Dear Friend and Reader:
The Cancer New Moon arrived at 10:18pm last night, for those of you residing on the East Coast of the U.S., bringing cozy feelings of home, hearth and maternity. As Planet Waves’ own Kirsti Melto explains in her article, these Cancerian sentiments extend to our national identity in addition to our more localized ones: patriotism is strong in this sign.
The United States is a Cancerian and its birthday is Friday. Apropos of the moment, Steve Bergstein, Planet Waves’ contributing editor and resident civil rights attorney, is representing the activist group Middle East Crisis Response, whose right to protest in a public park has, allegedly, been violated.
The group gathered to commemorate Israel’s 60th anniversary in T.R. Gallo Park in Kingston. Another group, the Middle East Crisis Response, arrived in the park to protest the “policies of Israel and the United States,” according to The Daily Freeman. The police arrived and escorted MECR out of the park and relocated their protest in a nearby parking lot.
Bergstein said in an interview that this movement infringes on the group’s freedom of assembly and free speech rights; City Police Chief Gerald Keller said it’s the police department’s policy not to comment on pending lawsuits; and Kingston’s mayor sided with the police department’s decision to separate the two groups as they were erring on the side of public safety. But that is what they always say.
This lawsuit cuts to the chase on the issue of “free speech areas” places like political conventions. Does anyone remember the cages outside the Republican National Conventions where protesters were supposed to stay confined with their statements? In this case, the group was protesting at an Israel-centered event; and the police moved the protest to a nearby parking lot apparently so they could voice their sentiments to cars.
We all think of the United States as the place where freedom rings, but we forget that in nearly every case, one of our precious liberties, even if God ordained us to have them, was litigated again and again in the federal courts. It was not born simply because Ben Franklin said it was so.
Our identification with home couldn’t be stronger than it is now, feeling this New Moon in Cancer. But, while we are free to feel this connection, there is a reciprocality that must be recognized as well: our home, our city and our country exists by our definition of it and our consistent reinforcement of those definitions.
At times, we will have the option to shy away from conflict, using our worst fears (violence) as a guise for what we’re really shying away from (opposing opinions.) This is the option the Kingston police force took. But, while avoiding confrontation can be tempting, we run the risk of losing the foundation that our homes are laid on: when we might lose the right to assemble peacefully, when our freedom to speak our minds is in danger, action must be taken to preserve our nation as a free one.
Now is the time to stand firm, stare into the eyes of opposition and try not to flinch.
Yours & truly,
Today’s Oracle takes us to Mar 26, 2004 – Libra – Weekly
You may be caught in a distinctly uncomfortable spot right now, and knowing you, you don’t like it much. This is not the kind of energy you thrive on; that’s for others who can stomach politics, a game I’m afraid to say is not well suited to a Libra. The only trump for politics is honesty, principally honesty with yourself since politics requires considerable self-deception to work. Know your motives so you can assess whether they are worth being the guiding forces in your life. Know who you are dealing with and what mutual benefit can come from the relationship. Know thyself.
Thursday 03 July 2008
Arachne (5+ Libra) quintile Quaoar (17+ Sagittarius Rx)
Eros (19+ Cancer) quintile Asbolus (7+ Taurus)
Sun (11+ Cancer) conjunct Moon (11+ Cancer) – New Moon
Psyche stations direct (11+ Scorpio)
Pallas (17+ Taurus) quincunx Quaoar (17+ Sagittarius Rx)
Sun (11+ Cancer) trine Psyche (11+ Scorpio)
Venus (18+ Cancer) opposite Jupiter (18+ Capricorn Rx)
Eros (19+ Cancer) semisquare Saturn (4+ Virgo)
Vesta (1+ Taurus) quincunx M87 (1+ Libra)
Eros (19+ Cancer) sextile Logos (19+ Virgo)
Juno (17+ Sagittarius Rx) quincunx Pallas (17+ Taurus)
Arachne (5+ Libra) quintile Juno (17+ Sagittarius Rx)
Mercury (20+ Gemini) trine Chiron (20+ Aquarius Rx)
Mercury (20+ Gemini) sesquiquadrate Chariklo (5+ Scorpio Rx)
Amor (25+ Taurus) conjunct Admetos (25+ Taurus)
Mars (1+ Virgo) trine Vesta (1+ Taurus)
Venus (18+ Cancer) conjunct Varuna (18+ Cancer)
Venus (19+ Cancer) quintile M87 (1+ Libra)
Juno (17+ Sagittarius Rx) conjunct Quaoar (17+ Sagittarius Rx)
Eros (20+ Cancer) quincunx Chiron (20+ Aquarius Rx)
There’s a reason why thousands of people pay for our horoscopes.
Dear Eric and wonderful staff at Planet Waves,
I just want to express my thanks for your passion, knowledge and drive. It is inspiring and appreciated. I have been a student of astrology for many years and it is truly a pleasure to obtain more knowledge from a source that says it like it is. Your educated interpretations of non-sugar coated truths expand my knowledge on a daily basis.
Enjoying you daily,
Amy
