgive me for posting this here, after your wonderful piece, dear Jude – but gives me comfort to be able to do it,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23304198
Absolutely brilliant Judith!
Your writings continue building in layers of new awareness. Yes, peeling the onion but adding so much more to our enrichment. Excellent work. Now gather the critters, get under the shady tree and enjoy a beautiful summer day. Well earned.
Thank you for the Dustin Hoffman interview video! Actually, it’s the first time I could hear his real voice, it’s dubbed here.
Don’t know if you have provoked thought or something more encompassing, but it occurred to me that the brand new U.S. Sibly solar return (SR) chart might hold some hopeful insight regarding this country’s efforts to evolve. Maybe even some hint as to the answer to Reich’s 3rd question. Transiting Mars had not yet reached Cancer at the time of the USA birthday nine days ago, and was still in Gemini, at the base of the chart, the IC, it’s roots, the nadir. As low as you can get in a chart. Last year though, Mars in the SR chart was at the MC, the highest point, where all the world could see and what it saw was (mostly) aggressive passion.
Due to the U.S. Sibly progressed Mars being retrograde, that aggressive passion was turned inward, on itself. The degree where Mars was in last year’s SR chart, 0+ Libra, was also an Aries Point; personal as well as political. We were killing ourselves on the streets, in theaters, schools and depriving the support for our most vulnerable through legislation. That degree of Libra was not only conjunct the SR chart’s midheaven (MC), it was also conjunct the 1776 chart’s MC, reminiscent of our past aggressiveness. Most of all though, it was conjunct something called the Super Galactic Center, a black hole whose insatiable appetite (largely for relationships – Libra) demands all the energy from anything that contacts it (symbolically). So the U.S. Mars was drained last year by some inexorable force that could never be satisfied. That is the negative expression of the SGC, the positive expression is a path to self discovery, a bonding with oneself.
With Mars for the U.S. now at the root of it’s SR chart, drained of his excess passion for aggression, he has the opportunity to empathize with himself, gain understanding as to why he does what he does in the way that he does it. ( I cringed watching MSNBC’s demonstration of “force feeding” this morning. This has got to stop.) There is an aspect between the SR Mars and the SR Uranus this year called a quintile. They are 72 degrees apart and this aspect can provide opportunities to use the spiritual level, represented by the energy of the planets involved (in this case Mars and Uranus), to transcend the physical dimension. It gives access to the spiritual willpower and an ability to comprehend the connectivity between unrelated events and circumstances. Robert Wilkinson (aquariuspapers dot com) says this aspect represents specialization, gifts, creativity and unique conditions. “Each quintile is unique and shows a unique stage of development.” This could be the big chance, or at least a step toward it, to reach a level of consciousness (as a whole) regarding the use of one’s country’s power as it is symbolized by Mars. An epiphany even.
A further clue along this line is found in the chart for the final entry of Uranus into Aries. Mars was at 13+ Pisces, where transiting Chiron is now, and a degree which is trine the degree of the U.S. (Sibly) natal Sun at 13+ Cancer. Transiting retrograde Mercury will station direct at 13+ Cancer one week from today, on July 20, residing there for a total of 8 days. Transiting Mars will perfect his grand trine with Neptune and Saturn on July 20.
There is a phenomenal opportunity to “infuse empathy into our thought processes”, to move to a higher dimension of activity right now. Six women (imagine!) will decide the fate of a man who killed another man. As I understand it, they have 3 options, an old school “eye for an eye” option, an opt-out of “not guilty”, or a conscientious “manslaughter” decision. Or no decision at all perhaps; a hung jury. Hmmm. I don’t think/feel that last one will happen because Pallas-Athene is involved and she too is evolving once again. Where once she was worshipped as part of a lunar trilogy in a matriarchal society, then forcibly morphed into a goddess equal to gods in a patriarchal society, she now is at the threshold of giving full expression to both her masculine and feminine gifts. Wouldn’t that just bring a tear to your eye! Trans. Uranus will station retrograde this Wednesday, in the midst of the perfecting grand trine between Jupiter and Saturn (society) and Neptune (empathy). It could surprise us all.
be
Judith,
Thank you for that wonderful clip of Dustin Hoffman. Truly beautiful!
I have had an epiphany of my own this week that has been nothing short of miraculous. I was interviewed last Friday night on the Roxy Lopez about animals and connecting to your energy and enjoyed myself tremendously spending time with Roxy. She is a great soul. The next day she posted my interview on Youtube and it has been listened to by almost 1,000 people since then. That very day I received an email from a man from Canada who is an animal lover and we began a conversation that has not stopped since it started. I am an Aquarian and he is a Leo who went to India at the age of 19 and is very evolved spiritually. We have had almost identical experiences throughout our lives but the details are different. From our first conversation we entered a state of bliss that we carry throughout the day that is highly erotic and charged. It is truly beautiful. He jokes that we are like teenagers again and it is true but it is so much more. We have seen photos of each other and he is very handsome. I was beautiful in my youth but as a post-hysterectomy 57 year old woman who refuses to take hormones (no horse estrogen for me, thank you!) I am amazed by my physical response to him on every plane, in every dimension. The bliss we are feeling is radiating out to the Universe and we have spoken of and acknowledge this fact. I will visit him in Canada and if all goes well, he will move to Vermont. We are both advanced in terms of working with our kundalini. He can hold his breath for more than 5 minutes and is advanced in yoga. We look forward to learning from each other. I do not wear makeup or dye my hair and have accepted that my looks have become the least important part of my life which is currently filled to the brim with creativity and love from those around me. I let go of all that was not working and so did he. Divine guidance has brought us together. He told me that just a few weeks ago during the full moon he asked God to send him a partner, a true love, someone to share his life with. In my interview I talk about asking for what you want. As our relationship and love continue to grow we will be broadcasting out to the Universe and those who are ready will receive the vibe will be joining us in our dance and play. Many others are experiencing the same experience already.
Life is a wondrous thing.
Mia
This one will take several reads Judith. It’s so dense with calling. What am I going to do about it? That’s a pretty useless question. What are WE going to do about it is the only effective question. I have to bring all of my I into the We. Yes, a few more reads. A few more questions. Waking Down.
Epiphany: “You who tomorrow are still alive, what are you waiting for? Why don’t you love enough? You who have everything, why you are so afraid?”
http://www.cjr.org/feature/womans_work.php?page=3