Good morning world,
In addition to the discussion of astrology and events, we have a topic running below about giving to charitable organizations responsibly. That is to say, knowing who you’re giving to.
Most of the ‘standards’ have massive overhead, lobbying budgets and executive salaries. I have a friend who is nudging me on this point, and I have bumped it up to a top priority in my mind. If we are serious about this evolution and growing up and taking responsibility stuff, we are going to know where our money goes.
If engaging in capitalism as an economic system has any meaning, voting with our dollars is the most significant thing we can do. Most people give to charity out out of concern, and some give out of guilt; but the point is, we want the nutrients to go where they belong, and not be eaten by parasites; by those profiting wildly on disaster.
Speaking of disaster: we are going to be inundated by images of pain and suffering in Haiti for the next few weeks or longer. This poses a problem: it’s not healthy to look at this stuff over and over again. We can only do what we can do, which isn’t a lot; what we can remember is that the condition of the world is frail enough; this is a reminder; let’s take care of our homes and communities and do what we can to weave the world: particularly as we have a potent eclipse on the North Node, which is about dharma: acting as if to hold the world together. Some translations give ‘law’ or ‘duty’ but that’s way to simplistic for Sanskrit.
If you run into a dharma story coming out of Haiti, please post the link in the comments area, or send it to me.
Note that when there is a big global story like this, many other news events tend to get disregarded, and at least under the prior administration, it was prime time to loot the treasury. One of the most important stories of our lifetimes, even if you’re not American, is unfolding before Congress this week as the banking disaster hearings proceed.
On a community note, we are chipping in to buy Linda a laptop — just a reminder there. You can call Chelsea to contribute by phone, at (877) 453-8265.
On another community note, I am asking that all blog commenters amend their nickname to their actual name, in the interest of taking full responsibility for your words. This is an example we need to set on the Internet, where so much happens anonymously. In lieu of using your full last name if you have some true privacy concern, your first name and last initial would help the cause.
Len Wallick has covered today’s astrology in the post below. We have a video from Rachel Maddow on a really exciting Aries Point type of event — the personal is definitely political these days — involving the legality of Proposition 8 in California, which banned same sex couples from marrying. The odd bit in this chapter is that Ted Olsen, the former U.S. government lawyer under Busy and a “leader of the conservative legal movement,” as he is touted, has signed onto the case for equal marriage rights. He is correct: this is a conservative issue. True conservatives leave one another alone and follow the Constitution.
I plan be back later in the day with one last post about the eclipse overnight. I am doing my best to lay as low as possible (yes, believe it or not) and get Cosmic Confidential landed safely on the ground. Yesterday I reached a pretty good turning point when I finished the draft of the 12th horoscope, which happened to be Libra. So now I have all 12 signs in good working shape, and what remains are final rewrites. Those happen in order starting with Aries and then backwards to Taurus, treading the Great Wheel in reverse, the way of the soul.
Thanks to everyone for playing along with my common-sense reading of the astrology, on the timing of Cosmic Confidential. It has been slow going working through a couple of retrogrades, eclipses, holidays and a far-madder than usual news cycle that won’t quit — and but the reward for taking it slow is that the work is going together thoughtfully, with integrity. I know I make writing astrology look easy; but that’s only because I rewrite everything again and again until I make my point clear. Then I find the mistake and rewrite it again!
I will catch you in the afternoon Eastern Time.
Here’s a wonderful Dharma story connecting Haiti to Montreal and back again.
http://www.canada.com/business/fp/Facebook+credited+with+long+distance+rescue+Haiti/2440597/story.html
Yeah I agree with not exposing ones nervous system to viewing endless death and destruction that fuels despair and helplessness. Better to meditate and channel some empathy which I believe tunes into that higher frequency which fosters a more profound and sustained healing.
I believe Haiti will be transformed through this tragedy. I am concentrating my desires on seeing it reforested once again.
Ursula C.
Hello Eric and Planet Waves readers,
I have been donating to charitable organizations for several years now through what is called the Combined Federal Campaign – a way to contribute to organizations through deductions in my paycheck.
My favorites are Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam International (sorry no links – I’ll lose this thread if I go out)
Low overhead. Great work and the money and resources go to the boots that are on the ground. I am very SOUR on the Red Cross after 9/11.
I am also wondering whether, as in the Indonesia disaster, whether anyone knows who has been drilling for natural gas or oil near Haiti these days? Or testing sonar? Surely, the planets are in place for such a disaster, but here on Earth- what event tipped the tectonic plates and or deep trenches into motion? We have the effect. Looking for the human related cause. But that’s just curious me.
Fantastic, Eric! Thanks for all this great stuff! The bell had already gone off in my head (yesterday afternoon) telling me to NOT gaze upon the countless images of pain and suffering in Haiti that are now posted all over the web. Thanks for that reinforcement.
Regarding donations; I would like to make a suggestion. After you select an organization to donate to, you might want to make sure that you designate your funds to where you want them to go. If the funds are not designated, they may be distributed to a general account. One way to direct your funds is to write your request on the “Memo” line of your check. For instance, if you are donating to the relief effort for Haiti then write Haiti relief on the check. You could also send in a letter with your check.
We will work out a system for doing this…better to revise the name than re-register, it will be easier for us. Thanks…
From today’s Associated Press:
For those who may not know, Aetna made its first business bucks on carrying life insurance policies on slaves for their masters.
And to tie off the karma loop, the House and Senate Conference bill on Heath Care Reform, of which Aetna is a big player, is in for the final stretch with a final bill ready for Budget Office on Saturday, January 16th to review prior to the President’s signature.
It might even be ready by Monday, MLK Day, but that is only my supposition, carrying the metaphor of karma to a rational conclusion.
about ‘this’, that should have read.
E – I have tried to change my name on the wordpress system many times, but it won’t ‘allow’ it. I e-mailed you and Anatoly about his after we spoke last week. If you or Anatoly can let me know how to change it, I’ll do it.
I’ll be up front and say that I will not be putting my surname on the blog as I have been experiencing an extremely difficult and time with an ‘ex’ this past year and posts on here come up in an internet search. I wish to remain very open with my posts, however I don’t need or intend to give this particular person any info on my life.
Hazel.